Canadian Association of Management Consultants - CMC-Canada

I'm on Cloud 9

2012-01-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

Maybe it isn't so crazy, but here we are in January, in the dead of winter and all I can think about is golf.

Last night, I was at a Sporstmens (fundraising) dinner benefiting those children who don't have all of the luck in life. It was a combination silent and live auction and featured such athletes as Curtis Joseph, Jesse Barfield, Dick Pound. You get the picture.

Well, in the live auction, they had some tickets to attend a practice round of The Masters this year.

If you have read my blog for a while, you might have gotten the message that I like golf. Like, might be too weak a word. Love, might not be appropriate either.

Back to the story. The live auction wasn't attracting the normal level of enthusiasm and testosterone filled, knee jerk thinking. So, along with a couple of buddies, we bid and we won. We didn't have to pay what we expected, yet the kids ended up with a solid donation.

The net result....in April, I'm headed down to Augusta, GA and will see The Masters up close. It works out well that my friend has a condo in Hilton Head Island, which is only two hours from Augusta. We'll probably make a trip out of it.

Golf is all that is on my mind on this January day.

Reputational Damage!!!???

2012-01-09T10:36:00.006-05:00

There is an old saying, "any press is good press". Well, I'm not sure about this...especially with Showtime releasing a new series on management consultants, titled, "House of Lies". In Canada, this is on TMN, starting tonight.

I realize it is fiction. I realize it is comedy. I realize it is entertainment. I realize that lawyers, doctors and other professionals have been portrayed and satirized in television shows, but there is something here that really is dangerous because it can shape the public's perception.

This show is based on Martin Kihn's book, "House of Lies" How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tell You the Time." The show includes a sleaziness that includes the lead character doing whatever it takes to win the contract....including lying, sleeping with the clients, abusing expense accounts, using B-School acronyms to confuse and taking advantage of the situation....you get the picture.

Reputational damage. Huge.

Are we concerned? Big time.

Let's hope the series doesn't attract many viewers and it ceases to be an issue in a few weeks.

But, we are not taking this sitting down. We are in discussions with IMC USA to see what can be done to minimize the impact on our profession's reputation. The majority of us have worked too hard to see Hollywood inflict this kind of damage.

Happy New Year - 2012

2012-01-03T13:06:00.001-05:00

Every year that the numbers change, things seems so strange for the first month or two....I mean to get used to writing "2012" instead of "2011".

Yesterday, my sons said that it feels weird to write "2012". It got me reminiscing how strange it felt to write "1970" but that makes me feel old, so let's just keep focused on the gist of this post.

What does a New Year really mean? It is a new beginning, a fresh start, a chance to correct the wrongs of the past (e.g. resolutions), or more importantly, an opportunity to be optimistic about the future.

I, for one, love the New Year. I envision a prosperous 2012. I can only imagine good things happening in 2012...in the economy (how can it get worse?); with my career; with my business; with my family; and, in my personal life. As such, I'm looking forward to getting 2012 underway.

I learnt a while ago, that it does little to spend time worrying about the past. It takes up time, energy and takes away from the good things in life....and we can't change the past. Being optimistic and dreaming about the future, is time better spent....as we can actually make change that impacts the future. And, even if we don't achieve everything that we have dreamed, as Brian Littrell once said, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”

I had a great 2011, but bring 2012 on. I'm pumped.

Happy New Year everyone.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T11:52:00.000-05:00

This is a great time of year. There is a spirit that infects almost everyone - that brings out the best in everyone. With this attitude, there is no doubt Christmas is my favourite time of year.

As much as I enjoy a white Christmas and walking through a snow-covered forest, my favourite place, that gets me in the holiday spirit is Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave) in Chicago. With the lighting of all of the trees and the energy about the stores, even if you are a scrooge, the whole atmosphere changes your outlook. If you have a chance, visit Chicago after US Thanksgiving, it will get you thinking about Christmas.

A close second place would go to Fifth Avenue in New York City. Again, there is just something about the power of the American retail experience. Toronto's Eaton Centre does a good job of this, too.

But, I'm not such a business focused individual that all I think about is the commercial aspects of the holidays.

I like the atmosphere of these tourist areas, because it forces us to get into the spirit. And, it is this spirit that causes all of the good things that go with it. The goodwill, the charity, reconnecting with friends and family, and the fact that we think of others first. That is what Christmas is all about and that is what I appreciate, at this time of year.

Each holiday season, instead of sending Christmas cards, NEXT Strategic Advisors makes a donation to recognize my appreciation for the year I have experienced. U-End (http://www.uend.org) has been the target of my support for the past three years. U-End helps to end poverty, worldwide. Based in Calgary, I was fortunate to meet the founder and I was impressed with his passion.

With Christmas upon us, I thank you for reading my blog, I wish you a wonderful holiday season and I urge you to consider getting into the holiday spirit by thinking of others.

Happy holidays.

Consult Magazine

2011-12-15T22:56:00.001-05:00

I'm biased but I love it.

We have been getting tons of feedback since the Fall 2011 issue of Consult magazine rolled off the presses, last month. Feedback, whether it be good or bad, is great. It means people have been reading the magazine.

But, the feedback we've received has been unbelievably positive. And, not just about the design...even though it is great. We have been getting feedback that people love the content.

If you haven't seen the magazine, we publish the magazine simultaneously online: www.consult-magazine.ca I urge you to judge for yourself.

Our Editorial team must be thanked for their efforts. From the Editorial Board, led by Editor-in-Chief, Harold Schroeder, FCMC (with Board members, Mike Appleton, FCMC, Eric Inthof, FCMC, Ron Knowles, FCMC, Peter Milley, FCMC, Greg Richards, FCMC, Tony Wanless, CMC), to our writers, which includes our members (Gen Bonin, FCMC, Carl Friesen, CMC, and Christopher Harper), to our Editorial Staff (Andrea Vandenberg, Mary Blair) and to our guest writer, Jenny Sutton, CMC, from Hong Kong. Needless to say, our designer, Aegis Design and our photographer, Nation Wong, are invaluable partners. It takes a lot of work from everyone to get the magazine done....so thank you to all.

Our next issue will be the Spring 2012 - which will be published in May. Watch for it.

Wanless Helps Keep the Den Active

2011-12-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

CMC consultant, Tony Wanless, of Knowpreneur Consultants in Victoria, BC, keeps the discussion alive, for CBC's hit show, Dragon's Den. Tony helps to keep the interest in the show going, by writing The Den Report.

Tony's latest posting on Tragic Obsessions is based on the November 30, 2011 episode, where John Cheung pitched the Dragons on his golf club invention:

http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/2011/12/the-den-report-magnificent-but-tragic-obsessions.html

Check out the Dragon's Den website to keep up to date with Tony's thoughts.

CMC-BC in Toronto

2011-11-28T18:58:00.004-05:00

We were pleased to welcome Russ Grabb, CMC, President of CMC-BC, to our offices in Toronto today.

In addition to some important CMC-Canada business, Russ joined CMC-Canada Chair, Lynn Bennett, FCMC, and myself for lunch at the Economic Club of Canada, where Austan Goosbee, Professor of Economics, University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, and Chairman, President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, shared his views of the global economy. Frank McKenna, Vice-Chair of the TD Bank Financial Group and former Premier of New Brunswick, questioned Goosbee following his introductory comments.

We were honoured to be hosted by our friends at CMA Ontario - CEO, Merv Hillier, CMA, CMC, and Director of Post Professional Programs, Michael Kulbak, CMA.

Goosbee was a dynamic speaker - mixing stories and parables into his speech - to allow us to more easily understand some of the complex issues facing Europe and the US today.

The good news is that he expects the North American economy to show signs of strength within 18-24 months. The bad news is what we have to go through in the next 18-24 months....until we get to the light, at the end of the tunnel.

Goosbee admitted that Canada is in a preferred economic position, vis a vis the US.

Despite this better than bad news, I think it is my duty to remind everyone of an old quote from our former Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who said, "living next to you (US) is like sleeping beside an elephant, no matter how friendly and even-tempered the beast, if one can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

I hope we aren't impacted by every twitch and grunt in the next 18-24 months.

Passion in the Profession: Sean Sweeney, FCMC

2011-11-22T15:25:00.000-05:00

On October 20th, Sean Sweeney, FCMC, was awarded Life membership status by the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Manitoba. In Manitoba, Life status is honorary and is reserved for those who have made an extraordinary contribution to the profession. Life status is one step higher than the FCMC (Fellow) designation.

During the award presentation, I discovered that Sean is remarkable in many ways.

He was one of the pioneers who helped to blaze the trail in Manitoba for the CMC movement. There are many stories where he made the ultimate commitment to ensure the Institute was successful, from booking events on his personal credit card, to doing whatever it took to get initiatives moving. The range of his contributions was broad - promoting the designation, to building the movement, to recruiting others to join - but possible the most visible project he worked on, along with Erwin Malzer, FCMC, was the development of the CMC logo that is now used around the world.

What impressed me most was not Sean's long list of accomplishments, but it was his modesty and his passion for the profession.

In his acceptance speech, Sean said, "I owe a great debt to ICMCM and that debt is yet to be repaid in full." What made this comment even more impressive, was that he said this, after a long list of his achievements was read.

Sean went on to explain why, after all these years, he felt that he needed to give back. Yes, he had a successful career, yes, he loves his role as a consultant and yes, he is grateful for the support at the start of his career. But, what struck me was the comment that he appreciates and values the relationship he has with his peers, "Some have mentored me. Some have honoured me by becoming my clients. Many have become close, personal friends."

But, the best accolade for Sean came when Scott Baldwin was honoured with his FCMC. Scott has been a great volunteer himself for CMC-Manitoba - his FCMC recognition is richly deserved. In accepting his FCMC, Scott paid the ultimate compliment to Sean - saying that it was thanks to Sean that he (Scott) got involved with CMC-Manitoba. The raw emotion that accompanied Scott's comments made it obvious what kind of impact Sean made.

At the end of the day, it is all about people. It is about passion for the profession. Thank you Sean Sweeney. Thank you Scott Baldwin.

If you would like to read Sean's remarks, they are posted online at http://www.cmc-canada.ca/documents/20111101-CMCLifeMemberremarks.pdf

National Research Council Continues its Support of Canadian Business Innovation

2011-11-15T09:04:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry, announced the Digital Technology Adoption Pilot Program (DTAPP) to support the adoption of information and communications technologies by small and medium-sized businesses. $80 million is pledged over three years towards this project. DTAPP is designed to foster innovation and to ensure that grassroots Canadian businesses are prepared to compete and create strength in Canada's long-term economy.

CMC-Canada has long been a supporter of the National Research Council (NRC) and their Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). Through the Management Advisory Service (MAS), CMC-Canada and IRAP have delivered advisory services to emerging companies to help in the commercialization of new technologies.

CMC-Canada applauds the Federal Government for supporting SME businesses and for ensuring that resources are available for their adoption of new technologies.

For full details about DTAPP, visit http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/news/nrc/2011/11/14/dtapp-nr.html

Industry Study Released

2011-11-14T14:04:00.000-05:00

The Canadian Association of Management Consultants is proud to release the 2011 Industry Study, which reveals that Canada's industry remains solid at $9 billion. Public and private sector organizations use consultants equally as they seek to improve their performance.

The challenge for firms, as we proceed through the second half of 2011, is to find talent. Growth opportunities require outstanding human resources and this, remains the #1 challenge in the industry.

This trend is not expected to subside, even if the economy doesn't growth at the pace projected. With the looming retirements from the baby boomers, this war for talent will only be exacerbated as we move forward.

All those who participated in the study, will receive a complimentary copy. It is must reading for anyone who participates in the profession and industry.

To obtain your copy of the study, visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/

Statistics Canada

2011-11-02T18:06:00.001-04:00

Statistics Canada has a reputation of being one of best statistical agencies in the world. If you haven't accessed their reports, I urge you to do so. There is a wealth of information available on almost anything you can think of.

Well, I'm pleased to report that the management consulting industry will be included shortly with a price index.

The Canadian Association of Management Consultants is helping to facilitate the necessary meaningful discussion between major consulting firms and Stats Can. Hopefully, with proper dialogue the reporting requirements will be easier to submit and the resultant price index will be a valuable tool to both the industry firms and to procurers of consulting help.

Today, we held our first session, where Stats Can experts shared their concept for the index. A number of firm leaders listened, provided feedback and made suggestions on how to make the survey easier and more valuable.

We are helping to coordinate the industry. This is just one example how.

Toronto

2011-10-21T22:43:00.000-04:00

If there is a better video that showcases the City of Toronto, I haven't seen it. I grew up here and most of the scenes are familiar, yet I have never seen it from this perspective.

http://vimeo.com/m/30788720

Made It....But I Lost a Wheel Early

2011-10-19T08:42:00.001-04:00

It's been a week since Chicago. I finished the marathon, but it was a challenge, as I pulled a calf muscle early on. Following that, I shuffled and limped around the course....but I did it!

My time wasn't great, but as I said earlier, my objective was to finish.

It was a hot day, with the temperature breaking 80, with clear, sunny skies. Not ideal for a marathon....for runners...but good for the spectators.

There were 45,000 runners, with 36,000 finishing. I had never heard of a drop off like that before...maybe the hot weather took its toll. It was a great course, traversing through Chicago's various neighbourhoods. It passed by most of the Windy City's landmarks, including Millenium Park, Lincoln Park, the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower), the United Centre, US Bank Park (formerly Comiskey), McCormick Centre and it finished in Grant Park, right near the iconic Buckingham Fountain (remember Married with Children?).

The Chicago Marathon is a well organized race. Lots of support, with water and Gatorade stations every mile. Towards the end, they handed out bananas and energy gel. No question that without this support, it would have been that much more difficult.

After the race, I hobbled back to the hotel and rested. Good thing we had dinner in the hotel restaurant, because my muscles were seizing up....and walking was a bit of a challenge. But, by Monday, things were getting better. The hobbling turned to a gentle walk.

We had a great weekend, with my sons watching the race from various vantage points. My friends, Rob, Jim and Graydon, all finished too and ran well.

This was a full year journey. Will I do another? Possibly. It isn't out of the question. I think Chicago was my 12th or 13th marathon....though the first one since 1995. It was nice to be back in the millieu.

My hope is that Chicago was not the end, but a beginning...of a healthier lifestyle with running back in my life.

Thanks for reading about my journey.

Chicago is Here

2011-10-07T08:31:00.000-04:00

Excited? I'm not sure. Cautious optimism is the best way to describe my thinking right now.

After a year of training and getting back into shape (kind of), I will be running the Chicago Marathon this coming Sunday. It will have been more than fifteen years since my last marathon. My last marathon was in Columbus, OH in 1995. Once my second son arrived, childcare became my obsession rather than training.

To recap, exactly one year ago, I started running again. I had to start from scratch. Erasing fifteen years of business lunches and rubber chicken dinners is more difficult than one can imagine. But, over the course of 2011, I have fought off injury (hamstrings, calf and Achilles) to get to this point.

