tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76828295065549708642024-03-05T18:24:35.674-05:00Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-64779051274529116412017-03-29T10:50:00.001-04:002017-03-29T10:50:40.981-04:00Excuses and Answers to Your TrueFitI know that the True Fit process is possible from my professional experience, as a manager who has hired hundreds of people, and as a coach of many individuals across diverse industries. And these are not just stories of a career that’s successful in terms of a position or money. People tell me that working through all the concepts in my book, True Fit: How to Find the Right Job by Being You made them believe in themselves again and gave them a reason to get up in the morning.<br /><br />And yet I do sometimes hear objections, like these:<style type="text/css">
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<b>YES BUT IT SOUNDS TOO EASY</b></h3>
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The objection I hear most often is: “What you’re talking about is for dreamers.” True, on the surface, the questions seem simple. But the process is hard, very hard. The issue of wrong fit in corporations and the misery people face every day in their jobs can’t be solved just by going through a few questions. Digging down takes time and courage, especially when you’ve spent most of your life not knowing who you are or what you want. It’s worth it, says this former politician: “Humans tend not to have self-awareness built into their psyches. We are much less self-aware than we think we are…. By knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, you emerge in the end much stronger, with more confidence and a better understanding of what you like and what you want to do.”</div>
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YES … BUT I JUST NEED TO WIN THE INTERVIEW TO GET THE JOB</h3>
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An interview is never about winning the job or winning over the interviewer. It’s a conversation to see whether you can see yourself fitting into a particular work environment and whether the hiring committee understands what they will get if they hire you. If they don’t need or want you, that’s great. You both can walk away. Imagine what would have happened if they’d hired you!</div>
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<b>YES … BUT WHAT IF I’M OFFERED A JOB THAT USES PART OF WHAT I REALLY ENJOY DOING?</b></h3>
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Often things get off track during the job interview when you get your chance to say, “Here are the three things I’m really good at” and the inter- viewer replies to the effect of “Well, I’m not inter- ested in one, or two, or three, but this little part over here, I can use a bit of that.” And because you want the job, you give in. Don’t let this happen. Don’t let anyone sell you into a job—and don’t sell yourself into a job. You should be able to clearly articulate what an employer should pay you for. And you should be looking for someone who says, “I need all of it, not just 20 percent!” If this is not the case, walk away.</div>
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<b>YES … BUT I’M ON THEIR SUCCESSION PLAN!</b></h3>
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You’re smart. Maybe you were at the top of your class in school. Or you’ve been recruited to a position because the company is in awe of where you worked before or what they’ve heard you accomplished. And now you’re trapped because you realize it is a wrong fit, but the company is trying to woo you with all sorts of promises if you stay. But do you even want to move up? Listen to what my friend the derivatives player told me: “They thought that moving up in the hierarchy in the company was going to be something that made me happy. But when I took a good look at what mattered to me, hierarchy was irrelevant. It was low down on the list of things I consider to be rewarding.” If you do want to move up, ask yourself, Are you really on the succession plan? Most likely not. Instead, you’ll probably spend only a small part of your time doing what you are really good at doing, and your dissatisfaction and frustration will grow. You won’t feel valued because you are not excelling where your skills are strong. Your performance will suffer, you will become disengaged. It is at this point, typically, that your boss will say, “Let’s get rid of her,” not “Let’s find the right fit for her.”</div>
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<b> YES … BUT THE MONEY IS GOOD</b></h3>
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Measuring success and personal value goes far beyond monetary aspects. I’ve never been happier with the work I do now, despite the fact that I make significantly less money than in my previous careers. And I’m not alone; I hear this from people all the time. “I had one of the top twenty jobs in the country,” said my friend in derivatives. “I made a seven- figure income. I liked the people I was working with, and the job came with lots of prestige. But I still walked away from it. Every day I could feel the stress in my stomach, sitting in my office not doing what I thought I should be doing. I was a Tasmanian devil, and the institution where I worked just didn’t want that much disturbance.” Research is clear about one thing: we all get better at the things we enjoy doing, our productivity jumps by leaps and bounds, our expertise increases, and, above all, we’re happier.</div>
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The same principle applies to our work life.</div>
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<b>YES … BUT I CAN CHANGE—I CAN LEARN TO DO THAT</b></h3>
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Your life should be focused on working every day on your strengths. You should find a job or career that requires as little as possible from that side of your balance sheet where you’ve listed “things I suck at.” When you lack strengths in one area, why would you spend your time trying to improve your weakness when you could improve what you’re really good at doing? Instead of promising to change, get others to see you through the right lens and say, “Here’s why you should be interested in me. Here’s what you should not try to change.” Steve, the guy who walked into a food fight in his new job, put it this way: “People tend to look at their weaknesses, want to take a course, and get more information on things they’re not so good at. In the limited time you have in your working career, I learned you really need to focus on things you are really good at doing.”</div>
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<b>YES … BUT IN MY POSITION I CAN’T AFFORD TO BE THAT FUSSY</b></div>
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New graduates often tell me that they just need to get their foot in the door somewhere. I say back to them, “Shouldn’t it be the right door?” Of course you can afford to be fussy. We all deserve to be fussy when it comes to our working lives. Falling into a career just because you got hired somewhere shouldn’t be the basis for how you spend the rest of your working life.</div>
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<b>YES … BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK</b></h3>
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I am not denying that it is a lot of work. And it’s difficult. It can take time to put together an infomercial, define your target-rich environment, figure out your conflict-resolution style, and assess just how much capacity you need to use in order to be happy at your job. It’s also tough to sit down with a boss and say you don’t have the personality bandwidth to do sales, even though the job represents a promotion. It’s even more difficult to turn down a job offer when you know they may need your skills, but they do not want you or the way you work.</div>
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But for those who’ve gone through the process, it’s worth it. If it leads to a no, or a change of careers, you’ve been spared from a job where you’ll eventually be miserable. And if it leads to a yes, you’ll have what most people only dream about—a job you love every hour of the day, doing exactly what you like to do. Here’s what one of my clients said: “I came out with a higher level of self awareness. This is who I am and this is what I’m good at. It was an empowering experience. I know who I am, and what I’m really, really good at doing. And because I’ve now accepted this, my business is a success, and every day I spend at work is as close to my perfect day as I ever imagined it could be.”</div>
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Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-84340021407291161012017-03-17T22:19:00.004-04:002017-03-17T22:20:29.643-04:00The Power to Choose<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Whe</span>n<span class="s2"> </span>I<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">wa</span>s<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">g</span><span class="s3">r</span><span class="s1">owin</span>g<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">up</span>,<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">n</span>o<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">on</span>e<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">woul</span>d<span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">hav</span>e <span class="s1">dared</span><span class="s4"> </span><span class="s5">utter</span><span class="s4"> </span>the<span class="s4"> </span><span class="s1">words</span><span class="s4"> </span>“I<span class="s4"> </span><span class="s5">want</span><span class="s4"> </span>to<span class="s4"> </span>be<span class="s4"> </span><span class="s5">happy</span><span class="s4"> </span>in<span class="s4"> </span><span class="s5">my </span>job.”<span class="s6"> </span>I<span class="s6"> </span>can<span class="s6"> </span>only<span class="s6"> </span>imagine<span class="s6"> </span>the<span class="s6"> </span>scornful<span class="s6"> </span>response <span class="s7">from parents and </span><span class="s8">teachers: “What </span>are <span class="s8">you </span><span class="s7">talking about? </span>A <span class="s5">job’s </span>a <span class="s5">job’s </span>a <span class="s7">job. Shut up </span>and do your<span class="s9"> </span>homework.” That was then. </div>
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<b>I want<span class="s10"> </span>to be<span class="s11"> </span>happy in<span class="s12"> </span>my<span class="s12"> </span><span class="s5">job.</span></b></h3>
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We were not expected<span class="s4"> </span>to<span class="s4"> </span>be<span class="s4"> </span>happy<span class="s4"> </span>at<span class="s4"> </span>work.<span class="s4"> </span><span class="s14">We </span>just<span class="s15"> </span>went<span class="s15"> </span>out<span class="s15"> </span>and<span class="s15"> </span>got<span class="s15"> </span>a<span class="s15"> </span>job.<span class="s15"> </span>These days, you can make a choice. Do you want to be happy at work? Or do <span class="s7">you want </span>to <span class="s7">settle for </span>a job <span class="s7">that’s “good enough,” even </span>though<span class="s6"> </span>it’s<span class="s6"> </span>not<span class="s6"> </span>a<span class="s6"> </span>good<span class="s6"> </span>fit<span class="s6"> </span>for<span class="s6"> </span>you?</div>
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If you are unhappy at work, there’s a natural tendency<span class="s6"> </span>to<span class="s6"> </span>complain<span class="s6"> </span>about<span class="s6"> </span>your<span class="s6"> </span>job<span class="s6"> </span>and<span class="s6"> </span>do<span class="s6"> </span>nothing<span class="s6"> </span>about<span class="s6"> </span>it.<span class="s6"> </span>If<span class="s6"> </span>this<span class="s6"> </span>is<span class="s6"> </span>the<span class="s6"> </span>case,<span class="s6"> </span>you<span class="s6"> </span>aren’t<span class="s6"> </span>willing<span class="s6"> </span>to do<span class="s4"> </span>what<span class="s4"> </span>it<span class="s4"> </span>takes<span class="s4"> </span>to<span class="s4"> </span>change<span class="s4"> </span>the<span class="s4"> </span>situation.<span class="s16"> </span>And<span class="s4"> </span><span class="s5">that’s </span><span class="s1">okay.</span><span class="s17"> </span>But<span class="s17"> </span>if<span class="s17"> </span>you<span class="s17"> </span>decide<span class="s17"> </span>to<span class="s17"> </span>do<span class="s17"> </span>nothing,<span class="s17"> </span>at<span class="s17"> </span>least<span class="s17"> </span>stop banging<span class="s18"> </span>your<span class="s18"> </span>head<span class="s18"> </span>against<span class="s18"> </span>the<span class="s18"> </span>wall.<span class="s18"> </span>Stop<span class="s18"> </span>moaning about your job. And be aware that staying in a job you dislike, or working around people who <span class="s5">constantly</span><span class="s6"> </span><span class="s5">make</span><span class="s6"> </span>you<span class="s6"> </span><span class="s5">feel</span><span class="s6"> </span><span class="s5">uncomfortable,</span><span class="s6"> </span>can<span class="s6"> </span><span class="s5">make </span>your<span class="s3"> </span>work<span class="s3"> </span><span class="s5">suffer.</span><span class="s14"> </span><span class="s19">You</span><span class="s3"> </span>can<span class="s3"> </span>waste<span class="s3"> </span>years<span class="s3"> </span>of<span class="s3"> </span>your<span class="s3"> </span>life not<span class="s19"> </span>realizing<span class="s19"> </span>the<span class="s19"> </span>reputational<span class="s19"> </span>damage<span class="s19"> </span>that<span class="s19"> </span>you’re <span class="s7">doing </span>to <span class="s7">yourself </span>on a <span class="s7">daily basis. </span>It <span class="s7">just chips </span>away until everyone can see that you’re totally disengaged.</div>
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<b>THE POWER TO CHOOSE</b></h3>
