WGI’s Post

Next week, March 16th marks my 65th birthday. Throughout my life, I’ve had the privilege of travelling extensively and playing a significant role in developing many technologies that have become integral to our daily lives. It’s astonishing how quickly time has passed. Reflecting on the changes I’ve seen, originating from a Northern industrial town, the transformation is profound. We’ve moved from a world devoid of electronics, AI, PCs, productivity tools like Office 365, enterprise software, the cloud, the internet, Wi-Fi, mobile phones, GPS, mass storage, supersonic flight, and space exploration to one where these innovations are integral to our daily lives. Science fiction once painted a picture of the future that seemed distant, yet now, I find myself engaging with AI on my desktop, a testament to human ingenuity. Reality unfolds in both anticipated and surprising ways. While I couldn’t have predicted the emerging technologies, they have spawned new jobs, professions, and disciplines. However, on a social level, the promise of technology providing everyone with an opportunity for a better life has not been fully realized. The optimistic predictions of a three-day workweek and multiple careers contrast sharply with today’s debates over the merits of a four-day workweek. The rhetoric often misses the point, framing reduced work hours as either detrimental to capitalism or a sign of laziness rather than recognizing the potential for improved quality of life. Looking ahead, I envision a future where AI seamlessly integrates into our personal and business lives, handling tedious tasks and freeing us to engage more deeply with the world. This shift will allow us to be less reactive and more thoughtful, providing a foundation for making well-informed decisions. The four-day workweek is on the horizon and will likely become standard within five years. Embracing this change will be essential for businesses that aim to attract and retain top talent. Advances in “background technology” will drive productivity, enabling us to accomplish in four days what took five. Do I plan to take it easy or retire? Don’t be silly; I still have too much to do and achieve. I'm Andy Age hasn’t diminished my relevance; experience has only honed my expertise. Life has taught me through victories and defeats. As your fractional Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, I possess the proven ability to drive your business’s growth. Count on me as your reliable partner. Book here https://lnkd.in/emMjKSt5

✨ That’s a wrap on our June Town Hall! 🎉 Every month we gather in-person and virtually for our monthly town hall. As a global company, this is our opportunity to meet, talk about what’s working and what’s not, and share some wins and obstacles in our business. We started doing this a few years back and boy has it evolved! We’ve since introduced our monthly morale score – I’d like to do a separate post on this – but basically, it’s our most critical metric to tell us how our team feels about the culture. 😊 We also cover our Vision, Mission, and Values where we tell stories about how we’ve worked toward our goals, and what values we’ve applied to various situations. 🌍 We celebrate birthdays 🎂, anniversaries 🎉, high achievers 🏆, new starters 🙌, and all of our critical helpdesk stats like CSAT, turnaround times, attendance, and quality of service. 📊 I really can’t imagine running our company without this key meeting. It keeps us all on the same page and ready to charge forward into the next month. 🚀 Does your company have a Town Hall or something similar? 💬

🎉 Celebrating One Year of Impactful Connections through "More Than Just a Lunch🎉 https://lnkd.in/ep6XcCA8 In the spirit of true networking, what started as a simple gathering of friends has blossomed into a year of remarkable connections, collaborations and fantastic outcomes. Today marks the 1-year anniversary of our weekly private lunches, and the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. 🌐 Key Milestones: 50 hosted lunches 350+ attendees Diverse representation from various industries, including entrepreneurs, CEOs, and professionals from film, entertainment, business, legal, media, cannabis, real estate, education, and more. 💡 Takeaways: From tangible job opportunities to fun outings and even meaningful friendships, these lunches have been a catalyst for positive outcomes. It's a testament to the power of personal connections, fostering not only professional growth but also personal enrichment. 🗣️ Attendee Insights: Surveys after each lunch have revealed valuable insights: The importance of stepping out of comfort zones The irreplaceable value of face-to-face meetings Recognizing the significance of meeting people from different industries and locations 🌟 Getting the Most from Experiences: Recognize opportunities, value relationships, and follow up. As the saying goes, fortune is in the follow-up. Saying yes to meeting good people is saying yes to future opportunities. Here's to another year of meaningful connections, collaborations, and shared moments! 🥂✨ #NetworkingWorks NetWorkWise #Networking To learn more about these lunches check out https://lnkd.in/g3qrmRxT