Let's be clear, I'm not running for time - I'm running to finish. Very different from before. If my failing memory is accurate, my PB is 3 hours and 3 minutes. It was in the Cleveland Marathon. This Sunday, assuming nice cool weather, I'm hoping to finish somewhere around 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Time has taken its toll. From seven of my friends who started out training, four will be in Chicago at the start line. The three who won't be there, have been hampered by injury. Three of us have had Achilles injuries. This has been a sobering reminder that our bodies can't handle what we used to take for granted in the past.

Rob and Jim will be there from Vancouver, joining Graydon and myself from London, ON.

So, if you want to cheer me on, say a prayer for me sometime around 10:00 am on Sunday, when I expect the pain and exhaustion will be rising (the start is at 7:30 am Chicago time). Barring injury, around 12 noon, I hope that I'll crossing the finish line in Grant Park (pictured above). Delirious, but hopefully in one piece.

What a long journey back.

Steve Jobs. Genius.

2011-10-06T06:49:00.003-04:00

Genius.

Pure genius.

I have been transfixed by the company since the Apple II. I had one back in the early 1980's. Not early enough to help with my undergrad degree but it was early in the era of personal computers. Monochrome screen, 64 KB of RAM (which I upgraded to 196KB), no HDD, AppleWorks, Visicalc, you get the picture. I was an Apple follower.

The Lisa was fascinating. I worked a summer (1983) at Shell Canada and got to see one. Later, one summer (1988) at RBC, I had the chance to make a courageous decision, to recommend the purchase of Mac IIs for my department, but I didn't have the guts. I remembered that, "no one got fired for buying IBM," and I went to the dark side for 10-15 years.

I watched Apple flounder under John Sculley, then Gil Amelio, until Jobs' return in 1997.

1997 was when my Apple sickness returned...but I was too chicken to buy the stock at $9. Rats, I should have. I watched Jobs start to right the ship. I watched the iMac, then I couldn't help but buy an iPod. It was the mini and it only lasted for one year. But, I was hooked. Since then, I have bought about 7 or 8 iPods, 2 Macs, 2 iPhones, numerous iPads, and influenced the purchase of dozens of each.

Now, as part of a "go to" slide deck I use for my strategy development seminars, I use the transformation of Apple, from nearly dead, to the most admired company in the world, to illustrate what a real turnaround is.

Steve Jobs was the leader who guided Apple back from the abyss.

I have read every book there is about him and listened or watched every video.

Is he my hero? Yup.

Coincidentally, my consulting practice is called, "Next".

I know he wasn't perfect. I've heard all about how he "was", in his first tenure at Apple. But he changed for his second and greatest tenure. He proved that anyone can learn and improve with experience.

What will happen with Apple? Who knows, but I'm watching for a dip in the share price today, so I can get some.

But today is a day to honor the legacy and reflect on his achievements. I, for one, credit him for helping me understand that products are more than just function....for showing how a big company can create passion and zealots in it's customer base....for demonstrating how a firm can target a segment of the market and win, while leaving the low end for their competitors...for proving how a firm can be a disruptive innovator, entering and winning markets and industries where it had no prior presence.

Steve Jobs.

Genius.

Lou Gehrig - The Luckiest Man on Earth

2011-09-28T13:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting a former colleague. Fifteen years ago we worked on a committee together - that he chaired. This committee led to the development of one of Canada's outstanding fundraising dinners. Today that dinner raises almost half a million dollars in a single evening.

I went to visit my colleague not only to renew acquaintances but also because he was ill. You see he has Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) - a disease that robs people prematurely of their muscular function. I am very familiar with ALS as my father was afflicted with it.

I walked away from the visit with my friend with a renewed sense of what is important in life.

It is so easy to focus on the daily stresses that we all encounter in our careers or daily life. Did I get the report done? Did I get the promotion or did I get the raise I deserve? Did I purchase the big screen television? Did my son/daughter make the rep hockey team? In the big scheme of things, does any of this truly matter?

I suggest that the important things in life include, family, friends, and whether we are the person that we strive to be.

It is ironic that Lou Gehrig, the legendary NY Yankees baseball star, has this disease named after him....because he was someone who was able to keep things in perspective. Despite being afflicted with ALS, he gave a memorable speech to the fans, upon his retirement from baseball:

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for 17 years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day?

"Sure I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy?

"Sure I’m lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies — that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body — it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that’s the finest I know.

"So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."

My friend is someone to be admired as like Gehrig, he understands how to keep things in the right perspective. He has an upbeat, positive attitude despite his bad break.

The next time that you are stressed out and worrying, I urge you to ask yourself, does this truly matter.

Teamwork

2011-09-20T11:51:00.000-04:00

It is fall. Is there any more sure sign than the amount of football around us? The NFL is in week two, the CFL is in the heart of their season and College football is in full swing. Pinch me, but the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions are 2-0. Am I dreaming or is this real?

I am not sure there a better example of teamwork than the sport of football. Of the 11 men on the field in the NFL, 10 serve as support for the ball carrier, whether that be the QB, the receivers or running back. As illustrated in the above photo, more than 90% of the players put their bodies at risk so someone else - the ball carrier - can have clear ground to run.

This is a great analogy for what management consultants do for their clients: we do whatever it takes, so the client can have success. In fact, if a consultant really wants the client to embrace the solution, they have to deftly ensure that the client is part of the analysis, the discovery and the process. Clients may believe they came up with the solution...and may even downplay the role of the consultant.

But, as consultants, we know the work we do. We till the soil so the plants or ideas can grow. We bring objectivity and independence so outside ideas can be considered. We open the minds of the stakeholders so plans can take root. We serve as outside influences so plans are not put off and do not go astray.

We are the blockers from football.......we create the space so the client can have clear ground to run.

The next time you watch a football game, I urge you to watch it thinking how the roles are similar to the client/consultant relationship.

Three Canadian Cities

2011-09-01T07:20:00.029-04:00

Earlier this week, the Economist Intelligence Unit released their annual list of the world's most liveable cities. While Vancouver lost their pre-eminent position (which it has held for the past ten years), it came in at a very respectable #3 in the rankings. Not to be missed, Toronto and Calgary placed #4 and #5.

In short, Canada had three cities in the top five, out of 140 of the world's biggest cities.

Having had the experience of dealing with rankings in higher education for many years, it is so important to look at how the survey and rankings are compiled. Essentially, one must question whether they agree with the methodology. But beyond this....we can argue until the cows come home...the EIU measured such broad issues as education, culture, crime, transportation, cost of living, healthcare, etc. Not a bad balance of the important issues.

What a great testimony to Canada and our standard of living. It is always so easy to complain about things, but for anyone who has travelled beyond North America, I'm sure one realizes that we are truly blessed in Canada.

For what it is worth, in my rankings, Vancouver wins hands down. I've had the opportunity to travel to various continents...for business and pleasure...and there is no city with such diversity and a bounty of benefits. Add Whistler to the mix and you can't beat it.

Please think about this....the next time you feel distressed about some issue here in Canada, about how hard done by we are, remember, compared to other countries and cities in the world, we are very fortunate.

Signs...

2011-08-30T09:26:00.000-04:00

Signs, signs, everywhere there are signs...

Labour Day is around the corner. The final long weekend in the summer. After which, the drive to work gets busier. Children will be seen walking to school and school buses will populate the roads.

Hockey season is upon us. Ice is in the arenas across Canada and the parking lots are starting to fill up. As head coach of my son's competitive hockey team, we just finished tryouts and made our final cuts (this never gets easier).

The heat and humidity is ceasing...evenings are pleasant and windows are open, instead of the air conditioners running full blast.

Calendars start to get chock a block full, as everyone is back from the cottage.

For me, it is even a different end of summer. My eldest son is off to University in a week. He will be moving into residence and we will have an empty bedroom in the house.

For many of you - you have already dealt with this. But, I've always been the youngest person in the office and it is a nasty shock to the system to realize that I actually have a son old enough to attend college.

I remember my first few days at University like it was yesterday. I remember some of the fun (trouble) we had. I hope my son has more sense than I did. All in all, it was a great learning experience and the learning was not just in the classroom. It was a time that I'd never trade for anything in the world.

Wish me luck in coping. More importantly, wish my son, Tait, luck as he settles into being a frosh at Western.

A Leader Passes

2011-08-22T23:37:00.001-04:00

I have never voted for the NDP, yet I greatly admired their accomplishment earlier this year - becoming the official opposition. I have never agreed with their politics, yet for some reason, perhaps because the Tories earned a majority Government, it felt safe and good to see Jack Layton lead his party to record success.

Why?

I believe it was because I thought he was a good guy - a fair person. Someone who I'd like to have a beer with.

This is really something, as there have been few Federal leaders who I have admired. Nothing personal, but I just don't like how politics cause good people to change. But, Jack seemed to be able to rise above all of this.

As a result, Jack was able to do something that few others have been able to do - get support across this vast country....especially in Quebec.

Canada lost someone who helped to raise the bar. His personal leadership style helped to set the standard for others. I believe he helped make Canada a better place.

To Jack's family, I know they are feeling this incredible loss. I hope they know how much he will be missed....by all Canadians.

Sports Parallel Life or Life Parallel Sports

2011-08-16T07:48:00.002-04:00

There have been many smart people who have said sports teach some great life lessons. The final round of the 93rd PGA Golf Championships yesterday did not disappoint. The final holes of Sunday's round provided an up and down drama that demonstrated why you should never give up and how it is always possible to find a bright side.

Ultimately, Keegan Bradley won the PGA but as he finished the 15th hole, winning should have been the furthest thought from his mind. You see, Bradley took a triple bogey 6 at the 15th, putting him 5 strokes behind the leader, Justin Dufner. With only three holes to play, 5 strokes is almost an impossible challenge to overcome. I did say, "almost".

After his collapse last week, where he shot a 5 over par, 41, in his final nine at the Bridgestone Invitational, one could hardly fault him for feeling down and out. Instead, Bradley felt bad for just a minute, then thought, this is a tough set of finishing holes, so who knows what can happen. He put the 15th hole behind him and went and made two birdies in the final three holes.

Luckily for Bradley, Dufner felt the overwhelming pressure of being in the lead and started shooting bogeys himself. By the 18th hole, he lost the lead and they went into a playoff....which Bradley won.

Bradley's ability to put the triple bogey behind him, when all seemed lost, was great. But, watching the interviews of Dufner, who lost a five shot lead, with three holes to go, was incredible.

If you were a 34 year old journeyman golfer, who had been toiling on the minor tours for years, it would have been easy to feel like you lost your one big break. Winning the PGA would have changed Dufner's life. But, his ability to look at the bright side, was fantastic. His interviews were all positive. He said that he might regret this loss 15 years from now, but today, he feels this is the start of his career.

The PGA demonstrated two great learnings: how to never give up and also, how to look at the bright side. These are skills that everyone in the world needs to learn. The skills of winners.

IKEA Furniture Is The Latest To Be Hit By Counterfeiters

2011-08-02T18:00:00.007-04:00

After the Chinese rip-off of the Apple Store concept (blogged on last week), it has been revealed that the Chinese have also copied the IKEA concept (look, feel and products) right down to the miniature pencils.

The blue and yellow colour scheme, just like the Swedish flag, the large showrooms, with replica rooms, all are part of 11 Furniture. There is even a cafeteria...though they don't serve Swedish meatballs. You might think, copying a concept isn't as bad as what happened to Apple...the store's brand name is different. In English, yes, this is true. However, in Chinese, the name of "11 Furniture" sounds very close to "IKEA"....so there is some copying going on.

How many other retail stores and brands have been copied? As one article, that quoted a consultant from Booz and Company, indicated, "This is a new phenomenon...Typically there are a lot of fake products, we now see more fakes in the service aspect in terms of (faking) the retail formats."

Back in 2001/02, I was traveling in China, liaising with business people in a previous role. The big development was that China was entering the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a full-fledged member. The concern from the developed world, was whether China would implement laws that respected intellectual property rights.

It has been ten years and perhaps there has been some improvement (I cannot comment on this as I haven't traveled back there for five years), but it doesn't appear that the enforcement of such laws has impacted the behaviour and values of some business people. The Chinese Government's lack of action, until the violations have been reported on, is most disturbing.

Consider the risk for any Western World corporation in partnering or sharing their IP with companies who may have questionable business practices. Is it worth it?

This whole issue of IP protection is vitally important, not only in China, but everywhere around the world and in every industry.

From the perspective of management consulting institutes, I am pleased to report that the International Council for Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI), in 2011, approved a resolution respecting IP between the 50+ institutes worldwide (http://www.icmci.org/protocol-on-recognition-of-intellectual-property-rights). While this may not be 100% relevant to individual professionals, the more we can ensure that we are all working according to the same rules, the more confident we will be in all of our agreements, as we increase our dealings with individuals, firms and organizations around the globe.

Sometimes You Find Someone Who Cares...

2011-08-02T08:47:00.003-04:00

An update on my blog post about lost luggage. After checking the lost baggage website all day on Friday and seeing no progress, I decided to call the 1-800 phone number for lost luggage. I didn't hold out much hope as I expected the United customer service agent would be looking at the same computer information as I was.

But, often in times of most despair, there comes a shining light. I was fortunate to have found a live customer service agent who cared. She was very pleasant, conducted some further investigation and found that my luggage had been located and was enroute to my home airport. As for why the website didn't show anything about my luggages' status...when the bags were retagged, no one had made the link from the old baggage tags to the new tags. Thus, the website still remains incorrect today.

My bags were delivered at 10 pm on Friday night, which was in time for the long weekend. Great news. I was a satisfied customer.

Thank you to the United Airlines customer service agent who provided the update on my luggage. I wish I had noted her name so I could acknowledge her assistance. Overall, dealing with this agent, was a great example of how live people add value, as compared to dealing with the internet and computers.

United Breaks Guitars.....or....Loses Luggage

2011-07-29T15:24:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I returned from my summer vacation in San Francisco. We had a great vacation, until the trip back. We flew from SFO to Detroit (DTW), hubbing through O'Hare (ORD). We had a 2 1/4 hour layover in Chicago. When we landed in Detroit, we patiently waited for ALL of the bags to come down the conveyor. We quickly retrieved our suitcases but waited and waited and waited for our three sets of golf clubs. They never came. We checked with the United baggage handlers and apparently, the bags never made the connection in Chicago.

Well, I completely understand that sometimes errors are made. So, I filled out a lost baggage form and they promised to ship the clubs when they arrive....probably on the next flight from Chicago. No big deal.

Anxiously, I have been checking United's lost baggage website all day today. The most recent update was, "we have not received confirmation that your baggage has been located." That's reassuring.

I've lost bags before and overall, I found that airlines don't seem to care about finding the bags. No urgency. No compassion. No caring. Only when I was a Super Elite frequent flyer did they care.

Why is this important? After all, this is the end of our vacation. Surely we can wait a day for the clubs to show up.

