"Lest we forget……" At my Rotary meeting this week we had a talk from a reverend who had previously spent 20+ years in the military, like his father before him and his father before that – even his son had followed suit. You wondered why – when he shared the story of a boy soldier wounded several times at Dieppe you understood – it was his father. I do not… Read More »Remembrance Day
"People are the brand" – William Arruda Last week I was fortunate to attend the International Coach Federation conference in Quebec City and get the opportunity to meet for the first time my personal brand coach William Arruda and to hear him speak. My wife was incredibly understanding having just had the house fire 36 hours earlier still letting me go to Quebec and I have promised to take her… Read More »Meeting the Personal Branding Guru
Remember, remember the 5th of November,Gunpowder, treason and plot.I see no reason, why gunpowder treasonShould ever be forgot – Anon A very unusual English tradition falls on November 5th every year which we have chosen to carry on here in Canada. Guy Fawkes was an early terrorist who tried to blow up the English parliament in 1605, he was caught executed and each year the English celebrate by burning effigies… Read More »Remember, remember the 5th of November.
'If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another ' – Winston Churchill Recent surveys both locally and nationally have highlighted the divide that is growing between those that have and the have nots. This is not just from a point of possessions and money, but it runs more… Read More »The importance of giving and community involvement
'We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.' – Sir Winston Churchill This weekend saw me celebrate another tradition that was new to me when I arrived in Canada – Thanksgiving, the closest tradition would probably have been Harvest Festival in the UK – a celebration for the harvest and the hope that winter was kind – I always hope that here!… Read More »Thanksgiving – Giving Thanks
"I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion" – Henry David Thoreau When I lived in the UK I don't think I even knew what a pumpkin was – let alone Halloween. The only reference would have been catching it on a Charlie Brown cartoon. Fast forward a few years and with children and living in North America… Read More »Headhunting Pumpkins
'A man is a success if he gets up in the morningand goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants todo.' – Bob Dylan September is a busy month in terms of both coaching and recruiting – many companies and individuals seem to view the last 4 months of the year as either an opportunity to spend the years budgets or look to make that all… Read More »Whats the definition of success?
'Never hire anybody for anything without a serious aberration in their background' – Tom Peters I believe one of the things that makes me different from many recruiters out there is that I do not forget the experiences that I had on the way to getting where I am now. I remember back to a rookie candidate I interviewed for a sales position, he was awful and after 20 minutes… Read More »There but for the grace of God
"Where there is love, there is life" – Gandhi It would be interesting to profile Van Morrison in the personal branding process. Obviously a highly skilled and talented musician, but also firecely private and very unexpressive or emotional on stage – almost the opposite of everything you see in the music business today. A couple of Fridays ago I surprised my wife for our wedding anniversary by taking her out… Read More »Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
"No matter what the level of your ability, you have more potential thanyou can ever develop in a lifetime." – James T. McCay Last week I returned from my retreat up north, a few days spent a long way up -over 500 kms north of Toronto. I spent some of the time relaxing with family and friends, a great cottage on the Montreal River and then some time away each… Read More »Reflections of a Retreat