The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 72: The Choice Between Security and Adventure Hi friend, In the recent interview with Clyde Wagner from TO Live, we explored how curiosity can lead to unexpected career pivots. Today, let's take that a step further. Once you’ve pivoted, or even while you are considering it, there is a fundamental choice we all face: Do we prioritize security, or do we embrace adventure? I recently sat down with Doru Gordan, the owner of Complete Flooring Inc. While his...
7 days ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 71: Grief Bleeds, but Life Goes On: Insights from the Front Lines of Loss Hi friend, I'm continuing the series of video interviews, and the latest episode of The Rășcanu Show features a conversation with Daniel Verkoeyen. a licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer, Co-Owner of Rest In Peace, and author of "Grief Bleeds: Healing in Loss." You can watch the full interview with Daniel on YouTube here. Daniel’s approach turns grief into a series of logical steps; this...
14 days ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 70: Curiosity Allows for Great Career Pivots Hi friend, I'm continuing the series of video interviews with Toronto-based high-impact public, nonprofit, and private sector leaders. The latest episode of The Rășcanu Show features a conversation with Clyde Wagner, President & CEO of TO Live (the City of Toronto agency that manages three major civic theatres and acts as a creative hub). You can watch the full interview with Clyde on YouTube here. Here are three...
22 days ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 69: Change presents opportunites Hi friend, In preparation for the #ExperienceTO: Kensington Market Historical Tour that will take place on Saturday, May 9th at 10:00 a.m., I've been reflecting on the fact that change presents a wealth of opportunites. The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada describes as follows its rationale for having designated the Kensington Market as a national historic site: "it has been home to numerous successive waves of...
28 days ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 68: Lead with grit and self-awareness Hi friend, I'm conducting a new series of video interviews with Toronto-based high-impact public, nonprofit, and private sector leaders. The latest episode of The Rășcanu Show features a conversation with Alexander Morsink, the Co-Founder and CEO of Equivesto. Alexander is a key figure in the Canadian startup ecosystem and serves on the Registrant Advisory Committee of the Ontario Securities Commission. You can watch the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 67: Legacy is the ground we pave for the future Hi friend, In preparation for the #ExperienceTO: Cabbagetown Historical Tour that will take place on Saturday, April 18, I was recently researching the life of Lieutenant Francis Gwillim Simcoe, the first private owner of land in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. Francis Simcoe’s story is a fascinating look at the very early days of York (now Toronto). Born in 1791 at Wolford Lodge in Devon, England, Francis was...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 66: What we choose to preserve vs. replace defines the character of our community. Hi friend, If you stand at the corner of Toronto's Gerrard St. E. & Broadview Ave. today, you see a modern glass facility overlooking the Don Valley. But this specific plot of land has been through many iterations since the mid-19th century, each one reflecting a different, and sometimes conflicting, priority for our city. The history of this site offers a sobering life lesson:...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 65: Why smile when it rains? It's raining outside. Across the street, the owners of the coffee shop, the grocery store, and the fashion boutique are discouraged. To them, rain usually means lower traffic, which leads to the mounting pressure of meeting payroll, covering rent, and managing the cost of goods... all while trying to provide for their own families. The bakery owner, however, loves the rain. It brings back joyful memories from his youth: jumping in...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
The Rășcanu Weekly Update Lesson 64. Consistency Beats Intensity: How to Move Your Mountain Hi friend, We all have one. That single, looming challenge that feels less like a hurdle and more like a brick wall. Maybe for you, it’s a mountain of financial debt that keeps you up at night. Maybe you’ve been job hunting for six months, and the silence from recruiters is starting to feel personal. Perhaps it’s a health crisis, or the emotional weight of supporting a loved one through their own dark...
2 months ago • 2 min read