Megan O'Donnell Business Leadership Summative: Portfolio

Business Leadership Summative: Portfolio

Megan O’Donnell

Business Management BOH4M S. McElrea January 19, 2020

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Table of Contents Article Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 3 Article One ..................................................................................................................... 3 Article Two ..................................................................................................................... 4 Interview of a Business Professional.................................................................................... 5 Cartoons ................................................................................................................................ 10 Cartoon One ................................................................................................................ 10 Cartoon Two ................................................................................................................ 11 Movie Reference ................................................................................................................... 12 Personality Flyer ................................................................................................................... 13 Hard Copy: Article One ........................................................................................................ 15 Hard Copy: Article Two ........................................................................................................ 17

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Article Analysis One: I Call BS on This Motivational Poster Title: I Call BS on This Poster Published: July 14, 2017 Source: Entrepreneur Magazine Summary: In this article, the author talks about a motivational poster hanging in their office, by the water cooler. It says “Success: It is not the position you stand, but the direction in which you look”, which he realizes makes literally no logical sense. So, after contemplating it for a while, he decides to call the people who made it and see if they had any insight as to what the hell it meant. Even the customer service rep admitted it was ridiculous, but did give him the useful tip that it was supposed to be a quote. So, the journalist used his skills to google search who said it. Turns out it was derived from a quote from Wendell Holmes Jr, who said “Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving.”. This makes sense to him, and he’s satisfied in his findings. However, he notes that perhaps this poster did have a positive effect despite the confusion associated with it, as it motivated him to work.

Link to Course Concepts:

Motivation: Though at first glance, this just seems like a fun article, it actually says a lot about motivation. This was an example of how autonomy inspired productivity. This worker was allowed, as a motivator, to work on a passion project. In turn, this motivation caused productivity in the strangest of ways, and produced an article that was not only fun to read, but tied in to his office work and could inspire other business workers. In the end, this proved that autonomy as a motivator can be extremely effective.

Leadership Style: This allows us, given that this worker was allowed to write an article about his findings, to imply that the office he works in has a laissez-faire style of leadership. Though autonomy was given as a motivator, it is clear through this article that he was a highly skilled journalist, and that he was used to being given a lot of independence in his daily responsibilities. This article, therefore, was a result of that. And it was a good article. This proves that in certain situations, a laissez-faire leadership style can be extremely effective.

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Article Analysis Two: Forget Glitter Bombs Title: Forget Glitter Bombs Published: May 5, 2017 Source: Entrepreneur Magazine Summary: In this article, the author starts by reminding us of the sensation that was ‘Send Glitter to Your Enemies’. They then introduce us to the new alternative way to prank the a-holes in your life: Bad Neighbour Notes. This company will send you a customized massive sticky note with a sarcastic quip for those you hate dearly, and you can stick it right on their door. This is the perfect, untraceable way to get back at those neighbours who just drive you bonkers. This company was launched by 45-year-old realtor and amateur comedian Sean Mayer, who believes it to be the best way to vent your rage without getting charged with assault. He was motivated by his own lousy neighbours, and after getting enough funding on Kickstarter, has been very successful selling many packages of these. The perk, he believes, it that whereas sending your enemies glitter is a one-time thing, he gives you plenty of sticky notes to stick as many times as you’d like for as many people.

Link to Course Concepts:

Innovation: Something we touched on briefly in this course was innovation, and how essential it is to business. Here we see the story of Sean Mayer, who saw a rather obscure need and made something to satisfy it. He took the ideas and made it into a reality. Of course, we could tie this in to how his work as a realtor allowed a lot of liberty and free reign, and this allowed him to have the time to innovate this. But he followed the innovation cycle to a tee here. He had the idea, he conceptualized it, he got the resources he needed (i.e. money from Kickstarter) and then he produced product.

Workplace Culture: This article says a lot about Sean’s workplace culture. He evidently is left to work in an area where he can be very independent. As a realtor, this isn’t surprising. It’s even less surprising as a comedian. Given this flexibility, it’s also evident that his workplace culture isn’t one hundred percent positive, that he’s getting this idea to harass his neighbours and coworkers. Really, it does link Innovation and circumstance, in this case the culture at his workplace, together quite nicely.

