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Energy Service Companies require a bank that responds to their needs, understands market conditions, sector cycles and seasonality. With over 25 years of expertise and strong industry knowledge, the National Bank Energy Services Group has tailored its products to meet the needs of this unique industry. Your partner in business Calgary: 403-770-1095 Edmonton: 780-409-3563 Toll Free: 1-877-BANKNAT (1-877-226-5628)
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DEVELPMENT
contents FEATURES
16 24 38 44 48 54
CRM Not your daddy’s rolodex
Resolutions
CRM NOT YOUR
FATHER’S
16 14 ROLODEX 38DEVELPMENT
Some of them you really should keep...
10 Types of People at the Gym
26 44
In all shapes and sizes
The Broker Do we really need these guys?
Sports Vs Banking Some parallels from the battleground
Consulting Is it a dirty word in business?
24
48 64
54 ABOUT THE COVER
Liquor Lane Wine and good health
See all the early adopters of Oilfield HUB, who helped get us to where we are today Cover By Kyle K. Fujita
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OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
YOUR GLOBAL
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OILFIELD STAFFING SOLUTION
WELLSITE SUPERVISION Pajak maintains a certification database that allows us to ensure that a supervisor’s tickets are always current before they go out on any job. Pajak senior technical staff are available on a 24 hour/day back-up to all supervisors and engineers.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT We provide experienced, dependable project management staff to oil & gas sites around the globe. Our team knows how to get the job done, and is insured, certified, and be IRP (industry recommended practices) #7 and IRP #16 compliant.
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WORK FOR US We are constantly searching for highly qualified, safety conscious individuals to expand and maintain the company’s high standards. We provide the very best in field supervision and project management to the oil and gas industry. Apply With Pajak PAJAKENG.COM | 403-264-1197(24HOURS)
JANUARY 2015
contents DEPARTMENTS
12 20 30 36
12
CEO Message Teaching the old dog new tricks
Plain’s Perspective The true cost of training on the job Right Hand Man Why everyone needs one
Calgary Women in Energy A visit to SAIT Polytechnics Trades and Technology Complex
46 50 58 68
20
36
Losing Weight Staying on course with your plan
Change Management What does your transition plan look like?
Service Please Doing the best for your customers
30
Alternative Health Alternative medicine after a concussion
42 8
46 68 Google Glass Event Advantages
OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
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CEO KEVIN TURKO | Kevin.Turko@LeadstoneGroup.com
PUBLISHER/VICE PRESIDENT SALES DAVE O’CONNOR | Dave.OConnor@LeadstoneGroup.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR KYLE K. FUJITA | Kyle.Fujita@LeadstoneGroup.com
MANAGING EDITOR ANDREA TURKO | Andrea.Turko@LeadstoneGroup.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AMANDA LEE | Amanda.Lee@LeadstoneGroup.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR BARB LEE | Barb.Lee@LeadstoneGroup.com
NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER CHAD CARBNO | Chad.Carbno@LeadstoneGroup.com
DIRECTOR - CLIENT RELATIONS KAREN KEITH | Karen.Keith@LeadstoneGroup.com FINANCE & ADMIN JEANNIE YIP | Finance_Admin@LeadstoneGroup.com
OILFIELD PULSE
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19 GREATWEST KENWORTH LTD.
71 ARIZONA VACATION RENTALS INC.
4 OPERATIONS REPORT MANAGER
29 SIDELINE GRILL & SPORTS LOUNGE
72 PLAINS FABRICATION
5 PINNACLE DRILLING FLUIDS LTD.
33 THE INTERFACE FINANCIAL GROUP
7 PAJAK ENGINEERING LTD.
41 OILFIELD HUB
9 EVOLUTION OIL TOOLS INC.
41 DATA SHAPERS INC.
11 MILLENNIUM DIRECTIONAL SERVICE LTD.
43 CATCH RESOURCES INC.
© 2015 by Leadstone Group Inc.
For advertising inquiries or editorial submissions please contact: Production@LeadstoneGroup.com
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The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this publication is prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Disclaimer: The messages expressed in this publication do not represent the views of Oilfield PULSE, Leadstone Group or affiliated companies. Publication Number: 42420518
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NEW TRICKS
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I
f your company has been around the energy business for years, even perhaps decades, how do you stay relevant to the companies looking for your products and services? How do you keep that top shelf exposure when exploration and production companies are looking for assistance? One would think in an industry chock full of the salespeople pounding the streets and hanging in the local drinking establishments in downtown Calgary, that industry insiders would have a plethora of choices to turn to when they are in need of assistance. Nothing could be further from the truth! One of the biggest lessons we have learned in recent years is how many oil and gas professionals really don’t have a solid network of business associates they can easily turn to, to help take their
The HUB, and our role has evolved, beyond simply the lifecycle of services, supplies and rentals. business to the next level. We talk about how this industry was and continues to be founded on relationships, yet there seems to be huge gaps in our ability to source the right person, at the right time, particularly when we need them most. From an operator’s perspective, each have their go-to vendors in their hip pockets and the industry isn’t short on salespeople knocking on your door trying to sell you their wares. What is more distressing is the number of micro-juniors, juniors and even some intermediates, who constantly struggle with the ever-important capital raise dilemma, operational issues and fundamental business requirements versus just having to focus in on that next lucrative find below the soil. And I guess it kind of makes sense. Many of these individuals are engineers and geologists by profession and have only sporadic business acumen, management depth and leadership training. R E S O U R C E S
OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
13
And the deck is kind of stacked against them as many of these individuals have never experienced the customer on the other side of the desk with super wild-ass expectations or unrealistic demands. Customers have a way of keeping us grounded and honest with ourselves on a daily basis. They push us to constantly strive for greater heights and improve upon everything we do. But what if your business doesn’t have customers, or the need to understand the customer’s perspective. That’s just one of the challenges facing oil and gas industry professionals as they to strive to improve their ROI and shareholder value.
We wanted to take this issue of Oilfield PULSE to acknowledge and thank all of our early adopters and innovators who believed in our cause and took the plunge with us to make both our Oilfield HUB online business community and our Oilfield PULSE magazine a huge success. We are just finishing up our 3rd year of operations with our flagship Oilfield HUB service. We initially punched into the market with the goal to help facilitate and connect buyers and sellers in the patch. The HUB, and our role has evolved, beyond simply the lifecycle of services, supplies and rentals. It now encompasses intangible human resources, business advice and management information services, not only from those companies participating in Oilfield HUB, but also from a group of inspired contributing editors on the pages of our Oilfield PULSE magazine and PULSE Interactive Newsletter. We have been truly blessed by the support from
our client base since we launched Oilfield HUB in 2012. Did we get everything correct right out of the shoot? Unfortunately not! Have we listened and learned from our mistakes? Absolutely! As we head into 2015, and our 4th year of operations, we wanted to take this issue of Oilfield PULSE to acknowledge and thank all of our early adopters and innovators who believed in our cause and took the plunge with us to make both our Oilfield HUB online business community and our Oilfield PULSE magazine a huge success. Each in their own right made us look at ourselves when we didn’t want to, challenged the services we are offering when they weren’t quite up to snuff, and questioned the support we are providing, or not, to come through those formative years even stronger and better prepared for the years ahead. To the small number of companies that we lost along the way, we hope to re-capture your attention and welcome you back to the tribe sometime soon. But thanks just the same! To all of our customers since inception, those that joined us in 2014, and especially to our growing list of VIP clients and community thought leaders, your continued support is always appreciated. A heartfelt …… Thanks for your Business! One last thought ……… I wrote this article about a month or so ago, and who would have thought the industry would now be facing $50 oil as 2015 begins. At these prices, every company, including our own, needs to operate leaner, meaner and more cost effectively! This certainly adds another huge element of uncertainty to capital budgets and operating incomes this coming year. The Oilfield HUB community has just surpassed 3,600 companies, so tap into the expertise and strength the HUB has to offer, and let’s collectively make 2015 the best it can be. We’re here to help all of our clients weather this storm!
Kevin Turko CEO LEADSTONE GROUP 403.537.6561
FROM CONCEPT TO NEXT GENERATION
YOUR CLIENTS
VELPMENT
CRM NOT YOUR
FATHER’S
ROLODEX
DEVELPMENT 16
OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
It’s 2015 folks! Are you still carrying a pen and paper into your meetings? After discovering a few simple (yet powerful) ways of organizing my work electronically, I can assure you I will never go back to pen and paper again. Not surprising as technology gets more and more user-friendly, who has time to fight with complex applications? We’re always on the lookout for solutions that save us time, money, and effort, right? Innovations such as tablets, smartphones, and an array of varying software have changed the way we work and live. I doubt you’re still tracking your industry contacts and networking efforts in a rolodex, but that leads me to this question: have you enlightened how your business manages your customer relationships?
