Failing Builds Community
When you fail at something, what’s your next step? How do you deal with it? Do you humbly admit your mistake and troubleshoot a solution with those affected? Or do you hide and/or massage the results to spin it as success?
What’s in a Ship?
Strangely, the economic crisis brought, mostly out of fear, a whole new respect and acknowledgment of shipping’s importance. In the months following Lehman Brothers’ stunning collapse, shipping languished at unprecedented levels.
Who’s better at fighting crime – Superman or Visa?
In the US, the crime rate is down. Significantly. While crime had once soared sharply in the late 1960s and early 1970s (does anyone remember the days of the “crack epidemic”), it has since declined steeply since 1993. The marked…
The Office Holiday Party
Over the next two weeks, communities of working people (and many of their cajoled spouses and partners) will be participating in (hopefully) festive holiday parties. Egg nog will flow, budgets will shrink and awkward dancing will ensue. I love parties….
Finding a Job is Just Like Dating – Part 2
Recently, friend and colleague Kimberley Rawes and I delivered the first chapter of a two-part series on Your Career as Dating. It was an amazing experience and positive reviews, speaking offers and various other accolades continue to roll in. So, after reading the first part of this two-part series, you have used a fantastic pickup line to get a date (or maybe more) and have been offered an exclusive relationship. So what should you do next?
20-Minute Neighbourhoods
So, I just finished my UBC Continuing Studies class in Sustainability and Transformational Leadership. Last week, teammates Heidi, Roger and I created a consulting firm – 20:15 (we present the concept of “20-Minute Neighbourhoods” in 15 minutes) – and delivered…
The Noble and Underappreciated Career Practitioners
Yesterday I participated in the Annual Planning Meeting for The Canadian Education and Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC). And during some brief down time I shared a quotes/concepts from Alain de Botton’s The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work with on…
Port Metro Vancouver: More than Meets the Eye
Everyday more than a dozen 180 metre-long freighters sit at anchor around the corner in English Bay, waiting for their turn to pick up a a 50,000 ton-load and steam it in under 3 weeks across the Pacific to disgorge at Shanghai and Huangpo before chugging back for more.
Communities of Practice Make Perfect
It is through open and intentioned collaboration that human beings realize the potential – the best version – of their communities. After all, we’re social creatures hardwired to work together. I got to thinking about super-collaboration because of my pre-class…
Our Transformational Community Well-Being
I’m not gonna lie, it’s a bit bleak out there. I mean, “scientists” and “business leaders” and “David Suzuki” will tell you that melting glaciers, rising seas, catastrophic earthquakes, desertification, staggering poverty, and the decline of the honeybee present some serious reasons for us to fear for – or just plain fear – the future. So, in the spirit of positivity and community-building, the Daily Gumboot is pleased to provide you, the people, with some fantastic options that you, the people, can consider as we lurch forward.