The Eagle Blog

SMEs and the Canadian Federal Government

2009-12-21T14:45:00.003-05:00

As a business owner I have long held the belief that I am responsible for my own destiny. The world doesn’t owe me a job, or a way of life or a standard of living or anything that I haven’t earned.

I’m lucky enough to live in a society that offers me one of the best standards of living in the world … of course I chose to move here, and I contribute to society by working hard, paying taxes, giving back to the community and generally “earning” my right to be a part of this community we call Canada.

The same principle that applies at the individual level also applies at the company level. Eagle is lucky enough to have a set of great clients, and we work hard to service them well with the hope that they will be clients for a long time to come.

The reality is that things change and as a business we need to be able to adapt to change or else we go the way of the “buggy whip” manufacturers. Some years ago Eagle’s second largest client chose to reduce its vendor list from 17 suppliers down to 4, and Eagle did not make the cut … despite being one of their largest suppliers at the time. It hurt, but it also provided us with a valuable lesson in business … your client base needs to be diversified. Today Eagle’s client base is well diversified (a) geographically across 10 offices, (b) across multiple industries (government, banking, oil and gas, utilities etc) and (c) no one client represents more than 15% of Eagle’s business.

That doesn’t happen overnight. There needs to be strategic planning sessions, that create action items, that are executed. It requires discipline and commitment, but at the end of the day if you are totally reliant upon one client or one industry sector, then you run the risk that your world could change ... so how can you NOT do it?

In Ottawa, we are seeing some of that fear from SMEs, particularly from companies who devote all of their efforts to the Federal Government … so when there is talk of changing direction, or procurement or policy then these people get worried about their future. They lobby loudly, telling the government that they are not being fair to small business and they cause the politicians to get involved, which stops the bureaucrats from doing their jobs.

Some random points to ponder …

1. Change is inevitable. The world is changing and the Canadian Federal Government can’t be left behind, that is not fair to anyone ... the taxpayer, suppliers OR government employees.
2. The government does not owe anyone their business … they need to earn it.
3. Governments change slowly and the effects of the procurement changes and demographic changes and policy changes will take years.
4. I do believe that government needs to find ways to help Canadian businesses to grow, but not be responsible for that growth. Companies need to take ownership of their own destiny.
5. The Canadian government spends a lot of money … if you are good at what you do you will get some of that action.
6. Positive action is always better than fighting a rearguard battle.
7. Just because a number of companies are loud it doesn’t mean that they represent the views of the SME community.

What can Canadian small businesses do …

1. Be part of the solution … not part of the problem.
2. Find constructive ways to help government get to their destination.
3. Embark on strategic planning exercises within your own companies that revisit your business model … if you are selling a product or service to the Federal Government then why can’t you sell to private industry? Are there other services you can offer? Can you find teaming partners to help each other grow? What new geographies could you explore? What new industries and offerings could you chase? Should you sell?

There is ALWAYS opportunity in change, our job is to help our clients wit the change and find our niche there.

Friday Evening Wind Down ...

2009-12-18T17:28:00.003-05:00

Personally I think that Friday evenings are "dangerous" for me. Typically, by the time that the work week is done I am mentally very tired, the stress levels are a little high and that can mean a few different kind of evenings can ensue ...

1. Friday evening events can be ... entertaining (?). Take last Friday for instance, tired and hungry I set out with my wife to attend a party at a friends house. It was one of those parties where the wine glass never seemed to empty ... and I didn't eat a lot, and I was a little tense so the wine went down well. The alcohol probably acted fast, and before I knew it my mouth was "motoring" faster than the brain and there wasn't anything I didn't know (you know the type - right?). I'm not shy at the best of times ... but an alcohol fueled Kevin can be just a tad "loud"! Good job I had a designated driver ... OOPS!

2. Friday evenings can also be extra "quiet". We sometimes elect to just "chill" for a Friday evening. Maybe we'll open a bottle of wine, have something easy to make, perhaps even order in a pizza. before you know it I'm mellow, mellow, mellow and really not much company at all. The eyes are droopy and conversations are not really very scintillating!

3. The best Friday evenings are a mix of company, not too much alcohol and perhaps some fresh air and exercise. A walk with the dog on a brisk Ottawa Winter evening is a great way to wake up ... but when you hit the warmth at home, it doesn't last too long. Good company, good conversation and not too much alcohol makes Friday evenings more comfortable.

So back to that comment about Friday evenings being an adventure ... I'm a planner (lots of blog entries about planning, setting goals etc) but life is about balance, compromise and not being totally consumed by work and structure. This evening could be adventurous ... we are going to another party but just maybe I'll behave myself tonight.

I don't think any other evening has quite the same effect on me ... but maybe I'm just too close to the "subject"!

As a blogger I like to give people an idea about who I am, I think it lets people see that CEOs are really not much different than anyone else ... we just like to think we are big shots :-)

Have a great weekend!

CANADIAN IT JOB MARKET – Mini-Update November/December 2009

2009-12-17T15:53:00.002-05:00

General Observations:

The slow recovery is happening … SLOWLY! The markets are rebounding a little, but we do see hiccups even there … however the TSX is currently up around 11,600 which is close to the 52 week high. Many investors have seen some improvement in their portfolios over the last months, but most have not seen a return to the highs they had reached. All of which to say things are improving, but … SLOWLY.

November did see a slight uptick in activity for Eagle over October, which had seen a slight increase over September. Having said that we are starting to see people begin to wind down for the holiday period … and after the year we have all endured, everyone is ready for a break!

November saw Canada add 79,000 jobs and the unemployment rate improve by .1% to 8.5%, however we have still lost 321,000 jobs since October last year. Most employers are still not having a problem finding the resources that they need and the value staffing companies bring in this kind of market is wading through the “many resumes” and being able to find the nuggets, thus saving client’s time and non-productive energy.

