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Isn't it Time

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-05-16T10:30:00Z

If I attend one more event or read one more article that states, “We need to be competitive in a global marketplace”, I may just shoot myself – metaphorically speaking of course. Enough already, we get it - now provide us with a nugget or two on what to do about it. To be fair there are many that are taking the bull by the horns and grappling for answers. In much of what I have been reading there a couple of words that seem to be appearing and reappearing. One could even call them something of a success formula.

Belief and Passion. I’m big on quotes and here’s a couple that nail the premise. “Whether you think you can or you can’t you’re right,” by Henry Ford. And of course Nelson Mandela’s quote that adorned my e-mail signature for sometime, “ There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

So if you want to make your workplace better, heck if you want to make your life better perhaps it is time to re-discover that passion.

A researcher interviewed 1,500 graduating business school students about their careers: 1,245 said they were in it for the money, 255 were moving on to do something they cared about deeply. Twenty years later 101 of them were millionaires and all but one came from the 255 who had pursued what they love to do. When we are passionate about our work we are deeply engaged and as a result, able to overcome obstacles.

According to Dr. John Ratey in a User’s Guide to the Brain, “Any activity that gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment, that makes us feel glad to be alive, can help us care for and feed our brain. Passion heals.”

We say we want creativity and innovation in the workplace and yet we continue to dump on the policies and procedures, micro-manage the how, and basically suck the being out of human being.

So next time you are tempted to rally the troops in another mind numbing 5 page agenda meeting consider getting everyone together and sharing success stories. That’s where the belief part comes into play. If people don’t “see” good things are happening they won’t believe being better is possible, i.e. achieving your goals and targets. And if you don’t believe me, check out this video of Zappos.com’s culture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6WHAfWqX3s. Selling shoes on-line, really, it may not sound like a very sound business model yet Zappos is experiencing off the charts growth. Proof that passion and belief can make your company’s profits soar and you can have fun in the process.

Never underestimate the power of the pitch

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-04-17T10:15:00Z

Are you getting the biggest bang from your NTI – aka networking time investment? If not, perhaps it’s time to invest in learning networking tools and techniques to grow your business. And if you’re not a natural networker, fear not, research supports introverts can network “their way” and get results.

The session is Thurs. May 3 at 4:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel. It’s free for Burlington Chamber members (and a mere $10 for non members). To register go to http://www.burlingtonchamber.com/index.php/events-overview/seminars.html

If you’re a networking aficionado we’d love to hear what works for you, so come and share your success stories and help others craft their “elevator pitch” – a succinct and powerful statement that relays your unique competitive advantage.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Cheers,
Shelley

5 Truths and A Lie

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-03-20T10:00:00Z

In a time when countries are defaulting on their loans, corporations are posting record profits and reducing their charitable donations, and finance exec (Greg Smith – Goldman Sachs) submits a resignation letter stating 'toxic and destructive' work environment as the cause - it’s time for leaders at all levels to up the morality ante and focus on the greater good.

I picked up Gary Hamel’s book What Matters Now the other day and found a passage that provides a simple road map to ensure you are “acting in the best interest of all” at work. It reminds me of an exercise I take leaders through identifying the key stakeholders in their value chain and then gauging alignment and an equitable “value” exchange. Without both; the relationship is not sustainable and takes up valuable resources.

The following are the words of wisdom Mr. Hamel shares with his second-year MBA students in preparation for their first post MBA job. He suggests assuming the following truths:

Your widowed mother has invested her life’s saving in your company. She’s your only shareholder and that investment is her only asset. Obviously, you’ll do everything you can to make sure she has a secure and long retirement. That’s why the idea of sacrificing long-term for a quick payout will never occur to you.
Your boss is an older sibling. You’ll always be respectful, but you won’t hesitate to offer frank advice when you think it’s warranted – and you’ll never suck up.
Your employees are your childhood chums. You’ll always give them the benefit of the doubt and will do whatever you can to smooth their path. When needed, though, you’ll remind them that friendship is a reciprocal responsibility. You’ll never treat them as human “resources”.
Your children are the company’s primary customers. You want to please and delight them. That means you’ll go to the mat with anyone who suggests you should deceive or take advantage of them. You’ll never exploit a customer.
You’re independently wealthy. You work because you want to, not because you have to – so you will never sacrifice your integrity for a promotion or a glowing performance review. You’ll quit before you compromise.