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<span class="s19">You</span><span class="s17"> </span>don’t<span class="s17"> </span>have<span class="s17"> </span>to<span class="s17"> </span>live<span class="s17"> </span>and<span class="s17"> </span>work<span class="s17"> </span>like<span class="s17"> </span>that,<span class="s17"> </span>though. <span class="s19">You</span><span class="s6"> </span>have<span class="s6"> </span>the<span class="s6"> </span>power<span class="s6"> </span>to<span class="s6"> </span>make<span class="s6"> </span>a<span class="s6"> </span>choice,<span class="s6"> </span>and<span class="s6"> </span>an<span class="s6"> </span>infomercial<span class="s17"> </span>can<span class="s17"> </span>help.<span class="s17"> </span>By<span class="s17"> </span>looking<span class="s17"> </span>at<span class="s17"> </span>what’s<span class="s17"> </span>revealed<span class="s17"> </span>in your<span class="s14"> </span>infomercial—what<span class="s14"> </span>do<span class="s14"> </span>you<span class="s14"> </span>genuinely<span class="s14"> </span>love<span class="s14"> </span>to do,<span class="s18"> </span>for<span class="s18"> </span>instance,<span class="s18"> </span>and<span class="s18"> </span>how<span class="s18"> </span>much<span class="s18"> </span>of<span class="s18"> </span>your<span class="s18"> </span>capacity<span class="s18"> </span>is<span class="s5"> </span>being<span class="s17"> </span>used—you’ll<span class="s17"> </span>be<span class="s17"> </span>forced<span class="s17"> </span>to<span class="s17"> </span>look<span class="s17"> </span>in<span class="s17"> </span>the<span class="s17"> </span>mirror and come to terms with where you are at<span class="s3"> </span>in<span class="s5"> </span>your working<span class="s6"> </span>life.<span class="s6"> </span>Then<span class="s6"> </span>you<span class="s6"> </span>can<span class="s6"> </span>choose<span class="s6"> </span>to<span class="s6"> </span>stay<span class="s6"> </span>or<span class="s6"> </span>to<span class="s6"> </span>go.<span class="s5"> </span></div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-90353967949385912702017-03-15T11:39:00.001-04:002017-03-15T11:39:56.833-04:00The Wrong Job Will Tempt YouYou are going to be tempted to stray from your infomercial when a job comes along that’s partly right for you. Maybe it uses some of your skills but not all of them. Maybe the people in the organization are not exactly the kind you like to work with. But the job sounds good. It pays well. It comes with a nice title.<br />
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This is when you’ll be tempted to shelve your infomercial. Don’t. You can’t make it right. It will only be a partial fit. How happy do you think you’ll be?<br />
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Most people consider a job or an opportunity for all sorts of reasons, most of them wrong: it’s a promotion, which comes with more money, more prestige, or both. Some might be swayed by simple things. A feeling of “I deserve it,” of “It’s my turn,” of “I’ve been here a long time” or “I’m better than the person who’s currently doing it.” I’ve even known individuals who would rather get picked for the wrong job, just to have the option of turning it down.<br />
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Thoughts like these can easily pull people away from their true fit. The job looks good, so they grab it, if only to make sure the person next door doesn’t get it and move ahead. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with pouncing on an opportunity. But it has got to be a true fit. Otherwise, you’re headed for a disaster that will waste your time and undermine your brand in the process.<br />
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Why do people find it so hard to resist the urge to compete for the wrong job? I think it’s because they’re afraid to stand up for themselves—for who they really are. I see this in my coaching practice almost every day. They are afraid that if they are themselves, and if they say who they are, they will miss opportunities. And they think that if they miss opportunities, they won’t get any more. No more jobs, no more clients, no more business offers.<br />
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That’s the fear I sense lurking under the surface when I ask my clients why they felt the need to take the wrong job or pick the wrong client. Does it make sense? Of course not! These people are successful. But they’re still scared they’ll miss the boat unless they say yes. That’s why they are willing to try to turn themselves into someone else.Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-29249203641882444012017-03-08T10:31:00.000-05:002017-03-08T10:31:14.035-05:00Your Capacity UtilizationFinally, it’s crucial to assess whether a potential employer wants all of your capabilities or just some of them. How do you do this?<br />
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Depend on your infomercial to measure how close an opportunity comes to being a true fit. Use it to assess your current employment situation. Use it to identify an opportunity that’s worth pursuing further, a referral that’s right for you, or an industry sector you’ve never considered before. And use it to spot the red flags. Say no if you have to—and feel good about that decision. Capacity utilization tells us whether the job you’re considering accepting is going to utilize all of your capacity or just a little of it.<br />
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Consider the five-thousand- yard passing quarterback. He’s an excellent quarterback, but, ideally, he wants to be on a team that throws the ball 100 percent of the time. So what happens when he’s recruited to a team that wants him to execute a playbook that has the team running the ball? It’s a recipe for disaster. The coach isn’t going to be interested in his passing ability because he doesn’t care about that particular skill. In fact, the first time the quarterback throws the ball, the coach says, “Hey, we don’t throw the ball. What are you trying to do?”<br />
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It doesn’t matter how good the quarterback is; his ability is not going to be reflected in what he is asked to do by this coach. As long as he remains on the team, he’ll feel inadequate. And, worse, he’ll be regarded as a failure because in the end, what he’s really good at isn’t needed or valued. The quarterback has to ask himself, “How much of my capacity, my strengths, and my abilities are being used by this team?”<br />
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Everyone’s level is different, depending on how high a priority they put on their own happiness. For me, it’s about 80 per- cent because I need to spend some of my time running the business instead of coaching. What’s your priority on your happiness?<br />
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Like the quarterback, you have tremendous skills to offer. And you may have presented a whole list of what you could do for an employer or a client. But if that company only needs 20 per- cent, in most cases they’ll take what they need and overlook the rest. They’re not looking at your capacity—they are looking at what they think they need right now. In fact, it’s quite possible<br />
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Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-23549202868270238732017-03-01T07:33:00.003-05:002017-03-01T07:33:51.864-05:00Your Personal BandwidthBefore you start looking for work, it’s important that you understand your personality bandwidth. Personality bandwidth is a little different from the “Who do you like to work with?” question we explored in the previous chapter. It measures your tolerance of different personalities. The range of personalities you can work with helps determine your personality bandwidth. If someone gets along with everyone and everyone loves them back, then they have a wide personality bandwidth. If someone is only comfortable with certain kinds of personalities, and only certain kinds of people are comfortable with them, then they have a narrow personality bandwidth.<br />
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I was interviewing an individual for a marketing job in Canada. He was anxious to get the job and told me all the reasons he would be suited to the role based on his CV and past experience. So I asked him, “What’s the worst thing anyone has ever said about you?” He replied without hesitation, “I don’t suffer fools very well. Most people piss me off.”<br />
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The candidate’s answer told me that he might have a very narrow personality bandwidth—and therefore be entirely unsuited for this particular job. Like others with a narrow personality band- width, he had strong sense of the personalities he wanted to be around and those he wanted to avoid. This gave him an approach that could rub others the wrong way. It’s okay for him to be bespoken in this way, but he needed to under- stand how narrow his world was. He would work best in a place where his work spoke for itself and he didn’t have to interact a lot with people. As a marketer for products, he would have to work with every level in the organization; in this kind of sales-generation role, he’d be a disaster.<br />
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A broad personality bandwidth, on the other hand, is like being able to speak numerous lan- guages. Typically, people with a broad bandwidth have jobs in customer service, client relationships, and sales. They don’t care if someone is difficult or overbearing because by their very nature—their personality bandwidth—they get along with everyone. They can communicate with a wider variety of personalities; clients and friends are one and the same. They find it easy to be empathetic and can almost instantly connect on some level with everyone.<br />
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Those with broad personality bandwidths can tolerate a diverse range of personality types, and they see the best in all they meet. Those with narrow bandwidths have to choose their clients or employer more carefully. For that marketing job, I knew the company needed someone who loves everyone because that’s what makes for a great salesperson, not someone who finds most personalities difficult to deal with.Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-86709331844713681682017-02-22T11:18:00.002-05:002017-02-22T11:18:55.434-05:00Your Target-Rich EnvironmentLet’s start with your target-rich environment. It’s where you should be looking for a job, given everything—your skills, experience, character, working style, and personality—you have to offer. All our lives, people say give me your CV, tell me where you worked before—because it’s all about “the job.”<br />
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But the concept that one’s skills are only applicable to a particular type of job, in a single industry or sector, is ridiculous. Once you’ve written your infomercial, you can find great opportunities in a lot of different places. A computer programmer who likes to sell doesn’t have to resign himself to days at the office looking at a screen. His target-rich environment could include sales, consumer testing, even teaching at a college.<br />
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You need to do your homework to figure out your target-rich environment. This takes some research online and talking with others to make sure. Keep asking yourself, “Am I looking in the right places?” Look again at the list you made of who you work best with. Where do people like that work? Is it in a quiet office or a rambunctious, wide- open space—or in a country house? What would work for you? That’s your target-rich environment.<br />
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It took my good friend Rick almost thirty years to realize that his target-rich environment was bigger than he thought. During high school, Rick played drums with a bunch of guys who ended up becoming the well-known rock band The Tragically Hip. Rick put his drums aside, pursued mining engineering, completed a master’s degree, and then worked in international mining companies. Even though he had landed in an industry that appeared to be the right fit for his qualifications, it didn’t feel right. “All those years, it was always about the job,” Rick told me. “It was never about who I am or about finding a place where I’d really fit in.”</div>
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Rick left mining and came to me. He was being recruited by Canadian banks, and he didn’t want to make the same mistake as before. Rick was finally ready to figure out where to find a true fit. It wasn’t easy; in fact, you’ll remember that he was the one who told me that the idea of finding the right fit initially scared him. “My God, I thought as I started to answer the four questions,” he recalled. “I should have continued to play drums in a rock and roll band.… It honestly freaked me out a bit.”</div>
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After his infomercial was complete, Rick knew that he needed to find a fit where he could more fully use his strengths in dealing with people and developing relationships. He made the choice to accept a job in investment banking. “I used to think I was a miner who happens to do investment banking; now I know I’m an investment banker who likes mining but is much happier at the relationship side of things. I love dealing with the clients and help- ing them out,” said Rick. “I’m telling you, I have never been happier in my life or more at peace with myself.”</div>
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<div>
Rick’s narrow view of who he was restricted his choices of where to look for job opportunities. It meant that he had ended up working as an engineer in the mining industry because that was his “title.” He admitted that he kept learning in his job to add value so he could get the next mining job. After Rick developed his infomercial, he finally understood his target-rich environment—which for him extended beyond mining. And now, working with people who understand him, Rick is happy and finally feels, after thirty years, that he fits in.</div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-75432594906527810462017-02-15T11:03:00.000-05:002017-02-15T11:04:44.137-05:00Case Study: A Personal Infomercial to Land the Right JobOne of my clients resisted for so long that I told her I would stop coaching her if she didn’t use her infomercial. Her name was Jane. We first met at a hedge funds conference, where I was part of the speakers panel. When I first explained how she needed to present herself with an infomercial, she told me I was crazy. But she was unemployed, so what started as a ten-minute conversation over coffee that day turned into several meetings where we worked together to develop her infomercial.<br />
<br />
