Ukuleles & Gay Penguins

December 14, 2011 / In The Cube

Ecentricarts and Ukuleles

I am a big ukulele nerd. I own 7 different ukes and each one has a different purpose. Over the years, I used to struggle with hiding my uke-nerdiness. Especially to my clients (I was afraid of losing my PM Street Cred). What I love best about working at ecentricarts however, is that we really like and respect one another, and we work collaboratively with one another to support each others' dreams and best nerdy qualities to get the job done. When you are a quirky one like me, this isn't an easy thing to find a corporate environment. We can be who we are, and still be effective.

The ukulele is a metaphor for what ecentricarts is - a mix of whimsy, openness, earnestness, and lightness. Perhaps this is why so many people here at ecentricarts have taken to humouring me at staff parties and allowing me to uke-ify their world. As a result of my own nerdiness, eight people at ecentricarts have started to dabble with the ukulele. Try to guess who they are on the staff bios. I won't name them because I don't think they're ready to embrace their own uke geek. That will take years of group therapy. Needless to say, I have dragged many an ecentricartisan to the weekly ukulele jam that happens in our fine city.

Gay Penguins

How does this all relate to Gay Penguins? Well - a Project Manager has project management qualities even outside of work. Last Monday after work, I went over to my friend Sunny's house. Sunny said she had an idea for a song about the Gay Penguins at the Toronto Zoo. As soon as I heard her idea I did what I like to do when I see a project that I really really get excited about: I PMed her. I enthused her, enabled her, and kicked her butt to get started right away on it. "Sunny, I'm going to go leave now, you have to go write your song! NOW! You'd better do it dude or else - and you know I'll call you tomorrow!" 

And she did. She wrote it, and performed it at the weekly ukulele jam. She brought the house down. I love it when the universe brings something your way, and you give it a gentle push to send it along and it becomes like magic. The project moves along.

Here's the song that Sunny wrote about Buddy and Pedro. The penguins that came from Toledo who fell in love at the Toronto Zoo and had to be separated so they could reproduce and save their species. Told from the perspective of Buddy on the eve of their separation.

You can read more on this saddening news at the Toronto Star website.

If you are interested in working in an environment that supports your quirks, we're looking for some good people. Project Managers, .NET developers / leads, and Front End developers. Come and be a part of the family that loves you for who you are. Email us at careers@ecentricarts.com with your resume and portfolio links and if you fit the bill we'll give you a call.