Connect'd Men With Mike
The Fallacy of Fearless
This was a piece I wrote 4 years ago when I had committed to writing 1000 words per day to finish my book. This obviously
July 14, 2020
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Some of these articles are available in audio format on Spotify.
This was a piece I wrote 4 years ago when I had committed to writing 1000 words per day to finish my book. This obviously
This is a repost of an article I wrote in 2017 Balance Is Bullshit OK, so I feel like I need to put in a
I was honored to have the opportunity to speak to Ryan Jesperson on Friday about the Goggins Challenge I undertook to raise awareness about domestic
3 weeks out from Tarawera 100 miler and today I’ve got a 3 hour run. With wind chills in the minus 34 range, I will
Promise and Deliver Under promise. Over deliver. I think we’ve all heard the adage. I’m much more a fan of the simple version. Promise and
Don’t Compare Your Mile 1 To Someone else’s Mile 99 Have you ever gone back and looked at the early work of somebody who you
How to stop problems before they happen You know, with over 20 years experience in business as a founder, a business leader, I’ve had to
One of the most valuable characteristics a person can hold, in my opinion, is resiliency. re·sil·ience /rəˈzilyəns/ noun noun: resiliency the capacity to recover quickly from
Raising Boys: Let’s Get Physical! When it comes to raising boys and helping them better connect with their emotions, there is a lot of value
Raising Boys: Model The Way When it comes to raising boys into fine young men, there is no better guide than how we behave ourselves.
How to create meaningful change Far too often when we want to make lasting change we focus on the wrong things. We tend to focus
Is humility one of your core values? Is being humble something you strive to be recognized for? What if I told you that humility may
Are you really here? In a podcast interview I did recently I talked a bit about parenting. I talked about how I was always physically
Creating Joy Last night at our men’s group we talked about finding joy. We talked about the importance of taking a moment to find the
Success Comes When… It is so easy in this world that seems to value material things to get caught up in the race. Working hard
You Are Stronger Than You Know Last night I watched the conclusion of Big’s Back Yard Ultra. This is an incredible event where runners run
Consume Something That Challenges Your Beliefs In a world full of algorithms that feed us content that constantly caters to our online behaviours it is
Sometimes we have to do the things we least desire… Some days we really do not feel like doing the things that we need to
With Awareness Comes Choice I first heard this truism from Eckert Tolle. We can’t change what we can’t see. As men we tend to get
Focus on Becoming More… For many years I chased all of the ‘things’. I chased the material items. The fancy car (I bought a Porsche
Time To Shine! Last night at our Connect’d Men’s group, we followed up with our conversation on Emotional Avoidance. One of the things that came
Emotional Avoidance Sometimes as children when we are faced with difficult or even traumatic events we learn to suppress or avoid uncomfortable feelings. This is
Creating Connection So many times when I am passionate about a message I have to share I can get caught up in making that message
Time Well Spent One of my favourite things is my morning coffees with my partner Michelle. We don’t live together so they do not happen
Strong Opinions, Loosely Held Last night we had a great discussion on different economic and political systems and their merits and shortcomings. We had 3
Today I talk a little bit about the importance of community and specifically recognizing and appreciating your community. Your challenge today is to find a
Sean Tucker is one of my favorite photographer and YouTuber. I first stumbled across his channel while looking for photography/videography. Sean takes some amazing photos
Raphael Cushnir is a leading voice in the world of emotional connection and present moment awareness. He has shared his unique approach to personal and professional development
Chris Norton is a former American football defensive back who played Division III football for the Luther College Norse. His football career ended in 2010 when he became paralyzed while making a tackle during a
Levi Allen is an adventure filmmaker and a gem of a human being. He is best known for his work on the Slack life
John Price is a photographer and climber. He has spent the last six years traveling all over the world, while basing himself out of Canada.
As Fathers Day approaches I am left to reflect on the kind of father I am and the kind of father I want to be.