I
f you’re like most in the Calgary oil and gas industry, when you hear the term ‘CRM’, you either: A: Shrug, because you’ve heard the term but don’t really know what it is. B: Sigh, because you recognize the benefits and know your organization needs it, but it continues to be put off for a myriad of reasons. C: Groan, because you have a CRM system that is really only used as a glorified rolodex. The data is a mess, and no one really knows how to use it properly. No one is managing it effectively, and it’s just too cumbersome and not worth the grief. Or, perhaps you’re one of the fortunate ones who fall into the last group and you smile because: D: You have a robust and effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that has helped to deliver relevant metrics leading to timely and effective decision-making, enabled your sales team to quickly track their tasks and
customer interactions throughout the sales process, contributed towards increased levels of customer service for your service team, allowed your contracts management team to finally manage your clients’ contracts in one place that ties directly to all the account history and contacts, and/or provided your Marketing team with a tool to run and monitor relevant and timely campaigns. For those of you in Groups A, B or C, Group D sounds pretty good, right? As anyone in Group D could tell you, the main purpose of any CRM system is to provide a 360 degree overview of your clients’ interactions with your business. There are several
different CRM systems out there, such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Salesforce.com, SugarCRM, ACT, and more. Most systems will provide the basics, and choosing one system over another is often a matter of preference and will, of course, depend on your organization’s specific needs. For example, perhaps you want an online portal for your customers to have the ability to self-manage their own service requests, as well as self-register in training or certification courses you offer. Did you even know this can be done within a CRM system? Perhaps you need a system that will manage your Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) processes. Did you know this can also be done
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within one system? The days of having countless systems all doing different things, leading to double/ triple/quadruple entry by staff, are over. Some systems will be able to do this more effectively than others, so you need to do your homework in the beginning. But, who has the time to do that kind of homework? How do you even know where to start? The good news is help is available! There are a multitude of CRM Vendors out there each representing the differing CRM systems. Vendors (or Partners) should not only provide you with the CRM
software and licenses, but they should also provide you with the knowledge and experience of implementing such systems. The path to selecting a CRM system that would be a good fit for your business can be overwhelming, especially if you have to tack this on to your laundry list of other responsibilities. One very successful approach is to assign the task of researching vendors to someone in your office who really knows your business from the current processes to the culture. Don’t just toss this task towards IT. While they will be a critical part of the
process eventually, they aren’t always where it should start, which is exactly what they are likely to tell you as well. Depending on the size of your organization, consider assigning a team of people who will form a Project Team with a project leader/ manager and project coordinators to oversee the functional divisions of your business, such as marketing, sales, customer service, and technical departments. If you can’t spare any one person’s valuable time to lead the initiative or don’t have anyone internally who quite fits the bill, consider investing in an industry consultant/firm who can provide experience and knowledge in this area and who can internally support your business throughout the process. In addition, it’s imperative you spend some time to identify your business goals and objectives. Groan. I know, but it’s important. If you have a strong team, you can work with them on this. Part of this should include understanding scalability. Your business is growing, so you’ll need a system that will grow along
with it. Oh, and we can’t forget about the budget. You’ll need to have a sense of what it is before you start talking to potential vendors to make sure you’re at least in the same ballpark. You’ll find getting a buy-in across all departments involved will be necessary as well. This may not happen right away, but these are conversations that need to happen during the initial phases. We’ll talk more about CRM in future articles by highlighting specific applications to oil and gas and further tips that can help with your venture. It’s a new year, so let’s resolve to take control of your customer engagement by becoming proactive and understanding the available tools and technology out there! Carissa de la Vega LOCAL INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED CRM CONSULTANT OIL & GAS, AUTOMOTIVE, A&D, AND HIGHER EDUCATION INFO@CDLV.CA.
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19
PLAINS PERSPECTIVE
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OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
ADVOCATE
THE TRUE COST OF
TRAINING
ON THE JOB I could not tell you how many people we have trained in the 26 years I have been involved with Plains Fabrication. The number is well over 1,000 to date. Training happens every day a company operates. Well it does for Plains and a few other Alberta companies, but a growing trend has gripped this industry, and from our engineering companies to our manufacturing companies, fewer and fewer companies are employing apprentices. Let’s not get too wrapped up in the trades however. We train drafting people and project managers, and we train maintenance people and managers alike. Our company trains people on every level.
PLAINS PERSPECTIVE
A
sk anyone in the industry today where the majority of competence comes in an individual employee, and they will tell you there is no replacement for on the job training. To confirm this, just look in the Help Wanted ads posted online. You will see experience is wanted above all other traits. Yes, some jobs require a university or trade school diploma, but overall, until you have three to five years on the job, you remain
leave for higher paying jobs. Bigger companies pay bigger wages, and we are hard pressed to compete. No, we don’t expect to keep everyone. We hope to retain 50%, but when you think of the time and effort it takes our highly skilled workforce to train the next generation only to lose them to bigger companies that don’t have apprenticeship programs, I think you would see this is unfair. If we lost people to other companies that had apprenticeship programs, then
Plains isn’t going to stop apprenticing for any reason. We will continue to train the next generation, because it is the right thing to do. an unknown and often unwanted commodity. Until you have had a job and get the actual skill, which is only truly attained by doing the job everyday outside the classroom, most employers do not want you. Plains Fabrication has done its part in training individuals for the past 26 years, and we are proud of that fact. However, if we look back to see what our efforts have truly earned us, we often train people and give them experience for which they turn and
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perhaps our issue wouldn’t hold water. The fact is only 20% of Alberta companies have programs for apprenticeship and other training initiatives. Yet the ones that have them don’t see any benefit. We all play the same game, but the companies that don’t “apprentice” have an advantage, because they spend less on training. Their experts spend more time on the tools, so their margins are easier to attain, and in the end, the companies giving back to
both Alberta and Canada get nothing in return. So what would be an agreeable solution? I don’t like to come at a problem without having potential solutions ready. I think the first step is for the government to not only recognize the apprenticing and training issue but to come forward and make it more attractive to the companies that do teaching/training to receive something in the form of a tax credit. Recently in the headlines, we have all read the issues concerning the foreign workers’ program. A few companies have made it difficult for the majority to operate and function properly. The government’s response is to call the industry out and demand they apprentice and look to Canadians first before going abroad. Why couldn’t part of the foreign workers’ requirements be a company must prove they have an apprenticeship program which encompasses 5%, or more, of their workforce? This would create an immediate incentive for companies to start programs. To go one step further, provide a tax credit for every apprentice trained, which increases as the apprentice goes back each year to attain his or her next level. Plains isn’t going to stop apprenticing for any reason. We will continue to train the next generation, because it is the right thing to do. What I feel should happen
is we recoup some of the cost of training. Eighty percent of learning takes place on the job; 20% happens in the classroom. The higher education system has an undeniable place in training, but the companies are bearing the burden of apprenticeship. Universities are paid to train, and companies are not. Yet 80% of the training happens on the job. A new hire takes a lot of time and energy on the part of our most talented people to ensure they are evolving and working on the right thing at the right time in the right way. A person fresh out of school is not unleashed on a multi-million dollar project on his/her first day. This takes time, and it costs the company willing to apprentice thousands of dollars a month in lost productivity. Perhaps if there were more funds available, the number of companies willing to train would increase, but that is not the reason to create an incentive. The one and only reason to create it is for the companies that have been in business to not only earn profit but to give back to the community.
Chester Nagy PRESIDENT PLAINS FABRICATION
OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
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SELF IMPROVEMENT
A
s the New Year rolls around each year, radio stations promptly revert to their top 40 hits in place of cheerful holiday carols. The high from Christmas festivities subsides, eggnog hangovers are a thing of the past, and a new year awaits. This is that bittersweet time when you’ll look down at your stomach. You’ll fixate on a 5-pound reminder of the Christmas leftovers you had to inhale based on your faux fear of it going bad. Or, that fifth holiday cookie you couldn’t resist having after already collapsing into a turkey coma. Guilt from drinking too much, eating WAY too much, and, for some, sending holiday wishes via Skype instead holding hands under the tree singing “Deck the Halls” are the things that spearhead most New Years resolutions. We’ve all been there. We all promise ourselves THIS year I’ll follow through. You’ll show the Universe! The reality is we repeatedly end up setting ourselves up for failure. Having a fear of flying yet telling yourself you’re going to jump out of a plane, hoping to earn one million dollars, losing 50 pounds, or splitting the
atom are unreasonable resolutions. Those of which should never be made after the hazy Christmas hangover. This is why News Year resolutions never manifest into tangible evidence for bragging points at cocktail parties. The key is to keep them simple and manageable. Here is a list of 10 resolutions you should make and how you can keep them! MORE ALONE TIME Making a resolution to spend more quality time with yourself does not mean taking the first flight out of Dodge and crawling up the steps of the Taj Mahal to “find yourself.” It simply means taking a serious look at the time you spend each day and dedicating a reasonable amount of time to yourself. The beauty of this resolution is it is totally feasible. You decide the time, place, and activity that suits your “alone” time best. Whether it is once a day or once a week, strictly delegate some quality alone time. You’re stuck with yourself, so it’s probably smart to give some TLC to yours truly. You might be surprised with what you’ll discover or the clarity you have.
1
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TRAVEL Hiding behind excuses and in the comfort of your routine leads people to utter those heartbreaking words, “I always wanted to see the (insert one of the Seven Wonders of the World),” or, “before I die I wanted to go to (insert any amazing foreign country niche).” Having a resolution to travel does not mean you need to spend millions of dollars. If you are blessed and you have the means to travel, take the opportunity and do it! Plan the trip you have been talking about for years. Take the risk and do it, because if circumstances have proven in your past, you’ll always regret the adventures you never take. If you don’t have exorbitant amounts of disposable cash (like the majority of us) and your mission is to travel, there are a plethora of options at your disposal. The most exciting thing about traveling is not always the destination but the journey. Choose a road trip along the Sunshine Coast or take a democratic vote amongst the family and pick somewhere cost efficient but completely new and explore untraveled paths in your own backyard.