The deficit is still a concern, at a projected $55.9 Billion, but the government is still promoting spending as a way to keep the recovery going. (If they would spend a few more of those dollars with us I might feel better about it). Provincial and municipal governments are starting to reduce their spending as they deal with their increased debt and lower tax base (provincial taxes lost through unemployment).

More Specifically:

The GTA (Greater Toronto Area) remains the hottest market for us. It is the largest market in Canada, has the most head offices and is the home of our financial sector. Indeed the financial sector together with the telcos seem to be leading the IT recovery, and we have not yet seen governments increase their IT spending either at the Federal or Provincial levels … if anything, we are seeing less spending from governments, perhaps a reaction to increased scrutiny due to scandals.

Calgary is showing some signs of returning to life, but is certainly not the hot market that it was just a little more than a year ago. It is however probably the one beacon of light in Western Canada, where the other markets are still extremely slow. Of course oil prices recently dropping $8 a barrel doesn’t help and nor does the relatively strong Canadian Dollar against the US Dollar (close to 95 cents). We need Calgary to get “hot” and perhaps the other markets will follow.

Ontario continues to suffer from the devastation to the manufacturing base, the downfall of the auto sector and a business unfriendly government. There is trepidation about what will happen with the introduction of HST, when both Bill 139 and Bill 168 will hurt business and it will be some time before the full effects are known. The Toronto market offers some hope, but maybe this government can do something to “fix” that!

There is little change in the Federal Market in Ottawa. A minority government, a few scandals and some loud opposition to planned projects seems to have put a stop to any interesting large projects hitting the streets. Hopefully that will change in the New Year.

The following are some facts/indicators we are tracking as of time of writing:

> The price of oil has dropped down to around $72 a barrel … not so low as to affect existing projects, but not high enough to create a “boom”.
> Natural Gas prices hit a seven year low in September 2009, but have almost doubled again since that low. This should start to have a trickle effect on confidence in the "energy patch".
> The TSX is in and around 11,600 … a positive sign.
> The Canadian dollar is strong, currently close to 95c US. Not always a good thing for Canadian business, but a positive economic indicator.
> Prime remains at 2.25%, making borrowing inexpensive. This is good for when companies feel optimistic enough to invest!
> November saw some positive news on the unemployment front, with Canada gaining 79,000 jobs and the unemployment rate improving to 8.5% nationally. Canada still has 321,000 less jobs than in October 2008.
> The Alberta government is forecasting a $7B deficit, and announced government cuts to projects of $430 million.
> Many sectors appear to be picking up activity … banks, oil companies, and telcos all appear to be picking up steam.
> There have been few signs that any “stimulus” package will bring relief in the IT services sector. Hardware companies are benefiting from tax breaks but no big new IT services spending yet!

In Summary:

November saw the continued slow improvement in the economy generically. Some sectors and some geographies are coming back a little faster but generally things are still “in the doldrums”.

As we head into the holiday period I expect people will take time to try and recharge their batteries, it will not be the most productive work period … but I know I need it! Hopefully it means that we will charge out of the gates and make 2010 a banner year.

Did I mention that I’m an optimist?

As 2009 Winds Down its Time to Think About 2010

2009-12-16T16:36:00.001-05:00

Around this time each year I start to prepare for my personal goal setting.

First I look at how I have done against my goals in the last year … I make excuses for those things at which I didn’t do so well, but I am also honest with myself about where I could have done better.

I re-evaluate whether those things I am measuring are really the right things to measure … where is my best return? What is most important to me? I have written down my process before, but thought it might be timely to revisit it. Here is how I flesh out MY goals …

Step 1.

I develop categories that work for me …

- Health and Fitness
- Vacation
- Career
- Family
- Training/Education

Step 2.

I set at least one goal for each category, several goals in some categories. Here are some examples …

Under health and fitness you might want to lose 5lb by March 2007; you might want to add weights into your workout routine at least twice a week; you might plan to reduce coffee consumption to 2 per day. Etc.

Under Vacation you should really give some thought about where you would like to go this year. It could be to enjoy the cottage at least 12 weekends, or plan a weekend getaway without the kids; or take a 2 week vacation somewhere exotic etc.

Under Career you might set a goal of mastering certain aspects of your current role by the Fall; having a career planning meeting with your boss or HR; or developing a training plan to advance your career.

The goals that you pick need to be achievable and within your control. This way you will see progress and as you do progress you can always add more goals or increase the “intensity”.

Step 3. Plan into your calendar a monthly review. At that review you will check your progress against each goal and will create action items to address them … which will go onto your “to do” list (of course you have a “to do” list!).

This is just the way that I do things, but the most important thing is to actually DO SOMETHING. The POWER of setting goals is only understood once you have done it. To be able to look back at achievements is powerful, but when you actually set out to reach those “goals” you have a much better chance of getting there.

Now is the time … Just Do It!

Happy Hanukkah

2009-12-11T10:06:00.003-05:00

Continuing with my theme of diversity, and understanding the many and varied traditions and celebrations of different cultures and religions ...

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday which is also known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights. In 2009, Hanukkah begins December 12th and ends December 19th. The holiday originated when Judah the Maccabee and his followers reclaimed the temple in the village of Modi'in from Syrian King Antiochus IV. The temple was cleansed and prepared for re dedication. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication." When the sacred temple Menorah was re lit, there was only enough sacred oil to burn for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days.

In remembrance, a candle is lit each of the eight days of Hanukkah. An extra light called a Shamash is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, usually higher or lower than the others. The purpose of the extra light is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud, against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing and meditating on the Hanukkah story.

Children receive gifts of gelt (coins) or money and play games of dreidel. The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top that children play with on Hanukkah. Some traditional foods are those which are fried in oil to symbolize the oil that lasted eight days. Deep fried puffs dipped in honey or sugar as well as potato pancakes, known as latkes, are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah.

How to Get a Job

2009-12-10T16:26:00.004-05:00

One of my industry colleagues likes to explain this process ... because in essence it is really quite simple.

There are only 3 ways to get a job ...

