From the top of Whistler Mountain, Sarah McNeill talks about obstacles that can get in our way.
Posted in corporate culture
Tagged business, corporate culture, obstacles, video, Whistler Mountain
While on vacation with my family recently, we visited a couple of theme parks in California. Let me start off by saying, that on so many levels, you can’t compare the two. What struck me the most, however, was the employees that worked at these two different parks.
In Theme Park A, the employees were genuinely happy to be there and their positivity was infectious. They were friendly, efficient, and overall enhanced the experience for us as visitors. They’re doing it right.
At Theme Park B, the employees were operating in slow motion, barely cracked a smile, and were practically looking at the clock, waiting for their shift to end. I even overheard one of the employees telling a customer, “We aren’t Theme Park A” I was shocked that he would speak in this tone, and to a customer.
I have had several friends ask me if it is worth it to go to Theme Park B. I’ve suggested that they not bother. This brand has now lost potential customers based on my experience as a customer. And it’s not just me. The other three parents I was with where shaking their heads too. We were just so frustrated that this particular theme park had lost out on a great opportunity to allow their brand to shine.
Your employees represent your brand. Brand is another word for user-experience. Create a culture where your employees can represent your brand in the best light. Engage your employees. Keep them happy. Train them. Re-train them. You will keep customers, and win new ones.
It doesn’t matter what product you sell, what service you provide – as long as you have the right people representing your business, have engaged employees, things will fall into place, and your customers will be there. Customer service is always key to any business. After all, if you don’t have a customer, you don’t have a business.
At the end of the day regardless of what business we are in, was the experience with our clients engaging and positive? These experiences lead us to go back time and time again or at the very least rave to others about it. We are in an experience economy so best experience wins!
Join founding sponsors McNeill Nakamoto Recruitment Group and MAC Marketing Solutions for the 5th annual GrapeJuice Wine Auction for Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.
“GrapeJuice” is the social 
wine event and auction tailored for wine aficionados both casual and serious. And most importantly, it’s all for a great cause – Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.
Once again, GrapeJuice will be a terrific, fun, after work function – it will take place on Thursday, April 26th 2012 at the gorgeous 3rd floor showroom of Ferrari Maserati of Vancouver between 5:30 and 8:30 pm.
Tickets are $100 (a tax receipt is available for a portion of the ticket price) and attendees will be able to sample top wines from both BC and around the world, bid on a wide selection of wines (including some hard to find ones), as well as enjoy some delicious appetizers provided by The Lazy Gourmet. If you are a wine connoisseur or simply enjoy wine and a great social event, then this event will certainly appeal to you!
This event is limited to 250 people and the last event sold out so we encourage you to buy your tickets soon! Big Sisters will of course happily accept cash donations or wine donations for the silent auction as well if you are unable to attend.
To donate money or purchase tickets call Rena Regier at 604.873.4525 ext. 302 or complete the online web form. For information on how to donate wine or contribute to Grape Juice contact Jessica Rozitis.
www.grapejuicevancouver.com Like GrapeJuice on Facebook Follow GrapeJuice on TwitterSee you Thursday April 26th at Ferrari Maserati of Vancouver!!!
Cheers!
Posted in corporate culture
Tagged Auction, corporate social responsibility, GrapeJuice, Vancouver, Wine
Here’s the thing.
I tend to procrastinate a bit.
….but, don’t we all?
People around me marvel how organized I am, but I have a dirty little secret. I procrastinate. There, I said it.
I’m always striving to improve myself, and kick bad habits. We’ve all heard that the best way to kick a bad habit is to replace it with a good one.
I had heard of a book called Eat That Frog! – 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time – by Brian Tracy.
I didn’t hesitate to pick it up from the library, but here’s the irony of all ironies. I let that book sit on my bedside table for weeks. I was putting off reading a book about procrastination! I kept having to renew my borrowing due date with the library.
I finally started reading it yesterday, and I really like it. The idea is to identify your most important task, and do it first before you do anything else. The book is due tomorrow. I’m halfway through this quick read. I’ve learned some great points already, which I will apply to my daily life.
Tonight I will pull myself away from the computer, TV, iphone (the bad habits) and finish reading the book (the good habit) I’m determined to learn something and change my procrastinating ways.
PS – I did write this post on my iPhone – it can’t be all that bad.
Take care of your employees
They will flourish
Take care of your community
It will thrive
Take care of your company
It will grow
Take care of yourself
And be thankful
Take care.
I think that once viewing this video, actually twice (couldn’t help myself!), I felt happier and inspired to take this challenge on in my own life. I’ve always fallen on laughter as a key part of keeping happiness alive when facing stress or adversity. Shawn’s presentation has led me to consider happiness and success differently.
“ It’s the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.” Sage advice Shawn!
Shawn’s video shares an insightful message on how we need to reverse the formula for happiness and success. Bring happiness back and this act of raising positivity will naturally make a person more productive than those whose brains operate under negative, neutral or stress. What a difference place we’d live and work if we could rewire our brains to work as Shawn demonstrates. Let’s move the benchmark for average up!
Posted in corporate culture, Inspiration
Tagged happiness, Positive psychology, Shawn Achor, TED Talk, video
Clover Food Lab is proof that a great corporate culture is the responsibility of the CEO to foster right from the very beginning. That means describing the values, living the values, and sharing stories about what makes your culture great. From there it becomes the job of everyone in the business to passionately model the culture you want to see. In Clover’s case it’s building that culture from the ground up, providing opportunities for growth, living and breathe transparency (even the kitchen are completely open), stick to your values, and promoting what you believe in in an actionable way (“promote environmental well-being, one meal at a time.”).
How are people modelling culture in your organization?
This guest post was written by:
Mike Desjardins is the Driver (CEO) at ViRTUS (www.virtusinc.com), an organizational development consulting firm with expertise in strategic planning and implementation, leadership development, change management 
and succession planning for medium to large organizations. He regularly blogs at www.mikedesjardins.com.
