Do you have a training function in your job (or want to have one) and do you live in the Greater Vancouver area?If so you might be interested in an upcoming workshop I'm teaching called Workshops that Work from April 21-22, 2010 at Langara College in Vancouver, BC, Canada.What past participants … [Read more...] about Workshops that Work
Samba lessons from Brazil
I was recently in a traditional Samba club called Democraticos in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. I was in Rio to do cultural intelligence training for the United Nations and one night, post-conference, a bunch of us gathered in Lappa, a district of Rio.Think people. Lots and lots and lots of people. … [Read more...] about Samba lessons from Brazil
Teambuilding Brazilian Style
Raucous cheering filled the air which competed with the hum and thrum of the rain forest. Wild toucans flew about the forest canopy while 6 foot long arapaima fish swam below the tangle of arms and legs that were trying to coordinate themselves down the river.In Rio Quente, Brazil, a thermal … [Read more...] about Teambuilding Brazilian Style
Bingo based decision making
I'm traveling and working in Brazil, for the United Nations, and recently had a curious example of decision making using Bingo.The tale happens in Rio Quente, a resort anchored around a thermal river. Think every kind of water themed event and you'll get the picture, including snorkeling with 6 … [Read more...] about Bingo based decision making
Christmas in Brazil in March & the road most taken
I recently did a marathon. I drove 17 hours, from Rio Quente to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to present a cultural intelligence workshop at the United Nations World Urban Forum.When the impossibly white fat and fluffy clouds, which have floated in an endless sea of sky, have given way to an inky … [Read more...] about Christmas in Brazil in March & the road most taken
Are you a sieve or a sponge?
We see what we expect to see.The Heath Brothers, in their fantastic book Made to Stick, talk about our minds being like a sieve as opposed to a sponge - that to remember something it has to be big enough, memorable enough, sticky enough to get caught in the sieve.My sieve got stuck when I … [Read more...] about Are you a sieve or a sponge?
Weight loss and business lessons
Today I'm celebrating my two year anniversary of having lost 30 pounds. I learned a lot during my weight loss journey. Mostly I learned it's about common sense prevailing over wishful thinking, reducing the power I have to delude myself and accepting some givens without excuses.I also learned … [Read more...] about Weight loss and business lessons
Aim for regrets
A while back I listened as Arlene Dickinson kept a large audience rapt with her business successes and her trials and tribulations. She's the only woman on the wildly successful Dragon's Den, "where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business concepts and products to a panel of Canadian business … [Read more...] about Aim for regrets
Bobsledding – brake or steer? You can't do both
As the sun sets on the biggest celebration Vancouver's ever seen my thoughts are returning to the Olympic bobsled competition I watched recently in Whistler.Run like hell for up to 50 meters, hop in, head down and then, if you're the guy in back, you're only role is to brake. The person whose … [Read more...] about Bobsledding – brake or steer? You can't do both
Curious definition of stress
I went to a talk at my kids' school the other night about drug abuse prevention. Interesting material and great presenter.One of the things that caught my attention was the presenter's definition of stress.Before I tell you what it was, what's yours? Definition of stress that is.The … [Read more...] about Curious definition of stress
Fail forward
When Albert Einstein was asked what the best source of invention was he replied 'mistakes' (as heard on Terry O'Reilly's Age of Persuasion).The only time we don't make mistakes is when we're sleeping (found on an IKEA postcard).Why then do we deny mistakes? Cover them up? Hide from them? Are … [Read more...] about Fail forward
Best case scenario
"Your mind will automatically go to the worst case scenario. So practice the best case scenario."Wise words from my massage therapist.I love when my attention is caught and held by something that shakes up my preconceptions. That highlights patterns of thinking that I wasn't aware of. When my … [Read more...] about Best case scenario