Jane was a pretty confident woman, with almost a decade of experience working on the trading floor and excellent skills in developing client relationships. But she’d always found herself in roles where she felt she was forced to adjust who she was in order to fit in. So we started with her perfect day. Almost immediately, she found that it helped her get rid of the clutter in her head.<br />
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<b><u>Jane’s perfect day: </u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Being part of a team but remaining independent enough to focus on growing my own “little business” … my client book </li>
<li>Spending time reading the news, organizing my day, figuring out client messaging </li>
<li>Spending time with clients, lunches/ coffees </li>
<li>Pitching business </li>
<li>Closing a deal</li>
</ul>
<br />
Defining her perfect day helped her to finally focus on what mattered to her, what she wanted to do, and how best to present herself. Then she worked through the rest of the questions, listing what she did best and those she worked best with and defining her conflict-resolution style. Once she had completed all the steps, she felt ready to pitch herself in a very concise manner the next time there was an opportunity.<br />
<br />
It wasn’t long before she had an opportunity to interview for a job as the new managing director at a financial institution. She called me up. Although Jane wasn’t sure the position was right for her, she decided that in a tough job market she should at least go through the process.<br />
<br />
Jane would typically go into the room, let those around the hiring table spew, then ask a few ques- tions and walk away. She said that she would usu- ally gauge what those doing the hiring wanted her to say, and then give them what they wanted even if it didn’t sound like her. “After all,” she said, “it’s a job.” I told her to forget that crap. “You’ll just end up unemployed in a couple of years and have to start all over again.” <br />
<br />
I explained a different approach. I asked her to think about the fact that she was there to interview the employer as well be interviewed by them. Instead of showing up for the meeting and waiting for the others in the room to say something, I told her, take charge of the meeting. First, thank those in the room and note that they already have your CV. But then say, “I thought before we begin it would be helpful if I gave you an idea of who I am and what you should pay me for.” I advised to have her infomercial ready but to not hand it out until she had finished presenting.<br />
<br />
Jane agreed, even though she still felt a bit uncomfortable about presenting herself in this way. On the morning of the interview, she went into a public bathroom to practise a few times in front of the mirror. She figured if anyone walked in, they’d think she was a crazy person, but she didn’t care. She went through her notes several times.<br />
<br />
The interview began and Jane took control. She suggested to the three people around the table that she first tell them a bit about herself, what she was looking for, and that then both parties could consider if it would be a good fit. After presenting her infomercial, Jane paused. She could tell by the looks on their faces that she was not what they needed or wanted.<br />
<br />
“That’s when I knew that there was no chance that they were going to hire me,” she said. Within a couple of days she received an email that read “You’re not the person we’re looking for.” The outcome suited Jane. When I asked, “Did you get the job?” Jane replied, “No! And I’m so happy. I never felt so empowered in my life!” Not long afterwards, she learned from friends that the company was looking for someone they could mould. “That job was definitely not a fit for me,” she said, laughing.<br />
<br />
A few months later, Jane applied for another job. “Again, my infomercial gave me a chance to present my true character,” she said. “It gave me that foundational confidence to stick with my story.” This time the experience was completely different. Both sides felt like it was a good fit, and what started out as an interview turned into more of a discussion. But it was during the final phase when Jane knew for sure it was going to work. One of the senior people on the hiring team sat down with her for a final conversation. “If you don’t mind me saying so, it seems to me that you’re a no-bullshit ind of girl, who’s tenacious and hungry for business.” “I felt so validated,” said Jane. “That was exactly how I had presented myself in my infomercial.<style type="text/css">
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</style>Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-67612102728006948442017-02-08T11:18:00.001-05:002017-02-08T11:20:29.381-05:00What Should Someone Pay Me For?John had a long and successful career as a financial planner and then as a politician. He was a cabinet minister until 2011, when he lost his seat in a tight election. After being rejected by the voters, he had to figure out what to do.<br />
<br />
John realized that the first hurdle was to come to terms with the loss. “No one wants to date someone who isn’t over his or her ‘ex,’” he joked. “I had to first ‘get over the girl.’” He also took some time off to figure out what he wanted to do next. “I knew what I had to do to be successful in business,” he said. “I knew what I had to do to be successful in politics. Now all of a sudden, I was on my own.”<br />
<br />
Job offers came in, but none of them felt right. “People would come to me and say I’m a fit for their agenda,” he said. But it was their agenda, not his. “I remember telling my wife, I can do this as long as I turn myself into a pretzel that someone else wanted. But I’m not going to be successful and happy unless I’m doing something I enjoy doing.” Like most of my clients, John had to answer the universal question of life: “What should someone pay me for today?” What was his real value proposition to an employer or client? It would not be easy to answer that question, especially for a former politician.<br />
<br />
The best way I know to figure out your true value proposition is to create what I call an infomercial. You might have seen them on The Shopping Channel—the infomercials hawking the wonder wallet, the fake jewellery, and the magic mop. Infomercials are corny and tacky, to be sure, but the great thing about the modern infomercial is that it explains the direct relationship between my dollar and what I get when I buy the item. It says exactly what is for sale. You either need it or you don’t. If you need it, you’ll likely buy it. If you don’t need it, you’ll pass.<br />
<br />
The universal question of life: “What should someone pay me for today?”<br />
<br />Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-47258417524147076942017-01-30T08:59:00.000-05:002017-01-30T08:59:07.260-05:00Be Real About You, Get Rid of the Buzzwords!<div class="p1">
An elevator pitch is just a rehash of a <span class="s1">CV. </span>Like a resumé, it is information-based, but it does not give anyone any reason to want you. And like a <span class="s2">CV, </span>it contains the usual buzzwords. <span class="s3">You </span>know the ones I mean. I am<span class="s4"> </span>a:</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">good communicator</li>
<li class="li3">team<span class="s5"> </span>player</li>
<li class="li3">professional</li>
<li class="li3">people person</li>
<li class="li3">problem<span class="s6"> </span>solver</li>
<li class="li3">hard<span class="s6"> </span>worker</li>
<li class="li3">highly qualified<span class="s6"> </span>candidate</li>
<li class="li3">self-starter</li>
<li class="li3">collaborator</li>
<li class="li3">seeker of excellence</li>
<li class="li3">driven and passionate employee</li>
<li class="li3">responsible<span class="s6"> </span>person</li>
</ul>
<div class="p4">
<br /></div>
<div class="p5">
What<span class="s1"> </span>a<span class="s1"> </span>load<span class="s1"> </span>of<span class="s1"> </span>B.S.<span class="s1"> </span>Get<span class="s1"> </span>rid<span class="s1"> </span>of<span class="s1"> </span>all<span class="s1"> </span>of<span class="s1"> </span>them.<span class="s1"> </span>These buzzwords<span class="s7"> </span>tell<span class="s7"> </span>me<span class="s7"> </span>nothing—in<span class="s7"> </span>fact,<span class="s7"> </span>some<span class="s7"> </span>of<span class="s7"> </span>them might<span class="s7"> </span>cause<span class="s7"> </span>me<span class="s7"> </span>to<span class="s7"> </span>pause.<span class="s7"> </span>Maybe<span class="s7"> </span>I’m<span class="s7"> </span>not<span class="s7"> </span>hiring<span class="s7"> </span><span class="s5">for </span>a team player, or your definition of<span class="s8"> </span>team<span class="s9"> </span>means<span class="s10"> </span>a <span class="s10">team </span>you <span class="s10">control. </span>And <span class="s10">don’t tell </span>me you’re a problem solver. I <span class="s10">didn’t know </span>I had a problem until you brought it<span class="s6"> </span>up.</div>
<div class="p5">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
Here’s the clincher, though. At the end of the <span class="s3">day,</span><span class="s11"> </span>am<span class="s11"> </span>I<span class="s11"> </span>going<span class="s11"> </span>to<span class="s11"> </span>pay<span class="s11"> </span>you<span class="s11"> </span>for<span class="s11"> </span>any<span class="s11"> </span>of<span class="s11"> </span>these<span class="s11"> </span>things? Most<span class="s12"> </span>of<span class="s12"> </span>that<span class="s12"> </span>stuff<span class="s12"> </span>covered<span class="s12"> </span>by<span class="s12"> </span>the<span class="s12"> </span>buzzwords<span class="s12"> </span>is<span class="s12"> </span>not at the core of who you are; you’ve learned to say those<span class="s12"> </span>things<span class="s12"> </span>because<span class="s12"> </span>you<span class="s12"> </span>think<span class="s12"> </span>that’s<span class="s12"> </span>what<span class="s12"> </span>people want to <span class="s5">hear.</span></div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-49688800521105541072017-01-23T10:08:00.001-05:002017-01-23T10:08:58.057-05:00Interviewing Strategically for A TrueFit…Are You In-Step with your new colleagues?<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sometimes</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s3">the</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">problem</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s4">is</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">personality</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s3">type.</span><span class="s5"> </span><span class="s4">An</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">orga</span>nization might be a right match <span class="s4">from </span>a skills per<span class="s4">spective, </span>but the new <span class="s4">employee’s style </span>of <span class="s4">working might </span>not be <span class="s4">compatible with those around</span><span class="s6"> </span><span class="s4">them. </span>At<span class="s7"> </span><span class="s4">first</span><span class="s7"> </span><span class="s3">everyone</span><span class="s7"> </span>is<span class="s7"> </span><span class="s3">willing</span><span class="s7"> </span>to<span class="s7"> </span><span class="s4">“try</span><span class="s7"> </span>to<span class="s7"> </span><span class="s4">make</span><span class="s7"> </span>it<span class="s7"> </span><span class="s3">work,” </span>but <span class="s4">over time </span>the <span class="s4">mismatch becomes</span><span class="s8"> </span><span class="s4">noticeable.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s4"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
A <span class="s9">brilliant young woman got </span>a <span class="s9">job </span><span class="s10">working </span>for a <span class="s9">consulting </span>company. She was <span class="s9">very good at </span>what<span class="s11"> </span>she<span class="s11"> </span>did<span class="s11"> </span>and<span class="s11"> </span>certainly<span class="s11"> </span>had<span class="s11"> </span>the<span class="s11"> </span>skills<span class="s11"> </span>required <span class="s9">for the position, but she kept getting the </span><span class="s10">same </span><span class="s9">comments </span>on her <span class="s9">performance </span>review. <span class="s3">“We </span><span class="s9">like your work, </span>but you’re a <span class="s9">little </span>too <span class="s9">standoffish,” said </span>one reviewer. “You’re a bit <span class="s9">reserved,” said </span>another,<span class="s11"> </span>who<span class="s11"> </span>then<span class="s11"> </span>added,<span class="s11"> </span><span class="s3">“You</span><span class="s11"> </span>don’t<span class="s11"> </span>even<span class="s11"> </span>socialize<span class="s12"> </span><span class="s9">well.”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s9"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
The fact is, the woman is a bit of a nerd (and proud of it). Her friends are nerdy—they always have been. These are the people she likes to be <span class="s3">around.</span><span class="s13"> </span><span class="s4">Those</span><span class="s13"> </span>she<span class="s13"> </span><span class="s4">works</span><span class="s13"> </span><span class="s4">with,</span><span class="s13"> </span><span class="s3">however,</span><span class="s13"> </span><span class="s3">aren’t</span><span class="s13"> </span><span class="s4">like </span><span class="s3">her. </span>They enjoy more socializing both inside and outside<span class="s14"> </span>the<span class="s14"> </span>office.<span class="s14"> </span>“When<span class="s14"> </span>all<span class="s14"> </span>my<span class="s14"> </span>colleagues<span class="s14"> </span>at<span class="s14"> </span>my company go out to <span class="s3">party, </span>it’s not who I am,” she told me <span class="s3">sadly. </span>“So I’m working to change how I am.”<span class="s15"> </span>I<span class="s15"> </span>told<span class="s15"> </span><span class="s3">her,</span><span class="s15"> </span>“No.<span class="s15"> </span>What<span class="s15"> </span>you<span class="s15"> </span>should<span class="s15"> </span>be<span class="s15"> </span>working at is changing jobs!”</div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
