Built for HARD Blog

This is an excerpt from training I received from the leadership circle 360 Great leadership is a competitive advantage, and high performance is achieved and sustained through effective leadership practices applied with discipline over time. High performance requires both organization design and key leadership processes and disciplines. Design The performance of any system is primarily […]

Hard happens. That was the centre of the message I shared with many of you at the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada at the 2026 Convention and Trade Show in Saskatoon. Not exactly a cheerful fridge magnet. More like the thing the fridge magnet says after it has lived a little. Life and business work better […]

I once worked with a Canadian nuclear-sector organization that wanted to become more innovative. This made sense. The world was shifting. Energy demand was rising. AI was putting new pressure on power grids. Small modular reactors were moving from policy conversation into serious strategic possibility. The organization needed to evolve. The leader saw this clearly. […]

Most bad meetings do not fail because people are lazy. They fail because the meeting has no container. No clear purpose.No useful outcome.No real agenda.No decision path. So people show up, talk in circles, drift into updates, chase side issues, avoid the hard thing, and leave with a vague sense that something happened. But nothing […]

Leadership is not the only river. For decades, most organizations have built career paths around management. Do good work, become a supervisor. Manage a team, manage managers. Manage managers, lead a function. Lead a function, run a business. That path matters. We need great leaders. But what happens to the builder, engineer, analyst, advisor, technologist, […]

There are moments at work when the pressure arrives without warning. You ask a simple clarifying question. You raise a small risk. You name a dependency. And suddenly, the response comes back hotter than expected. A sharp message.A public correction.A rapid-fire thread.A tone that feels disproportionate to the issue. In that moment, many thoughtful leaders […]

Leadership is not just about vision, strategy, execution, or influence. Leadership is also about pressure. Pressure moves through people. It moves through conversations, decisions, nervous systems, cultures, homes, teams, and organizations. The question is not whether leaders carry pressure. They do. The question is where that pressure goes. Some leaders leak it. It leaks as […]

How to choose the right leadership style under pressure Under pressure, most leaders do not rise to their most enlightened leadership style. They fall back to their most familiar one. The pacesetter pushes harder.The visionary paints a bigger picture.The affiliative leader protects the relationship.The democratic leader asks for more input.The commanding leader takes control.The coaching […]

There is a moment in leadership when your body knows before your brain admits it. Your chest tightens.Your breath gets shallow.Your jaw locks.Your inner lawyer starts building the case. “They should know better.”“This is not my fault.”“I have to fix this.”“They just don’t get it.” That moment matters. Not because it means you are a […]

There is a particular kind of pressure that shows up when your work begins to matter in a new way. You step into a bigger role.The stakes rise.More people depend on your judgment.Your decisions carry more consequence than they used to. And then, somewhere in that transition, a quiet question starts pressing from the inside: […]

Thank you to everyone at Associated Engineering who joined me for our recent keynote: Building Ownership: Carry the Load Well. I’m grateful for the energy, reflection, and honesty in the room. You are working inside a complex, high-responsibility environment where quality matters, clients matter, technical excellence matters, and the way people carry pressure together matters. […]

A technical leadership team gathers around a conference table. Engineering sees complexity. Operations sees capacity constraints. Sales sees customer pressure. Finance sees risk. Quality sees failure modes. HR sees role confusion. The executive sponsor sees the prize. Everyone nods when the big goal is named. “We need to launch.” The room agrees. The energy rises. […]

Values are not decoration. They are not poster words. They are not slogans. They are not the things we wish we had, the goals we hope to reach, or the behaviours we want to force onto people. Values are the internal states and traits that help us make better decisions, show up with more integrity, […]

The $100 Rule: A Simple Way to See If Your Business Is Actually Healthy A lot of businesses look stronger than they are. Revenue is coming in. The team is busy. Customers are being served. The founder is pushing hard. From the outside, it can look like momentum. But inside, something feels off. There is […]

When Your Business Is Leaking... By 10:30 on Monday, the owner had already done four jobs that were not technically his. He jumped into a sales call because nobody else could close it, approved a pricing decision because the margins lived in his head, calmed a wobble in the team because the meeting had no […]

Sometimes a leader says, “I gave clear feedback, and the person took it really personally.” Maybe. But often that is not what actually happened. Often what happened is this: the manager delivered useful information, but the other person did not receive it as information. They received it as threat. Threat to status.Threat to belonging.Threat to […]

To help avoid delays or rework, use the guidance below when completing the Skills Training Grants (STG) application. The STG reviewer is checking for: job relevance, clear skill outcomes, reasonable training details, and a complete course outline upload. Important before you start How to complete each field in the STG “Training Program” section 1) Course, […]

At some point in your career, you will work for a leader who comes in hot. They move fast. They decide fast. They change direction fast. They challenge ideas in real time. They can be energizing, visionary, commercially sharp, and, on the wrong day, about as relaxing as a leaf blower in a library. If […]

When I’m coaching leaders, we usually don’t start with politics. We start with values. Recently, politics has entered more conversations. Values are those subconscious emotional drivers that help us make decisions. We inherit them from our families, churches, schools, communities and cultures. As kids, we’re basically handed a values starter-pack and told, “This is what […]

A working theory for leaders who want to serve people well—especially when life gets heavy. When leadership stops being abstract In the wake of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. (Feb 10, 2026), I found myself in conversations with principals and vice principals that I won’t forget. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Not the “how do […]

Three leadership assessments. Three angles. One goal: better leadership. Leaders ask me some version of this all the time: “Which assessment should I do?” That question is a bit like asking:“Should I use a tape measure, a level, or an MRI?” All useful.All different.All mildly annoying if you use the wrong one for the job. […]

Markets shift. Talent expectations evolve. Technology rewires workflows. And suddenly your tried-and-true approach stops producing results. That moment—when the “right answer” isn’t obvious—is where Adaptive Leadership earns its keep. Developed by Ronald Heifetz and colleagues at Harvard Kennedy School, Adaptive Leadership is a practical framework for mobilizing people to tackle complex challenges—especially the kind that […]

Over the last four months of coaching conversations, three themes have shown up on repeat. Different industries. Different roles. Same friction. If your brain feels like it has 47 browser tabs open and one of them is playing music… keep reading. Confidentiality note: The examples below are anonymized and blended into composites. Details are changed […]

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion I see over and over with senior leaders. Your company is growing (or fighting), your calendar is full, your responsibilities are non‑negotiable—and you’re also supposed to sleep, think clearly, be present with your family, and make billion‑dollar decisions with a fresh mind. Most days you’re not deciding between good […]

Most leadership programs teach men how to decide, drive, and deliver. Very few teach them how to hold. And yet, containment—the capacity to remain grounded, steady, and oriented under emotional or relational load—is one of the most predictive skills for success in leadership, partnership, and fatherhood. Not charisma.Not confidence.Not even competence. Containment. What Containment Actually […]

Contained men don’t rely on one person, one relationship, or one environment to hold their pressure. They build five “parallel systems” that create stability under load: These systems prevent emotional leakage, like irritability, withdrawal, control, over-explaining, and make containment a practiced capacity rather than a personality trait. Building Parallel Systems One of the fastest ways […]

If you’ve ever had a moment where you were 100% committed to a plan… and simultaneously building a legal case against it in your own head… welcome. You’re not inconsistent. You’re just hosting a busy internal board meeting. Most executives don’t have a motivation problem. They have a governance problem. Because inside a high-performing leader […]

Most leaders say they want continuous improvement. Then they build a culture where nobody wants to admit what’s broken. So the problems go underground. The workarounds become normal. The best people silently carry the load. And the “improvement initiative” turns into another poster on the wall beside the dusty fire extinguisher. On Vancouver Island, Curtis […]

Spending time with the Now Optics and Stanton Optical team in Houston left a mark on me. In the best possible way. I want to start with a sincere thank you to everyone who showed up with openness, curiosity, and care during our time together. And I want to offer a special thank-you to Keesha, […]

How Serious Founders Reduce Risk Before They Try to Scale Bill Aulet’s 24-Step Framework Through a Values-Driven Lens Most entrepreneurial advice sounds inspirational. That’s not a compliment. In practice, most founders do not fail because they lack grit, vision, or motivation. They fail because they run fast in the wrong direction, burn capital too early, […]

Most leadership breakdowns aren’t caused by bad strategy.They’re caused by good people accidentally triggering threat responses in other good people. That’s where the SCARF Model comes in. Developed by neuroscientist Dr. David Rock, the SCARF Model explains why otherwise reasonable adults can shut down, get defensive, or dig in their heels during meetings, feedback conversations, […]

