Business Strategy

Sunwapta Solutions Inc. was born 8 years ago when three techies from EDS got together and decided on a different path.

During this time we’ve had our share of ups and downs and I have learned a lot. You can read about it, study it and take courses… but you just can’t replace the experience and knowledge gained from actually doing it. It’s been like being on an 8 year business degree program in many ways, except the scorecard is the company balance sheet and your reputation in the marketplace and with your employees.

We could not have done it without […]

I just realized that dogs are among the best sales “people” out there.

I have a border collie that excels at sales. He has everything going for sales success. At a big gathering a few years ago his closing rate must have been over 30%. He ate nearly the whole time without any dishonesty.

He is persistent. He keeps trying until he succeeds or until there is no hope of success.

He knows what he is selling and communicates it to the prospect clearly and without wasting countless hours in meetings.

He’s adaptive. If what he is trying does not work he tries […]

I’ve been listening to Celtic and Maritime music for about 15 years and I loved the energy the fiddle brings to the music.

Four years ago I decided to learn to play the fiddle. I signed up for a beginner course offered through continuing education and rented a violin. I’ve played other instruments so I knew (sort of) what I was getting into. My initial commitment was to finish the ten week course and put in enough hours practicing to determine if I would truly enjoy playing it long term.

About half way through the course, I knew I wanted to continue […]

Have you ever noticed how some very successful people are not necessarily as smart as you are? Or as smart as you thought they would be?

Part of this is perception. If you have a high opinion of yourself you may judge others on a tougher scale. Part of this is because it’s really easy to be critical of others.

Part of this is reality. Many successful entrepreneurs did not graduate at the top of the class. But they have something many do not. They know their limitations, accommodate them and get results. They hire others who can do the […]

Have you noticed a trend towards going green in advertising? Many companies are doing it. Presumably it’s a marketing exercise to cash in on environmental concerns that are popular (and rightly so) right now with many people.

But you can’t be what you are not just by running some ads.

I saw a big industrial garbage truck the other day; you know the ones that pick-up and dump the large bins. There was a big sign on the side saying how they were a green garbage company. Apparently when some of their private dumps were full, they put dirt on top […]

According to an article (Aging Boomers to Shift Driving Trends, Calgary Herald, 30 May 2008) I read in the paper the other day, the demographic shift will be impacting driving.

By 2015 seniors will out number children under 15. By 2030 seniors will account for 25 percent of drivers. This is making the automobile industry take notice and action. Obviously with these kinds of numbers, car manufacturers want older drivers on the road as long as possible.

This means that ergonomics and safety will become even more important in car design. Roads, signs and intersections will also need to improve in design. […]