1. You go out and find one yourself.
2. You get one through the government programs ... good luck if you are looking for something at a professional level (Note: I am not talking about applying to the Government. I am talking about government programs that help people find jobs).
OR
3. You get one through the STAFFING INDUSTRY.

Let's talk about applying yourself ...

You don't necessarily know who is hiring, many companies don't advertise their jobs.
You likely won't have any inside knowledge of the environment, so you apply cold.
You will likely be one of many applicants.
If you are successful there is a good chance that you could have found something better, but you won't ever know it.
It IS a good way to get a job, if you can find one.

How about getting a job through a government program ... I don't have much to say about this because I don't see it working too much.

OK then what about Staffing Companies ...

They have the inside track on available jobs
There is a full range of services from Executive search, through to temporary engagements.
Their core business is finding work for people and people for the work.

There really is NO EASY way to find a job, but Staffing companies provide an important service to the economy, increase your chances of becoming employed and I am proud of this industry!

David Allen on Motivation

2009-12-09T09:30:00.001-05:00

David Allen is a “time management guru” and author of GTD (Getting Things Done). I read one of his articles about motivation this morning and thought it was worth sharing.

I have written about motivation myself several times, and certainly can’t really disagree with David’s perspective. Whether we are parents/teachers trying to motivate a child or managers/executives trying to motivate staff we all tend to suffer from impatience, we have trouble understanding why “they” don’t get it!

David’s idea is to paint a picture for “them” of what is possible, to believe in their potential and by letting them see our belief sometimes that will help the path to awareness. Certainly it has been my experience that you can’t “beat it into them” and you can’t “nag it into them” but you also don’t need to just accept the current situation! Mentoring, teaching, showing the way and a little patience are probably the best motivators … if you have the luxury of time to do that!

In the workplace there is a little more leverage because if, after all is said and done, “they” still don’t “get it” then “they” are unlikely to be around long!

Here are David’s thoughts …

DAVID'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

GETTING OTHERS TO CHANGE

How do you motivate people to change their behavior? This is a common question for managers, executives, coaches, teachers, parents, and anyone else who ever wants other people around them to act differently in a consistent way.

I hear this regularly, because as I work with people to set up systems to maintain focus and increase their productivity, they often complain that one of their problems is other people being unfocused and out of control. "How can I get my staff, my boss, my spouse and my kids to get this?!"

If you want to be good at getting other people to change, ask yourself: "Who got me to change?...and how did they do that?" Bring to mind the three people in your life you would say were most effective in getting you to improve, learn, stretch, and grow in a positive way. What was common to all three?

For me, there was only one common denominator about those people in my life. Whether it was the sweet little old teacher in the 4th grade, or the coach that ran my tail off in high school—they all held a vision of my being and doing better than I was currently doing, they held that as a standard when they related to me, and they cared enough about me to hold me to task when I fell short. (They also all did it lovingly, though it didn't feel like it sometimes!)

Really want people to change? Try that.

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they are capable of being." ... Goethe

Challenging the Norms

2009-12-07T20:22:00.004-05:00

Every now and then I ponder about why thing are "the way they are" ... because, as a society we are sometimes just a little too accepting of the status quo.

Here are a couple for you ...

1. Why is that the government decides how big government is? Isn't that a conflict of interest? The "public service" is paid for by the taxes generated in the private sector, yet government just gets bigger and we don't seem to have any say.

For example ... between the years 2000 and 2006 the Federal Government's in-house computer ranks grew from about 8,000 people to some 18,000 (CATA research). I have no reason to believe their ranks have shrunk.

Why is that a problem? Because government workers do not contribute to Canada's GDP and because engaging Canadian industry to do the work of those in-house people would have helped establish/grow Canadian businesses to contribute to the economy in so many other ways.

2. Canada's forces are deployed in harm's way around the world, currently it is Afghanistan, but it has been Bosnia, Rwanda, Korea and the great wars etc.. It is our youngest and fittest who go off to battle, and who die in far away places.

Does it always need to be that way? Many of those injured and killed in modern day engagements have been driving vehicles ... do you need to be 20 years old to drive, or could a fit 50 year old do a similar job? Would we rather lose those young men or the old "farts" like me? I know where my vote lies.

3. In our society we have a safety net that provides an income to those who can't provide for themselves for whatever reason. That money comes from the taxes paid by the other members of society that are going to work every day.

Why can't those receiving "free" money be expected to work for it? It is normal to expect a return for an investment in our world, so why not expect something for the welfare money paid. Just perhaps if the work wasn't so pleasant it might encourage people to be a little more committed o finding employment if it exists. Worst case the tax payer might get services that currently are not provided or that are short changed.

Of course such thinking would be absolutely foreign to our Provincial government led by Comrade McGuinty. Now how did I get to mention him again? :-)

I'll leave my heresy stand at that for now ... maybe I'll rattle cages again in a few weeks.

What Do You Really Know About Business Finances?

2009-12-04T14:34:00.000-05:00

Over my years running this company I have met many people who clearly don’t understand the basics about business. I like to keep it pretty simple … if I’m not making money then I’m not in business, and then I can’t afford to employ people, give money to charities, pay taxes, give work to suppliers, provide a good service to my clients OR pay my mortgage!

I could at this point talk about Premier McGuinty’s Ontario government, who either don’t understand business or just don’t care about the fact that companies need to make more money than they spend … but I’ll refrain (or at least not belabour the point) from picking on those guys (they have to live with themselves).

I could talk about companies who sign deals where the margins are so much lower than their operating costs that you know they are “hoping” (that’s kind of like dreaming in technicolour) that volume will make up for it … but it never does! There was a show in England called “Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width” … and that saying always comes to mind when I see these deals happening.

I could talk about the procurement professionals who load discount upon discount into their models so that by the end of the day IF the supplier is making any money it’s a miracle. But maybe they are related to Premier McGuinty and don’t care! Oops I wasn’t going to mention him again.

I could talk about the salespeople who come back with the “wacky deals” that their company MUST sign because we’ll only be one of three suppliers … that would be three “going out of business” suppliers.

