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PE: Powerful lobby group gives budget thumbs up
[SUMMERSIDE, PE] — One of the country’s most influential lobby groups has given its stamp of approval to the recent federal budget. Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, said the organization is pleased with what was in the document. There were two issues in the federal budget that the FCM wanted [...] More
Krystal Nation - Feb. 2010 Column
Nationalistic capitalism: The new threat For many years, it was Soviet Communism. Today, the threat is a divergent form of capitalism called “nationalistic capitalism”. Soviet Communism, while dedicated to the establishment of the supremacy of the worker and the control of the means of production, at its height in the early ‘60s only generated 50 per cent [...] More
Success in Sales – Feb. 2010 Column
How to make curbside coaching work for you: There are pros and cons to the practice of curbside coaching. The upside of going on joint calls with your salespeople is it’s a real-time event. You get to assess the performance from the experience rather than from an after-the-fact-narration that may be clouded by an optimistic sales representative. [...] More
Business Insight - Feb. 2010 Column
Going back to basics: These are interesting times in the world of business. Working every day with business owners and managers, there is a shift in how many are steering their respective ships based on shared daily practices that speak of going back to basics. What are the key “basic elements”? More
Exit Planning - Feb. 2010 Column
Hope for the best, plan for the worst: John Jackson was the 60-year-old sole owner of a very successful small manufacturing company. Along with his wife and two grown daughters, his company was his passion. He had nurtured his business from infancy, but was now feeling the stress of an economic downturn that, in younger years, may [...] More
Workplace Wellness - Feb. 2010 Column
Introducing “Dear Floria”: I have been writing this Workplace Wellness column in the NSBJ for over a year and have touched on different topics that can affect and improve wellness at the workplace or for the individual. This is an area that is here to stay and crucial to our healthcare system and the business bottom [...] More
Krystal Nation - Jan. 2010 Column
Nevermind the green economy — there is a black one: The historical site of Africville will rise again in this new decade, and for its rise, all of Nova Scotia will benefit. The restoration of the Seaview Baptist church, with an interpretive centre, and other facilities, will create massive cultural tourism dollars. When I say this, many [...] More
Success in Sales - Jan. 2010 Column
How long will you remain in neutral?: The economic confusion has not yet been resolved. Some economists say we are in the late fourth stage of a four-phase cycle. It is believed that the economy will grow slowly over time with the recovery phase beginning in August of 2010. But that doesn’t mean the captain and crew [...] More
Business Insight - Jan. 2010 Column
Asking the right questions can make all the difference: As a coach and teacher, I love the power of questions, particularly the right questions. The right questions are those that provoke insight, make one look at something familiar in a new way, and challenge one to step up their game. More
Exit Planning - Jan. 2010 Column
Are you in the driver’s seat?: Why do business owners procrastinate in planning for their ultimate curtain call? What is the “demotivation” for not wanting to put the finishing touch on a business story that consumes a substantial portion of one’s life? The exit stage is payday in terms of emotional and financial reward for a [...] More
Krystal Nation – Dec. ’09 Column
For Nova Scotia, it’s a Charlie Brown Christmas: In Nova Scotia, democracy means never having to say “you’re sorry”. Never mind the swine flu, the real sick pig is the economy. It is also a disengaged public which is failing itself and wants to be lied to, see simple solutions — anything but the truth. As we [...] More
Business Insight - Dec. ’09 Column
Create holiday cheer by buying local: “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” This well-known line from the classic tale about the night before Christmas sadly sums up what many are experiencing with consumer traffic patterns of late, especially businesses in the front lines of the retail and service sectors. More
Workplace Wellness - Dec. ’09 Column
Work life balance — universal key to corporate success: I recently went to a healthy work and wellness conference in Gatineau. For three days, this national conference focused on wellness from different perspectives. There were participants from hospitals, community health, insurance companies, universities, government departments, private sector, and pharmaceutical companies. The gathering offered a great opportunity to [...] More
Success in Sales – Dec. ’09 Column
The secret to sealing the deal: The traditional selling mantra that pushes the prospect to a decision may still, for many people, be the way to go. Hollywood uses this as one way of portraying the dark and depressing side of the sales profession. Movies like Glengarry Glen Ross have a cult following for this negative view. [...] More
Exit Planning – Dec. ’09 Column
The keep or sell test: Business exit planning is a process and needs to be approached like a marathon and not a sprint. The long distance runner plans the race and sets the proper pace to make sure that energy levels are properly maintained throughout. Just as high level runners depend upon proper coaching, so too [...] More
