Rule #1:         Expect Volatility

We are seeing an exponential increase in the velocity, complexity, and unpredictability of change. This increase creates a hypercompetitive business environment – locally and internationally. Thinking and doing things the way you did a few years ago is simply not an option. We are part of a Global economy.

 Rule #2:         Invent New Rules

Because turmoil churns up new opportunities seize the moment and invent your own new rules of engagement and make others follow you! Competitive advantages and profits will belong to innovators who transcend the existing parameters of competition. Don’t think desk-top or laptop, think smart-phone.

 Rule #3:         Innovate or Die

Develop conscious strategies and mechanisms to promote consistent innovation. Resting on your laurels is simply not an option: winners are innovating and surpassing themselves constantly. Don’t just track planned product use. Explore product adaptations.

 Rule #4:         Break Barriers

You must dismantle the internal barriers that used to define people, departments and disciplines. The boundaries between firms and their outside suppliers, customers and sometimes even competitors are also under severe pressure. While we all want to win, competitive is “out” and “collaborative” is in.

 Rule #5:         Be Fast

Under-promising and over-delivering is everything and in that context fast is better than good. These days it’s far better to be 80 percent right and on time than 100 percent right and miss the boat. Think Blackberry Playbook.

 Rule #6:         Think Like an Entrepreneur

The days of depending on corporate size and reputation to drop opportunities in your lap are over. Entrepreneurs go out and make things happen and allow themselves to fail and improve because of it.

Manitoba has ~78,400 businesses. Only 800 have more than 100 employees. 

 Rule #7:           Global and Local are the same

The fastest growing markets in the world today are outside North America.  Companies and individuals in Winnipeg shop here, in Grand Forks and in China all on the same day. What can you offer your customers that the rest of the world can’t?

 Rule #8:                     Never Stop Learning

At the end of the day, the only truly sustainable competitive advantage will be your ability to learn faster and better than your competitors, and to turn that learning into new products, services and technologies before your competitors can imitate your last innovation. Consider this: information that is now FREE to download from thousands of websites used to cost thousands of dollars. It’s all there. All you need to find is time.

 Rule #9:                     Measure Performance Differently

Concentrate on key strategic and profitability drivers, ones that reveal the underlying dynamics of your business, focus your energy on what really drives the future success of your business. Do you have a business plan?

 Rule #10:                  Be Nice        

In a world where (digital) change is the constant, some forget that in the end it’s still about you and me. If I don’t trust you – you’re toast. I’m moving on. Share of heart is still a prerequisite to share of mind and wallet.

For the last 35 years I’ve been exploring the concept of creative visualization through the teachings of Yoga, Mind Dynamics and Nuro-Linguistic Programming. These schools of thought share a common belief: that you are what you believe yourself to be. And if you aren’t what you want to be – you can get there one dream at a time. Until recently I was more of a skeptic than a believer. Here’s why.

About six years ago one of my career paths came to an end. When I recovered from the initial shock that can accompany a significant loss I asked myself what I’d loved most about my professional journey so far, and what I’d gladly leave behind forever. Within hours of asking the compound question I dreamed a seemingly hopeless, yet elegantly simple answer.

I would like to parachute into a market, solve a client’s problem, and then return home.

Between the moment I had the dream, and believed the dream three years went by. But because it was the right dream, one that resonated with me at the intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels, my subconscious inched me forward towards that dream despite the hurdles I and life put before me.

My father became ill and then passed away. During that time I spent a lot of time supporting him and my mother. After he died my wife and I moved from Toronto to Winnipeg to care for her father who was dying. We stayed there for 1 1/2 years until he too passed  away. A year ago we returned to Toronto to be with my mother (91) and pick up where we left off.

While we were in Winnipeg I started supporting a small agency with a dream similar to mine. Now we help each other. Each day I go to my office in Toronto and do a mental commute to Winnipeg where I spend the day online, on the phone and on my own, solving problems creatively using my many years of agency experience.

