We had just returned home from a relaxing week of summer vacation and were looking forward to morning tea on the back deck. I slide open the patio door, take two steps, and I’m engulfed in a stench. I’m thinking, “I don’t know what that smell is, but we can’t have tea out here this morning.” So we have our tea on the front porch. 

We settle in and I say, “What do you think that smell is Hon ?” 

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Last month I received a piece of insightful feedback on one of our foundational habit building courses. She said, “The simplest tasks can be the most difficult.” Referring to the simple practice of making a gratitude list, she is not alone. It is difficult for many people because life gets in the way. Whether it’s a project deadline at work, needing to clean things up before going on vacation, sick kids, whatever—life is going to happen and if you don’t have a system that ensures you maintain your Habitual Ritual (i.e. making your gratitude list), your simple gratitude practice will fall to the wayside.

The science behind behaviour change and building consistent habits that serve you is crystal clear—your success in building and maintaining a new habit is <more>

We all get knocked off our game at times.

While watching the US Open golf tournament a couple months back, an incident happened to one of the contenders who is normally calm cool and collected. Typically this guy saunters when he walks and he never looks like he’s in a hurry. As I turn on the TV, I see him storm off the green. I’m thinking, “I wonder what happened to him.”

It turns out <more>

If you recall from the post on April 19, Vantage Point Bias influences the way you experience gratitude. This bias is derived from your unique vantage point and is a reflection of the music you listen to, the type of work that brings you joy, the movies you watch, the food you eat, the people you hangout with, the leisure activities you enjoy—it is a reflection of <more>

Last month we went live with a new ERP operating system for my business. The new system has everything from CRM, finances, scheduling, email marketing, website engagement, document signing, file storage and more—it seems like it does it all ! There are still a few tweaks needed but I never imagined <more>

Recently, I was on a call with a client who was explaining all the reasons why they couldn’t do something their peers were doing because their situation was so different from that of their peers and they didn’t have the time like the others. As I listened, I realized <more>

We are just closing the chapter on a wildfire that ravaged the outskirts of the city. We used to live in one of the neighbourhoods affected by the fire and know many of the people evacuated and a few of the families who lost their homes.

On the day the fire started, I just happened to be <more>

Last week during a presentation, an audience participant asked me a question that comes up regularly.

“How do I deal with those 10% of people who are always negative and seem to consume 90% of my time ?”

First off—great question ! Secondly, because it’s a common issue, here’s my step-by-step approach to <more>

Last week during a presentation an audience participant asked me a critical thinking question. It turns out it’s a question I have never been asked nor a question I’ve asked myself.

So following a flurry of insightful questions, Craig steps up. He asks, <more>

Last week I was talking with Ashton who illustrates this blog and I said something like, “I’m doing pretty good on next week’s post—I’m about 90% there. I should have it to you by Wednesday or Thursday.” Friday morning I get an email from her, “Do you have the blog ready for next week ?”

The short answer—no. The long answer—<more>

After a 12 day vacation with a friend, Lyn gets home tonight. I’m excited to see her and even though we’ve been texting daily, I can’t wait to hear all about her trip. 

So for the past 12 days, it’s been Shangri-La for me—in our family that’s what we jokingly call <more>

Have you ever found yourself reliving old memories and longing for them again ? If so, be careful.

10 years into my career at Nova Scotia Power, it would still come up in casual conversations, “Yea, it’s just not the same here anymore—no Christmas turkey…” And the person would continue a romantic reflection on the past with a litany of things that had changed. Here’s the thing—the Christmas turkey was almost always the <more>

Have you ever noticed how entitlement and complacency can creep into a workplace and then just take over ? Complacency and entitlement are mindsets that destroy your culture, and yes, it’s leadership that prevents complacency and entitlement from ruining your culture, but what aspect of leadership ? <more>

In the first 2 or 3 years of school—primary through grade 2, right after we sang the national anthem, the school sold treats that you could take outside during morning recess. Every now and then, Mom and Dad gave us some change so my brother Pete and I could get our favourite—the Jos. Louis. If you’re not familiar, the Jos. Louis is <more>

I was thinking the other day, “I work hard—very hard. I really don’t get my fair share—I deserve more.”  Maybe you’ve got a way to prevent this type of thinking but it’s easy for me to slip into. Whether I’m assessing <more>

In January of last year, I set a personal fitness goal which I believed was impossible. The goal would not break any world records nor come close to doing so, yet I had no idea how I would accomplish it. The goal was to <more>

Back before you could google the answer to pretty much anything, I used to listen to a science expert who had a weekly spot on a popular radio program. One week he would pose a question (i.e. why does the moon look so big when it’s on the horizon ?), listeners would submit answers and the following week he would <more>

Last week I was on a call with someone who was prospecting me. He asked me what I did for work and I explained how I help companies bring more gratitude to work each day. 

Then he asks, “How’s it going ?” I say, “What do you mean ?”

He then <more>

A couple weeks ago I was leaving a hotel parking lot. I had my parking stub in hand, which concierge had validated—complimentary ! I expressed my gratitude to her for that !

At the exit, I reach out to insert the stub into the little machine—and it won’t fit in. It’s like the mechanism is jammed. Turn the ticket around the other way and still no luck. 

“Oh great, cars are starting to build up in a line behind me.”

Turn the stub upside down and it still feels like I’m <more>

If gratitude is not already a part of your meeting preparation routine, it needs to be. 

Last week, I was doing a professional development program on Grateful Leadership with a group of MBA students. It was great to be in a classroom again—it’s probably been about four years. After we had laid the groundwork on Grateful Leadership and how to practically incorporate it into their daily routines, they all seemed very comfortable so we introduced a mock situation that they would each likely experience within the next few months—and it left them speechless. <more>