Meet Sylvia

THE ARTIST WHO CAPTURED A WHOLE CITY
MEET SYLVIA
+MORE

Number one
Reason to Buy Art from Live Artists
Editor’s Note
By the Numbers
90 Second School
with Jamie Shanks
Spotlight
Meet Sylvia
Strengthen. Sustain. Soar.
with Shelley McQuade
Biz Fashion
What Ali Wore
Straightspeak
with David Hughes
Social Media=Business
with Brian Honigman
Editor+Publisher
Sharon Ricci
CCO
Juli Yee
SENIOR DESIGNER
Addison Vacca
team

1. The dead ones don't need the money.

“
THE HOME IS T
TREASURE CHES
OF LIVING
- Le Co

EDITOR’S
NOTE
Home. It's where knees were skinned and young boys turned into young men. It’s
where babies were born, dreams were hatched, chore lists were continually contested
and where we laid our Welcome mat to friends, family and strays. I can remember with
equal clarity the days when the boys played in the leaves under the massive twin
maples in the front yard and the days when I helped carry boxes to the car as they
moved noisily to college followed by the days when in the low light of October, they
came back for Thanksgiving and we welcomed them...home.
HE
T
.“
rbusier
I'm not unique in my deep connection to my home. And it is this universal connection
that the artist, Sylvia Simpson, truly understands and captures. I am incredibly pleased
to shine the Influence Spotlight on Sylvia in this Issue. She is a much-loved artist in
Hamilton Ontario who specializes in capturing the magic and love of our homes and
streets in her water and oil paintings. I invite you to peek into our wonderful corner of
the world through Sylvia’s eyes as we highlight her story, her entrepreneurial journey
and her artwork in our Spotlight.
As well in this Issue you'll find insights from our columnist Brian Honigman who
regularly appears online with the Huffington Post, Entrepreneur and Inc. Plus, returning
each Issue is Shelley McQuade, Jamie Shanks and David Hughes, each with their own
way of lighting a fire under you and giving you inspiration for the rest of the week!
Enjoy this special Issue of Influence,

1.
THE TIMES PABLO PICASSO WAS JAILED (HE WAS ONCE SUSPECTED
OF STEALING THE MONA LISA FROM THE LOUVRE BUT WAS LATER
RELEASED WHEN PROVEN INNOCENT.]
900.THE NUMBER OF PAINTINGS VINCENT VAN GOGH
CREATED IN JUST TEN YEARS
NUMBER OF YEARS IT TOOK DA VINCI TO FINISH PAINTING
MONA LISA’S LIPS ALONE
10.THE
88.THE AGE AT WHICH MICHELANGENO DIED.

90 SECOND
SCHOOL
WITH JAMIE SHANKS
Jamie is one of North America’s leading Social Selling experts. He has personally built
Social Selling solutions in nearly every industry, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500
corporations. Sales for Life is now the world’s definitive Social Selling training and coaching
company. Jamie is also the Toronto chapter President of the American Association of
Inside Sales Professionals and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of
Ottawa, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Australia.

SHOULD I CONNECT WITH
PEOPLE WHO CHECK ME
OUT ON LINKEDIN?

Buying a piece of art feels good. Buying a piece of art from an artist who is standing in front of you
feels amazing. Buying a piece of art that you had commissioned from that very artist, well, that’s
where the magic really starts to happen. Enter Sylvia Simpson, the artist who literally painted the
town of Hamilton, Ontario with her memorable and locally famous streetscapes and home portraits.
Sylvia is an incredible artist, a woman with a fantastic view of not only her neighbourhood but also of
where her path is heading in the next five years. Get to know Sylvia, her artwork and a little bit of our
hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. I just know you’re going to love what you discover!
- SHARON RICCI
Editor

