“Rapid growth: coming to a city near you”

Financialpost.com, FP Smart Shift, The Vancouver Sun

by Christine Dobby, November 24,2011

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How many of us exercised our right to vote in the recent municipal elections?  Middle-sized cities, with populations of between 150,000 to 10 million, are poised to drive future economic growth, so perhaps it’s time to reexamine out apathetic approach to our democratic right to vote.  With 577 middleweight cities expected to swiftly increase populations between 2007 and 2025, estimates forecast they will account for 50% of gross domestic product (GDP).  Offering a gift-like opportunity for Canada, who has 20 middle-weight urban centers, there is an increased burden on local governments to rise to the challenge.  Most are ill equipped to deal with the rapid pace of population growth.  Without adept planning and organization, calamities such as a decline in quality of life and reduced economic vigor may be the result.   Local leaders need to be granted the mandate to act with sufficient power over the coming years to ensure that they are able to act in response to rapid growth in an appropriate and forward thinking manner.  So, the next time you just don’t feel like getting up on a Saturday to vote, think again – your future and very quality of life may be at stake.

“Lululemon’s Christine Day named CEO of the year”

24 Hours>Vancouver, By Stefania Moretti, QMI Agency, November 23, 2011

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Leisure wear afficienados everywhere surely rose up in an athletic cheer to the news that Christine Day, of Lululemon Athletica Inc, was anointed as Chief Executive of the Year by a leading business magazine.  Known for her creative marketing and brand strategizing magic, Day has had a remarkable rise to distinction.  Since joining the company in 2008, she has guided Lululemon to 150 plus stores, while unleashing a veritable hurricane of innovative new products.  Projected to reach sales revenues of $1 billion in 2012, Day’s leadership has been nothing short of remarkable.  The Canadian Board Diversity Council commented recently on the dire need for more female leaders in Canadian business.  Day, a Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program graduate is a wife & mom to three, seems to epitomize a natural success.  Perhaps worth pondering might be the fact that as a wife, mom, yoga-wear master, and busy CEO, Day has mastered the “zen” of balancing it all.  Women are sometimes underestimated and maligned in the business world, particularly if they are successful.  Some face pressures to place work over family.  With an easy smile and flair for predicting what’s best for her brand, I wonder … what’s your secret, Christine?

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The entry by Canada Business Blogs “Hiring for the Right Fit” discusses the criteria often looked at during an interview such as a hardworking nature, strong leadership skills, and ability to work well in a team, but stresses the importance of not disregarding the significance of a potential candidates values.  In my opinion the basis of this concept has the potential to be extremely successful – not only does this increase the likelihood of company values matching employee values, but it also extends the probability of a cohesive and well-engaged staff.  As a positive residual effect, productivity would therefore increase.  In this new dynamic world, employers are beginning to see the need and necessity to expand the restraints of a traditional interview.  Techniques such as asking to illustrate examples of leadership by retelling tails of past experiences will help reveal the true value of each job candidate you look to hire.  This new concept of hiring based also upon values will ensure a greater likelihood of company-employee values alignment, so success can be propelled forward beyond previous bounds.

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As discussed by Sam Ng, good presentation skills can unlock a world of success if cultivated and exercised properly.  Skills such as projecting your voice to all corners of the room to engaging your audience with visually appealing power point slides, presentation skills are immensely valuable assets to have no matter what the field or situation.  Simple text on slides, and thorough knowledge of the content of one’s presentation are key aspects to an impactful presentation on the audience.  Whether your audiences are high school classmates, university professors, company CEO’s, or future investors, the basic underlying skills to engage your audience remain the same: interactive slides accompanied by eye-contact, and the relaxed movement of explanatory gestures.  Though not an expert myself at giving presentations, I found tips such the refrained use of cue cards, and remembering to slow down, and pause upon important points, useful to my calm pre-presentation jitters.  In retrospect these presentation skills seem like they should be a universally taught skill, yet they are rarely encouraged properly.  These skills – though not hard to learn – are often scarcely seen, therefore they can play a major role in differentiating yourself from the crowd into a new world of success.

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As mention by Dorfam Mirgharavi what is the greatest motivator: money, power, or recognition, I began to ponder this same query.  When I look into my future, of course, I want to see success.  What really is success though?  Is success defined by the money you possess, the power you hold in society, or is it the recognition you receive from your achievement.  I believe that at the root of all success in the world is power, and from that point often money, and recognition follow suit.  Power gives one the ability to set goals and achieve them.  Though, when I ask myself what motivates me the most, it’s not so much the end result that I look for such as money, power, or recognition; but the competitive edge that’s required to set a goal for myself, and then achieve it.  It’s the drive that motivates the journey to meet a goal, achieve it, and then set a new one that’s even higher! In my future I want to see success; sweetening the deal are elements such as money, power and recognition, but the confidence and pride I receive from accomplishing a personal objective is greatest motivator of them all.

