Tag Archives: Kurt Heinrich

Kurt Heinrich – Professional Storyteller

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Who are you?

I work as a professional storyteller. In my spare time I volunteer on a variety of community initiatives like Portland FC, a soccer team based in the Downtown Eastside.

What do you do for fun?

I like to cook, cycle, read, chillax, eat French and Japanese food, play with my friends, shoot the breeze with my mom, dad and sisters, explore new and interesting communities, sip the Bump and Grind’s delicious Clover brew, and spend time with my lovely red headed partner Theo.

What’s your favorite community and why?

Right now my favorite community is the Drive. It’s hip, happening and varied, hosting people as diverse as a Deloitte consultant (you know who you are…) to a stick twirling, homemade-leather-clothed dude known as “Cloud Man”.

What is your superpower?

My strong sense of direction on the road…of life.

How does your power help you build community?

You need direction to build community. Without it, you’de just meander about aimlessly in your own head space. Great things seldom come from lack of direction.

My Three Favourite Things About Kurt Are…

Kirk Heinrich, not Kurt Heinrich

1. He’s from the 1950s. Not really. But sometimes he talks like he is. For example, he says things like “Golly” and “Gee Whiz” and “that McCarthy character is not to be trusted” – okay, so maybe he doesn’t say the last thing too often. Kurt’s sense of honour and stoicism can probably be traced back to this time period as well – he’s not afraid of nuances, and he knows his morals and values and will always stick to ‘em.

2. Positivity in Everyone and Everything. Kurt’s trans-partisanship is impressive stuff. He has formed meaningful relationships with so many people from so many places around the world and across the political spectrum – Kurt can see the good in many different people, places and things. This makes him an exceptional cross-cultural and inter-generational communicator as well as a masterful and experienced communicator.

3. You Want This Guy in Your Car on a Road Trip. I’ve traveled to Toronto and back (and many places in between) with Kurt Heinrich, and he is an absolute gentleman and a scholar in the car. As I’ve written about on this blog before, I have a severe blood disorder to ultra-violet light x-men superpowers that make driving across Minnesota in the middle of July kinda hard. When times were tough and I said to Kurt “this whole thing was a terrible idea” he didn’t give up or freak out or leave me by the roadside. Not even close. He devised a plan to “outflank the Sun” (totally his amazing words) and was absolutely the reason that we made it to Toronto on time for a wedding with a best man who was only cinged, not extra crispy. Long story short, Kurt Heinrich is one of the most dedicated, kind, friendly, and creative people I know. And, whether it’s in a car or on a soccer field or in an office, he’s a guy that you want on your team. 

Martin Muli – Our Man in Nairobi

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Who are you?

I am Martin Muli Makau Muli a young energetic 28 years old single man- I just realized that am growing old and therefore am contemplating changing my name to Mateen which is sounds and looks more youthful and appealing. I come  from a small village called matuu near the famous Ndallas hotel  but  I stay in Nairobi the city in the sun.  Nairobi is in Kenya and Kenya is in Africa!

What do you do for fun?

I ussually hang out with friends interested in discussing world issues including a critical analysis of local politics, entrepreneurship and social issues. Of late, i have found myself gravitating towards movies- the funny family kind of movies. I hate horrors though!  I am also into swimming a new hobby i picked up in Merville a small village in BC, Canada. I can now comfortably do back strokes!

What is your Favourite Community?

Politicians and entrepreneurs form my favourites communities.  They alway think outside the box and are always faced with new challenges each day. I am fascinated by their ability to build something from nothing and at the same time turn friends into enemies and enemies into friends.

What is your superpower?

Listening. Smiling. Analytical.

I listen like a homicide detective. This gives me a lot of stability and control over situations and therefore i am able to handle crisis and help people get over tough situations.  I share alot with entrepreneurs and politicians who face challenges everyday. I am able to analyze and disseminate all information with a simple smile.  Just imagine you tell me how tough and complicated things are and then i look at you, smile and start talking. Listening is for grasping the real scenario, Smile for disarming all negatives and Analytics is for putting you back  on course!

How do you use it to build community?

Two words: smile-analysis.

My Three Favourite Things About Martin Muli Are…

1. Dancing. Having a dance party? Be sure to invite Martin Muli. He’s a dance-machine who can dip and bend in ways that make un-rhythmic North American Germans like Kurt Heinrich shudder and stiffen. Martin Muli dances his soul.