Well, consider that this is the long weekend. I have two games scheduled with guests from out of town - tomorrow and Sunday. Adding to this, my son plays competitive golf. He has three tournaments next week, five the week after and two the next. He has the Canadian Optimists National Junior Golf Championships in a week and a half. If we don't see the clubs today, I fear we won't see it for a week or so. My guess is that my son won't play his best with borrowed clubs.

Also, with all of the new baggage handling fees that airlines charge, I expect a bit better service than when baggage was free and included in the price of a ticket. You see, I paid over $300 to bring my luggage to SFO and back. For that price, I actually have higher customer expectations...I expect the bags to show up when I do. And, if they don't, the next day would be nice.

This incident brings to mind the YouTube video, "United Breaks Guitars" put out by Canadian musician Dave Carroll and his group, Sons of Maxwell, last year. It recorded more than 10 million hits.

Carroll wrote the song after watching baggage handlers at O'Hare airport throw his guitar around on the tarmac, from his airplane window. When he complained, instead of apologizing and reimbursing Carroll, United tossed the blame back on him, asking him why he checked his guitar anyways. What a lesson in customer service.

Here is some wording on United's lost baggage website, "Although we are unable to accept responsibility if your item is not recovered, we will do all that is possible to help you locate it". What a great customer service statement. For $300.

By the way, United did offer to make amends to Dave Carroll.....only after the video went viral.

Wish me luck on finding the clubs, or god help me in getting this blog post to go viral!

The Next Scandal....

2011-07-21T10:57:00.000-04:00

As we continue to make progress on growing CMC-Canada, we still encounter the same questions about why an individual would consider joining an association and pursuing a designation that is not required. Many of you have heard my "ten bucks" speech - which describes the fact that business cards can be purchased for as little as ten bucks...and you can write anything on it...including the words, "management consultant". Ten bucks therefore represents the barrier to entry for our profession.

This low barrier has resulted in a lack of standards and quality. Some so called professionals who seek short-term fees as opposed to the greater, long-term good of the client. While many, including those who ply their trade with the large, global firms, believe that their practice is largely insulated from the damage of the unscrupulous...people forget about what happened to Arthur Andersen thanks to the decisions of only two partners...or, the questions of contracts at eHealth.

For anyone who has heard me speak about CMC-Canada and the need for a professional association - I state that, I believe, we are one or two corporate scandals away from the business community demanding some standard -whatever that might be.

And, I'm not sure that these scandals need to even be in the professional services arena. It may be something that undermines the trust that people have in "professionals".

Well, there is an article in today's Globe and Mail that will shake your concept of trust to the bones. Entire Apple stores are being faked in China. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/entire-apple-stores-being-faked-in-china/article2104523/

The source of the article is a North American, living in China....who wrote about this in their blog - http://birdabroad.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/are-you-listening-steve-jobs/

I know this counterfeit store has nothing to do with professional services, but it has to shake your confidence at some level. What if you had bought a product at this store?

Who can you trust?

Trust is the hardest thing to earn, yet it is lost in an instant.

Food for thought.

Take your Vacation!

2011-07-11T09:33:00.001-04:00

As a consultant, it is so important to take the work when it is available. For many of us, this is so ingrained in our psyche that we rarely turn down work....even when we have enough or when truly need a period to recharge our batteries.

Like many, I look forward to the end of school, as the rush hour commute gets lighter (isn't this just a sad commentary of Toronto based consultants?). I rarely plan ahead for a vacation in the summer, as I don't like slowing down. Rather, I get forced into taking time off when I realize my kids only have a few weeks when they can escape sports and other commitments.

Well, it is officially the summer and this blog entry is to encourage you to take your well-earned vacation. You will feel better, and you will come back refreshed and more energetic. You will find new solutions to problems and your clients and the projects will still be there.

Myself, I have scheduled a few short trips: camping with my kids, a trip to San Francisco and Big Sur and a bit of golf. I started my summer last week camping at Long Point and I spent a few days on the water, boating and helping the kids tube. This week, I get to play in a 3 day golf tournament, even though my game is not at its peak. Next week, I leave for the west coast.

So, I encourage each of you to not forget the two summer months we have in Canada, to recharge.

Canada Day - Remembering the Warmth of Gander, Newfoundland

2011-06-30T07:09:00.052-04:00

It has been 10 years since the unbelievable catastrophe which was 9/11. To this day, I cannot watch videos of the airplanes hitting the World Trade Center towers. This day caused me to question the people and the world we live in....more than anything else I have experienced in my life.

Last year, at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Tom Brokaw did a terrific piece explaining Canada to the Americans. It was one of the most patriotic pieces describing Canada that I have seen. It is still online at YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrA4V6YF6SA).

Brokaw did another piece which received less notoriety, but it was possibly even more stirring....it was titled, "Operation Yellow Ribbon," and was a story on the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland, who welcomed 7,000 stranded passengers on 9/11. As we celebrate Canada Day this year, I suggest that you watch this video (http://jaretmanuel.com/msnbc-gander-tom-brokaw-911-operation-yellow-ribbon-story), as it will do more to make you proud to be a Canadian than anything else that you will watch or hear in your life. It makes you realize that the human spirit is alive and well.

At the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, we are proud of the fact that we represent consulting professionals from across this great country. We have members from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, with many in between. Often times, when we are negotiating agreements across our Institutes or dealing with member requests, it is a challenge to ensure that everyone's interests are represented. Sometimes, it seems like we have more differences than we have in common.

We are currently negotiating the renewal of the "Teaming Agreement", which is our "Constitution" that links all of the Provincial Institutes with the Canadian Association of Management Consultants. But after watching this video, I know it is worth the effort to find common ground...because together, we are stronger than the sum of the parts.

Thank you to all our members from Newfoundland and the Atlantic Canada Institute for making me proud to be associated with you, as a Canadian and as a fellow member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants.

Another Scandal

2011-06-22T08:53:00.001-04:00

If you have heard me speak in the recent past, I have been focused on the word, "professional". There are too many people/groups who call themselves "professionals", yet I'm not convinced they truly understand the meaning of the word. In my humble opinion, it is an overused word that is largely "underdelivered", leaving one with an "underwhelming" feeling.

In a New York Times article from two days ago (click on the NY Times logo to read), there was a story on another scandal. This is not one of the large, well publicized scandals, but it involves how consultants committed fraud with the City of New York. Like the more famous scandals, it is all about greed and displays a complete lack of foresight on how actions like these impact on one's "reputation". Short-term gain for long-term pain.

What burns me about this is that the job/career of the culprits are labelled as "consultants". It impacts us all.

As I have said before, we are moving closer to a tipping point, where the public, our clients and the profession, will demand greater accountability....and a common code of conduct and/or a professional accreditation just might be something that separates the pretenders from the truly professional. The pretenders will not commit either the time or the moral fibre to adhere to a professional code.

Let your voices be heard, so your clients know that you adhere to a code of professional conduct....not because you have to, but because you want to be a professional.

Lord Stanley's Cup

2011-06-17T04:44:00.000-04:00

Last night, the Boston Bruins capped one of the most remarkable playoff runs in history with a game 7 win in Vancouver. 3 out of their 4 Stanley Cup playoff series went to game 7. They were the underdogs and trailed in games throughout the final series, but they showed their tenacity and they won their first Cup since 1972 with Bobby Orr.

The work ethic of the Bruins was my key memory. The team with the most talent may not have won, but it is clear the team with the biggest heart did win.

Congratulations to Tim Thomas for his Conn Smythe (MVP) award. Apologies to all Canadians for the hooligans who rioted in Vancouver. I feel for many of the Canucks' stars who did not perform to the peak of their abilities in game 7 - as it will weigh heavily for years to come.

Saturday is the Stanley Cup parade in Beantown. I wonder how many people will show? Will it be similar to Chicago's record of 2.5 million people last year? Great to see a Original 6 team rekindle their team spirit.

On Track...

2011-06-13T11:25:00.001-04:00

This coming weekend is Father's Day but it is also sixteen weeks from October 9, 2011 - the date of the Chicago Marathon.

It has been a while since I shared my intention to run a marathon and get back into shape. Well, training has been going well and it has not been without a bit of pain. Obviously clearing fifteen years of rust took a bit of determination, but since November, I have been training on a regular basis. It might not seem like much, but I have built up a 10 km (6 mile) base. Slowly but surely, I've been feeling better on each run.

Last week, we started to build our long runs. 8 miles went well last week. 10 miles this weekend. More miles each and every weekend. It gets tougher with the heat. Hopefully, I will do a half-marathon by July. Then, we will keep pushing the long runs up until two weeks before Chicago.

The body has not been so cooperative (funny how things don't work as well the older we get). I have suffered through a number of muscle pulls, but keep your fingers crossed, the achilles is better now.

The mental toughness will be surely tested as the mileage builds. This is what I really need, as there is nothing like the mental battle when you are running 26 miles. When the body wants to quit, the mind has to remain resolute, determined and focused. Training is working the body and the mind.

This is exactly the crossover between work and my training....conditioning the mind. We are moving into an important year for CMC-Canada. This discipline will help us continue on the path we are traveling. More good things in fiscal 2011-2012, but it will take lots of focus.

More updates on both the marathon and CMC-Canada as we get closer to our goals.

The Glass is Half Full

2011-05-30T20:05:00.005-04:00

I don't know about you, but I try my best to see things from the positive perspective. I know it is hard sometimes, especially when you deal with tough situations (part of my practice includes turnaround management and insolvency), but it is a great trait/skill to have.

As I was surfing the iBooks store on my new iPad 2, I came across this book by Neil Pasricha, a Canadian, who has a great story to share. It is all about how he made a conscious decision, a few years back, when not everything was coming up rosy, to try to appreciate the little things in life. The Book of Awesome reminds readers of the finer things in life.....not the material trappings, but the important things.

Neil's story hit a nerve with me. Overall, I have lived a privileged life and I hope to never forget that....but a few years back, I was going through a tough time personally. It is so easy to forget how fortunate we are and get down. Like Neil, I made a decision to look at the bright side and focus on the positive.

This book will take you back to your childhood...it will help you appreciate why some of the problems we face, really aren't important in the big scheme of things. If you would rather watch, than read, visit Neil at TED (http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome.html/) or to learn more about Neil, his bio is posted at http://www.ted.com/speakers/neil_pasricha.html.

US Insider Trading Scandal May Result in a Crackdown on "Outside-Expert Firms"

2011-05-13T17:15:00.002-04:00

In Wednesday's issue of the New York Times, there was an article titled, "Next Up, a Crackdown on Outside-Expert Firms". I thank IMC USA's CEO, David Norman, for sharing this with me.

With the US Government securing a conviction in conjunction with another insider trading scandal (this time with the Galleon Group), the Times expects the Justice Department to now turn its focus to the consultants / expert firms who have earned handsome fees for providing non-public information.

My question after reading this.....after all of these scandals, when will the public, the Government and corporations demand that their advisors adhere to a code of conduct? Clearly there have been enough examples of firms, with so-called, impeccable reputations, who have gone off-side. I won't name names here, but some of the most prestigious firms have been sullied with one or more partners who did the wrong thing. In my mind, the brand and reputation of a big firm is not good enough.

Membership in a professional association will not stop all bad actors from doing what they are going to do....but, it may provide some comfort to those outside of our profession that anyone who makes the investment to become a member or pursue certification....that they are cut from a different cloth.

I feel that we are perhaps one scandal away from a public uprising. Do you agree?

BC Consulting Conference 2011

2011-05-06T08:29:00.000-04:00

We just finished the first day of the 2011 Consulting Conference, organized by CMC-BC. The theme is leading change and the conference is in beautiful Victoria, BC.

The organizing team led by, Evelyn Rutherford, CMC, Chair, have done a terrific job in recruiting speakers and planning the conference. Hats off to Lori Roter, Mary Colak and Stephanie Slater.

The keynote speaker yesterday was Seth Kahan, who spoke about visionary leadership and getting change right. Seth reminded everyone that, "change is social" and that we can't forget that.

Professional development is crucial, to maintain the value of your intellectual capital asset. Conferences like this are a great way to expand your horizons, broaden your thinking and challenge old beliefs.

Our colleagues in Atlantic Canada hosted their conference this week as well, while Manitoba has their AGM next week, and Saskatchewan will be hosting two events next Friday. I encourage everyone to get out to network with their colleagues and add to their asset. See you in the prairies next week.

consult

2011-04-23T15:07:00.001-04:00

It is in the mail. Members will receive their copy any day now. Our inaugural issue of consult magazine is hot off the presses.

It took a bit longer to get the first issue published, but the results are well worth the wait. Consult will be published semi-annually and will become THE source of information about the industry and profession.

Circulation is 5,000, with just over 3,000 going to members, and the remainder distributed in a controlled circulation to key influencers, decision-makers and users of consulting services.

If you can't wait for the hard copy in the mail, I encourage you to see the online version, visit: www.consult-magazine.ca

Boston Marathon

2011-04-18T13:13:00.000-04:00

Every event, everything is this world has a standard. Throughout the years, no matter if other teams/things do well for a few years, the old standard continues to be the basis for comparison. Everything else is measured against the standard.

For baseball teams, it is the NY Yankees, for hockey, it is the Montreal Canadiens, for tall buildings, it is the Sears Tower, for military strength, it is the US Armed Forces, for mixed sporting events, it is the Olympics. You get the picture.

Well, for marathons, the standard is the Boston Marathon. No matter how many people run Chicago (45,000) or New York (30,000), Boston is the grand-daddy of them all. It is the most prestigious and the one that people who know nothing about marathons, know.

Today, on Patriot's Day, was the 115th running of the Boston. Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai set a world's record with a 26 mile 385 yard run of 2 hours and 3 minutes and 2 seconds. This time is unheard of and obliterated the world record by almost a minute (FYI - Boston's course is too hilly and times are not recognized as official world's records). In the race that everyone associates with marathons, Mutai ran an unbelievable race.

Why am I talking about standards? CMC is a standard and we continue to work hard to establish it as "the" standards.

Happy Patriots' Day.

Federal Election 2011

2011-04-17T20:33:00.000-04:00

Its the halfway point for the Federal election. The leaders' debates are already done and now, it is the final two weeks of campaigning before the vote.

What will we get on May 2nd? Another minority government? The same result as we have had in the past three elections - a minority government? This is the fifth election in the past 11 years. These minority governments cost too much, in terms of instability, more frequent elections and no solid direction when it comes to economic/fiscal/social initiatives.

Canada has regressed to a collection of regions. If you analyze the vote, we have very few national parties....we have regions voting for their favourites.

Canada needs stability. As much as I respect all of the parties, if we were more like the USA and we only had two major parties, we would get a decision. If we end up with our fourth minority, then something needs to be changed.

Lets hope there is a more definitive answer on May 2nd.

Me and my buddy, Big George

2011-04-05T11:50:00.001-04:00

The months of April and May will be extremely busy at CMC-Canada, with the annual budget process, the May 2011 in-person Board meeting (Regina), a number of speaking engagements and the planning for the Industry Association initiative.