And as for the lie - commit to not falling prey to the biggest deception – lying to yourself. Business and life are filled with challenges and difficult decisions. When in doubt pull out your morale compass (aka your core values) or read the text above and ask yourself “am I truly acting in the best interest of all”? If so, move forward, if not recalibrate and course correct to play your best game and be a winner in the game of life.

Seal it with a K.I.S.S.

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-03-06T13:25:24Z

We’ve all heard it, said it, wished for it and vowed to never forget it. Yet we get busy, have too much on our mind, develop the curse of knowledge and it becomes elusive. Of course I am referring to the all too familiar K.I.S.S. (aka keep it simple stupid) mantra.

In a complex world, it matters more today than ever before. And here’s why - according to research we are exposed to 3,000 marketing message per day, up from 1,500 in 1965. That’s a lot of info for the old cranium that according to evolutionary psychology hasn’t changed a whole lot since Homo sapiens replaced Neanderthals.

When it comes to jockeying for position in the market place and looking to get consumer’s to purchase your product over the competitions, here’s a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. Beware of information overload – consumers deal with too much information by oversimplifying and shutting out what is not consistent with their knowledge and experience.

2. Connect to the known with a twist – link to what consumers already believe. If you’re competing head to head with a competitor you may be better to “state the elephant in the room” rather than ignoring it. In the ‘70’s 7 Up positioned themselves as the Uncola and saw their market share soar.

3. Understand their “little boxes” – the human brain relies on frames (little mental boxes we build in our mind) vs. facts to make decisions. Our brain thinks in images – you say table; my mind’s eye conjures up a picture of a table. Your target customer has a bunch of little mental boxes they’ve erected that they’re measuring you against. Know the boxes and your probability of reaching them increases significantly.

So they next time you’re gathered round the board room table reviewing the message you’re taking to market, forgo the complexities and seal it with a K.I.S.S.

Are you Wearing Your Heart on your Sleeve?

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-02-14T10:00:00Z

Caring is a domain we often reserve or at the very least think of as an exclusive for close family and friends. Check out the Hallmark section of any store at Valentine’s Day and you’ll find row upon row of sappy and smart, cute and catchy sonnets and sayings.

And yet caring has a profound impact in the workplace. Consider the following:

Leadership by Heart: A number of years ago the Center for Creative Leadership conducted an extensive three year study of the critical variables for leadership success. Interestingly enough the only statistically significant factor differentiating the very best leaders from the mediocre ones was caring.

Management Connection: A study of about 20,000 employees working in a wide range of jobs in Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, and Italy recently found that people who felt disconnected from their managers were more likely to get sick, miss work, or even suffer a heart attack.

Workplace Friends: Data released by Gallup in 2007 show that people who have a best friend at work are seven times as likely as others to be positively engaged with their jobs.

I could drone on and on with a bunch of really interesting scientific heart research. Like electrical changes in feelings transmitted by the human heart can be felt and measured at least five feet away and that the heart has a complex network of 40,000 nerve cells and a complex set of neuro transmitters, but I think you get the point.

Matters of the heart matter to human beings. At the end of the day, or beginning of every day not just Valentine’s Day, we work for, with and around people that need to know that, “Frankly my dear, you give a damn”. Now for those of you that have the 10 foot radius personal space rule, I’m not suggesting you need to have a hug fest. What I am saying is you need to find your way of demonstrating to those around you that you care; whether that’s asking about their weekend, provided help with a tight deadline or simply being a really good listener. You’ll find the act of caring is mutually beneficial and as an added bonus feel better yourself.

Women Entrepreneurship Event January 30, 2012

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-01-19T04:20:50Z

Would you like to learn about the Miracle Growth Formula? Would you like to learn how to create more buzz around you and your business?

If so, come meet other curious ladies and men entrepreneurs & owners at a FREE light lunch 'n learn event, being held at the McMaster Innovation Park.

See above to register & learn more about this exciting event!

