Guest blog by Leslie Shreve I work with a few clients many who greatly respect the time of their office visitors and callers, but not their own. Let’s take my client Bob. When a visitor is in his office, Bob doesn’t pick up the phone out of respect for the visitor and the discussion they’re…
“As a farm kid growing up in Saskatchewan, I was always aware of the importance of producing good crops. It was vital to everyone. It helped drive the economy and feed many families.” Mike Mack, X5 Management You may be asking, what does farming in Saskatchewan have to do with business and this report?
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA This week’s blog is about relationships, how important they are to business success, and how you can make them stronger. Take our latest X5 Maven event as an example. The X5 Mavens are a collection of trusted advisors and business leaders from the city of Edmonton that have and…
Mike Mack and Dennis Bridges Business Strategists X5 Management Over the past 4 months the team at X5 has been working on developing a new website with the support of one of our strategic partners, Hybrid Forge. We looked at all aspects of our business. What do we do? Why do we do it? How…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA How many promises, big or small, do you make in a day? Promises to yourself, or to others. How many of those promises do you keep?
Guest blog by Idris Fashan This is the fourth and final instalment in a blog series on X5 Management’s principle of LRT: Like, Respect and Trust. As many who have worked with X5 may be familiar with this principle, I decided to do some deeper research and unpack each of the elements of LRT—the psychology,…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.“ Arnold H. Glasow Human beings have the ability to develop complex ideas and plans; I suppose it’s one of the most impressive attributes of our species. However, like many things we’re known…
Guest blog by Geoff Kliza Websites….There’s something about technology that makes the average person either cringe in fear or believe in magic. This leads to one of the most forgotten things on your home page: introduce yourself. It seems natural in a conversation: “Hi, I’m Geoff Kliza with Hybrid Forge and I help my customers…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA In last month’s installment of “It’s a Process”, Mike Mack took us on a charming journey to the Big Muddy Badlands of southern Saskatchewan. While on this journey we discovered that process and productivity go hand in hand even in places we rarely consider them being a topic for…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA In the last number of weeks I’ve have had a discussion about pricing with a few of business owners and the general consensus is be that this is a difficult time to be raising prices. However, some companies have gone so long without raising prices that their margins are approaching…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA I recently had a discussion with a client about Role Clarity and employee satisfaction that lead to the topic of how to motivate people and increase buy-in. What motivates people is a question that’s posed in many a context, from the justice system to the consumer market. The answers…
Guest blog by Idris Fashan A detailed primer on achieving business success This is the second installment in a blog series on X5 Management’s principle of LRT: Like, Respect and Trust. As many who have worked with X5 may be familiar with this principle, I decided to do some deeper research and unpack each…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA In the past few weeks the X5 blog has been exploring the concept of LRT or Like, Respect and Trust and how it relates to business success. Last week I attended a workshop on effective leadership and two questions were posed to the group, to which few had definitive…
Guest blog Idris Fashan This is the first in a blog series on X5 Management’s principle of LRT: Like, Respect and Trust. As many who have worked with X5 may be familiar with this expression, I decided to do some deeper research and unpack each of the elements of LRT—the psychology, the effect it has…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA Why do some kids make better friends than other kids? Yesterday I found myself having this conversation with my brother and his wife. One of their children is at an age where he is making his first friends. Naturally his parents are curious who those friends will be and…
With summer well underway I am sure that the avid golfers have played many rounds already. They have thought about their first round for months. Perhaps that took a lesson with a golf pro and tweaked their game. It is likely that they hit the driving range many times and chipped onto practice greens again…
The Old Way Let’s think back in human history. Pre-historic humans were nomadic, traveling across vast spaces, chasing migrating animals—having to remain mobile to capture what they needed in the face of changing seasons, climates and terrains.
By Guest Blogger Larry Villneff As an executive search consultant (with a retainer based firm) today’s challenges for identifying qualified individuals for new opportunities is definitely more competitive but it is also more dynamic. The demand in Alberta is particularly high and clients are asking for tighter deadlines and better qualified candidates. The basic principles…
Guest blog by Idris Fashan Managing Partner Red Paper Clip Writing Company www.redpaperclip.ca I just got out of a networking event, and my ears still sting. I think most attendees feel the same way, having been battered by the plethora of canned elevator pitches being broadcast to everything that moves, platter pulled from the desk…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA In a world where information is in abundant supply and we spend more time with our technology then with our loved ones. It is surprisingly difficult to take control of our time and maintain focus.