Individuals like this woman accept jobs even though<span class="s16"> </span>right<span class="s16"> </span>from<span class="s16"> </span>the<span class="s16"> </span>beginning, they<span class="s16"> </span>get<span class="s16"> </span>the<span class="s16"> </span>feeling<span class="s15"> </span>they<span class="s15"> </span>are<span class="s15"> </span>out<span class="s15"> </span>of<span class="s15"> </span>step<span class="s15"> </span>with<span class="s15"> </span>everybody<span class="s15"> </span>else.</div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-32467352650082232532017-01-17T10:00:00.000-05:002017-01-17T10:00:16.145-05:00Answering “What I Need” is Critical to Career Success<br /><br />A friend of mine is a brilliant derivatives player. He had a very successful career at a bank where they gave him total freedom to do what he wanted, hire who he wanted, and fully exercise all his ideas and plans. Then, after a change in management, he and his team were out. So he started interviewing with everybody. He was looking for a company that would give him the same freedom that had made him so successful at his previous job. Sure enough, he landed a seven-figure-a-year job. I called him the first day of his new job: “Congratulations, but you’ve made a big mistake. I bet you $1,000 you won’t be there at the end of year one.” He swore and hung up on me. I was sure I had made the right call. I knew the executives, I knew the organization he had just joined, and I knew he would never be given the bandwidth he needed to use all his skills. I knew because I had been in the exact same situation. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When we met a few months later, he admitted that my comments were prophetic. “I’m trying to make these changes and they’re not letting me,” he said. “When I presented a plan for business growth, I didn’t even get a yes or no; it just went from committee meeting to committee meeting, and eventually just sat there.”<div>
<br />Soon after he arrived, one of the senior guys in the company asked if he had everything he needed. “What I need,” my friend responded, “is six thousand square feet. Let me hire about two hundred people and give me $1 billion in capital. Then leave me alone.” “Very funny,” the senior executive said. “That’s never going to happen.” But that is exactly what was needed for my friend to be able to maximize his skill set. Both parties had made a huge mistake: the company for hiring him and not understanding how to utilize him, and my friend for thinking that they understood what it meant to hire him. It was a wrong fit, and unfortunately, it happens all the time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
According to a 2016 study from the Hay Group, the world’s top recruitment firm, half of Canadians are unhappy at work because they’re stuck in a wrong fit. Wrong fit is expensive for employers. On average, the cost of termination for any employee in any organization can range from three to five times their annual salary. But the non-monetary cost is even higher, both for employees and employers. Wrong fit sucks the energy out of the company, the employee, and everyone around that employee. Working together becomes a grind because of the constant waste of energy from trying to make something work when there’s no possibility of that happening. Individuals put forth the effort to try to change themselves, but it just doesn’t succeed—and the result is disengagement. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
People show up every day, attend their meetings, prepare their reports, complete their sales calls, but they are simply going through the motions. A recent Gallup study concluded that only 30 percent of North American employees feel engaged or inspired at their jobs and the vast majority of North American workers —70 percent—are not reaching their full potential.</div>
</div>
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</style>Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-43855052620355916132017-01-11T08:30:00.000-05:002017-01-11T12:39:32.698-05:00Making it Work is the Wrong Approach. Here’s a better way.<div class="MsoNormal">
It starts from the time we are born. Most of us get the
message that we can’t have everything we want in life; we have to work at the
things we’re not good at. We must be balanced, not tip one way or the other,
and we have to get along with every- body. Parents, teachers, and guidance
counsellors alike advise us to compromise, comply, bend, and, above all, “make
it work.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does that make sense? When I asked myself why the talent I
had recruited in the past had been so successful, I came to a startling
conclusion. It wasn’t because they tried hard at things they weren’t good at.
It wasn’t because they were necessarily balanced and got along with everybody.
The key was that they did what they were really good at. And their personality
fit the culture of the workplace. They were, in other words, a true fit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, after a lot of stops and starts, I am the definition of
a true fit. I know what I’m really good at doing. I’m really good at being a
trusted adviser to my clients. I execute that role in three ways: I help them
recruit, I help them figure out why businesses don’t work (which usually means
they have the wrong people in the business), and I coach them and their teams
to be more effective. I know I’m a true fit in my business in that I am
utilizing 100 percent of the skills that I am good at, and I’m mostly not
required to use any of the things that I’m not good at. At the core of my day,
what I do makes for a pretty happy life. It’s not perfect, though. There are
always ups and downs. I wish I made more money and had more work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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People who hire me need my skills as a trusted adviser to
help them recruit for a new position or to find a job that suits their
abilities. But they also have to want me and the way I work. I’m like a good
old-fashioned matchmaker. I work best with people who trust me to find the
right fit for them. A client who’s a true fit, then, needs the service I can
give them and wants the way I work. They need me and they want me.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-41828603268151151892016-10-26T10:18:00.000-04:002016-10-26T10:18:06.012-04:00True Fit?<style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1JIQstfrPuaxKZIXw0hoeobbKTvEI_D7YARv4T6TQTmn7QRaYma-jIJHVWQqJbaBfTqhdpxRx8plIdzJBLuA061LDAUZxJ_iMll89kfGK8I9ad6pfL0YjkZqe1DHRuBQ-cGGBNFTfzta/s1600/True_Fit_Blogpost.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1JIQstfrPuaxKZIXw0hoeobbKTvEI_D7YARv4T6TQTmn7QRaYma-jIJHVWQqJbaBfTqhdpxRx8plIdzJBLuA061LDAUZxJ_iMll89kfGK8I9ad6pfL0YjkZqe1DHRuBQ-cGGBNFTfzta/s320/True_Fit_Blogpost.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I want to scare you as you embark upon the next stage
of your life. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Up until now you have followed a well-trodden path
with some direction and a few choices to make along the way; and now as you
prepare to graduate, some of you will go on to higher education while the rest
will without a doubt be seeking a job. My advice for you – be you, the world
will adjust. I want to give you permission to start thinking differently and to
find the right fit for you, instead of trying to fit in; to find a job that
lets you be you and do the things that you are good at most of the day, and
requires a little effort on the things you are not good at. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After I graduated from Queen’s University I spent my
entire career in the financial services industry, culminating in becoming
President of CIBC Wood Gundy at the age of 37. After having been a trailblazer
in building and starting businesses, one day I found myself at the end of a barrel with the words “we can’t live up to your expectations or
aspirations.” I had been fired, and the long and the short of it was that I
DIDN’T FIT. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I didn’t even really know what fit was, not until it
happened to me again at the Bank of Montreal when after two years as a vice
chairman I was gone again. I was forced to take stock and figure out what
people should pay me for, and that began a wonderful journey to find my <i>True
Fit</i>, while helping others find theirs, by using four simple steps.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My new book <i>True Fit </i>is available
on-line and in all bookstores. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/True-Fit-Find-Right-Being/dp/1988025109/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474374076&sr=1-1&keywords=True+Fit" target="_blank">Amazon.ca</a><br />
<a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/true-fit-how-to-find/9781988025100-item.html?ikwid=True+Fit&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0" target="_blank">Chapters.indigo.ca</a> </span></span></div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-30103432000815913032014-11-25T12:03:00.002-05:002014-11-25T23:41:43.604-05:00Unhappy at work?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgGJIGtKYj0YC3_kpal6I8qujtH3oCUU1BbJpTzmUCs9VAW91QrRvd1d56im0c6pgUbUi763ngIIxAFFm_Yz8OpoAet_PgHUX8PXCLNqfx3m-by0rflrWx5iLVe6K7Hlt12-krbk-d4V8/s1600/unhappy+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgGJIGtKYj0YC3_kpal6I8qujtH3oCUU1BbJpTzmUCs9VAW91QrRvd1d56im0c6pgUbUi763ngIIxAFFm_Yz8OpoAet_PgHUX8PXCLNqfx3m-by0rflrWx5iLVe6K7Hlt12-krbk-d4V8/s1600/unhappy+at+work.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently I read an
article highlighting seven key signs that you are unhappy at work. I had to
pause and wonder why it would take anyone seven signs to realize that they were
unhappy at work. Perhaps the clearest sign is that you hate getting up and
heading to work every day and just in case you need a second, you cannot wait
for your work day to end so you can leave your job. To my way of thinking the
first sign is enough of a reason, but if you needed a little more reinforcement
for those who just want to be extra sure go to the second sign. But dear lord
anyone who is unhappy at their job doesn't need seven signs. Perhaps a shrink
but not seven signs!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The more important
question to ask yourself is whether there is a job that you can find where you
will be happy every day and if there is how do you go about finding it? Before
you can find all this out you have to figure out what this job must look like
for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You see happiness or
unhappiness always leads back to yourself and understanding the basics about
yourself. Whether it be in work or in love, first we must understand who we are
before we can go and find a job or a person who is compatible with us. When it
comes to love many of us understand the things we like and don't like, what we
will and won't do and usually have a clear understanding of the partner we are
looking for and how we want to share our life. We've been brought up, taught
and had numerous role models to follow in our understanding of finding the
right partner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">However, when it
comes to finding the perfect job, that is our perfect fit we are most often
completely unprepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than those
lucky few who always knew what they wanted to be; a Doctor, Lawyer, Accountant
or Engineers, I suspect like most people you had no clue what you were going to
ending doing for employment let alone how to go about figuring that out. Does
anyone ever remember discussing with their parents what they love about their
job or whether they love it at all? My parents would have looked at me like I
had grown a third head if I asked that question. 'What are you asking?, they
would say, I work what does loving work have to do with work, work is
work"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So you see, I
thought exactly the same way for years until I came to a point in time after a
very successful career in finance staring at the fact that I could not get a
job anywhere let alone something that I thought I was a fit for. What I realized
was that nobody out there had any idea of what I brought to the table, hell
neither did I, I thought of myself in terms of what job titles I had held over
my work life, not what I was a good fit for. So when faced with the prospect of
unemployment with six kids I realized the old adage, "necessity is the
mother of invention" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So I quickly had to
figure out what I was good at who out there needed what I was good at doing and
who hopefully wanted me to work with them both in skills and personality. So
before I could figure out who needed and wanted me, I had to figure who ‘me’
was and would anyone pay for me?. What kind of people would I work best with?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What I find truly
remarkable is how long people will tolerate their own unhappiness at work. Even
more incredible is that fact that they show absolutely no interest and take no
initiative to change that. It's almost as if we have all been raised to believe
that work and happiness are mutually exclusive terms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">NEWS FLASH folks,
you don't need to be unhappy at work. But you do need to do some work to find
that perfect situation for you and it starts with figuring out yourself so that
when you are doing your job search you are searching in your target rich
environment (TRE). You TRE is the place that needs you and your skills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So, unhappy at work
folks , it’s not going to change by sitting miserable at your desk. Last I checked
life is not a dress rehearsal so get up off your duffs, make it your New Year’s
resolution to put some serious effort into finding the right fit for you and as
they say " Figure out what you love and get paid for doing it"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">All that stands in
the way of a happy job is "YOU and some hard WORK"</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-50510205917364808462014-11-10T06:08:00.001-05:002014-11-25T23:06:29.754-05:00Tell Me About Yourself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h0DfoXZu-F2PHG-KFkZgHNtWKd4j46aHuhsb1Tuqf5CJCCpjUfF21yzlvv2lDHkQghqm8Io1NtFGyt2-gHHeEOiJtBQ0sAvhDLF7GmRBjy6F70ASiQefnOWWVMw1kX5BxjosKdoU97pw/s1600/interviewanxiety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0h0DfoXZu-F2PHG-KFkZgHNtWKd4j46aHuhsb1Tuqf5CJCCpjUfF21yzlvv2lDHkQghqm8Io1NtFGyt2-gHHeEOiJtBQ0sAvhDLF7GmRBjy6F70ASiQefnOWWVMw1kX5BxjosKdoU97pw/s1600/interviewanxiety.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">"So tell me about yourself" These five simple words
that have the capability of messing up your interview right from the start.
