Five Ways to Maximize the Potential of Small Talk
Most of us don’t like small talk because it kinda sucks. For introverts it can be terrifying. For people with big ideas it can be frustrating. For intellectuals it can be boring. During my undergraduate experience I made a friend named Andrew. He was – and still is –...
Four Professional Lessons from Glow
Glow is the latest Netflix original hit comedy. It tells the fictional story of 1980s women’s wrestling. It’s funny, thoughtful and at times caustic. It’s also got plenty of professional lessons worth considering. Here are four professional lessons from Glow. Have a...
The Potentiality’s Summer Reading List
Summer time means reading time. Some folks dig into books at the beach while soaking up sunshine and others soak in literature under a blanket in a dark, air conditioned basement. Others enjoy audiobooks during long or meandering road trips. My favourite place to read...
Spring Cleaning Your Career
It’s Spring and many of us are getting our house in order with cleaning and organizing. Not a bad idea, but while you’re at it consider organizing your professional life by spring cleaning your career. Your future self will thank you. Here are my top tips for spring...
How the Whitecaps FC Fan Experience Models Great Workplace Culture
This Saturday is the home opener – or first kick – for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The club has been promoting season and single-match tickets by encouraging people to “experience the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver.” There are several examples of how the Whitecaps...
10 Strategies for Stopping Workplace Bullying
Bullying happens in many workplaces across Canada. According to Jacqueline Power, an assistant professor of management at the University of Windsor's Odette School of Business (who has spent years researching bullies in the workplace), 40 per cent of Canadians have...
Career Lessons from Climbing Mountains
A few weeks ago I attended and presented at Canada’s leading conference for career practitioners, Cannexus. One of the workshops that I attended was led by Rob Shea and Senator David M. Wells – it focused on the connection between mountain climbing and career...
How Talking to Strangers will Enrich Your Career
On Saturday I celebrated the life of my grandmother, Virginia. One of the themes from her memorial service was how my grandma loved having conversations with anyone and everyone about anything and everything. So, I thought it fitting to write about how talking to...
Three Professional Lessons Canadians Can Learn from American Super Bowl Ads
One thing that unites Canadians and Americans is a mutual love for American Super Bowl ads. Thanks to the CRTC we won’t have to stomach those God-awful Canadian car commercials during the big football game for much longer. But in the meantime, you might have missed...
7 Ways to Make Your Next Retreat a Success
Organizations often look to Board retreats or visioning sessions to take their collective success to the next level. Retreats can be great for organizations. They get members activated by focusing on the big picture and engaging in dynamic problem solving that doesn’t...
10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Conferences
On Saturday I’m flying to Ottawa for Cannexus15 – I’ll be presenting about Vancity’s Orientation Immersion program, connecting with folks from the Canadian Education and Researching Institute for Counselling (CERIC), and learning a lot about how career development is...
How Parents Can Maximize Mornings
Making the most of mornings leads to increased productivity, heightened efficiency, better health, and, probably, improved happiness, too. Personal and professional development gurus – from Robin Sharma to these ridiculous entrepreneurs – argue that our potential is...
What’s in my Happy Pills
“Wow, John, where can I get some of what you’re taking?” Michael, a colleague of mine, recently said. I’ve heard this before. Over the years, many friends and colleagues have asked what’s in my happy pills. Many natural and learned qualities sustain my happiness –...