the blog: own your how

"Manifestation turns an idea into reality. Until recently, I didn't realize I was practicing this ideology for nearly my entire adult life. I've always treated long term goals like a demographic - name, age, date of birth, etc. - they've been an important part of my identity. But somewhere along the way I had become so focused and determined to achieve what my mind was set on - these goals - I often needed to step back to make sure that what I was working toward was still something that I needed, wanted, or desired. I finally surrendered to my energy, which helped me manifest what the universe had in store...

I gravitate toward energies that are purposeful, driven and offer reciprocity to learn and grow together. It's been a catalyst for my professional career. These working relationships also taught me how to recognize the power of manifestation in helping others that I was journeying with...ambition is contagious... 

There's an excitement, an energy that exists when you're manifesting - you become aware that despite obstacles or setbacks, you will achieve what you're out to do. It may not be exactly how we envision the outcome, but I do believe that the universe can't bring in something until there's room for it to become a part of your life; which also means that this blessing most likely won't be rewarded without a loss or a lesson...

It's easy to attribute our gains and successes to the presence of those who are with us on our journeys at that time; possibly even afraid that what we've achieved will be lost if the people who were with us along the way are no longer there...but I've chosen to believe that our roles in each other's lives is independent of our successes; and if we're journeying together at any time, we have a responsibility to manifest and win together, because the achievements of others is a true privilege to witness and celebrate; and we know that if we achieve something once, we can do it again - wiser, stronger, better - but it may be on a different path, in a different journey, and most likely with different people."

"...Every color captured in the painting represented another person and their experience in building my home. This painting is one of those art pieces that elicits emotions in people who are buying stories and seeking meaning behind more than just visual beauty. The buyers understood this wasn’t just my homebuilding journey; they have an appreciation for the challenges...and how I made every attempt humanly possible to ensure those in this painting felt valued and loved, despite the circumstances. 

I didn’t think I would ever sell it, but it was never meant to stay mine. New experiences are creating new paintings..."

Coming Up!

"...I loved living on Primrose Hill. I wasn't far from work on Great Portland Street, and just minutes away from Regent's Park. I was 17, and in awe of the work experience, watching how seamlessly the team at SDK Ltd. would navigate conversations with international executives from Japan, or Indonesia....just in awe, the sheer energy...

I would create swatch samples with sophisticated cloth from around the world, learning the international clothing trade and export business, and so determined to run my own international business one day....meeting people from around the world and exploring opportunities to work with them? I used to think 'maybe one day'...

When I moved to Calgary, I wanted to own a European row home to remind me of my time on Primrose Hill. La Vita in the Hamptons of Calgary is a stunning little community with European designed townhomes, backing onto a golf course that was blessed with the presence of deer grazing...it took me 2 years of watching the real estate market consistently from 2001 until 2003, just waiting for a home in La Vita to be placed on sale...I was going to jump on the first opportunity to live in La Vita...and I did."

"...It took me 10 roles with 10 different organizations over 20 years, plus umpteenth hours of self-awareness, self-development, and self-reflection - all on top of the training, knowledge and skills I had secured along the way - to finally launch Agilis in 2020 with the confidence to walk my personal brand...

I had over 100 interviews in 20 years - 9 rejections for every 1 secured offer letter - which placed me at a success rate of 10%...this humbled me every time, because in turn, I gave back 110% to the organization who chose me, saw my personal brand, and wanted me to represent their brand identity...how I value this 10% today and the words 'you got the job!' is indescribable..."

Coming up!

"...It was a summer job in 1996, just to pass my time over 8 weeks. I loved the high of commission sales...I broke my 7 hour day down into seconds, eventually creating a rhythm that had me selling a newspaper every two and a half minutes: 

1. memorize three cold-call phone numbers in advance, it's just 21 digits; 

2. pitch for 40 seconds max; 

3. counter if needed for 20 seconds; 

4. sweeten the deal with a discount; 

5. note the demographics; 

6. pocket the commission cheque hanging on my cubicle...every two and a half minutes...

I left The Edmonton Sun after just 2 weeks, my pockets heavy with coin...I didn't understand branding at that time, but I didn't feel my best for selling a product I hadn't ever bought or read...I was using my gift of communication in the wrong way...

It took me 20 years to recognize how powerful a personal brand is when selling an idea, a product, your service...you have to believe in yourself; you need to build and nurture a relationship with people you want to work with or work for...it's the inside game, and when you see it in yourself, others can too. That's when you play fair and feel good about winning."