What sets you apart from the crowd?
Admirers of my paintings tell me I paint the Hamilton they love.
These local scenes set me apart. Some of my most memorable
and sought after pieces include: "Industrious City", "Corktown at
Night", "Hamilton: All Around the Harbour", "View to James Street
North", "The Gore" and "Dundas Valley in Autumn". These paintings
are views Hamilton loves. We have walked past them, enjoyed
memories there. It makes for a powerful pull.
Why streetscapes and homes?
During the first years of the "Southwest Hamilton Studio Walking
Tour" I completed streetscapes of local businesses such as Locke St.
Bakery, the Flower Market on Locke St., and Westdale Village.
People loved these pictures of places where they lived, played, and
frequented. They connect.
It was a natural extension for people to ask for a commission of
their homes, their cottages, or their wedding!
Tell me about home portraits
A home portrait often is a surprise gift. It packs an emotional
punch. Children were born and raised, friendships celebrated and
lost, daily patterns played out. A home portrait is art x 1000
emotions.
Can you describe the type of person who
commissions a Sylvia Simpson painting? That's not
something people do every day!
The person who commissions a home portrait is one who
recognizes the importance of home, family, friends, and just as
important, understands things change. Nothing stays the same. So
the portrait captures the three years McMaster students rented a
house together. The house embraces a period of life where kids
were born and young parents were happiest.
How does it feel when you deliver a painting to a
customer? What is their reaction?
Here is an example: When a couple comes into Creative-Works to
pick up their home portrait, I always create a playful drama. I ask
them to sit down and close their eyes. I stand directly in front of
them with the painting facing them. I watch their eyes. I say "OK,
Open your eyes!”.
If their eyes light up, if their hands and arms lift up, if their mouths
open with smiles and wonder, I have captured the magic!
Your paintings are very personal, they're of
someone's home or cottage or storefront - do you
feel a personal connection when you're painting?
Yes. That is my job. The homeowner knows every inch of their front
porch, the brick work over the windows, the wooden garage door
and the tree overhanging the drive. When I see what they see, I have
been successful.
I make a point to visit the property, pay attention to home details
including its place on the street, and to sketch the home with an eye
for the details. I will use my camera as a reference but defer to my
sketch. The sketch has the feel of the house.

io
Creative-Works Studio
What has been a highlight of your career so far?
I have enjoyed many. I was awarded the Viola Depew award by the
Women's Art Association for my "Mountain View Over Corktown"
painting that won "Best of Show". Developing the Southwest
Hamilton Artists Tour (highlighting talented artists in Hamilton)
with Sandee Ewasiuk and Jude Johnson was another achievement.
Opening my Creative-Works studio.shop.gallery - now in its 8th
year was a dream come true. And the art trips I have shared with
my friends at The La Cloche Country Art school every year since
1992 are treasured times with breath-taking scenery, great painting,
and wonderful love of life and country.
Three words you'd use to describe yourself
Practical, creative, insightful.
Where is your studio?
My Creative-Works studio.shop.gallery is in the heart of Westdale
Village. Being on street level within a major city gives me immediate
contact with my customers. They walk in my studio door and meet
me directly to discuss commissions, art choices, and art dreams.
From here we decide on purchases, home portraits, cottage
commissions, art classes and beyond!
Beyond my studio door is the much loved Westdale Village - a
beautiful shopping area in the West end of Hamilton, one of
Ontario’s largest cities. Stroll past my studio and you’ll find
McMaster University, schools, an independent bookseller, whimsical
shops, independent restaurants and the historical Westdale Theatre.
Surrounding the village are the nature trails of the Royal Botanical
Gardens.
Three words others would use to describe you
Honest, colourful, engaging.
What was your favourite subject in high school?
Dramatic Arts and Sociology. I later majored in Drama and
Sociology at McMaster University. Later I completed my M. Ed at
Brock University.
I hand you $1,000,000 for your business, what would
you buy?
Well thank you! I would buy a building and create a collaborative
art/business space that would fit multiple short and long term uses.
I would expand Creative-Works to include creative business
practices. And I would paint and travel sea to sea to sea in Canada!

What are you most proud of at this moment?
I am proud of my father. He is 90 next February and has been a
great Dad, friend, and art supporter. He has purchased art from
artists his entire life. His doodles and mind maps were the
beginning of my love of sketching and drawing. His interest in
landscapes, technology, invention, and discovery have celebrated
our region. He remains optimistic about the future, is good
company, and a great mentor.
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in 5
years?
In five years, I would like to be in a partnership at Creative-Works.
I would have all the perks of a studio space, but less expense and
more time to paint and travel, and more fun in sharing
Creative-Works with other inspiring
artists. I can’t wait to see what happens!
A perfect day for you would include...
The car is packed with all my painting gear. We drive up to
Tobermory and get ready to board the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry to
Manitoulin Island. (All good vacations begin with a boat ride!)
All of our friends arrive and we drive into the Ferry, head to the
deck, and enjoy the ride through Georgian Bay to South Baymouth.
After docking and a short drive, we unpack and move into our
cabins at Whitefish Falls. Now, the day is cooling and we gather for
fun and anticipation for a great week of painting and exploring the
La Cloche country in the days ahead. (Editor’s Note: I want to get
an invite!)
What gives you the most joy in your work?
I am amazed by the unexpected events that happen at
Creative-works. Fantastic and imaginative conversations with
customers, art class students who dance and sing, memories a
client shares evoked from a painting, laughter and delight on the
happenings on the street...visits from friends. No day is the same
and this arena of the unexpected is a delight.
You can connect with Sylvia Simpson for a home portrait or
for holiday gift ideas by calling her at (905) 517-7199. You
can also connect with Sylvia on Facebook "Sylvia Simpson's
Creative-Works". View her home portraits, landscapes,
streetscapes, art classes, upcoming events, and recent
paintings and sketches.
Thank you for "liking" Creative-Works!