There’s a moment in almost every executive or business coaching relationship where exercise shows up like an overdue invoice. Not because the leader doesn’t know it’s important. Because the calendar is a hungry animal. Kids get sick. Sleep gets disrupted. Meetings multiply. And suddenly “I’ll work out when life calms down” becomes a long-term strategic […]

Most leaders were taught one of two things about anger and stress: control it or vent it. Both are incomplete. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) offers a better option: treat your mind like a system. Not a mystery. When your thinking gets sloppy under pressure, your body pays the price—tension, irritability, poor sleep, shorter fuse, tighter […]

Most leaders were taught one of two things about anger:control it or vent it. Both are incomplete. In conscious leadership, anger is neither a liability nor a weapon. It’s data—a signal that something you value feels threatened. The question is not whether you feel anger, but how skillfully you work with it. Here’s a simple […]

In today’s fast-moving business environment, leaders and consultants need practical tools that drive clarity, alignment, and execution. This Business Strategy Prompt Library was created to support founders, executives, and SMB leaders in Canada—especially those navigating growth across Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria, and BC’s competitive business landscape. Drawing on the values-driven, high-performance frameworks we use at […]

Thank you to everyone at Helm Operations who joined our recent keynote in Victoria. You showed up, you leaned in, and you took the time to reflect on who you are becoming inside a company that quite literally powers the companies and crews that work on water. Helm is a rare mix: a tight-knit global […]

Running a construction or remediation company feels like juggling chainsaws on a moving job site.Some weeks you’re slammed. Other weeks you’re wondering why payroll is so heavy. There's always urgency. There’s one simple number that cuts through the chaos:Labour Efficiency Rate. (LER) This blog shows you how to use LER to answer the question many […]

The BANT sales framework remains one of the most reliable ways to qualify serious buyers, eliminate pipeline waste, and accelerate decisions in complex, high-value sales. Whether you’re selling consulting, operational improvements, leadership development, or enterprise advisory services, BANT helps you identify who is ready to move — and who isn’t. This article breaks down the […]

When you’re selling solutions that matter — not just widgets or software modules — the question isn’t “What does this buyer want?” but “What does this buyer believe?” At Values‑Driven Achievement, we believe values aren’t nice slogans. They’re the operating system of a business—and of a leader. (See “Your Mission Statement Is Not Your Values” […]

Enterprise-level organizations don’t make decisions based on convenience, small efficiencies, or “nice-to-have” improvements. They invest when a solution reduces enterprise risk — the category of risks that can hurt the whole organization: financially, operationally, legally, reputationally, or strategically. If you want to sell into large organizations, heavy industry, public-sector systems, construction, mining, logistics, or any […]

For Values-Driven Achievers Who Hate Traditional Sales Most leaders I coach aren’t natural salespeople.They’re brilliant operators, builders, coaches, visionaries—hell, even athletes.But ask them to sell? And suddenly the energy shifts. They hesitate. They fumble their pitch. Or worse—they overshare their solutions without understanding what the client actually needs. If that’s you, I get it.I used […]

When you’ve rowed an Olympic final, crossed an ocean, and capsized in the Bermuda Triangle, you’d think stepping onto the Dragons’ Den stage would feel easy.It wasn’t. In fact, standing under those studio lights with a rowing blade in my hand, pitching the Oar Board alongside my long-time friends Harold Aune and Diana Lesieur, I […]

Strategic planning has a reputation problem. Too many organizations lock themselves in a boardroom, decorate flip charts, eat stale muffins, and call it strategy. Not here. Not with ViDA. The ViDA Strategic Planning Method is built for real leaders running real organizations who need clarity, focus, discipline, and measurable progress—not theatre. And it plugs directly […]

Most small and medium-sized enterprises on Vancouver Island operate with one financial plan: “Let’s hope this year goes better than last year.” Hope is not a strategy.Forecasting is. Financial forecasting is the most underused tool in the Canadian SME toolkit. When you do it properly—using both a 12-month rolling forecast and a 4-year quadrennial roadmap—your […]

How Vancouver Island and BC business owners can stop the cash-flow squeeze and run lighter, stronger companies If you run a small or medium business on Vancouver Island—or anywhere in Canada, really—you already know this truth: you can be “profitable” on paper and still feel broke in real life. It’s not because you’re doing anything […]

Great sales professionals come in all shapes and styles. Some thrive on improvisation and flexibility. Others thrive on clarity, predictability, and well-defined process. The real secret isn’t copying someone else’s preferred sales style. It’s understanding your own personality profile and building a system that aligns with who you actually are. If you’re a collaborative, steady, […]

If you’ve ever built a business, stepped into an executive role, or inherited a team that feels like a hybrid of daycare, crisis centre, and Formula 1 pit crew, you’ve already encountered leadership scope—you just didn’t have a name for it. Scope is the invisible force that determines whether your leadership feels smooth and strategic—or […]

Thank you to the Royal Bank of Canada and to every insurance professional who joined the 2025 Education Days at Caesars Republic in Scottsdale. You showed up, you leaned in, and you asked better-than-average questions. That’s how growth happens. Here’s a quick recap of our time together and a nudge to keep going. 1) Motivation […]

In 1993, Yanni took one of the biggest risks of his career—and turned it into one of the most iconic performances in modern music history. Live at the Acropolis wasn’t just a concert. It was a statement. It was a case study in vision, boldness, and the kind of creative risk-taking that separates incremental thinkers […]

If your values don’t repel some people, they’re probably too vague to matter. It’s one of the hardest truths for leaders to accept, especially those who are wired for belonging, inclusion, and high performance (like most of us who read or contribute to this blog). We like the idea of shared values. Harmony. Unity. Strength […]

We judge leaders by their behaviour.We judge brands the same way. But behaviour—what we can see and measure—is just the tip of the iceberg.Below the waterline? That’s where the real work lives. In our last blog, Leadership Drives: Why What You Don’t See Is Driving the Show, we mapped out the components of leadership effectiveness. […]

When we talk about leadership effectiveness, most people jump straight to behaviour. And fair enough. Behaviour is what we see. It’s the meeting tone, the strategic choice, the offhand comment in a hallway, the hiring decision. It’s what gets measured in 360 reviews and judged in the boardroom. But behaviour is just the tip of […]

Let’s clear something up. Your mission statement is not your values.It’s not even close. A mission statement tells the world what you do.Your values tell you how you do it—and who you’ll refuse to become while doing it. Both fit within a bigger framework of your organization's shared philosophy. If you confuse the two, you […]

Too many professionals confuse values with branding. They think values are a statement. A slogan. A set of “nice-sounding” words crafted to impress clients, employees, or social media followers. But if your values only exist on a slide deck or pinned LinkedIn post, they’re not values. They’re virtue signals—and that’s not the same thing. Virtue […]

You don’t need to train like an Olympian.But if you want to lead like one — if you want to think clearly, stay steady under pressure, and deliver when it counts — you can’t ignore your body. I’ve coached CEOs, entrepreneurs, and athletes for years, and the pattern is always the same: when things get […]

In business—and in life—there’s no avoiding hard things. Markets shift. People burn out. Systems break. The question isn’t if it will get hard, but how you’ll respond when it does. That’s where the Built for Hard™ framework comes in. It’s a simple, actionable model for leaders and teams who want to perform under pressure without […]

Small Business Reality Check Small business is the backbone of Canada’s economy — but the numbers reveal a tougher reality. According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, over 1.07 million small businesses drive local jobs and innovation. Yet many owners are fighting uphill battles with profitability, cash flow, and burnout. Here are five data-driven […]

We’ve lost the art of doing hard things well - and we’re paying the price. Today’s workplaces are full of pressure: economic whiplash, AI upheaval, tighter headcounts, endless meetings, blurred accountability. Yet most leaders don’t lack talent. They lack a system that can convert that pressure into strength instead of burnout. That’s why we built […]

Most leaders let the space between stimulus and response disappear—and then wonder why their performance tanks. Viktor Frankl captured it perfectly: “Between stimulus and response lies a space. In that space is our power to choose.” But let’s be honest—Slack pings, crisis calls, and inbox overload crush that space to zero on most days. The […]

Balance Outcomes and Empathy—Every Conversation, Every Deliverable Built for Hard™ leaders know grit powers performance, and grace sustains people. Use this scorecard to calibrate both—daily, in under five minutes. How to Use After each high‑stakes interaction, rate yourself 1–5 on: • Grit – Did I push for a clear, measurable outcome?• Grace – Did the […]