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Interview: Nancy O’Donnell Nancy O’Donnell self-employed CEO and Owner, ProFiles Digital Media Inc., Provincial Leader Senegence International 705-726-3517 | Cell 705-817-8737 Email: info@pro-files.ca www.believebigger.ca Interviewed on Sunday, January 19, 2020 1. What inspired you to start your business?

Well Megan I had spent over 15 years in marketing in the print and publishing industry and once we became pregnant your dad and I knew that it would provide us with the flexibility and freedom for me to work at home.

It has always been my belief that my highest honour is that to be of a mom and I wanted to make sure that I did that job really well. So, we set it up that I would work from home and it was a solution to us being able to raise you while still having me be involved in the industry but in an online capacity.

2. What are your beliefs when it comes to workplace culture? As someone who is self employed, what kind of environment have you established for yourself?

So, workplace culture is basically your character personality of your business. It is extremely important because it encourages people, either those clients, or actually people that you work with in a way that they interact with their behaviours. For example, in my business I encourage driven, motivating, hard working people who are family oriented and passionate about serving others. That is definitely my culture. I believe that your culture will be what encourages and catapults your business to be a success. People will want to match their business partners to match their own beliefs.

3. Describe a day in your life.

Describe a day in my life, wow, that is a loaded question. So, I am a woman, I am a mom, I am a wife, I am a business owner, gee I am a volunteer costume designer, I am a trainer, I am a Provincial Leader for SeneGence, I own a boutique and I love doing trade shows. So, a day in my life could look something like this. Maybe a 7am rise, taking my children to school at 8 and then I might start right into work with invoicing and order fulfillment. I would definitely be checking my email at the beginning of the day, checking social media posts, for sure I am going to be looking at meal preparation and anything that requires the virtual side of my business being website updating, graphic design or event planning. Making an exhibition or vendor event arrangements for bridal shows. If it happens to be a weekend, often my weekend day looks like being at some kind of trade show or event or boutique but it is definitely face to face with people sharing our products and opportunity.

Oh, and I sleep at night.

4. What are you proudest of as a business owner?

I am most proud 100% that my business is founded on integrity and passion and serving the needs of others.

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5. How has Pro-Files Digital Media changed over the years? Do you think it’s true when they say that a business changes with its owner?

A business totally changes with its owner and this is probably the best question you could have asked me, because as we change in life, so will our careers. It used to be in fact that most of us would find a job and work there 25 years and retire. Today that is not the way that life is. The younger Millenials coming out of school and others in the work force a 10-year career is now a 3-year timeline before moving to another job. For me, here is how ProFiles Digital Media changed over the years. I started my business in 2002 when you were born and it initially was a business founded on marketing online. I did a lot of website design for hotels and real estate agents. Search engine optimization, print graphics, manuscript typesetting, and it is definitely a business founded from the publishing industry where I was heavily involved in that sort of work. Then in 2006, when you were four years old, I started doing more personal work involving birthday invitations and as you may know, over a short period of time I actually sold over $100,000 worth of birthday invitations and cake toppers and everything online on eBay. So that shows how that business evolved as you did as a child. Then in 2012, we also added another division to my business, in the media section we began Snow Princess Anna so that we could have a business for you to go out and share your talents with children. Again, you are seeing the pattern.

My business has always been directed and driven by you in fact. Then of course, the most recent change in 2017 with my business, again was about you wanting a lipstick for performing and that ended up me becoming an independent distributor for SeneGence. So, my company became an independent distributor for SeneGence in 2017 and that was a huge change in our business because now we also had the digital media side, the performance media side, and now as an independent distributorship with SeneGence totally changed our business all the way. There is a cycle there. If you look it is every 4, 5 or 6 years my business is taking a different direction over the last 18 years, and it is heavily influenced by the same reason I started the business, having a child. You. I wonder if when you go to university, if it will change again!

6. What kind of work did you do in your younger years, like those in high school, did you do that prepared you for this job?

