Five Business Lessons From a 100 Mile Ultra
I did it! I freaking did it!! It took five years and four attempts, but I finally did it. Part of me still cannot believe I did it, but another part knows it was inevitable. On Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 12:03 p.m., I crossed the finish line of the Sinister 7 100-mile ultramarathon. Today, […]
Creating Connection to Purpose
Have you ever been so fired up about a cause or a mission that your energy and enthusiasm inspired others to act? There is nothing quite like the feeling of inspiring a shared vision. Whether you lead a team of one of one thousand, “Purpose” is a massive driver of performance. It was just shy […]
Seven Lessons for Male Leaders From “Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up”
I was 2 minutes into Tim Ferris’ podcast with Jerry Colonna, and I knew I needed to learn more about this man and his leadership philosophy. Immediately after sharing how much his philosophy resonated with Michelle, I grabbed his book Reboot and reached out to him on LinkedIn. I highly recommend picking up a copy […]
When we refuse to look inward, we are destined to project outward
Avoiding looking in the mirror under the guise of busyness and achievement is easy. Having the courage to look deep into ourselves is hard. There are so many ways we can numb, suppress and avoid connecting with that most profound part of ourselves. For some, it is substance abuse, alcohol or drugs. For many leaders […]
Be Stronger Than Your Excuses
If you want to achieve what most people don’t, you need to do the work that most people won’t. Fitness is a great analogy for life. The formula is fairly simple, yet it requires an incredible amount of discipline to achieve. This week, my run coach has me tackling a mock Sinister 7. For those […]
Leadership From the Inside Out
When did you realize you were a leader? This is a fascinating question. While the consensus today is greater than it was a decade ago, some folks I talk to still do not consider themselves leaders. The truth is that we all have the opportunity to be leaders. My friend Drew Dudley says this well […]
What the Heck Does Emotional Connection Even Mean?
Language is powerful, it is important to get it right. I spend much time discussing the importance of Emotional Connection, particularly for men, and its impact on leadership, peak performance, and mental health. I share practices that I have found helpful in my journey, but I have not spent much time discussing what Emotional Connection […]
Shifting Views: The Unseen Power of Perspective
Have you ever considered how a single moment can alter your perception of the world? Last week I was speaking at a conference. During one of the breaks, I spoke with one of the other speakers. We chatted about the message I had delivered that morning on the importance of Emotional Connection, particularly for men. […]
Cultivating Resilience in Your Team: A Leader’s Guide to Navigating Uncertainty
Four Ways to Build a Culture of Resilience I was 28 years old, at the peak of my career. I was making more money than I had in my life and, quite frankly, more than I would have imagined possible a few short years earlier. I had moved to a new town and was about […]
Are You Having a Midlife Crisis?
Is it really a midlife crisis? Many men spend most of their lives trying to live the life they believe they are supposed to live. They are supposed to be the provider, the protector, the ‘man’. Most do this at a great cost to self. They suppress their own needs, wants and desires in order […]
Learning to Embrace the Suck
The difference between a good race and a bad race is all about how you manage the (inevitable) pain. Chris McCormack I first came across the term “Embrace the Suck” in the context of Ironman Triathlon. My daughter gave me a henna tattoo that made that proclamation across my forearm when I competed in my […]
How Can I Help You?
My mission is to create a community of emotionally connected leaders and inspire men to feel more, be more, and do more. I don’t know about you, but I get immense fulfillment from helping others achieve their dreams. I think we all like to help others get ahead. Have you ever noticed that most people […]
Men and Grief
Grief is often something we don’t associate with Masculinity and when we do, there seems to be an expectation of stoicism, strength and frankly – fixing it, not suffering with it. Together we are going to discuss how that shows up in our lives and in the lives of those who support men who are grieving.
Fly In Fly Out Life – Real Stories, Struggles and Victories From Remote Work Camp Life
FIFO: faɪ fəʊ or Fly In Fly Out
FIFO work refers to remote camp work where workers are required to fly in and fly out to work and work away from home and their families.
This type of work poses unique challenges to workers and their families. The mental health struggles that can arise from the isolation from family, role transitions from work life to home life, societal stereotypes of masculinity and stigmas creating barriers to seeking help. We unpack all this through storytelling to give you a snapshot of FIFO life and to provide workers and their families with tools to thrive in this lifestyle.
Drew Dudley – A Man Falls Into a Hole Keynote
This inspiring keynote is from our recent Love Letter to Men: A Celebration of Men’s Mental Health forum.
