Truly Great Leaders expect maximum productivity from everyone!In High Performance Teams absenteeism is very low, productivity is high, and people are busy doing what they should be doing to contribute, they are entirely relaxed about the leader and see him or her as part of the team, rather than the Commander.Dictatorial leadership, or assuming the role of the Commander, usually leads to development of a blame culture.A blame culture is where...more
All project management is risk management (Eric Verzuh)Risk management is an essential activity in any project or organisation. Risk is defined by M_o_R (Management of Risk, the OGC risk management methodology) as uncertainty of outcome. A risk manager is concerned with managing the risks (uncertain issues and incidents) that, were they to occur, would affect the product or services that an organisation sets out to deliver.The M_o_R framework...more
Every activity and situation carries risks. Whether you are launching a new project, providing ongoing services or heading a strategy for widespread organisational change, thorough and effective management of the risks involved is essential to ensure long-term success.The M_o_R (Management of Risk) methodology, owned by the OGC and administered as a qualification by the APMG, provides a set of principles and generic processes for identifying, analysing and managing the risks that may occur in a business context. This framework is aligned to the other management methodologies associated with the OGC (notable PRINCE2 and MSP), but is design to be used in an organisation or business context.A risk can be defined as an outcome that is uncertain, and that (were it to occur) would affect the aims or outcome of the organisation. Despite popular usage, therefore, a risk does not have to be negative. It is imperative that a risk manager (or, indeed, any kind of manager) knows how to manage both positive and negative risks to the greatest benefit of the organisation.Risks affect every level of activity within an organisation. The M_o_R framework draws attention to four key levels (or...more
Amid the frenzy of homeowners facing foreclosure, potential buyers struggling to obtain loans and banks, lenders and realtors trying to stay afloat, I feel like there are lots of questions that no one is asking! Correction, the regular guy on the street like the real estate professionals I deal with daily are asking. But no one is listening to them...more
For many people the thought of using an online e-currency can be a scary thing. We have all heard the horror stories of people being scammed and money being stolen by dishonest companies, but there are some companies out there that have worked hard to build up a good reputation for being honest and do what they can to fight frauds and scams that...more
Are You NutsThat was the response I received from the first client I spoke with a few days after opening our doors for business. The husband and wife were questioning my sanity because I was suggesting that the time was right to be investing in a product that is secured by real estate. Yes, I have heard of investment companies being in trouble and note almost daily the number of published articles in newspapers, magazines and on the internet that are painting a picture of doom and gloom. As a matter of fact the Calgary Herald has just printed an article with the following headline in bold print: Commercial Real Estate Suffers $1-Billion Drop. Based on the headline anyone thinking of investing in commercial real estate would be putting their investment funds back under their mattress. The article was about how commercial real estate sales had decreased from 2008. What it failed to mention was that in 2008 and years preceding the number of sales were inflated because Calgary was the ho!ttest market for commercial real estate in North America. That market is returning to normal which is a good thing. One should not always take media hype at face value. If you analyze and...more
What comes in to your mind when you mention the word investing? Do you think of putting your money in insurance, mutual funds, the stock market or even high-yield investments? Does it make you think you need to learn how to invest in stocks or real...more
Entity layering is a key concept in risk management. It is like the layers of an onion. The outside of the onion is the toughest layer and there are many layers to the onion. As soon as you peel that first layer back, a chemical reaction begins,...more
Have you ever wondered why some people achieve small business success while others find themselves sitting on the sidewalk waving flags as the parade passes by?Unfortunately, there are many external reasons why people fail. But the good news is that...more
These days, more and more individuals are taking advantage of the fact that there are many ways for them to work at home. Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that you can be your own boss and you can grow your business at your own pace, and your own...more
Writing a really good report can be important to our career, and because of this, it is something we should take very seriously. After all, a written report is a permanent record. It is a record not only of our writing skills, but also of our clarity...more
With the wave of people facing foreclosure there are many who are asking for help. What can be done to stop the foreclosure process. Many of our clients have decided to use the powerful extended Right of Rescission which immediately terminates the...more