Not only does work help financially but it empowers people to take control of their lives and rise above poverty
Homelessness is increasingly a problem in cities big and small across North America. Yet as business leaders we tend think the issue isn’t our problem – unless, of course, we have a business affected by a homeless camp, squatters in our doorsteps or addicts in our alleyways. We can’t comprehend why people aren’t working like…
We don’t recognize that times and technology have changed, we’ve been holding the organization back or we’re just exhausted by our years of leadership
It wasn’t the several times I almost died on the job. It wasn’t when I fell off roofs or rolled heavy equipment. But I can remember the day and time I knew I had to get out of construction. It was -35C and I was demolishing a gas station for my employer. As I went…
If we’re focused on thriving and growing during periods of difficulty and change, our brains look for these opportunities
While the overall economic numbers seem to indicate that the Canadian economy is firing on all cylinders, there are still areas geographically and by industry where businesses are struggling. Having lived through a number of difficult times in my 30-plus years owning and running businesses, I’ve learned there are a number of ways to improve…
Make a written list, set priorities, breathe and relax, and then focus on one task at a time
I recently woke up sleepless at 2:30 am. If you’re in a leadership role in a business or even in your household, you probably know the drill. My mind was spinning with the long list of tasks I had to complete. The 75-unit project I’m working on for a client; the three people who need…
It’s time you set some goals, tracked your progress and celebrated your successes
Tim Gilbert told me it would be tough but I never realized how tough tree planting was until I stood in the bush in the middle of nowhere, bugs swarming around my head, as I was exposed to the raw elements of a northern spring. With my bag of trees strapped across my hips, shovel…
When we determine achievable goals and develop workable plans to reach those goals, our teams get clarity. And that brings productivity
The city had been socked in with a heavy layer of fog for weeks when I decided to drive up to an area I hadn’t been to before. As I climbed through the layers of cloud, I wondered where I was going and why people would live up such a steep hill. But as I…
Build on your strengths to keep customers coming back, diversify in order to expand and increase your margins
Las Vegas has grown from humble farming beginnings in the middle of the desert to an oasis that captures the imagination and money of people from all over the world. You might be one of the 40 million people who visited Las Vegas last year or one of the hundreds of millions who have been…
Increase your average sale by getting customers who are already purchasing from you to buy a bit more and watch your sales go up with little effort or cost
My wife Margaret is average, so she says. She tells me that she’s average height, age and bone size for a woman. However, I must say as she left the house this morning with her pants riding several inches above her ankles, she didn’t look normal. I know she was thinking that her husband had…
It certainly makes sense to prioritize your tasks and skip work that offers little overall value. But failing to fulfil commitments won't get you ahead
I had a hard time writing this article. I’m not sure if it was fatigue or laziness, but I procrastinated even sitting down at the computer until almost the last minute. I had excuses, distractions, a nap and a few squirrels to chase on social media. I even saw something that said Bill Gates, or…
Berry picking is a lot like business: you need to to work through the thorns, avoid the bears and pick where others aren’t
I like picking berries in the summer. It’s one of those memories that lasts into the fall and winter, much like the frozen berries that are hidden in the freezer for a tasty bit of summer on a cold day. I’m not sure if I was always a good berry picker but I do remember…