Authenticity and its Place in Business
Harvard Business Review published an article on Discovering Your Authentic Leadership in February 2007. At that time, the ongoing problems in business leadership underscored the need for a new kind of leader in the 21st century: the authentic leader. Anyone can learn...
68% of Small Businesses Don’t Take Advice
I saw this statistic posted on the Small Business BC facebook page and it really got my attention. The first question I asked myself is WHY? Why would the majority of small business owners not take any business advice? Our business depends on us, the business owner....
4 Critical Barriers to Attracting Ideal Clients
1. Not having a clear understanding of the value you provide Knowing what business are you actually in is essential. (Hint: you are not in the business of selling your product or service.) Example: If you are a financial planner, you are NOT in the financial planning...
Top 10 Success Tips for Small Business
The Globe and Mail’s Report on Small Business in conjunction with Achilles Media brought a one-day event to Vancouver recently. The event was geared to entrepreneurs, to kick-start small and medium enterprise to the next level. These are my top 10 success tips for...
Marketing ‘Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams’
What is it about the human psyche that makes us want something we can’t or don’t have? You may recall yourself as a young child wanting a toy that a playmate had, or you may see it in your own toddler who needs to have what you are holding, and you might even reflect...
The Power of the Wisdom Circle
There is an old English proverb that states “two heads are better than one” meaning two people may be able to solve a problem that an individual cannot (‘head’ here means ‘mind’). When it comes to solving problems, I couldn't agree more with this statement – it is...
Project Approach to Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan
Strategic Planning: Purpose and Objectives Strategic planning is a critical component of good management and governance and it contributes to an organization’s stability and growth. A company’s strategic plan acts as a blueprint to guide its activities or direction...
Principles of Traditional Media vs. Social Media
Eyes and ears versus hearts and minds. It was this statement made by Lawrie Ferguson, chief marketing officer, Coast Capital Savings, at a recent Business in Vancouver marketing panel that inspired me to write this blog post. When I heard it, I thought, “yes! That’s...
Investment in Marketing
I recently attended Business in Vancouver's BLUE breakfast panel at SFU's Beedie School of Business. Panelists included the likes of Lawrie Ferguson, chief marketing office, Coast Capital Savings and Steve Mossop, president Ipsos Reid West, both of whom were very...
Why You Need a Marketing Strategy
If you have a company that is in the business of making money, then you need a marketing strategy, because the marketing strategy is your roadmap to guide you in your efforts to get the maximum impact for the marketing dollars, time and resources you invest to reach...