That’s a good question and as you will remember when we talked about culture, I believe in hard working and driven people. People who demonstrate preservice. When I was in high school, I worked three jobs. I worked at Tim Horton’s and I was there I think 4 years serving out front, working night shifts on the weekends, making donuts. Back then we made the donuts. On the day shifts we would be serving the customers. I worked at Cowan Avenue Medical Clinic which also had me serving people and I worked at Shoppers Drug Mart serving people. So, you see, that there is a commonality in that all 3 of those positions had me in a customer service role and I gained experience and confidence around people at a very young age, serving them. Learning how to handle money. I wonder if there is any connection to the fact that to me, my biggest joy in all of my business practice is that of serving others. I had gone to live with my Aunt and she had wanted me to learn how to manage money. Every week back then I would work the entire weekend and I only made $60 for the entire weekend back then. I learned that one of those weekends that money was for me for clothing. Every month I would save it to buy clothing. It does all help you not to be afraid to work. Hard working people will always make money.

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7. In addition to running your graphics business, you’re also the provincial leader for Senegence International. Describe the differences between these positions.

Ok so let’s start with ProFiles Digital Media Incorporated day to day business involve graphic generation, advertising campaigns, online marketing, marketing, website updates, SEO. SeneGence, of which we are now a distributor for almost 3 years, SeneGence is a cosmetic company that is built on network marketing and it involves exceptional products for skincare and cosmetics as well as the opportunity to help others have a direct sales business themselves. They have products that really work and a career opportunity that really works. So, the differences between the two of them is like this. There is a commonality in them that both of them service people. The differences being that in digital media I get to be creative. I am sitting behind a computer making graphics. I am getting to experience advertising campaigns and mostly virtual, but still have that joy of serving others and them being happy with the results. I am paid for everything I do in that business. On the SeneGence side, it is a very inspirational business that I became the SeneGence provincial leader, not because they pay me, it is a voluntary role, a recognition role that they have awarded to me as the Ontario Provincial Leader because of the fact that I do face to face trainings and I do a very good business and they want me to teach others and inspire them to motivate them to work a business of integrity and customer service and just one of all the character traits that you want in a leader. So, I say to people all the time, “Be the leader that you want to attract”. So, in my digital media company it is hands on work, and in SeneGence Provincial Leader for Ontario that is a volunteer recognition role that they have given to me that I do just because it gives me joy to help.

8. How does your role with SeneGence differ from conventional corporate leadership roles?

In a conventional leadership role, you are influencing others toward goals in management and leadership.

With SeneGence is a little different than that it is more of a recognition based on influencing others by my actions and encouraging them while not receiving monetary rewards. I mean they still pay me but not for being in a corporate capacity. If I encourage people in a leadership role if they become part of my team, I do in fact earn a commission based on that. But I am not paid in a corporate salaried capacity where normally conventional leaders are paid for this. With SeneGence this is something you earn. It is a recognition thing it; it is of earning respect. When you are in that leadership role it is one that you are there because of your work ethic.

9. You’ve had the chance multiple times to meet with company CEO, revolutionary business leader, and activist for feminism and MLM rights Joni Rogers-Kante in an intimate setting, including a private function on her ranch. Describe her leadership style and values. Do these reflect in her company?

Ok yes well you know Joni Rogers-Kante was somebody I had no clue who she was three years ago, and today she is probably one of the most respected women I have ever met. Joni started this company in 1999. Her leadership style is one of democratic capacity. She has a coaching / mentorship style. She creates an inspiring vision of the future and she encourages life long learning and duplication. So, for example, you know that when I first started with the company, I had no idea I would fall in love with the products and because of that, the passion just overtook and I became very successful in sharing it. Well I really wanted to meet Joni to thank her, so I worked very hard to earn an incentive that included dinner with her at the Bruno Mars concert and that is where I first met her and said, “Joni I want to thank you for all you have done for all of us thousands of women around the world, who are independent distributors”. Joni teaches that patience and determination and

8 perserverence will always make you a winner. She says it is ok to have a struggle, just don’t quit and I love that. 20 years later here she is on parliament hill, fighting for the direct sales association for all of us women to be recognized continually that network marketing and direct sales is a legitimate business and she still encourages us to provide duplication. She started 20 years ago to Wow, Book, Demo and Direct. She has a wow product, her products are amazing, she wants you to book people to show them the products to demonstrate them and direct them to either use the products or to sell them. It is totally easy to do; you just follow the steps and she has created an army of mentors just like herself now. We tell the next person the same thing. She is a phenomenal leader, and I love her leadership style and values and we try to duplicate those all the way through as we expand into other countries of US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico last year and Hong Kong this year. When I arranged for 26 Canadians to go to her personal home for personal training do you know that she cancelled a dinner engagement with President Bush because I gave her 3 months notice. She was able to say, “Yes Nancy I can have you and your Canadian team. I would love to see you there”. She didn’t tell us about the cancellation until we were at the training. We felt so important that she made herself available to us. Joni is in her 60s and going strong.