Entrepreneurially yours,

Shelley McQuade

Women Entrepreneurship - January 30, 2012

Register Here

Program

11:30AM - 12:00PM

Light Lunch / Networking

12:00PM - 12:40PM

Presentation

12:40PM - 1:00PM

Question and Answers

Location:

McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Drive, Hamilton, Ontario,
L8P 0A1
Conference Room C+D (at the back of the lobby near the far elevators)

Women Entrepreneurship is back! At this Women Entrepreneurship event, we are welcoming Shelley McQuade of SalesFertilizer.com. Shelley will be helpful to you in finding the right niche for your business; one that the big guys aren't servicing and one that the big guys aren't solving. Shelley will also spread some light on the importance of communication and customer service for your business. You can view Shelley's bio here.

This event is sponsored by:

GOLD Sponsors:

Zonta Club of Hamilton

Xerox Centre For Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Campus Helper

Mohawk College

TD Canada Trust

Bronze Sponsor: Golden Horseshoe Biosciences Network

Additional Support from McMaster University

*We are always looking for further sponsorship. Please go HERE to learn more*

January Networking Events

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-01-12T10:00:00Z

If growing your business is one of your 2012 goals, there's nothing like networking to build relationships - (see under My Links on the left side - Events Calendar)

And according to research, relationships are one of the primary reasons people buy. If you're not sure where to start, perhaps I can be of some assistance (for those in the Halton Region). Each month in 2012 I will provide an overview of upcoming events that may be of interest through a calendar on my blog www.getknowinggetgrowing.com. My recommendation is to attend any given associations' events at least a few times to access the ROTI (return on time invested) and how you can give and get value.

BTW, once again this year, I will be involved with the Women Entrepreneurship Series at McMaster Innovation Park (men are welcome) facilitating interactive sessions-discussions starting with the first session on Monday, Jan. 30th (more details to follow). I will also be providing a couple of sessions on networking through the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. So if you want to grow your business check out the calendar and get knowing, get growing!

Cheers,

Shelley

Re-wards for 2012

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2012-01-03T10:00:00Z

As we say sayonara to 2011 and usher in 2012 its prime time to consider the "3 re's"; re-focus, re-engage, re-commit. If what you did last year worked for you - great, keep doing more of that. If you want a different result make sure you are not living Einstein's definition of insanity "doing the same thing and expecting a different result."

While debating what message to start the New Year with I came across a piece of paper with my chicken scratch entitled the 5 Secrets to Life. Well I can't recall who passed along these gems to me I can pass them along to you and hope you find as much value in them as I did.

Be true to yourself - the only person you really ever have to answer to is you. Are you living the life you want? If yes move on to number two. If not, consider building a personal compass by identifying your core values and for one month rate yourself daily to see if you are on course. Click on the link for a list of Core Values and rating info.http://www.salesfertilizer.com/documents/corevalues.pdf
Leave no regrets - one of my favourite quotes (which is on my e-mail signature) is from Nelson Mandela, "There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." Commit deeply to what you love (i.e. passion), dream big and follow through.
Become Love - initially this may sound a little corny. To be clear we are talking about the big L Love - i.e. Love thy neighbour. Bitterness and anger, guilt and jealousy are emotional destroyers that take their toll. If you are resenting someone, the reality is you're punishing yourself more than you are punishing them.
Live in the moment - Buddhists call this Presence - the art of fully being in the now vs. getting caught up in useless past and future mind chatter. Whatever you are doing, do it fully and completely and find joy in the moment.
Give more than you take - Imagine how the earth (and all of her inhabitants) would benefit if we all had this mind set. Find other's with a similar mentality, work together and watch miracles unfold.

While resolutions and goals are good without getting to the core of what matters most to you, achieving those goals is likely to feel like a hollow victory. Why not make this your year and live your life accordingly each and every day.

Best wishes for a joyous 2012,

Shelley

a BIG gift!

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-12-29T19:13:21Z

Remember being a kid on Christmas morning. Lying in bed awake for what felt like hours until you could finally get up, race down the hall and see what Santa had left under the tree.

I have fond memories of Christmas mornings. One in particular when I was eight years old and got a shiny blue bike with a white banana seat. My Dad patiently brought it outside and watched me go up and down the snow laden street with glee while my Mom watched out the window warning us of the cold and donning hot chocolate to warm us up. There’s no doubt about it those early experiences shape who we are.

And for that reason and in honour of my Dad my holiday donation is going to Big Brothers Big Sisters. My Dad was a big brother whose relationship with his little brother continued until he passed away this fall. Over the years my Dad took his little brother Vince under his wing; canoeing at the cottage, sharing in the joy of his Studebaker car he restored, and inspiring his artistic talent (which lead to self publishing two comic books).