Before all of this, I took the opportunity to steal a few days in Hilton Head Island, SC, for spring training....golf, that is. My good friend has a place down south and I was fortunate to partake in his hospitality.

Normally, when I have golfed in either FL, SC or VA in the past, I have seen small (5-6 foot) gators. We steer clear of them and give them their space. I don't go and look for golf balls near the ponds.

Last week on the 14th hole of the Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes I saw a log on the edge of the pond, about 200 yards from the tee. As we drove out to our drives, I met "Big George". Unlike the previous gators I've seen, George was about 11 feet long and much, much fatter. I even got George in a photo (above). Now I realize this probably wasn't the smartest thing in the world, as I understand George can run fast for short distances. Suffice it to say, I didn't go further than one quick step from the golf cart.

As for my golf game, all I can say is, "it is spring training" and this is where I'm supposed to work out the kinks.

Raising the Bar

2011-03-21T07:56:00.000-04:00

I hope you have noticed.

Over the past year, we have been redefining the CMC-Canada brand, look and feel. Our objective is to make the association more contemporary, more personal, more human, and to deliver key messages that answer why professional associations and designations should be an important part of one's career. "Raising the Bar" is not only what we have been doing internally, but it is what our members want to do when they decide to invest in themselves.

We realize that everyone has a choice on how they build their personal brand - where they invest their professional development dollars. For those individuals who want to strive for excellence, to be the best advisor they can be, to join a community of professionals who adhere to a higher standard, we believe CMC-Canada is a great choice.

All of our collateral material is being updated with the new look. Today, we set up our new trade show booth (featuring Andrea and Jerod). The theme, "Raising the Bar", which is what we are doing at CMC-Canada.

Our Institutes and Chapters will be getting new vertical banners, which you will see at upcoming events...again with the new branding. We will have a new slide deck, marketing and communications templates. Our presentation folders and all of our brochures, for membership and our courses, will all have a consistent look and feel.

Obviously, the branding must be followed up with substance. Raising the bar.

Federal Government Entering Crucial Week

2011-03-18T14:37:00.004-04:00

Will the Federal Government fall next week with the budget? Will there be a spring 2011 election? Why is next week critical?

For answers to these questions, you must attend CMC-Canada Eastern Ontario Chapter's event on Thursday March 24th (lunch) at the National Arts Centre. Howard Mains, Co-President of Tactix Government Relations, will detail the issues and the confidence votes facing the Harper Tories in the coming two weeks.

This is one of the best timed events ever, as it is in the midst of "hell week" for the Tories. The budget comes down two days before the lunch and there are a series of confidence votes throughout the week. Ask your questions to someone in the know. How will the election impact you and your firm? Find out.

To learn more about the event and to register, visit: http://www.cmc-canada.ca/event_details.cfm?Portal_ID=18&Event_ID=408

To learn more about Tactix's thoughts about the weeks ahead, read their commentary.

Speaking at Universities....Especially in Waterloo

2011-03-17T12:11:00.004-04:00

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of presenting to the students enrolled in the Management Consulting program at Ryerson University. Milt Moscowitz, FCMC, is teaching the class and I was glad to attend. Thanks to Ron Babin and Ken Grant for their support of the launch of this program in January.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to speak to students at the Wilfrid Laurier University Consulting Club. Comprised of Bachelor of Business Administration students, the Laurier Consulting Club, was launched last year, by fourth year student Cameron Sinclair (his father, Tom, is a CMC). Cameron is ably supported by a cadre of enthusiastic colleagues, including Sean Mui-Tummers, who worked with us last summer. It is always great to be in a room with a smart and energetic students, who are on the verge of launching their career.

On Friday, I was back at my alma mater, where I serve as an Entrepreneur in Residence, at the Pierre Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, at the Richard Ivey School of Business. I met with one of the student teams, who have been developing a business plan for an exciting new venture. Again, the vibrancy and energy of youth is contagious.

But I wanted to focus on a visit I made to CBET (Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology) at the University of Waterloo (pictured above). CBET is one of the most exciting developments in higher education in this country. It is the alternative to the traditional MBA....but it is part of the faculty of engineering at the University of Waterloo.

I have always admired the University of Waterloo for the world-class programs they offer in math, computer science and engineering. With all due respect to all other Canadian Universities, this is the MIT or Cal Tech of Canada. It is truly world-class and I am not using this term lightly. Microsoft see Waterloo as one of their primary recruiting grounds. When Bill Gates speaks at Universities, Waterloo is the only stop in Canada. My nephew graduated from Waterloo Math and promptly accepted a job down in Silicon Valley with Google. This is the norm, not the exception. The graduates are scooped up around the world.

Why? Waterloo oozes excellence. It thinks big. The words, "world-class" and "global" are used in every sentence. Waterloo has a global reputation that many Canadians don't know about. RIM co-CEOs Lazaridis and Ballsillie separately have donated almost $200 million at Waterloo to establish various centres (most Canadian Universities don't raise this much in a whole campaign, let alone, from two donors). One centre, the Perimeter Institute, attracted physicist Stephen Hawking, as a visiting professor. One of the engineering professors is the father of the second most influential business writer in the world, Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point). I can go on.

And, the city is the beneficiary of this intellectual horsepower. Waterloo is the home of RIM (creators of the Blackberry), OpenText, Google Canada, and other technology companies, to name a few. Waterloo's level of entrepreneurship activity can be measured by looking at Communitech, the NFP that supports the development of technology companies.

If you want to see a city where things are happening, where the business leaders, academics, students, and young professionals believe anything is possible, you have to visit Waterloo. This is the place to be.

The Windy City

2011-03-14T08:00:00.047-04:00

Chicago is one of my favourite cities. Not enough people give enough respect to the Windy City. It doesn't get the attention of the Big Apple, London, Paris or LA.

I, for one, am a huge fan.

Michigan Ave, better known as Magnificent Mile, is truly one of the great streets in the world. Don't agree with me? Visit Magnificent Mile between US Thanksgiving and Christmas and you'll forget about Fifth Ave in NYC. It radiates Christmas joy and spirit.

Museums. Chicago is home to so many great cultural institutions - like the Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum and the Art Institute....plus Chicago (Oak Park) is also home to Frank Lloyd Wright's home and trust.

Towers and architecture. Consider the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) at 108 stories, the John Hancock Tower at 100 stories, the Amoco Buidling (now the AON Tower) at 83 stories and the wide collection of Mies van der Rohe and Skidmore Owings and Merrill edifices and you have another checkmark for the city.

Who can ignore a city with the Blackhawks, one of the most exciting hockey teams in the NHL. Seeing them win the Stanley Cup last year, after a 49 year absence, was heartwarming (it even gives Leafs' fans hope). Also, "da Bears", the Cubbies, Sox and Bulls, add to the reputation of this great sporting city.

For all you fast food aficionados, Hamburger University is located in Chicago. Ray Kroc started his McDonald's empire in Chicago.

Why am I promoting Chicago? Because I'm headed there this week, to meet with the braintrust of IMC USA - our colleagues, who manage the CMC designation in the USA.

Under Drumm MacNaughton's leadership, IMC USA is making a strong play to attract the big firms to the ICMCI (worldwide purveyor of the CMC designation) family.

The best way for the CMC designation to really build its reputation is if some of the big firms adopt it as their standard. While we have a number of initiatives to bring large firms "back into the tent", IMC USA's initiative is a very important one.

At CMC-Canada, we will do whatever it takes to partner and support this initiative. Gen Bonin, FCMC, is our key representative, working on this project. I am fully committed to this and our Chicago meeting is to continue the work to move this project forward.

Stay tuned.

PS - for those of you who are following my return to running. I have registered for the 2011 Lasalle Bank Chicago Marathon, which will be run on October 9, 2011. The training continues well.

It really is all about people

2011-03-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

Last week, in one of the most anticipated product announcements in recent memory, it wasn't the iPad 2 that garnered the headlines....it was the appearance of Steve Jobs, who made the announcement.

While there was much press about the iPad, there was nothing that wasn't anticipated. The news reports simply confirmed features and capabilities that were expected.

The most interesting item from March 2nd, was that Jobs was healthy enough to make an appearance. And, it wasn't just a boring speech - Jobs showed the same captivating style that has made him one of the most admired leaders in business history. Remember, it was just a month since Jobs stepped down from his CEO role, due to health related reasons.

Why am I blogging about this? Because, despite best efforts of the business world to focus on technology, features and innovation, at the end of the day, it is all about people. The unique personalities, the imperfections, the human condition, is what we are all really interested in.

Taking it one step further - as management consultants, it is all too easy to focus on the plan. Let's build the best strategy or business model. Let's manage the project to the minute detail. But, in the end, things don't work out in a 100% logical, planned manner...because it is all about people. And, people are unpredictable. People sometimes think from the heart, rather than the head.

Call it leadership, change management, team building, project management - it all comes down to people. People are what makes life interesting. Without people, things would be far too easy to predict, it would be boring and repetitious. Ask anyone who has a job that does not involve human interaction.

I, for one, feel privileged to have a role where dealing with people is my primary responsibility. For all of the brains and intelligence that consultants have, I truly hope that I and my colleagues never forget what the real secret is...dealing with people.

Canada is a Great Country

2011-02-22T14:58:00.005-05:00

With all of our daily pressures, it is so easy to forget how good we have it - here in Canada.

I know rush hour in Toronto is nothing to look forward to, nor is it fun to be stuck on highway #1 in Vancouver (as I was last week). I know Calgary, Montreal and Halifax's rush hours are no fun either. I know there are many other things that we can complain about too. It isn't perfect.

But, when you look at other issues, like healthcare, culture, environment, education, infrastructure and stability, we are not that bad...actually we are very good, when compared against other world cities.

Today, for the second year in a row, the Economist magazine (http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/02/liveability_ranking) ranked Vancouver as the #1 city in the world for livability. No argument here. I can attest to the fact that I think Vancouver is the best.

Toronto was ranked #4 and Calgary was #5 (good thing they weren't ranking hockey teams!!!)

I believe this goes to show how fortunate we are in Canada - to have three cities recognized as world leaders. Personally, I think the world of Montreal and Halifax too, but I'm not complaining given that we had three cities make the top 10 list.

Not sure. Don't agree? Just ask anyone who isn't from Canada on how good Canada is. They'll tell you - that when we complain, we are looking at the glass as half empty.

Whenever I hear discontent about our nation, about our economy, about life in general, whether it be the old east/west rivalry, anglophone/francophone or the flavour of the month....I chalk it all up to the fact that we don't have a great basis for comparison. It is so easy to forget, when we spend the majority of our lives in North America. Even with a recession and a real estate glut, North America is the Disneyland in global issues. before you complain, investigate a bit further...and I think you will agree that things are pretty damn good here.

Last week was the one year anniversary of the Opening Ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympic Games. I believe the country changed last year - with our pride. I think the Olympics were when we realized how great a country we have....and we weren't afraid to show it.

So, I ask. The next time you think something is bad. Pause. Think about it in the big scheme of things. My guess is that it isn't so bad.

Running...

2011-02-06T07:00:00.003-05:00

Back in December, I blogged about the fact that I am going to run a Fall 2011 marathon. Well, it is two months later and I thought you might be interested to hear what is happening.

How many people say they are going to do one thing and do another? Especially when it requires a long-term commitment and is physically difficult.

Well, here is my progress report.

The group of three friends I called in December, has expanded into six. We are all running again. It is a long way back, so injuries have already taken their toll, but we are running.

Our plan is modest. While we used to run for time before, this time, we are running to finish.

We have set milestones that are modest and reasonable. Our first objective is simply to get comfortable running again. It is amazing how much rust gathers on the body. Our next objective is to build a base of 6 miles....where 6 miles is easy to do. This base is key. We will run at 10K in May. Through the summer, we will slowly build the base. We will run a half (marathon) in August/September. Then, the full in October/November.

We have targeted the New York City, but we have done that a number of times. So, another school of thought is to do one of the other well-known, large-scale marathons that we haven't run. I'm thinking of three:

Washington's Marine Corps is an outstanding run, with the streets lined with Marines (they either have to run the race or volunteer). Almost 20,000 people run the Marine Corps and it is now the 4th largest marathon in the US and 8th largest in the world.

The Chicago Marathon has 35,000 runners. Alongside Boston, New York, London and Berlin, it is one of the five world marathon majors.

The Walt Disney World Marathon has about 13,500 runners. I don't know, but it could be neat running through all the theme parks. I know the families would like it. But, will it be difficult to concentrate with all the frivolity?

We need to pick a race soon. These races fill up quickly.

Well, I'm off for a pack run right now.

The loss of a Mentor

2011-02-04T16:42:00.004-05:00

Earlier this week, I received the most unfortunate news, that Lawrence G. Tapp had passed away. It took me by surprise and caused me to pause and reflect on the man that Larry was.

I had the distinct privilege of working with Larry at the Richard Ivey School of Business where he served as Dean. Larry thought "big" and was the leader who had the courage to take the School in a different direction - that ultimately served as a catalyst to change Canadian higher ed, forever.

Since 1995, when the venerable Western Business School, took the first step and was renamed, no less than 20 faculties in Canadian Universities have had leadership donors make transformational, naming gifts. My rough estimate is that if you add up these naming gifts since 1995, it totals more than half a billion dollars.

But, this wasn't Larry's only major accomplishment, rather this was an example of how he thought. He had the courage to take risks and think outside the box.

His contributions spanned across business, academia, and high performance athletics, to his co-workers and his family. A testament to his contributions can been seen by the broad range of organizations who have issued press releases mourning his loss. From the Ivey Business School, to the companies on whose Boards he served, to Swimming Canada, the messages are all consistent...thank you Larry for making our organizations better.

Larry served as a mentor to me. He was extremely loyal to those who were on his "team". I am indebted to Larry for his tutelage.

In closing, the best way to describe Larry.....and Robert Frost said it so well in his iconic poem, "The Road Not Taken". Larry "took the one less traveled, and that has made all the difference."

Thank you Larry.

We live in a Global World yet it is so Small

2011-01-31T19:38:00.005-05:00

I have an amazing story and one that illustrates how small a world it is. Please bear with me and read this whole post...it is a neat story.

What are there, 6 billion people on this earth? Almost 4 billion live in Asia.

Back in 2003, I was attending an Advisory Board meeting in Hong Kong, for the organization that I worked for at the time. We had a new Board member, Yoshihide Nakamura, who no one had met before. He was the Chairman of Sony Chemicals, in Tokyo, Japan. During the introductions, Nakamura-san looked at my business card, looked at me and asked if a relative of mine had worked for him. Apparently, I looked just like someone he knew.

My family immigrated from Japan to the USA around 1903. My grandfather moved to Canada in the early 1920's. Before WWII, my father and his brother were separated as the brother was sent back to Japan. They never saw each other again for almost 50 years and only kept loose contact.