2. Generosity. I’m lucky to know that when Michelle and visit Kenya we will be welcomed into the Muli family’s home with open arms. This may or may not be why I ensured that the Daily Gumboot finance the opening of a bureau in East Africa…

3. “Canadians are not passionate.” This comment came out during a discussion of Kenya’s near-collapse into anarchy. Martin Muli asked me what it would take for Canadians to show a Kenyan-kind – or any kind – of passion towards their politics. As much as it stung, I appreciated his candor, honesty and, well, that he’s pretty accurate in his assessment of our being a pretty wussie nation of non-boat-rockers.

As told by John Horn…

Pirate Communities: Business and Governance

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Blackbeard knew branding: I think we get the message, yes?

[Editor's note: Sunday, September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day...I'm just saying.]

Last week two dear friends sent me two different articles about pirate prominence. The first was from Gumbooteer, Stewart Burgess (his pen name is s||A), and it discusses the rise of pirates-as-kingmakers in Somalia. The second article was sent to me by Director of UBC Career Services, Howie Outerbridge – actually, he sent it to my boss and apologized for encouraging me; the article that Howie sent, after all, was entitled “What Business Executives Can Learn From Pirates.” It’s always nice when my senseless rants about pirate communities being benchmarks for progressive ideologies are affirmed by those smarter and better looking than myself.

To summarize, pirates are leaders in governance and business. Here’s why…

Business + Pirates = Awesome

According to, well, me, pirate ships have historically been bastions of democratic principles, where the

interests of many were, naturally, aligned with the overall goals of the organization. Fazil Mihlar’s recent article in up-and-coming “newspaper,” the Vancouver Sun acknowledges what Kurt Heinrich has known since we began chatting about pirates: “since the pirate crew (shareholders/ employees) collectively owned the ship, they had to keep the captain (CEO/management) in check.” Mihlar – with Peter Leeson’s popular Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates as his muse – smartly delves into health care (in addition to democracy, pirate ships were also the first place to see health care benefits and compensation practiced) and corporate branding.

“Awesome” + Community = Governance?

NEWS FLASH: Somalia is in turmoil! The American-backed central government is on the ropes, with a few different warlords vying for power and an Al Queda supported Shabab militant group close to toppling the regime. Jeffrey Gettleman’s article points out the unfortunate situation of Somalia’s government: “Squished between the two, we have to become friends with the pirates,” Mr. Noor said. “Actually, this is a great

Seriously, this is an alleged picture of Mohamed Garfanji

opportunity.” There sure is a great opportunity: for the pirates to take both sides! After all, the most nefarious dude in the Gulf of Aden, Mohamed Garfanji, isn’t you’re typical pirate.  Remember the name, as his clever consolidation of power by creating a grassroots following of local (the community in the pirate enclave of Hobyo), regional (coastal communities pissed off at international fishers and polluters that have decimated Somalia’s coastline) and national (a central government that is teetering on the brink of destruction and needs people-power, firepower and cash) might just see the purple-rain-coated buccaneer become the next leader of Somalia. Like Mitch Albom says, “build a little community of those you love and who love you.” And then give that community millions of dollars and anti-aircraft guns and try your hand at governance in the worst place on Earth!

So, whether you’re teaching Business 101 or planning Phase 3 of your Tea Party Revolution, remember that you can always learn from Pirate Communities!

- JCH

Your Digital Fill – Ironic Icelandic Democracy

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Dear Kurt Heinrich,

I know that you’re not Johnisms biggest fan. Fair enough. As someone not named John, you will be irrelevant and, probably, disappeared when the revolution comes. Speaking of “the revolution,” Johnism – actually, Jonism – just won a pretty hilarious victory on the Icelandic front (fun fact: the Icelandic front is one of the most important fronts in the Johnism revolution).

Kurt, even you must appreciate the politicking that must have had to happen in order for this fantastically grassroots story to unfold. So that you can appreciate democracy inaction, here’s a video for your review:



And, well, this guy is the new Mayor of Reykjavik, where two-thirds of Icelandic people live. Amazing. Go Jo(h)nism!

Have a good one, Kurt. And, hey, people named John will always be looking for helpful supporters a few years (or weeks) from now.