As a big sister and now having the opportunity to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact a caring adult has on a child. We often think of children on the other side of the world needing our help and while this is true, the kids in our own back yard need support too.

So this holiday season, take a trip down memory lane and see Christmas with wonder through the eyes of a child and do your utmost to maintain that joy through 2012.

Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season,

Shelley

Talk's not so cheap after all

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-11-09T10:30:00Z

Is talk really cheap? Not when you consider effective communication is a proven money maker.

Join me at Halton Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday, November 15th (see link below to register) to learn a simple communications formula that yields big returns.

http://halton2011eweekbrandingandcommunication.eventbrite.com/

I hope to see you there!

Innovation Contemplation: How 1 Company Made “It” Happen

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-11-01T01:52:38Z

You see a successful company in action or in the news and it all seems well seamless. While many a CEO has mastered their “game face” and spouts no problems propaganda, the CEO’s that are near and dear to my heart are the ones that give you the goods - the real deal.

And according to neuroscience we get that. When a leader is authentic and speaking from the heart we sense it and respond by fully engaging and giving back with our all.

Last week I had the fortune of attending the GHMN/GHBN Breakfast session where Steve Meldrum of Eco Waste Solutions shared his perspective on innovation and reverse engineered their project success. A real deal CEO it became increasingly apparent as he spoke that his leadership played an intricate part in their overnight success (which in reality was made up of many, many nights) and helped his team tackle the task at hand with aplomb. They were awarded a significant contract from NATO to design a remote waste management solution. Sounds pretty simple at first blush for a company that specializes in waste solutions. Ah ah ah, not so fast, there were significant constraints. Like the “must be able to withstand the elements and operate in snow blizzards, sand storms and the rainforest”, or the “must be shipped in a 20 foot shipping container”.

Steve shared nuggets of his innovation wisdom. I’ve taken the liberty of synopsising them add putting my spin on it:

New ways are much harder than old ways: You design a better mouse track, heck you even create new processes that are going to make it way easier to build. Everyone is going to be excited, jump on board and make it happen ASAP. Or folks could struggle with the idea of doing things differently, want to stay in their comfort zone and it could take a little (okay a lot) longer than anticipated. The salient point - be prepared for resistance (often unconscious or at the very least unexpressed resistance) when introducing new things to your team. Find your change agents, engage them early on and identify and help the resisters get on board.

“Easy changes” take forever: Little things mean a lot. Little things can really stack up. If you estimate it is going to take a week - double or triple the time and the cost. Enough said. Underestimating “easy changes” can kill your project and prevent you from focusing on the “high return” components.

It seemed like a REALLY good idea: You’ve gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em. It’s 10 pm, the teams been at it for hours, your all pumped with caffeine - and you find the latest, greatest solution - until the next morning when you realize what seemed really hot is not.

Failing is a part of innovation: failing fast is smart innovation. Know when to let an idea go to make room for a better solution.

They say hind sight is 20/20. However there is something else about hind sight. When you have lived and breathed an experience day in and day out it becomes hard coded in your brain and you have a deep sense of knowing next time around. According to Steve his organization learned much from overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Success breeds success and having done it before, gives you the confidence to do it again, so innovation is deep seated in your organizations DNA. A competitive advantage to be sure.

How to Out wit, Out play, Out smart the Incumbent!

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-10-20T23:41:01Z

Some business succeed to do a lack of competition, others succeed in spite of it. If you can make it in the airline business my guess is you could make it in pretty much any industry. Consider the following. First, you need a whack of capital to start and build your business. You are navigating a number of “uncontrollables” like fuel costs, airport fees, and catastrophe’s like 9-11. Yet in spite of the odds being stacked against him Robert Deluce of Porter Airlines rolled the dice and began Porter Airlines almost 5 years to the date. For Small Business Week he’s out and about sharing his story from a Chamber keynote yesterday to an interview with Lang and O’Leary earlier this week: http://www.cbc.ca/video/

As one who looks for patterns of success and has a fondness for synthesizing information I thought I would take a crack at recounting the “Porter Success Formula”