My uncle had a son. This son, my first cousin (who I don't know), is Jun Yonemitsu, and he works at Sony. He is an engineer (official title, Chief Distinguished Researcher). Apparently, he invented the DVD. That is who Nakamura knew. It is amazing that Nakamura made the connection....halfway around the globe.

While Nakamura-san extended an invitation for me to visit Tokyo and did the requisite introductions, life was too busy and I never took advantage of the opportunity. Jun and I traded a few e-mails and are on each other's facebook networks.

An amazing story in itself....but it doesn't end there.

Fast forward to today. Last week, I saw that Jun posted on his facebook that he was in Las Vegas, so I sent him a note...inviting him to come and visit the family, he never knew, in Canada.

I heard back from Jun over the weekend. Jun is in Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) receiving an Emmy Award for technical innovation for developing the Blu-Ray. I realize it is a multi-organizational, team effort, but I can brag that I knew one of the chief engineers (click on the link to read the press release and quote from Jun).

Congratulations on the win Jun, the cousin I never knew.

What a small world. You never know who someone knows until you network with them.

Strategic Alliance with the Certified Management Accountants

2011-01-21T14:07:00.005-05:00

Thanks to those on our National Board with some foresight, as back in 2008, CMC's National Board of Directors agreed to initiate discussions with the CMAs on how we might be able to work together. From those early discussions, a strategic alliance was formed.

With 25,000 members, CMA Ontario was selected to be the pilot project. We have worked hard, together, to find ways deliver benefit to both CMC and CMA members.

We have hosted joint professional development events and offer "member" pricing to members of the other association. We have learnt much from how the CMA manages membership/certification and in a few months, we will release a new professional experience tool, which will help prospective members evaluate their work experience. As well, we now cross-promote major events to each others' membership.

We have developed a Professional stream, so those with CMAs can achieve the CMC designation. The CMA Professional Development Institute offers CMC approved courses and will be running a CMC "boot camp" this summer, so you can achieve all of your educational requirements, in one week.

A brochure ("Take your CMA career to new heights with the Certified Management Consultant designation") has been mailed to more than 5,000 CMA members.

The CMAs have been great to work with. With a successful pilot, we are planning to roll our alliance out Nationally. Our Provincial Institutes are meeting with their CMA equivalents to plan how we do this through 2011.

Watch for more information, but this has been a great journey so far.

Movin' on up...

2011-01-13T14:49:00.002-05:00

Do you remember George Jefferson, from the television show, "All the in Family"? "Movin' on up" was his motto and this is exactly what we, at CMC-Canada, will be doing this weekend.

Our lease is up at 4 King St. and we are moving to 401 Bay St. I am pleased to report that we signed the lease at the right time, and were able to secure a per foot rate that actually is better than the one we signed 5 years ago. Plus, the building and location are better.

Most importantly, we are making better use of the space we have. We have converted to an "open" concept office and with the space we saved, we have built a CMC-Canada Member Business Centre. For our members who find themselves in the downtown Toronto core in between meetings, we now offer you an office away from your office.

Or, would you like to have a Bay Street address for your business? We have a limited number of mailboxes that you can use for your official mail.

Click here to download our Business Lounge brochure. Or, visit http://www.cmc-canada.ca/Member_Benefits/CMCBusinessLounge.cfm?group=CMC%20Business%20Lounge to learn how you can take advantage of this great resource.

This isn't just for those who live/work in Toronto. In fact, we have had great response from members who live/work outside of Toronto. If you have any reason to be in the downtown core, this is a great resource for you.

As well, there is a "CMC-Canada Learning Centre", which is a multi-purpose room, available for a reasonable rate, where you can host meetings, seminars, board meetings, classes, etc. All with a Bay Street address.

This is just one of the ways that we, at CMC-Canada, will support the success of our members.

Advocacy Works!

2011-01-05T13:03:00.000-05:00

Just prior to Christmas, we received some great news from the Federal Government.

Earlier, you may have read about the problems the Government has been having with a growing number of unscrupulous Immigration Consultants, who essentially extort money from individuals, who want to immigrate to Canada.

To protect against the reputation damaging group, in the summer of 2010, the Feds introduced Bill C-35, the "Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act."

At CMC-Canada, we had no problem with the intent of the proposed legislation, but we did have concerns with the broad use of the word, "consultants". Thanks to the urging of our National Advocacy Committee, earlier this year, we sent a letter to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, highlighting the fact that there are reputable professionals who ply their trade, using the word, "consultant" and that we would appreciate a change in the name of the Act.

We highlighted that CMC-Canada is a group of self-regulated professionals, who certifies management consultants, has been in existence for almost 50 years and is recognized in 50 countries around the globe.

Just before Christmas, we received word that the Federal Government has changed the name of the Bill, now passed by the House of Commons, to An Act to Amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

But, here is something else the Government included in their response to our letter: "The Government has always demonstrated recognition of the professional work done by legitimate and competent consultants, including management consultants. I assure you that it was never our intention, through the title of the Bill, to damage the reputation of those who operate in a professional and ethical manner."

Congratulations for a job well done to the whole CMC-Canada Association for helping protect the integrity of our profession!

Wishes for a Prosperous 2011

2011-01-04T10:14:00.002-05:00

I can't think of anything better than a new start....a New Year. Today marks the first business day for most in 2011. From everyone at CMC-Canada, we wish you a prosperous 2011.

Having said that, our offices were open yesterday. Most of the downtown core was closed, but we took our statutory holiday for New Year's Day last week. Now, this is going to sound very Toronto-like to you, but the highlight of my day, yesterday, was that there was little traffic driving to work. I didn't have to slow for rush hour and I found a great parking spot. Isn't that sad, that I rave about the traffic?

In any case, Happy 2011.

PS - "Go Canada Go" in Wednesday's Gold Medal game of the World Junior Hockey Championships.

Enough Already!

2010-12-16T18:20:00.003-05:00

In case you didn't know, while I work in Toronto, I make my home in London, ON (Southwestern Ontario). For the most part, London is a quiet town. Never in the news. No big deal (I know I wrote about this before but we got more snow).

Over the past two weeks, Southwestern Ontario has been in the news too much.

Last week, we received about 1.5 metres (4 1/2 feet) of snow in the space of two days. In two days, London received more snow than it did all last year. I can attest to this as I had to dig my car out.

Just when we thought we were through, this week, we had more snow. In London, we received about 40 cm more. You might have seen it in the news. A major highway, 402, was closed for 3 days. Drivers were stuck and cars and trucks couldn't even move. As reminiscent of ten years ago, the Canadian Forces were called in. Forces helicopters helped in rescuing drivers. Some drivers were in their vehicles for 20 hours plus.

If the big guy upstairs is listening. We have received your message. Christmas is coming. We have enough snow. It looks like Christmas. We are getting in the spirit. No more snow.

Ok?

Federal Union Raises Issue with Consultants

2010-12-07T18:00:00.007-05:00

Yesterday on both the radio and tv newscasts of CBC, there was a story on how the Professional Institute of the Public Service was criticizing the Government for their use of consultants.

CBC reports, "The union, which is researching the government's use of consultants, said that preliminary findings show that over the past five years, the cost of outsourcing has ballooned by at least 80 per cent. Estimates reveal the government is spending billions of dollars a year on professional services." The President of the Union goes on to criticize the Feds for using too many consultants.

But, here is the problem, CBC defines consultants, as follows, "Professional consultants include lawyers, auditors, writers, procurement experts and information technology gurus." Like the examples in Ontario, they use a broad definition of consultant.

If you read the story more deeply, their issue is with "contractors", who I suspect are taking the jobs of their union members.

Eric Cousineau, CMC, was interviewed for this story and did a great job of explaining that "management consultants" are different and that "Certified" management consultants are unique, as they adhere to a code of professional conduct.

As we have done in Ontario (our effort resulted in the Conservatives introducing an amendment to Bill 122, better defining management consultants), we need to get the word out about the differences between contractors and management consultants.

Our National Identity: Snow

2010-12-07T07:51:00.001-05:00

In the past, I have watched as Canada and Canadians search for our identity. Different than many nations and ethnicities, Canada does not have a unique language, our food is similar to that nation of 350 million people to the south and for the most part, we are polite, courteous and go along with the flow.

Because we are not loud, doesn't mean we don't have an identity. We just have to look a bit deeper.

Each year, there are a few events that provide a glimpse into who we are. The Grey Cup always seems to be a great excuse for some Canadian pride - especially if Calgary or Saskatchewan are in the final. The Stanley Cup...but there are no Canadian team who play in it, anymore. But, last year's Vancouver Winter Olympic Games was, bar none, the best example of Canadian pride and nationalism, in full force.

Yesterday and today, I have now realized another unifying factor. Snow.

While I serve CMC-Canada in its Toronto office, I make my home in London, Ontario. Even though it is the 10th largest city in Canada, not too many people know of London. It is the birthplace of Labatt beer and Carling beer (now part of Molsons). Canada Trust, London Life, 3M, the University of Western Ontario and the Richard Ivey School of Business are also based in this Southwestern Ontario city.

The other thing London used to be known for - was snow. Lots of it. There used to be stories of snowbanks way above our heads (except that was when we were kids). Stories of school closures and blizzards were commonplace. But, for the past twenty years, not much.

Until now. Yesterday and today, the law of averages took effect. London has been hit by a multi-day snowstorm that has dumped more than 60 cm and is expected to dump 30 cm more today. Schools, the University, buses, the airport, Canada Post....everything is closed. I was up at 4 am shovelling my drive and it was covered when I left at 5:45 am.

The weird thing is that Sarnia, one hour to the west, nothing. Kitchener-Waterloo, one hour to the east, zip. Toronto, zero, zilch (good thing as Toronto calls in the Army, when they get hit by a bit of snow).

London's storm reminded me of the Grey Cup in Edmonton last week. It also reminded me of the snow in Quebec City for the Vanier Cup. I hear Whistler got a dump of snow in the past few weeks. It got me thinking....

Snow is Canada. Surviving through a big dump of snow, wind and cold is what makes us Canadian. It is our culture, our identity. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Maybe that is why we have the toughest athletes, who love sports like hockey. You have to make the best of it, if you live in a climate like this. It binds us together....it makes us resilient.

Let it snow, eh?

Forcing Commitment

2010-12-01T10:09:00.007-05:00

I thought long and hard before I posted this entry in my blog.

Not because it is personal (and it is), but because it forces a commitment. Public disclosure ensures that one has to follow through on the initiative. But, I need to make this commitment and this is the only way that I know how to force myself to do this.

What is "this"?

Well, to fully understand why this is important, you have to understand the context. Athletics have been a huge part of my life. Before I started school, my father had me on skates, with a hockey stick in my hand. He lied about my age, so I could register early. I still remember shaking in my skates when the coach said to my dad, "he doesn't look like he is 5 years old."

Before long, I was competing in hockey, judo, fastball, hardball, golf, tennis, badminton, track and wrestling....all at a competitive level. Sports were an important part of my life. Working out was something I always did.

But, with career, family and life in general, I focused on the things that appeared important. After the birth of my second son, I stopped running marathons and largely, I focused on golf and beer league hockey. Neither of which helped with my waistline.

I went from a 29" waistline when I graduated from University to how I am now. But, this is where the buck stops.

Today, I was flipping through the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. In it was an advertisement for the 2011 New York City Marathon. I used to run that race. Actually, I ran it three times, along with the three Boston Marathons and a number of other 26.2 mile races.

There is no better day to start than today. I immediately called three friends who used to run marathons with me. Together, I think we have collectively done about 50 or 60 marathons. Like me, life has taken its toll on them. They have agreed that this is the commitment needed for their life too.

So, here is the public disclosure, forcing commitment. We are going to run a fall 2011 marathon. If we are able to register for New York, then that would be perfect...but, even if we aren't lucky enough to be one of the 26,000 who get a bib number, we will find another marathon.

We have 11 months - to shed almost fifteen years of excess from living the good life.

The more I think about it, there are many parallels with forcing commitment to what we as management consultants do. Retaining and engaging a consultant is like a public disclosure for the management team of an organization. It forces commitment as everyone knows that the status quo is not acceptable. They have to support change, they have to follow through.

Wish me luck. It should be an experience....but certainly not a path that I haven't seen before.

A Significant Step...

2010-11-23T13:00:00.002-05:00

On Monday, Richard Lundeen, CMC, Member of the Ontario Council and Chair, Ontario Advocacy Committee, and I presented to the Ontario Government at the Public Hearings on Bill 122 - Broader Public Sector Accountability Act.

While it may initially appear to be a simple advocacy initiative...many see this as having much greater meaning. CMC member, Ron Schwartz, said, "I think that this is a real turning point in advocacy for us in Ontario." Schwartz, also a member of the Ontario Advocacy Committee, went on to say, "this still might have been THE most significant thing 'my professional association' has ever done for 'me'."

Bill 122 was introduced in response to the recent Auditor General's special report. It is fast tracked for third reading. As drafted, it proposes extending the Government's policies on procurement and expense for "consultants" to a wide range of public sector entities, like Hospitals, LHINs, LCBO, School Boards, Municipalities, Universities, Colleges, hydro companies, CCACs, etc.,.....any organization receiving more than $10 million in public funding.

Let's be clear....as consultants and taxpayers, we agree 100% with the Government's legislation on increasing transparency and accountability. We have no argument with the general intent of the Bill.

The problem, is that the word, "consultants" is used in a broad and generic form. The most popular of the issues that Auditor General found, was caused by a "contractor"....not a management consultant or a "certified" management consultant.

Richard and I made the point that it is unfortunate that legislation can have the unintended consequence of negatively impacting upon an industry (management consulting), due to the laissez-faire use of the definition of the word. Increasing the clarity will help mitigate the ancillary damage.

To see the slide deck that we presented, visit the CMC-Canada web page, under the Advocacy corner.

We will continue to speak out and lead the shaping of the environment, within which we operate....leading to differentiating CMC members from the "ten buck" consultants.

Stepping up to the Plate

2010-11-16T09:02:00.002-05:00

Our member survey provided feedback that we need to focus on promoting the designation. We have long made efforts at helping to improve and influence the procurement policies of Governments.

This past summer, we took our advocacy work up a notch, to help influence strategic policy decisions, with the Administrative Services Review at the Federal Government.

Carrying this forward, we prepared carefully for the Auditor General of Ontario's October 2010 Special Report on Hospitals and LHINs (Local Health Integration Networks) and their use of "consultants". Concurrent with the release of this report, the Provincial Government introduced legislation to expand the scope of institutions/organizations who are governed by the Provincial Government's procurement and reporting policies ("Broader Public Sector Accountability Act").

This pending legislation is now the target of our focus. Public hearings are taking place and thanks to the advice of our Ontario Advocacy Committee, we are stepping up to the plate.

If we wish to be seen as a leader, helping to shape the future of the industry and environment in which we operate, our voice needs to be heard.

Watch this blog and our website for more details on our position....but it is time to stand up and be counted.