Prove the Power of Noble Failure, 1 % Edges, and Grit + Grace - in Five Days Targets keep rising while slack pings multiply and focus drains. That’s not a talent gap—it’s a training gap. This micro‑challenge lets your team test three cornerstone drills from the Built for Hard keynote—no budget, no consultants, just five days of deliberate […]

Turn High‑Performance Pressure into Collective Momentum Designed for Challenge. Built for Hard™. This blueprint supercharges executive off‑sites, department retreats, and cross‑functional summits—whether you lead a law firm, tech scale‑up, or manufacturing plant. It blends two research‑backed practices to convert pressure into performance: • Failure Forums – Normalize intelligent risk‑taking and rapid learning.• Role‑Clarity Sweep – Surface hidden […]

Build stronger leaders. Strengthen your organization. Grow a resilient BC economy.At Values-Driven Achievement, we deliver practical, instructor-led leadership and strategic training for BC businesses. Our programs are designed for a purpose: to help your people lead better and earn more as BC residents.That means stronger teams, higher productivity, and long-term organizational resilience that lasts through […]

Imagine an online tea company where every employee — from the warehouse packer to the marketing manager — knows how their daily work contributes to the company’s profitability.They understand how sales convert to gross margin, how packaging efficiency affects cash flow, and how customer satisfaction impacts enterprise value.They make better decisions, innovate, and take ownership. […]

Unblock Cross‑Silo Projects and Ship Results—Fast This sprint converts fragmented pressure into collective performance by aligning every function to a single Gold‑Medal metric, prototyping fast, and committing publicly. 1. PRE‑SPRINT SETUP (≤ 1 WEEK PRIOR) - Recruit 6‑10 cross‑functional contributors per squad (creative, ops, tech, finance).- Assign one Executive Sponsor with authority to approve pilots.- Define […]

The Myth of Motivation — and What Really Drives Results. The number one question my executive business coaching clients ask me is this: “How do I keep myself and my team motivated to do the work necessary to win in a competitive environment?” It’s a great question. Every leader feels it — that tension between […]

Big launches often stall at the final 20 percent—meetings multiply, momentum dies. The cure isn’t a moon‑shot; it’s the 1 % Edge: small, relentless improvements that stack week after week. Use this playbook to prove the concept in just five days. The 1 % Edge Framework 1. Identify the Gold‑Medal Metric: Pick the single metric that matters most […]

Most leaders don’t need more balance.They need a smarter energy strategy. We’ve all heard it: energy is finite. Use it wisely. But just because it's familiar doesn’t make it any less urgent—especially for ambitious, high-performing leaders pulled in every direction: work, home, health, service, and somewhere in there, your own sanity. Let’s make this real: […]

Most owners think valuation is just EBITDA × multiple. That’s like calling a symphony “just a bunch of notes.” Let’s look deeper. When buyers evaluate your business, they don’t just run the numbers. They hunt for intangibles—the hidden assets that separate average companies from premium ones. In fact, research from the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) […]

Most business owners assume valuation is just EBITDA × multiple. That’s like calling a symphony “just a bunch of notes.” Let’s look deeper. Beyond the Multiple: 6 Enterprise Value Frameworks Every Business Coach Should Know You know me — I hate frameworks for the sake of frameworks. But here’s the truth: enterprise value is a […]

Most owners think their business is worth more than it really is. That’s not arrogance—it’s lack of a scorecard. When it comes to selling a business, valuation multiples get all the airtime. But here’s the catch: buyers don’t just buy numbers. They buy readiness and attractiveness. That’s why the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) created its […]

The Value Builder System (created by John Warrillow, author of Built to Sell) is built on 8 core drivers of company value. These are the levers that—when improved—tend to increase the multiple and overall attractiveness of a business: Read more about building value in your business here. ––––– Adam Kreek and his team are on […]

Most great visions start with pain. A frustration that won’t go away. A challenge that limits progress. A problem too big to ignore. Pain is the spark. It shows us what’s broken and forces us to imagine something better. Without discomfort, urgency fades. Without urgency, vision dies. But here’s the truth: not all pain leads […]

The Kepner-Tregoe (K-T) Matrix is a step-by-step decision framework that separates what’s going on, why it happened, what to do, and what could go wrong next. It turns high-stakes choices into values-aligned, evidence-based action. Download the worksheet below to run the process with your team. Why this matters now Decision-making is the leadership skill. Most […]

In one of our coaching engagements, a scientist and leader came forward with a familiar problem:He knew what needed to happen. He knew how to make it happen. But it wasn’t happening. Despite years of success and high standards, his team lacked follow-through. He felt stuck.The core issue? A resistance to action—rooted in perfectionism, fear […]

The key to a premium exit isn’t just revenue—it’s reducing owner dependency across six critical systems. Only 10% of businesses that go to market get the value they expected... Why? Because the business is too dependent on the owner. You are the bottleneck. You might also be the engine, the steering wheel, and the cupholder. […]

Self-authoring won’t change your life—unless you learn how to offer your whole self first. You won’t build the future you want until you’re willing to offer your current self to get there. Let me be clear: I’m a big fan of the Self-Authoring Suite by Jordan Peterson and the gang, and I love the structure […]

When change is hard—when the pressure’s rising and clarity feels out of reach—top leaders don’t just push through. They journal. This post is a breakdown of journaling methods that help leaders thrive in difficult times. Whether you’re facing stress, burnout, strategic uncertainty, or emotional overload, journaling is one of the most effective tools to get […]

Change isn’t a single moment. It’s a loop.It’s not linear. It’s not clean. And it’s not just you. In fact, even when change is working, we’re still somewhere in the Hard Loop—a continuous cycle we return to again and again. At some point, we all hit the wall. We say: “This is too much.”Or: “I […]

Change is hard. But it’s not the enemy. Thank you, Northern Vision Development, for diving into the hard work of change with me today. We explored how making peace with the hard parts of change can actually create space—space for energy, for clarity, and yes, for real transformation. We unpacked the Hard Loop, took some […]

Most people treat the first hour of the day like it doesn’t matter. It does. How you start sets the tone for how you lead. I used to think morning rituals were for monks, yogis, or those entrepreneurs who somehow enjoy making kale smoothies at 4:30am while grinning like serial killers. But then I entered […]

Most people don’t have a life strategy. They have a to-do list. They lurch from one commitment to the next, trying to stay ahead of deadlines, obligations, and burnout. Meanwhile, the truly important areas—health, relationships, meaning, long-term impact—slowly erode. That’s why I built this. The Built for Hard™ Life Wheel is a tool to help […]

I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect that level of resonance. After the keynote, more than 20 team members stood up to share takeaways from the full day of training… and what struck me most was how many of them connected with the hard truths we had wrestled through together: That’s why I do this work—not to […]

Vision is cheap if it’s not backed by structure. We’ve all been to retreats where we sketch out a “dream future” and then forget about it within the week. There’s no rhythm. No reality check. No strategy that holds. That’s why I built the ViDA 4HAG System™—a quarterly performance framework built for bold vision, hard […]

In many of my keynotes or strategic planning sessions, I will pull out my Olympic gold medal, pass it around for people to hold and ask this question: “Why do the Olympics happen once every four years?” Picture yourself in the audience. What would you say? Answers come out of the group. Some say: "to […]

If you don’t know what it costs to get a customer—and what they’re worth to your business—you’re not planning. You’re guessing. CAC vs CLV: Why Every Business Leader Needs to Master These Two Metrics When I work with leaders, we often talk about strategy. Vision. Culture. Big ideas. But here’s the truth that separates good […]

Most people don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they cling too tightly to old identities, mindsets, and methods that no longer serve them at the next level. It’s not a character flaw. It’s a crossing. And like any crossing, it’s confusing, disorienting, and hard to navigate. That’s why I love the Leadership River […]

Here’s the truth: life and leadership are hard. Always have been. Always will be.The problem isn’t the hard itself — it’s the energy we waste resisting it. When we accept the hard — that challenge and difficulty are the norm, not something to escape, but integral to life and work itself — we can instantly […]

Most entrepreneurs underestimate how predictable growth really is. Sure, every founder thinks their business is “unique.” And it is—until payroll hits. Then suddenly, your struggles look an awful lot like everyone else’s. Researchers like Neil C. Churchill and Virginia L. Lewis mapped this out decades ago in their classic Harvard Business Review piece on small […]

