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dog days • \DAWG-DAYZ\ • plural noun

Libby McCready • Aug 31, 2021

Bye, bye Summer...

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac Dog Days of Summer marks 40 days between July 3rd to August 11th, coinciding with the rising of the Dog Star Sirius and noting the time of year when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. More commonly it’s associated with the heat wave, the humidity, those oppressively hot days and weeks at any point in the summer months that drain our energy, our motivation, our 'get up and go'.

 

And then, without warning, a cool breeze, a morning chill, a shift of the sun brings a hint of a new season just around the corner. September. Not just a new season but back to school, to work, to routine. I’m not alone in saying September has always been a favourite time – not just ‘back to’ but also fresh starts, fresh air, new pens!

 

But it’s different this year. I’m starting to lose track but for sure it’s been a long haul that we’ve travelled together these many months. And, September? Who knows what ‘it’ will all entail.

 

We may not be able to control what the coming months offer, but what about a few simple tips to ease the transition and take advantage of these final dog days of summer. I remember the great advice I got when I was running my first half marathon – what to do the night before the big race. Here it is (paraphrased for a 'dog day' style long weekend).

 

PREPARE.

A runner should always be prepared for the morning of the race. What’s your preparation? What simple actions can you take now to make your first week(s) of the 4th quarter easy and productive regardless of the circumstances you may face?

 

BE KIND – TO YOURSELF!

It’s a mindset, an attitude. I love how Christine Arylo puts it, “Be nice to yourself... It's hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time.” In what small (or big) way can you treat yourself this week and weekend?

 

RELAX & UNWIND

If you’re taking time off, then take it… really! That means turning the phone off!  And, if taking full days isn’t an option, find one thing to do each morning and each evening even if just for 30 minutes to relax and unwind. (And, did I mention... turn the phone off!)

 

 

I’ll be back later next week… easing into my 4th quarter with a commitment to making a difference, creating value and accomplishing great things. What's your commitment?

 

See you all soon.

Opportunity Makers with Dr. Price Pritchett, Ph.D.

By Opportunity Street • 05 Jun, 2023
Price Pritchett is one of the foremost experts on fast-growth strategies and breakthrough performance. His firm—PRITCHETT, LP—is recognized worldwide for its thought leadership on mergers, corporate culture, change management, and accelerated achievement. They have spent 40 years bringing the newest and most powerful performance concepts to business challenges around the globe. The strike zone? How people’s behavior and the organization’s psyche impact operating results. Just subtract complexity, reduce the noise, make it simple. PRITCHETT’s distinctive “minimum effective dose” (MED) approach is borne out in many of his books including You 2 and The Quantum Leap Strategy – writings that define the behaviors and individual mindset underlying fast growth and innovation and the focus of our upcoming conversation. This is a rare opportunity to hear Price share his story and formula on how to achieve breakthrough results in your business.

Opportunity Makers with Deborah Bakti, Author of 'Now What?'

By Libby McCready • 08 May, 2023
This time it's personal! So many of us are at the age/stage where some tough and emotional decisions must be made around our parents' or other loved ones' long-term care. Meet Deborah Bakti, author of 'Now What? Managing the Emotional Journey of Long Term Care for Families.' In her second book, Deborah shares her personal experience when she was faced with having to admit her husband, Ty, into long-term care. She takes readers through her journey, as well as offering practical ways to help them manage this life-changing event. Join us. You're not alone on this journey and there are some amazing tools and resources here for you.

Opportunity Makers with Tim Riddle, CEO Discover Blind Spots

By Libby McCready • 02 May, 2023
Meet Tim Riddle, author of BLIND SPOTS: What You Don't See Can Hurt You. That's a clear message and the sole focus of Tim's business. He helps Financial Advisors all over the U.S., to communicate more effectively with clients and prospects with a personalized message that can be automated. Tim is going to share what some of those marketing blind spots are and together we will expand that conversation to discuss the intersections of branding, marketing and sales. Small shifts can produce a dramatically better result. Bring your coffee and curiosity to grow your business.