Alas it appears I may have found the answer! Business Brief, an e-newsletter I receive quoted a Harvard Business Review survey of 300 managers. Here is what they found out …

Asked to take a basic financial-literacy exam, a representative sample of 300 managers — from C-level executives to supervisors — scored an average of only 38%.

Get this: Over half didn’t know the difference between “profit” and “cash.” Many didn’t know the difference between an income statement and a balance sheet. Nearly two-thirds thought that discounts offered by sales reps had no effect on gross margin.

Does it matter? When delivering the results of the test, Harvard presented scenarios in which that lack of knowledge could cripple a business. For instance, imagine an inventory manager who doesn’t understand the relationship between inventory on hand and cash flow.

Here are three sample questions from the test (answers at the bottom):

1. You should be pleased about your company’s financial results if –
a. There is a negative trend in operating margin.
b. There is an increasing trend in COGS.
c. Cash flow is coming from company investing.
d. Cash flow is coming from company operations.

2. A company has more cash today when –
a. All customers pay their bills sooner.
b. Accounts receivable increases.
c. Profit increases.
d. Retained earnings increases.

3. To investors and analysts, free cash flow is a key number because –
a. It reflects the cash that is “free” — that is, your company doesn’t have to pay interest on it.
b. It is the cash that can be used to pay shareholders their dividends.
c. It reflects the operating cash that has flowed into the business that year.
d. It is the cash that investors put into the business.

Answers:
1. d.
2. a.
3. b.

I guess if these high level managers can’t understand this, then it explains why we encounter such strange business situations day in and day out!

Confident in Your Abilities AND Capable, thats Good!!

2009-12-03T14:52:00.002-05:00

Have you ever hired someone … they were confident in their abilities came across as knowledgeable and well able to meet your requirements? But they bombed, and pretty soon you are wondering how did I manage to get “snowed”?

Maybe you have dealt with people who seem so good, but who under-deliver … the receptionist who just seems so efficient, but your message was never received; the personal assistant who was so accommodating on setting up your meeting but when you arrive no-one is expecting you; the salesperson who assures you of their product/company capabilities only for you to find out differently.

I have my own theory about ONE way that this happens. As a society we are very impressed by confidence … a person who is confident in their abilities exudes a capability and yet they may not actually have that capability! In fact my impression is that our schools work very hard to turn out confident young people … in fact self esteem seems almost more important than capability!

So … I too am impressed by confidence, but I am even more impressed by capability.

a. It is important in the hiring process to be “analytical” about the skills you are looking for and not be “snowed” by personality.
b. When dealing with new people who seem capable try to anticipate the potentials for error where you can … and set your expectations appropriately. If my expectations are exceeded I am happy … if they are not met then I am not happy and I get another blog topic!

If I were to characterise the 4 potential types of people it might look like this …

1. Confident in their abilities AND Capable … these are great people to hire.
2. Not Confident in their abilities and Capable … typically these are great people to hire, and perhaps their confidence can be improved.
3. Not Confident in their abilities and Not Capable … at least they know! It is possible these could be entry level people with future potential.
4. Confident in their abilities and Not Capable … don’t touch!!!!

November 2009 - IT Industry News

2009-12-02T15:34:00.001-05:00

Two years ago in November 2007 the big news was IBM's $5 Billion purchase of Cognos. There was a fair bit of M&A activity, with AOL being very active, Telus buying Emergis, Randstad buying Vedior to create the second largest staffing company in the world and DELL making a couple of acquisitions. Last year, in November 2008 the big news was the economic maelstrom that took the world by storm. There was some M&A activity with ATT&T paying $944 Million for Centenial Communications and Fujitsu paid $575 Million to buy out Siemens from a joint venture. There were a number of other deals, involving such names as Oracle, Microsoft's Razorfish, Intel, Amdocs, Satyam, Citrix and Perot Systems. There was plenty of news about layoffs and the general affects of the recession.

In November 2009 there is still a “hangover” from the recession, but the general mood is more optimistic, with most pundits looking towards a slow recovery in the first and second quarter next year. The US and Canadian employment figures were not good but economists predict a growth in US GDP, and Europe seems to be on a path to recovery. The law caught up with a couple of nasty “spammers” and October marked an unofficial 40th birthday for the internet (wish I was 40!). Adobe (680), Microsoft (800), and Rogers (900) all announced layoffs this month … and Right Management tell us that as many as 80% of employees may look to change job as the economy recovers! The CRTC turned down GlobalLive from becoming a potential wireless carrier for Canada and Intel “played nice” with arch-rival AMD.

The big news in M&A saw HP buying 3-Com for $2.7 Billion and Nortel continued to sell off its assets, this time its Metro Ethernet Networks business to Cienna for $769 Million. Google made a couple of strategic acquisitions, including a $750 million purchase of AdMob and Intel Capital continues to invest in companies.

Overall the mood in the market is optimistic, but there are still “bad things” happening so nobody is ready to say we are back to a normal world … or even that we will ever get back to where we were 18 months ago. The best we can say is that things are looking more positive, there are pockets of good things happening and general wisdom

That's it for November 2009 ... until next month!

December 1st - World Aids Day AND Rosa Parks Day

2009-12-01T08:57:00.003-05:00

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 - October 24, 2005) was an African American civil rights activist whom the U.S. Congress later called the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement."

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks, age 42, was arrested for disobeying an Alabama law requiring black passengers to relinquish seats to white passengers when the bus was full. Blacks also were required to sit at the back of the bus. Her arrest sparked a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system and led to a 1956 Supreme Court decision banning segregation on public transportation.

Parks' act of defiance became an important symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement and Parks became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation.

"Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others" - Rosa Parks

World AIDS Day is held December 1st every year. It is an international day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS around the world. The first World AIDS was held on December 1st, 1988. The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'.