3
SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY Life is busy. For some reason we Canadians have failed to adopt the more leisurely lifestyle those warm and cheery Italians have mastered. Between work, staying active, after school activities, eating, and sleeping, it’s easy to loose track of the days. Depending on where you are in life, the circumstances will vary. For some, the last quality time you spent with your spouse was when your eyes met handing off one kid for another in between piano and swimming. Or, when the tips of your fingers graze each other’s under the sheets before passing out from the day’s exhaustion. Meanwhile, the best conversations you have with your kids aren’t really conversations at all but rather eavesdropping opportunities you relish while carpooling. But, wait! Maybe your children are grown, out of the house, and the time you yearned for with your spouse is now a crippling overkill and you miss the chaos. Wherever you are in life, dedicate a time every week where the entire family spends it together doing anything that doesn’t involve a TV, but rather something that
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SELF IMPROVEMENT engages everyone. If your kids are grown, mandate Sunday dinners so they don’t get lost in that big bad world and the first time you hear from them isn’t a “save the date” card with a person you’ve never met. QUIT SMOKING Promising yourself to quit a habit that is ultimately bad for your health is a no brainer. The hard part here is how you are actually going to make it happen. Maybe it’s your first time trying to kick the habit or maybe you’ve been down this road before. Regardless, the fundamentals are the same. First and foremost, you have to be the one who wants to quit. You will never be able to keep this resolution if it’s because your kids, significant other, or dog wants you to. Second, you need to do the clean sweep, and yes, that means digging through the vents, the oven, DVD cases, or garage and clear every nook and cranny
4
the train to success. Wherever you are on the health barometer, choose reasonable goals and start there. Maybe going to the gym once a week is where you’ll start paired with skipping out on fast food. Eating McDonalds more than once a month is too much. Put down the heart attack and chew on a carrot. If you’ve lost sight of who you were a few years ago, stop and remember that bright-eyed keener always eager to get to the gym. Mandate a date with yourself and saddle up three times a week. Hey, this can be a two in one! Combine the alone time you’ve promised yourself and be alone while you exercise. You’ll be way ahead of the curve at this rate! BREAK NEW STRIDES AT WORK It makes sense you would want at least one resolution to involve your work. The average person spends the majority of their time at work and makes
Be OK with cheating once in a while. People often feel that having that one cookie or missing a workout means failure, and totally fall off the wagon. It’s ok to stumble once in a while, just keep it going! where you’ve cleverly hidden an emergency stash in. Get rid of it. There are so many options available for quitting, so try them all. If one isn’t working, move to the next. Patch it up. Chew the gum. Listen to the hypnosis, “You don’t need cigarettes,” recordings on your way to work. Or, even take the plunge and be THAT guy, you know, the one puffing proudly on his vapor cigs. What resolution could be better than adding years to your life, having better breath, and laughing at those poor shmucks freezing their butts off outside the restaurant while they poison their bodies? EAT BETTER AND EXERCISE MORE Beyond the obvious benefits, this resolution provides the beauty that it’s all relative! That means if you eat take out seven times a week and never go to the gym, you can still make this work. Or, maybe you’ve simply fallen off the wagon because work or kids have swallowed you whole. Well you too can ride
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their work life equally important as their home life. Learning new things and breaking new grounds are always important, whether that be in your personal or professional life. Whatever your profession may be, choose an achievement that challenges you and maybe pushes you out of your comfort zone. Maybe it’s a client you’ve been hoping to land or the confidence to pitch your ideas to your boss. Whatever the goal is, having something you look forward to and work extra hard towards will give you that extra push out of bed those Monday mornings when you just want to phone it in. SAVE MONEY In the history of mankind, I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say, “Ugh, I have too much money.” More often than not, the more familiar phrase sounds like, “If only I had more money, I would do this or I’d be able to get this.” Regardless if you have
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SELF IMPROVEMENT $10 saved in the bank or $10,000, it’s always nice to have that extra bit of cushion to lessen stress when you splurge on that anniversary trip or new pair of boots designed and patented for yours truly. Even if it’s small, set a goal to save $100 a month, and by the end of the year, buy something completely self-indulgent. Or, maybe you’re saving for more practical reasons, and you have debt that needs paying off. In that case, make saving money more of a priority, and find ways to still enjoy life without spending so much. STAY IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY I know it seems completely unmanageable to stay in contact with close friends who’ve moved away or family members you used to spend Christmas with but who now seem like distant strangers. If that is the case, writing a quick email or Skyping in for a brief chat might make all the difference in the world. Keeping in touch with people who you shared a bond with is not contrived but rather sentimental. This doesn’t mean wishing someone happy birthday because Facebook notifies you it’s that time of year and therefore, along with the 35 other people who probably don’t know who they are, you too do the obligatory and painfully transparent “HBD.” This resolution is completely manageable, because it requires no more than twice a year commitment on your behalf, and the feeling you get from reconnecting will remind you of something special you once had. TRY NEW FOODS Any foodie would agree this is the most exciting resolution. If you’re anything like me, you love experiencing new things and that means trying new foods! Although Calgary is still trailing behind Vancouver and Toronto in terms of culture and food, we still have some respectable restaurant options. This resolution should be the most fun. I suggest choosing a different country each month and going to a new restaurant that represents it. You’d be surprised at the quality of sushi, Thai, Indian, Italian, Mexican, French, contemporary, etc. food options we have in the city. Make a goal to try one of each of
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your favorites this year and feel like you’ve traveled across the world when biting into the authentic new dish that’ll make your taste buds dance. GET MORE SLEEP Sleeping is one of those things we easily ignore if it means hindering a good time, impeding a looming deadline, or finishing a riveting novel. However, the unfortunate truth is we need a good nights rest to be a generally functional human being. Passing up Z’s to finish the end of the fifth season of Breaking Bad isn’t worth it, especially when you’ve already binged watched three-episodes prior. Please, I beg of you, put down the remote and step away from the TV. Getting a good nights sleep will not only make you tolerable for those around you the following day, but it also adds longevity in terms of your charming good looks. People, who get 7-8 hours of sleep regularly, look better! Breaking news! You heard it here first! If you’re in your late 20’s to mid 30’s, make sure to pack it in early and trade that last drink for the comfort of your pillow. If you’re at that glorious age where your children have completely absorbed your life, then give yourself an hour or so after you’ve inoculated them into REM and then hit the sheets yourself. If your children are grown, you have no excuse. Drinks with your gentlemen’s club shouldn’t last past 10:30pm, so sleep easy knowing your turning back the clock one hour at a time. So instead of looking like an old catcher’s mitt upon sunrise, you’ll have aged in reverse Benjamin Button style. The key to making successful New Years resolutions is making them attainable. Alter an umbrella resolution and redesign it in the way that works best for you. Record your progress regularly and give yourself props when you see positive progress. Here’s to 2015! Jessica Bartsch #TAKEITORLEAVEIT
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CATCH CONCEPTS
RIGHT HAND MAN FROM JESUS TO GENGHIS KHAN, EVERYONE NEEDS ONE
F
rom Jesus to Genghis Khan, the second in command are irreplaceable. These unsung heroes can make or break your enterprise. In fact, their contributions are such that most successful leaders and organizations would not achieve greatness without them. There’s no denying the above diametrically opposed individuals both achieved greatness, one through love and kindness and the other largely through barbarism and fear, with a tactical and strategic execution bordering genius. I purposefully juxtapose these leaders to emphasis a point. Leaders cannot lead, regardless of their methods, without a solid dedicated and inspired team behind them. Most particularly the ones directly responsible for espousing the leader’s vision. Good or bad. Think of Jesus without the apostles, or later, Christianity without Paul. We all know the role of
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Jesus, that’s well documented, but have you stopped to think of how Christianity gained such popularity over the 2,000 years since his death? You have Paul and the apostles to thank for that (or not, depending on your viewpoint). Paul singlehandedly carried the movement of Christianity while others had given up on it. All the while strengthening the “inspirational” leadership of Jesus. That is a true number two. With respect to Jesus, it could be argued as a leader his accomplishments were debatably achieved via passive persuasion. An effective technique of great leaders. On the other hand, our friend Genghis had a fundamentally opposite leadership style. Lets pencil his leadership style into the commanding/ coercive category (I know, this may be putting it mildly, but we have to pencil him in somewhere). This too is an effective leadership style, albeit one
that tends to excel within BENEFACTOR very specific and urgent scenarios. There is no denying Genghis Khan created a much different organization, which is why it is so fascinating. However maligned his approach, to his credit, Genghis Khan expressed a keen eye for talent. He usually promoted his officers on skill and experience rather than class, ancestry, or even past allegiances. A trait you may recall was highly regarded in Abraham Lincoln (with great admiration by others). Consider this additional fact, neither of these individuals had the benefit of a book on leadership. They had to make it up as they went along. Imagine that. One leader is revered largely for the message, which attracted throngs of followers seemingly without consideration to building an empire, yet despite that “non-ambition” created a movement that now engages over a billion followers. The other, having a very clear mission and vision, was able to articulate that vision with clarity, purpose, and utter determination. Under his leadership, the Mongol leader conquered nearly 12 million square miles of territory, which is more than any individual in history. Unfortunately, to achieve this feat, historians estimate that the Mongol armies killed approximately 40 million people. WOW! It is believed this statistic alone reduced the entire world population by as much as 11%, which in and of itself is an incredible statistic. But, I digress. This is obviously not a feat many modern day leaders would aspire to achieve. In stark contrast to this barbarism however, the great Khan (as he was known) embraced diversity and, by all accounts, was exceptionally tolerant of other religions. He also created one of the first international postal systems known as the “Yam” (think of the pony express long before it was utilized in North America). He also allowed each of his conquered territories a degree of independence. As a leader, the Khan seemed to know instinctively that “happy subjects” were less likely to rebel. That takes effective team building. History confirms each of these leaders had tremendous success in their chosen paths, albeit only one movement lasted the test of time.