Opportunity Makers with Author Doug Dane

By Opportunity Street • 18 Apr, 2023
Meet Doug Dane, author of 'MISTAKEN IDENTITY, A Step-by-Step Guide to Letting Go of a Past That's Holding You Back'. Doug shares his very personal story of living a childhood of abuse. It's a raw and emotional telling. But he learned how to let go of a past that held him back. We have all been shaped by our past. The question is, does that shaping serve your potential or keep you stuck and prevent you from becoming and having all that you want. Doug will teach you how to rid yourself of your mistaken identity.

Opportunity Makers with Creative & Brand Director Tommy Collier

By Opportunity Street • 11 Apr, 2023
Every entrepreneur deserves their first impressions to become awesome lasting impressions. Tommy Collier is on a mission to make that happen! Headshots that shine light on your authentic spark - live and virtual productions that rev up and inspire audiences before you've said a word - an Instagram strategy that actually works. As an award winning creative director, photographer and filmmaker Tommy understands the power of image in building a successful business.
Opportunity Makers with Eric Spencer

Opportunity Makers with Eric Spencer

By Libby McCready • 27 Mar, 2023
Eric Spencer’s passion is designing and facilitating executive & leadership development programs that transform careers and leader reputations. He is also the host and Chief Bartender of the popular podcast, The Corporate Bartender and author of the new book YOU, ME & WE: WHY WE ALL NEED A FRIEND AT WORK (and how to show up as one). Anyone familiar with the Gallup Q12, knows that having a best friend at work correlates to bottom line results. Eric and his co-authors argue that the only path to having a best friend at work is to BE a best friend at work. Join us, as we dig into the 'Ally Mindset' - the secret sauce to becoming that best friend at work.
Opportunity Makers with Julie Cafley and Janet Piper

Opportunity Makers with Julie Cafley and Janet Piper

By Libby McCready • 22 Mar, 2023
Meet Dr. Julie Cafley and Janet Piper of Catalyst Canada. We have so much to talk about - implications for DE&I in a post pandemic workplace, the important role of men leveraging their influence to advocate for real change and what it means to have DE&I as a key strategic driver in our organizations.
Opportunity Makers with Annie Kip

Opportunity Makers with Annie Kip

By Libby McCready • 13 Mar, 2023
Getting unstuck! It's at the heart of success and a central piece of the work Annie does with her clients. There is so much that those of us in the coaching profession can do to get our clients free from whatever is holding them back. But sometimes it's hard - hard for them to see the forest for the trees; hard for them to step out of the muck to see that bigger picture and the opportunity to step into their desired success. Welcome to the SPARK CARDS, Annie's invention that offers a new way to activate your brain, get you unstuck and on to your path to success. Join Annie and me as we explore the power of using the SPARK CARDS in your personal life, career, team meetings or strategy planning sessions.
Opportunity Makers with Alim Somji, Vice-Chair of AboutFace

Opportunity Makers with Alim Somji, Vice-Chair of AboutFace

By Libby McCready • 07 Mar, 2023
Throughout his career, Alim Somji has encountered stares, questions, and confusion with respect to his facial difference. This discomfort —driven, in his mind, by a lack of awareness —created challenges in building relationships and establishing trust quickly. Alim believes there’ much work to be done to create awareness and understanding in the workplace. Recent AboutFace research revealed that about 3 in 5 people with a facial difference reported being negatively impacted at work or within the context of work due to their facial difference. This needs to change. Join us, as we discuss expanding the DE&I conversation for healthier workplace cultures and to learn more about the work of AboutFace, who's vision is the elimination of the stigma and discrimination encountered by individuals with a facial difference.
Opportunity Makers with Alana Riley

Opportunity Makers with Alana Riley

By Libby McCready • 24 Oct, 2022
Meet Alana Riley, Head of Mortgage, Insurance and Banking at IG Wealth, Vice President Board Of Directors, Governance & Nominating Chair at Gordie Howe CARES and Board Director at Dalhousie University and Children First Canada. My mother always said, if you want something done give it to a busy person. But this isn't about being busy. It's about an incredible contribution that Alana makes everyday in everything she does. Join us for an insightful conversation about the orientation of service and the success that follows.
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