I wanted to share with you an experience I had that is honestly one of the best moments of my life. This was an incredible
As a business leader, one of the greatest challenges I’ve had is communicating my vision with my team and gaining buy-in. But what if I
It struck me odd to hear myself saying “I’m JUST running the 24 hour race”. At what point in my life did running for 24
Today I went back in to work on final edits of a book I finished the first draft of over a year ago. At the
This episode is a special one. It was a bit of an experiment in the fact that I strapped on a couple of wireless Lav
Jane Atkinson is a speakers coach with over 3 decades of expertise in her craft. She has worked with some of the best in the
Beware the charlatans selling false dreams They’ll trick you, deceive you it’s not what it seems Fulfillment and purpose we all seek in life We
Click on the link above to listen to the full audio podcast! Dr John Izzo is the bestselling author of seven books including the international
Yesterday for International Women’s Day I did an impromptu ‘Coffee with Strangers‘ and managed to get two of the most influential women in the mortgage
Alright, it is March 1st and that means it is time for another experiment. While I have always liked to experiment with things in my
Janice Porter is a LinkedIn expert and Relationship Marketing expert who believes that LinkedIn will change everything! She prides herself in being a consummate networker and
Selina Gray (CPA, CA, B.Comm) is a money relationship expert with over 14 years of experience reinventing finance for individuals, small business & corporations. Selina
Productive people manage their time well. As a guy who thrives on variety I do a number of different activities in both my personal and
Yahya is a speaker and confidence coach. His mission is to remind people of their value. We talk about entrepreneurship and about creating a lifestyle
Diane Ross is an expert in difficult conversations and shares her strategies with us. As a ‘recovering lawyer’ she moved into the realm of communications
During the winter of 2012/2013 I spent a ridiculous amount of time in my basement either on the treadmill or on the bike trainer as
The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships. This is a fact. This being the case, are you making your relationships a
Bob is the only individual who has both a CFL Grey Cup ring and an Olympic medal. This is a man that is no stranger
Tania Spilchen is a computer scientist turned philanthropist. She is the founder of One International. One! International Poverty Relief (One! International) is a registered Canadian charity;
As we turn the corner on 2017 I reflect on an article I wrote a few years ago around goal setting.I find it interesting that
JOHN DAVID MANN is an award-winning author whose titles include the New York Times bestseller The Red Circle and the international bestseller The Go-Giver. “I
Brandon Tyler Webb (born June 12,1974) is a former United States Navy SEAL and SEAL Sniper Head Instructor, with one combat deployment to Afghanistan and one to Iraq.
**NOTE: I wrote this immediately after completing this project but was not able to publish it until the exhibit was public.** Today I cat called
This dude is one of my favorite human beings on the planet. You will be inspired by his passion, energy and creativity. Steven is an
You know it has been a good conference when you get to wrap it up with a meet and greet with the former Prime Minister
Co-Owner, Tool Shed Brewing Company Graham Sherman is a self-professed “high level geek” who has used his love of technology to help him master the
All of my best friends were strangers once. Today I received an email newsletter from my friend Drew Dudley. Drew is a leadership expert and
When it comes to technology the question often becomes how much is too much? When does technology stop making you more efficient and start becoming
Thanks to Karen for asking me this one on FaceBook. I feel that if I can nail this one I can likely retire. The answer
So we all know, or should know, that one of the keys to a successful relationship on any level is to be a good listener.
Can a positive attitude be bad for you? I spend a lot of time exploring what most would coin “Emotional Intelligence”. “the capacity
This is an excerpt from a journal entry I wrote while waiting for a meeting that I was an hour early for. I usually write
This is an anonymized letter I wrote to a friend who lost his girlfriend. I hope this may help you with whatever you are going
A New Year is upon us, and with every New Year comes the inevitable … New Years’ Resolutions. Statistically speaking (although we all know 75%
Today I was speaking with a friend of mine from out of town who is struggling. Business development is not going as well as they
Words are an interesting conundrum. I sit here about to commemorate the anniversary of Colleen’s tragic death and I look for words to equal the beauty
Hopefully, you read Part I of my Summit experience which gives you a little bit of context on how I ended up here. In my
It’s Thursday morning, July 14, 2016. When I say morning, I mean EARLY morning. I mean 3:05am kinda morning. Usually for me this means that
The other day someone asked the question in the Facebook group, I love Mortgage Brokering, “At what point do you start worrying about your pipeline. I
This article will change your life. No seriously, I mean it. This article all by itself will in fact change your life. At this point
Creativity is a bitch. It really is. Trust me I know. I practice creating daily and it is damn hard. Much harder than most of
If you pay any attention to the personal development gurus or so called “Thought Leaders” you will have heard much discussion about “mindfulness” and “presence”.