Four Ways To Get Unstuck: Avoiding the How-to Trap
Yesterday I was speaking to someone who is a top performer in her industry. I mean not just “successful” but the top 1% of the industry. It has been very gratifying to watch her success over the years. You see she actually started her career with me some 15 years ago. I have been incredibly […]
Is Time Confetti Ruining Your Life?
Focus seems to be an incredibly rare commodity these days. It is something I have struggled with most of my life. Do you remember the scene in the movie Up! In the scene, Dug the Dog introduces himself to the main characters and halfway through he stops, mid sentence, looks sharply to his left and […]
How to Set Boundaries
In my work I talk a lot about leading with empathy and compassion. I talk about the value of kindness, acceptance and love in leadership. These words can be mistaken for “soft” or “weak” and therefore some are hesitant to employ those qualities in a leadership role. This is only the case if we do not […]
Real Talk International Men’s Day
On International Men’s Day I had the privilege of sitting down with three other men to discuss the importance of Men’s mental health and some of the challenges that we face as men. Even in our patriarchal society it is important to look at the price of the patriarchy on men as well as on […]
What Gets Measured Gets Managed
Peter Drucker is one of the most often quoted business management guru’s. He has been referred to as “The founder of modern management.” I have learned to appreciate his wisdom over the years and often look to his work in order to help me “Get things done”. This week I want to unpack the following […]
Is Accountability the Secret Sauce to Productivity?
Productivity hacks, hustle culture and busy, busy, busy seem to be the prescription of the day. If you’ve followed me for any length of time you know I am not a fan of “busy”. As an executive coach who takes a very holistic view of those I work with, I am always looking to see […]
Four Essential Skills for Leading Out of the Pandemic
This week I had the opportunity to deliver a new keynote, Redefining Leadership: From Chaos to Connection. While doing some research for this I came across a recent survey published by ExecOnline that talked about some of the challenges leaders are facing. They also shared a few of the skills leaders believe are required to […]
What Does “Stuck” Look Like (and how to get unstuck in life)
How to get unstuck in life As I sit here at my computer, with my Pomodoro Technique timer quietly counting down I sit staring at a blank computer screen. A list of a million different “things I could be doing” starts to form in my head. The procrastination monster is strong in this one my […]
Where You Sit Determines What You See
Her three year old son sat in the back seat of the car as she stopped at a traffic light. They liked to play word games while driving so she asked him what color the traffic light was. He replied “It’s green mommy! It’s green!” A little dismayed that her otherwise bright boy would misidentify […]
Redefining Leadership for Men
I was shocked when I felt a sharp smack upside the head and a gruff voice yelling “What the fuck are you doing? Give me that phone!”
After all, I had finally mustered up the courage to make that phone call! I was very proud of myself for doing so.
Everything is Sales: Simple sales tools for everybody, everywhere
Most people think sales is icky The truth is that sales is a part of everything we do. I love selling. I think it is one of the most underrated skills on the planet. Everything is sales and today I am going to tell you why you need to be a better salesperson. I’m also […]
A Powerful Leadership Lesson From an 8th Grade Drunk
Who would’ve known that showing up drunk for my eighth grade science class would teach me a leadership lesson I would hang on to for 40 years.
How to Navigate Life’s Transitions
“The only constant in life is change”-Heraclitus This statement has never been more applicable than it has in the last 18 months. Every single one of us has gone through massive, unforeseeable, and unavoidable change. The real key is how we adapt to that change and how we navigate the transitions from the old way […]
Let’s Play a Game: Reason or Excuse
It’s almost impossible to run 100 miles while puking and shitting your pants every 20 yards. What the hell does that have to do with procrastination you ask? Today I am going to share with you a game that I like to play. A tool that I use to help prevent my proclivity to procrastination. […]
How to Have a Respectful Conversation About the COVID Vaccine
He sat quietly, just looking at her. His head cocked, eyes wide with disbelief. In a pained voice filled with disgust “I cannot believe you did that” he said. “Of course I did!” she replied defensively. “I did it to protect all of us. It’s the right thing to do” Tears started to well up […]
The Leadership Question That Could Change Everything!
As leaders we often feel like we need to have all the answers. The reality is that we hire good people for a reason. Sometimes they don’t need solutions, they simply need understanding.
