Three entrepreneurial lessons from Made in America
Made in America tells the fictionalized (or Tom-Cruise-ified) story of Barry Seal, a maverick TWA pilot who, in the 1970s, gave up the monotony of flying commercial planes to fly missions for the CIA in Central America. In the film, what begins as hot-shot spy...
12 Ways to Bring More Joy to the Workplace
Workplaces are not synonymous with joy. According to Gallup and everyone else who measures this stuff, 85% of the global workforce is not engaged or actively disengaged. This is concerning enough on its own, but Gallup has also found that great workplaces literally...
Six Parenting Lessons from Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day was one of the first movies that moved me to tears. When John Connor slowly lowers his T800 Terminator into the cauldron of molten, flaming steel I experienced one of the film’s most emotional lines: “I know now why you cry.” When Arnold...
Three Tips for Throwing a Kick Ass Holiday Party
It’s the holiday season and this means “party time” for many organizations. Over the years I’ve attended dozens of holiday and have even been involved in planning a few myself (check out the Vancouver Street Soccer League’s Holiday Haul ). There is lots of information...
The Morning Efficiency Routine for Parents
At least once a month my newsfeed produces an article from Inc, Fast Company, Huffington Post, or some other “efficiency expert” about why I should wake up early and follow a few simple steps, like meditation, in order to achieve a more effective morning routine and...
7 Professional Lessons from The Greatest Generation Podcast
Kurt and I are two guys who like Star Trek, but we’re kind of embarrassed that we listen to “The Greatest Generation”, a Star Trek podcast hosted by two guys who are kind of embarrassed to host a Star Trek podcast. Not only is our consumption of thoughtful...
Five Change Management Lessons from Midwives
Kurt and I recently had babies. Well, technically our hero-partners did – and it was incredible and they are as strong as they are beautiful. As parents know and as everyone else can imagine, welcoming a tiny human being into the world is an awesome and, at times,...
Three Professional Lessons from Barber Shops
I go to Uptown Barbers in Vancouver’s (Mt. Pleasant ‘hood to get my hair cut every six weeks or so. Marco and Ben – the two barbers who I most often visit – deliver haircuts as good as the banter in their shop. Being able to start and sustain great conversations while...
Four Ways to Manage Over-Commitment
I’ve have commitment problems. I have the habit of biting off more than I can chew and have a hard time saying “no”. Burnout is common for helpful, engaged folks like me who want to do right by our community, but stretch ourselves too thin and end up being pretty...
Three Ways to Realize the Potential of Dialogue
THE POTENTIAL OF DIALOGUE Meaningful dialogue is an elusive thing in our communities. Having a respectful conversation with someone about something on which we do not agree isn’t common. Yelling opinions over someone else or building a newsfeed that reinforces your...
How to Compromise
Meaningful dialogue is an elusive thing in our communities. Having a respectful conversation with someone about something on which we do not agree isn’t common. Yelling opinions over someone else or building a newsfeed that reinforces your worldview are common in a...
How to be a Good Listener
THE POTENTIAL OF DIALOGUE Meaningful dialogue is an elusive thing in our communities. Having a respectful conversation with someone about something on which we do not agree isn’t common. Yelling opinions over someone else or building a newsfeed that reinforces your...
How to Suspend Judgment
The potential of dialogue Meaningful dialogue is an elusive thing in our communities. Having a respectful conversation with someone about something on which we do not agree isn’t common. Yelling opinions over someone else or building a newsfeed that reinforces your...