As I sit here in front of my computer at the office trying to ‘will’ myself to write I am awestruck by the immense force
Here is your chance to get to know the President and CEO of Mortgage Professionals Canada. From insurance to mortgages we explore Paul’s journey to
When you think ‘Badass’ what do you think of? If you are like most, you conjure up images of Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pink, George
Have you ever wished you could live someone else’s life? Ever found yourself wanting to do, see or experience more out of life? Yeah, me
Today marks five months since Colleen Lois Sillito had the tapestry of her life cut short in a cowardly act of domestic violence. Imagine the
OK, maybe hate is too strong a word but with the continued growth of social media and the vast amount of content out there it
Joe Calloway helps business leaders, owners, and entrepreneurs make great companies even better. His interactive keynote presentations and workshops enable organizations to focus on what
For many years I have explored the phrase “I Love You”. You see I am a fairly romantic man and have always had a belief
There is an evil in this world. A darkness that threatens to choke out the light. It lives among us and very few would even
“The difference between a good race and a bad race is how you manage the (inevitable) pain” Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack on triathlon. Just a little
Wow!! Where to start with Mortgage Forum 2015. This year for me was certainly a different experience than ever before. First off let, we have
Colleen Lois Sillito was a mother, an artist, a photographer, a videographer, a yogi, a climber, a fitness enthusiast, and an inspiration to many. She
Can a subtle shift in focus really make that big of a difference in your business and in your income? Our guest says, “Absolutely, yes!”
Meet Martin Perelmuter. Martin is an unapologetic idealist. He’s passionate about people and ideas, and after 20 years in the speaking industry believes more than
I have officially quit! That’s it, I’ve had enough. I hereby decree that I will no longer set goals for myself. For as long as
Richard Robbins is Co-founder and CEO of Richard Robbins International, a global sales and business coaching organization that amassed over $50 million dollars in revenue worldwide
I will contribute up to $20,000.00 at a rate of $1.00 for each member of the Project Pay it Forward Group or Each subscriber to my mailing
First off, it wasn’t me who had the conversation with the Billionaire. Sorry. It was James Altucher on his podcast as he interviewed Ted Leonsis.
Peri Shawn is an award winning author who specializes in working with leaders who want to get better results. She works on helping people think
How many 20 year olds do you know that have their own Wikipedia page? Here is Shane’s bio from Wikipedia: “Shane Feldman is a motivational speaker and critically acclaimed
** Note: This article had the potential to go off on a number of different tangents. Rather than try and explore every concept in detail
Dan O’Neill is my triathlon coach. Dan is an extremely inspirational man who has completed 3 Ironman races, written a book and been a part
Christopher Novais is a Toronto native who embodies the term entrepreneur. Christopher graduated from York University with a degree in marketing and wasted no time
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in the 2015 MS Tour. The tour is a 180KM round trip bike ride from
Nicole Almond is the President of Enactus Canada. Nicole talks to us not only about her role as President and what Enactus does but shares
Carmen Alpaerts has been active in the community for a very long time. She is a firm believer in giving back to your community. Her
This is our first in our “Making a Difference” series. The intent is to bring awareness to those individuals that are doing extraordinary things in
At 36, Erik Giasson became the Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President of a major investment firm. At 43, he achieved his ultimate dream,
In this episode I talk to Fred Sarkari who is a licensed Psychotherapist. We talk a lot about human behavior and how to shape the
For 25 years the largest companies in Canada have been referring Canada’s Sales Coach to each other. Air Canada, IBM, KPMG, Royal Bank, Direct Energy,
Eighteen weeks of training all comes down to one day. For the last two years I have run the Vancouver half marathon with a variety of
Mitra Castano is an inspiring example of a resilient woman. After fleeing from Iran as a child she went on to create the “Perfect” life
I had the pleasure of meeting Gloria and her husband Ricardo at the Starting Point Entrepreneurship Conference at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax this February.