UNAIDS estimates there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

Around 95% of people with HIV and AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

The red ribbon is worn as a sign of support for people living with HIV. Wearing a red ribbon for World AIDS Day is a simple and powerful way to show support and challenge the stigma and prejudice surrounding HIV and AIDS that prevents us from tackling HIV.

Starbucks Coffee Company will make a 5-cent contribution to the Global Fund for every hand-crafted beverage sold on that day at participating stores in the United States and Canada.

Movember ... Can you spare a loonie?

2009-11-25T15:56:00.004-05:00

This year was the first time that I had ever heard about Movember ... and I don't feel too bad about that because I have encountered very few people who have heard of this worldwide phenomena.

Movember is a worldwide, month long event designed to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer ... prostate cancer, incidentally is the most common form of cancer in Canadian men. It was started in Australia in 2003, and now Canada is one of the more active countries.

Participants in Movember can spend the month on November growing a moustache (mo), or raising funds for the moustache growers! At the end of the month there are gala parties to celebrate the cause and to award prizes to the participants, who are supposed to dress up to match their moustache!

As a first year participant and not a very hairy person I wasn't sure what result I would get ... and I also wasn't really ready for how annoying it is to have a bunch of hair on your upper lip! I am still not used to seeing myself in the mirror sporting a moustache, and occasionally shock myself ... still! There have been the usual light hearted comments about my new look ... and when people don't know about Movember they are never quite sure what to say!

Some moustache growers I have met actually like their new look ... most, like me, can't wait to shave the thing off!

So far I have raised a little more than $700 for charity and I am "grinning and bearing" the abuse, the uncomfortableness and the occasional scary look in a mirror because it is for a good cause. As we come down to the short strokes I'm looking forward to getting rid of it, but will of course hang in there to the bitter end ... if you feel like contributing a few dollars to the cause it will always be appreciated :-)

Here is my (updated) donation page ... http://ca.movember.com/mospace/255630/

The Easy Life ... Be Careful What You Ask For!

2009-11-22T11:07:00.002-05:00

I think that we human beings are by nature a strange bunch (and I certainly don't eliminate myself from that thought) ... we tend to wish for an easy life, and yet it is adversity and challenge that makes us grow.

In the same way that muscles need to be worked in order to get bigger and stronger ... so too does our personal development come through hard work and effort.

We grow our intellect by learning ... we challenge our brains, read, absorb and expand our knowledge base with the effort of learning. We need to devote time and commit to that learning to achieve growth, but from that growth we also derive satisfaction.

We grow our careers in the same way. We learn, we invest and we overcome the tough challenges we face ... and as we climb through various levels of responsibility we have different experiences, the culmination of which is our career achievement. Those people who want achieve career success take pleasure from those achievements and recognise the effort it took to "get there".

We grow our relationships in the same way. We invest in them, we work at them and we sometimes sacrifice for them. Perhaps people have a tough time with relationships because they don't look at it this way ... their expectation is that relationships just happen. The best relationships come through hard work and an investment ... and they also bring the most satisfaction.

It has been said that anything worth having is worth working for ... and sometimes I think we forget that.

We all need a little "down time" every now and then. We need time to recharge the batteries and to let the every day stress fall away. As a society we tend to suggest that "stress" is a bad thing, but really it is dealing with the stresses in our lives that helps us to grow, that provides us with our most valuable experiences and in the end defines the person that we become.

We ARE the product of our experiences ... get out there and EXPERIENCE as much as possible. Don't back away fro challenges because they might be tough, don't be afraid of failure ... the only thing to be wary of is not trying!

Wishing for the "easy life" is like wishing your life away ... is that what you really want?

Bill 168 – More Good Intentions but Idiotic Law from McGuinty and Co

2009-11-19T13:04:00.001-05:00

I feel like a broken record … I find it hard to believe that this government in Ontario can be so far removed from reality, and yet they continue to demonstrate that very fact.

Everyone in the world knows my views about Bill 139 and the tremendous harm that McGuinty’s Ontario government has done to the staffing industry. In a nutshell they make the classic mistake of identifying a few problems and addressing them by wholesale changes that cause more harm than good!

On that note this same government, led by the same minister (Minister Fonseca) have just passed Bill 168 through second reading. Just like Bill 139 the underlying issue is one that no-one could argue with … to prevent workplace violence. Once again the government focuses in on a tiny population of problems and tries to legislate change to fix it.

The government’s answer … make the problems that individuals have in their home life the problem of their employer. Let's avoid the issues of Privacy legislation or even the issues of Human Rights for the moment … because the conflicts caused between these three competing needs place employers in a no-win situation.

For now let’s just look at the practicalities. If this law comes to pass then as an employer I am now responsible should a disgruntled spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend somehow come into one of my offices and hurt their partner. I may not know anything about the situation … but its my problem. What if they get attacked leaving the office, or on their way in … am I also responsible?

How do I prevent this from happening? Do I post guards at all entrances to our offices, and provide escorts to everyone coming and going?

What happens if I “think” there may be a problem … I am required to report it. What about the potentially innocent person I am identifying as a potential attacker? Isn’t this a little like Hitler’s Germany … report anyone who might not support the Fuhrer! Or maybe its akin to the workings of any despotic country where people are identified as “potential risks” … will the government spirit them away to interrogate them?

What is the worst scenario were to happen? What if one of my staff were to be killed at the office? Will I be jailed and the company opened up to lawsuit, and probably bankruptcy from such a case? Does all of this help anyone?

Our elected leders in Ontario seem to lack any degree of “common sense” when it comes to governing our province. Bill 139 was bad news, HST will be more bad news and Bill 168 is just another example of how far out to lunch these guys are.

I am one CEO who used to just go with the flow … not any more. We need this current administration to change or they are going to bankrupt all of us!

CANADIAN IT JOB MARKET - Mini update October/November 2009

2009-11-18T11:14:00.002-05:00

General Observations:

It was in July that Canada announced the recession was over, but we are definitely still suffering from a hangover. In general terms from a labour market perspective, we are still in a buyers market, with more people looking for work than clients looking for workers! There are of course some exceptions where very specific skill sets are in demand, creating some “mini skills shortages” but we are not yet seeing labour shortages.