Member Survey Speaks Volumes

2010-11-10T10:05:00.003-05:00

During the summer, we conducted a comprehensive member survey, to clarify and confirm how our members feel about the Association; what we need to do to deliver value; and how we can improve.

We have had the results for a month or two. We have shared it with the National Board and the Provincial Institutes. This is where the rubber hits the road. A survey is interesting but a survey is only valuable if we incorporate the feedback into our operational plans.

Promoting the designation is the #1 request and I can confirm that we have heard this message loud and clear. If you aggregate the responses to the question, where should CMC-Canada focus its time, effort and resources, "promoting the designation" to clients, to the management consulting industry, to public sector orgs, and to advocate and lobby, that represents more than 50% of the responses.

We have increased resources dedicated to marketing, communications, advocacy and public affairs. We will report more on our efforts in this area.

This survey will be a regular activity, to take the pulse of our membership...but we will continue to do more to increase the level of communications with our membership. This blog is just one initiative. Recently, you may have also received a letter from me, updating you on the Association's activities.

Keep in touch. We need to know the issues that are forefront in your mind. I look forward to hearing from you.

ONTARIO AUDITOR GENERAL RELEASES SPECIAL REPORT TODAY

2010-10-20T06:55:00.001-04:00

The Ontario Auditor General is releasing a Special Report today that highlights the use of “consultants” by the Province’s Hospitals and Local Health Integration Networks (“LHIN”). Please visit the AG's website to see the official report (http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/default.htm).

The Special Report examines the hiring and management of consultants at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as well as at selected hospitals and Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). It was done at the request of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts of the Legislative Assembly. The report is expected to be tabled in the Legislature on the morning of October 20 and copies will then be immediately provided to MPPs and the Queen’s Park press gallery. Each copy will be accompanied by a news release.

The Ontario Government will also be introducing broad reaching legislation regarding the conduct and spending of executives at public sector institutions. For more details, please read the article in today’s Globe and Mail ( http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/ceos-of-ontarios-hospitals-universities-ordered-to-post-expenses/article1764616/). We understand that the full reach of this legislation may include some additional guidelines on the use of lobbyists (which they seem to be grouping in with “consultants”).

A few excerpts from this article, follows:

“The legislation is a pre-emptive strike by Premier Dalton McGuinty to put an end to the latest spending controversy dogging his government. New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath revealed earlier this month that at least 14 hospitals across Ontario had hired consultants.

The legislation will be introduced the same day the provincial auditor releases a special report examining the use of consultants and lobbyists at selected hospitals.”

Whether or not this legislation, or the Auditor General’s report names “consultants” or “management consultants” is not the only risk. We know there has been a significant level of activity in the Freedom of Information Act requests. We anticipate that the opposition may take the findings contained in the Auditor General’s report in many different directions.

In Ontario and at CMC-Canada, we have been preparing for this report, for a number of weeks. We have convened a special task force (Richard Lundeen, Kathy Bouey, Kelly Culver, Lynn Bennett, along with Mary and Sylvia from the National Office). We (CMC-Canada) are prepared to speak out, if required. We have been working with Hill & Knowlton to develop an action plan and also, key messages. We have discussed many of the potential outcomes and I believe we are prepared to act. I have been designated as the association’s spokesperson.

If you are contacted by the media, I suggest that you forward the inquiry to either Mary Blair or Andrea Vandenberg, in our office. They will be coordinating my schedule and availability. I will continue to get counsel from H&K and from our esteemed special task force. You can be assured that none of our moves will be without good guidance.

As well, we have already had several communications with the Auditor General, stressing that it is unfortunate that the term, “consultants”, seem to be used as a generic term that encapsulates anyone who provides counsel, on any matter. We have communicated that “management consultants” and “certified management consultants” are different and hold themselves to a higher standard. We also have offered to be part of the solution to these issues.

While this kind of media attention is never welcomed, we are taking the attitude that this is an opportunity to demonstrate there is a difference with CMCs.

If you have any questions or comments, I invite you to contact Mary Blair or myself at the National office.

Building our Brand

2010-10-05T10:14:00.002-04:00

CMC-Canada continues to build our brand, through our participation in key trade shows/conferences. We would love to have the resources to advertise as some of our fellow professional associations do, but we have to be resourceful and creative.

Through speaking at conferences, manning exhibitor booths, and with selected sponsorships, we will get our name out. Procurement professionals (PMAC and CIPMM) are obvious targets, but events with key decision-makers, for those who engage management consultants, is also our focus.

In this photo, you can see the Ontario Institute President, Anne Bachinski, CMC, at our booth, at the Government Technology Exhibition and Conference (GTEC) in Ottawa. Thanks to Dorothy Milburn-Smith, FCMC, for her initiative in pushing forward our participation here. As well, I attended the GTEC gala with Dorothy last night - there I met Greg Richards, FCMC, who is the Chair of our National Certification Committee, who is speaking at the GTEC conference, and a number of other CMCs.

Watch for our continued effort as we find new opportunities to promote the CMC designation. I invite you, our members, to suggest more opportunities to get our brand in front of influencers and decision-makers.

Ontario Auditor General to Deliver Special Report

2010-09-30T20:00:00.001-04:00

Do you remember the eHealth scandal in Ontario last summer (2009)? It was started by a number of Freedom of Information requests, which led to questioning in the legislature about the government's procurement practices and ultimately to the Auditor General's Special Report (October 2009).

The report expressed concern over the extent of the reliance on consultants, the procurement processes, and controls on expenditure management. While the report was focused on the government's policies and practices, there was no doubt that through the media, consultants were not painted in the best light. Yes, most of the issues were taken out of context, but it just wasn't good for the profession and industry.

CMC-Canada did respond to the issue and in partnership with the Ontario Advocacy Committee, there were a number of initiatives where CMC-Canada weighed in to ensure that there wasn't a knee jerk reaction.

Fast forward to October 2010. Another Special Report is expected from the Auditor General of Ontario. It will focus on the Ministry of Health (LHINs) and will include some comments about the use of management consultants. I hope there is better understanding by the media of the difference between management consultants and "consultants"; and between consultants and "contractors". I hope any CMCs involved have acted in a transparent and ethical fashion.

Until the report is released, we will be preparing our messaging and our intent is to stand up for "professional" management consultants. Please keep an eye on our website (www.cmc-canada.ca) as we will be sharing our key messages, so all of our members can engage in the discussion.

ICMCI in Jordan

2010-09-24T02:34:00.002-04:00

Val Sluth, CMC, Chair of the ICMCI Committee of CMC-Canada and Gerry Humphries, FCMC, Canadian Trustee to ICMCI, are pictured attending the 2010 ICMCI Conference in Amman, Jordan.

There are more than 100 delegates from over 45 countries here at the conference, where we are discussing initiatives and ideas on how we can expand the reach of the CMC designation.

One specific initiative focuses on "large firms". Led by IMC USA and CMC-Canada (Gen Bonin, FCMC), this project will see multi-national consulting firms able to train and certify CMCs, in-house and be recognized globally.

I would like to make special note of Alice Kubicek, CMC, from Ottawa, who has attended the last two ICMCI gatherings (London and Jordan), at her own expense. Alice has an interest in being involved at the international level and is making an investment, to build her contacts and her profession. Thank you for your commitment Alice.

I am also pleased to report that Heather Osler continues to play a big role in the advancement of management consulting. Heather, along with Nick Shepherd, FCMC, have been funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to help found Institutes in the former Soviet Republics. Yesterday, after a number of years of work, the first CMCs were awarded to 7 individuals from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Congratulations.

Finally, but not least - I have to acknowledge the great work of Mark Nesbitt, FCMC, who serves on the Executive Committee of ICMCI as the Secretary. This role requires incredible patience and cross-cultural understanding, as he is working with individuals from many different nations. His dedication to the cause has helped ICMCI advance their Breakthrough Strategy initiative.

But, yesterday's highlight was a wonderful trip to Souk for dinner, where we were able to enjoy the foods and music of this historic country.

International Ties

2010-09-20T09:45:00.001-04:00

I have an incredibly busy three week stretch coming up.

This week, I'm off to the Bi-Annual International Council of Management Consulting Institutes conference. It is in Jordan, in the middle east.....or about 20 hours of traveling to get there.

Ironically, the cost of the airplane ticket to Jordan, is only a few hundred dollars more than a trip from Toronto to Winnipeg. Competition does offer some neat benefits to travelers.

Then, I am taking a few days off to swing the sticks in Dallas, TX....kind of a last hurrah, before the snow flies up here. I think of it like closing the pool in the fall.

Then, it is full focus on the CMC-Canada Annual General Meeting and the finishing touches on the Annual Report. If you have reason to be in Halifax on October 15th, come to the meeting. I think you will like what you hear and especially because Martin MacDonald will provide some great insights into teamwork and leadership.

Back to Jordan. It is apropos to discuss what the ICMCI does for you, our member and why we, at CMC-Canada, are involved.

The simplest way to think about ICMCI is that this is the Institute for the Institutes. Despite the need, it is not a service to help management consultants get business....though I realize this is needed. It is really a way of growing the religion of "Certification" and how to strengthen the Institutes of Management Consultants worldwide.

We share best practices. We work together on convincing large, global firms why they should support the CMC designation. We learn from each other and we develop a network of colleagues, who are all trying to do the same thing....in 50 countries around the globe.

I have never been to a full ICMCI conference, so it should be interesting. CMC-Canada will be presenting on a few issues. We are very active, thanks to our trustees, Val Sluth, CMC (from SK and Chair of the Canadian ICMCI Trustee contingent), Mike Thompson, FCMC (from BC), Gerry Humphries, FCMC (from BC), and Genevieve Bonin, FCMC (from ON). Past Canadian trustees like Nick Shepherd remain very active, as does Heather Osler, our former leader.

Canada has been a very influential Institute in helping spread the word of professionalism and management consulting around the globe. We plan on remaining in that role....however, I know our exciting domestic initiatives will provide that leadership now and into the future.

Exciting Speaker for our AGM in Halifax

2010-09-17T11:54:00.003-04:00

CMC-Canada's Annual General Meeting will be held in Halifax on Friday October 15th at 12 noon.

In addition to the standard formalities, we are very fortunate to have Martin MacDonald, the Resident Conductor of Symphony Nova Scotia, address the Board and our CMC members. Martin will speak about teamwork and will share how he communicates his vision, builds commitment and leads his musicians to achieve his goal....of beautiful music.

I think you will be fascinated about the parallels between the arts and running a business and what we can learn from the arts. Consider this, in a business, it is very easy for one department, division or an area, to perform less than at their peak. Until something goes wrong, this weakness might be invisible to many. But, in the performing arts, every flaw is visible....or, should I say, audible.

Martin cannot afford to have a section perform poorly. The audience will hear. It is transparent and will lead to a poor performance.

Therefore, I suggest they are held to a higher standard. The conductor must be an expert at leadership and at managing a team of individuals.

I have had the opportunity to speak with Martin and think this will a great event. I am looking forward to this and suggest to you, that it would be time well spent, to come to the CMC-Canada AGM and hear about teamwork and leadership from a very different perspective.

Labour Day

2010-09-07T00:09:00.002-04:00

Well Labour Day is almost over and that means, the end of summer, the start of school and when business picks up. I am expecting much heavier traffic tomorrow morning.

I hope everyone enjoyed the last hurrah of the summer of 2010. I can attest that I made the most of it. My neighbours host an annual Labour Day party/BBQ, where they have a tailgate toss (aka baggo) tournament. 24 teams entered and I am proud to report that, thanks to my partner, I was part of the winning team. My partner was a 6 year old boy named Ryan, who had a great learning curve and was able to hit a number of 3 pointers.

With the official start of the fall business season, we have many initiatives underway at CMC-Canada. Our Annual General Meeting is fast approaching on October 15th in Halifax. The National Board is looking forward to meeting our members from Atlantic Canada.

We also also preparing for the ICMCI audit on our certification practices. ICMCI audits the 50 Institutes around the globe, every two years, to ensure rigour and quality in the certification process. Canada is one of the leading Institutes, so we are prepared and looking forward to our audit.

Finally, we continue to advance a number of our new initiatives. One such initiative is the new member centre, which will be located at the corner of Queen and Bay St. in the heart of Toronto's business district. If you have at least one or two meetings a month in the downtown core, then you have to find out more about the member centre. Styled like a airport frequent flyer lounge, the member centre is a place where members can work, decompress and conduct business, at a convenient location, with a prestigious address. Watch for more info. The member centre will open in January 2011.

Advancing our Profession

2010-09-02T07:00:00.004-04:00

Many of you have read and heard about how CMC-Canada serves as the spokesperson for the industry....that we are the "single voice". But, who really can give examples of what we do in the area of advocacy?

I am here to tell you that CMC-Canada does do a lot in the area of advocacy.

Case in point, CMC-BC has developed clear and succinct messages aimed to those who acquire management consulting services, why hiring a CMC is important; and aimed at management consultants, how the CMC designation differentiates you from the crowd. BC has a clear action plan to get the message out. I would like to thank Russ Grabb, Simon Wong and their team for this great leadership.

I also would like to share a recent initiative that came from our Federal Government Advocacy Group in Ottawa. Dorothy Milburn-Smith and Evan Diamond got word there was a major initiative underway, under the Privy Council's aegis, in restructuring the back office operations of the Federal Government. Technology firms and their consulting division had been contacted, but management consultants had not. We reached out and were invited to meet with the Deputy Minister, and we advocated and encouraged the Government to not just focus on technology, as this was the easy answer. If the Government truly wanted to achieve strategic cost transformation, they needed to look at more holistic solutions - business process reengineering needed to accompany technology solutions to really achieve some benefits. Plus, key outcomes could and should include enhanced customer service, in addition to cost efficiencies.

Thanks to the efforts of Dorothy, Evan, and Lynn Bennett, we developed a strategy and plan of attack. Former CMC-Canada Chair, John Herzog, and Nan DasGupta from Boston Consulting Group attended the meetings with me and helped CMC-Canada to make a credible and persuasive presentation to the Government.

I believe we were well received. I hope that we helped to influence the breadth of scope of the Government's review. If this perspective is taken, we should be proud as taxpayers, but also, it will require significant consultant help to redesign processes and realize benefits.

Across the country, CMC-Canada can help lead the development of the management consulting industry. Get involved. It is the only way you can ensure your voice is heard. I look forward to hearing from you.

Montreal and Michigan: a contrast

2010-08-31T16:17:00.004-04:00

Well, it is with mixed feelings that I am back from my summer vacation - it is sad to see the end of summer (yes, there is still one long weekend left, but I am a realist) but I am excited, as the fall will bring to fruition a number of our projects....for our members. More on this later.

With the end of summer and Labour Day, my blogs will restart and become regular once again.

The subject of this blog is to contrast a great visit to Montreal with a visit to one of my favourite mid-west haunts, Michigan.

