Differentiate or Die!
One of my favourite strategists, Jack Trout, wrote a book called Differentiate or Die. We live in a niche world. Whatever it is that you do, you must find a way to stand out. For example, many people would love to be real estate investors. Whether the intent is to buy...
Why Do Entrepreneurs Frame Their First Dollar?
Immediately out of high school, I moved to the Rocky Mountains to work in the resort industry – Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise. At first, I lived in staff accommodation. It was like all the fun of university dorm life – except without the classes! It didn’t take me long...
Big Hearts Remember Little Things
I’m blessed to work with an absolutely amazing team. My Renovator, Jim, is a big man with a big heart. One Winter afternoon Jim called to check in with me. He wanted to be sure that we were moving the right projects forward in the right order so that prospective...
What’s My Condo Worth?
Hint: Condo's are Commodities The whole idea of most condominium developments – whether apartment or townhouse – is uniformity in size and design. In the eyes of a lender, appraiser, home-buyer or investor, one 1200 square foot, 3 bedroom unit is worth pretty much the...
#1 is the Worst Number!
The number 1 is absolutely the worst number in business. It may be bad for you too!
Think about it: 1 customer; 1 supplier; 1 bank; 1 employee; 1 market; 1 product; 1 service. It sounds simple, yet the number 1 can be devastating in any business. If you lose…
A Fresh Set of Keys
Locksmiths have great stories, and my first locksmith, Paul, was no exception!A teenager was travelling in Europe for nearly a year. His return trip took him through Edmonton where his grandmother owned a home. Always welcome at Grandma’s house, he decided to pay a surprise visit and stay with her for a few days. Grandma…