Yukon setups: Michael Pealow
July 10, 2010
This is the final in a series of seven interviews - first was Patrick Goruick, second was me, third was Dave Rogers, fourth was Anthony DeLorenzo fifth was Michael Johnson and sixth was Vanessa Falle - with creative people who live and work in the Yukon. Last, but not least, is Michael Pealow.
Who are you, and what do you do?
I’m a business and economic development consultant. Many people think that business and economic development are one and the same, but they’re really quite different. Business is, well, business. Economic development is all about creating an environment that fosters desirable types business activity where community members can benefit from that business activity.
On the business consulting side, I help with business plans, do feasibility studies, and provide business coaching and advisory services.
On the economic development side, I work with First Nations and municipalities on strategic economic development planning, identification and analysis of economic opportunities and barriers, negotiate impact and benefit agreements, and conduct socio-economic impact analyses.
I am often asked to provide facilitation services related to business and economic development. I deliver business and economic development workshops from time-to-time - although this aspect of my work seems to be happening more frequently.
I can do a lot of my work from the home, but I spend a fair amount of time traveling to various communities in the Yukon, NWT, and Northern BC. The workshops I deliver will soon be taking me further afield.
The idea of what I do might make some people’s eyes glaze over but I love it. Economic development, when it’s done well, makes everyone’s lives better and I find that to be very personally rewarding.
What computer hardware are you using?
I use an 2.2 GHz Apple MacBook Pro. I carry it around with me wherever I go (when I’m working). The usability and stability of the Mac has paid for itself over the frustrations and headaches of a PC many times over. When I have needed repairs, MEADIA Solutions here in Whitehorse has been great about getting things fixed quickly. I depend on my computer for most of my work so laptop downtime means frustratingly unproductive time.
I back up frequently to an Apple Time Capsule, having learned a painful lesson when I once lost an entire month’s-worth of work to a failed PC laptop (and would have lost another two months to the PC’s brutal warranty repair system if I hadn’t bought the Mac).
On occasion, I use a Sony digital IC recorder to record meetings. I use my old, but reliable, Canon S1IS digital camera for photographs of meetings and communities. The pictures come in handy when I working on various documents.
I print, copy, and fax from my Brother MFC-8440. I scan my receipts and business cards with my highly portable NeatWorks modem.
I use a Navigo modem for my Internet connection. While I despise the Navigo service, the portable modem comes in handy when I travel south and stay somewhere without WiFi.
I like to walk around when I’m talking on the phone so I never use the handset on my desk: I have four portable phones. I need all four phones because, if the battery dies on one, I have a backup available. Naturally, even with four phones I can never find one when I need one.
I have a crappy little cellphone that I can use in the communities where I work. I hate it. I don’t like having a cellphone at all. I will admit to being tempted by the Apple iPhone, but it doesn’t work in most of the communities where I work so there’s no point in getting one.
I use a blue laptop backpack to carry all my gear around when I’m on the road.
I use an 12V AC inverter that I plug into my car’s cigarette lighter. It has an audio input jack and broadcasts an FM frequency so I can hook up my 2G iPod and listen to podcasts on long road trips. I drive a Volvo XC70, which is, in my opinion, the perfect vehicle for long-distance driving in the North.
What about software?
I use Apple software (Address Book, iCal, Mail, TextEdit and Safari), but depend on Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint for the bulk of my work. I use a great little program called NeatWorks for Mac to keep track of my receipts.
I love Skype for projects when I’m collaborating with others. It’s also a handy way to stay connected to my long-distance clients - and even some clients who are closer to home. I mostly use the texting and file transfer features. I just recently discovered the “Share screen” feature which I’m sure I’ll be using a lot. When I’m away from my family for extended trips we use the video conferencing feature to “have dinner together”.
Where does the magic happen?
I am a roamer. The magic happens wherever I happen to feel like working. Sometimes it’s the couch in my office. Sometimes it’s the living room and sometimes it’s the kitchen, out in the greenhouse, the backyard, the basement, and so on. My desk is usually covered in work that needs to be filed so I seldom do any work at my desk - but it does happen from time to time.
If I need to get out of the house (because I need a change of scenery or because the kids keep interrupting me) I’ll go to the library, a local coffee shop or, if the weather is nice, a great rocky outcrop not too far from my home where I can sit with my laptop and take in a nice view of a little valley while I work. I love being able to work wherever I want.
I get some of my best ideas and insights during multi-hour drives to the communities where I work. I’m very productive on plane rides, so I look forward to those. Typing while in a supine position on a hotel room bed comes second-nature to me now.
What would be your ideal set-up?
I look forward to the day when all the devices I could ever need (including a projector) are combined into one, very robust, portable device. We’re getting there, I think.
Ideally, for writing documents, I would like a system where I could just THINK about what I want written and it would happen (without having to plug anything into my head). I type quickly but why bother with the extra step I don’t have to? Sadly, I think the technology for this one is still a long way off.
Oh, and batteries would never die. A guy can dream, can’t he?
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