10. How powerful do you consider word of mouth to be as a tool in your business?

Word of mouth has been and is one of the strongest marketing tools that people can use. Especially because if you are a small business when you are starting out advertising is very expensive. So WOM is basically a way that you can have buyer confidence shared within people networks. Basically, if you bought from me and told your friend, your friend will trust that what you say is true. So, she will actually believe you more than she will believe a radio advertisement. So, you have a ton of top product and you provide excellent customer service, and you are friendly and thank everybody for their business. You promote what makes you special to all of your clients; your word of mouth will be your single most powerful marketing tool for spreading your business.

Social media today makes word of mouth even that much more powerful. Any business that has people sharing either on social media or person to person, it makes my heart sing when someone says to me “Hi I am Jane Doe, and I am contacting you because my friend said you were awesome.” For example, one customers Aunt and Mom out west, both ordered from me because she gave them my name. That is the best form of referral you can get. They trust you already and you haven’t even served them yet.

11. What do you think is the biggest obstacle for new business owners?

If I had to choose one business obstacle, I mean there are lots of obstacles, people are afraid that they will lose their jobs, people are afraid that maybe they won’t have benefits. That is the biggest obstacle. FEAR. Single word. Fear. It is the biggest obstacle. They are afraid of the financial issues that come with not being employed by “the man” as we call the corporate world. The fear of not have people around them to support them. In the corporate world people are used to having people to have a coffee with and chit chat and feel included. No health benefits, generally speaking, you can join your chamber of commerce and that sort of thing to get health benefits but most entrepreneurs starting out on a new business venture are afraid of failure so badly that it can restrict them and they are afraid that they won’t have enough support. I always tell people that mindset is the key to overcoming that fear. When you have passion, it will help you overcome all of those obstacles.

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12. How important do you believe passion is in running a business? Is there a place for it? Or is it so essential that you can’t run a business without it?

Not coming from any kind of a text book response, I am going to tell you that for me I am driven by passion.

When I am passionate about something it is very hard for me to mask it. What happens though is that passion will fuel your integrity so for example when you are passionate about a product and you love it, you will tell everybody. When you aren’t you are probably not going to promote it. The fact that I am honest is matched by my passion. They can tell which products that I love and that I am a business of integrity and that I tell both sides of the story. It drives me to succeed. Passion inspires trust and it will fuel sales. When people feel your passion, they will buy it. She has faith in that person so let’s work with them. Inspires confidence in the business. It is totally 100%. Clients appreciate your passion. It will catapult your business.

Analysis of Interview: Through interviewing Nancy, it has become very evident that today’s successful business woman must organize a life of balance as she wears many hats. She highlights that companies and entrepreneurs who approach their market with an attitude of service and a dedication to quality product will always be successful. She highlighted for us the changing nature of organizations especially well in highlighting her own business’ growth, and she has shown an exceptional amount of flexibility in growing with it. She believes in an ethical practice that is socially responsible and brings the customer first. She has described how Senegence International is lucky to be utilizing her as a part of their intellectual capital, and has outlined the positive culture she’s created in both of her businesses. Her position with Senegence shows their rewards system, and I believe her enthusiasm speaks for how effective it is. She is the perfect example of Job satisfaction and employee empowerment. Nancy has perfectly described the current climate in business where the power lies with the consumer. She clearly outlines her strategies for dealing with this. Her daily routine shows us how much stress is on the working woman today. Over all, I think that the most important thing to take from Nancy’s interview is her segment on fear. I believe it is applicable not only to those looking into starting their own businesses, but to anyone who is going into the work world in a new position. There is always going to be that obstacle of fear that gets in the way of you achieving all that you potentially could. But Nancy deals with it well, telling us to face it head on. It is all in the mindset, and the sooner you start to look for solutions as opposed to problems, the sooner you start to reap the rewards. Nancy has implemented a people-oriented strategy for her business. This is because (and I can says this with confidence since she raised me) she is a people oriented person, so this is how she is most comfortable functioning. She is in a position with both companies she works for where she is responsible for planning and organizing a lot. She is lucky that, being self employed as she is, she never really needs to deal with conflict save for when I get grumpy or she gets grumpy- common enough occurrences, in which place there are some workplace disputes. Over all, Nancy provided some very interesting insight, especially using some older concepts in a new and changing business world and seeing the effectiveness of them still to this day. She works hard, and she is an inspiration to all of us going into business to keep working and planning and doing without fear.