Most conferences promise quick fixes. Catapult pushed us to dig into our vision, endurance, and enable real business systems for change. Let's keep that momentum going. Thank you to everyone who joined me at the Cultivate Advisors Catapult Conference in Chicago. I left energized by the conversations, the curiosity in the room, and the commitment […]

Noble Failure Playbook Turn Fast Mistakes into Lasting Momentum Designed for Challenge. Built for Hard™.When targets keep rising and easy dopamine steals focus, the quickest way back to performance is to reframe failure. A Noble Failure is a chosen, well‑designed risk that delivers a lesson within 24 hours—fuel for the next iteration. What is a […]

Leadership Drill Playbook 3R Challenge‑Stress Ritual – Turn Quiet Burnout into Challenge‑Fuelled Momentum Quiet burnout shows up as busy calendars and tired eyes. Modern work rewards hustle just when the job demands endurance, courage and crystal‑clear thinking. This one‑page playbook gives leaders a proven drill to convert latent stress into performance momentum—no budget approvals required. […]

Built for Hard™ — Momentum Guide Turn Pressure into Traction in 48 Hours When cash gaps widen or projects stall at 80 per cent, leaders often grind harder or freeze. Top performers do neither—they convert stress into disciplined momentum. These three research-backed moves turned a seven-figure cash shortfall into a fully funded bridge round in […]

A concise guide for converting volatility into consistent performance Why Cadence Beats Chaos The Problem Modern work arrives in spikes—market shocks, AI roll-outs, climate surprises. Chronic reactivity drives fatigue and slows decision speed (World Economic Forum, 2024). The Science Behind Cadence From Random Stress → Adaptive Cadence Endless workload → Time-boxed sprints Vague priorities → […]

(And Actually Use Them to Build Cohesion) If your team doesn't know your shared philosophy – often represented in a shared mission, values, and purpose—don’t expect cohesion. Expect confusion, conflict, and coasting. In too many organizations, Mission, Vision, Values, and Purpose and other components of a shared philosophy are treated like corporate wallpaper. They’re posted […]

Are you procrastinating right now? You might be reading this blog instead of sending that one email you don’t want to write. Or maybe you’re scrolling for motivation while your to-do list grows louder in the background. That’s the problem with procrastination: we usually turn to consumption instead of creation. We doomscroll, we binge-watch, we […]

Why do I have to journal, meditate, and exercise—just to answer my damn emails? Welcome to resistance. Hard Work Paradox There’s a frustrating paradox that high performers don’t talk about enough. You have good work to do. You want to do it. But somehow... you just can’t start. So you check your email again. You […]

Ever feel wiped out before your day even starts? It’s not the meeting in front of you that drains you—it’s carrying the entire week in your head at once. Here’s a simple shift to lighten the load and reclaim your energy: Trust yourself to Meet the Day. A client of mine—a seasoned VP, sharp, respected, […]

Agile may feel like a buzzword today, but its roots stretch back thousands of years. At its heart, Agile is about adaptability, iteration, and continuous improvement—principles that leaders, philosophers, and innovators have been using long before software development existed. Here’s a quick journey through the history of Agile, inspired by the timeline you see below. […]

Most companies want better results. Fewer companies are willing to build the discipline of continuous improvement that actually produces them. This is where Kaizen—the Japanese practice of small, steady improvements—comes in. Toyota, through its legendary Toyota Production System (TPS), turned Kaizen into a cultural force. It’s how they grew from a small post-war carmaker into […]

Why Kaizen Matters Every leader wants a motivated team, an innovative culture, and work done with discipline. The challenge? In smaller companies, it often feels like we don’t have the time, budget, or bandwidth for “big system changes.” That’s where Kaizen comes in. Popularized by Toyota, Kaizen is the practice of continuous improvement. It’s about […]

Why Testing Matters It’s one thing to pick value words. It’s another to know if they actually work together. Not all values are created equal, and not all values can coexist peacefully. Some will naturally conflict. Others might sound good on paper but crumble in a crisis. As I explored in my earlier post, Discovering […]

Why We Fail to Live Our Values Most organizations don’t fail because they pick the wrong values. They fail because they don’t know how to put them into action. As I explored in my earlier post, Discovering Core Values for Your Company, Team, or Organization, values are the invisible levers that drive results and resilience. […]

Why This Matters Values aren’t just lofty ideals—they’re the “how we do things” of your team. They shape culture, decision‑making, and everyday interactions. As I explored in my earlier post, Discovering Core Values for Your Company, Team, or Organization, values are the invisible levers that drive results and resilience. This post lays out the how—a clear, […]

Why Core Values Matter Values are not slogans. They are not motivational posters in the lunchroom. They are the invisible operators of our actions. Values as the invisible drivers of culture and results Values define the culture of our organizations. They change slowly and, when honoured, become the steady rhythm that guides decisions, behaviours, and […]

What if you treated recruiting like marketing? Instead of passively waiting for résumés to land in your inbox, you could identify, pursue, and win the talent that makes your business thrive. That’s where the Talent Profile Map comes in. I use this tool with clients during strategy sessions and organizational design workshops. It flips recruiting […]

What if your business stopped chasing vague “target markets” and instead built products and strategies for real people? That’s where the Customer Profile Map comes in. I use this tool with clients and teams during workshops and strategy sessions. It turns abstract customer data into living, breathing characters. Suddenly, marketing stops being guesswork, and service […]

What if everyone in your business truly understood each other—and every customer? That’s not a utopian dream. It’s a process. And one of the simplest, most powerful tools to get there is the Empathy Map. I use empathy maps in workshops and strategic planning sessions with clients. They help teams cut through assumptions and actually […]

If you’ve ever struggled with the nagging question, “Is this person the right fit for this role?”, you’re not alone. Leaders everywhere wrestle with how to assess whether team members truly belong in their seats. That’s where the Get It, Want It, Capacity (GWC) framework comes in. This deceptively simple tool provides a clear, structured […]

We’ve all worked with that person: brilliant at their job, but a drain on the team’s energy.High-competence, low-culture. These individuals can be the hardest to deal with because, on paper, they deliver. In reality, they poison the system. Their presence slowly erodes trust, morale, and collaboration. Left unchecked, they can do more damage than someone […]

“Politics is individual or group behaviour that is informal, typically divisive, and not sanctioned formally.” — Henry Mintzberg When most leaders hear the word politics, they recoil. It feels dirty, manipulative, and something to be avoided at all costs. Yet politics exists in every organization—whether we like it or not. Politics is simply the way […]

Hard isn’t coming. It’s already here—and it’s not going away. AI is rewriting industries. Budgets are shrinking. Quotas are rising. The leaders I coach aren’t asking if pressure will hit—they’re asking how to lead when it does. That’s why I built the Built for Hard™ keynote. Because your team doesn’t need another pep talk. They […]

Leadership isn't hard because you're doing it wrong. It's hard because you're doing it right. Leadership in pressure-filled times isn’t about staying comfortable—it’s about rising with intention. And lately? It feels like pressure is the norm. We lead in the workplace. We lead at home. We try to lead ourselves. And often, we’re doing all […]

A guide to turning burnout into purposeful strain Download the PDF Here The Shift: Why Burnout Happens Random, unstructured stress drains energy because it feels endless and pointless. Purposeful strain—work that is chosen, time‑boxed, and mission‑linked—charges the battery instead of depleting it. The Hard Spectrum Turn Random Stress into Purposeful Strain Mindset Check‑In Aim to […]

You’ve been told you need to choose. Be strong or be kind.Lead with authority or lead with empathy.Fight for what’s yours—or keep the peace. But what if the best leaders—the ones who build trust, create value, and leave a meaningful impact—don’t choose at all? What if they’ve learned to hold both: Grace and Grit? Let’s […]

We overestimate what we can do in a week…And completely ignore the 5,218 weeks that make up a long, healthy life. That’s right. You only get 5,218 weeks if you live to 100.The real question is: What are you doing with them? Bring in the life chart. A tool to bring perspective and give space […]

A senior sales leader I coach is doing the hard work of leadership—and it’s paying off. He’s rolling out a new compensation structure. He’s launching dashboards to track sales activity. And most importantly, he’s shifting how he holds people accountable. This leader is stepping into what I call tension-holding leadership. He no longer smooths things […]

When I first met Greg, he was running a fast-growing biotech startup that had gained serious traction—but behind the scenes, it was a mess. Greg was brilliant. A visionary. The kind of leader who could dream big, inspire investors, and rally a team behind cutting-edge ideas. But organization? Structure? Focus? Not his strong suit. The […]

Most sales training still smells like 1995.Overcome objections. Push the prospect. Close the deal. It’s all about control, persuasion, and winning at any cost. And sure—it can work.But it doesn’t build long-term trust. It doesn’t create meaningful change. And it definitely doesn’t align with values-driven leadership. If you're committed to values-driven achievement, there’s a better […]

1. Task – What do you want the AI to do? Be clear and direct. Start your prompt with an action verb. Examples: Good prompts lead with clarity: write, build, list, analyze, compare, explain. 2. Context – Who, what, why? Provide background. Describe the people, setting, and purpose. Think: who is this for, and what’s the bigger picture? Examples: […]

Values and principles are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same—and understanding their difference can profoundly impact how individuals and organizations function.