As founder of Cypress Strategies, an organizational growth
coaching and consulting firm, Shelley helps leaders build their
by SHELLEY MCQUADE
teams and systems for sustainable growth. In addition to
being the Chair of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Board, Shelley is a featured blogger for the Canadian
Marketing Association.

PIE IN THE SKY
Most of us struggle with it, Einstein aptly lived it and stated it “You
can’t solve a problem on the level it was created”. And let’s face it,
Einstein was a pretty bright guy that had more than a couple of good
ideas that translated into revolutionary products. He was the master
of innovation before innovation was cool (or at the very least the
latest buzz word). So perhaps there is some merit in these words of
wisdom.
As one who makes my living solving problems I have done my
utmost to adopt this at a DNA level. My interpretation of Einstein’s
brilliance is simply this; if you tackle the problem doing the same
things you are currently doing you are likely going to be disappointed
with the results. To be clear I am not standing here on Mount High
saying I have all of the answers, what I am saying is all of us need to
“challenge” how we are seeing the problem and consider if it is:
a) A Red Herring – aka a symptom in disguise. If you deal with the
symptom only you may get temporary relief (think western medicine)
but the root cause will continue to rear its ugly head until it is dealt
with.
b) What you know could cripple you - Your perspective; that
lifetime of experience you have is your greatest strength and your
greatest weakness. It has provided you with a “filter” through which
you put all information which causes you to jump over and over again
to the same conclusion. Get a second opinion to see if there is a
different perspective you haven’t/can’t consider.
c) Believe it or not – nothing will change until you change your
belief, period. In order to shift the collective belief you have to
believe unwaveringly even when evidence is slim to nil. Whether you
think you can or you can’t your right. Collective belief has brought
down many a Golieth organization when a David has stepped into
the ring and done things no-one thought could be done.
Examples of this are “fishing in the same pond” i.e. continually focusing
on the same clients/market when the pond has been overfished
or dried up. “Body building” i.e. continuing to add more bodies aka
people to keep up with demand rather than overhauling the entire
“broken” system.
If you hear “this is the way we have always done it” whoa the ponies,
step back and consider there may be a better way and acknowledge
this problem can’t be solved on the level it was created.

What
Wore
This is Ali. He walks past Zoe Spawton’s office in Berlin, Germany every morning wearing
great clothes. She snaps pictures of him and shares them with the world.
We in turn are sharing them with you. Why? To kick your ass so you’ll give up that beige
suit and those worn shoes … it’s time to up your fashion game gentleman and Ali is just the
man to be your guide!

straight
speak
with david hughes
It’s a wonderful wired world
for marketing––or scary as
hell!
David Hughes is an entrepreneur, author, ghostwriter and
blogger. He has been writing since he was five. He has written
eleven books, hundreds of blogs and is the winner of Award of
Merit for Fiction, Writer’s Digest, 2001 and Magazine Feature, 2011.
David writes fiction (two novels) and non-fiction, on everything
from business and politics to family memoirs and social madness.
He lives at his keyboard.