Culture Counts – One of Porter’s biggest successes and an on-going challenge is building and maintaining a strong corporate culture. Engaged employees spawn loyal customers. Loyal customers improve profitability – enough said.
Resilience Matters -The business plan was written, the real estate (aka Toronto Island Airport) secured, the plan for the bridge to transport people over was designed – and then it was turned down. Some would have thought – no bridge, no business. Instead Mr. Deluce picked himself up, dusted himself off reworked the business plan, dug deep to find more capital and made sure he had the best and brightest senior executive team to get the job done. Roadblocks are a fact of life; overcoming them is critical.
Little Things Add up to a Lot – Free beverages (and not just any beverage – wine and beer), pleasant snacks, more leg room, leather seats, a lounge with great seats, wi-fi and the crème de la crème friendly people! Customers like to feel special. Porter’s customers feel cared for. So much so that their customer satisfaction rating was 83% - a higher number than Ipsos Reid had ever seen in the airline industry. Crafting a good customer experience and aligning all of your touch points provides a solid pay back.
KISS – Keep it simple s_ _ _ _ _ _ ! Speed, convenience, service – those are Porter’s foundational pillars. Whether you create a guiding principle like the Four Season’s (do unto others as you would have done unto you) or foundational pillars like Porters; a simple, succinct message that helps your employees understand what matters most makes sure your unique competitive advantage gets walked and talked every day.
Costs Controls are King – Sure it’s great that you can provide a superior customer experience but if you can’t do it efficiently you’ve got a hobby not a business. Porter’s breakeven load factor hovers around 50% in comparison to other industry giants – low cost carriers come in at 73% while legacy carriers are at a whopping 83%. Figure out how you can give more than your competition and keep your costs lower and you’ve got a recipe for success.

So next time you’re sitting around the board room table lamenting that it can’t be done. Look at someone like Porter who has done it and do a bit of brainstorming as to how you can apply the same principles in your business.

"Ruff" Ideas to Create More Time

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-08-24T10:00:00Z

The dog days of summer are coming to a close… (a - like you need the reminder and b – what is a dog day? Well I’m glad you asked - according to Webster’s ,it’s the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere; a period of stagnation or inactivity).

It won’t be long before the kids are back in school, vacations are a distant memory, and you are back in the groove.

Which begs the question, how well is your groove working for you?

I often hear people lament – specifically on the work front – that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Well the hours in a day are finite, how we use those hours is a choice.

How does one in essence create more time?

Rule # 1 – Multi-tasking is a myth. While we may be able to do a couple of rote tasks at the same time doing two or more things at once and/or switching tasks consistently – reading the report, checking e-mail, talking on the phone, back to the report – means our brain literally has to shift gears as different tasks use different parts of the brain. This mental gymnastics takes time – both the switching and the refocusing. Commit to a task and stick with it to get more done in less time.

Rule # 2 – Energy = Productivity. You can have the best of intentions; be sitting in front of your computer, and even typing words however, if you are not in a peak state (i.e. high energy) you are accomplishing less. When we are in “flow”; that state where time flies by and what we are doing feels effortless, we achieve our personal best. We need to be accessing all of our brain to be in flow. Physical activity helps, drinking lots of water, and getting plenty of rest to name a few.

Rule # 3 – Prioritize. Business guru Peter Drucker said it best “Do first things first and second things not at all”. As human beings we are social creatures and research has shown “feeling in on things” is a prime motivator for employees. So much so that I believe people attend meetings they don’t have to, throw their hat in the ring to be part of a project when their expertise could be better utilized elsewhere. Make a list of everything you are currently working on. Prioritize what you feel will yield the highest return based on your organization’s goals. Do you have the time you need to work on this? If not, what could you drop to free up time? If you lack objectivity bring a trusted colleague into the scenario to help and offer to do the same for them.

Time really is on your side, it’s up to you to make sure it stays that way.

Cheers,

Shelley

Come to your "senses"

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-07-08T10:35:00Z

Not to keep banging on about my trip to Italy but the food (and wine) was amazing. Wood-oven thin crust pizza with tomato sauce so fresh and flavourful topped with large leaves of basil and creamy buffalo mozzarella. Not to mention pairing it with a fine Chianti; who knew house wines could be so good! And the gelato – the limone and pistachio (that’s pronounced – pist – ack – eo). All of this while sitting in a cafe watching the Italians go by. Let’s face it, they know how to dress and ooze style. Women in stilettos driving on scooters, men wearing scarves stylishly knotted at the neck. What an experience!