CATCH CONCEPTS So with the focus over the holiday season on the gentler of the two, it started me thinking about how many of our current CEOs or world leaders inspire the dedication and commitment from their number two’s and teams to the degree these individuals obviously did. As outsiders, we typically observe the successes of many of our current “quality� leaders from a distance. In a world wrapped-up (no pun intended) in instant gratification, their exploits are generously documented and fabulously illustrated through campaigns orchestrated by publicists to generate maximum exposure. However, do they (these leaders) achieve the much touted accomplishments on their own, or, as is more likely, do they have a solid number two working tirelessly in the background insuring the
The best of the best leaders will tell you flat out without the team, especially the solid direct reports, it would be impossible to lead effectively if at all. difficult tasks are taken care of, thus allowing these visionaries the freedom to do what they do best, which is to lead and inspire? Logically, it is a total team effort. The best of the best leaders will tell you flat out without the team, especially the solid direct reports, it would be impossible to lead effectively if at all. Think closely about this for a minute. Where would Christianity be without the efforts of the apostles? It is unlikely Jesus would have accomplished anything greater than the skills of his trade might have allowed. A carpenter 2,014 years ago had little chance of having a positive impact on humanity. Yes, his message inspired. Yes, his leadership inspired. Yes, he led by extreme example and died for his beliefs, in that there is no greater inspiration. However, the real genius to the survival of his message may in fact reside in the team assembled. Each of them totally committed to the leader and the message long after he was gone.
If we turn our attention to modern day, one can see similar leadership qualities being played out within a mass of successful companies and organizations. For the purpose of this exercise, lets pick some examples of the most influential and innovative companies or organizations of the past decade to help emphasise the importance of a solid second in command. Virgin Atlanta: Richard Branson started Virgin and built the Virgin Group of companies to extraordinary heights employing some 50,000 people within 400 companies worldwide and generating 15 billion pounds annually. Apple: founded by Jobs, Wozniak, and Wayne is now the world’s second-largest information Tech company and is the largest publically traded corporation by market cap. Apple employs some 98,000 people. Amazon: founded by one man has gone on to revolutionize how we purchase anything. Amazon now controls over 45% of all books sold. Google, Facebook, Space X…this list can go on.
History also exposes the important aspect of great leadership. Churchill, Patten, Cambridge, Princeton, Lindberg, Ford, Lincoln (Abraham that is), John F Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. This list can also go on and on. The point being all great leaders, great institutions, and great corporations most certainly have great teams with second in commands and solid teams executing their vision and direction. Building this support infrastructure is as important to their success as oxygen is to life. From my perspective, leaders such as these are best identified as “Transformational Leaders.” Each of these organizations had or has had Transformational Leaders who understood going it alone was not an option. The best climbers know to reach the summit of K2 or Everest you must engage the Sherpa’s. To do so without their help and guidance is shier folly. Likewise, building or growing your enterprise without the right team is fraught with danger. Prior to outlining some helpful tips for establishing a solid second, I would like to offer a word of encouragement for those looking to be that
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CATCH CONCEPTS person. If you aspire to be a key member of a winning team, set your sights on getting behind a “Transformational Leader”. A Transformational Leader is being visible when things are going awry and invisible when they are working well. As noted in the book In Search of Excellence, it’s being tough when necessary, and it’s the occasional naked use of power or the, “Subtle accumulation of nuances, a hundred things done a little better,” as Henry Kissinger puts it. The book further explains Transformational Leaders are concerned with a different kind of minutiae; she is concerned with the tricks of the pedagogue, the mentor, the linguist – the more successfully to become the value shaper, the exemplar, the maker of meanings. I submit that boldly focusing on hitching your expertise to this type of leadership-vessel will pay off in spades and help shape your rise to the top in the process. For those looking to elevate your team to new heights or, in the instance of an early stage enterprise, build a team where one did not exist, I offer some reasonable thoughts on the subject in the most simplistic of detail. This insight is further reinforced by the following preamble; Keep it Simple, Stupid (KISS)!
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At our enterprise, I am constantly challenging myself to stick to the KISS principle. This goes aggressively against my natural tendencies, so it is a challenge. However, I am comforted by the fact that one of the key attributes of excellent companies is they have realized the importance of keeping things simple despite overwhelming genuine pressure to complicate things (in search of excellence). Simply put, to build a great team it is best to begin by a creating a high-performance environment. Don’t settle for mediocrity when your competitors are building for excellence. To help you create a high-performance environment, consider implementing these fundamental steps, and you will be well on your way to creating a solid team or reshaping your existing one while identifying the true superstars of your organization; “Know who you are as a leader then lead from your strengths” INTEGRATE THE VISION – Create a fearless culture. Allow your vision to permeate the culture of your organization, and then systematically reinforce the vision and values in all your activities. BUILD THE STRUCTURE – Don’t get hung up on org charts. They are important but not the-beall-to-end-all. Instead, think of structure as being
organic. It is influenced by the direct flow of human energy and therefore shaped by how and why people do their jobs as much as the identification of rules, rewards, values, and culture. TRAIN AND PROVIDE THE TOOLS – Even the brightest and most highly motivated require tools and training to reach peak potential. Don’t forget to acknowledge and reward. These two simple gestures are some of the most powerful training tools available and cost very little. As an example, at our firm, we look to separate training and performance in the following manner: 70% of a high-potential individual’s time should be allocated to their usual daily work, 20% to either internal or external training, and 10% to mentoring and coaching. QUANTIFY AND EVALUATE – Just as highperformance athletes understand the need for calibrating their training and performance indicators in order to keep them aligned with their goals and outcomes, so to must your business and team. Be creative in choosing the key indicators, and then monitor your organization’s performance on a regular basis. ALWAYS CELEBRATE SUCCESS - Don’t forget to celebrate achievements, even the small ones, and have some fun while doing so. Taking the above to a more simplistic context, Mi-
chael Gerber goes on to explain that, “The hallmark of a high performance organization is its ability to see change as a resource – as an opportunity to test the assumptions and systems, add to the collective knowledge, and grow the business.” High-performance organizations draw customers, motivate vendors, interest investors, and reassure lenders. Their energy and vitality inspire confidence in everyone they touch. Therein lays the genius of the great leaders. Each in their own way understood the value of building an organization that not only recognizes the importance of people but nurtures them to the fullest. So don’t go it alone. Eventually, all great leaders understand one irrefutable fact: leaders can only lead if others are prepared to follow. Your job is to build an organization that provides a reason for them to do so with passion and commitment. One of the most crucial responsibilities a leader has to building a team is creating a culture that rewards those who lift not just our stock price but our aspirations as well.
Dale Galbraith PRESIDENT & CEO CATCH RESOURCES INC.
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CALGARY
WOMEN IN
EDUCATION Last month, Calgary Women in Energy (CWIE) were invited to attend an exclusive event at SAIT Polytechnics Trades and Technology Complex. CWIE Members were given a tour of the facility and participated in a hands-on simulation with an interactive 3D drilling simulator.
S
AIT’s Rance Fisher Wellsite Production Education Centre houses an on-site service rig containing extensive drilling, service, process, and control equipment. The technical side of the centre is comprised of oil production facilities, gas production facilities, and common oil and gas control systems. The tour, led by Murray M. Stewart, the Manager of Earned Revenue-Operations at the MacPhail School of Energy, gave CWIE members the opportunity to
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visit the Mathison Drilling and Geoscience Lab Suite and the Rance Fisher Wellsite Production Education Centre. Named for a $1 million donation by Ron Mathison, the Mathison Drilling and Geoscience Lab Suite is furnished with a one-of-a-kind drilling simulator, which makes use of advanced software and 3D graphics to create immersive visualizations of downhole drilling dynamics. The simulator replicates a control cabin, which is complete with touch screen consoles and instrument panels. Surrounding the control cabin is a video monitor where the drilling I thought that the tour was very informative platform and equipment and helpful to get a real idea of what goes on are reproduced multiin a drilling rig and on a wellsite. It was great dimensionally. for us who need more exposure to the field but As CWIE members may not have the opportunity to get out there. operated the The SAIT representatives were very professional equipment, the and delivered a great tour to CWIE. surface simulator provided realistic Shauna Holmes moving graphics MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR FOR CALGARY WOMEN IN ENERGY
imitating the sights and sounds the driller would experience first hand on the rig and in a field application. The downhole simulator is programmed with details that directly affect the drilling process according to various subsurface conditions and translates them into visual indicators crews would normally see on gauges in a rig cabin. SAIT’s interactive drilling simulator was developed to achieve step improvements in the training of drilling personnel, drilling specialists, and students with a broad range of experience. The simulator considers complex interactions among key parameters during a range of basic operations while drilling, tripping pipe, running casing, and mud engineering. The intent is to provide unique opportunities to repeatedly immerse students into real-world, complex events without endangerment to people or equipment. They permit individuals and/or teams to interact with realistic models and respond almost as if in actual scenarios. The software mirrors the latest technology being used in the oil and gas sector of Alberta and around the world. It can be configured to
different types of rigs, well designs, and formation or reservoir characteristics. The industry needs a competent, well-trained, and credentialed workforce. It is for this reason that Calgary Women in Energy would like to thank SAIT for their time and dedication to the industry. Because SAIT’s state-of-the-art simulator realistically models drilling operations, it is anticipated to provide great value and innovation as individuals gain an edge on training to become the energy leaders of tomorrow. Calgary Women in Energy is a non-profit, membership society dedicated to promoting, supporting, and empowering women in the energy sector of Calgary, Alberta. For more information or to become a member, please visit www.cwie.org for details.
Kristy Hysert CALGARY WOMEN IN ENERGY PRESIDENT
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GYM TIME
10 TYPES PEOPLE AT THE GYM
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The gym is a melting pot, breeding creatures of all walks. It’s the time of year where we see all types flock to their nearest sweat lodge in hopes for improvement, maintenance or specialized training. Although the gym is in fact a melting pot, typically the variance can be boiled down into 10 categories of people.
THE OVER 70 These beautiful creatures are ones to be admired. They too occupy the gym midday but can also be seen in the evening after their 4pm supper. Their m.o. is lifting light weights and doing low impact cardio, just enough to lose their breath and feel how great it is to be alive. Their velour sweat suits are fashion statements that will live on forever for those in their age bracket. I mean honestly, what could be better than working out in a timeless heavy, oversized velour suite?