This one question strikes fear, dry mouth, increased heart palpitations and not
to mention unsightly sweat in all the wrong places in even the most capable
applicants.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where do you start? Do you go back to the early days? Are they
really interested in “…it all started in a small town just outside of Waco
Texas” or the more boring “I don't think you can read my resume so let me repeat
everything that is written on it”. Which is akin to reading every slide in a
presentation in case people can’t see or read. The third alternative is to just
rattle on and on about how “I am the greatest thing since sliced bread and any
company would be lucky to have me” speech.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well I know there is a much better alternative to the painful suggestions made
by most recruiters. You see, when someone asks you tell them about yourself
what they are really trying to do is answer a very simple set of questions in
their mind:"What's in it for me to hire you?’ ‘What should I pay you for
that will make me more money?’ And lastly, ‘Do I need your skills and if I so,
do I like you enough to believe that you will be a good fit with everyone else
that works here?"</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">You see I believe that before you can answer any of these questions you need to
be comfortable enough to understand exactly what are you good at, and what
skills you possess that someone should pay you for. As you prepare for an
interview ask yourself what kind of people you work best with and do they exist
where you are applying? Secondly, is your conflict resolution style compatible
with the firm you are hoping to be hired by? And lastly, if you could describe
the perfect day of activities that you will be required to do does it match the
job description? Seems simple enough, yes? Write it down, it will provide
clarity. I have received countless feedback from those that I mentor despite
how simple these questions seem they provide great clarity. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Far too many people fall into the trap of describing themselves in terms of
their CV or Resume, which in my opinion is nothing more than a trip itinerary
of jobs. Seriously I always ask my clients and those I mentor, "Is that
the single best document to describe who you are, what you are good at and why
someone should hire you?" I sincerely doubt it and in all my years of
asking the question nobody has ever said yes it is! But we still use the
conventional resume...well I have a different I idea for you in how to revamp
your resume and how to answer the dreaded question. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In my book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/How-Hire-Perfect-Employer-Infomercial/dp/1926645367">How
to hire the perfect Employer"</a>, I outline how you can go about building
your own infomercial so that when asked the question "Tell me about
yourself" you will have rock solid pitch that will ensure that the
employer will be able to figure out whether they need your skills and want you
as in your personality and character. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
So, for those that have not read the book, what does an infomercial look like?
Let me share my infomercial with you, the one that I use every time I go on a
pitch for new business. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">When asked the dreaded questions, I start by saying; "I
am trusted advisor to CEOs, Department heads and managers of financial services
organizations. I work with them in helping execute their plans by doing
recruiting, consulting and coaching"I then continue to tell them that
throughout my career I have hired over 900 people while I was at CIBC and BMO.
I was responsible for numerous strategic initiatives both in their
creation and execution. Lastly, I have mentored and coached numerous
people that have gone on to great heights. I am collaborative in my conflict
resolution style and the perfect day for me is doing all three of the above
mentioned in my infomercial, working on finding good people, advising clients
on how to improve their businesses and lastly but most importantly coaching
people into finding the perfect fit in employment for them.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The perfect employer for me is someone who is first and foremost seeking a
trusted advisor with my background and experience. IF they are just looking for
a Head Hunter to show them CV's then I direct them to the many other firms that
do that for a living the way the client wants it done.With this clear
understanding of my strengths and what I offer to each client I work with, I
approach the dreaded ‘Tell me about yourself’ question with ease…. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">
‘Let me tell you about myself, I am a trusted advisor to CEOs….”</span></div>
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Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-78107096264252206572014-08-14T17:05:00.000-04:002014-08-14T17:05:42.385-04:00Finding Your FitI recently read a <a href="http://www.careerealism.com/british-employees-unhappy-employers/">study</a> that said over 70% of the people working in Great Britain were unhappy with their jobs. What a sad state of affairs, imagine getting up every morning with nothing to look forward to except for the end of the day. OMG, I would shoot myself yet I do understand how you can end up in that trap. If this is you and you are reading this get up on your feet and say to yourself “I deserve to be happy, I deserve to have work that utilizes my skill set and finally I deserve to enjoy going to work every day because I get to do the things I am good at.”<br />
<br />
In order to make any significant changes in your life it begins with a realistic assessment of where you are at the time. Determine your skills and what interests you. Then read my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/How-Hire-Perfect-Employer-Infomercial/dp/1926645367">How to Hire the Perfect Employer</a>, and follow the process that will lead to your powerful infomercial that will allow you to look and opportunities and see if they are right for you.<br />
<br />
You have the power to make the changes happen.
I believe that people are often afraid to look for work where their passion is due to the belief that they won’t be able to make enough money. As I always say to people;<br />
<br />
“Do you know that?”<br />
“Have you actually done the work and research to find that out?”<br />
<br />
Don’t you think you will be far more valuable to a company or yourself if you are doing the things that you are good at every day and watching your productivity jump by leaps and bounds instead of spending time on the things that you suck at and have really no interest in doing?<br />
<br />
Throughout my coaching practice I am amazed at how unmotivated people are at finding the right fit at work for them. Behind family and health, their job, where they spend 40% of their time every day is the most important aspect of their life happiness. When I started my business, I quickly realized that I could make money from my passion. By understanding who I was and what I am good at I could target myself to the clients that needed me most and wanted me to do the work utilizing my strengths. I never wasted my time pitching people that either didn’t need my type of service or want my personality and process. I stayed and continue to stay within my target rich environment, focusing on those clients that need and want me.<br />
<br />
Your life should be focused on working everyday on your strengths. The things you suck at you will always suck and should seek a job or career that requires as little as possible from that side of your personal balance sheet. Balance is for investment portfolio, work to your strengths every day and you cannot help but be successful and a success by any measure you wish to judge. You have the power to make it happen…so DO IT!
Jim Beqajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02692840668421198289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-68548555005362268002012-11-25T22:03:00.000-05:002014-07-15T13:57:41.513-04:00Data Predetermined the Real Winner in the Latest US Election<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="174" data-width="290" height="174" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0bZcbw5S2s4YqYXauS0oCXbfA4NI7RS3pPAws3POl37Vfkhcoxg" style="height: 174px; width: 290px;" width="290" /><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I along with the rest of the world were held hostage by the American election cycle for the past few months, if not the past year. Personally I cannot let the 70 billion dollar election expenditures go by without at least a bit of commentary – the campaign budgets make the auto bailout look like a shrimp cocktail and they can't even say they saved any jobs in Ohio! From where I sit politically, it all ended exactly where it started 24 months ago, less 70 billion, EXCEPT for one big difference: The Obama campaign broke the mould in data harvesting and changed the game permanently.<br /><br />The world was fascinated as CNN's John King dissected all the voting patterns and historical data at the large touch screen. He made the results look logical and hinted very early in the evening that it was going to be an Obama victory. No question, the demographics of the Obama victory were interesting, but what was even more intruiguing was how the Romney campaign got completely blindsided. What happened?? Data mining is what happened. Time magazine broke the “inside story” of a group in the Chicago Obama headquarters that revolutionized data harvesting:<br /><br /><a href="http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/07/inside-the-secret-world-of-quants-and-data-crunchers-who-helped-obama-win/" target="_blank">http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/07/inside-the-secret-world-of-quants-and-data-crunchers-who-helped-obama-win/</a><br /><br />A group of PHDs and scientists (that were kept entirely separate from the regular campaign staff) began working nearly four years ago on the data management issues they encountered during the 2008 campaign. The first Obama campaign was lauded for its revolutionary use of social media to get the youth vote. This time around the Democrats built an incredible database of information to form the most sophisticated data mining model ever used in politics or most likely in any other organization. The use of data is how Romney got blindsided. Read the article, it was amazing how they used the data to fundraise and get people out to vote.<br /><br />In one of their quarterly publications McKinsey also wrote about the importance of data mining and its powerful future:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/mgi/research/technology_and_innovation/big_data_the_next_frontier_for_innovation" target="_blank">http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/mgi/research/technology_and_innovation/big_data_the_next_frontier_for_innovation</a><br /><br />In addition, a relatively new extremely creative entrepreneurial firm called Price Metrix has revolutionized how the the world manages their investment advisors. With this article they explain why you should seriously worry you if you are not on this data directed train:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pricemetrix.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/PriceMetrix_Insights_Moneyball-for-Advisors_English.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.pricemetrix.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/PriceMetrix_Insights_Moneyball-for-Advisors_English.pdf</a><br /><br />You see it's politics, businesses and probably more industries than you can even think about that are harnessing the value of data to make critical decisions. This has been going on in the sports world for ages and now technology has allowed everyone to harness its power.<br /><br /><b>So my question to you is, "are you capitalizing on all the data that is available to you at the workplace??"</b><br /><br />Or do you have client information scattered about in different databases that should be consolidated (that was one of the big tasks of the Obama brain trust)?<br /><br />Are you paying too many different sources to provide the same information (that is why the Bloomberg terminal became so popular in the cost cutting 1990s)??<br /><br />Do you have managers who comprehend the new world dynamics and how to harness the data to understand what is really going on out there? Or are you stuck in the old horse and buggy decision making process that has sent many a businesses slowly move along the curve of extinction?<br /><br />Technology is and will be the ultimate disrupter, spreading its influence into every aspect of our lives. Apple, Google, Facebook and YouTube have being doing it for years. But you thought it was just about social media. Wrong, it's all about the <b>data</b>, who has it, what do they do with it and what does it mean for you.<br /><br />Take heed everyone, the future is here and there is nowhere to hide. If you are not taking advantage of the data, your competitors will! Just ask Mitt and the Republican Party, since they and everyone else had no warning of the tsunami that hit them on election night. Strike yet another victory for technology!<br /><br />What side of the disrupter world do you reside in? Are u the disrupter or the one being being dirsrupted??</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-70041293544691734652012-10-16T16:50:00.002-04:002014-07-15T13:45:24.867-04:00Ryder Cup thoughts, a little late...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">Why
was the Ryder Cup such an incredible event? Was it the agony and the ecstasy?
