With 2015 behind me, I not only turn the page on a new year, but also, approach my first-year anniversary of working in a professional, career-related role. That is, the end January marks, for myself, the anniversary of my first full-year of professional work. Having been mostly a student pursuing both my undergraduate and graduate […]
How do your clients and prospects distinguish you from your competitors? It comes down to one simple concept: Is your offer focused on delivery or service? “Profit is the reward of service.” – Henry Ford Professional Services industries have significant potential built right into their business. When service is truly at the heart of your work, […]
Three short years ago, I was an individual that filled the prototypical mould of young professionals my age. I was a person that had meticulously planned life over the next five years, and created succinct, well-developed ‘5-year plans’ that I hoped would help me in my professional life. I was led to believe that having […]
As little as a decade ago, information was power, and our careers hinged on our ability to access and process the information that was critical to our business success. In today’s world it is increasingly difficult to sift through the barrage of information we are faced with each day. The truly useful and important communications […]
Before starting any career-related work, I sat down with and spoke to a very successful individual and good friend of mine. After our conversation turned to careers, I uttered these exact words: “I want to be great and successful in life. What’s your opinion on the best way to achieve this?” As he looked […]
If you’ve convinced yourself that ‘differentiation’ is a buzz word and a concept that has failed to generate any significant results for your business, you may be overlooking the transformative distinction between … Marketing Differentiation vs. Strategic Differentiation Differentiation can transform your business. That’s never been in question. The question, though, is how to achieve sustained […]
As I venture into the next phase in my life, I am increasingly struck with the realization that I am undergoing more changes to who I am than ever before. Sure, there is the transition from childhood to adolescence, then adolescence to young adulthood: both very tumultuous times in a short life accustomed to the […]
Dear Gabi, I’m about to start a new job search after some time off but my interviewing skills are extremely rusty. I’m nervous to interview again. How do I get myself up to speed and ready for my first interview? Rusty Interviewer (more…)
It has been nearly a year since I completed my Master’s degree in London, and thus, I have had ample opportunity to reflect not only about my education but the overall experience of studying halfway across the world. Although, I can say for certain now that the decision to move abroad and study my Master’s […]
In your pursuit of wealth and happiness, always remember … THERE’S SUCCESS … AND THEN THERE’S TRUE SUCCESS “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. […]
Being a perfectionist is necessary in many areas of life (for example, when performing surgery, or building a bridge) but there are a number of other situations where obsessing over every detail becomes a roadblock to efficiency. When it comes to say, sending an email to a potential employer, pondering over every word and structure of the […]
If there is one thing that you can learn from successful entrepreneurs, it is to look beyond your day-to-day activities to recognize that your business is your most powerful opportunity to make a difference in this world. In having worked with hundreds of clients in Professional Services over the past 2 decades, I’ve come to […]
It was an unusually warm April evening, when my childhood friend invited me to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps play at BC Place. While watching the Whitecaps retreat back into their own zone with the ball, I whispered that ‘they should try and move in the right direction.’ My friend quietly responded by saying that ‘sometimes you […]
Young business men and women of Vancouver (and beyond), I would like to introduce to you a unique and amazing female entrepreneur, and friend of mine, Olivia Keane. Olivia has just moved across the water from Victoria to Vancouver to take the next step in her journey, seeking new opportunities to expand her business. Her […]
On May 19th, I attended the event “Wealthy and Wise” with speakers David Chilton and Arlene Dickinson – who most recently were featured as cast members on CBC’s hit show, “Dragon’s Den.” Peter Legge, President and CEO of Canada Wide Magazines and Communications, offered some opening remarks and stories, as well. Although this nearly 2 and a half […]
As with all relationships, communication is key when building a strong working environment with your client. Here are a few points that might help with building strong client relationships. Outline/Rundown of Project Being a strong project manager is one of the most important areas to fostering a trusting environment for your client. Having an overall […]
How do your clients and prospects distinguish you from your competitors? It comes down to one simple concept: Is your offer focused on delivery or service? “Profit is the reward of service.” – Henry Ford Professional Services industries have significant potential built right into their business. When service is truly at the heart of your […]
Dear Gabi, How do I convince a recruiter that despite having “no experience” I can still do the job and am a worthy candidate? I’m applying for an entry level job after graduating university but my resume is looking bleak. — Scott R. Dear Scott, First off, there’s no such thing as ‘no experience’ […]
On April 15th, I attended my second “The Art of Marketing” seminar in Vancouver, BC. I found last year’s event to be so inspiring that I actively applied some of the marketing and branding techniques I learned to my career as a Marketing Manager. This year’s “The Art of Marketing” event certainly did not disappoint. […]
In Part I of this article, we covered 3 diagnostic questions for understanding the current health of your referral base: How long have you been in business? How many referrals are you getting now? Are they always appropriately qualified? Now, it’s time to learn how to significantly increase referrals … without asking! Unsolicited referrals are […]