THE NEW MOMMY New moms are easy to spot. They can usually be found mid day, walking around the track with their newfound best friend from mommy group. These two will be decked out in the latest Lululemon attire, waving their arms briskly as they walk slightly faster than a snails pace. Sometimes you might even witness a first time mommy who can’t bear the thought of having separation anxiety and she’ll be strutting along with a stroller in tow.
THE GORILLA Remember the Jersey Shore? Trust me, I’m trying to rid the cultural phenomenon from my consciousness as well. The term “Gorilla” was coined and couldn’t be more fitting for the breed of 20-year-olds who pump their inflated chests and monopolize the weight area. After school or in the later evening, Gorilla’s can be found wearing the tightest shorts/ pants that would make a teenage girl blush at the thought of wearing something comparable. Their non-existent leg and glute muscles look like cartoon stick limbs in comparison to their explosive chest and shoulders. Their upper body will be bursting out of the extra small “wife beater” they purchased to highlight their
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proudest body parts. You will never find a Gorilla working out his lower body and they wouldn’t be caught dead doing any sort of cardio. “Forget that, that shit is for chicks!” The loud grunts and falling free weights will alarm you that a Gorilla is near-by. My advice is to steer clear in case their testosterone levels have peaked in that moment and you find yourself in the crosshairs. THE ATHLETE Whatever level of athlete, their presence at the gym is hard to miss. There are two types of athletes. You’ll see the 2 or 3 soccer or hockey players that dry land train together, carrying out their routine specifically set out by their coach. A circuit of laps, sit-ups and weight training will occupy their time. Most often in good spirits and proudly wearing their team’s practice gear, these athletes seem relieved not to be kicking a ball or shooting a puck. Then there are the solosport gym-goers who are so entrenched in their own training because at the end of the day, win or lose, the outcome rests on their shoulders. You will find this athlete doing anything from intense sprints to obscure agility training, while typically intimidating and impressing surrounding spectators. THE “THAT LAST 15 POUNDS” This person I have the most compassion for. These determined folk are those who have been trying to lose those last LB’s since they gained the freshman 15. No matter what they do, how often they go, or how healthy they eat, they can’t seem to loose the extra padding. They are often morose, dragging their feet, and wearing out of date sweats and over sized T-shirts. Found occupying any type of cardio machine going half throttle and never really breaking a sweat. “Try as I must”… at least they are trying. OilfieldPULSE | JANUARY 2015
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GYM TIME THE “GOES TO BE SEEN GIRL” Much like the Gorilla this creature brings an uncontrollable smile to my face, strictly for the entertainment factor. Girls who go to the gym only to be seen will be wearing tight shorts that can pass for underwear. A spaghetti strap tank top with an underwire bra, fully made up and hair tied up in a high ponytail. These girls usually travel in packs and trot along, lightly on their toes. They’ll never work out hard enough to compromise streaking their makeup or messing their hair so this usually means a lot of ab workouts and vigorous stretching. I think these misguided newbies have missed the memo because, as history has proven, finding a boyfriend at the gym has rarely been a successful endeavour. THE MAINTAINER Maybe the most “normal” attendee, the maintainers are those healthy people who are seen at the gym 5-7 days a week for a healthy amount of time, usually between 40-60 minutes. The maintainer works out as a part of their lifestyle, one which was likely adopted from an early age. Either on their way to work, coming home from work, or after their dinner settles, these people can be seen combining cardio and weight training to maintain an overall healthy body. THE RECENTLY DIVORCED It pains me to highlight this group but the reality is, they too stick out like a sore thumb. Reeling from a recent separation these people have a newfound sense of independence. Working on their bodies will keep their minds off their new and scary situation. It also proves beneficial for their confidence if they’re hoping to start saddling up and putting themselves out there for something new. Usually found alone and doing a mish mash of workouts, until the “recently divorced” becomes just “divorced”, it will take them a while to find their stride. Their nights are no longer filled with family obligations so they fill their time with evening workouts. THE TRIATHLON/MARATHON JUNKIE You may as well just identify this group as the
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masochists. It seems that this group of extremists do one marathon or triathlon and they’re hooked on it. Each one admitting the first is always the best and that high can never be felt again. Wait, maybe I’m confusing my list of 10 types of junkies, my bad. You cannot miss this type, they will have zero percent body fat and will be found running for hours, only then to jump onto a stationary bike and cool down. Depending on the day, the order will change but if you are the lucky one to be on a machine next to them, you’ll think you’re at a wave park because they’ll inevitably sweat chlorine. Always sporting top of the line gear the marathoner can be spotted and set apart from the triathlete by the number of times you see them in new kicks over a period of six months. This breed takes over the gym, you can never predict when they will lurk, because morning, noon or night, you’re never safe. THE DOCTOR ORDERED This unfortunate attendee is usually there against their will, and only as a result of an unfortunate scare or diagnosis. Easily spotted because they seem less comfortable than a fish out of water. They’ve dug out old “active wear” that was until recently slated to be cut up for kitchen rags and the only thing on their mind is “not dying”. Depending on their predicament, they can either be seen clutching onto a piece of paper with strict doctorordered instructions on what they must do or are attached at the hip to a trainer. Their efforts will either meet the bare minimum just enough to ease the tension of their spouses, or they have had a life threating wake up call and they are giving 100%. Whatever category best fits your reason for going to the gym, it doesn’t really matter, at least you’re getting off your butt and going! Godspeed gym dwellers.
Jessica Bartsch #TAKEITORLEAVEIT
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TECH IN EVENTS
GOOGLE GLASS EVENT ADVANTAGES
G
oogle Glass, which were unveiled at a developer’s conference in 2012, are lenses with a virtual high resolution display that sits over the wearer’s right eye. The very user-friendly device, which can cost in and around $1,500 per pair, uses voice commands and small hand gestures to operate completely hands free. The user can look through their right lense to visualize a 25 inch screen seen from eight feet away. This product is interactive with other Google products, like Gmail, and provides a high level of convenience by being used for conferencing, voice text, photos, video recording, and navigation. Although this product does need further development in terms of its battery life, sound quality, speed, and additional functionality, this revolutionary device is still an asset in many applications and scenarios. To an event organizer, this wearable product provides many benefits. For example, participants can walk to a multitude of exhibits in the venue and take snapshots of featured items or interesting booths and then forward them to Google Plus, so others within their work group can also see it. It has the capability of capturing short videos, which can be shared and posted with a hashtag to engage others interested in the same topics or presentations. Facilitators can share their presentations courtesy of its hands free slide show control, which can implement a speaker’s notes and slides on their Google Glass as they are presenting instead of having to look at a monitor or teleprompter.
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Through the help of Geofencing, people can see a brief description of various workshops as easily as passing by the meeting room and allowing the participant to receive the information without even attending. This occurs through a global positioning system called Geofencing, which uses a virtual barrier in conjunction with a software program to allow administrators to set ‘triggers.’ When a device enters the defined boundary or a ‘trigger’ area, a text message or email is sent to the participant outlining what is occurring within that boundary. This modality enables the user to not only see questions being posed within that room but also narrows in and produces a cloud pop up over the location of the actual person in the audience who is asking. Another benefit for the participant is to gather slide presentations of workshops they were unable to attend. In a world of ever changing information technology and audio-visual integration into conferences and general session, the days of the running projectors and big screens will slowly dissipate and steer towards more personalized experiences to provide that ‘wow-factor’ event coordinators always strive to achieve.
Sylvia M. Vespa
SHINDIGS AND SOIREES, AN EVENT COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY 403-909-9095
MONEY MATTERS
the
BROKER T
he term ‘broker’ means joint venturer, stands in the middle guy, stands in the way guy, etc. Have you ever wondered what the actual duty of a ‘broker’ is? His/her duties are to accommodate both sides in a transaction while taking a fee for doing so. The oil and gas industry have approximately 103,000,000 (bit exaggerated) brokers. You have the “in your face” broker, the “silent type” broker, the “I know a guy” broker, and, of course, the “I have that item. Let me get back to you” broker. Here’s what these terms mean: “In your face” broker = a person who does not stop at no and is constantly emailing, phoning, and stopping by. “Silent type” broker = a person who quietly goes about their business helping their clients. “I know a guy” broker = a person who always has a guy who has the item or is looking to buy the item “I have that item. Let me get back to you” broker = a person who may or may not have the item and needs a little time to source it
THE 5 REASONS A ‘BROKER’ EXISTS 1 2 3 4 5
Seller is not a salesman Broker has the contacts Seller has no time Broker knows the ‘market prices’ Seller does not want to be involved for whatever reason
If your company has been using brokers, good for you. If not, I strongly suggest you do. The cost will even out your time spent trying verses having them do it. The Broker’s code of ethics has changed a lot since the days of wolves on wall street, still worth a watch (after the children go to bed)
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WEIGHT LOSS
STAYING COURSE THE
H
appy New Year Everyone! It’s that time of year for New Year’s Resolutions. A lot of us start thinking about making changes, getting healthier, and making improvements. It’s time to go on a diet! I hate the word DIET!!! When I think of the word diet, I think of rabbit food, deprivation, and plain old unhappiness. There have been so many diets out there. I’ve seen the cabbage soup diet, cottage cheese diet, and almost anything where you’re only eating one thing and not allowed almost anything else. It only stands to reason anytime you delete a food group or delete many items from different food groups, you’re going to lose weight. My biggest question is: is it healthy and sustainable? Can you live the rest of your life this way? No reasonable person could or would want to live life like that. Then why do so many do it? Because, we want a quick fix. We want the weight to come off over night. That’s crazy. You didn’t gain it overnight. You are certainly not going to lose it overnight. There is a huge difference between fast weight loss and permanent weight loss. I’m going to be on a bit of a rant right now, but the whole gluten free craze is driving me crazy. It is one thing to be tested and be Celiac or gluten intolerant, but many people are using it as a diet aid. What a lot of people don’t know is a lot of gluten free foods have more sugar and fat added to make up for flavour. Most times, people who have not been tested and have gone gluten free are feeling better, because they are not eating as many processed foods. I hope this will be a fad that will pass. My biggest pet peeve is the no carb, high fat diet.