Your pal always (or until the revolution),

- John…ism

A Vancouver Transportation Story

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For my post this week I was originally going to write about the concept of reputation, with a particular focus on Lebron James and his classless, drunk-on-ego Superfriends performance (filtered nicely through the thoughtful lens of two heroes, Alexandra Samuel and Steve Nash). And then I was going to argue that rural living is superior to urban living in every way. And then I was going to discuss the ridiculousness of how 90% or more of medical, financial, delivery, and professional services operate on a 9-5 time line, which is exactly when most of their clients are working.

But that all changed after an epic 99 B-Line bus ride from Commercial Drive to UBC.

Here is the Cast of Characters who made up our commuter community today:

The Bus Driver of Bus Number R8061: a fortysomething man clad in a hipster hat and in possession of a pocketful of righteousness.

Broadway Bike Rider: a woman dressed all in black, wearing a helmet, fearless, full of conviction.

Jack Sparrow with a Bicycle: nice guy, we chatted logistics as we put our bikes on together at Commercial Drive (mine went on first because I was getting off at UBC)…and he looked like a pirate.

Thoughtful Young Commuter: glasses, short haircut, clever looking backpack: everything about the kid looked smart.

Engaging Senior Citizen: a very “big picture” thinker who tried to find common ground amongst our Wednesday morning commuter community.

The Chorus: the background opinions and verbosity that echoed the primary dialogue and also piped up to fill the heavy silences.

It happened exactly like this, more or less:

Suddenly, there was a fierce braking by the driver followed by a long, loud, incessant honk of the horn (not me, the bus’s horn).

“You’re in the middle of the lane!” said the Driver.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” said Jack Sparrow. “What are you doing?! That was not right. You’re only a foot and a half away from her! Jesus. You could’ve killed her.”

“She’s gotta share the road,” replied The Driver.

The Chorus: “What happened? What happened?”

“She is sharing the road,” spat Jack Sparrow.

“She’s in the middle of the lane. It’s a bus lane,” spat back The Driver.

“You might not agree with what she’s doing,” piped up Thoughtful Young Commuter (TYC). “But that’s no way to deal with it. What if your brakes failed? Hell, what if one brake failed? You would’ve run her over.”

“Look. Right there. It says ‘BUS AND BIKE LANE’!” pointed Jack Sparrow.

The Chorus: “Did you see it? Did you see it? Should we just call Translink or the police, too?”

The bus pulls up to the stop sign.

“Hey! You can’t take up a whole lane. It’s for buses,” The Driver shouted out the window to the Broadway Bike Rider (BBR), who was on his left. “Share the road.”

The light turns green and the BBR sped out in front of the bus. As she rode, the BBR pointed to the “Bus and Bike Lane” signs that dotted the street every 15-20 meters. Interesting.

Honking continued.

“They shouldn’t have a shared bike and bus lane. It causes problems like this one right here,” the Engaging Senior Citizen (ESC) contributed to the discussion, which was very lively at this point.

“Fine, honk at her when she’s 100 meters away, that’s fine,” Jack Sparrow was coaching The Driver on proper techniques. “Keep your distance. Fine. Let her know you’re coming and use the other lane to swing out and go around her.”

“She’s not sharing the road,” repeated The Driver.

“Look, she’s allowed to ride three feet from the curb. It’s her right,” said TYC.

“Okay, here, look to your left. Just pull out into the next lane – even just a little bit – and pass her. See, it’s just that easy. No need to act the way you’re acting, man.” The Driver was steering, but Jack Sparrow was pretty much driving the bus.

Red light. The doors fly open and the BBR finds herself – yet again – to be the target of The Driver’s verbal barrage.

“This is a lane for buses. You can’t ride in the middle of it. Get out of the road before something bad happens,” yelled The Driver.

“The sign clearly says it’s a bike and bus lane. We share it. You can go around me easily,” yelled back the BBR.

“So share it,” retorted The Driver.

The Chorus: “Why isn’t she riding on tenth? It’s a bike street. This guy is an asshole! I’d be riding in front of the bus too if he tried to hit me. What? Do you want to get run over by a bus?”

Dramatic re-creation of the Character "Jack Sparrow...on a bike"!

“There shouldn’t be a shared lane for bicycles and buses,” offered the Engaging Senior Citizen. “It doesn’t make any sense. Especially on Broadway.”

“[INSERT SEVERAL EXPLETIVES HERE],” expressed Jack Sparrow. “You’re encroaching on her! You’re pushing her against the curb!”