(And yes, that’s a good thing.) Last week, Panther Industries' pallet plant in Davidson, Saskatchewan literally caught fire. Not figuratively. We're talking full-on smoke-billowing, sirens-blaring, sawdust-sparking combustion. Not metaphorically. Literally. Turns out a few employees didn’t like the wind in their face while having a smoke, so they wandered over to the camera-free zone and […]

Most teams only do After Action Reviews (AARs) after something goes well.They celebrate the wins. Unpack what worked. Give each other high-fives. But the real value of an AAR shows up after the disaster.That’s when it matters most. That’s when the growth begins. What is an After Action Review? An AAR is a structured conversation […]

Too many leaders rely on pressure to drive performance—and it works… until it doesn’t.Engagement drops. Burnout spikes. People stop thinking for themselves.What’s missing? A system that motivates without micromanaging. This post is about tools. Practical ones you can actually use to motivate your team—without becoming their therapist, their babysitter, or their bulldozer. Because the best […]

Leadership isn’t always a keynote speech or a quarterly plan. Sometimes it’s a shouting match on your lawn. Sometimes it’s standing still while someone screams in your face—and choosing not to yell back. In our coaching work at Values-Driven Achievement, we talk a lot about the Trust Triangle—a simple yet powerful model for building durable […]

You can be a brilliant leader with all the right credentials… and still demotivate your team. I’ve coached leaders who were sharp, disciplined, and respected—yet their people were disengaged, burned out, or quietly quitting. Why? Because they were leading from imbalance. They leaned too hard on grit—driving results through pressure, guilt, and performance demands. Or […]

Most strategy dies in a slow, suffocating spiral. Not because the ideas were bad—but because execution never stood a chance against the daily whirlwind. I’ve watched this cycle too many times to count. The good news? There’s a way out. It’s called the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX). And it’s not new. It’s not flashy. […]

Your team’s not lazy.They’re just not motivated—and it might be your fault.I’ve coached brilliant leaders stuck in this trap.They grind harder, push more—and get less in return.Why? Because they’re missing the one thing that turns grit into lasting results. Leadership without balance gets stuck in loops.Either too soft to steer…Or too hard to move. “Feel […]

Hiring a keynote speaker seems easy, right? You check the sizzle reel, look at the name, read the bio—and boom, you’re done. Wrong. Behind every great event is a speaker who didn’t just deliver a talk—they elevated the whole experience. And behind every disappointing keynote? A planner who got sold the show but missed the […]

Leadership is not an optional expense—it is the single most important factor in business success. Yet, many organizations still view leadership development as a “nice-to-have” rather than a core driver of productivity, profitability, and employee engagement. Let’s break it down. Why Should We Invest in Leadership Development? Leadership directly impacts business outcomes, team performance, and […]

The Problem With Traditional Performance Reviews Performance reviews often feel like a grading exercise rather than a growth conversation. Employees leave these meetings feeling judged instead of empowered. Leaders walk away frustrated by gaps in perception and misaligned expectations. The issue? One-directional feedback. Too often, leaders evaluate employees without inviting feedback on their own leadership. […]

Leadership is more than just strategy, execution, and decision-making. Great leadership requires deep self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to clear internal blockages that limit growth. One often-overlooked framework that can help leaders develop these qualities is the ancient wisdom of chakras—energy centers that influence our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Understanding chakras isn’t just […]

Carl Jung once said, “We deem those happy who, from the experience of life, have learned to bear its ills without being overcome by them.” This quote encapsulates the essence of shadow work—the process of uncovering the hidden parts of ourselves that influence our behaviours, values, and decisions. Shadow work is not about eliminating these aspects […]

​In the realm of leadership, certain reactive behaviours—protecting, controlling, and people-pleasing—can undermine your effectiveness and erode trust. These behaviours often operate "below the waterline," driven by unconscious fears and unmet needs. Understanding their origins and manifestations is crucial for personal growth and fostering healthier organizational cultures.​ Karen Horney's Framework: Neurotic Needs and Leadership BehavioUrs Psychoanalyst […]

Imagine two high-powered business partners, each with strong opinions, deep investments, and a shared history of growing a company together. Now, imagine them at a crossroads—one wants to exit, the other wants to stay. Each feels slightly slighted. The negotiations should be about logic, about growing the pie, about maximizing returns for all parties. But […]

Sales can feel overwhelming when you're just starting out—like navigating a maze in the dark, hoping to stumble upon success while dodging rejection. But in reality, sales is simple: connect with people, offer value, and solve a need. Here’s a no-nonsense, three-step process to make sales feel less like a mystery and more like a […]

Meetings are either a powerful tool for alignment and execution or a waste of valuable time. The difference? Cadence and structure. A well-planned meeting cadence ensures that teams stay aligned, focused, and moving toward key objectives—daily, weekly, quarterly, and annually. Here’s how to structure meetings for maximum impact. 1. The Daily Standup: Fast, Focused, and […]

Annual reviews are more than just a performance evaluation—they’re an opportunity to align on goals, reinforce trust, and build a stronger team. When done well, they create clarity, engagement, and motivation. When done poorly, they become a dreaded, ineffective exercise in bureaucracy. To get it right, leaders and managers must approach annual reviews with clear […]

Overview:The One Minute Manager is a concise and practical guide to effective management, emphasizing three key techniques: One Minute Goals, One Minute Praisings, and One Minute Reprimands. These principles help managers increase productivity, empower employees, and create a positive work environment. Key Concepts & Lessons 1. One Minute Goals 💡 Why it works: Employees are […]

Meetings get a bad rap. "This could have been an email" has become the battle cry of frustrated professionals everywhere. But what if the problem isn’t the meetings themselves—it's how we run them? Steven G. Rogelberg’s book The Science of Meetings dives into decades of research to explain why most meetings are ineffective and, more […]

Meetings: the necessary evil of every organization. We’ve all been there—long, meandering discussions that lead nowhere, endless debates without decisions, and worst of all, time spent talking about work instead of actually doing the work. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, 71% of senior leaders say meetings are unproductive and inefficient, while 65% […]

Emotions are not just reactions—they are information. They tell us what matters, influence our decisions, and shape our interactions. Yet, many people struggle to articulate their emotions, leading to poor emotional regulation, ineffective communication, and lost leadership impact. Research shows that people who can label their emotions with precision are: This is where the Feelings […]

Recently, a client of mine faced a difficult leadership challenge. In a project management situation, they realized their protective and controlling tendencies were creating emotional distance, reducing their effectiveness as a leader. Here’s what happened: They had assigned a task to a colleague, who then delegated it to a junior manager, who passed it along […]

Incentive structures play a crucial role in driving sales performance. But many businesses struggle with a common issue: How do you keep your sales team motivated throughout the year while aligning their efforts with long-term business goals? For medium-sized construction or manufacturing businesses, a progressive quarterly bonus payout structure—where bonuses are annualized and paid in […]

(A personalized, executive-friendly summary of Andy Grove’s lessons on management and his book High Output Management) Why This Book Matters To quote Bill Campbell, former Apple board member and subject of the Trillion Dollar Coach: “High Output Management is a bible that every entrepreneur and every manager in the country should look at, read, and […]

Most leaders don’t fail because they lack skills or motivation. They fail because they are unknowingly protecting themselves from change. Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey call this the Immunity to Change—a built-in psychological system that blocks us from making the transformations we consciously desire and featured in their book, Immunity to Change. It’s not about […]

What do you do when logic and facts don’t work? A national park ranger and conservation officer was under siege and my coaching client. His job was to enforce new environmental protections that limited hunting, fishing, and land development in a protected area. But the locals—ranchers, retired loggers, and anti-government activists—weren’t interested in climate data, […]