After a couple of months of moderate growth, Canada lost 43,000 jobs in October creating an unemployment rate of 8.6%. Last year Canada had its first deficit in more than a decade at $5.8B and this year it is projected to be $55.9B. The “wisdom” was to stimulate the economy however I don’t see much impact on the IT sector from where I sit … except maybe a few more PCs (netbooks?) were sold. The result will be cuts in government spending which WILL have a negative impact on jobs in our sector. Coupled with provincial deficits (even Alberta is looking at a $7B deficit) there will be less work in government for a while.

More Specifically:

Here at Eagle we are continuing to see a steady increase in orders from our clients, but certainly nowhere near the activity of the years leading up to the recession.

The GTA (Greater Toronto Area), driven by the financial sector was probably the first market to be hit by the recession and has been the first to recover. We are seeing reasonable and growing activity in this market both in the demand for contract staff, and full time resources.

Alberta was Eagle’s busiest market prior to the recession but a big hit to both oil and gas prices, along with all the other nasty economic news hurt that market. It was slower into recession than the GTA, and is slower returning to normal too. Oil prices are back close to $80 and after hitting a 7 year low, Natural Gas prices seem to be recovering too. Perhaps driven by those realities we are seeing an uptick in activity in Alberta, but still nowhere near the demand that we saw a little more than a year ago.

In Ontario Bill 139 came into effect and we will see some impact from this as staffing companies adjust to the new regulations and associated costs of doing business. I expect the increased business risks, increased administrative burden and all of those associated costs will result in a reduction in available temporary jobs in Ontario.

The Federal market in Ottawa is always one of the biggest markets, but it continues to “tick along”, with no increase in demand and no new big initiatives causing excitement. The continued focus on procurement issues, the propensity for legal activity by disgruntled suppliers and the handcuffed minority government seem to have a damper on this market.

Elsewhere for Eagle we are not seeing any appreciable increase in activity. There are pockets of business needs in Montreal and in Vancouver, Winnipeg seems relatively quiet and Eastern Canada has never been a particularly busy market for us. Having said that, a recent report indicated that the Maritime provinces have weathered the recession better than most but mostly because their manufacturing base was small so there was little to lose.

On the candidate flow side of things resumes have been flooding in at a relatively consistent rate over the last three months. October was a little slower than the previous two months, but November is picking up the pace again! This can be attributed to several factors, (a) we are posting more jobs as our clients increase their hiring; (b) many employees are a little disgruntled with their current situation perhaps they have had pay cuts and/or increased responsibilities etc so they are looking to move; and (c) there are still plenty of people “out there” looking for work!

The following are some facts/indicators we are watching as of time of writing:

> The price of oil is now close to $80 a barrel which is good news for IT projects at oil companies. > Natural Gas prices have risen significantly to around 16 cents, after hovering down at seven year lows of 9 cents. This should start to have a trickle effect on confidence in that sector.
> The TSX moved up above the 11,500 range and is close to its 52 week high … a positive sign.
> The Canadian dollar is strong, currently above 95c US. Not always a good thing for Canadian business, but a positive economic indicator.
> Prime remains at 2.25%, making borrowing inexpensive. This is good for when companies feel optimistic enough to invest!
> Unemployment is still an issue … after a couple of months of modest growth we lost 43,000 jobs in October and have a unemployment rate of 8.6% nationally.
> The Alberta government is forecasting a $7B deficit, and announced government cuts to projects of $430 million
> Many sectors appear to be picking up activity … banks, oil companies, provincial governments and telcos all appear to be picking up steam.
> There have been few signs that any “stimulus” package will bring relief in the IT services sector. Hardware companies are benefiting from tax breaks but no big new IT services spending yet!

In Summary:

This should be one of the busiest times of the year in our sector. The Summer holidays are done, and the holiday season is not here yet … so the focus is on “getting things done”. There is increased activity, the economic indicators are generally good, and here at Eagle there is more of a “buzz” in the air than we have seen for some time.

Having said that, the recovery is slow and clients are very demanding. It is still a buyers market, but slowly changing and that always causes a little confusion in the market with candidates thinking they have a little more power in the negotiation of rates than they really do.

I expect it will be 2010 before we see a real shift in the market and a return to more skills shortages and some labour shortages. Meanwhile the recovery is happening, more and more clients are looking at new initiatives and the demand for resources is increasing. As a staffing company it would be nice to see those increases happen everywhere, and happen faster … but I guess I can’t be greedy!

"Technical Ability" is NOT Enough!

2009-11-17T23:44:00.004-05:00

Some time ago I wrote a blog entry titled "Is it Enough to be Good at What You Do?"

Time and again I come across people who are technically good at their jobs, but their personality, their attitude, their communication skills, their motivation and any number of other attributes actually make them undesirable as employees.

Over the thirteen years that we have been in business we have come across many consultants who have excellent technical skills, but for one reason or another they have become people that we would sooner not work with. We have seen ethics issues, personality clashes, communication skills issues or just nasty people!

We are all responsible for our own career and if you focus all of your efforts on the "technical" aspects of your job then you may limit your career opportunities. It is probably equally important to develop the soft skills that will help you to integrate well, that will get you noticed and that will position you for management.

In order to be a contributing member of a management team you need the ability to communicate your ideas effectively ... in both spoken and written form. You need to be able to think about your "business" as a business person, not just from the technical seat you occupy (which could be IT, engineering, legal, accounting, marketing or any other profession). You need the interpersonal skills to navigate relationships at various levels, you need the ability to negotiate effectively and you need to know when to press your point and when to "get on board".

All of these skills can develop over time IF you pay attention, recognise their importance and work on them.

The reality is that there are many, many people who are excellent technically (maybe even brilliant) but they are undone by those important soft skills they do NOT possess.

Do not underestimate the value of EQ versus IQ ... it can be the difference between a long and rewarding career and "something else"!