Written by: By Leslie Shreve Productivity Expert “Gotta minute?” Tips for Managing Interruptions in Your Work Day How many times do you hear that during your day at work? It’s a common interruption from your staff, colleagues or leaders that causes you to break your focus, stop what you’re doing and give attention to the…
Guest blog by Dennis Bridges, MBA In his blog post on April 26, 2012, Mike Mack discussed well defined business process and its relevance with respect to making businesses more efficient. I recently attended a Synergy Networking Group breakfast (Edmonton), at which, Don Kaisian of Kaisian Architecture Interior Design and Planning, was the guest speaker. As…
Guest blog by Idris Fashan Last week, in his blog post, It’s a Process, Mike shared how creating business processes can help remove the guesswork in establishing and maintaining an efficient, profitable business. Months ago, I had read Built to Sell, on his suggestion, and I began laying the groundwork for my own business processes…
If you want your business to improve, change, or go to the next level what will it take to get there? Many factors will contribute to achieving the desired outcomes. Good people. A solid economy. Valued product. A steady flow of Customers. Good management decisions.
Guest blog by Jason Desaulniers “I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business have given up and went on to do other things. If you simply didnʼt give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you.” – Harrison Ford, Actor
This is a very simple concept but may businesses struggle to consistently achieve it. In our Business Consulting practice we work with many clients who truly value service. What does “truly valuing service” really look like? I was speaking with a Business Associate of mine and he commented that he recently purchased a very high-end truck….
Guest blog by Idris Fashan How Building and Keeping Relationships Are Virtues Greater than Patience Like. Respect. Trust.
Guest blog by Mike Melenberg Greg Burghardt, president of Arrow Engineering Inc., started the company with two partners and a handful of dedicated employees nearly six years ago. Their small office’s initial offerings were mechanical and civil engineering consultation for the built industry. The company was started, however, to be more than “just another company.”
By definition, “state of mind” is a temporary psychological state. We have many triggers that may cause the temporary state. (Fear, stress, excitement, a big deal closes, loss of a key employee, health challenges, just to name a few) “Fears are nothing more than a state of mind” – (Napoleon Hill, author 1883-1970)
In business, we see many different angles on this thought. As business owners or sales professionals we all have to generate sales and revenue. There are many companies that have instilled the culture to “always be closing” (ABC). They sometimes push and prod until we agree or get annoyed.
Guest blog by Leslie Shreve 3 Ways to Set Sail for a More Wonderful Work Week Troubled by too little time? Mourning a few missed opportunities? Stuck behind bars in e-mail jail? It’s true that disorganization and the challenges of keeping up can get you down. You can lose quite a bit of motivation when…
Little Red Riding Hood said she was going to Grandma’s house. She seemed to be pretty clear on that part of things. Being able to ‘say’ where we are going, some will tell us, is ‘it’, the golden fleece, the answer to success in business. When the business Executive struggles with this question, things can…
Guest blog by Idris Fashan Last week, Mike, Joseph and I had a stimulating conversation about the X5 Management website, and Mike asked if I would be interested in writing a guest post on website content. Since I could never resist the chance to write about writing, I jumped at the opportunity.
In my business experience, it is wonderful to see when individuals Network with the “intent” on building a solid, long term relationship. They are not handing out their business cards like a Black Jack dealer. Networking is defined as a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest….
Guest blog by by Joseph Seiler, MCC Executive Coach X5 Management Inc. US Vice Presidential candidate, Dan Quayle, once offered a school class that alternate olde fashioned spelling with the ‘e’ on the end and was crucified in the media. Andrew Jackson said, “I hope never to meet a man so dull he could think of…
Guest blog by Lorne M. Wight This is a story about transition and leadership. I have been fortunate to have Lorne Wight as a friend and close business contact for over 14 years. Lorne has contributed to our Blog post for this week with his leadership journey. When it comes to business – does size…
In our part of the world, (Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia) we are seeing and feeling the business engines starting to turn on…..Big time! Within our business community (Edmonton) and with our corporate clients it is common to hear 20%, 35% or 50% growth projections in business in the next 12 to 18 months. These…
Jan 17, 2012 11:53:00 PM – Mike Mack, MBA Succession is a term that has been used for decades in the description of some of the processes of nature. Have a look at this description. Succession (in nature) launches a new habitat. Succession may be initiated either by formation of new, unoccupied habitat (e.g., a…
As a farm kid growing up in Saskatchewan, I was always aware of the importance of producing good crops. It was vital to everyone. It helped drive the economy and feed many families.” Mike Mack, X5 Management You may be asking, what does farming in Saskatchewan have to do with business and this report? I’ve…
Guest blog by Jeff Polovick This is a great leadership story to share and we didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I have been privileged to have Jeff Polovick as a friend and Centre of Influence in my business life for over 14 years. In light of our theme of “Helping you to the Next Level” it…