Some speeches change the way you think. Some just help you stay awake after a bad night’s sleep. The best ones? They hit you so hard that you rethink your entire approach to life and leadership. For me, that speech came from Sir Ken Robinson. It was after my Olympic gold medal, after my record-breaking […]

When it comes to values-driven leadership, few figures stand out more prominently than Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski. His approach to leadership, as documented through his work, offers invaluable lessons in aligning personal and organizational values to achieve extraordinary success. MasterClass Insights In his MasterClass on values-driven leadership, Coach K delves into the core principles defining […]

Values shape the decisions we make and the actions we take. But not all values words are created equal. Many lists are riddled with grammatical errors, conceptual missteps, and words that fail to clearly communicate a stable, intrinsic quality of character. At the bottom, I've place a breakdown of the most common pitfalls and how […]

Most business owners assume their company’s value is tied to book value, net present value, or industry multiples. But here’s the truth: Your company is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it. A buyer doesn’t care about what you think it’s worth. They care about the risk, opportunity, and scalability of the […]

Who are the hidden influencers guiding your success, and how can you leverage them? In today's world, it's not just what you know; it's who you know and how you leverage those relationships. Building a solid network is essential for career success, and the "Leadership Champion Framework" provides a playbook for connecting with four types […]

High performance isn’t an accident. It’s a combination of focused effort, strong values, and a relentless commitment to growth. In this interview, I dive deep into the mindset, habits, and leadership strategies that shaped my journey from Olympic gold medalist to executive coach, keynote speaker, and leadership consultant. Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or corporate […]

REPRINTED FROM UVIC TORCH MAGAZINE When they first met, “Little Adam” was an open-hearted eight-year-old boy hungry for a male role model. His mother, Lorraine Pawlivsky-Love (BFA ’00, MEd ’05), was a UVic Fine Arts student, struggling to raise two small children alone. “Big Adam,” better known as Adam Kreek, was then 22, a UVic geography […]

Leadership isn't easy. Sometimes, you have to make the hard calls, challenge the status quo, or hold people accountable in ways that make them uncomfortable. But there's a fine line between effective leadership and reactive leadership. The question is: are you leading with conscious awareness, or are you slipping into patterns of control, avoidance, or […]

Transactional leadership is a management style focused on structure, performance metrics, and efficiency. Transformational leadership is about inspiration, vision, and empowerment. It moves beyond tasks and metrics to create cultures of innovation and long-term commitment. We need to balance both leadership styles.

The Challenge: A Business in Need of Strategic Focus Leadership is not about reacting to problems—it’s about steering an organization toward long-term success. But even the best teams can get stuck in the day-to-day grind, losing sight of the big picture. At a recent two-day strategic retreat in Victoria, British Columbia, a leadership team from […]

Effective communication is a key skill for successful leadership. Here are five habits you can implement immediately to improve communication with your team. 1. Listen The most important thing to consider when you’re communicating with your team is your ability to listen. Communication is primarily listening and then verifying what you thought you heard. 2. […]

I get tremendous value and enjoyment from reading and listening to inspirational books. I glean insights and ideas from each author and develop new skills to be a better speaker, management consultant, and trainer. Fun fact: Reading is also a great way for us to reduce stress! Below is a list of seven inspirational books that […]

Why is it necessary to develop skills to lead people through change? Shouldn’t people naturally change on their own when they see change is needed? Often, as leaders and managers, we will give advice expecting our colleagues to change. Yet, we can see that the prescriptive method doesn’t work that well. Motivational interviewing is an effective way […]

I’ll admit, I have a love/hate reaction when I consume Oprah’s work. I find her celebrity at times trumps her message and distracts me from engaging with her media conglomerate's content. Her influence, however, has been truly remarkable. She has empowered so many to live better lives. Ultimately I believe in her authenticity and her […]

Why is it so hard to change—even when we know it’s essential? Let’s dive into the Immunity to Change framework with real-world examples and questions that can help leaders—not just perform but thrive sustainably.

When debriefing post success or failure, are you separating your feelings from facts? One of the biggest mistakes we can make while reflecting upon past events is to justify our feelings with emotional reasoning. Just because you feel something, does not make it true. Or, just because something is true, doesn’t mean that your feelings […]

Canadian water polo player, Nathan Kotylak, who was shown in some notorious images from the Vancouver Stanley Cup riot has been banned from the Canadian national team for two years. Kotylak was handed the suspension by Water Polo Canada's discipline panel, which means he will not compete at the 2012 Olympic Games. Adam had argued […]

What is conscious failure, and how can it help you?  The following physical exercise will grow your body, mind and spirit. This rowing machine workout builds your anaerobic capacity, increases your lactic threshold, boosts your oxygen-carrying capacity, boosts mitochondrial density, increases capillary density, allows your muscles to hold more glycogen, burns off excess stress hormones […]

An Olympic-sized metaphor and a Bermuda Triangle incident help to keep safety culture fresh “Safety performance is not a priority. Priorities change. Safety is non-negotiable. It’s a core value. Every day, we need to eat, sleep, get dressed, work hard, get paid, and be safe. We lead safe teams because we care. We build safe […]

Adam was recently interviewed for a book chapter about his perspectives on Leadership, Success, and Wellbeing.  The following is an excerpt from this interview. David: I’d like to start off by asking you about failure. It’s something we all experience, yet often find so difficult to overcome. You faced massive failure at the 2004 Olympic […]

What is Succession Planning? Succession planning is the key to solving one of the most common challenges organizations face: what happens when a key leader leaves? Without a plan, the transition can disrupt momentum, morale, and even your long-term goals. This blog provides practical steps and tools to help you navigate the process with clarity […]

Using the Leadership River as a guide, leaders can better understand their growth trajectory. For instance:

Are you leading individual contributors or managers? Adjust your values to emphasize developing others.

Moving from managing one team to a portfolio of teams? Start appreciating the success of others over personal wins.

When something goes wrong, it’s natural to cast blame on the perceived cause of the misfortune. An individual can cast that blame internally or externally. This is related to a psychological construct known as the locus of control. Locus of control refers to the degree to which an individual feels a sense of agency in […]

Insights from a concentration camp If you haven’t read Viktor Frankl’s book, “Man’s Search For Meaning”, you should. Frankl, a trained psychiatrist, writes about the psychology of imprisonment in a Nazi death camp during the second world war. He describes how he found beauty in the most horrid of circumstances. The most memorable part of […]

I’m often asked what I do to stay fit now that I’m no longer training for the Olympics or adventure expeditions. My focus has shifted to growing my business ventures, so that I can serve my growing family. In truth, compared to my athletic career, I ‘workout’ quite minimally. Instead I aim to incorporate physical […]

Two days – and the decisions they contain – have the utmost meaning in a competitive athlete’s life. First is the day you commit and give up everything to pursue your sport. The second day is when you finally end your path of elite athletics. As I reflect upon my sporting career, one lesson stands […]

Please enjoy this well-written safety culture case study by Rodd Wagner Paul O’Neill’s tenure at the helm of Alcoa is now the stuff of legend. Introduced to a group of investors and analysts in October 1987, he didn’t talk about revenue and expenses and debt ratios and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. “I […]

I Seek Failure: Why the Edge of Your Limits Is Where You Need to Be Most people run from failure. I chase it. When I stood on the TEDx Victoria stage in 2013, I shared a message that had shaped my journey as an Olympic athlete, an adventurer, and a leader: If you want to […]

High-powered tech executives and engineers often find themselves caught in the weeds of decision-making. To scale up leadership, we need to delegate decision-making. My client, we'll call him Tom, was the head engineer in a fast-growing tech company and was no exception. He had a talented team of 30 people, but their hesitance to take […]

KreekSpeak Mental Toughness Tip: Are You Letting Go? We’re often told to “let it go”. Bad relationships. Toxic people. Negative feelings. Mistakes. Failure. But how do we actually practise ‘letting go’? I’m no stranger to failure in my personal, athletic and professional life. I even did a TEDx talk on the power of non-attainment (Adam […]

I love being active. When I am away from the desk, the computer, the phone and the conference room, I still dream of adventures into the ocean and up snow-scraped mountains. I exercise regularly because movement keeps me focused, smart and happy. I love the feel of my muscles after a good weight pump, the sublime […]

If your goals aren’t working, maybe it’s not you—it’s your system. SMART goals can transform vague aspirations into actionable outcomes. Let’s dig in. In case you’re rusty, SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Relevant, and Time-bound. At least, this is the variation of the goal-setting acronym we endorse at ViDA. Interestingly, this acronym […]