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Our brains need carbs for the thinking process. Our bodies need good whole grain carbs for fiber. We can get fiber from fruits and veggies, but that will only round up the amount of fiber we need. Women need 25-30 grams of fiber a day, and men need 30-35 grams a day. You’re not going to get that if you’re not eating whole grains. I lost 100 pounds eating carbs at every single meal. The difference is I switched to whole grain cereals, hi fibre, whole grain breads, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, barley, buckwheat, etc. After we choose a whole grain, we have to watch our portions, and then we have to watch how we prepare them. You take a baked potato with the skin, which is a very healthy choice, high in fibre, vitamins and minerals, and now let’s slather it with butter, bacon bits, and sour cream. You’ve now added more fat and calories then what was originally in the potato. I would never have lost the weight if I hadn’t been able to include carbs. This is about slow gradual changes and enjoying a little bit of everything. Our bodies need all the food groups. We are able to lose weight a little more easily if we are giving our bodies all the nutrients it needs. It is also more apt to stay off, because we’re enjoying the journey. My rant is over. In honour of carbs, I have 3 easy recipes using an Angel Food Cake mix. You add no other liquid other than what is in the recipe. Enjoy.
Dianna Kerek WORDSTODIFOR.BLOGSPOT.COM
angel food
creations
ANGEL FOOD COOKIES MAKES 25 COOKIES 2 POINTSPLUS PER COOKIE
• 1 package angel food cake mix • ½ cup unsweetened coconut • ½ cup water or orange juice Mix ingredients. Bake for 10 minutes at 350.
PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE 12 SERVINGS 4 POINTSPLUS PER SERVING
• 1 package angel food cake mix • 1 398 ml. can crushed pineapple with the juice Mix both ingredients together. Pour into a sprayed 9x12” pan quickly (expands rapidly). Bake 350 for 35-40 min.
BLACK FOREST ANGEL FOOD CAKE 12 SERVINGS 5 POINTSPLUS PER SERVING
• 1 package angel food cake mix • 1/3 cup cocoa • 1 can Ed Smith Light & Fruity Cherry Pie Filling Combine all ingredients. Add no other liquids. Pour into 9x12” pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40 min.
FINANCE
G N I C N A N I F A G N I SCOR
H C U TO
in the future is reasonable. The better quality of financial information (historical financial statements and forecasts) the more inherent credibility your s I am writing this article, the hockey request will have. Better quality statements, such season is in full swing, and I am getting as audited statements, provide a different level of ready to head to the Grey Cup. Given that robustness than notice to reader statements. I work for a financial institution, I thought it would I believe a critical mistake some business owners be appropriate to marry some sports concepts with make is to cut corners in the preparation of financial themes about the best ways to approach capital statements. Oftentimes, it is considered a necessary sources for financing to support your business. evil or only important for income tax considerations. This is shortsighted as an investment in quality Develop a sound playbook – Knowing what your financial statements has significant benefits to goals are and how to achieve them should be the both management and capital sources. The benefit underlying basis for whatever your business plan is. An important aspect of your goals is your plan to fund accumulates over time as more statements with higher standards are provided. Not only can you rely your ongoing capital requirements. To determine on the information yourself but quality information that, you need to be able to coordinate and integrate can also pay off in better sources and structure of your financial requirements with your business plan. financing and, ultimately, lower interest rates. If How do you do that? you have an exit strategy that involves selling your company, the more quality your financial information Study the tape – Your historical financial contains the better price you can command. records are your game tape. Knowing how money There will also be less of a requirement to have historically flows through your company is an important predictor of how it will happen in the future. auditor’s, etc. go back in and restate your financial statements in a higher quality format a purchaser can Financial professionals rely heavily on your historical rely on. I recently had a discussion with a partner at information to determine if what you are predicting
A
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BENEFACTOR
N W O D H
ESS N I S U OUR B Y R O ITAL F P A C DING N I F O T KEYS and significant increase in revenues and profitability
a local accounting firm regarding the costs involved in having financial statements restated versus having higher quality financial statements initially. It was clear that, in addition to the usefulness to the business owner of better financial statements as an ongoing management tool, the costs would have been a fraction of the costs of having the information restated in a higher quality format.
Lean on your coaches – Whether you have the financial acumen in house or need to go outside, use the professionals. Your external accountants usually have the capability to aid you in doing financial models and forecasts and have the luxury of also having access to your historical information. If not, there are numerous consultants available for either ongoing or project work to aid you in preparing your business plan. Consider them a member of your team and a valuable resource. For the most part, they can also advise if your financing request is reasonable or if you need to look for a different capital source.
upcoming. While entrepreneurs are necessarily optimistic, unless there is certainty the revenues will be achieved, it is better to show achievable growth or one of several plausible scenarios. While it is important for you as a business owner to be aware of how varying scenarios impact your business, conservatism and due diligence in presenting
I believe that a critical mistake that some business owners make is to cut corners in the preparation of financial statements forecasts usually wins out. While these suggestions don’t cover all of the hurdles to obtain financing, they can give you a basis for scoring a financing touchdown and getting the capital you need to grow your business. Craig Braun | CPA
Beware the hockey stick (In forecasts) – Nothing causes more unease when analyzing information packages than the dreaded hockey stick in a forecast. This is a forecast that shows a dramatic
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENERGY SERVICES GROUP NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA GROUP 780.409.3564. ENERGYSERVICES@BNC.CA.
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CHANGE MANAGEMENT
THE
TRANSITION
PLAN D
WHAT DOES YOURS LOOK LIKE?
uring this phase of your change management exercise, it is important to engage your leaders to discuss what the transition plan is going to look like. You may have heard of the term “cutover”. This is the days leading up to the release of “go-live”. When I say transition plan, there are a couple things you need to plan for. How is the system and process going to move from the existing system or process into the new system or process? Equally important is to diligently plan and communicate how your leaders and people are going to be included and ready for the transition plan. You don’t just wake up the next morning and turn on the go-live button and all your data, history, transactions, contracts, and work orders magically appear in the new system or process. The following table below highlights a few critical points you should plan and think about for how both your systems/processes work and how the people will interact with or be aware of during your transition phase into the “new world”. CONTINUED
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CHANGE MANAGEMENT
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System and/or Project Team Considerations
People and/or Change Management Considerations
How much of your existing information (data, transactions, records, etc) are going to be moved into the new system? What does that look like, and how long will it take?
Your people, who use this information in their day-to-day work life, will be asking and have a right to know the details of the change. There will also be groups who will need to know what the impact is by moving information into the new system on them, whether it be finance ($ impact), warehouse (inventory adjustments), purchasing (where did existing purchase orders end up), work orders (that were open), etc.
What do the people need to do for a period of time to work on closing/ moving existing information into the “new world”? Is it going to be manual? How do you account for operating in two places/processes for a period of time?
Once you determine what is going to be moved into the new system, is there anything your people can do with existing information to ensure the transfer of information is accurate? Can they close outstanding purchase orders, close existing work orders, and/or increase inventory prior to go-live to account for a temporary slow down in productivity while people get used to the new system/process?
What do you do with outstanding purchase orders or work orders you need to move into the “new world”? Your business doesn’t just stop while you get your act together on the system side. What do you tell your vendors/suppliers while this is happening and before go-live?
Your leaders and people who managed PO’s, as an example, should know what they can do and say to their people and vendors about how the new system will treat your purchase orders. They should interact and communicate with your vendors about the differences they will see and what they can do to help with the transition of existing purchase orders and when new ones are going to be created. Open, honest, and transparent communication is key in today’s world. What they need to know and when they will know it should be talked about as early as possible.
How will your reporting change, and what do your reports represent now that they didn’t before?
What type of reports are going to be available to people once the new system is live, and what do they do to ensure consistency with existing reporting to the new reporting?
Who else in your organization may feel the downstream impacts of your new system or process while you get up to maximizing your productivity? How is finance or payroll impacted by month-end? What about the inventory in your warehouses?
Because we live in a continuously connected world, especially in your companies, by implementing a new system there is always a downstream impact of new process/information/data other people would need to know. As an example, if you are implementing a new system for purchase orders, the downstream of any changes might impact finance or your vendors who submit/ send the purchase orders.
How much of the transition is going to be manual or automatic? Do you need to staff up for a period of time to handle the extra workload on your team until they get through the transition phase?
Sometimes, your cutover steps for a system move will need to migrate information or data into the new system. Some of these activities happen automatically depending on the level of detail and technical expertise you have on your project team. However, in some cases, there will need to be some manual activities that either the project team and/or users will need to help with to ensure any information you need to be in the new system is there when you turn it on. What do they need to do? If it is going to take some hours/days/ weeks to complete these manual tasks, you need to communicate with these groups as early as possible, so they can plan their resources accordingly.
What training, in addition to the training that is the “new world”, do you need to build in order for your teams and people to understand the days leading up to go-live?
The training content developed is usually on what the “new world” system/ process is going to be, which is important for future sustainment of the material and system. What you need to consider is if there is any specific training or communication required during the days/weeks of shifting your existing system/ process to the new system/process. There is a tremendous amount of work the project team plans out, or should plan out, to go-live.