David Goggins Challenge to raise awareness for domestic violence during COVID-19
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 violence during this pandemic. You can see the Global article here. Last week I ran 4 miles every four hours for 48 hours straight. I had the privilege of being […]
5 Ways to Ensure Humility Isn’t Hurting You
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 actually be preventing you from living your purpose and creating the impact that you would like to create in this world? You see, for me, humility has always been a […]
A Fathers Day Reflection and Opportunity
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 am privileged to be called “Dad” by two fine young adults, a 16 year old daughter and an 18 year old son. I think often of how I can […]
5 Ways Empathetic Listening Creates Stronger Leadership
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 didn’t have to do that at all? What if I could turn the tables on communication as I knew it? I found I could actually attain a higher level of […]
Beware The Charlatans Selling False Dreams
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 clammer for meaning to end all the strife It is out there, it is out there this thing that I know Just be authentic don’t put on a show. […]
International Women’s Day: Thoughts from one of Canada’s most influential women
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 industry to join me for a chat. Kathy Gregory was one of them and through our conversation, she agreed to share with me her internal memo to staff. I thought […]
My Favourite TED talks of all time
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 I trained for triathlon that year. In preparation for the winter hours of indoor running and cycling I set up a 50″ SmartTV with a TED app on it directly […]
9 Keys to Fostering Trust in any Relationship
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 priority? How do you focus on, and build the quality of the relationships in your life? There are many factors that go into building strong relationships but there is one […]
Why Goal Setting Still Sucks!
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 so many of us seem so eager to throw away the year that has elapsed. I have heard many people say something to the effect of “I can’t wait for […]
I Called Her A Whore And I Was Shocked At What It Felt Like!
**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 a woman. I called her all manner of names. I called her a bitch. I called her a whore. I said vile, rude, disgusting things directed toward another human being. […]
6 Practices to Becoming a Better Listener
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. Whether we are talking about sales, family, spouse or friends our ability to truly hear what the other is saying is a critical component for a healthy relationship. For someone […]
Feel the Fear and Shimmy-Twist-Skip
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 of this dastardly little four letter word. I certainly do not believe in writers block. I do however have to acknowledge writers reluctance. Perhaps that is not the right choice of […]
“Something Needs to Change” maybe it’s you
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 unimaginable. The life of someone you love extinguished in the blink of an eye in their very own driveway. I tell you certainly six months ago this is not something I […]
Why I Hate Quotations
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 seems like there is a quote designed to fit just about any occasion. Historically I have loved quotes and have made many different ones my go to for a long […]
Mortgage Forum 2015 Recap
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 one of the most incredible industries on the planet. On the heels of the greatest tragedy I have ever experienced in my life, I knew Mortgage Forum 2015 was […]
Episode 37: Bob Burg – The Go-Giver; The 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success
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!” Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences. He regularly addresses audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000. He has shared the platform with notables […]
Episode 36: Martin Perelmuter – Entrepreneur Unleashed!
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 ever that a great speech can provide the impetus for action and be a catalyst for change. Prior to co-founding Speakers’ Spotlight, Martin was a corporate lawyer at a prestigious […]
Why I Stopped Setting Goals
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 I can remember I have been taught that come January 1st, I should sit down and write out a list of things that I want to accomplish for the year. […]
What I Learned From A Conversation With A Billionaire
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. If you have never listened to James you need to know that he is quite the character. He opens the conversation with an ever so smooth “I’m gonna straight out […]
Episode 34: Peri Shawn – Profitable Conversations
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 better so that they can do better. She is known as a profitable conversation expert and I think you will find this conversation will be extremely profitable. Sales is both […]
Episode 33: Shane Feldman – Inspiring Youth Across The Planet
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 producer.[1] He is one of Canada‘s Top 20 Under 20.[2] Feldman is the founder and CEO of Count Me In,[3][4][5] the largest youth-led organization in North America. As CEO (Chief Executive Optimist) at Count […]
What if you were born with super powers but nobody showed you how to use them?
