leadership

10 Feb 2021

When Saying “Be Careful!” Isn’t Enough

By |2021-02-10T23:35:03-07:00February 10th, 2021|Categories: Leadership, Manifast, Working on the Business|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Be Careful - Woman Falling on Ice

It is snowing, and the roads are slippery. One of your team members is about to hit the road, so you say, “Be careful out there!” as they depart.

You are about to head out for a wintry walk on the icy sidewalks of Calgary, and a friend texts, “Be careful!” before you bundle up and head out.

Did your chances of staying safe improve from the well-intended reminder?

The Safety Illusion – Looking Back

I was a relatively confident walker before I […]

19 Aug 2020

How to Rescue Your Business with a Little Maslow’s Cat

By |2020-08-20T23:46:02-06:00August 19th, 2020|Categories: Business Strategy, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Maslow's Cat Sitting on Post - Top of Hierarchy

Maslow’s hierarchy is often expressed as a pyramid and frequently used to explain the basics of human nature based on five levels of needs.

According to established historical lore, ancient Egyptians revered cats. Perhaps pyramids were built to house ancient kings, but that would not have stopped a cat from sitting on the top of one and looking down to watch everyone else.

Cats see things a little differently.

Maslow’s cat can help us better understand those needs […]

2 Jul 2020

Is Honest Communication a Lost Leadership Value?

By |2020-07-02T21:38:02-06:00July 2nd, 2020|Categories: Business Strategy, Leadership|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Business Leadership and Honest Communication

More and more, we see examples of leadership that are less than stellar – including less than honest communication.

Part of this seems to be a win at all costs mentality where “at all costs” means any way you can – even if that includes lying, bullying, cheating, and changing the rules so you can win.

As someone who spent many years as a leader in the military and 20 years leading a business, I find this disheartening. Crony capitalism and other forms of cheating are not good […]

24 Jun 2020

Sunwapta: What Is Up With All Of The Water?

By |2020-06-24T16:08:33-06:00June 24th, 2020|Categories: Business Strategy, Marketing, Working on the Business|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Sunwapta Falls - Sunwapta Solutions

As we pass our 20th business anniversary for Sunwapta Solutions, I spent some time reflecting on some of the most popular questions we’ve received over the years.

  • How did you come up with your company name?
  • What’s up with all of the water?

It All Started When

Like all business owners, we spent a lot of time trying to come up with a name that was: interesting, meant something to us, and wasn’t already taken.

After much discussion, I searched a map of Alberta and landed on Sunwapta as a […]

9 Jun 2017

5 Ways to Win Survivor Alberta – Business Edition

By |2017-06-27T14:23:25-06:00June 9th, 2017|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Marketing, Mindset and Motivation, Oilfield Pulse|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Win Survivor Alberta - Business Edition - Whitewater Rafting

The key to being the ultimate survivor in business in an extremely competitive landscape is to have a strategic plan. These five components will help you thrive.

Before I stopped watching television, I used to watch Survivor. One of my favourite scenes was an episode where Rupert stole shoes and other items from the other tribe, and then they used the pirated loot to trade for more useful – and untraceable – […]

26 May 2017

Sharing a Cultural Experience – Amina’s Business Start-Up

By |2017-05-26T18:49:46-06:00May 26th, 2017|Categories: Doug's Blog, Non-Profits and Community|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

People Outside of the Global Bridges Cultural and Wellness Center

Arsheen Dhalla has been busy doing remarkable work in Zanzibar through the Daraja Foundation. Daraja means bridge in Swahili. During one of her infrequent visits to Calgary, I had the pleasure to sit down with her and listen to her story. There are many stories to tell. For the second video in the series, we decided to focus on Amina’s business story.

The first time Arsheen traveled to Zanzibar in this capacity, her […]

27 Jun 2016

Who is the Hero In Your Story?

By |2017-04-03T11:09:16-06:00June 27th, 2016|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Marketing, Sales, The Good Men Project|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Who Is The Hero in Your Story

Great leaders and businesses have a story to tell. The best understand who the hero should be.

Many men have lost their place in the bigger story. We bought into one narrative that has not worked out and are now struggling to find a new one as the world rapidly shifts underneath us. Some are looking for a hero, and some are seeking to become one again. We […]

12 May 2016

Need More Money? Take a Close Look at How You’re Creating Value

By |2017-04-12T11:29:28-06:00May 12th, 2016|Categories: Business Strategy, Manifast, Marketing, The Good Men Project|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Tough Times Curve In The Road

When times are tough it is tempting to play a safe game. You might want to reconsider that strategy to win in business.

In tough times, it is tempting to tighten the belt and keep doing what you do.

Our natural inclination is to reduce the bigger risk by taking fewer risks at all; to seemingly play it safe. If you are the sole breadwinner it feels like every business mistake is taking food out of your family’s mouth.

So we get paralyzed with […]

9 May 2016

The Secret to Great Leadership is Letting Others Win

By |2017-04-03T11:10:39-06:00May 9th, 2016|Categories: Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation, The Good Men Project|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Winning-Competition-Leadership-and-Goats-Butting-Heads

Being competitive can be good or it can be dysfunctional. Effective entrepreneurs learn the difference.

Most entrepreneurs are competitive by nature. Being a competitive man isn’t a bad thing.

Sometimes, we watch some men take competition to the extreme. Every interaction is a death match to prove they are winners, and everyone else is a loser. I watched a documentary about well-known billionaire developer who always had to win, even against other accomplished businessmen. In making […]

11 Apr 2016

Being Self-Aware Enough to Know Your Value is the Path to Creating Exceptional Value

By |2017-04-03T11:11:02-06:00April 11th, 2016|Categories: Business Strategy, Doug's Blog, Leadership, Mindset and Motivation, The Good Men Project|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Team of Self Aware Business People - Startup

With people walking the Earth claiming to be the “greatest” at everything, it is easy to lose sight of your personal potential for greatness.

When I think of personal greatness, I don’t mean the narcissistic “look at me, look how great I am” of an adult child clamoring for constant approval. A little limelight is good for the soul. Tying your sense of self-worth to the […]