Happy New Year to everyone! You may be wondering where I have been for the past five months, since The Political Road Map has become quite lonely. I decided that I would try out working in print media and took a position with a local newspaper. The work is hard,
Continue readingTag: business
Things Are Good: Booming Business Boast Sustainability
Business that adapt to climate change are more likely to be successful in the coming years, and business that basically cut their carbon footprint to zero will thrive. This is the thinking behind a growing field that helps companies reduce their consumption and waste while increasing their profits. With the
Continue readingThings Are Good: Turning Homes Into Business Could Save the Suburbs
The suburbs are an energy-intensive housing solution that started in North America and has spread worldwide. The appeal of the tract housing the very thing that makes the suburbs detrimental to society: large lots, expansive houses, low density, and that they are reliant on individual use automobiles. With the mounting
Continue readingThings Are Good: A Living Wage Makes for a Good Business Plan
Helmi Ansari started a successful business and understands what’s it like to worry about paying the bills – and knows that when you’re stressed about paying bills you’re not focussed at the job at hand. This is why he pays all of his employees a living wage. A living wage
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Does this look infected to you (redux)?
I wrote this article on LinkedIN, and although I started it last March (and subsequently forgot about it), it has taken on a new meaning in recent months. It’s largely about how diversity is important in running a business, but it is no less true of governments… Everything from someone’s
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Does this look infected to you (redux)?
I wrote this article on LinkedIN, and although I started it last March (and subsequently forgot about it), it has taken on a new meaning in recent months. It’s largely about how diversity is important in running a business, but it is no less true of governments… Everything from someone’s
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Oil Oil Everywhere, and not a Barrel to Burn
There has been a lot of hand-wringing over the recent crash in crude oil prices. Ironically, both environmentalists who want people to stop buying oil and many of the producers who need people to buy more are both challenged by the current price point. To be honest, I couldn’t give
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Oil Oil Everywhere, and not a Barrel to Burn
There has been a lot of hand-wringing over the recent crash in crude oil prices. Ironically, both environmentalists who want people to stop buying oil and many of the producers who need people to buy more are both challenged by the current price point. To be honest, I couldn’t give
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Your Car is Not an Engine
It goes without saying that your car is not an engine, but I am saying it anyways. Why? Because I’m not talking about a car, I’m talking about business, your business, my business, anyone’s business. (In reality I’m also talking about your car.) I’ll say it again, your car is
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Your Car is Not an Engine
It goes without saying that your car is not an engine, but I am saying it anyways. Why? Because I’m not talking about a car, I’m talking about business, your business, my business, anyone’s business. (In reality I’m also talking about your car.) I’ll say it again, your car is
Continue readingThings Are Good: Conscientiousness Can Lead to Corporate Success
The corporate working world is a tough place and ti’s often assumed that the heartless will have the most success.The myth that that one needs to be like a character from Wall St. in order to advance on the corporate ladder is too common. Instead, you should be conscious of
Continue readingScripturient: Spotting incompetence
Further to my earlier post, I wanted to provide some tips on how to spot incompetence in an employee or, especially, in managers and executives. I understand that incompetence may be a subjective view. What some view as incompetence others may see as c…
Continue readingScripturient: Peter, Parkinson and Adams
C. Northcote Parkinson, Lawrence J. Peter, and Scott Adams are for me the ‘holy trinity’ of philosophers of modern bureaucracy, within both the public service and the corporate structure. As philosophers, they are all keen observers and wi…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Short-term jobs and profits notwithstanding, Canada’s interests are not served by Saudi armoured vehicle sale
PHOTOS: A Canadian LAV III similar to the armoured vehicles to be sold by General Dynamics Land Systems (Canada) of London, Ont., to the Saudi National Guard. Below: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion, former MI6 head Sir Ri…
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Weather happens, but customer service …
Hamilton’s airport isn’t exactly a busy place. Although Westjet did run a lot of flights out of there for a while citing Toronto’s massive landing fees, most flights eventually migrated to Pearson although there are still a few WJ planes every day from Munro. For the most part, the white
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Weather happens, but customer service …
Hamilton’s airport isn’t exactly a busy place. Although Westjet did run a lot of flights out of there for a while citing Toronto’s massive landing fees, most flights eventually migrated to Pearson although there are still a few WJ planes every day from…
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Weather happens, but customer service …
Hamilton’s airport isn’t exactly a busy place. Although Westjet did run a lot of flights out of there for a while citing Toronto’s massive landing fees, most flights eventually migrated to Pearson although there are still a few WJ planes every day from…
Continue readingScripturient: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
You can’t help but think, when you read that title, of five block-thinking, dysfunctional members of Collingwood Council. But, relevant as that description may appear in our political sphere, it is actually the title of a book by Patrick Lencioni, about how teams fail to coalesce and work together. I
Continue readingTHE WINGNUTERER: Luxury Condos For Sale In Ontario For Home Buyers
Condos you can buy in Ontario should be cheap to get if you’re willing to put some work into it. Since there are quite a few options, it’s important that you do your research. Then it’s possible to get something that’s cheap and worth your time to pay into. A
Continue readingScripturient: Nailing Collingwood’s Door Shut to Business
Councillor Deb Doherty seems eager to cement this council’s already ugly but deserved reputation for being hostile to business. This week she made a motion to re-open the always-contentious sign bylaw, apparently in order to impose draconian restrictions on business signs THAT Council direct Staff to review Sign By-law 2012-110 with
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