One catastrophic moment redefined Warren’s life in April 1997 with a freak rock fall on a remote Australian island that left him pinned under a
Greg Williamson is a long time mortgage broker. He started brokering shortly out of University and has been a recipient of the Canadian Mortgage Awards
Well, I am excited to write this post. My hope is that this will inspire you to do what you can to make a difference
Jason Smith was inducted into the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame in 2014 by the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. Jason has a long
This episode is a little bit different than the usual business interviews I do. This week I have the privilege of interviewing an inspiring young
As we head into the new year and start thinking about the things that we want to accomplish in 2015, I thought I’d share an
This week I have the pleasure of having a conversation with Mark Kerzner, the President and COO of TMG The Mortgage Group. This was a
Brendan Calder is a man who many cite as a mentor. He has probably helped produce more leaders in the mortgage industry then anyone. It
Andy is the President and CEO of Canada Guaranty Mortgage Insurance. He has a vast array of experience in the mortgage business. He helped introduce
CAAMP’s annual Mortgage Forum truly is the country’s premiere event for mortgage professionals, always bringing new ideas, information and networking opportunities aplenty. This year was
Yousry is currently the President and CEO of Kanetix, the leading provider of online insurance marketplace. He has served on numerous boards and been Chairman
Conventional marketing wisdom would suggest that you want to meet or exceed customer expectations if you want to have happy customers. This is fairly common
Boris Bozic is a 25 year veteran of the mortgage business and has seen what it is like to be a feet on the street
Dan Putnam is a true industry leader that has seen a variety of the different sides of the mortgage business. Dan has advanced through a
Very pleased to bring you this interview with Kathy. She does a wonderful job of sharing her passions, practices and philosophies. You will find links
“The difference between a good race and a bad race is how you manage the (inevitable) pain” Chris “Macca” McCormack on triathlon. In 2013 I
Hali Strandlund is the Senior Vice President Residential Mortgages and Broker Relations at Fisgard Capital Corporation. Hali says she was born into the business and
For most of our lives we men have constantly been told to “man up”. To ‘grow a set’ or to suck it up. Often this means
I am very excited to share this interview with you. I first met Drew Dudley after we hired him to come and speak at the
This episode I wanted to introduce you to a friend and inspiration Drew Dudley. Drew gave a Ted talk entitled the lollipop moment. This episode
As I continue to share my podcast with the world I am realizing that I am in fact not the last person on the planet
It happened. I caught myself doing it today, September 2, 2014 . I swore I would never do it and there I was doing exactly
One of the things that I look for on a daily basis when I interact with other businesses is how they run their sales process
I believe that the path to growth is paved with the right balance of challenge and support. Whether we are talking about an organization or
If you have followed me on social media at all you know that I love to share. I love to share my experiences and more
As sales professionals most of us are, or should be familiar with the term “qualify your prospect”. The question though is what does that really
Since most of us were small children we have been fascinated with stories. From Dr. Suess to the brothers Grimm, we have all been captivated
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Many of us are familiar with visualization techniques in achieving goals. Many of these techniques were popularized by the book “The Secret” published in 2006.
Last week I was visiting with my daughter at the end of the day and as usual asked her what she had spent the day
In a world where we are constantly searching for answers, I was reminded last week at a conference I attended that often times the answer
If you want to be successful in any sales career there is simply no replacement for good old fashioned hard work. The bottom line is
OK, well they’re not really tailors. More high end men’s clothing retailers but the alliteration in the title sounded better this way ;0). I really
Do you remember when you first started your job? Or perhaps your new career? If you are anything like me you were excited. You were
If you are not where you want to be in life, professionally, then you may have to accept the fact that we still have some
[display_podcast]It’s funny how we find that some of our most powerful learning moments don’t come from hearing something new, but usually from looking at something
One of the things that we often forget is the fact that in business we still need to train. Stephen Covey called it “Sharpening the
Last week I spent most of the week in Toronto connecting with some of our broker and lender partners. I also had the opportunity to
I had a really interesting conversation with my 11 year old daughter and thought it worthy of a share. It was Monday evening and we