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All of these items/issues should be thought of in your transition plan, and your change management efforts should include any one of these groups starting at their leaders and their teams. The change management activities should be the same regardless of who is going to care about your new system or process. How much you need to include them or engage with them will depend on how big or small the impact is on that particular group. Simply, the bigger the impact, the more you need to communicate and work with them. For a smaller impact, maybe an information letter/email or broadcast a couple times prior to go-live might be sufficient enough. Arm your largest impacted groups with enough information to be able to answer questions from them if they come up. Moving into a new system or process is not as easy as “turning it on”. There is an immense amount of work required from both the systems people and your leaders/people who will be required to use the new tool one day. All of these groups need to work together early and often to ensure you realize your return on investment and users adopt it as quick as possible.
By Trevor Deeks DIRECTOR T DEEKS CONSULTING INC. TDEEKSCONSULTING@GMAIL.COM
TIHEM CONSULTING
C*N$UL+!NG! A D!RTY WØ®D ìN BUSIÑ£SS?
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In my opinion, all professionals should submit to an oath whether they are starting a new job or opening their own business. It should be mandatory. Some professions and even government workers are required to submit to an oath often swearing to adhere to an ethical code of conduct. I realize this doesn’t guarantee the person swearing the oath will live by the words spoken, but it should still be a requirement in my opinion. I feel most consultants start building their businesses for the right reasons. They see a need or a void they feel their individual expertise can help. I often think most politicians start out their political careers for the same altruistic reasons. In both politics and the world of consulting, it can be challenging to stay true to the original reasons that drew you into the profession in the first place. I liken the resolve required comparable to being the protagonist from Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead. When I started my consulting company, I considered doing it full-time. I started to build a business model and came to an obvious conclusion: if you’re truly in it to help, then building a business model doesn’t work. Not for me anyway. What if a consultant becomes motivated to make a business marginally better so they can continue to bill? What if a consultant only markets themselves and oversells their ability to make change? What if the person you hired gets so busy they have multiple projects
running at the same time, making your goals secondary to their own commitments? As hard as I tried to build a model with which I was happy, all consulting scenarios led me to a place where I was left feeling either my client or I could both lose. I focus on the truth, and I find a way to set reachable goals. So far, I have decided until I retire, or until I can find the right method, I just can’t find a good business model that works. I am not saying there
be incredibly useful tools. Are consultants good? I think some are, but sometimes they are really just good salespeople. A great salesperson can make you money, but can they change culture? Do salespeople make good managers? Do they understand how to effect policy changes or procedures? Do they understand organizational behaviour, safety culture, or day to day operations? Maybe, but that hasn’t been my experience.
What if a consultant only markets themselves and oversells their ability to make change? isn’t one out there or others have done something wrong. I just can’t make it work for me. So with permission from my current employer, I decided to build a different model. I consult in my off hours. I have a team that also consults with me, because I don’t know everything, but I do know I work best in a team. Depending upon what is required, we use our resources to find solutions. So are consultants bad? Of course not! I think for small and medium sized businesses they can
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Our group is different. We are all managers who still work in the industry. In our own worlds, we have success stories and failures from which to draw. In my own personal experience, the failures are where the most value can be extracted. I want to have a full out discussion of the issues, throw our cards on the table, and from there we can see how to help you succeed in your chosen mission. TIHEM Consulting stands for Total Integral Honest Ethical Management. We believe in preparation. We
believe if you are going to bring any change into your company (perhaps you are considering Lean, 4 disciplines, or management training), you need to start with an assessment of what your people understand about your people. Don’t start change or promotions without foresight. We believe in keeping the integrity of a company by focusing on separating technical expertise from management expertise or, at the very least, making sure a person is set up for success by integrating the two disciplines properly. Growth in any form takes knowledge. What do you know about the people in your company? These are the people whom you are going to count on to make change. So with that in mind, what do they understand about themselves and the people around them? How open are they to dealing with heavy conflict situations, what motivates them, and what is their honesty threshold? More importantly, do you as a senior leader understand why any of the above matters? Who do they talk to when they need consultation or expertise? Who do you talk to? Have you ever tried something new and failed? Did you ever wonder what you could accomplish if it weren’t for all those people getting in the way? Not everyone at TIHEM is as concerned with
the psychology of your team as I am. Our team is balanced with accounting, business operations, building operations, project management, safety, Lean, business development, human resources, engineering, and manufacturing acumen. We work to balance the needs of your company with the needs of the people who work for you. We only take projects in which we create scoreboards to show actual improvement. If there is no improvement, there is no charge. How is that for a sales pitch? I am not going to use this monthly article to sell you my company. I want to use this space to discuss issues faced by managers every day. If there is anything specific you feel should be discussed, please feel free to send me an email. I may not have the answer, but I bet someone from my team does. I felt the first article should tell you a bit about the person from whom the information is coming. I may be writing as a consultant, but I am also a guy who is still in the trenches every day. I didn’t write this article to earn your business. I am only trying to assure you I have been there! So let’s throw our cards on the table and see where it leads us. T.J. Ross TIHEM CONSULTING TIHEM.INFO@GMAIL.COM
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SERVICE
PLEASE!
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This month, Oilfield PULSE’s theme is around service, supply and resolution. I have chosen to focus on service, customer service specifically. We really have run the gamut on this topic, full circle in fact, when it comes to the various organizations ideologies of what serving customers’ means in their business practices. Who’s responsible for ensuring your customers’ needs are being met? You may be surprised, but this responsibility is a team effort and it belongs to everyone in the business, not just your sales or front line staff. Where do your accountabilities begin and end?
A Customer’s perception, is your reality Kate Zabriskie
CONTINUED
Customer service is defined by Turban as “the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation.” Today, how is your business doing with meeting your customers’ expectations? Clearly, we can always offer more service, and must to remain competitive. However, so many hours are spent in various meetings discussing this question. While the importance of customer service may vary by product or the type of service or industry you are connected to, the fact is that if your team is to be successful today, they are going to have to know how to adapt to the changing nature of meeting their customer’s demands. One of the essential questions is however, do they
have the right tools to do so? To help your team be a success at serving your consumers, which by the way, is your job as a business owner or manager, securing suitable training for your team is certainly one pro-active solution. Naturally, training is ideal but let’s step away from the esthetics of what training can accomplish on the outside and address the well-being of the inside of your organization first to ensure the effects of training will be beneficial. An unhealthy workplace occurs when there is an obvious absence of proper business processes like strategy, concepts, technology, equipment, great leadership, and required staff allowances which are absolutely necessary to serve customers effectively. Ultimately, these missing components create an unmotivated, exhausted front line team who are unable to produce successful results. When a company has the right tools and capabi lities to allow a team to feel motivated and successful at their roles, serving your customers will produce the necessary growth and function required for a healthy, reputable and flourishing business. Then, and only then, can additional training add the extra value you need to produce and potentially excel in the competitive market.
Sometimes you can’t see yourself clearly until you see yourself through the eyes of others Ellen DeGeneres
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CONTINUED
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We all recognize that a competent and fully trained team makes all the difference in reaching those business goals. We also must now realize that training staff in a healthy workplace will help achieve the overall improvement of meeting the customer’s expectations. Customer dissatisfaction resulting
The customer experience is the next competitive battleground Jerry Gregoire
in a loss of business effects the entire team and organization as a whole. You may say, ‘well, we can’t always please everyone!’ While this can be challenging, what are the outcomes of that attitude to your businesses? I am sure many of us have experienced poor customer service at one time or another and what was one of the first things you did? That’s right, you talked about it with others! So it does have a direct impact on your business and its reputation. Those you rely on so heavily, those serving your clients, best have the right tools, processes and customer solutions at their fingertips to ensure they can deliver what you promised your customers. After working with some organizations whose business suffered as a result of not paying attention or listening to their customer’s needs, I can share with you that your business is only as successful as people, including your staff, say it is when you are out of the room. You may believe that ‘it’s not all that bad, that a few clients or staff comments won’t matter,’ well think again. Those that we serve, become ambassadors who represent our business practices in the greater community. Believe me, people talk and the word gets out, we’ve all heard it, and all that chatter produces a perception that some businesses cannot and have not bounced back from. For some companies, trying to gain or retain top talent becomes an impossible task because the character and reputation of that business follows
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them. Who wants to work for a bad company after all? There’s no turning back gracefully or without great loss of valuable assets such as your talented team. Enormous amounts of time and money are required to re-market a business once a poor reputation has grabbed hold, and even then there is no guarantee. Therefore, doing things differently to avoid this happening are wise words all business owners and their management teams should live by. A customer service experience can change the entire perception a consumer has of the organization. Once you have determined that your internal team is equipped with all the tangibles they need to perform, then they have the capacity to further develop and be open to receive service training. Enhancing and improving their service attitude, skills on building solid relationships, or how to utilize best practices towards growing your business can now be realized in a healthier workplace producing greater results and success for all parties involved. Our new economy demands we focus on engaging
Whether you are big or small, you cannot give good customer service if your employees don’t feel good about coming to work Martin Oliver
and retaining top talent and ensure we adapt to and increase the technology as consumers require. These are crucial to the success and survival of any business. So how do you plan on meeting these ever changing demands? The engagement and retention of talent will require healthy businesses to continuously develop and grow the skillsets of their workforce. Most successful businesses have developed their talent to work towards a crossfunctional environment. Promoting a collaborative work space where the usual repetitive and hum drum
everyday work tasks get a bit of an uplift. Did you know that cross-functional teamwork improves job fulfilment which produces an increase in productivity and overall performance? This business model also allows the opportunity to provide the response required to meet your consumer’s needs when they need it most! Let’s keep in mind that your organizations customer service, is only as solid as your in-house culture. Happy team, resulting in a happier customer, equals a healthy business. What more could we ask for? Customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement because without it, what’s the point!