While some days are a nightmare – it really is a dream come true.

I invite you to dream your way into a better reality too!

This is my number one Son Ian.

A few years ago he called me and asked me about a decision he was preparing to make: he wanted to become an aircraft mechanic.

I told him that I agreed with his careers direction because it’s an ‘international ticket’ that would enable him to work all over the world (with-out retraining) and it made use of his formidable computer programming and mechanical reasoning skills. I went on to tell him those were the NURTURE reasons, and that there were some NATURE reasons he should know about as well.

When my father was in his teens (in Germany) he was expected, by his father, to apprentice in the family’s cabinetmaking business. Although he did so, his young heart was  in the next village over where his uncle was experimenting with powered gliders. I didn’t know that until I was in my 30′s. Bear that in mind as you read on.

When I finished high-school I went to an orientation at Ryerson Polytechnic. I explored two avenues: Aeronautical Technology and Business Administration. I ended up studying Business because I didn’t have the math skills needed for A.T.

Shortly after I graduated from Ryerson and began my career in advertising, I had the opportunity to move to Germany and apprentice with B.O.A.C. as a freight manager. I was very tempted, but didn’t for a bunch of reasons that I won’t go into here.

Importantly, this new information helped Ian understand that while the environment he was nurtured in had prepared him to succeed in the aircraft service & support field, something in his nature (or gene pool) seemed to be directing him towards that professional community as well.

With his heart and head in alignment Ian went off to school.

1.2 way through his basic training Ian found his calling: rotor-wing (versus fixed wing) aircraft service.

Since graduation in March 2010 Ian has been knocking about, looking for a place to park his tool-chest.

Today Ian hired on with Bell Helicopters in Winnipeg as  a Helicopter Mechanic Apprentice.

I’m all smiles because his news allowed me to relive my first day – can you remember the thrill of yours?

This is my mother Julia. She’s 90. At Christmas she gives us money because she doesn’t understand how her own remaining five children, the grandchildren and the great grandchildren navigate life. The price of things, the speed at which things come into and go out of fashion – it’s all too much for her. Interestingly – when she asks her kids what she should get their children, they’re not so sure either. They too are amazed at the pace of change in their lives. Interestingly, the kids enjoy the money because they can do what-ever they want with it. But my mother doesn’t think giving money is a gift because it takes no thought or insight. For my mother a good gift should be a creative revelation for the recipient.

Segue to Frank Wehrmann on creative design and branding.

When I am asked to design an advertising campaign or comment on one, I ask to see the consumer U&A research first. If the client doesn’t have any but is prepared to do some, great! There’s hope. 

If not, odds are that I can’t help the client. 

Like my mother, the people at the top are not in touch with what’s going on at the street level. They just pretend to be. They see people shopping and see lots of stores having sales. So when some stupid ad agency tells them they need to do a sale as well, they’re more than willing to do one. Follow the leader – like little lemmings to the sea.

Like my mother, I don’t think giving away money is very creative or insightful. Actually it’s pretty stupid. If they were smart they would add, rather than chip away, at their brand’s fragile value proposition.

I didn’t really get into CBC until I got married. My wife introduced me to CBC 16 years ago and now I’m hooked. Because my wife’s parents lived in Winnipeg, we went to Winnipeg and the family cottage in Kenora a few times a year. En-route and there we tuned into CBC Radio and TV. The content continuity made us feel at home although Toronto was a long way off. Over the years CBC, the local and national personalities have become part of the brand family we welcome into our home, car, hotel room and cottage.

I listen to CBC while I’m traveling because I have learned that I will receive the same content – no matter where I go. If I can’t get it off-air or by cable, I can try the internet. If all those media-channel options fail, I look for NPR. NPR is different, but has the same sensibilities and also carries some CBC content.

For years I worked with new franchisors who didn’t understand why brand consistency was important. I often used car rental, fast-food and hotel chain examples to help them understand. In the future I’ll be using CBC as well – because it’s not just a practical thing. It’s a cerebral thing as well.