To make your onboarding process as seamless as possible, we’ve created a customizable template to guide managers in building their six-month plans

As a leader, you must be many things to many different people. The further up the organization you move, the more you will need to refine your ability to balance effectively between different roles. If you do not manage this dance effectively, you will face the common consequences of ineffectiveness, frustration, lagging motivation and even […]

As sports fans, we often celebrate athletes and admire them for their beauty, fame and wealth. But in my experience, I've come to know beauty, fame and wealth as toxic goals. These toxic three don't drive the most successful sports figures. Rather, our heroes' external success is more often the result of deep athlete-coach relationships and a […]

Henry Ford said, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” He knew something that took researchers years to formalize—teams don’t perform instantly. Before a team hits its stride, it has to go through the messy middle. First, the team forms. Then, it storms. Clashes happen. Egos flare. People push […]

How Sharks, Pirates and Pareto can help to manage risk in the face of change Your organization is in the midst of change. A merger? Acquisition? Downturn? Disruption? Yet, you are someone who makes it happen. You are not someone who stands idly by to let change roll on top of you. Here is a […]

When preparing for a dismissal, it’s easy to focus on the prep and execution while overlooking one of the most critical aspects—the finishing move. How you conclude the conversation can define the lasting impression you leave, for better or worse. That’s why we’ve designed a simple process to help leaders navigate dismissals effectively and gracefully. […]

Psychological Safety - sīkəˈläjəkəl ˈsāftē Psychological safety is the most studied enabling condition in group dynamics and team learning research.  Psychological safety is a shared feeling of safety, experienced by each team member.  In psychologically safe teams, team members feel accepted and respected. In Project Aristotle, Google found this quality to be of most importance in high-functioning […]

  What can Japanese efficiency teach us about turning vision into action? How do we direct an organization to achieve more worthwhile goals? You can be highly productive at the wrong things, and where will that bring you? Hoshin Kanri is a step by step planning method used to ensure that the different functional areas […]

I'm compiling a list of value words. This list is not complete, not organized and not codified. Each of the value words below has been checked over to ensure they follow the grammatical rules and the general rules of how we like to think about value words at ViDA AcceptanceAbundanceAchievementAccountabilityAccuracyAdaptabilityAgencyAlertnessAltruismAmbitionAmusementAssertivenessAwarenessBalanceBeautyBoldnessBraveryBrillianceCalmCandorCertainty CharityChallengeClarityCleanlinessCollaborationCommitmentCommunityCompassionCompetenceComfortConfidenceConnectionConvictionConsistencyContributionCooperationCourageCourtesyCreativityCuriosityDedicationDependabilityDeterminationDevotionDignityDisciplineDiscoveryEnduranceEnergyEffectivenessEfficiencyEmpathyEnjoymentEnthusiasmEqualityExcellenceExperienceExplorationFairnessFidelityFocusFortitudeFreedomFriendshipFulfillmentFunGenerosity GeniusGoodnessGraceGratitudeGrowthHappinessHarmonyHonestyHonourHopeHumilityImaginationIndependenceInnovationInsightIntelligenceIntegrityIntrospectionIntuitionJoyJusticeKindnessKnowledgeLeadershipLoveLoyaltyPatiencePeacePerseverance ProsperityPurposeResilienceRespectResponsibilitySensitivitySerenityServiceSimplicityStrengthTeamworkTemperanceThoughtfulnessTransparencyTrustTruthUnityValorVisionWisdomWonder

Grounded - ˈgroundid Well balanced and sensible. An electrical circuit that is connected to the earth. How do you visualize the feeling of being grounded? Bob Babinski told me about his airport experiment, and I leaned in to hear more. He’s been practicing a subtle technique that influences the behaviour of strangers. On my flight home, […]

loneliness |ˈloʊnlin1s| A complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation or lack of companionship How do you handle your feelings of loneliness? I was reminded of the power of loneliness when I once picked up a hitchhiker in northern Saskatchewan. After weeks of solo travel, delivering leadership training and coaching in Canada's north, I was […]

I’ve been baffled by the chaos surrounding values words—the grammar fails, the contradictions in literature, and the internet's endless misuse. So, I’ve taken on a mission: to define clear rules that cut through the confusion and unlock the true power of values. When we clarify these words, we don’t just gain clarity—we gain a tool […]

The ViDA Values Framework: A Complete Guide to Defining and Living Your Values At ViDA (Values-Driven Achievement), we define values as states and traits that drive behaviour, decisions, and human interactions. They are not abstract goals but the lived experience of who we are in the present. Values are the compass that guides us toward […]

Stories connect values to lived experiences. They are more than entertainment; they’re the threads that weave cultures together and align collective values. Research validates this power: narratives promoting altruism lead to observable shifts in empathy and prosocial actions. In one study, participants who read kind, caring stories were significantly more likely to help a researcher […]

Amateur ˈ|amətər| A person who engages in a particular activity simply for the love of it, and is not paid for their work. - Professional |prəˈfeSHənl| A person who is competent and skilled in a particular activity, and is paid for their work. Are you a Professional? When the modern Olympic Games were founded in […]

As your friendly neighbourhood Olympic has-been, I'm often asked to share my favourite exercise routines. My first suggestion is always the same: pursue joy in movement, and joy in effort. The more you look for these two sources of joy, the fitter you will become. Plus, you're much more likely to stick with a joyful […]

The real cost of inaction? Millions in lost revenue, turnover, and opportunities. Whether you operate in Victoria, Vancouver, Seattle, or San Francisco, a clear strategic plan isn’t an expense—it’s your ultimate business growth tool. Organizations thrive when they adopt one crucial element—a robust and well-executed strategic plan. Suppose you’re a tech hub in San Francisco, […]

Jerred Moon, 28, has a lofty goal: To squat-lift 500 pounds — in his garage. Moon's garage gym was born out of necessity after he got married in 2010. Despite dreams of becoming an officer in the United Stats Air Force after graduating from military college, he found himself out of work for a few months. […]

Weekly sleep average is more important than daily number By Adam Kreek, CBC Sports  Dec 08, 2015 4:27 PM ET One of the keys to overcoming challenges I've faced — rowing across the Atlantic, raising two young children, overcoming an addiction to Dragon's Den — has been some well-planned shut-eye. As an Olympic rower, I knew that quality sleep would help […]

How do you view stress in your life? Is it something that you avoid and fear? Or, do you harness stress’ powerful energy to be the momentum that drives your performance energy? Today, we show you how to manage your stress and turn nervous energy shocks into positive action. Exposure to stress is unavoidable. Yet, […]

You can grow a business that inspires team members to actively drive your vision forward. Howard Schulz, Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington are just three examples of people who led their teams to greatness. However, and not surprisingly, creating an ideal environment primed for business growth will not happen by accident. Nor will it happen overnight. […]

The Clustered Science of Non-Attainment Research tells us that people who set goals are happier and more successful. Professors who set goals earn tenure faster, employees who set goals get larger raises, and students who have goals set for them learn up to 250 percent faster than those who do not. When we are achieving […]

On Sunday, April 13th, NBC’s Dateline aired a documentary about my Trans-Atlantic Ocean Expedition—and the harrowing capsize that nearly cost my crew and me our lives. After 73 days at sea, just 10 days short of our destination in Miami, Florida, we faced the ultimate test of resilience in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle. […]

Values are at the heart of every organization’s culture and strategy, influencing everything from personal behaviours to tactical decisions. At ViDA, we work with organizations to ensure their values are clearly defined and consistently applied. Well-articulated values impact both people (in how we interact and treat one another) and things (in how decisions are made and resources are […]

When defining the core values that guide your life, your business, or your team, the words you choose matter. The language we use to express values has a profound impact on how we understand and act upon them. One common mistake is framing values in their present participle or gerund form—those "-ing" words that imply […]

What Are Values? In the ViDA framework, values are defined as enduring states and traits that guide, drive, and motivate our actions and decisions on an ongoing basis. A value can be experienced as part of our character or a description of our way of being. Values indicate what matters most, serving as the foundation […]

Richard Barrett’s values methodology has shaped discussions in personal development and organizational leadership, particularly through its roots in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Vedantic philosophy. While Barrett's work offers significant insights, it falls short in key areas, particularly in its conflation of values, needs, and motivators. This lack of clarity undermines the framework’s utility and […]

When it comes to personal and professional success, the right balance of personality traits can make or break your outcomes. Let's dive into the OCEAN model or Big Five personality traits: Each of us has a unique mix of these traits, and how we use them determines much of our success in life and work. […]

Finding your vision is one of the most transformative things you can do for your life and work. Here’s a practical guide to uncovering your vision.