The agony of a less skilled European team falling way behind to a narcissistic
American team… And then, the ecstasy as the Europeans took the Americans down
one by one in head to head competition? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I will tell you why I thought it was so riveting; everybody loves
the underdog, the come from behind victory, the David vs. Goliath imagery. The
unpredictability and drama of sport is why we watch. If the most talented teams
won all the time, who would care? Those with the biggest pocket book would
always be the winner.<br />
<br />Regardless of how sad we are when our teams lose, we still admire
the magnitude of the feat by the underdog. There is some quiet comfort that if
our teams do lose, somehow it is acceptable to be beaten by a team that is
inferior in talent but somehow pulls everything together to do what had on
paper seemed impossible.<br />
<br />Now, that I have gotten you thinking about the joy of come from
behind victories, I want you to think about your workplace and what you can
learn from the Ryder Cup event. Doesn't it feel great when someone beats the
odds? Someone decides to take a different path, risk it all and makes it work
with blood sweat and tears? Do you ever cheer for the underdog at the office?
Do you ever help clear the path for someone experimenting with a different
strategy?<br />
<br />The Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal knew that he was
overmatched but took risks with his choices of people and the order in which he
played them. Notwithstanding, his odds sure looked insurmountable when they sat
down for dinner on the eve of the final round. Yet there was something in the
air that night.<br />
<br />I can tell you from experience that Goliath does not always win
in life and that includes at the office. When Goliath loses, it is so much more
satisfying because the unexpected has occurred. What I have seen in my coaching
practice often is the “Davids” talking themselves out of challenging the
“Goliaths” by saying "Oh, that will never work” or “They will never do
that." I always ask "How do you know?” The answer is - You don't know
until you try!<br />
<br />Cheering for the underdogs is always more risky, prone to
ridicule and definitely more lonely, but so much more fun when it works! In
reality, the underdogs are usually the agents of change, those people that are
different, not marching to the same beat, those that did not read the pre-game
write-ups that said they were to be defeated. They are the ones that forge
ahead without fear. We should be cheering these people forward, helping them
clear the way for progress. <br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wonderful American wife always asks me why I love the underdog
in every aspect of life so much (FYI just a few tense moments during the Ryder
Cup disintegration of her team). I answer because I spent a lifetime of people
telling me "Oh, you can't do this and that”. In reality, it seems to me
you can do anything you put your mind and energy to; otherwise, we would still
be running around with clubs and loin cloths. Nothing wrong with that if you
are a caveman but most of us have progressed!<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my challenge to you is be an agent of change in your office, support those
taking the road less travelled, cheer for the underdog whether it’s popular or
not. You never know that change may just make your life better, it’s sure worth
a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, just like the Europeans
did on the night before the last round of Ryder Cup.</span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Be <b>bold</b> and support your local underdog. </span><span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-9428517294206635972012-10-03T15:08:00.000-04:002014-07-15T13:51:44.405-04:00The World is an Incredible Place<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently had the good
fortune to visit parts of the world with my wife and her family that were truly
spectacular. Where and why do not matter, but what I saw and experienced as it
relates to the world of work and entrepreneurism does matter and it concerns
you.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the trip, we were lucky
enough to drop anchor in a totally remote area of the Aegean Sea. As this was
occurring, a man in a small skiff headed towards our charter. The crew sprung
to attention fearing the worst, but upon closer observation, we realized he was
an ice cream salesman with Ben and Jerry's products. We had to rub our eyes,
but there he was along side the boat pitching ice cream in broken English - complete
with marketing tools - a large picture board of products.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />We had just finished lunch and dessert, but this guy needed to be rewarded for
both his entrepreneurial gusto and salesmanship. So, we bought a large quantity
of Ben and Jerry’s and once again we pushed back our diet plans. We enjoyed
the banter back and forth with this true salesman learning about his motivation
and his business. He told us that if anyone asks about
him, we refer to him as being " chubby but good looking.” What a
perfect description!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Adversity is the mother of creativity and invention. This gentleman came from a
small fishing village that offered a limited amount of ways to earn a
living. He had a wife and children to clothe and feed. For him to seek out and
capitalize on this ice cream venture was truly remarkable. I am sure someone
said to him “are you kidding, selling ice cream to all those boats as they pass
by?" But undeterred, there he was making the sale. Somehow, I
doubt it was his first rodeo.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Steve Jobs was once quoted asking the question whether Alexander Graham
Bell ever had a focus group. It appears to me that the world is truly short of
risk takers, I know in the Financial Services industry there are a few brave
ones left, but the increased regulation and the more conservative board
governance have tied everyone’s hands (for the good or the bad). But, what
about the rest of humanity? Is the World Wide Web the only frontier of
creativity and opportunity?</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would argue that all great
inventions are the convergence of these concepts. It all starts with two
musings, "There must be a better way to do.... "
or "I wish I could…..” How many times have you seen a new
product and thought, “Now, that makes sense?” Not every solution is
an earth shattering invention (but some definitely are), most of the time
it is just a better mousetrap.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Jobs and his friends at
Apple probably said I know we can improve on the original Sony MP3 players to
revolutionize the world digital music in an iPod.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">But I digress, you see most established organizations want to study, poke and
prod and find every reason to not change the original blueprint. I am not
talking about the gazillion dollar purchases - those decisions seem to be made
easier than the day-to-day tactical decisions of who to hire and what business
to build opportunistically (cheaply) and quickly.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today’s businesses need a good
healthy dose of the old-fashioned entrepreneurial spirit – just like the Ben
and Jerry’s ice cream salesman in the Aegean Sea. Forget the full-blown studies
and foot dragging, a little plain hustle and some get up and go, just might
make you some money.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the questions I ask each of you is “Are you or is your firm
in the practice of encouraging the creative entrepreneurs?” </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't mean market risk taking, I
am talking about encouraging people to come forth with new ideas and new
business prospects to improve the bottom line
either through better efficiency or brighter ideas. Remember
creativity and opportunity are the mother of all profitability! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or are you and your firm destined
to clip the same old coupons, to stick to the mundane assembly line way of
producing and to maintain the same mediocre pace in place
because it's just a heck of lot easier than swimming up stream? If that’s the case,
you are destined for a boring life of mediocrity. Bring some passion and some
new ideas to your work place, they may not all be iPods but remember the silver
lining “chubby but good looking”!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As some of you know, I am the
first generation from my family to have been born in North America, immigrants
have distinct characteristics by their very circumstances. I come from a long
line of entrepreneurs and boat rockers, it is in my genes, I have never seen a
boat that I didn't want to rock. My wife says that I cannot even walk into a
restaurant without telling them how to improve the place (so much for a
relaxing date night). This “personality trait” has cost me tens of millions of
dollars having been fired twice by two Canadian banks’. You see
for me it's never been a conscious decision because I am always
thirsty for change. It drives my wife and kids crazy (as well as a
few others), but I could not run my business today without my rocking skills!
In fact, it drives my business.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">So, who are the shakers at your workplace? Do you, yourself have it in you
to step up and offer the new ideas and take ownership? Surely, when you look
around and ask “Is there a better way to do this?” The answer should
more often than not be a resounding YES!</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I ask, "What’s in your </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>GENES</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">????"</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeKwvvC_Rb_AgLT-LoCF5kBXYmnaMqzTi95XhFkw1upqIHe6MkBZr4PQ9UtdoK_DJQa-sfNO0ptg38PBB7lLKBGwdwfr9MXau_uQlE3Ee1toczbMghwknkpTV9H35MUU2nM2abA2UZ9ky/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeKwvvC_Rb_AgLT-LoCF5kBXYmnaMqzTi95XhFkw1upqIHe6MkBZr4PQ9UtdoK_DJQa-sfNO0ptg38PBB7lLKBGwdwfr9MXau_uQlE3Ee1toczbMghwknkpTV9H35MUU2nM2abA2UZ9ky/s320/photo+(4).JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-73922943154963127512012-09-05T20:23:00.000-04:002014-07-15T13:56:12.971-04:00MENTORING<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Who Inspired or Mentored You??</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"></span></span><br />
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">Following the Olympics and all those "who inspired them in their lives " clips, it got me thinking about my own life. Who was it that inspired or mentored me during the school days and work years that made me the person I am today? I don't mean people that I found inspiring for what they had accomplished; but, those that directly mentored and taught me more than just about the job at hand. You see I ask the question because in my coaching practice, I realize it is a lost art</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">, and yet,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">so many people need it</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> today.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">Inspiration comes in many </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">forms;</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> the most lasting is to be mentored by someone who takes time, a genuine interest and leads by example. Real mentoring helps you become a better person professionally and personally because it forces yo</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">u to truly examine your actions. I</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">t is always helpful to have someone force you to look into a mirror.</span></span><br />
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often wonder if my experience is like others</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can count </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> one hand the people that have mentored me in my life. Is it the same for you</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">? W</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ho were they and what im</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pact did they have on your life? Did you say “thank-you”?</span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">I had a wonderful teacher in high school </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">that</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">counseled</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> me above and beyond the course curriculum. He was an old bow le</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">gged rugby player who taught English o</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">r so we</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> thought that was the curriculum.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> I was fortunate to have him for a number of yea</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">rs. He opened</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> our eyes to learning by </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">having </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">us write poetry and short stories</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> on any topic. How novel is that? He wanted us to be engaged on what we put down on the paper (yes, it was paper back in those days). H</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">e used </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">our work to foster conversation about life as a high school student – what was our </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">motivation and what we were really trying to </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">s</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ay about life</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">?</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> When I reflect back o</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">n my life, I can see </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">him </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">vividly </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">standing at the front or sitting with each of us</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">. He always made us feel like we were the only people in the world. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">I can hear him and re</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">member almost everything he</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> taught us</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> – he is one of those voices that </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">run</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> through my mind daily.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> His name was Peter Jocelyn and I owe him a huge debt of personal thanks.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">The sec</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ond inspiring person I</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> met was a brilliant man named Peter Campbell</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">He became </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">my boss in 1982 at Wood Gundy</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">. Peter</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> taught me more about business, leadership, responsibility and </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">safe guarding</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> the welfare of those that work</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ed</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> for you. Peter was a gifted man who </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">had been dealt a terrible card, a</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">stellar </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">athlete who was struck by polio in his high school years. He had two canes and steel bars for his legs but what he had lost physically was more than made up for in </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">his brilliance</span><span class="s3" style="color: red; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">both professionally and personally. He was the first truly </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">gifted man I had ever me</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">t and he was my new boss. He became so much more to me and </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">to </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">so many others</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> especially my dear friend Wayne Dea</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ns.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">In the spirit of full disclosure, Peter wasn't everyone’s cup of tea, but then again neither am I!</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> What he</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> did possess </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">was an unbelievable ability to understand how to lead and </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">how to </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">make </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">people </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">better on a daily basis. He</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> h</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ad a heart that always understood </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">that if you took care of those that</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> work</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ed</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> for you first and foremost</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">that the rest would</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> all work out. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">That is a</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">n art that </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">has disappeared over the years as people have clawed their way to the top of the corporate ladder. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">He also challenged us to take on our fears constantly and not be satisfied </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">or</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> complacent.