Staying Out of Trouble During Holiday Party Season

2009-11-16T09:19:00.004-05:00

Its mid November and for many people the holiday season will bring some "partying" ... there will be company events, client events and personal events with family and friends. It is important to understand the difference between these types of events if you want to avoid some common issues.

You could think of these parties on a scale, where the most informal parties are the personal ones with friends and family, the most formal events are those with clients and somewhere in the middle are those parties at work.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Family and friends parties ... you all know each other very well. If you drink a little too much you are likely to be forgiven, although you may pay a price :-) Your friends and relatives are fairly forgiving, and what you wear and how you act are not really going to affect your relationship with them.

2. Work parties. You have to bear in mind that these are "work" events, no matter how informal the culture in your company. You should "ease" into them, taking your cue from those around you particularly management. It is fine to be a little more "laid back" than at the office, to be a little less formal with the boss and in most cases its OK to have a drink or two. You also should know that poor or boorish behaviour can reflect badly on you. I have seen people's careers changed because they "cut loose" at a company event. You should relax, you should enjoy yourself, you should be very social ... just don't go nuts!

3. Client parties. These are a great chance to connect with clients at a more personal level, to enjoy a more social atmosphere and to relax. Whether to drink or not should be dictated by your client, and even if your client chooses to drink to excess you should not. Alcohol can cause us to talk too much and it becomes even easier than normal to stick our foot in our mouth. You should look forward to these opportunities, relax and talk about issues other than work. You can get to know your clients better, and when they are relaxed they may well choose to give you good feedback ... which you need to be sober to catch!

The word party does not mean the same thing in all contexts and it is wise to be a little careful with your approach to "parties" ... particularly when clients are involved! Save the crazy stuff for when you are with friends and family, and don't ever post it on facebook!

Begin With the End in Mind

2009-11-12T14:33:00.002-05:00

I “grew up” in the business world with Steven Covey’s thoughts as a guide … I totally bought into his Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and am always impressed at just how often those ideas are reinforced.

One of Covey’s seven habit (Habit #2) is to begin with the end in mind. Effectively the advice says that if we clearly understand where we want to get, then it is easier to map out a way to get there.

We see examples in business and in personal life every day …

If you are in sales and are in the habit of preparing for sales calls then you will understand this. Your objective for a call might be to understand if your client has any new initiatives which might be an opportunity for you to work together. By setting that as an objective the salesperson should think through the types of questions that will uncover the kind of opportunities that make sense. The salesperson who does NOT plan, might well spend 45 minutes drinking coffee, talking about hockey, baseball, the kids and oh ya ... isn’t the weather lousy!

If you are negotiating on the price of a car you need to understand your boundaries before you begin. What is your top price? What options are essential? Is the colour a show stopper? Do you want extended warranty? Could you get some snow tires thrown in?

If you are in a committee working towards a goal … then you need to understand if you are all headed in the same direction. You (and everyone involved) need to understand what the common goal is? If you have a common goal there is a chance of success ... if not, then maybe the goal needs to be redefined!

Once you have “the end in mind” then coming up with a plan that gets you where you need to get becomes that much easier. If it’s a personal goal then what actions are required to get there? What sacrifices in time are needed? What dollar investment is needed? Who can help you achieve your goal? Etc.

If it is a shared goal then how are you going to make sure everyone pulls together. Can you understand everyone’s motivations? Can you find “wins” for everyone? Who is likely to “lose” and will it affect the outcome?

Covey’s “7 Habits” are a must read for anyone in business, and the longer I have been in business the more I understand just what insight Covey had when he wrote that book. Habit #2 Begin With the End in Mind is a habit to cultivate!

Remembrance Day

2009-11-11T09:11:00.003-05:00

On November 11, 1918 hostilities ceased, marking the end of "the Great War" ... World War I.

On November 11th each year we remember, and honour, those members of the armed forces who died serving their country.

This is not the first time that I have blogged about Remembrance day; last time I talked a little about my Dad's experiences in as a tank gunner in World War II, and about my seven years in the Royal Navy.

Today I am just another citizen grateful that I get to enjoy the freedoms of our Western society, in great part because of the sacrifices of so many people.

I will wear my poppy ... and I will remember!

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

Thoughtfulness

2009-11-10T18:07:00.003-05:00

We live in a world that is fast paced, and sometimes the "little" things can be forgotten. yet the
"little" things can also mean a lot!

In our Western society we work a lot, commute a lot, deal with our family commitments, deal with many "hassles" on a daily basis, have issues about money and generally have busy lives.

The fact that there are many people "worse off" can be a good reminder every now and then, so that we can remember that we really are lucky.

For me one of the biggest casualties of our "busy existence" is the absence of thoughtfulness in so many of us!

The fact is that a moment of thoughtfulness can mean so much to people ... but for many of us our brains are too full of "stuff", or we forget our manners, or we just don't see the importance of the "niceties" in this busy world.

BUT ... think about those times when people have been thoughtful to you. It made a difference. It brought a smile to your face. It made you feel good. It was a bright spot in your day.

The thing about thoughtfulness is that it costs nothing ... yet its value can be priceless!

Make it a part of your day to be thoughtful ... at least twice a day (as a starting point).

Start really small ... hold the door for people instead of letting it swing in their face. Smile and say good morning to the people on the elevator. Ask the receptionist how his day is going.

Maybe you could move up the value chain a little ...

Make it a personal goal to know when your colleagues birthday's are, and send them a note.

Know when your clients have a special event and remember to ask about it.

Send a hand written note to your staff when they do something special.

Notice when someone has lost weight, has a new hairstyle, a special suit etc.

Be NICE instead of scowling your way through the day.

Brighten up someone's day with a kind word, a simple gesture or just a big smile!

Remember just like the credit card ad ... it costs NOTHING to be thoughtful ... but the value to the people who receive your thoughtfulness is PRICELESS!

ESA Day ... or Bill 139 Day!

