Without accountability within our organizations, we lack credibility. Without credibility, we lose our respect and become irrelevant
The Catholic church has faced increased – and justified – criticism of its handling of abuse cases. There are allegations that the highest authorities of the church turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of some of its leaders. The results were catastrophic at so many levels, especially for those people who were abused by…
Knowing how to read your monthly report card is essential for keeping your business profitable
My brothers and I would sometimes get into trouble, both at school and at home. Though we generally had good grades, my mother would always make a point of reading our report cards as soon as we brought them home. Walking home from school on that warm day in June, when I was in Grade…
When we value minimization over people, morale begins to suffer because nothing is rewarded except saving money
There was a time when you could take a WestJet flight and walk away from the experience wanting more. Ticketing staff, flight attendants and even pilots seemed like they really enjoyed working there. There were jokes on the flights, gags and laughter. That sense of fun made you want to fly with them. It was…
As entrepreneurs, when we say yes to opportunities that make sense, we become invigorated – and that spurs growth
In 1988, Louis approached me one day and asked if I would join him in building a business. I knew I was taking a chance but I said yes. By saying yes, I had to turn down an offer from Tom that would have made me three times the income over the short term. There…
Discover ways of baiting your customers so they come back to you and you will never starve
Hunting season is just around the corner in many places in Canada. In northern communities, people rely on moose or deer meat to sustain themselves through the winter. Rituals and skills of hunting are passed from one generation to the next as families and friends go into the forests. These tracking and hunting skills are…
Don't be afraid to fail. The most successful people in life are those who have made big mistakes and learned from them
My very first business venture, besides selling lemonade, was selling worms with my brothers – and it was disastrous. Our family lived on a small acreage outside of the city limits. My brothers Rob and Paul were close in age and always looking for new exciting things. I was 13. This particular summer, we needed…
The bus service let complacency rule and its leadership failed to deliver a vision of what could be
Dear Dave, I think you should write an article about Greyhound bus service. It's no marvel they are going out of business. When I took the bus to Edmonton last year, it was the same bus as the previous time I had ridden one … 30 years previous. The guy who was trying to board…
Launching a leadership career should not resemble a game of pin the tail on the donkey. But too often we fail to provide the support to gain needed skills
I was blindfolded and had been spinning for what seemed like minutes (it was only a few seconds), before being pushed toward the donkey. I was dizzy and had no idea where I was. I wanted to cheat so I could have a chance at winning but the blindfold was too tight. In the end,…
Create a team that can drive success, have a support network and keep trusted advisers close at hand
Recently I wrote about why leaders are lonely. “Great article!” people told me. “I get it, but what do I do if I’m a leader who’s challenged by those exact reasons?” To refresh your memory, here are the four reasons that business leaders are lonely: The buck stops here. As leaders, we make tough decisions…
The truth is that when you’re the leader and owner of a company, you often feel you have no one to talk to
“Let’s go for coffee today,” he said. “I just need to get out of the office and talk to you where no one is going to overhear us!” Our conversation over coffee was deep and as we walked back, he told me that one of the reasons he retains me as his business coach is…
The Catholic church has faced increased – and justified – criticism of its handling of abuse cases. There are allegations that the highest authorities of the church turned a blind eye to the misdeeds of some of its leaders. The results were catastrophic at so many levels, especially for those people who were abused by…