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Cartoons

This cartoon links to motivation. Fear and Greed are not the most positive of motivators. This usually indicates that these people were fighting to maintain Herzberg’s Hygiene factors such as sustainable pay.

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The above cartoon brings to the forefront the point that some companies are only socially responsible to make a profit and not to be ethically run businesses. This is unfortunately true in some cases, where large companies fund charities just to look better and not because they genuinely care for their stakeholders.

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Movie Reference: Falling Down Summary: The film Falling Down follows the story of a man known as D-Fens. While in the car, D-Fens realizes that its his daughter’s birthday, and decides to go home to his daughter. Through a series of actions including harassment at a convenience store and shooting up a burger joint, we learn that D-Fens is a man of violent tendencies. His wife has a restraining order against him, and the police are hot on his trail to make sure that he doesn’t achieve his goal of getting to his child. In the end, he finds his wife and child on a pier, and when he is made to back away, reaches for a gun. The chief of police shoots him just as he reveals it is a water gun, and he falls to his death.

Concept One- Motivation: The character of D-Fens is an example of a character evidently not motivated by Herzberg’s Hygiene needs, otherwise he would be at his office working to get his salary. He is motivated solely by satisfiers. He’s functioning on Maslow’s Self Actualization level. For him, that means two things: working alone and being with his daughter. It’s revealed in the film that he’s a very successful businessman working for a tech company, meaning he’s a highly skilled worker.

So evidently, he likes the time to work on his own tasks. The rash behaviour of making this elaborate plan to find his daughter as an independent task proves that for him autonomy is a great motivator. Also, the reward for him of realizing his dream of being in the perfect family again is him working towards a higher purpose, for self-attainment.

Concept Two- Ethics: This is also an example of the improper handling of justice. D-Fens distributes his own justice throughout the film. Where he feels that a general store owner is charging too much for a can of pop, he starts destroying areas of the store with a baseball bat. Though he is right that the corruption exists, he isn’t smart in the way he deals with it. Same when he is refused a breakfast item off the menu of a restaurant five minutes after breakfast ends. Although these companies are not acting ethically and should be facing reprimand, D-Fens’ methods of repercussion are not appropriate.

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Personality Flyer: Megan O’Donnell Myers-Briggs Type: ENFP This personality means that I am extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling and Perceiving. I am a people person, and I do well in environments working with others. In fact, I am best motivated in a team situation. I am very adaptable and think outside of the box. As can see, there’s not too many of us.

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What I Offer an Organization: I bring hard work and dedication one hundred percent of the time. I’m very good at reading both people and situations, and my out of the box thinking style allows me to give insight that a lot of people wouldn’t see. I’m a solutions person, always looking past a problem to see how it can be fixed. Finally, I have a keen mind for marketing, and was an International Finalist in the Advertising Campaign category of DECA. Ideal Working Environment I would work well in a team-based environment where I can bounce my ideas off of other people and help people with bouncing their ideas as well. The work space should be very open, as I am a kinesthetic thinker- I think best when moving or fidgeting. The attire wouldn’t need to be too fancy. In fact, I would prefer to be able to work and live in my leggings and hoodie if I could. I find myself fidgeting a lot with my outfit if it’s anything fancy. A collectivist perspective would be more what I’m searching for in my workplace culture. I’d also find it important that there be time within work to build relationships to become comfortable with my team.

Five Ideal Jobs for Me: Opera Performer: This is a position in which I work closely with the creative team and my fellow performers in order to produce a production. It gives me room to breathe creatively, and is a work environment that gives me a lot of flexibility to move when I need it.

Music Teacher: This allows me to put my years of skill development to work. Ideally this would be in a studio setting where I would have fellow teachers to consult with. I would be working one on one, directly with people, which is something I love to do and suits my extroverted personality.

Author: This would allow me to put my out of the box thinking to use. Although it isn’t a teamoriented position, it is a position in an environment where I have the freedom to move and do what I need to produce my best work.

