This short and concise TED Talk video beautifully breaks down the definition of leadership.
Derek Sivers encourages us to have the courage to follow, and show others how to follow.
“The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.”
Posted in Leadership and Team Building
Tagged business, Derek Sivers, Leadership, Management, TED Talk, video
I can always count on Mike Desjardins from ViRTUS to give me a smile. He shares the following video with his staff if someone is having a bad day.
Work to live. Live to work. We’ve heard that before.
Nigel Marsh is the author of “Fat, Forty and Fired” and “Overworked and Underlaid.” In this TED Talk video, Nigel has an interesting approach to the concept of work-life balance, and really gets down to the core of what is really important.
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged career, happiness, Human Resources, meaningful work, TED Talk, video, work life balance
Corporate philanthropy has always been a big part of McNeill Nakamoto’s culture. Tonight we are hosting the 6th annual GrapeJuice wine auction & tasting benefiting Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. Big Sisters is our main philanthropic focus, but we continue to support our community as a whole in many different ways.
Many years ago, when we were a young company, we became one of the original participants of the Social Purchasing Portal (SPP). The SPP provides an on-line environment for business-to-business procurement transactions to leverage community economic development activity. This group of businesses, through their procurement policies and buying from the list of SPP suppliers, put social corporate responsibility into practice and create a social value for the community.
When we make decisions about suppliers McNak uses, we look to see if there are other members in the portal. One such member is Mills Basics. They are our office supplier of choice, and this video illustrates the great reasons why. On top of their corporate social responsibility, Mills Basics provides excellent customer service, and as their customer, we certainly appreciate it.
Okay managers, time to get out from behind your desk, and start wandering around. When you walk around you learn things but most importantly you get on the same level as the rest of your team by doing this basic step.
Here is a quick video on Tom Peters recounting the day he stumbled onto MBWA. You might just want to MBWA. Get out from behind your desk. Try it. See how it feels and the results you get.
Have you ever contemplated a drastic career change? Sometimes the thought could be frightening or exhilarating. Jobs come and go. As well, specific responsibilities and the scope of some jobs change. What we want out of work also changes, with our values shifting as we get older. Are we all happy doing what we’re doing right now, this very moment? Could we think of doing anything else?
I was watching TV the other night, and caught the last 20 minutes of the classic 1984 mock ‘rockumentary’ This is Spinal Tap. This funny movie left us with many iconic pop culture lines such as “It’s like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black.” and “Put it up to eleven.”
“Eleven. Exactly. One louder.”
Some of the best lines are at the end when they are running the credits. The documentary filmmaker, Marty DiBergi, played by Rob Reiner asks the bandmembers “If you could not play Rock and Roll, what would you do?” Some of the answers are hilarious, but my favourite is the exchange between Marty DiBergi and lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel played by Christopher Guest at the very end. Start watching at 4:30
Nigel Tufnel: [on what he would do if he couldn't be a rock star] Well, I suppose I could, uh, work in a shop of some kind, or… or do, uh, freelance, uh, selling of some sort of, uh, product. You know…
Marty DiBergi: A salesman?
Nigel Tufnel: A salesman, like maybe in a, uh, haberdasher, or maybe like a, uh, um… a chapeau shop or something. You know, like, “Would you… what size do you wear, sir?” And then you answer me.
Marty DiBergi: Uh… seven and a quarter.
Nigel Tufnel: “I think we have that.” See, something like that I could do.
Marty DiBergi: Yeah… you think you’d be happy doing something like-…
Nigel Tufnel: “No; we’re all out. Do you wear black?” See, that sort of thing I think I could probably… muster up.
Marty DiBergi: Do you think you’d be happy doing that?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, I don’t know – wh-wh-… what’re the hours?
I don’t know about you, I just can’t picture Nigel Tufnel being happy selling hats. 
Posted in career
Tagged career, happiness, laughter, Marty DiBergi, Nigel Tufnel, Rob Reiner, This Is Spinal Tap, Up to eleven, video
After watching this video, think about it thoroughly and share in the comments what you would want to do with your life if money didn’t matter.
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged Alan Watts, career, empowering, happiness, inspiration, Money, video
CEO, therapist and life coach, Dr. Laura Trice shows us in this 3 minute TED Talk video below that genuine praise is what we all need and should not be shy to ask for.
We can all learn to apply this in the workplace, as Laura has done in her own company. The following is how she praises her employees into three categories:
1) Verbal praise, recognizing a job well done. This is also effective with vendors and customers;
2) Compensation-based praise happens here twice a year; and
3) Individual spontaneous gifts or benefits based on exceptional performance, so long as they are not overused.
I think we can all benefit when we take the time to thank someone for the work that they do.
Thank you.
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged employee engagement, Human Resources, Laura Trice, Leadership, TED Talk, Thank you, video
The Olympics produce a lot of great stories of inspiration. I’ll never forget the moment in Barcelona 20 years ago when British athlete Derek Redmond tore his hamstring during the 400 metre semi-finals. Not willing to give up, determined to finish the race, he continued. His father broke through security to help Derek complete the race. Even in undoubtedly one of his son’s most difficult moments, he was there to give strength and support him, along with a standing ovation of over 65,000 fans.
This is the Olympic spirit that we love.
.
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged Derek Redmond, empowering, goal setting, high performance, inspiration, Olympic Games, video
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged empowering, inspiration, Richard St. John, success, TED Talk, video