If you’re not wired up, you might want to stick to shopping, not selling
hose sizeable numbers in my email notice (PCs
around for 35 years, the Internet for 20 years, 2
billion people on the Internet, 1 billion
smartphones, Facebook with over 1 billion
people) came from an insightful interview on Charlie
Rose last week that featured three people who know
a thing or two about the digital world: Sheryl
Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Marc
Andreessen, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz and
Facebook board member, and Ken Auletta a
technology writer with the New Yorker.
The video is worth watching. If you don’t have time to
watch the full interview (50 minutes), fast forward to
Charlie’s chat with Sandberg and Andreseen. Very
insightful. Here’s the link:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/content/12667
A few highlights :
communications – the hub – and there will be one in
every pocket or purse.
get yourself up to speed or hire the best. And get your
kids into software classes, quick. As Marc Andreessen
says, “Software will eat the world.”
on the side of the “traditional media” equation, but it
isn’t going to stay that way for long. Online is
addressing a first principle of marketing: be
customer-centric. Two behemoths come to mind:
Amazon and Facebook. They are creating enormous
consumer value and building huge numbers, which
will be followed by the money. They are deferring
financial “gratification” and playing long ball, which is
uncharacteristic of many traditional corporations.
They just have to figure out how to monetize it. And
they will (don’t be too worried about Facebook’s
current stock price). If you’re in marketing, advertising
or the business of selling something, you might want
to get on board with these online juggernauts before
they’re too far from the dock.
“Word-of-mouth advertising is the best advertising.”
(I think a Fuller Brush salesman first said it). The
Internet has turned word-of-mouth into viral
megaphones. Two numbers that make the point:
Facebook has 1 billion members and they each have,
on average, 130 friends. That’s one helluva lot of
word-of-mouth. And Pinterest, at last count, had only
a puny 10 million members but they are the fastest
growing site on the Internet. And there’s Buzzfeed,
Linked-In, and an endless stream of newbies,
“People trust friends the most,” ergo, traditional
advertising not so much; and “If you aren’t there,
you’re nowhere.”
welcomed and used good advertising and rejected
the bad (agency dumpsters are full of them). Now, in
the digitalsphere, if the ads are embedded in news
feeds or favorite sites that’s okay – if they’re good ads.
and “good” means something quite different in
terms of content. The same old, same old gets trashed
advertising gone viral (Tom Brady for Underarmour).
products right off of your favorite TV program is.
Here’s a blog about what you can buy from The Good
Wife.
a conglomeration of messages to many anonymous
groups with no relationship. But now, we are
beginning to create tailored messages to many small,
specific groups and individuals and building
relationships anchored in customer-centric choices.
They either “Like” and “Share” or they don’t.
$1.042 billion. Online shopping on Thanksgiving Day

4ingredients that
make a good
MEME
by Brian Honigman
Brian is the digitial marketing executive at Marc
Ecko Enterprises and a freelance writer for Forbes,
Huffington Post, Mashable, and others. Follow him
on twitter @BrianHoningman to keep the
conversation going. This article appeared
previously on Popditto
The meme is at the forefront of what makes up shareable, viral
content on the social web. It is a simple image, video or GIF with a
witty tagline in the spirit of online commentary; or some consider it to
be any type of content designed and packaged to be spread with
your friends. Memes generated by individuals have continued to
gain far reaching traction with examples like the success kid or the
overly attached girlfriend.
There is an untapped potential for businesses to join in on creating
memes that suit their brand and the culture of the Internet if these
memes are distributed alongside other brand content. Below are the
4 ingredients necessary to create a successful meme for your
business.

1.
Use “smart humor,” and always be witty when making memes. The point of memes at the surface is
to be silly and fun, but deep down there’s witty connotations that tie back to politics, the way we
communicate and mainstream media as a whole. The subject matter of your meme doesn’t need to
be serious, but relating it back to a far-reaching topic in the form of witty commentary will help your
meme be more shareable.
For example, online marketing software company SEOmoz announced that it raised 18 million in
Series B funding with a handful of Internet memes poking fun at the normal press release process
and gaining more buzz through this approach than they would have otherwise. Remaining witty and
using smart humor with your memes, no matter the seriousness or silliness of the subject matter, is
crucial to their success.
2.
Create for the present moment and latch on to current meme clusters. Be relevant by creating
memes off of established successes and Internet trends. Similar to how businesses imitated the
Harlem Shake video, play off of existing trends that are popular across the web and add your own
unique spin to it. This is known as Memejacking. Harvard researcher Michele Coscia studied data
from QuickMeme and identified the idea of “meme organisms.” Meme organisms are essentially
clusters of memes that tend to do well together. If your company’s meme was to be featured on a
BuzzFeed meme list, what other memes would also be part of that list? Thinking about how your
meme feeds off other memes is important.
A good example of the collaboration phenomena? General Electric decided to build off of the Ryan
Gosling “Hey Girl” meme series with its own voice and brand to then launch on Pinterest to gain
visibility
3.
The meme must relate to your brand. According to a study by Facebook, posting about subjects
related to your brand is the best way to drive the most engagement on the social network. This info
is arguably true for most marketing channels because your audience associates your content with
your business expertise. Regardless of the meme, always relate it back to your brand.
If you take this video meme, titled Sesame Street: Share It Maybe, you’ll see how the Sesame Street
brand took the popular “Call Me Maybe” song and put their own twist to it while staying true to their
perspective.
4.
Study the experts in all things meme. Take a look at the many popular memes to identify what
resonates with today’s online culture, so that same success can be attributed to your content. Check
out 4Chan, Reddit, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook for some of the most
recent memes trending worldwide. The articles below highlight many of the best memes of the last
few years.
Top 50 Internet Memes of 2012 via Policymic
The Best Memes of the Last 15 Years via About.com
The Best Memes of 2012 via Huffington Post
The 32 Best New Memes of 2012 via BuzzFeed

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