"...I grew up a block away from Knottwood Road in Edmonton. My Father loved the community of Millwoods, it felt like home-away-from-home for many in that generation at that period of time, who had chosen to make Canada their permanent home. We have all seen and partly experienced the struggles of our parents as we grew up; what made our generation unique and possibly resilient was being caught in two worlds - one to understand and honor our parents' heritage, culture and traditions; and the other to learn how to embrace being Canadian, born and raised...

Those of us born in Canada in the '70's are finding ourselves today in a different way. We're learning to recognize and love who we are, including why it's okay to make decisions to follow a passion that is very different from the cultural norms we still honor..."

Coming up!

"...Law Firms worked around the clock, many running 24 hours post the 2005 Calgary boom...billable hours were dictating the pace of growth, revenue, profit, expansion, mergers, acquisitions...and work/life balance. I was in for the ride - so eager and motivated to learn everything I could about how to sell - and more important, value - my time...

I didn't fully understand back then that it was the relationships we build with others that would be imminent to the success of any business, career, role, and our personal brands...nearly 20 years later, I still struggle to commit to a role, a project, a partnership, or a contract for longer than a year; and not because it's not worthy or unable to offer me immense growth...it's because it is, and it can....what I fear is attachment..."

Coming Up!

"...It's the anticipation that is so rewarding when nearing the completion of a project...almost as rewarding as sealing the deal in the first place - almost. Recognizing and appreciating people that believe in both your vision and ability to deliver an outcome that supports their business, brand or personal growth is a stronger pull for me to want to work with someone, over the solution that I know I can deliver for them...I hope I always place the relationship and growth ahead of the outcome...

It's easy to become focused on the contract, the signature, sealing the deal...it should, it's exhilarating and a huge professional opportunity. I have spent some of my happiest professional moments re-reading the work I have completed for my clients...but not without making sure that I'm still valuing the time spent, what I've learned about them as individuals, and why I would choose to want to be a part of their lives longer-term, and vice versa...deal or no deal..."

Coming Up!

"...My father’s childhood home in Punjab was not easy for him to move away from. But, like many brave migrants to Canada back in the ‘70’s, he was pursuing a dream. He tried every role he was approached for over 50 years, despite the pain associated with the setbacks that weren’t due to any fault of his own. 

As a nation, we may have come a long way in eliminating barriers for visible minorities, but we can’t lose focus on the fact that healing is still occurring for the generation(s) that experienced the pain of discrimination."

Coming Up!

 "Working from home was an unlisted perk in an employment contract pre-pandemic - an anomaly, actually, for most corporate employees on the payroll... 

We all love a fancy corner office, with paid underground parking in a sophisticated 50+ story downtown building. But, maybe not so much the 12 hour work day...

The pandemic gifted me a new concept of office space - Stoney Trail, Stoneypointe, all led me to a virtual world of work that helped me measure success in a completely different way...thank you 'Stoney'".

Coming Up!

 "Merge? I couldn’t do it for years. I had memorized every route across Calgary that could bypass Deerfoot and Stoney, just to get me to my destination without the need to merge...until “Stoney” taught me it was just a fear with no solid foundation. The right (but tough) decisions cleared my path. 

It’s impossible to drive without knowing how to navigate your vehicle into the flow of traffic...

…similar to learning how to navigate your personal brand into the flow of life, and how it’s a driver to building meaningful connections."

Coming Up!

"The Agilis triangle is figurative. It represents how we work in 3’s: the completeness of how projects are Created, Executed, and eventually Celebrated. 

This geometric design allows for one complete triangle in the middle to represent our core purpose, meeting each of its points to highlight completion. The exterior 3 triangles, however, are positioned with gaps to create parallel paths between the triangles; with the symbolic intent to never meet or cross perpendicularly, like a

traditional triangle should.

Instead, these triangles represent 3 roads with no obstacles to block the limitless possibilities that are within our reach to achieve; all eventually meant to fulfill the main core purpose of the triangle in the middle."

Coming Up!

"Organizational guidelines, rules, regulations, structures, etc. are important and should be respected. Memos were a common workplace practice to guide employees through new processes and ideas (but a very poor attempt at buy-in!). 

I kept missing the memo, both by accident and by choice. I guess I was 1000% confident the outcome of my efforts would make a difference in some way - for the company, its people, or a lesson learned for myself. 

Everyone should miss the memo once or twice in their careers, and then own the responsibility for it. You won't always win in the way you want, but if you do, that celebration is so worth it. 

And, if your idea doesn't work, then be humble enough to share why it didn't, what you learned, and your plan to make it successful the next time; because organizations (whether they’ll admit it or not) want risk- takers who are willing to create their own rules to go against the grain...

...someone needs to try what everyone else is thinking."

Coming Up!