2009-11-06T11:50:00.002-05:00

Bill 139 comes into effect today … a bill designed to protect “vulnerable workers”. Nobody will argue with providing protection for vulnerable workers … but we already had labour laws, so what does Bill 139 do for them? Well the answer is that it will mean LESS jobs for vulnerable workers AND it does serious damage to an industry that provides employment for thousands of people and generates annual revenues of $8 Billion ... good job Premier McGuinty!

1. It ONLY applies to temporary help companies … any other employer can still hire a temporary employee directly, and the law does not apply to them.
2. It makes the business of supplying temporary help riskier and administratively more burdensome … roughly translated as a business owner, it is more expensive to be in the temporary help business in Ontario today.
3. SOME companies will just go deeper underground. Those companies who abused people’s rights before will continue to do so … just deeper underground.
4. Legitimate businesses have been forced to introduce new operating processes, more controls and find ways to reduce their risks. They will avoid situations that could "cost them" … so vulnerable workers will see less job opportunities.
5. There is a suggestion that this will result in more “full time” jobs. The reality is that companies need a flexible workforce for many, many different business reasons. Those reasons don’t change, it just gets more expensive to bring in temps in Ontario.
6. Companies will not want to increase costs any time, but particularly now as we recover from the recession. So … they will either find ways to do the work outside Ontario or they will do less work. Either way it means less jobs in Ontario.

Government intervention is not going to trump business realities.

This bill was driven by an agenda that suggests temporary work is undesirable and that everyone should have full time jobs. This is a very simplistic look at the world … if you eliminate the possibility of temporary work it will NOT result in full time jobs. Temporary workers bring value to companies because of their flexibility, and very often they are hired into full time work by those companies as it makes business sense. A flexible workforce is a reality … and temporary jobs provide income, opportunity, training, exposure to new skills and opportunity for full time work.

So what about the implementation of Bill 139 ... another farce!

> The Ontario government TODAY posted some information on their website as guidance to industry on the implementation and interpretation of Bill 139.
> The Ontario Government TODAY supplied the information sheet that agencies are supposed to supply to temps starting today.
> Uncertainty will have another big negative affect on productivity in our industry.

Our government’s handling of this implementation has been a farce, not because of the bureaucrats … they do the best they can. It is their political masters who implement moronic bills and these guys are supposed to implement them … good luck with that!

As an industry we will survive, but I can't rationalise why this government would cause so much damage to an $8 Billion industry with such ill conceived legislation.

So ... as I have said before, McGuinty’s government got it wrong and Minister Fonseca refused to listen to reason!! It is clear to everyone who understands this industry that Bill 139 is going to cost vulnerable workers jobs … but I guess if they aren’t working they can’t be exploited by the bad guys!

(I think I suggested where McGuinty and Fonseca had their heads in a previous post … they are still there!)

How to Win in Business – The Secret Sauce!!!

2009-11-05T18:08:00.004-05:00

This is a big secret ... so I'm ONLY sharing it with people that read this blog.

The rules for success are really quite simple ...

Don't over promise!
Do over deliver!
Communicate, communicate, communicate!

You don't have to be the best ...
You don't have to be the cheapest ...
You DO need to be capable ...
You DO need to be consistent ...

That's it!!!

Kevin's 2 minute MBA.

Go get 'em!

Procrastination, Overcoming Inertia … and Just Doing It!

2009-11-04T12:16:00.002-05:00

Every now and then I will write a blog that references Kit Grant, the Director of Comfort Zone Infiltration. Kit has an irreverent but pragmatic way of looking at life and I always enjoy his newsletters. The following is one of his latest on the topic of procrastination.

"Someday is not a day of the week." ... Michelle Cederberg

How many times have we said, "I'll get to it someday" or "Someday I'll do that"? It's been said that the road to success is marked with many tempting parking places and procrastination knows them all.

Make November the month you get at least two things done you have been putting off for some time waiting for "someday". The sense of accomplishment will be worth it and you'll also prove to yourself you can really do whatever you want to do simply by taking the appropriate action.

While my topic is related to procrastination … I think it is more rooted in a “fear”, perhaps of the unknown or maybe just of change.

Here is the thing … you only get one life, so do something with it!

If you have always wanted to take dance lessons … then do it.
If you have had a burning desire to learn a martial art … then do it.
If you have wanted to travel … then do it.
If you want a career change … then do it.

Start small … take steps towards your goal. Like the old saying goes … How do you eat an elephant? The answer is … one bite at a time! The elephant seems like a daunting task … but everyone can manage bites!

Thanks Kit for giving me a topic for today’s blog.

I’ll finish with one of my favorite quotes … which I use often! (I have a birthday card that my mom sent me 6 years ago sitting on my shelf with this saying on it!)

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today” … James Dean.

Benchmarks

2009-11-03T18:03:00.003-05:00

Wikipedia defines a benchmark as a point of reference for a measurement.

We use benchmarking to see how our company is doing against its competition.

We may use benchmarking to see how we are doing personally as compared to our peers.

As human beings we use "benchmarking" informally throughout our lives. We may look at our neighbour and measure ourselves against them ... is our car bigger, are we fitter, are we earning more, are we happier?

Its a very human thing to do ... and we can do it in a constructive way in order to motivate ourselves, OR we can also do it in a destructive way that can demoralise us, or make us envious.

So ... some advice about benchmarks in everyday life:

1. If you are using them, do so with the purpose of improving your own "measurement" ... not for negative reasons.
2. Take into account highs and lows when looking at benchmarks.
3. Compare yourself or your company to peers that make sense. I don't compare my athletic prowess to people 20 years younger than me ... but I might look at people 10 years younger than me :-)
4. Don't make assumptions ... the guy with the Armani suits, driving a Porsche and living in the swank apartment just might be up to his eyes in debt living pay cheque to pay cheque.
5. Don't be driven by the results ... just use them as one more input to your decisions. You should not take a course of action just because someone else is doing something. Make your own decisions!

Bottom line ... benchmarks are a tool to be used for positive motivation, keep it all in perspective and live your own life!