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">A day does not pass without me using </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">one of the tools </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">that I learned from</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> his genius</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">. As I said</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> he wasn't everyone's cup o</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">f </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">tea;</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> he </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ruffled </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">some </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">in the old guard </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">because </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">he detested </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">favoritism and cronyism. As they say you can always tell the pioneers, they are the ones with the arrows in their backs.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">For those that know me well</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">, you know that I love</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> to coach and mentor</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">. My wife says </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">that I coach and mentor whether the service has been request</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">ed or not - it is just my way of showing you that I care – she just hopes it does not come across as barking or harping on my friends and clients. Seriously, I do love the mentoring aspect of my days</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> probably more than anything else</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> I do.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">Upon reflection, I realize I built my career on mentoring people and I owe all that to Peter Campbell. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118);"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">Maybe one day, I can master the nuance of Peter’s mentoring by listening more and talking less, believe it or not, it is a goal of mine. Yes, my </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">wife </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">puts me in front of a mirror every once in awhile as well! We can all learn from a little introspection.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here is what I want to ask each and every</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one of you who read</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> my blog</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />1. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">W</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ho inspired and </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mentored you in your life?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Parents not included in this survey</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />2. </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">W</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ho are you </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mentoring </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with purpose and deep heart felt desire to truly help</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Children not included in this survey.)</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />I hope you have some examples of both</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">f not</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> look around</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, there are people that </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">need your time and interest to improve.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> You never know, helping someone else just might make you look better in the process!</span><br />
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of the day</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> we are all better </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">getting and giving help</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. It </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">makes a </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">work place</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> more fun and if </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">people love</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> where they </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">work</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, doesn't that usually make a place </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more produc</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tive and financially successful??</span><br />
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as they say in</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the commercial, "GET CRACKING"</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!!!</span></div>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-18585282371841545572012-07-30T14:52:00.001-04:002014-07-15T14:32:53.626-04:00Apple Should Run the World<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.294118); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YES....PLEASE!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the last two frustrating weeks dealing with everybody from Rogers to Shaw, I have come to the conclusion that Apple should run the world. I know that they did not make as much money as everyone expected last quarter, but that's not what I am talking about, I am referring to their well-oiled customer service machine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the spirit of full disclosure, my wife has often said I was born in the wrong time period; I should have been born into the feudal system with plenty of serfs to handle all of life's inconveniences. Unfortunately, I am a mere mortal of non-royal lineage and I am stuck dealing with all of life's aggravations. In reality, things do not always work as advertised or – I know this is hard to believe - I do not know how to do everything; it is under these circumstances that I need to contact a Customer Service Department. These dealings – with people that are well paid to provide me with customer service – make my blood boil and me ache for the guillotine of centuries past.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Has customer service become an oxymoron?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The run of the mill service providers do horrendous jobs of making us feel good about paying and using their products. In fact, most of them send us off the deep end regularly. Switching products/providers doesn't seem to make a difference either; there just aren't enough companies who make customer service a priority. A friend of mine, who was a senior person at one of the Telcos, once told me that his particular company could care less about their customers, it was all about the cash, the monster needed to be fed, new business ruled.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my short life, I have seen a few great examples of customer service companies, but none of them have shown the staying power or global reach of Apple. My Customer Service Hall of Fame includes Virgin, Body Shop, Disney, McDonalds and Ward Air. I would add, West Jet, but all that goofiness when you fly is just too much hokey pokey for me. I am sure you have your own list, but, is there any one of your service providers that you actually feel as good about as Apple?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apple is in a class all by itself, not only from a product perspective but also from an overall experience - from purchase, to use, to upgrade! It begins with a wonderfully efficient on-line purchase (would you like that engraved for free?) or in one of those stores filled with hundreds of overly eager polite sales people (easy to identify in their matching shirts). What is better than the after market support when you have an issue with any of their products? How about all of those software updates to help make everything work better? Not to mention, Apple is constantly coming up with ways to make our lives more pleasurable and increase our ability to work more efficiently. I cannot wait for the iPhone 5!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently had a “One to One” tutorial with a “Genius” in an Apple store for Final Cut X - I'd like to be better at making home movies of my kids. It was one of the most enjoyable hours I have spent learning - my speed, no attitude and teaching me what I needed to now. None of that "Oh, I am way too cool to be doing this attitude" that you usually get from some technophile or sports dude. It was just a great guy who totally understood what I was trying to accomplish. He was just like every other person I have met through my relationship with Apple - truly outstanding.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As if all of that great service is not enough, whenever you call in to Apple for help, they send you a survey asking for your opinion on how they did. It helps them track the good service and plan on how to exceed my expectations next time. That's a real acid test - to have the nerve to send out questionnaires on customer service and then publish the results. It really separates the men from the boys!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was recently in China; they had a survey machine right in front of the Customs agent. It required your opinion after you passed through an agent – wow – Can you imagine how our Customs agents would score?? I related that story to a Customs agent back at home and he suggested that on a scale of one to ten, Canadian Customs would average a two. How long do you think a Chinese Customs agent with a score of two would be around??</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since, I should have been a lord of my own manor in another time, I have been on a personal campaign to improve the plight of others, if not by riches than at least by improved customer service. However, I am tired of writing letters to nowhere... It is not uncommon these days to be unable to reach a person within these large companies, for example neither Air Canada nor Rogers have a person you can complain to, it's an email address to nowhere. Reminds me of a bridge! And you can forget about receiving a response to your customer service complaint and there is definitely no survey to register your opinion!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let's get back to Apple, how can we get them to take over every aspect of my life? Imagine just for a brief beautiful moment that Apple ran all government services and the entire education system. And, that each and every service provider that we pay our hard earned money had to follow the Apple customer service model. We might actually live longer, stress levels globally would drop dramatically, a population explosion might occur because people would have less headaches and more time for the pursuit of life's pleasures. The world would be free of stress and functioning efficiently at every step.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see there is absolutely nothing that stops companies from adopting Apple’s service model except us. Here comes the rant, yes, us!! As long as we continue to support poor customer service organizations there is no need for them to change. In fact they are probably laughing, it's like sporting teams, unless fans stop showing up to the ballparks or arenas, the team owners let the teams languish in the standings. So why do we keep showing up to be treated poorly and with disrespect? Do we feel we are not worthy of great customer service? Have we thrown in the towel and said "Oh, what's the use, there’s nothing little old me can do"? In the end, maybe we just don't care about being treated well for our hard earned dollars.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I do and I challenge you too, like the guy said in the movie Network "I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore". Let's stop letting these companies treat us poorly, let's demand better service or switch providers, let's reward those that really do a great job with our loyalty. Even if we have to pay a little more, let’s stop sending our hard earned cash to those that continually abuse and take us for granted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The world has evolved from fiefdoms to democracies, maybe there is hope for customer service. Long live Apple and may one day all companies and governments follow its model!!!!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-88679364777757082192012-07-16T15:57:00.001-04:002014-07-15T14:33:35.196-04:00What took you so long?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nobody was surprised; “Why did it take so long?” Is a question that I have heard more often throughout my business life than any other. People in an organization know who should be let go, under most circumstances; people in an organization have been shocked that the “slackers” or “troublemakers” have been allowed to keep their jobs for as long as they have. Keeping the problem employees around a firm creates a real disincentive for all the others on many levels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently a friend of mine took over a company that was down and out, truly on its last legs. He was brought in by the Board to "turn it around". It was pretty clear to him right from the start who the keepers were and those that were “destined for other opportunities”. Even though he knew what had to be done, it didn't stop him from foot dragging because he wanted to be sure, he did not want to rock the boat too much after all, he was the new guy.... Hello!! This company was on the verge of going broke!! Brought to you by the same people that you just inherited! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, I think you get the idea, so let's move along. There is always one person that stands out among the rest when you come into a new situation, usually they strut around with a feeling that they are untouchable, they didn't get the memo or don't care that there is a new sheriff in town. They actually believe that you can't touch them, they have some special relationship with someone or knowledge that can't be replicated. In short, they believe the firm cannot function without them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my friend goes on and on about this guy, how he is passive aggressive, but that he keeps promising that a big transformational deal is just a few steps away; meanwhile, he constantly does everything to keep my CEO friend out of the loop. My friend keeps hoping that this gentleman will quit, realizing that he does not belong anymore. In the end, there was no deal, just a ton of smoke. My friend followed the smoke for a while, wanting to believe. He knew in his heart of hearts this guy was a fraud and bad for him and the company. Yet he did nothing, day after day, week after week, month after month, doesn't make sense does it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why, when we know intellectually, in our gut and in every one of our bones what has to be done, can we not bring ourselves to do it? Is it that we just aren't that sure – that we have let these people into our psyches and therefore doubt our own instincts? Is it fear of what happens if I do fire them? Could it be all of the above? Is that what separates great business leaders from mere mortals? Is that why it really is tougher to be the boss vs the Monday morning quarterback? Is that why trading on paper is much easier and more successful when done without the emotions of real dollars?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to our story, finally something happens that is so flagrant that my friend can no longer ignore the obvious, he had to step up and fire him. Hooray!! He did it and every single person in this small company came to my friend and uttered those true words spoken over generations..."What took you so long to get rid of him? He was really bad for the company." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friend felt good, proud that he had done his job, just took him 16 months and it's exactly what he knew after 30 days of being with the firm. My question is, “How much damage was done during those 16 months??” Did the others see the new boss as decisive or weak? Did the Board care about the firing, or were they just worried about the long-term financial results of the organization?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firing people is not easy, most of us take no pleasure in it. Personally, it is hard to do; on one level, we want to believe that we are such good managers that we can turn people around. On another level, we become involved in people’s lives around our work place, we hate the thought of affecting someone’s families with our actions. Just think of George Clooney in “Up in the Air”, who wants to be the cold, callous grim reaper?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The troublemakers that need to be fired are easy to spot, maybe difficult to finally follow through as my friend experienced, but obvious. What about the more subversive ones? We know they are out there, but have a harder time pinpointing them. Those are the tough ones, everyone else in the company knows who they are. The troops are asking themselves whether you have the gumption or power to get rid of these dark forces. In either case, the rank and file sees all and knows all. They are the ones that have to deal with these subversive forces on a daily basis. So why don't we trust them more?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my previous life I saw this all the time and as I rose through the organizations, I may have even fallen prey to that unwillingness to act on what I believed. Did I get too complacent, was it much easier to just turn away and move on? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had already “made it”; it wasn't like I was still trying to impress others with my managerial skills. But, had I lost a bit of my drive? I can think of a time, when I went to work at a new firm that I knew someone should be fired but chose to look the other way since it was easier. It is hard to be diligent at every turn but, that is why great managers excel. These are questions that you should ask yourself. Or do you know the answers and are just too afraid or lazy to make the changes you know you need to make? It's much harder to always keep culling. That's what great organizations do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So ask yourself the question, “Do you have people that you know need to go? That everyone knows should go?” I bet someone came to your mind immediately. So, what's stopping you? I've have had people tell me if they had one card to play they would use it on someone in their group who everyone knows should be gone. So? They can't make it happen, the company deems it too expensive to let the person go regardless of the damage and expense it is doing to the firm. The real question is, “How can they afford not to have the most loyal, competent workers possible in the organization?” Corporations use money as an excuse all the time but it's a poor one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone is better off when a non-performer or troublemaker is let go, including them. At the end of the day, it's about the whole team not just one person. Do your review, you're the only one standing in the way, the rest of the people are right behind you. Go ahead, make your team’s day, get rid of the dark forces!