Three Lessons in Innovation from Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge, fought in April 1917, stands as a pivotal moment in Canadian military history. It was a battle won through remarkable courage and groundbreaking strategic thinking. Beyond remembering the fallen, we can draw valuable lessons from…
A Team Chemistry Haiku
Unlocked with safety. Trusted hoopers, friends at work. Have team chemistry. – A haiku about how psychological safety, connectivity, joy, and opportunities for learning unleash team chemistry; it is a delight to notice chemistry on the basketball court, soccer pitch,…
Three Things You Can Say to Enhance Collaboration
Language is an amazing thing. What we say and how we say it reflects who we are and what we value. Whether you are speaking out of habit or stepping out of your comfort zone to make a point, the…
Three Examples of Cooperative Dystopia in the “Alien” Universe
Analyzing and sharing what popular culture can teach us about career development, leadership, and the cooperative enterprise model is something we do really well on this website. My contention is that the Alien universe is probably a cooperative dystopia from…
An Abundant Summer Haiku
Camping waterslides. Friends, family, and puppy. Abundance mindset. – A haiku about how our family crammed, stacked, squeezed, and packed a lot of activities, visitors, connections, parties, food, and a furry new family member into our Abundant Summer; oftentimes folks…
Three Career Lessons from Vancouver’s Craft Brewers
It’s summer in Vancouver and odds are you’ve noticed the proliferation of craft breweries across the city. There’s a reason they are so popular. Craft breweries offer a tempting and tasty opportunity to try new brews in interesting and engaging…
A Tour de Friendship Haiku
Long, Muppets bike ride. We call it Tour de Friendship. How did I gain weight?! – A haiku (with photos) about how eight middle-aged men invested in friendship and longevity by riding hundreds of kilometers together on bikes.
Build Strong Relationships Through Community Service
The world is weird and tense and unsettling these days. Building strong, diverse relationships help communities become connected and resilient for the long term. A few weeks ago, I joined dozens of neighbours for a beach cleanup with Surfrider. We…
How to Spread Kindness in Your Community
Many years ago I presented at the University of British Columbia’s Student Leadership Conference (it’s one of the largest conferences in North America). I focused on straightforward tips on how to spread kindness in your community at school, at work…
Tension: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How it can Realize a Community’s Potential
My Tension Tension happens in work and life all the time. Recently, I found myself in situations where tension was both palpable and enabling. The first instance occurred during the planning of an important event. Initially, there was considerable confusion…