** Note: This article had the potential to go off on a number of different tangents. Rather than try and explore every concept in detail I have highlighted my takeaways and provided links to further information where appropriate. Listen to the podcast in it’s entirety ** Do you believe strongly in life long learning? Do […]
Episode 31: Christopher Novais – The Art of Letting Go
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 putting it to use. Christoper is the co-founder of The Art Of Productions Inc. which quickly became Canada’s largest personal development seminar series. The Art Of has grown from a […]
The Power of Teamwork
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 Leduc to Camrose. I was honored to be part of a fantastic team made up of members of my cycle family from Exist Cycle studios where I instruct from time […]
Episode 30: Nicole Almond – Making a Difference Through Entrepreneurship
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 some of her experience as a student in the Enactus program while she was in university. Enactus is truly a unique organization finding unique ways of inspiring the next generation […]
#26 Fred Sarkari: Adventures of a Pyscotherapist
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 behaviors that we want. Fred takes a scientific approach to behavior patterns and looks at how we can understand why we do what we do. Whether we are talking about […]
Episode 23: Gloria Roheim McRae – Playing with the possibilities
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. Gloria is a remarkable young woman who has done all of the things that you are “supposed to” do to notch success in this life. Then finding that unfulfilling struck […]
Project Pay It Forward
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 in the life of another. It can be so easy and you never know the impact that you might have. For me, it is something that I have always tried […]
Episode 20: Jason Smith – Finding Your Organizational Rhythm
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 history in the mortgage business and is a pioneer in mortgage origination technology. Jason Smith is a highly regarded technology entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience building and leading […]
Episode 17: Mark Kerzner: Relationships, Outputs and Getting it Done
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 really great interview for me as I have just recently gotten to know Mark a lot better working side by side on the CAAMP board of directors. My respect for […]
Episode 16: Brendan Calder; Mentor, Leader, Manager extraordinaire
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 is my pleasure to spend an hour talking leadership and management with Brendan. I certainly took some things away from this one that change the way I look at how […]
Episode 15: Conversation with Andy Charles, CEO Canada Guaranty Mortgage Insurance
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 the concept of variable compensation mortgage origination to the big bank. We talk about the lessons he has learned over the years in a variety of executive roles with major […]
Episode 14: Conversation with Yousry Bissada: 25 Years of Leadership
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 of several. After holding senior executive roles with two of Canada’s Yousry decided to step up his game becoming President and CEO of Filogix, a technology provider to the Canadian […]
Open for Learning
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 things to learn. Many of us would agree with this statement and generally speaking when you are starting out it is a concept that is easy to embrace. “I know […]
The pro’s do it, why don’t you?
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 Saw”, Zig Ziglar was attributed the quote “If you want to earn more, learn more”. Let’s have a look at a group of individuals that earn hundreds or even thousands […]
ISTAR: Changing lives through communication
Last Friday I had the privilege of being invited to a luncheon for one of the charities that our company supports through our affiliation with REALTORS® Community Foundation. I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but had been encouraged to attend. I was honestly expecting a fancy luncheon where they sold donors […]
Emotion: The key to inspiring action
If you want to inspire action, you’ve got to evoke emotion. This is an important thing to consider when we look to inspire others to action. Whether it be our children, our spouse or our consumers. If you think about anything in your life that has compelled you to act there is usually a strong […]
The Power of The Follow UP Call
A couple of weeks ago my car broke down and was going to be out of commission for at least a week (don’t ask. That’s another blog post). I found myself in a position where I needed to rent a vehicle for at least a week. Since I broke down in Red Deer and needed […]
Brain Food: What do you eat?
2013 was a year in which I really focused on my physical fitness and it certainly paid dividends. I am in better physical shape then I have ever been in my life. As I sit and reflect and look forward to my 2014 goals I feel compelled to put the emphasis on intellectual development. We […]
Thank You: Amy Holden
Recently I came across a blog titled 365 days of “Thank You”. The author has made a point of writing a blog post daily of thanking someone in his life that has made an impact on him. As I read some of the posts I was struck by what a brilliant, simple idea that was. […]
Reflection: What do you see in the mirror?
This week at our Toastmasters club our theme was “Being Reflective”. As the Toastmaster for the meeting I had the privilege of leading the meeting and keeping it on track with the theme. In my preamble I talked about what “Being Reflective” meant to me. I talked about the fact that I felt being reflective meant taking […]
It’s the little things…
How often do we hear the line “It’s the little things that make a big difference”? I tend to use that line alot and truly believe that is the case. It is often not the massive large scale gestures of others that make a significant impact in our lives but usually the very small ones. The small […]
For the love of reading; Passion is contagious!
Have you ever wondered why some people burn an indelible impression in your mind and others you forget the minute they walk out the door? Have you ever wondered why some conversations leave a lasting mark and make an impact on your life and others are gone with the wind? Why is it that our […]
Words to live by
For our conference in Las Vegas this month I prepared a workshop on effective communication. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we ended up with far too much content for our 48 hours together and ended up scrapping that session. Putting this workshop together was a real eye-opener and thought I would take a minute to share with […]
Why I drop kicked Mark Messier
Alright so I didn’t exactly drop kick Mark Messier but I did cross paths with him at an event in Las Vegas last week. It was the opening day of our very first corporate national conference. We held the event at the Venetian Hotel on the strip. The first event after the registration desk closed […]