</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-11887918998932755942012-07-05T21:36:00.003-04:002014-07-15T14:34:11.956-04:00Stealing Part Two<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following up on my last blog about governments stealing efficient ideas from other countries; it begs the question, "Are you stealing best practices from other companies around the world?" I wonder, do you even know what the best practices other companies have in place? In some cases, you may have some best practice policies but unlikely that your entire business is run that way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How would one go about finding out who does it best, especially when it comes to their employees and customers? You could always call on McKinsey, they are so well plugged in globally they actually do know who does it best in every category of every different sector of the economy. Just read one of their Quaterly Reports. However, McKinsey may be out of your snack bracket, I am sure there are others that may not be as global, but could fill the spot adequately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see in this day and age there is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from figuring out how to improve. There are plenty of self-help books, management consultants and market research analysis in all fields. I am pretty sure even if you just typed into Google " how do I ....better" it would be surprising what would come up. But that's not what I am talking about here, I mean real deep down commitment to truly improve the quality of life for both employees and customers, which in turn should take care of the shareholders quite nicely wouldn't you think?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the core of every business is their army of evangelists spreading their message, aka, employees it follows that a review of best practices or company efficiencies, management should start with their employees. If they are all inspired, believing in their products and full of confidence in the management team, shouldn't that somehow come through to the customers? If customers are met daily with a high level of enthusiasm and service, wouldn't you expect that given a reasonable choice the customers would choose your company and products? Seems pretty intuitive to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember years ago when I had just been made President of CIBC-Wood Gundy and we were hosting the new Chrysler management team after they had gone bankrupt the first time. What was amazing was their enthusiasm for their products, not selling but truly marveling in what they were producing and fighting over each other to tell the story. It was a unique view into a group of people that believed together in what they were building and selling. Damn it was exciting, so exciting that I went and bought the stock the next day at $8 only to watch it goes as high as $45, I was out in the 30's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are your employees that excited about your company and products? Do they rave about what a wonderful place your company is to work? Would they recommend to their children that they build a career at the company? Isn't that the acid test of how good a job you are doing as CEO, Division head or any other level of leadership? Are those following these principals being publicly rewarded so that other people know and trust that those doing the right things will succeed. Alternatively are your employees looking at your leadership team and asking the question, " How did they get that job and why do they still have it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's hard work to be best of breed, class or whatever you want to call it. But, it appears to me, that if you concentrate your efforts on your employees the rest should actually sort itself out. Concentrate on having the right people in leadership positions who are both encouraged and compensated on both performance and collaboration with others. Do those that work well with others and continue to work collaboratively rise to the top or is it the others? The others that worry solely about their personal advancement? We all know who the others are don't we? What type of culture exists within your firm? Do you even know?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wife tells me my blogs sound a bit rantish. That's always been a bit of a problem for me, I believe in things passionately. I have a tendency to sound like I am preaching whether I am speaking or writing. Particularly in this case, I probably sound a bit rantish, I feel very strongly that the success of organizations management is so intwined with employee satisfaction and success that I start every business assignment with a round of employee interviews. In fact, that is when I really find out what kind of company, division or department has hired me. The troops always know what the real deal is, they live it every day on the front line. I can't tell you the number of times my assignment has changed after interviewing all the foot soldiers and not just relying on management's interpretation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> For example, one assignment that we had was to hire a replacement for a very senior person who was soon retiring. The head of the firm gave us a long speech and even a job description of the characteristics they wanted. They even had us meet the individual so that we could find his clone. Fortunately, because of how we run our business, we did not begin our search for that person until we did our round of employee interviews; otherwise, we would have hired the entirely wrong person for that job and the firm. After interviewing all the other senior people we learned that while the incumbent was great and had done a fabulous job, but at that point what they actually needed was the total antithesis. The situation had changed and the firm needed a different skill set going forward. It actually happens quite regularly, surprised ? We are not any more.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I would suggest you take some time this summer to honestly review your business efficiencies and employee situation. I believe that people in leadership positions should always be striving to run this kind of "happy employee"organization and if you have to steal an idea or two from somewhere, it's all just part of the learning curve!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It just makes good business sense, doesn't it?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-22747098006098166632012-06-27T21:39:00.002-04:002014-07-15T14:34:30.906-04:00Stealing, when is it appropriate?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stealing, when is it appropriate?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that stealing people's personal property, money, ideas and inventions are all illegal where ever you are in the world. But what about stealing a better way to do things? Aren't we always doing that as we grow up? We don't call it stealing, we call it learning since its done with permission or in a free place (through books , Internet, examples of watching others or taking lessons directly). So if we go through life trying to figure out ways to do things better, why is it that governments at all levels don't learn from each other?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that everyone has been on a trip and seen something work significantly more efficiently and ask themselves why can't we do this at home; especially in places that many North Americans would not consider as advanced as home. It is a wonderment to me that our governments either have no desire or are stuck with the "not invented here" attitude and cannot see that other parts of the world are making the day to day working grind of life far easier for their citizens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I am not talking about welfare or political programs, I am talking about all the things that impact our daily lives: Mass transportation, airport efficiency on all levels, refunds on our credit cards, using our mobile phones to purchase items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having spent the last week mostly in Scandinavia it has shocked me how smoothly these places run. I will admit that the tax structure here is quite onerous, with a 25% VAT and a high income tax structure. But man, if we could make things work as well as they do here, it would be awesome. Why not adopt some of these excellent ideas and i know I would be happy to pay for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The problem as I see it back home is we have a pretty high tax structure but our two biggest expenditures health care and education both work poorly, in addition we have very high University fees, our roads are jammed packed , the transit system is left over from early 60's, our waiting times for hospitals are ridiculous and getting through the airport requires a herculean effort of multi hour proportions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why don't our governments steal the best ideas from the best in the world in every aspect of health care, education, infrastructure, mass transit and airport efficiency? Surely there has to be some savings in doing things better through efficiency? It would allow "us the people" to have more time to work happier or play which appear to be woefully on the decline. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately we have zero confidence in our governments at any level to manage their way out of a paper bag. We doubt their ability to accomplish something as simple as a train from the airport to the city in any one of our major cities, which btw is a staple in most cities around the world. Our governments below the federal level are mired in bullshit politics which makes it effectively impossible to actually get something done. Or worse, the projects that do make it to fruition are mediocre, filled with inefficiencies and cost overruns. If you live in Toronto, the project that comes to mind first is the St Clair street car project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously, is that the best we have, does anyone actually believe that has improved anybody's life on a daily basis? Of all the things we could have spent over a 160 million on that was the at the top of the pile, really, give me a break...incompetence or stupidity, in either case it's a bad use of our tax dollars. Ask yourself the question, what is first class that your tax dollars are going towards at any level if government??...still thinking?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know there are lots of things that people in Scandinavia and other parts of the world admire about our life, but what I am talking about here is the day to day pain in the ass stuff. The stuff that has a huge impact on our frustration and in turn leads to higher anxiety and anger - traffic, poor public transit, dirty streets, etc... A more user pay society is how they manage the vast population in Asia, from higher taxes on cars, a downtown tax and smart cards for everything from parking to mass transit.</span><br />
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Northern Europe has the most efficient airports I have ever seen in all my travels, from check in, baggage drop off on thru security, polite and efficient...hmmm what an interesting concept. Mass transit, no drivers for the trains, machines at every station that take credit cards and get you from the airports to the center of the cities. I realized this was transit nirvana and instead of the usual daily frustrations that comes with living and working in Toronto I had entered a zen state of bliss. Some might say "ya, that happens when you are on holidays" but I would argue that's a time when inefficiency actually makes you more angry since you have much a short period of time to enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I don't want to be like a friend of mine who says everything is better somewhere else, usually where he is living at the time. But, what I want to know is why can we not steal the best ideas from places around the world and bring them back to Canada - making all of our cities a melting pot of efficiency in addition to just culturally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is that too much to ask for, given all the taxes we pay? Yes, unless we begin to demand it and elect the right people...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. Sometimes life provide bitter sweet irony. We arrived at Pearson after am 8 hour flight and an aborted landing, we were met by snarly customs officers at the door of the plane checking everyone's passports. Followed by the long long walk since none of the moving sidewalks were working, only to be capped off by all the screens showing where your bags were to come we're not working.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is always better than fiction, welcome home...lol</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682829506554970864.post-77059463878784587482012-06-25T11:45:00.001-04:002014-07-15T14:35:37.646-04:00Travels to St Petersburg<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When they asked John Dillinger why he robbed banks , his response was "that's where they keep the money". So in the same vain, instead of hearing third hand about the reports of the economic demise of Europe, I decide to come and see for myself if it was better or worse than I was hearing and reading
A friend of mine had recently been to Portugal and sent me a note saying that everything that we had been hearing about Europe was false. It was far worse than we could have imagined. At the time I had a vague idea about what he was talking about. However since having arrived in Europe I now realize that it is far more complicated than just the dollars and cents issues we faced in the bailouts of the USA and UK financial system.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the heart of it all we are not only looking at a possible wide spread collapse of financial institutions and governments but underlying it is a wave of nationalism and an unwillingness by the everyday person to help neighboring countries who have either mismanaged or misappropriated monies in their own interest, stupidity or probably a bit of both.
While the world leaders meet in the beautiful Venice of the north, St. Petersburg, to discuss Europe's on going plight, it appears that against a nasty world economic climate from China slowing down, USA lacking growth, commodity prices staring to show signs of weakness and the people of the bankrupt countries showing no willingness to accept responsibility for their fiscal mismanagement let alone their lack of tax paying. Buying time maybe the only saving grace for Europe. That is if if they can get some acceptance of a shared bailout concept by all the tax payers of Europe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not a particularly good deal if you are your average responsible taxing paying citizen of one of the few countries that didn't run wild with abandonment over the last twenty years like numerous institutions and countries have done.
So they ask, tell me again what's in it for the Germans to bail out Greece and the other rag tag countries of bad management and in some cases they say here, just pure theft, oh ya to save the euro.
Well I can tell u being here at the World Economic Forum that may be the party line for the leaders but unfortunately the common man and woman don't feel the collective responsibility for all of Europe. Quite honestly why should they, the Euro is an economic union not a melting pot of nationalities into one European nationality. The situation here is significantly worse and with far more individual agendas than the Fed and Treasury had to deal with in 2008.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Europe there is no one person either the elected or appointed with a mandate to do what is in the best of everyone. While Merkel is trying her best she must also be mindful of balancing Germanys needs and stand on whatever deal she does for her re election. Recently the press has been reporting how the youth of Germany have no interest in paying for the likes of Greece , Spain, Portugal or any of the other failing Euro institutions or countries.
Not so simple right. We are already staring to see the European flu impact not only themselves but the earnings of North American companies, while also seeing the countries that have benefited from the commodity boom are starting to get a little jittery too. So it begs the question , " who is left in good shape around the world?".
While it is difficult to appreciate the full extent of what is happening in Europe thru North American news in little snippets, it is totally different when you are here and talking to local people, who quite honestly don't have a shared feeling of collective responsibility.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In reality it's probably a good thing that we don't quite realize how bad it is otherwise we would all be even more shit scared about what's happening and the potential impact on our lives going forward.
You see the reality is the common European doesn't care about bailing out his neighbor in Europe, in fact they aren't particularly fond of each other unlike the UK and the USA, the bailout saved their own citizens, I repeat their own citizens.
I have realized long ago that prognosticating about situations like this are dangerous pastime, however what I do now know is that this is long term game with a delicate balancing of politics, nationalism and trying to steer a course that give plenty of room to all the people with competing agendas to get on board in a reasonable time frame.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is clearly no easy, ready made or singular solution for Europe nor will it or should we expect it to be solved quickly. What is important for all of us to understand is that it is the ultimate game of Jenga with nobody speaking the same language and possibly not having the same desired outcome.
Pretty scary if u ask me ? Stay tuned, we are just at the shrimp cocktail stage, the main course has yet to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be back soon.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0