Category Archives: corporate health

It's been a wGazetteeek now since the new and improved Montreal Gazette got delivered to its few remaining subscribers.  Can you see the difference? I can't.  But let's give them credit for not quitting and giving up on old-fashioned print media.

Unfortunately the decline will continue.  I think the National Post and Maclean's magazine do a better job of survival tactics - sensational headlines, attention grabbing photos combined with high-quality journalism and provocative commentary. That works for me. But maybe only for a few other stubborn traditionalists who want to browse, digest and share a printed product.

At $30 a month the Gazette is losing its appeal.  It's not enough to shuffle the format and add some colour.  Cost cutting by out-sourcing printing may help, but maybe delivery to the door of every subscriber is another issue.  Canada Post has already decided it cannot be done economically. (Although the postal worker is clearly higher paid than the newspaper carrier.)

I'm trying to be supportive of the local paper because it's an important alternative source of news and views on our community and the world around us.  But I'm not optimistic for the business model. And certainly not proposing a taxpayer funded CBC model.  We may be looking at another example of creative destruction and the Gazette will only survive by evolving to a more effective digital media hybrid.  The plan just needs to be more creative.

Friend and associate, Lynda Goldman has recently published an article on "Swine Flu: 7 Keys to Keep your Workforce Healthy"

It is based on a recent interview with Dr. Ashok Oommen, a respected specialist in preventive medicine. He offers practical and effective tips that can be applied immediately to protect your employees and your business.

Stay healthy.

I recently participated in a breakfast seminar with some associates, clients and friends where the guest speaker was Dr. Oomen from the Cardiogenix Medical Centre in Montreal. He is a very dynamic and animated speaker who presented the topic of "Health is Wealth, De-stress for Success" and he had us all motivated to follow his advice and lead healthier, stronger, longer lives.

We were left, however, feeling inadequate trying to be as effective as he was at passing the message on to family, friends and employees. Employees are a particular challenge. Some participants spoke of their frustrations with various programs, large investments and a great deal of time and effort with very marginal results for their staff. Only a few had lost weight or stopped smoking, even with financial rewards or other incentives.

Dr. Oommen seemed to agree that making real progress needs constant attention. Continuous communication, support and encouragement, measuring and rewarding results will all be required before momentum is created and new habits become established.

Nevertheless, it is worth the effort. Everyone wins.