I have always loved La Belle Province and especially Montreal with its "Joie de vivre". (Leger Marketing did a great poll about ten years ago, that compared the priorities of Quebeckers vs English Canadians. Montrealers ranked family, enjoying life and love as their top priorities, while the Torontonians prioritized achievement, career advancement, working hard, etc. You get the picture. Are we ever different! Even though I am a native Torontonian, I can take a step back to see that we have it all wrong. Quebeckers have their priorities correct. Who has ever heard anyone on their deathbed saying, "I wish I had worked more.")

In any case, the visit to Montreal was great and the economy seemed on the rebound. There were lots of tourists, people were eating out and the stores were busy.

Contrast that with this....last week, I took my sons to Michigan for a golf vacation. It too was fun, but everywhere I looked, I saw economic recession.....or, probably more accurate...I saw a state trying to deal with a fundamental restructuring of their economy. There were mansions surrounding the one golf course that we played. Three storey homes with three and four car garages.....near Chrysler's world headquarters. Half of the homes were empty or for sale. These homes were vacated not by those who benefited from NINJA mortgages (no income, no jobs or assets), but these were from executives who had been downsized. These jobs were gone and never returning.

Upon my return, someone said that it was part of the "double dip" recession. I replied, you can't have a double dip if you haven't had any uptick. Wow.

The moral of this blog....is while we, in Canada, have had some positive signs in our economic recovery, watch out, as it is difficult to escape the influence and impact of the US economy (more than $1.5 billion a day in bilateral trade). I believe Trudeau said it best, "Living next to the United States is a little like sleeping with an elephant. You always wonder if they will roll over on you."

Summer and Vacations

2010-07-20T22:42:00.000-04:00

If you are like me, sometimes there is too much work on the table to consider a vacation. How can we take time away, when there are so many projects and deadlines?

Sure, we might actually be convinced that we should take some time to go somewhere, but we are constantly answering e-mails or on conference calls. The Blackberry, while I am most proud that it is a made in Canada device, is like office handcuffs. Who can escape to relax with it buzzing on your belt?

Well, there was a great article in the Globe and Mail the other day titled, "A Workaholics Worst Nightmare: Vacation" (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/work/a-workaholics-worst-nightmare-vacation/article1595092/). A great read and if you do take a few minutes, I think you will think the people the journalist describes are all nuts....but I ask, are they you?

Look in the mirror. Have you done any of these things?

I have as much trouble letting go as the next consultant, but I do believe that a vacation is a must. If you don't take time away, to recharge your batteries, you will be less productive, less inspirational, less dynamic and less effective.

So, please read the article and think about who you are and what you do....to recharge.

iPad Heaven

2010-07-08T08:55:00.003-04:00

My son, Tait, is an early adopter and has a creative mind. A few weeks ago, he walked in the room, plunked down $800 in cash in front of me and said, "I have to have one." "One what," I replied. "An iPad," he said, looking at me like I missed the most obvious thing on the planet.

This was the first weekend that the iPad was out in Canada. We searched around at numerous retailers and found that while there were demostration devices, there were none available for purchase. After getting my name on a few waitlists at the Apple Store, Tait got his purchase within a week.

So, at the time of this blog, I've found that he is now quite the expert at iPadding. What does he do? Primarily, surf the web, download music, watch movies and play games. Typical teenager stuff....not the stuff of business professionals but nonetheless, fun. Linking my iPhone with his iPad, we have had some epic Scrabble battles.

This brings me to the point of this blog. Apple has a powerful reputation...for cool technology but maybe not the producer of optimum machines for professionals. Through my experience, I have to disagree as I have found Apple to be so much more powerful. Between my MacBook, my iPhone and Tait's iPad, Apple has found a way to link generations.....allowing both parents and teenagers to share something in common, converse and stay in touch. There is no generation gap here.

Canada Day 2010

2010-06-30T11:56:00.000-04:00

Canada Day takes on a new meaning in 2010. This is the first Canada Day since that unbelievable outpouring of patriotism and pride at the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Do you remember the feeling of National pride? With all due respect to Vancouver and BC, I didn't ever expect that kind of patriotism there. But, as a volunteer with the Olympic Games, I counted at least 4 times, when I was on the SkyTrain, that spontaneous renditions of O' Canada broke out amongst the crowd.

This photo is another example of what happened in Vancouver. It was more than the Canadians winning the gold medal in hockey. It was something deeper. Stephen Brunt's video essay at the end of the Games really described this well....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8LX98hDMnM

Was all of that a one-time aberration or was it a tipping point - a changing of the way Canadians demonstrate their pride?

I wonder if this Canada Day 2010 will reflect some of the Vancouver 2010 spirit?

With the G20 behind us, it is easier to focus on the things that make Canada great. Take a close look at Canada Day this year. Let me know if things have fundamentally changed. I hope so.

Making the Best of the G20....at Ivey

2010-06-25T14:53:00.001-04:00

Our CMC-Canada National office staff went to Ivey yesterday. We visited both the School on campus (Western) and their leadership development centre, the Spencer Leadership Centre.

In a word, "wow".

We had Professor Rob Klassen, the Magna Professor in Business Administration, take us through a case. Rob was great....focused, clear, yet approachable and smooth. It was a great opportunity for the CMC team to experience how different the case study method is from traditional learning pedagogies.

Plus, our class was at Spencer. First-class facilities, with unbelievable food, all on a private campus that is more retreat than classroom. It is consistently ranked as one of the best leadership centres in the world. Now, we understand why.

We then visited a store, Remark Fresh Markets, to learn how and why they focus on customers. They are located right across the street from a Great Canadian Superstore and guess who is busier? This is not a normal, traditional grocery store. It is one of the most pleasant shopping experiences and it was clear, from speaking with the Store Manager, John Harding, why this was the case. Remark focuses on how they can make the customer experience better. Every time they decide to do something, it is with the customer in mind. They always take the customer perspective and this translates into a great shopping experience.

Case in point - after our talk with John, some of the staff purchased some produce and prepared foods for dinner. As the drive back to Toronto would take two hours, John said they could fill the reusable thermal shopping bags with ice. When the staff finished their shopping, they went to the check out counters, and without prompting the clerks, they happily filled the bags with ice.

That is customer service....when everyone delivers....and not just when the boss is around.

This is exactly what we are building at CMC-Canada. It is exciting and I hope we deliver to your satisfaction in the future.

Thoughts on the GO Train

2010-06-23T19:15:00.002-04:00

As I am sitting on the GO train home, my mind is racing. We just left Union Station amidst all of the kerfluffle associated with the G20. I couldn't walk to Union station on my usual route, as the Royal Bank Plaza is in the cordoned off zone. Good thing I have my banking done as my branch is off-limits.

Even CMC-Canada's office has been impacted. While we are not in the cordoned off core of the G20, we are in the security perimeter. Everywhere I go in our building, we need an access card. Just to enter our building from the PATH, we need a card. I was balancing my lunch on one knee today as I was reaching for the card (no worries, I wasn't too hungry after I saw the hair in my salad).

Via Rail has shut down it's trains through Toronto. Most of the major banks have people working from home. The QEW is empty. I wonder if the foreign delegates will meet any Canadians during their visit?

The $1 billon price tag for hosting the G20 is a drop in the bucket when you consider the economic impact of closing the financial hub of the country.

I hope there are some benefits for Canada....

At CMC we are closing the office on Thursday and Friday. We are taking the opportunity to do some professional development. We are headed to the Richard Ivey School of Business for a case and some benchmarking.

Somehow I think our return will be better than the return from the investment in the G20, but as a taxpayer, I hope they prove me wrong.

This CEO Understands

2010-06-16T19:02:00.003-04:00

Today, I had the opportunity to hear Robert Deluce, CEO, Porter Airlines speak about why they thought they could compete against the big airlines, like Air Canada and WestJet. When you think about it, why would anyone think they could beat such large corporations, who have resources from here to ying yang?

It is simple. Three words describe Porter's value proposition: speed, convenience and service.

Well, having been stranded in airports, missed flights and dealt with flight agents who don't care about you, as a customer, I applaud Deluce for building a company that combats the majority of stereotypes about airlines. Simply by treating passengers as customers, Porter will win business. Changing the game will differentiate Porter.

As a Porter customer, I can tell you that people are noticing. For those CMC members who fly the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle, Porter is the preferred airline.

The reason I am profiling Porter is they are changing the game, and we are following a similar path at CMC-Canada. We are raising the bar and redefining our value proposition. To get a feeling of the level of activity for new initiatives....yesterday, I saw plans for our new member centre and today I saw the design for CONSULT, our new magazine. And, next week, I am meeting with a leading global business school to finalize plans for our new Senior/Executive Professional Development program.

We are focused on our customer too - you, our member - and with our new value proposition, we hope to have the same impact and splash as Porter. Keep your eyes and ears open as we announce these new programs in the summer.

International CMCs

2010-06-14T06:14:00.000-04:00

This past Friday and Saturday, I was in Washington, DC, to attend the America's Hub meeting for the ICMCI (International Council of Management Consulting Institutes).

It was a fruitful meeting, one that, I believe, has the potential of altering the course of how the Management Consulting Institutes function and work together and how we might increase the awareness of the CMC designation.

More details later, but proposals are being considered that will see Canada to continue to act as a leader in this august international association. The Canadian Institute is one of the seven founding members of ICMCI and we are one of the strongest members of this Association.

Thanks to the efforts of Mark Nesbitt, who serves on the Executive Committee and to our four ICMCI Trustees (Val Sluth, Gerry Humphries, Mike Thompson and Genevieve Bonin) from Canada. They have put in countless hours, for little recognition, other than knowing that we can be a leader.

New CMCs

2010-06-07T20:47:00.002-04:00

I have a stretch of 7 days across the Province of Ontario. Beginning in London (Southwestern Ontario) last Thursday, I have the privilege of meeting the four FCMCs and most of the professionals who have earned the CMC in Ontario. This week I'll be at the Toronto (GTA) and the Ottawa (EOC) events.

This is without a doubt the greatest privilege of my role - to meet the new professionals who will carry our designation. And, to honour the experienced CMCs who are being recognized for their outstanding contributions to their profession, to society and to their communities.

John Callaghan was the FCMC honoured last week at the London Hunt and Country Club. John's list of accomplishments and contributions was impressive. I have had the pleasure of serving with John so it was especially an honour to help celebrate his Fellowship.

Off to Toronto tomorrow and Ottawa on Wednesday....then off to the ICMCI America's hub meeting in Washington on Friday.

Big Airline - Doesn't Care about the Customer

2010-05-30T14:36:00.000-04:00

I was in Vancouver yesterday and had an opportunity to speak at the BC Conference. I shared the new initiatives that CMC-Canada is working on. One of the key initiatives is that our staff are focused on building a new customer culture using the principles in the book, "Raving Fans" by Ken Blanchard. Blanchard argues in order to be truly successful, satisfied customers are only the first step....ultimately, you want "raving fans".

These raving fans will grow your business and will give you a whole new sales force - your existing customers.

Well, today's blog is all about how you create "Non-Raving Fans". I left the BC Conference on the red-eye last night, with a goal to get to London, ON, as I was speaking at the ARMA Canada National Conference. My travel was scheduled on a major, National airline, who will remain nameless. My speech was scheduled for 10 am on Sunday morning. My flights were booked so that I had 1 1/4 hours in transit time in Toronto and my arrival would be 2 1/2 hours in advance of my scheduled speaking time.

The flight from Vancouver to Toronto was late, by 40 minutes. No big deal. However, the airline took the initiative to rebook me on the next connector. Normally, I would applaud them for their proactivity, but today, I was on a deadline. This next connector would get me in to London too late for the conference.

When we landed, I rushed to the proper gate and got there when they were still loading. I went to the gate agent and she said we were waiting for you but I needed a new boarding pass. So I ran off to the main desk, which was just steps away. But, this is where they forgot that I was a customer. In fact, they forgot so much that they acted like the customer service agents of a monopoly utility.

"You shouldn't have booked so tight a connection." So it was my fault, the agent implied. This really made me feel good, that the airline was blaming me for the service I was receiving.

I wasn't able to convince her that I should get a boarding pass for the 7 am flight. I watched the door remain open for 10 more minutes and then watched it close and the plane leave YYZ. Disheartening to say the least. I got within 20 feet of the plane.

Transport Canada rules do forbid me to transferring to a flight, when I have checked bags. But in this instance, I was just trying to get on the plane that I was already booked on. So, the airline was unable to check me in, even thought I arrived in time, for the flight that I WAS checked into...but they UNCHECKED me. So, I wasn't even changing flights....I was simply trying to get on the flight I was supposed to be on (I had a boarding pass).

In any case, to make matters worse, the agent showed her lack of sensitivity and said, "perhaps I could ask the audience at the conference to wait until I arrive." I can't even understand how she could say that. Has she ever been to a conference?

So, I decided to take a limo. If I left at 0700, I would arrive in London at 0900, and would be in time for my 1000 speech. I asked if the airline would cover the cost. "No" was the response, as rules dictate that the delay must be 4 hours....before they respond. The 2 1/4 hour delay didn't qualify. This whole debacle cost me an extra $300. Joy.

I give seminars and talks on customer service and Raving Fans. I write about business dilemmas and encourage the readers to test their mettle, to think how they would manage through a challenging situation. So, here is the case....

What would have been the right decision to make? What is wrong with the organizational structure and the delegation of authority that a simple customer service decision and discretion could be exercised?

How does a large, National airline instill customer service within each manager who deals with the public?

Why do employees not care about their customers?

Isn't it ironic that the airline's main competitor, WestJet, has a slogan of "Care-antees". "Owners Care." I agree.

More irony. For ten years, I was an Super Elite / Elite member of this airline's frequent flyer program. While others complained of poor service, I defended them, sharing stories of great service. Funny how things change when I don't have status anymore.

After this, I understand the frustration that the average Canadian feels. I promise that I will share this story widely.....with the hope that it serves as a great example of why businesses need to improve.

I know that there are ways to instil customer service into the attitude of companies (I consult on this). Perhaps I should offer my consulting services to this airline.

ADDENDUM - Monday May 31 - I finally received my bag this morning....slightly more than 26 hours after it was supposed to arrive. Filing the lost luggage report is another story, for another day.

New FCMC in BC

2010-05-29T10:49:00.000-04:00

Mike Thompson, FCMC, is an associate professor who leads Royal Roads University's MBA Management Consulting program. Not only is Mike a great ambassador of CMC-Canada, I saw how he has taken a personal approach to dealing with his students. For this, for his dedicated work in advancing CMC-Canada (BC Institute, ICMCI, teaching EMC), he was honoured last night with his FCMC.

Mike is attending the CMC-BC Conference and in the photo, shows off his creation in Jacqueline Lloyd Smith's session on LEGO Serious Play.

Congratulations Mike and to all of the conference organizers!

CMC-Canada National Board of Directors

2010-05-28T20:46:00.000-04:00

In advance of CMC-BC's Consulting Conference 2010, the CMC-Canada National Board of Directors met for our monthly meeting. It was a particularly effective meeting. I cannot recall a meeting where so much progress was made.

