You probably are familiar with the expression, “Every time it rains, it pours.” But, for a friend of mine this saying is slightly different. It goes like this: “Every time it rains, my phone doesn’t work.” It’s the truth– whenever it rains my friend’s landline “craps out.” Not only that, she’s had this problem for…
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Like many Canadians, I am still awed by the Toronto Raptor’s victory as NBA champs. The highs and lows of the playoffs had fans literally on the edge of their seats. It’s not just because of the spectacular plays like Kawhi Leonard’s “four bounce shot.” It’s also because of the human stories that unfolded. One…
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Good stories usually have a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning of this story goes back to childhood when, as children, we would hear or read stories where three was a significant number (for instance The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or The Three Billy Goats Gruff). Three is also…
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It’s easy to assume that smart, educated people know how to write well. But that assumption isn’t always correct. I was reminded of this recently when I met a client who was interested in improving the email writing skills of her employees, all of whom are university educated professionals. In order for me to customize…
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Fake News. We’ve all heard about it. Whether we realize it or not, we’ve all been victims of it. You may not agree the way U.S. President Trump accuses noteworthy media outlets, such as the New York Times of spreading “fake news, ” but he’s right about one thing: journalists don’t always get it right.…
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Here’s a clue: Don’t be rude. Let me explain. Last week I tried to get into my bank account online. But, for some unknown reason I was locked out. When I called customer service, the person I spoke with (Let’s just call him Rudy.) asked me security questions in order to verify my identity. However,…
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“Your assumptions are the windows on the world. Scrub them off once in a while or the light won’t come in.” -Isaac Asimov Assumptions can lead to faulty outcomes. Take the famous Monty Hall Problem, for example. It demonstrates that the assumption most contestants in that famous game show made when offered a choice of…
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A few words can paint a thousand pictures. It’s what came to mind when I saw the following slogan in big bold font in the Financial Post: We Are Audience Experts. The phrase, “We Are Audience Experts,” perfectly conveys the essence of business communication. You, as a business person, must be an audience expert in…
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I like it when people are direct. So, when I wanted to find out what would turn off someone on the receiving end of a business pitch, I asked Shawn Hamilton, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, of the Ottawa office of CBRE. I’ve worked with Shawn before and I knew I’d get the straight…
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