Composer: This allows me to put my theory skills to work and do something I love. I’d likely be an in-studio composer, so I’d be collaborating with many like-minded people, which would create the environment of idea-bouncing that I find very important.

Music Director: This behind the scenes position would have me working closely with many people, allowing me to use my people skills. It would allow me the liberty to think outside the box and try new things to create something original even with classic content. And the work environment allows for a lot of movement so I could think.

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Personality Dimension’s Colour I am a Green, a visionary. As you can see from above, it lines up a lot with my ENFP personality. I am a very determined individual and very trustworthy. I think outside of the box, and I have a perspective where I see both the big picture and small details. I am also a quick learner.

Skills Inventory Grade 10 RCM Piano, Grade 10 RCM Voice, Award-winning Public Speaker, DECA Internationally Recognized Advertising Campaign specialist, experience with children, highlevel music theory, fast typer, outside of box thinker, solution seeker, poet, excellent written communication skills.

Intended Future Career Path: Opera Performer I intend to go into performing in opera. The stage is where I can be the most creative and where I feel I can put my years of skill development to the best use. It is both a phenomenal personality fit for me and what I am passionate about.

Career Idol: Renee Fleming Renee Fleming is a performer who is internationally recognized. She has performed everywhere from La Scala to The Met. She also does some theatre, most recently starring in a production of The Light in the Piazza on the West End. Her resume is filled with all roles that I hope to sing for one day, and she has managed to raise a family while balancing her success.

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I Call B.S. on This Motivational Poster Dan Bova ENTREPRENEUR STAFF

Editorial Director (Entrepreneur Magazine July 2017 Edition) A scan of the walls in Entrepreneur's New York office reveals some pretty cool and helpful stuff. Framed covers of Entrepreneur magazine show all of the incredible people we’ve interviewed over the years. Monitors display the constantly updating data that is critical to our digital operation. And an exit sign points us in the proper direction to go home.

But then there’s this: This poster hangs over our water cooler. No one knows where it came from or who hung it there. Some motivationally-minded elf apparently popped into our office one magical night, nailed it up and returned to his home dimension in a puff of smoke.

So this morning, while hydrating, I was staring at the poster for the 100,000th time and I was suddenly hit with a question: What the hell does that mean, anyway?

Success: It is not the position you stand, but the direction in which you look.

Doesn’t your position directly affect which direction you can look? I mean, if you’re facing north, maybe you can look a little east and a little west (if you didn’t sleep in a funny position and have a stiff neck like I currently do.) But looking south? Sorry, unless you are the little girl from The Exorcist, looking directly behind you ain’t going to happen. That is, of course, you turned yourself around thereby changing your position!

But leaving aside compasses, what if I was positioned at the bottom of this picture? Well, then I’d be looking directly into the trunk of a tree rather than an overly-retouched sunset. And how does that help anyone, poster?

I was filled with the urge to rip it down and burn it with one of the leftover birthday cake candles in our kitchen. But before committing to a minor act of arson, I decided to call the poster's maker, Pyramid America (“America’s Premiere Source for Iconic Art & Posters”) to see if they could explain what I was missing.

Me: Hi, I wanted to ask a question about one of your posters?

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Pyramid America Customer Service Rep: Okay.

Me: The poster is about success. The poster claims that it is not the position you stand, but the direction in which you look.

Rep: Give me one second, I will look that up…that poster has been discontinued. I’m so sorry.

Me: Well, don’t be too sorry. We have it hanging on a wall at my office and I was just wondering—do you know what it means?

Rep: Um, no idea. Tell me what it says again?

Me: "It is not the position you stand, but the direction in which you look."

Rep: Huh…I’m guessing if you are looking backwards you’re looking toward the past? If you’re forward, you’re looking toward your future? Kind of? In a way?

Me: But isn’t forward or backward the position that you’re standing, which directly affects the direction that you're looking?

Rep: Yeah, you’re right. It was just a quote from somebody they put on a poster. I don’t know what it means.

Me: Maybe that’s why it is discontinued.

Rep: Could be!

Me: Can I get a refund on it?

Rep: No. Validated in the “this doesn’t make sense” department, I was intrigued by her thought that it could be a quote from “somebody.” Who is this "somebody" going around slapping nonsensical sayings on cheesy pictures? Then I remembered: I'm a journalist and I could put my investigative experience to work to find the answer. (And with that, I typed the phrase from the poster into Google.)