Ahh back to reality... (and now that summer is here not too harsh of a reality). Yesterday I was at the Royal Botanical Gardens -a beautiful venue - where I was practising what I preach; networking after a networking workshop I did for the Burlington Chamber. While sipping on wine we got to talking about wineries. Living a half hour drive from Niagara wine country we lamented how good the wine tastes when you are at a winery and the winemaker is passionately telling you about the grapes he selected, why he selected them and his entire process from vine to bottle. Top that off with tasting tips on how to best enjoy it in the glass (letting it breath, swirling before smelling and tasting – you get the idea). One of my fellow networkers Rick lamented “and then you buy three cases but it just doesn’t taste the same at home”.

We are sensory beings ruled by emotion vs. logic (although we like to think the contrary). We respond to stories, are stimulated by sight and sound. It’s how we’re wired or hard wired according to Evolutionary Psychology which tells us our brains haven’t changed all that much since we roamed the Savannah. It is indeed the emotion we feel from experiences that shape our lives.

As a business we have an opportunity to create a mediocre or spectacular experience. So what kind of an experience are you giving your customers? Is it happen-stance or have you carefully crafted it to meet their needs. Is it consistent and memorable or easily forgettable? Back in my advertising days, one of my key messages to clients was “I can get them in the door, what are you going to do keep them”. Before you discard the concept, thinking your business is different, you don’t sell wine or food, think again – a transformational experience is possible in any business, it simply needs to be gift wrapped uniquely for your customer. And the bonus – companies that provide exceptional experiences are rewarded with loyal customers that happily pay a premium. Perhaps it’s time for your company to move into brand prominence.

Cheers,

Shelley

Ode to Canada

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-07-06T22:38:39Z

As Canadians we have a good reputation around the world and are viewed as accommodating. A strength to be sure but isn't it time to individually and collectively be our personal best and stop settling for second best.

Recently I heard Brian Williams speak at the BEDC Entrepreneur of the Year award and he talked about "the winds of change" he witnessed firsthand at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Brian noted the changes he began to see before the games and an interview with skier Jennifer Heil, a gold medalist 4 years earlier in Turin. She said "for Canadians it's not just enough to show up anymore, we're better than that".

We live in a country filled with natural beauty and numerous resources. We are a diverse mix of people with multiple skills and talents. It's time to rise to the occasion and bring our passion to the forefront. We can do it as individuals and while that is a part of it, the real magic comes in collectively pulling together. It's time to stop waiting in the background for the government to do something, or the economy to get better. It's time to find ways to make a difference and then quietly or not so quietly go about doing just that.

So I'm putting my money where my mouth is and sharing with you my vision (that I am actively working towards each day). My vision is though collaboration, every workplace in Canada (heck North America and the world) will be a place where:

= People can be their personal best

= Align to a shared purpose

= Find solutions where none previously existed

= To achieve organizational greatness

An ambitious goal and vision to be sure, but a worthy cause I believe. I encourage you to formulate your vision, blue sky it, then write it down and develop a plan of action. BTW, I'm actively recruiting advocates to help spread the word and make my vision a reality. I'm doing it in my work with clients, my volunteer efforts, and doing my best to get it "viral". So feel free to join in!

The words of Nelson Mandela sum it up, "There is no passion to be found in playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Cheers,

Shelley

Too Much of a "Good Thing"

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-07-06T00:17:00Z

We've all heard the saying "knowledge is power". While this is true, taking-in "knowledge" has its limits. Whilst looking to "live the dolce vita" on my recent trip to Italy, I found myself with information overload.

We had a fabulous tour guide that knew Italy inside out. And that was just the beginning. An avid history buff on a good day, our tour guide would forget more about ancient history than I could ever hope to remember. Passionate and enthusiastic, he shared his knowledge with us at every opportune moment. On day three of the trip, my travel companion turned to me and said "enough - I've got to unplug" - literally (we had been given headsets so in a crowd we wouldn't miss a thing).

They say "there is no such thing as a coincidence" and strangely enough I was mid way through the Heath Brother's book "Ideas that Stick" and it got me to thinking I'm guilty at times of "feeding my clients with a fire hose" so to speak.

The Heath Brothers refer to this as the "Curse of Knowledge". Once we have a "deep knowing", we forget what it was like not to know and assume others (and we all know what they say about assuming) need to know everything we know and in a fraction of the time it took us to hone our craft.

