Five Tips for Bouncing Back from Obi-Wan Kenobi
Resilience is measured by how we recover from setbacks, as opposed to how well we endure tough times in the moment. Obi-Wan Kenobi knows a thing or two about bouncing back from a bad day, which fans observed and opined throughout the semi-divisive Disney series. We...
Joyful Resilience
Hard things reveal character and unlock potential. Also, hard things to align in our worklife are joy and resilience (we don't often experience elation when we're bouncing back from setbacks or reflecting on failure), even if we want to work and live with joy. Last...
Four Leadership Lessons from our Reconciliation Journey
As a member of Vancity’s leadership development program I am on a journey to become a better leader. Engaging in deep self-reflection, peer-mentoring and self-directed learning with the intention of creating new habits that help me to be more present, focused and...
How to Walk Away from a Volunteer Role
Getting involved with amazing organizations is easy. Walking away from a volunteer commitment, particularly one in which you’ve played an important role, can be very difficult. Sometimes no matter how fulfilling and important the position is you’ll know it’s time to...
Five Professional Lessons from the Mission: Impossible Movies
Action mega-star and semi-controversial human being, Tom Cruise, has done it again! Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation has hit theatres and is receiving critical acclaim and all of our money, too. Kurt and I love action movies and we also think that there is a lot to...
Three Questions to Ask Before You Go to Work Sick
Getting sick sucks. It’s particularly frustrating when it happens and you have to work the next day. Agonizing over whether to stay home and let your boss know you’ll be out of commission for the next day (or three) is a tough decision. For many people a sick day...
How to Learn from Summer Interns
Interns are adding value to companies, non-profits and the public sector around the world this summer. At Vancity, one of the things that we want from this experience is an exchange of ideas – put another way, we want “reverse mentorship” and “professional...
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 environments. You don’t...
How my Mom is Winning the Sharing Economy
"In the collaborative economy, people can get what they need from each other - instead of buying from you," says Jeremiah Owyang in his awesome presentation called "sharing is the new buying" that outlines how to win in the collaborative economy. It's awesome and I've...
Four Professional Lessons from Northern Italy
Italy is hot, beautiful and the home of some of the best food in the world. While renowned for its gastronomical delights, Italy also has plenty to teach us about our professional selves. After traveling there this summer, here are four career tips I think North...
Three Career Lessons I Learned from Tossing Hay Bales
I grew up in a small rural community on Vancouver Island, British Columbia called Merville. When I was a kid I helped my dad help his best friend clear hundreds of hay bales from his field. When I was a little older I worked with - and eventually supervised - the crew...
Three Workplace Lessons from Canada Day Celebrations
All across the country, people are celebrating our nation's birth today. Eclectic parades are rolling down streets from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Sidney, British Columbia. Folks are firing up their barbecues and grilling premium Alberta beef. Kids are screaming around...
Six Tips for Collaborative Presenting
We’re nearly two months into wedding season and this means speeches. Lots of ‘em. Sometimes you can get away with giving a speech or a toast solo. In many cases, giving a speech requires collaborative team writing and dynamic duo presentations. Doing it well results...