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Posts tagged ‘Business Commentary’

The Expanding Roster of Will Stipulations

Anyone who has recently had the experience of completing or updating a Will (at least in Canada) has likely discovered, as I have, that the legalese terminology has been transformed into a little less technical linguistics, but replaced with a larger volume of phraseology covering subject matter which used to be implied, rather than overtly stated. (more…)

To Be or Not to Be – Sponsored

There are signs posted around Ottawa for Canada’s 150th birthday. This would seem to be a worthwhile cause. However, they prominently feature a sponsor name next to the emblem. One cannot help wondering if there’s no limit to such pervasiveness: even the promotion of a national sesquicentennial is not immune to association with patronage. (more…)

By Way of Introduction

A prime component of beginning almost any formal, or unfamiliar, get-together is the introduction.

Whether it be meeting someone for the first time, or during a major ceremony, or at myriad occasions in-between, officious status or not, at or near the starting point is an introduction. Whatever the context, the happening takes on a focus of attention at such times. (more…)

The Future of Insurance

An article in the January edition of The Insurance & Investment Journal discusses likely evolution of the insurance industry in Canada over the next two decades.

While obviously no on can foretell how it will look by then – especially given the ever-increasing pace of change – the roles of ‘consumption habits’ and technology are expected to be front and centre. (more…)

Blogging Tips from a Pro

Early on in his latest book, Thank You for Being Late – An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, author and Pulitzer prize winning, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, embeds some tips for writing opinion pieces.

While this aspect of the book is precipitated by a chance encounter with a New York parking attendant who is also an Ethiopian blogger, his advice is widely both cogent and timely, especially for those of us striving for relevance in the blogging sphere. (more…)

‘Headlines Revisited’

There is a famous long-standing saying that ‘Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it’. Sadly, there is anecdotal and other evidence this is true.

When reflecting on this, many will tend to focus on larger, national and international episodes, some on personal experiences. It applies to instances of daily life, little events or communiqués which slip by in newspapers or on newscasts, subjects varying from actual life to advertising poseur. (more…)

Holiday Greetings with Another Message

A couple of interesting juxtapositions this time of year involve, on the one hand the desire to be gracious in communicating holiday season greetings, and on the other the desire not to have to ‘turn the other cheek’ to people who have really annoyed or disappointed us.

This is a tricky situation for many in business. There are times where the benefit of dealing with a PITA (Pain in the ___) client, supplier, etc., means having to hold one’s nose and treat that party as though they were not a pain to deal with, at least until the ‘enough’ meter is reached. (more…)

Being Advised

As we come toward the end of another calendar year, many Canadians will try to wade through a range of activities and other personal commitments.

Among issues historically many of us take stock of is our financial situation. It may involve looking to trigger capital losses to offset taxable income (gains), maximizing annual RESP or RRSP contributions (the latter with its 60 days’ grace period into the next year), and bigger picture issues such as how our investments portfolio has performed over the year, or even how effective our relationship is with our financial institution(s). (more…)

Mistakes in Selecting a Target Audience

Anyone with entrepreneurial experience, or at least spirit, can understand the vital role of target marketing. Efficient targeting helps reduce, if not efface, some expenses of time and dollars in getting goods or services delivered to consumers. Launching and building a successful enterprise continues to require some lucky timing and dedicated, hard work. However, in an everchanging environment, no matter what is being promoted, even successful approaches need review and updating. (more…)