Last night esellas hosted a private dinner in NYC with nearly two dozen executives from some large, fast-growing, prominent companies. Around the two tables were CEOs, Presidents, Chief Sales and Revenue officers responsible for $50+ billion of revenue and sales. While it was a diverse group of people, I noticed a few things that everyone had in common. 1. They’re all continuous learners. In spite of the fact that it was the end of a long week, and arguably everyone in the room is already very successful, they gave their personal time to continue to learn from and connect with other. 2. They thrive on helping eachother. Everyone in the room was equally, if not more interested in helping someone else achieve their goals as much as they were interested in reaching their own. 3. They’ve all faced adversity. Not a single person in the room has had an easy road to the top. In fact, I would argue the adversities they faced, propelled them there. 4. They’ve all dealt with imposter syndrome. They have questioned themselves and various steps along the way. That’s what happens when you get more responsibility and put into higher pressure situation’s. And yet in spite of the anxieties everyone faces, these folks thrive in the arena. The arena is where the joy and the glory lies. 5. People matter most. Above the technologies they build, the level of responsibility they have, the rewards they receive for what they do, everyone valued people and personal connections over everything else. Last night was a reminder that no matter how difficult of a situation your face, no matter how cynical things can see at times, there is an incredible support system of humanity that exists in business. The events that we host at esellas, our invitation-only. They have the highest caliber of discussion and level of engagement. If you identify with any of the points above and have significant responsibilities on your shoulders and want a support network of peers to learn from, please free to reach out to me for consideration for our next in-person event. Our next one is targeted for December. We have a very limited number of spots available. Happy Friday. Happy Growing. #momentsthatmatter #esellas

At Heartland, we've always believed that greatness is achieved not just by our individual efforts, but by the strength of our collaborations. That's why this week is extra special—it's an opportunity to amplify our impact by joining forces with our trusted partners who share our vision and values. 🚀 From brainstorming sessions to strategy meetings, from late-night calls to celebratory milestones, our Stronger Together partners have been by our side every step of the way. Together, we've tackled challenges, sparked innovation, and achieved extraordinary results that transcend what any of us could accomplish alone. 🌐 As we concluded our recent Blitz Week, let's celebrate these partnerships that form the bedrock of our success. Let's lean into collaboration with renewed vigor, knowing that together, we're unstoppable. Let's leverage our collective expertise, creativity, and passion to break new ground, exceed expectations, and make a lasting impact. 💥 So here's to our Stronger Together partners—thank you for your unwavering support, your boundless dedication, and your shared commitment to excellence. This week, let's harness the power of collaboration like never before and make our collective mark on the world. Together, we're unstoppable! #NationalBlitzWeek #StrongerTogether #Partnerships #Collaboration #Teamwork #Culture Photo Credit: John Wunder

Welcoming December As we step into the final month of the year, the Fraser Allen team is buzzing with excitement and determination! December holds a special place in our hearts as we reflect on the incredible journey we've had throughout the year and gear up for a productive finale. Project Countdown: December isn't just about festive lights; it's about the glow of accomplishment as we work diligently to wrap up our projects. The entire team is committed to putting the finishing touches on our initiatives, ensuring that we meet our goals and celebrate the collective effort that went into making them a reality. Year-End Reflection: December invites us to look back at the milestones we've achieved, the challenges we've overcome, and the lessons we've learned. It's a time to appreciate the dedication and hard work of each team member, recognising the integral role they've played in our success. Eyes on the Future: While we relish in our achievements, December also marks the beginning of new possibilities. We're setting our sights on the future, outlining goals for the upcoming year. The enthusiasm within the team is palpable as we eagerly anticipate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Team Spirit: December is not just about tasks and deadlines; it's about the people who make it all happen. Our team spirit is stronger than ever, and together, we're creating an environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence. Here's to a month filled with productivity and the joy of accomplishment! #TeamGoals #DecemberSuccess #YearEndReflections

As 2023 wraps up, it’s a time to celebrate and showcase your team’s wins, and to set the tone for how you’ll support your staff in the year ahead. Check out these perspectives from association pros: https://lnkd.in/gt98tpuK

Happy Presidents’ Day! We hope that you have the opportunity to take some time away from your business today. After all, that’s why this day was created. In 1971, Presidents’ Day moved to the third Monday of the month in an effort to create more three-day weekends for the public in the hope that this would inspire greater productivity nationwide. So don’t feel guilty taking the day off to rest and relax and enjoy something you like to do. You might just find that your productivity and enthusiasm increase as a result. How are you enjoying this Presidents’ Day? Share with us below in the comments. #PresidentsDay #R&R #Productivity

As we approach the "unofficial start to summer" with Memorial Day next week, we wanted to explore ways to "Bloom Where You Work" and have fun at the office! It is important to many employees to have a workplace where they feel comfortable, safe, and enjoy being there. As a business owner, you can help facilitate this by implementing a few small, and often inexpensive measures to help bring the "fun" into the workplace! - Build a system of recognition. This is easier than it seems, and is great to foster within your company from the top down. Finding ways to celebrate the little wins is the first step. Everything from closing a contract with a dream client, meeting a tight deadline, or coming in under budget, can be an opportunity to celebrate. Encourage your employees and managers to recognize and celebrate with each other, through verbal praise, a high five, or a quick shout out. Super simple, and FREE! Stay tuned for more ideas to help make your workplace more FUN!

A perfect example that more heads are better than one! WCF’s Pub Trivia challenges, entertains and gets teams working together to answer thought-provoking questions in a given category. Customize your event by selecting your categories or adding your own round of custom questions. Themed rounds for holidays, DEI and other topics are also available! Put on your thinking caps and add a pub trivia to your next meeting or event 🧠💡 #trivia #corporateevents #teambuilding