Sure enough, the 99 B-Line was inching ever so slightly on an angle towards the curb. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a cyclist on the sidewalk – on the wrong side of the road – weaving through pedestrians. A wry, ironic smile creeps across my lips.

“Do you understand what you’re doing?” asked TYC. “What do you think this is doing to the rider? She’s getting scared. You’re making her an enemy of buses. Stop it now. You’re already in enough trouble. Just stop it.”

Exiting Chorus Members on their phones: “Yeah, the bus number is R8061…”

“You need to get out of the bus lane!” chided the unrelenting Driver, mostly to himself, as the doors were now closed.

“[INSERT MORE EXPLETIVES]!” Captain Jack Sparrow was getting close to vigilante justice. “You’re a terrible person and I hope you lose your job for this.”

Away went the BBR, ahead of the bus, continuing to point at the bus/bike lane signs. The Driver, as he held down his horn, moved out around the cyclist, back into the bus/bike lane, and continued along Broadway (later he would produce another long, angry horning, but it was because of a confusedly-parked driver and, folks, that’s another story for another time). The Driver – clearly – was having a very  bad day.

THE END

Vancouver is an interesting place to cycle (and, apparently, take the bus!). In the past year the city’s built landscape has changed a fair bit because of the bike-friendly creations on the Burrard Street Bridge and the Dunsmuir Viaduct. These things are supposed to make cycling safer. And we’re supposed to be future-living in the world’s greenest, most bicycle-oriented city. Or at least that’s the idea.

In the past few weeks one of my pedaling friends was hit by a car and another was hit by pavement after avoiding a car. This year I’ve seen half-a-dozen sprawled-out, injured cyclists at the horrible Clark-and-Tenth intersection, too. And then there’s Kurt Heinrich, whose casual cycling through stop signs and traffic lights has earned him over $300 in tickets. I confront annoying sidewalk-bike-riders on Commercial Drive nearly every time I go outside. And then there’s this – the above tale of a very overzealous bus driver. No matter how you spin or slice it, cycling is a messy business here in Vancouver.

So there it is. This story is just part of the larger fabric. And I bet ten more just like it pop up in your lives by the end of the week.

-  JCH

Kurt Heinrich: Trendsetter

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Dear The New York Times Fashion Section.

Hi guys and gals. John here. Thanks again for all the fan mail. It really keeps us going. So, you know how your editorial department asks for our advice on a lot of story angles? Well, you kinda missed a pretty important one. As it happens, Kurt G. Heinrich is a fashion icon. Recently, you published an article called “The Art of the Pants Roll” and showcased the myriad “new” and “hip” and “trendy” and “cool” and “New York” and “fashionable” ways people can roll up their pants and, by doing so, be part of NYT-approved high-culture.

But there is a problem. Once again, you’ve stolen ideas from the Daily Gumboot. For you see, pals, Managing Editor Kurt Heinrich has been rolling his pants* up for years. Here on the West Coast – or FashionMeccaTrendsettingAwesomeTown – we call the look “The Huck Finn”. Your “pants roll” idea is cool too, though.

Anyway, there’s no need to send a written apology or anything. We know you feel bad enough already. But if you’d like to send Kurt a nice pair of rollable pants we wouldn’t hold it against you.

Thanks for your time and for the memories. Have fun with it.

Kind regards,

John Horn, Editor-in-Chief

*photographic evidence to follow…

Kurt Heinrich: trendsetting in 2008!

The New York Times's Fashion Section: Two Years Too Late!

The Interview: Opening Doors to a Workplace Community

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Getting into a challenging, dynamic, rewarding, organized, and fun workplace community is a tricky business. For a myriad of reasons, competition is as intense as it’s ever been, and job seekers around the world are in tough when it comes to showcasing their can, want, fit* with an organization.

For example, a recent power-move by Co-Editor, Kurt Heinrich, and Back End Guy, Mike Boronowski, has put me in an awkward position – I have to formally apply for the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Gumboot.

One of my students recently helped me prepare for the interview by forwarding along some innovative “new” potential questions from Ben Dattner, founding principal of organizational consulting and research firm Dattner Consulting. The full article can be found in an up-and-coming financially-minded newspaper called The Wall Street Journal. As for the link love, WSJ, hey – you’re welcome!

