There are many different ways of gauging the price of a business for sale. Some of the more common include valuing the business based on profits, cash flow, assets or sector. But how do you ascribe a value to intangible assets such as customer goodwill, corporate culture, staff relationships, and brand, which are crucial ingredients in the lasting success of any business? (more…)

While delivering a series of leadership workshops across Canada this fall, I was surprised by the response some well-known companies’ vision statements elicited … laughter. (more…)

I make my living showing leaders the importance of keeping their priorities straight in both their business and their lives, so I was shocked recently to recognize how far I had allowed a current project to take over both my life and my business and cause me to lose sight of my own priorities. (more…)

What does it really take to motivate people to bring joy, along with their best effort, to work in a retail environment? Keep the following core principles in mind to remove the barriers that keep workers in every industry hovering on the distaste side of the equation. (more…)

As my understanding of open-source software, such as Linux, has grown, it has given me time to ponder the lessons organizations of all sizes can take from understanding its underlying philosophy.

In lay terms, open source software gives the public free access to source code for redistribution, modification and creation of derivative works as long as any changes are made available to others to use. The speed at which this allows evolution to occur is astonishing compared to the slow pace of conventional software development in closed proprietary systems.

What is most thought provoking, however, is that open-source offerings have grown (and continue to do so) primarily through a pool of passionate volunteers who freely contribute their time to improving the source code. In the 21st century knowledge economy (where speed to market and the ability to harness the full creativity, commitment and intellectual capacity of one’s workforce has been identified as a key driver of business success and sustainability) understanding what has inspired so many to contribute so much without financial compensation bears examination. (more…)

My mother is a sales diva. Whether it is selling homes, furniture, vitamins, makeup or water filters, she brings a wholehearted (almost evangelical) passion to her work, and a genuine caring for her customer, that allows her to excel at whatever she lays her hand to.

I didn’t always see this as a good thing. When I was in my teens she was bitten by the network-marketing bug … several times. At first I was too young to really care. I just kept switching products as she did – using whatever face cleanser or vitamins she was selling at the time. After graduating with a psychology degree, I was old enough to be enrolled in her latest venture. I was so caught up in her enthusiasm that I eagerly signed on the dotted line…to sell water filters. (more…)