Habits don’t just happen; they’re constructed. Every habit—good or bad—follows a loop of Cue, Craving Routine, and Reward. Mastering this loop can help you build the habits that create success or dismantle the ones that hold you back. From Olympic training to rowing across the Atlantic, I’ve seen firsthand how habits shape outcomes. Let’s break […]

Men are often expected to be stoic—detached from their emotions. The boardroom isn’t a space for anger, tears, or emotional honesty, yet these emotions don’t disappear. Instead, they linger, becoming unspoken tensions or misdirected actions.

A competition map of your marketplace is an essential tool to understand your competitive landscape and drive strategic decisions. It’s not just a diagram—it’s a way to uncover opportunities, mitigate risks, and ensure your business is positioned for success.

Purpose is the fuel that powers courage and quiets fears. It’s the force that pushes you to make meaningful decisions and take bold action–to work hard, endure pain and act in the face of uncertainty. Purpose is deeply connected to our contribution to others. A strong set of values is vital because it not only […]

MIssion-Driven Leadership Do you understand the power of mission-type orders? Are you building the trust, clarity, and skills within your team necessary to delegate effectively? If you’re not, you’re leaving success on the table. Mission-type orders challenge YOU—the leader—to go beyond delegating tasks. First, you must master your own role. Then, you must understand your […]

Traditional, intelligence-based goal setting, like SMART goals, fails to account for EQ. When setting important goals and strategic plans, it’s essential that we incorporate both EQ and IQ into any successful achievement method. Thus, CLEAR strategic goal setting. CLEAR stands for Collaborative, Limited, Emotional...

Living our values is not about achieving a final state of perfection—it’s about continually striving to embody those values in everything we do. Each day, we make choices that either bring us closer to living in alignment with our values or pull us further away. This process of aligning our actions with our values is ongoing, and it’s what gives our lives meaning and direction

At ViDA Coaching, we’ve designed a clear, structured process to empower leadership growth, self-awareness, and strategic development. The ViDA Coaching Arrow ensures every coaching session is purposeful, impactful, and tailored to your needs.

A sponsored coaching relationship is a professional development arrangement where an organization invests in coaching for one of its leaders or high-potential employees. In this setup, the organization—often represented by HR managers or senior leaders—initiates and funds the coaching to support the individual's growth and effectiveness.

Why did ViDA pick the Leadership Circle tool?

The LCP isn’t just feedback. It’s one of the most comprehensive tools in leadership development, providing a data-backed roadmap for real improvement. Built on insights from over 200,000 leaders, 3 million evaluations, and 300 million data points, the LCP is the gold standard for leaders who want more than just opinions—they want results.

Fatherhood isn’t just a personal journey; it’s an unparalleled training ground for leadership. As a dad, you’re a mentor, mediator, coach, and role model all rolled into one. You learn to:

Why The Kreek Flywheel Process? This approach, built on the timeless principles of Jim Collins, with the practical application of Adam Kreek ensures that your business doesn’t just achieve greatness—it sustains it. With a focus on practical application and continuous learning, we build a Flywheel that keeps turning, ensuring lasting results.

Here's a simple framework for regaining momentum. It’s not rocket science, but it works every time—60% of the time. LOL.

Let's start by not taking ourselves too seriously and try the method below.

Living your Values State is a powerful concept—but it’s not for everyone. Let’s break down who truly stands to gain from exploring this energetic alignment and who might not find it relevant or practical.

Let’s face it. The goal of every LinkedIn post isn’t just to throw content out into the void and hope something sticks. We want people to engage, and more importantly, to actually read what we’ve written. The tricky part? That dreaded “see more” button. Most readers don’t click it unless we give them a good […]

Leaders who seek feedback and adjust their behaviour accordingly tend to outperform those who don't by a long shot. According to Kouzes and Posner (The Leadership Challenge), leaders who are clear about their strengths and values perform 25% better than those who aren’t. That’s like showing up to a regatta in a high-tech carbon-fiber shell while everyone else still paddles in wooden boats.

The Center for Creative Leadership also found that 360° assessments, when used properly, can significantly boost a leader’s effectiveness and adaptability. That’s because this tool taps into our brain’s neuroplasticity (a fancy term for saying your brain can change). When you get feedback, your brain makes new connections, which helps you ditch bad habits and build stronger leadership muscles.

Welcome to Your Next Leadership Breakthrough If you’ve ever wondered, "How do I get people motivated when they just don’t seem to care?" or "How do I inspire my team to step up and take action?"—you’re in the right place. Over the past two decades, I’ve travelled the world as a leadership coach and consultant, […]

Imagine having a generative AI tool that filters every internal and external communication through your organization's values. How would that change the way proposals are written, reviewed, and presented? How could it influence the SMART goals that leadership teams set and track throughout the year? When AI is used strategically to link decision-making with execution, it can help refine strategies and align execution, but the key is in how it supports human judgment.

Employee engagement surveys are often viewed as a tool primarily for the HR department. However, their impact extends far beyond HR, offering invaluable insights for management at all levels, especially in sales. By leveraging data from these surveys, managers can create a more engaged, productive, and high-performing team. Here’s why employee engagement surveys are vital for management and how a sales manager can utilize this data effectively.

Creating new things, as Dr. Christensen suggests, is a powerful strategy for driving progress and innovation. By focusing on building the new, we not only facilitate growth but also naturally phase out the old, less effective practices. Anchoring this process in our core values ensures that our innovations are not just new but also meaningful and sustainable. As leaders, it is our responsibility to foster a culture of values-driven innovation that can propel our organizations toward a brighter, more fulfilling future.

Developed by Adam Kreek, CLEAR goals stand for Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, and Refinable and are designed to be flexible and adaptive to changing circumstances.

ARCIx (pronounced arc-ee Ex) stands for Accountability, Responsibility, Consultation, Information, and Exclude (x). It’s a facilitation tool that aligns decision-making roles with the activities necessary for project success. Unlike traditional RACI charts, ARCIx explicitly defines the accountable person who "holds the bag" if a project fails. This clarity helps in assigning roles and ensuring everyone knows their part in the project's success.

Building a culture of accountability takes time and consistent effort. By defining clear expectations, fostering open communication, providing the right tools, and recognizing accountable behaviour, you can create an environment where accountability thrives.

The World Values Survey provides invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of global values. By understanding these trends, we can better navigate the complexities of our interconnected world and lead with empathy and effectiveness.

Understanding our values can be a complex journey. Have you ever considered why certain decisions feel right while others leave you conflicted?

Negotiation is a bit like rowing in the Olympics (if you'll forgive the overused metaphor associated with my online brand). You’ve got to keep your eye on the finish line, adjust your stroke as the conditions change, and sometimes, you just have to row harder when the wind's against you. Two critical concepts in this realm are ZOPA (Zone of Possible Agreement) and BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated/No Agreement).

Understanding the difference between lead and lag metrics can be the difference between smoothly rowing across the finish line or being left behind in the competition.

Three prominent systems that business leaders often turn to are Metronomics, the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and Scaling Up. Each offers unique benefits and tools tailored to different organizational needs. Here’s a closer look at how these systems compare and contrast.

The Competing Values Framework provides a structured approach to understand better and improve organizational culture. By recognizing and balancing the different values within an organization, leaders can create a more effective, satisfying, and resilient workplace, including the following benefits:

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Thank you for your interest in personal values discovery. To download my values discovery workbook click the file download link below.

Personality indexing cuts through the static, pushing your leadership team to connect better with their employees and generate more productive results. As an executive coaching tool, personality indexing can increase your team’s performance levels and bring meaningful results. For a clearer understanding of personality testing and how it can boost your enterprise’s value, keep reading.

Imagine that you're standing in front of a vast, complicated machine. You don't know how it works, there's no instruction manual, and your life depends on operating it successfully. What do you do?

The Execution Gap is a problem because it represents a disconnect between what an organization knows it should do and what it actually does. This gap can lead to values not being translated into results and achievement falling short of potential. The Execution Gap can be a source of frustration, anxiety and disengagement for both leaders and employees.

When it comes to achieving and sustaining success, having a clear vision and purpose is essential. Vision and purpose are similar in that they both provide direction and motivation, but they differ in meaningful ways.

When we understand values, and know our values, we make better decisions and have better relationships.