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…
Good advertising works to capture attention, elicit emotion and get responses, but most advertisers don't know how to go about achieving those goals
Advertising can stimulate desire. Not that any advertising I ever participated in when I was single resulted in crowds of female admirers. However, working in the health food industry, I would often strive to create in my customers a desire for better health. My ads would try to kindle a response that would generate traffic…
There’s no hiding from the success tax, but several things can help legally reduce or even eliminate the amount your estate or your heirs pay
There’s no official estate tax in Canada but we do have what I call the success tax. It's what we pay if we’ve been financially successful in a lifetime of investing and asset accumulation. The more successful you’ve been, the greater the tax could be. If you have assets that will be taxable when sold or when deemed to have been…
A healthy business ensure that all areas – sales, marketing, finances, management, vendors and customers – are exercised and challenged
I’ve been head over heels in love a couple times – but in cycling and business, I’ve been head over heels many times. Once, for example, I was on an early-morning ride on my road bike. I was doing hill repeats to get into shape to be able to keep up with the “fast crowd.” As I…
By using tools that give perspective before making decisions, like the 10-10-10 rule, we can minimize our missteps
We’ve all pushed send on an email or text and then regretted our actions 10 minutes later. It happened to me just this week. Someone shortened a deadline on a project and I questioned it. The person responded in a snarky manner. Squeezed by an already busy schedule with my temper rising, I sent an…
If we want to be successful as leaders, we need to create an organizational climate where courage is celebrated
It takes courage for some people to get out of bed each morning and face the day. For others, it’s courageous to go up and say hello to a new person in their class or in their office. People who take risks to save lives, stand up for what’s right, face daily pain, jump out…
If we want to be successful as leaders, we need to create an organizational climate where courage is celebrated
It takes courage for some people to get out of bed each morning and face the day. For others, it’s courageous to go up and say hello to a new person in their class or in their office. People who take risks to save lives, stand up for what’s right, face daily pain, jump out…
Empty-nest boomers are driving the small business economy, suggest a new poll released on Wednesday by RBC. The 2019 RBC Small Business poll found that 42 per cent of small business owners are baby boomers compared with 24 per cent who are millennials. Among Canadians who have thought about starting a business, empty nesters are…
Deciding to close up shop comes with a lot of stress, shame and disappointment. But you can disappear with some grace
I have a great disappearing act, though my wife Margaret doesn’t appreciate it much. I usually do this act when company comes over and stays late. If they don’t get the hint when I blow out all of the candles, I’ll say that I’m going up to do laundry. Or when they’re a little unfamiliar…
Serve customers with people who like people. Keep your employees accountable. And exceed your clients’ expectations
Unfortunately, really great customer service is hard to find. North American consumers say we want a wonderful customer service experience. But in fact, we’ve come to expect something much less. Sometimes we get exceedingly bad customer service and we rant and rage. We believe that when we’re doing business with a company, that company should…
Here’s what you're missing if you don't listen well – and how you can improve your listening skills
Last week, my friend was lamenting the fact she was away for her 16-year-old son’s first day of school and wouldn’t be there to pick him up. Obviously, her son doesn’t need his mom there. But driving him home lets her listen to him vent. It gives her insight into what he’s thinking, how he’s…
A new study says demographics, tax policy and a lack of trained advisers threaten the continuity of family enterprise
Family-owned businesses have a significant impact on Canada's economy, accounting for for 63.1 per cent of all private sector firms in the country, according to research released on Tuesday. The Family Enterprise Xchange Foundation (FEX-F) partnered with the Conference Board of Canada to study the economic weight, regional impact, industry presence and business performance of…
Many business owners know exactly what they would like to accomplish in their business. But they lack the necessary plan
Wendell is a swell guy with a big heart and a large mouth – and can Wendell ever talk! I once worked with Wendell at a volunteer project. We were planting a garden and while I was breaking my back, loading dirt in and out of pickup trucks, Wendell would lean on his shovel and…
Sharing our struggles with staff and family, and explaining the financial situation to suppliers may be humbling, but it relieves the weight of our shame
We all feel shame some time. Usually we feel this powerful emotion when we do something that doesn’t quite match up with our personal values. As a child, we might have felt shameful if we told a lie to our parents or were mean to a friend. As a teenager, we might have felt the…