It takes 20 minutes to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it Warren Buffet
In closing, a great friend of mine Vincenzo Aliberti, PhD pulls this all together in his latest book, The 4 Truths, co-authored with Fabian Asin, MBA, PMP. It clearly states, “Keep trying until you achieve the results you want, and be very aware of how you walked the path to success. Notice how your purposes, choices, actions, and results align.” Take it seriously, really! Treat your team with respect, and provide a pro-active, healthy workplace that has the necessary processes in place in order for them to be successful in your business. As a consumer, keep it real, be authentic and show me the service please, and in return your service will show you the results that you went into business for in the first place. By Connie Cook, BHRLR, APR ADULT EDUCATOR COMMUNICATING WISELY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH CLEAR COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS THROUGH CHARISMATIC LEARNING CONSTANCIACOOK@GMAIL.COM PART OF THE BUILDING RELATIONSHIP SERIES
LIQUOR LANE
WINE &
HEALTH
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WORKING CAPITAL FOR BUSINESS
W
ith a New Year comes the opportunity to set some new aspirations and goals, and as we all know some will be more successful than others as people try to realign their healthy lifestyle regimes into their everyday lives. As we’ve all been told a balanced and moderate lifestyle is the key to living a long healthy life and luckily a great glass of wine or two can play a part in it, so why not be empowered to make an educated choice so that your glass is filled with something delicious and as flavourful as possible?! It’s a common saying that we in the wine industry joke around with, “a glass of wine a day, keeps the doctor away”, now to choose the size of the glass… While wine has been associated with medicinal purposes as far back as ancient Egyptian and Sumerian times, a lot has changed since then. The weight that wine once carried in regards to its medical properties has now been replaced by modern medicine, but its roots as the base elixir for mysterious potions is still celebrated in spirits like vermouth. Research today has shown that wine has the ability to lower your negative cholesterol, increase your positive cholesterol, boost brain power longevity, and provide favourable amounts of antioxidants making a glass or two a beneficial ingredient to any healthy living routine. A glass of wine on average has between 100 – 300 calories per glass with dry whites or sparkling styles being on the lowest end of that scale. While this is just a snap shot of the reported benefits that wine can offer, it can of course be a double edged sword; moderation being the balance point as too much of anything is never a good thing. For your January wine picks I’ve chosen some antidotes which are just what the sommelier ordered.
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LIQUOR LANE
COS D’ESTOURNEL, BORDEAUX FRANCE 2006 | $199.99 While wine red, white, and rosé across the board have reported health benefits, research leans more towards reds for the full benefits. This is because reds have higher antioxidants from the skin contact that they receive during the wine making process. It’s a bit like eating an apple; all the good stuff for you is in the skin. These antioxidants have been shown to help and support the cardiovascular system when used in moderation. The 2006 vintage is classified as a Second Growth in the five tier system set in place in Bordeaux in 1855, this wine is considered to be among the very best from the region by critics and loyal fans alike. Typically, a Cabernet Sauvignon dominate blend, this wine offers an abundance of the reported health benefits coupled with the 2006 being a bit of an ‘insiders” vintage, the value of this wine will only gather with time. While this wine can definitely benefit from time in your cellar it is showing now with a superb intensity of dark black fruits along with a graphite minerality, and a soft violet floral aspect that rounds off the spectrum. Drink Now till 2035.
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DOMAINE EUGENE MEYER GEWÜRZTRAMINER ALSACE | FRANCE 2011 | $26.49 A good way to start a health kick should be to begin with a wine that is as natural as can be and this biodynamic Gewürztraminer from Domaine Eugene Meyer is a leading example. Coming from a 22 acre plot in the south of Alsace, France this family owned and operated winery has been passed down generation-to-generation since 1620, and has been certified biodynamic since 1991. This parallel of respect, preservation, and balance seen in their vineyards and wine is also transferable to how one might view the perspective of good health. The 2011 Gewurztraminer is a classic representation of what a great Alsatian Gewurztraminer can offer at a pocket-friendly price point. This wine will delight with every sip as it fills your palate with notes of lychee, rose pedals, sweet stone fruits, and spices all encompassed in a robust full bodied mouth texture.
PETER LEHMANN PORTRAIT SHIRAZ AUSTRALIA 2012 | $18.99 Peter Lehmann is one of the most iconic producers coming out of Australia giving both value and quality in every wine it sends out from the winery. These guys literally take everything to the next level and have even managed to make an attempt in regards to this theme. While it’s debatable if being vegan is a health benefit, a lifestyle choice, or a little bit of both, Peter Lehmann has been doing vegan friendly wines for quite a while now by using a filtering process that uses bentonite clay instead of egg whites that are traditionally used to get rid of any unwanted sediment in the wine. This wine is beautiful, displaying flavours and aromas of juicy plums, black fruits, and coffee while having a supple medium-body and great acidity. Easy sipping at its best. By Devin McKay WINE ROOM EXPERT AT WILLOW PARK WINES & SPIRITS
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
FEELING
CONCUSSED? CAN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HELP PEOPLE AFTER A CONCUSSION
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that commonly causes confusion, memory loss, and a headache. It can happen after a person is hit on the head, face, or their head or upper body is shaken too hard. Sports injuries, car accidents, and falls are common causes of concussions.
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A
lthough there are many supplements on the market, none were specifically designed or have been clinically proven to help people with a concussion. Consumers will not find good alternatives available over-the-counter for self-care. In fact, you should seek immediate medical attention if you think you or your child may have a concussion. If people want to consider alternative approaches, they should seek help from a qualified naturopathic doctor, acupuncture specialist, etc. These health professionals will be able to examine the patient and discuss with them the potential alternative choices. A frequent problem with concussions is disturbed sleep. Natural remedies may help improve sleep quality, but there is no clinical evidence demonstrating this benefit in pa tients with a traumatic brain injury.
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The recommended treatment includes sleeping and avoiding physical activity and activities that need concentration or a lot of attention. Symptoms usually occur within minutes or hours of a concussion and include memory loss, confusion, headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, feeling sleepy, and acting cranky or strangely. In addition, the following symptoms can appear hours to days after a concussion: trouble walking or talking, memory problems, problems paying attention, trouble sleeping, mood or behaviour changes, vision changes, and being bothered by noise or light. The recommended treatment includes sleeping and avoiding physical activity and activities that need concentration or a lot of attention. The majority of concussions get better on their own, but this can take time. In some people, symptoms may be present for weeks to months. When this occurs, it is called “post-concussion syndrome”. Some people experience disturbed sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, and disorders of arousal. Disturbed sleep is common across all levels of severity and during the phase of recovery.
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ALTERNATIVE HEALTH Some health professionals prescribe natural health products to help the patient obtain a quality sleep. Sleep quality is a critical aspect of recovery, as adequate sleep is essential for general healthy functioning and healing of the body. Several clinical trials are underway to investigate the potential benefits from natural health supple ments, phototherapy, or drugs on sleep quality. At this time, there is a lack of clinical evidence to help guide the use of natural sleep remedies in managing patients who suffer from a concussion. The current use of these sedative or hypnotic remedies is based on the health care professional’s clinical experience treating other patients with traumatic brain injury.
In a pilot study, Tai chi was shown to help improve quality of life and mood in patients with traumatic brain injury symptoms There are a few reported cases that are interesting as they show the potential benefit obtained from a quality sleep. One of these cases is the story of Wendy Clawsey who suffered a concussion from a fall. She tells her story in a book entitled Concussion: Based on A True Story, which was published in 2014 by a branch of One Thousand Trees called ‘words... along the path’. The accident dramatically changed her life. She lived with clinical symptoms typical of a patient suffering from a traumatic brain injury. The concussion impacted both her professional and family life. Eventually, she obtained help from a naturopathic doctor and received a prescription for several supplements: cod liver oil, magnesium, phosphatidylcholine, and enteric coated California poppy. Wendy’s recovery came after taking these for several weeks. More precisely, the remedies allowed her to obtain a quality sleep. Sleep is an important criterion for recovery from numerous health conditions. Her story shows the power of quality sleep. The body of clinical evidence suggests many sedative and hypnotic herbal remedies may provide a higher quality of sleep compared to placebo. When
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used at an adequate dose, these products can be safe and effective remedies for sleep disturbance. In a small proof-of-concept clinical trial, an extract of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) was shown to help improve restful sleep in patients with chronic pain. Although this study was not performed in patients with a concussion, it does suggest sleep benefits may be obtained when California poppy is taken at bedtime. There have been a few studies evaluating the potential benefits of using alternative therapies (creatine, hydrotherapy (aquatic exercises), Tai chi, zinc, and magnesium) in the management of traumatic brain injury. The clinical trial results of some of these studies lacked statistical significance. In a pilot study, Tai chi was shown to help improve quality of life and mood in patients with traumatic brain injury symptoms. Tai chi appeared to improve overall mood with little effect on quality of life or self-esteem. There is insufficient evidence supporting the use of aquatic exercises in patients with brain injury to enhance health-promoting behavior. Preliminary research suggests an aquatic exercise program increased health-promoting behavior and physical selfdescription compared with vocational rehabilitation (reading and writing skills). None of these studies assessed the benefit on sleep. Further well-designed clinical trials are needed before conclusions can be made regarding any of these potential treatments. Bottom line, you should seek immediate medical attention if you think you or your child may have a concussion. Sleep is an important component of recovery. It is important you discuss any changes in your sleep or sleep habitats with your health care professional. Discuss the use of natural sleep remedies with your health care professional prior to use if you are suffering from any health condition to ensure it is the best option for you and that there are no potential interactions with medication previously prescribed to you. By Guy Chamberland, M.SC., PH.D., MASTER HERBALIST, HEALTH PRODUCT CONSULTANT CONTACT HIM AT GUYCHAMBERLANDMASTERHERBALIST@LIVE.CA.
oasis
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