We had some meaty issues to grapple with. The fiscal year 2011 budget and business plan was approved. Our Professional Development partner was approved and a number of our new initiatives were confirmed.

The National Board, led by the Chair, Todd Williams, CMC, has been extremely supportive and progressive. I can only say that a CEO can only do so much. Without the support of a Board who is able to think outside the box, without the support of the Provincial Institutes and regional Chapters, and without the dedicated efforts of our National Office staff, nothing great can be achieved.

When you have an opportunity, there are a great number of volunteers who help to make CMC-Canada run. They dedicate many hours and I ask you to take the time to thank them for their effort. And, if you want to make a difference, we need you. You get out of CMC-Canada what you put in. Just do it.

We are still early in the game and the majority of our new initiatives are still yet to be released. But, from July and on, I expect to announce a new project on a regular basis. I hope that you, our members, will derive significant value from our new projects.

I'm off to the BC Conference and CMC-BC AGM. I am looking forward to welcoming our new CMCs and our new FCMCs.

Royal Roads University

2010-05-27T08:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting one of our partner educational institutions, Royal Roads University.

If you have not had the opportunity, you have to visit. This relatively new University must have one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.

But, a University is more than just a campus. After meeting the VP Academic (Thomas Chase), the Dean of the Faculty of Management (Pedro Marquez), the leader of the Management Consulting stream, (Michael Thompson, FCMC), and IT/Ops professor (Steven Glover, CMC), I am convinced that CMC-Canada has a strong educational partner - the Royal Roads MBA offers a management consulting stream, where students can obtain the educational requirements towards the CMC designation.

Have a look at the Royal Roads website (www.royalroads.ca). I think you will be impressed by this University, who understands the changing needs of the student, and the dynamic environment in which Institutions of higher education exists. Innovative. Fascinating.....and a beautiful campus right on the shores of the Juan de Fuca Straits.

Going back to YVR!

2010-05-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

For the first time since the Winter Olympic Games, I'm headed back to Vancouver next week. I'm excited.

CMC-Canada's National Board meeting will be there on Thursday and Friday. The BC Institute will be hosting their Conference (http://cmc.worldofconsulting.com) on Friday and Saturday. If you haven't thought about this...check out the speakers and consider attending.

As well, I will be visiting one of our partner schools, Royal Roads University.

All in all, it will be an exciting week.

Impressive

2010-05-21T22:38:00.000-04:00

Last night, I had the opportunity to honour two FCMCs (Fellows) and six new CMCs at the Manitoba Institute's Annual General Meeting. When these honourees were announced, complete with a description of their achievements, one word came to mind... "impressive". Collectively and individually, they were one impressive group.

Case in point - there were three PHDs in this cohort. There was a FCA (Fellow of the CA Institute), and a CMA, a number of MBAs, a CHRP, just to name a few of the achievements of this group. How can you not be impressed with this group and proud that this is the kind of professional we have joining our Association.

With regards to the AGM, it was at Canwest Park, in a suite before the Winnipeg Goldeyes played their home opener. What an innovative place for a meeting! Congrats to the Executive of the Manitoba Institute for hosting a great event. Kudos to Ken Howell, George Wong (glad to see George well), Cal Harrison, David Thompson, Warren Thompson, Randy Baldwin, Gary Craven and Lana Adeleye-Olusae, for leading the Institute.

I will have the opportunity to meet more of the new CMCs in the next few weeks, as I will be at the Southwestern Ontario, the BC and the GTA new member event. And, I'm trying to get to the Ottawa event too. I suspect that I'll be equally impressed at each of these events.

CMCs Participation in Other Industries Make Sense

2010-05-18T11:22:00.000-04:00

In response to my last blog, I received an e-mail from Bill Wilkinson, CMC, who has served on Ontario Council and is one of our active CMCs.

"I think you're absolutely right. CMCs need to be in attendance, participate or be a leader at events within various industry or professional services sectors that might be considered outside their "normal" circles of interaction or leadership. My own experience the past few years attending at the request of my clients some sector specific meetings or conferences (e.g. health care and non-profit) has been very helpful to my practice and the promotion of the CMC designation. It has also proven to be very beneficial in helping me to to fulfill a part of my annual on-going professional development responsibilities."

Bill is right. Getting involved and out there....beyond our comfort zone, beyond our paradigms, out into other industries, will help grow the reputation of CMC-Canada and the CMC designation.

Stretch. Reach out and do something that you haven't done.

You might meet some new clients, find some new best practices or find opportunities to grow your practice. At the very least, you'll get some CPD points for next years's renewal.

CMCs Everywhere

2010-05-14T04:54:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the 2010 Medical Devices Summit meeting hosted by the Medical Devices Innovation Institute and the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation. This was a leadership forum comprised of senior executives and major stakeholders, who want to see Canada become a global player in the medical devices field. I wouldn't consider this a large gathering, but one where everyone had a title of Director or higher, a great many had C-suite titles, and about half of the participants, had the salutation "Dr." in front of their name.

I attended not in my role with CMC-Canada, but with my client from my private consulting practice, Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advanced Robotics (http://www.nextstrategicadvisors.com/Links.htm).

Here is my point. I was an observer and simply attended to advance my knowledge of the industry. This was primarily a specialized industry meeting, focused on those who had specific scientific and medical backgrounds. Simple, right?

Well, when I arrived and sat down, at the next table was Steve Fanjoy, a Ottawa based CMC, who was there on behalf of one of his clients, Therapeutic Monitoring Systems. Then, when I went into one of the breakout sessions, one of the active participants was a management consultant named Jac Van Beek. After the session ended, we chatted and I found out he was a CMC too.

I was impressed and proud.

I go to a medium sized industry specific summit, not thinking that I am serving in my role with CMC-Canada and what do I find? CMCs are everywhere, adding value to the industries that you least expect. This, in a nutshell, is what we need to strive for and I expect that we will see more and more of this in the future....that CMCs are involved, adding value and leading, the key industries where Canada is striving to make a difference, globally.

CMC-Ontario

2010-04-30T10:09:00.000-04:00

This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Eastern Ontario (Ottawa) CMCs in a Town Hall event at the Sheraton Ottawa. I found a passionate group, who were interested in learning more about the direction of CMC-Canada. Many of our fellow members in Ottawa do work for the Federal Government. Dorothy Milburn-Smith, EOC Chair, estimates that about 75-80% focus on public sector work.

The efforts of the EOC in advocacy is therefore vitally important. The Advocacy Committee in EOC continues to share information with the Government about the need for Certified Management Consultants to do their work.

As well, we are partnered with the Federal Government in helping build the next RIM or Nortel in Canada. The National Research Council's Industry Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is all about helping Canadian companies succeed. Different than many technology based companies, who get enamoured by the technology and sometimes lose focus on the business, the Director General of IRAP, Tony Rahilly, is focused on building a strong company behind the technology. CMC-Canada is an important partner of the NRC in delivering this program. Check out the IRAP Management Advisory Service on the web for more details.

With all this activity, I realized that I need to communicate more frequently to our members. This blog is great, but I also will be sending a letter to our members on a regular basis.

Nation's Capital

2010-04-26T05:23:00.000-04:00

This week will be an exciting one. I'm going up to Ottawa to meet with CMC's in the Eastern Ontario Chapter for the first time. The purpose of my travel is two-fold, to meet with local CMCs, but also to attend the Ontario Council's Board meeting.

I really enjoy meeting our members across the country. No matter where I meet our members, from Vancouver Island to Halifax, there is one thing they all have in common: they are all proud of their profession.

I find that a majority of our consultants are dedicated to their profession for one reason - they get a "rush" in working with and helping clients. I know the feeling and that is why I have promised myself that I will never take on a role or assignment where I cannot keep working with a portfolio of clients. The personal reward that I get in helping an organization solve a problem, work through an issue, or simply become the best they can be....you can't beat that.

PD Opportunity: Charting a Course to Value

2010-04-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

Our colleagues in British Columbia have been working hard to bring you some first-class professional development. Charting a Course to Value is the title and theme of this year's conference. You have to visit the website (http://cmc.worldofconsulting.com) to see the line up of speakers, like Alan Weiss, who will help stretch your mind and think about new ideas on managing and growing your practice.

2009 was a tough year for the economy and many businesses, so treat yourself to this timeout to refresh and rejuvenate your mind to ensure 2010 takes off in the right direction. Vancouver is the place to be on May 28 and 29, 2010.

Don't miss this great opportunity.

Finally, our CMC-Canada National Board of Directors will be hosting their May meeting just before the conference. We will be there...see you there.

It's Budget Time!!

2010-04-14T16:02:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year. Personally, most people are focused on completing their tax returns. Here at CMC-Canada, it is budget time, as our year end of June 30, 2010 is fast approaching. But, it is most important that the numbers are tied to business plans and strategy. I can't tell you how many organizations, big and small, that I have seen where the numbers are built without the plan.

As we are building a series of new initiatives, like CONSULT magazine, like our Executive/Senior Professional Development programs, like our strategic alliance with CMA, like our new cStore, we are fleshing these plans out in conjunction with the budget. I have been focused on this for a while and will be presenting this to the CMC-Canada National Board next week.

Change is happening at CMC-Canada and while all of the work is not yet visible, small changes are starting to appear. Look for your cNotes electronic newsletter this week. A new look, which enhances readability and the dissemination of information.

Keep your eyes open for more changes as we progress through the summer. All the best as the good weather approaches!

Energetic, Smart Minds

2010-04-01T14:38:00.000-04:00

Last night, I had the privilege to address students in the BBA program at Wilfrid Laurier University. The event was organized by the Laurier Consulting Club's founders and senior partners, Cameron Sinclair, Sean Mui-Tummers and Cassandra Desrochers. Of note, Sinclair's father, Tom, is a CMC.

Jim Love, President of the GTA Chapter helped to present and Zoran Slatinoski and Odilon Lemieux, all CMC members of Southwestern Ontario helped to interact and answer questions from the students.

There were approximately 100 students and faculty members in attendance and there were lots of questions.

The quality and enthusiasm of the students was most impressive. Sinclair, Mui-Tumers and Desrochers built this club from scratch this year. And, as you can see from their webpage (above), it was done in a first-class manner.

Following the presentation, we had the opportunity to stay and have dinner with all of the student leaders at the School of Business and Economics. Another impressive group.

If your firm needs some help, here is a hint. Hire a student. Either for the summer or hire them as they graduate. Go to a quality school and you will get intellectual "horsepower" and energy. It will set a great standard for your office.

The Value of the CMC Designation

2010-03-26T08:57:00.000-04:00

This week, I had the distinct privilege of addressing those in the final stages of the Executive CMA programs. What an impressive group! They were all executives in their current role and made the decision to strengthen their leading and managing toolkit by pursuing the CMA designation. For most, this designation complements their already impressive credentials.

This is exactly how I see the CMC designation. The majority of our members have expertise in one or two disciplines. The CMC helps to broaden their horizons....not to make them cross-enterprise experts, but to ensure that they appreciate and plan for impacts across the organization as they do their work.

The CMC complements other professional designations. As an individual achieves mastery of their functional skill, often they seek to transition from their current career into one of providing advice and counsel. This is exactly where the CMC provides value. Our training and code of professional conduct helps to encourage a process and perspective that ensures a higher standard of service. This protects clients and proves the value of the CMC brand.

Do you know a professional who has transitioned into the providing of advice? Ask them to consider the CMC.

CONSULT Magazine

2010-03-18T14:03:00.001-04:00

CONSULT. Remember the name.

Early this summer, you will receive our new publication, which will be your bi-annual magazine that will keep you abreast of key developments in the management consulting industry, share ideas on management concepts and profile the diversity of our fellow CMC members.

CONSULT - Canada's Management Consulting Magazine - will be a four colour, professionally designed magazine that you will be proud to display.

Watch for this.

Stand Up and Speak Out: Raising the Bar for CMC-Canada

2010-03-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

CMC-Canada initiatives are moving along quickly. Our vision is to progress aggressively in the next two years, to build and strengthen CMC-Canada. We have much on the go and while it may not be apparent yet to all our members, changes are underway.

Over the next year, you will see the results of our new initiatives. I'll share details of this work in this blog.

One of the most important initiatives that I am focusing on is the Growth Task Force (GTF2). With last year's Executive Stream Task Force, we made significant inroads to welcoming leaders and executive-level consultants to the association. We must carry on this activity and grow CMC-Canada so we can represent a greater percentage of the management consulting industry. With increased strength, we can truly advocate and help to shape the future of the industry.

The GTF2 is all about continuing this growth and we need the support and assistance of every one of our members. During your daily consulting activities, I know you collaborate, partner, and network with consultants, who are not CMC-Canada members, within your firm and in other firms. If you believe that professionalism is generally lacking in the industry and profession, I encourage you to speak up and be heard. Let your colleagues know there is a way to encourage and promote professionalism.....it is CMC-Canada.

Simply by growing the numbers of members, we can help to differentiate "professional" consultants from the "ten buck" consultants....those who simply print up business cards and may not have the requisite background to ensure positive consulting outcomes. Agreeing to adhere to a Code of Professional Conduct is just one assurance of a standard of service. I know there are many top quality and first class consultants who are not members of CMC-Canada, but getting involved in your professions' association is one way to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

So, like Canada and Canadians did at the Vancouver Olympics, stand up and show your pride - be proud of your profession.

Ask yourself, who do I collaborate with, who I would be proud to have as a fellow member of CMC-Canada? Promote CMC-Canada and promote your profession.

I'll continue to post more info on our other initiatives as we move forward.

Thanks for continuing to read my blog.

Back in the Saddle

2010-03-03T14:01:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back in downtown Toronto and am working hard to tie up loose ends from my time away. I had a couple of meetings with CMA Ontario today, as we continue to work hard on our strategic alliance.

Even though I was away in Vancouver, I was able to keep up with CMC-Canada activities and work. I had the great opportunity to meet with CMC's in BC's interior (Kelowna), on Vancouver Island (Victoria) and in the lower mainland (Vancouver). It is so important to get feedback and understand member needs from across the country.

As well, I appreciate the hospitality of Western Management Consultants in Vancouver as thanks to Gerry Humphries, I was able to access an office so I could have the proper environment...conducive to work.

But, I am back in Toronto and am having a hard time remembering the Games and the beautiful city of Vancouver. The good news, is that I will be out west again in May, with the CMC-Canada National Board.

The Start of Something New

2010-03-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe but my blog has been popular. This was originally intended as a way of sharing my experiences with my sons. When CMC-Canada heard about it, they thought our members might find it interesting. Then the Richard Ivey School of Business added it to their Olympic blog site.

Bascially, all I did was share my experiences and my thoughts on Vancouver's Games, from the perspective of a volunteer. A funny thing happened. I noticed we had readers from farther afield. Then, we received a call from CBC TV and then, one from Macleans magazine.

As a result, I plan to keep this blog going but the topic will evolve, from the Games, to my thoughts and experiences as the CEO of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants.