Problem Solving

Executives often ask me, “Why start something if we’re unsure we can finish it? It just doesn’t make sense.”  Management tends to only begin something when they know it can be completed. If it’s uncertain, they put it on hold—sometimes indefinitely—missing out on what could have been. But what if you simply start with one…

Ever feel tempted to finish an entire bag of potato chips once it’s opened?  I mean, it’s already open, right? And it seems logical to eat them all before they go stale. But we all know it’s healthier to enjoy them in moderation rather than plowing through the whole bag in one go. Unless, of…

We’ve all sat through those project presentations to leadership where the Geeky PM drones on, and not only is everyone bored, they secretly message each other about how to make a quick escape. Over time, I’ve learned to work on five key areas to strengthen when pitching projects to leadership: All of these collectively build…

How do you effectively convey your project’s value to leadership? You know your project is essential. You’ve spent months in the weeds—gathering requirements, aligning stakeholders, prepping for approvals. But here’s the thing: just knowing it’s important isn’t enough. If leadership doesn’t see the value clearly, your project might never get the green light. Many project…

Have you ever stepped inside a massive food warehouse, way larger than Costco?  I have, and it was truly eye-opening. Seamless Warehousing I once took a tour of a Gordon Food Service warehouse in Milton, Ontario, Canada. As one of the largest food distribution companies in North America, they have a fully automated distribution centre.…

Imagine this: you’ve just handed over a complex product to your client, perhaps an app that took months to create, and you’re all set to go straight into implementation.  Everyone is super excited to dive in and start using the product. But wait! Your client needs a little guidance to get started. They may not…

Why do products perform flawlessly internally yet have challenges when deployed to clients?  It’s all about the delivery. Recently, I spoke with a colleague who owns a tech company specializing in digital solutions. They mentioned that when they deploy one of their AI solutions to a large long-standing client for a single department, the process…

I’m a fan of playing pinball.  As a child growing up on a Northern Ontario island in Canada during the summer, there weren’t many pinball machines around, and boredom often inspired creativity. On one rainy day, I decided to make my own pinball machine. I used an old box as the base, curled up wires…

I’ve been into superhero shows lately. Some shows feature great heroes, while others are not so great. When I was younger, I only watched what I remember as good superheroes. I grew up with icons like Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and The Hulk (showing my age here). And for those Marvel fans out there, yes, I…

Recently I chatted with a project management colleague from a large corporation that manufactures children’s toys. It’s the kind of company where the job interview might include creating a digital puppet show on the spot. Despite having a large staff with various specific roles, they mentioned that in the past, the company struggled to accomplish…