Combine this with neuroscience's finding that it takes up to 25% more energy to take in new information (due to the use of our executive frontal cortex vs. subconscious part of our brain) and you've got a case for information overload.

Next time you find yourself sharing knowledge or information deploy the KISS method and whittle your information down to the core - identify what matters most and deliver that nugget. Those on the receiving end will thank you - and as a bonus, retain the information.

Cheers,

Shelley

Learn to Grow: Networking Workshop Through Burlington Chamber

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-07-04T19:15:00Z

Just like a garden, your professional network needs to be well maintained and nurtured. Consider the state of yours; is it full of half-grown connections? Have your contacts, like flowers left untended, withered and dropped off? A once vital connection can stop bearing fruit if you don’t pay attention to it.

Consider attending my “Networking Basics” workshop on July 6^th from 4-5pm at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Café Annex. I will show you how to create and establish a networking system that works for you; letting you reap the countless benefits of a strong network. After mastering these simple techniques, your business will bloom!

For more information on the event including its location and cost (free for Burlington Chamber Members), please visit the Burlington Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.burlingtonchamber.com/eventsseminar.html

Networking Basics brought to you by: www.salesfertilizer.com. Bookmark our blog: http://getknowinggetgrowing.com/

An “Overnight Success” of Several Years

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-06-15T21:34:00Z

On Thursday, June 9^th, Ron Foxcroft was celebrated as Burlington’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2011. During his induction speech, I couldn’t help but feel that Ron was speaking my language. Ron spoke of the importance of commitment to your ideas and your dreams. Contrary to popular belief, the “overnight Canadian success” of the Fox 40 whistle, actually took years of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

Ron’s story serves to remind us that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. As an entrepreneur that is in the business of helping other entrepreneurs grow their ideas and realize their dreams, I couldn’t agree with this more.

Waterfront Reflections

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-06-15T21:32:00Z

Last Tuesday (June 6^th), I attended the Burlington Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Showcase event held at the Waterfront Hotel. This event is a part of the widely successful Business after 5 series that focuses mainly on networking events. The showcase was a mix of businesses highlighting their wares to other businesses and networking opportunities.

Being a chamber volunteer, I was asked to invite a guest. Besides the thrill of both of us winning the door prize, we were both pleased to have the opportunity to meet such interesting people.

Meeting people is essential to business since it provides us with the opportunity to build relationships. Considering that these relationships are the #1 reason people buy, cultivating them through networking is critical.

Those who are successful at the art of networking (because it is an art!), develop a system that works for them and work the system in return.

If you have yet to develop your networking system or feel your system could use some tweaking to improve your results I invite you to attend the upcoming “Networking Basics” event that I’m facilitating.

Leaders Need It, Too

smcquade@salesfertilizer.com (Shelley McQuade) — 2011-05-10T11:30:00Z

A lot has been written about how motivating it is for employees to have leaders celebrate staff successes. But what about leaders' motivation?

When the recession hit, the leadership team of Widget, Inc. quietly determined to maintain their company's profit level, and to do it without laying off any employees. "Quiet" means they didn't share these goals with any of the employees whose jobs they were fighting to preserve, along with the profits.

Against all odds, management did achieve their goal. Not only did the company maintain its pre-recession profit level without layoffs, they even managed to pay out bonuses. Not quite as big as the bonuses of previous years, but still an achievement.

Why do companies neglect to communicate their goals to their employees? Especially in hard times, the energy and time it takes to do that gets poured into efforts to hit those targets.

Without employees knowing the goals, of course, when the company succeeds, it takes a bit of air out of the announcement. Like coming in at the end of the movie to watch King George making his speech. Hard to feel anything when you don't know the back story.

But it was worse than that at Widget, Inc. There actually never was any announcement, just business as usual. No pride at sharing in success, or even relief from the tension and fears of job loss generated by the lagging economy.

What were the consequences for the leaders of this failure to pause for a moment to do a bit of backslapping? Missing the opportunity to celebrate their success left the leadership in a state of low energy and motivation--just like their staff.

The lesson is, a company can achieve goals in the short term without stopping to celebrate successes. But unless they do, both leaders and employees will run out of steam. And without it, lose the motivation to face the next set of challenges with confidence and enthusiasm.

Tom Peters said it best: "Celebrate what you want to see more of."