“Thomas Cook Canada says ‘business as usual’ despite parent firm trouble”

National Post, Financial Times, by Scott Deveau, November 22, 2011

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In the wake of plummeting stocks and news its parent company in the United Kingdom had commenced with emergency talks with financiers for the second time in a month, Thomas Cook Canada has been left reeling.  Despite efforts to create an optimistic spin, consumers are left apprehensive.  In the wake of political unrest, shaky demand in countries such as Europe, among others, has led to shares in the Thomas Cook Group PLC dropping 75% in trading on the London Stock Exchange.  Speculation that the company will eventually cease to operate in Canada is quietly expressed.  While Thomas Cook Chief Financial Officer, Paul Hollingsworth emphasized financial goals are in place to address the current crisis, the company’s death knoll is tolling.  Despite sunny predictions of a rosy future and assurances that bookings are being accepted as usual, consumers are wary.  Could there be anything worse than the idea of having a long-planned for trip torpedoed at the last minute by a travel company meltdown?  The potential of standing at the airport, sunscreen, holiday wear, and that great book in hand, only to be met with the news the company has folded, is too much to bear for most vacation-deprived Canadians.

BC Business Magazine, by Brent Holliday, November 7, 2011

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Brent Holliday was introduced to the potential world domination of the smart phone when attending a conference in Finland in 2002.  Nearly ten years ago, perhaps, but the future was clear for Fins, who recorded a 102% cell phone saturation amongst its adult population.  Most cited it, over even keys and wallet, as being the most crucial item to have when leaving the house.  Today’s smart phones can be used for social networking, internet surfing, reading e-books, gaming, running loyalty programs – the opportunities are endless!  The future is rife with possibility – dazzling data speeds, Skyping, individually unique chips for keyless home entry, paying bills, and video conferencing.  A new world limited only by our imagination.  For most of us, the smart phone has become an extension of our arm – an appendage that cannot be done without.  Creeping stealthily into our lives, most of us cannot imagine functioning without them.  If you ask most teenagers, they would likely laugh and tell you that they rarely, if ever, use their phones to make a traditional phone call.  So next time you leave your house, make sure you have your smart phone, because the future’s already here!

“White Spot shifts direction”

The Vancouver Sun Newspaper, By Jennie Lee, November 18, 2011

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 White Spot’s Warren Erhart and Cathy Tostenson toast the venerable chain’s latest advertising campaign.

In an age of designer menus and rock-star chefs with international reputations, remaining relevant can be an ongoing challenge.  This is particularly true for the White Spot, whose reputation has been built on its long-time history as a much loved BC institution.  Reinventing itself once again, on November 18^th, 2011, the White Spot announced a, “$1-million advertising campaign with a new tag line: “Home to great taste … since 1928 …”  Perhaps dreamt up by a wise marketing strategist, no one could fault the White Spot for highlighting its roots in the delivery of comfort food and consistency.  While designer dishes can be great, when times are tough, who doesn’t secretly yearn for that plate of mac & cheese, that ooey, gooey cheeseburger dripping with Triple-O sauce, or a plate of piping hot fries, with Heinz ketchup of course!  I’m sure most of us have a great memory of the White Spot; car service and those trays you’re just sure the server is going to drop; that great family dinner; or listening to a Grandparent talk about the “Chicken Pick’ns” that were on the menu a “long time ago”.  Profiting from good food & good memories – a smart business approach!

“Stated positions on pipeline project factored into municipal elections”

The Vancouver Sun Newspaper, by Derrick Penner, November 22, 2011

Canadian juggernaut, Ensbridge Inc, may enjoy international renown as a North American leader in providing energy, but during the recent municipal elections in Northern British Columbia, Ensbridge faced energy of a different sort when the electorate forced nominees to publicly state their position on the (widely opposed) proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project.
While the projected route of the project is technically outside the authority of municipalities, candidates’ stated viewpoints on the project played a part in election results, both in Smithers and Terrace.  Opposition to the project was dangled as a carrot by some candidates, while others chose to remain tight lipped to their ultimate downfall.  In Smithers, incumbent Mayor Cress Farrow was defeated after choosing an impartial stance, while in Terrace, Mayor-Elect Taylor Bachrach swept to power after public stating his opposition.  In an era where the “everyday citizen” may sometimes feel a lack of power, there is something quite appetizing about this story.  Democracy and freedom of speech at work in Northern BC, where the power of the people’s voice rang loud and clear and politicians had no choice but to do their bidding.

BC Business, by Emira Mears, November 8, 2011

http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/careers-and-employment/women/why-women-need-to-celebrate-success

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What is it with women and our seemingly inherent inability to celebrate our success?  Rather than exalting in the joy of their accomplishments, many continue to dish up their achievements with a side dish of understatement.  Realized or not, this may be partly due to the burdens of tradition.  The bombastic male boss triumphantly tooting his own horn, with a demur young housewife in the background, remains an unfortunate historical legacy for some.  Until women address this barrier and truly rejoice in their own triumphs, true success may remain elusive.  As author, Emira Mears aptly states, “I’ve made a concerted effort to acknowledge my career accomplishments as they happen, and I’ve finally found the ultimate motivator: new research shows that not claiming achievements holds women back from achieving the same compensation and job satisfaction as men.”  We’ve all encountered a woman who exudes that intoxicating aura of confidence and success.  We want to be near them, as if just doing so will help us to perhaps, realize our own destiny.   So, what can we learn from this?  Well, that not only is it okay to say we’ve done a great job it’s possibly the most important career move you’ll make!