Typically, Career Educators like me will tell students/clients that the CAR (context, action, result) model is the best approach for giving great interview answers. Will the age-old formula stand up to Mr. Dattner’s five must-ask interview questions:

1. In what ways will this role help you stretch your professional capabilities?

CONTEXT: This question implies a future-tense answer, right? Hmmm…kinda hard for me to put it in past-context – wait, I’ve got it! Okay, so I know this job will require me to stretch my need to be liked by people; I get upset if people don’t like me, especially if I perceive it to be “for no reason.”

ACTION: From time to time, our Correspondents miss deadlines, spell things wrong or just won’t stop being from Toronto. Delivering difficult information, such as reprimanding a Correspondent over jeopardizing “the streak” will develop my leadership skills in important ways.

RESULT: Delivering difficult information and making unpopular decisions is part of being an Editor, and I am prepared to be unpopular, even if it means firing the guy who is writing in his third language and thinks the Nordiques are still a hockey team.

2. What have been your greatest areas of improvement in your career?

CONTEXT: Over the past five years I have really come into my own with technology, which wasn’t easy for a rural-raised Vancouver Islander who hasn’t taken any technical courses and who also had just one professor that used computers during five years of university and two history degrees.

ACTION: Whatever the technological niche in my workplace, I’ve filled it – or at least tried to. Like when I encouraged a certain community college to start using the Internet in 2005. That was kind of a big deal.

RESULT: Recent findings show that the internet is important, which makes me well suited to lead a twitblog that will be navigating its pipes and tubes for decades to come.

3. What’s the toughest feedback you’ve ever received and how did you learn from it?

CONTEXT: When I was eight years old one of my mom’s friends asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her that I wanted to be a “fire truck.” She said, “You mean a fireman?” I said, “No, I said ‘fire truck.’” And she replied, “John, that’s impossible and you’re being ridiculous!” Man, did that ever sting.

ACTION: “Impossible, you say? Nothing is impossible when you work for the circus.” That’s what I learned. Creativity is only limited if you let it be limited. I’ll be a fire truck one day – trust me.

RESULT: My creativity excellently supplements my uncompromising vision– ridiculous or otherwise – for this project. Whether it’s spending way too much money that we don’t have on capital investments, compromising my other job by writing/editing too much or alienating the entire Internet by trying to get everyone involved in the Daily Gumboot, I promise to be the guy who takes things way too far.

4. What are people likely to misunderstand about you?

CONTEXT: People usually misunderstand my trendsetting ideology, Johnism. These people are named “Kurt” 92.8% of the time.

ACTION: Johnism is a tongue-in-cheek commentary about brokenness of our global system of leadership – the ironic argument is that the world would be the same or better off if, say, neoliberal democracy was replaced by leadership made up of people with the most common name in that region (ie. John/Juan/Jean/Giovanni/Johann).  The fact that the faux-ideology is also sexist because of the name, well, is another pretty apt commentary on how global leadership is grossly exclusionary of women.

RESULT: My editorial range runs the gamut of sensation, from New Yorker-ish pretentiously highbrow to Daily Show-ish crude brilliance. Johnism covers it all, man.

5. If you were giving your new staff a “user’s manual” to you, to accelerate their “getting to know you” process, what would you include in it?

CONTEXT: Pictures say a thousand words, which is why I always bring along the photographic representation of The John Horn User Manual to meetings like this (see photo).

ACTION: Jesus implies kindness, sensitivity and vision. The Pirate represents democracy, resilience, environmental stewardship, and fashion. The Ninja is all about research, planning and shade from the Sun. And the Cyborg reflects efficiency, logic and unrelenting drive. Together, the Cyborg Pirate Ninja Jesus will help people “get to know” a multi-dimensional leader who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

RESULT: Nothing accelerates the “getting to know you” process like a ridiculous, possibly controversial, entry-point that inspires questions. If people on my team ‘get’ this and understand that, say, the reference to Jesus is in no way offensive, but an honest celebration of spirituality, then we will have fun with it together. Because, I think, my manual pretty much screams “fun!”

Thanks for your time, gentlemen. These were innovative questions that, I think, any people-developers should use during their next interview.

Your thank you cards are in the mail, by the way.

- JCH

* The “can, want, fit” formula is pretty simple: Can you do the work? Do you want the job? Are you the right fit – personality, values, etc. – for the organization?