I attended a Rapid Time Network* (@rapidTimeNetworks) event at Buzz Cafe the other Friday in Vancouver and my friend George Moen (@georgemoen) gave me another zinger to contemplate – hyperlocal tweeting!

George and I go a way back from Sandwich Tree, through President of Blenz Coffe chain and now Founder of Rapid Time Networks with Mark Wright. My brother Dave did some of Blenz Coffee’s original coffee designs. Lately we have been Twitter and networking friends. We both know our way around Twitter. I had 160,000 Twitter followers Read the rest of this entry

I want to talk about a group of consultants and for the moment, let’s say I was involved, working with a CEO as a client. It has changed my thoughts on coaching and has me thinking that perhaps a new model for my business needs to be planned.

Imagine a CEO running a large company to the point where he needs help but is reticent, no maybe more worried that his power will be usurped or worse he will lose total control of his company – his baby. Yikes, this sounds like the beginning of another EMyth lecture – not exactly.

Let’s continue with this fictional company because it is a classic. Five new executives at the ‘VP’ level are brought in to take some of the stress off the CEO, give him more time to reflect on steady planned growth, allow him guidance on this planned growth and share his vision to these executives so all are on the right page. Read the rest of this entry

Michael Gerber’s EMyth is very clear; systems are needed for a successful business and the CEO must go through the steps of being the technician, the manager and the entrepreneur. Even though he reaches that pinnacle of CEO he still needs to think like the technician and the manager. He needs to be cognizant of how each of the levels interacts with each other in the business and never lose track of how he started the business. The technician provides the output, the manager runs the systems and the Entrepreneur provides the vision. Read the rest of this entry

I have had an amazing day. It dawned on me when I received my last ever paycheck from my  employer at SUCCESS Business & Economic Development that I had been there 10 years to the day, phew. 

It was no ordinary job. I managed a government funded program that gave entrepreneurs the opportunity to join my program if they had a viable business idea.  They were paid to undertake a one year program where they were mentored, cajoled, pushed, coached and yes even threathened  to develop their  business idea into a business plan resulting in a viable operating and successful business. We had a 95% success rate of businesses still in operation after 2 years.

It was a career where the money sucked but I was fortunate enough to be an entrepreneur myself so I always subsidised my ‘day job’ with other business opportunities and coaching. It NEVER was about the money, it was about making a difference; making dreams come true, making lives better, making families secure and helping dreams come true.

The benefits  were shown to me today. My chief instructor, Philip Ho, and I were feted by the last intake (number 49) of the program. They knew the angst and stress we had faced closing not only an office but also a program my dedicated staff and I loved. They came out to a local pub to acknowledge us. Tears flowed all round when MY entrepreneurs shared how their lives had changed because we believed in them and supported the heck out of them. The best thing for me was these entrepreneurs telling my wife what a good man she had married. Wow!

I never wanted it to be about me but the people around me today felt otherwise. When people inspire you with their efforts it is easy to reciprocate. You see, to me, they were the heroes. These entrepreneurs risked all. They faced indecision and worry, fought confidence or lack of, had family and friends express doubt and they feared failure. It was easy for me and my staff to rise to the occasion.

Praise is something we don’t give freely enough. It meant everything me to receive it, i was immensely touched as was my wife and I accepted it gratefully. The world needs more people to show appreciation to others who have done their best on others behalf. 

Pay it forward!

1. The Opportunity to be your own boss ( http://beyourownboss.org)
2. To get out of your dead-end job
3. To be able to work 24/7 on something you love
4. To get away from that boss that sucks the joy out of your life
5. To control your own destiny, wow, isn’t that a big one?
6. To work with people you like Read the rest of this entry