Direct hit! Turns out the phrase was uttered once by "somebody" -- or at least some version of it was. The saying is a bastardization of a quote by formerly-living Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Wendell Holmes, Jr. His quote, in part, reads, “Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving.”

Now that makes sense. Mystery solved. And now that I’ve cracked this case, I am motivated to go out and uncover more truths.

(Wait a minute -- maybe this stupid poster worked after all? Oh, you’re good, poster. You are good.)

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Forget Glitter Bombs: Here's a New Passive-Aggressive Way to Shame Your Bad Neighbors Kim Lachance Shandrow (Entrepreneur Magazine May 2018 Edition)

Glitter? Pffft. It’s the stuff of kindergarten, not revenge. It’s too light, sparkly and cute to make your enemies pay, particularly if they’re jackass neighbors. You know the kind: Inconsiderate punks all about that bass at all hours of the night, loudly banging more than their heads like they just don’t care.

No, for the overachieving jerks next door, you gotta to stick it to them with something meaner, something that stinks of shame, something realllly special: sticky notes. And not the wimpy kind your boss litters your proposals with. Big, bad, perfectly passive-aggressive sticky notes the size of a full sheet of paper. The kind expressly printed to publicly shame lame neighbors for rude, lewd or just plain annoying behaviors.

They’re called Bad Neighbour Notes and you can stick ‘em where the sun shines -- right on your neighbors’ front doors for all to see. Then sneak away, quick like a bunny, before anyone sees you.

They’re your best, non-incriminating bet for keeping naughty neighbors in check, so says Sean Mayers, the evil genius behind the latest wacky entrant into the budding anonymous, nonviolent revenge market. (Yes, it’s a thing, not a load of cow crud.) The best part? You get to make Johnny Rotten Neighbor feel bad and he’ll never know it’s you. Hopefully.

Mayers, a Toronto-based realtor and amateur stand-up comedian, thinks his customizable marks of shame will “strike a chord” with people who, you know, just can’t deal with mature, face-to-face adult confrontation, a.k.a cowards. Not the mean ones, though.

“An anonymous note with a sarcastic message is the least mean way to vent your frustration with a neighbor,” Mayers told Entrepreneur, “without ending up in jail for assault.”

The 45-year-old launched his convenient, prefab modern day Scarlet Letters today on Kickstarter, with a random funding goal of $2,891. At the time this was written, 12 people, probably conflict-averse milksops, had backed the 28-day campaign.

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The lovingly illustrated nastygrams call out a laundry list of common kvetches people have with their neighbors, with obvious categories like “barking dog,” “loud music,” “people arguing,” “weird food smells” and, the vilest shame cave in the bunch, “loud sex.” Each brightly-colored, adhesive 4”x6” demerit is stamped with a bold, scornful headline to “let them know you mean business.”

Pick the one that fits the crime, circle the time and the day of the week your neighbor screwed with your zen, oh-so-gently slap it on their door and feel the passive aggression satisfyingly flood your yellow veins. Phew. “No more need for hand written [sic], anger-filled notes in illegible handwriting. Let’s see a police hand-writing [sic] expert prove it was you now ;)” Bad Neighbour Notes aren’t quite the hilarious reads that these pissed-off neighbor love notes are. Still, they're just harsh enough to cost your neighbors their dignity, but, mild guilt aside, they won’t cost you much. Various package deals are available for $9, $15 and $25, including -- oh, boy! -- a NSFW bonus edition. More like NSIYLYJ -- Not Safe If You Like Your Job. Mayers, a self-professed lifelong inventor-entrepreneur, says the inspiration for the neighborshaming notes are, you guessed it, his own super crappy neighbors. A “yappy little dog” barks non-stop while he works from his apartment all day, he says, and his upstairs neighbor constantly stomps on the floor, blasting music, howling along out of tune. Good times.

Oh, and Mayers claims his wares are much more menacing than mere glitter.

“ShipYourEnemiesGlitter is all about one-time revenge,” he says. “Bad Neighbour Notes is all about the ability to avenge yourself over and over again for all of the annoying things your neighbour does to you.” Just don’t get caught sticky-handed.

What’s Mayers’ explanation for the funky spelling of “neighbour”? “I’m Canadian, eh.” Ah, now it all makes sense.