Celebrating 36 Years Of A Tremendous Journey!

 

Celebrating 36 years in the IT industry and what a tremendous journey so far!

We need to stop and celebrate the moments by sharing our positive news with each other.  This week marks 36  years since my professional career started right after graduating from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Commerce degree!  

Join me in smothering the Internet with positive news, accomplishments and milestones.  Share your celebrations with the world as we enjoy each others’ successes. 

Extremely grateful for everyone along this journey.  Humbled to be called “The Connector” and expert on the subject matter for cybersecurity and entrepreneurship.  The recognition, awards, accolades, podcast appearances, guest presenter, media appearances on so many different platforms to help others enriches me to continue to grow.  I see how important it is for all of us to truly care and help one another.

Thanks To My Beautiful Family

I would like to thank so many terrific people who have supported and helped me along this awesome journey!  Thanks to the lovely Carmela for her love, support and always being here for me.  To Haley & Brandon and Syd & Michael for their love and for keeping things in perspective on what's important along the way.  To my mom, dad, who was so proud of me and miss him dearly, my in-laws, all the extended family and friends for all your love and support, thank you.

Some Highlights And Milestones

Here are some highlights to share with you of a wonderful journey.

My first day was April 25th, 1988 at Computerway, a subsidiary of Epson Canada.  The manager provided a quick overview of the two main computers; the 286 or AT and the 8088 or XT..... and that's how it all started by learning specifications, talking to first-time buyers and answering their questions.  Not many options to choose from except monochrome screens available with green, white and the latest with amber text.

Around 1994 the Internet was starting to catch on and e-mail was being used first internally and then to the world.  The wealth of information on the 'Net was incredible for all of us "early adopters" and it was always interesting to see what most people were looking for.  (Hint: it was non-business related).

Joined CCD for 5 years from 1991 to 1996 as corporate sales.   It was exciting to see a small company grow over the years.   Spent most of the time "pounding the pavement", getting a lot of no's and doors slammed.   The consistency and perseverance paid off in the long run.  Incidentally, in October 2014 we purchased CCD and it sure brought back memories of that period.

Retirement - what was I thinking?

The Retirement - lasted for 6 weeks in early 1996.  For some reason, it felt right at that time for a career change.  I laugh back when I think about this.  It truly was a defining moment to shape my future.  I was so glad when Shawn called asking me to consider joining AlphaKOR.  It was a very easy decision to make since Ali, Mazen and Shawn provide the best service second to none.  I was asked to sell the "sizzle" and they always delivered the "steak".

We were well ahead of the curve in our discussions about websites in 1996 and Y2K in 1997.  Most businesses were not ready for either conversation.  The early website discussion was about having your company domain name and adding an e-mail address under your fax number.  (For the younger readers you can Google "fax machines").

Moving in the fall of 2008 on the eve of very tough economic times was a bit scary.  As most companies scaled back, they leaned heavier on us for support.  Our team more than doubled in the six years while at our Mercer location and we had to take on a second location as we were busting at the seams.

In the Fall of 2014, we challenged ourselves with purchasing our current location at Twin Oaks, buying CCD and undertaking major renovations to fit our needs.  One of my favourite days was June 18, 2015, for our Open House with Mayor Dilkens, Chamber President Matt Marchand and WEtech President Yvonne Pilon who took part in the Opening Ceremonies before we cut the "ribbon" to open our 12 000 sq. ft. two-acre location!

As we have evolved from humble beginnings in a 600 sq. ft. retail space to where we are today, we truly have to thank The AlphaKORians, for all they do.  Your gift of the tree:   "4 Partners planted in the community" is very special as it continues to grow at Dieppe Gardens.  My Partners, Ali, Mazen and Shawn working together, pursuing our dreams and aspirations are the amazing guys behind the scenes.   Thanks, guys for believing in me so I can do what I love best and tell our story!  Thanks to Charlene, Maha and Lori for all your support and for being here for us.

4 Partners Planted In The Community

In 2014, AlphaKOR was named Tech Company of the Year at the WEtech Tech Awards.  We keep growing and keep leading in Technology with Cybersecurity being a hot topic everyone needs to deal with and have a strategic plan in place.  It is exciting every day to be part of an awesome Team and to help so many both for their business and to give back to the community.

And Now We are 5 Partners 

Today we are 5 Partners and recently announced Liqaa as our CEO.  AlphaKOR celebrated 29 years of successful growth earlier this year!

I enjoy every day as the President and love sharing our story.  Connecting with familiar and new like-minded people is rewarding as we learn from each other.  Presenting to audiences virtually or in person are the highlights of this role. 

Supporting Our Community

I truly enjoy being involved in a number of organizations and have found it very enriching. Being part of Build A Dream, St. Clair College, The Giving Eight, University of Windsor, WEST, WEtech, WECYAC, WindsorEssex Chamber to name a few.  Being a mentor is one of my favourite roles working with entrepreneurs pursuing their passion.  

Building our own networking groups, the WindsorEssex Circle with my co-host Joe Di Giorgio which ram from 2009 until 2020.  My current pet project is the networking group called Wednesday Wisdom.  This group began January 2021 as a weekly virtual group and evolved into a monthly in-person group.  Thanks to everyone who shared and helped with the challenges of the "new norm".

Throughout the years with my volunteer hat, I have met so many wonderful and inspiring leaders, entrepreneurs and many caring people.   You have enriched my life, taught me how we can make a difference by caring and giving back.

Humbled & Grateful

It is an honour and humbling when the media and the community recognize our commitment and dedication to service.  It is overwhelming when a news story hits and the media calls to interview you as the expert on the subject matter.

I recall going to CBC studios for a news segment on Security Breaches the day the CRA story hit.  My Dad called me and told me what a great story it was to hear me talk about the issue. I asked if he understood the interview and he replied "No, but boy you and the reporter talked a lot and did a good job".   Thanks, Dad, my first mentor who taught us how to take care of people at our roadside fruit stand.   Who knew my sales career actually started in 1971!

We have been blessed with many accolades and awards.   We always remember where we came from, how we arrived here and everyone who helped along the way, thank you.

Fun Moments

Three of my favourites are Entrepreneur of the Year, Chamber BEA 2012, Tech Mentor of the Year, WEtech 2017 and Mid-Size Company of the Year, Chamber BEA 2014.  By the way, I dedicated the Tech Mentor award to the AlphaKORians' who have inspired me to share their stories and all the great stuff they do.

Volunteering and giving back to the community by sitting on Boards, and being a mentor helping others has been self-rewarding.   Never be afraid to get out of your comfort zone!

The AlphaKORians' Rock!

Special thanks to the AlphaKORians, our loyal clients, associates, friends and families, for being a part of our success.  I am truly blessed for leading such an awesome team.  The AlphaKORians' do rock and have been here taking care of everything all the time. 

Enjoying every day sharing our story as your President for 29 years and counting.  Cheers to many more!

THANK-YOU!

Enjoying The Holidays

As the year winds down, it’s time to thank everyone for being a part of my journey with a year of overcoming new challenges, helping others, and continued growth personally and professionally.      

IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

Every year just keeps on getting better.  In reflecting on all the good things and the challenges we had, it is exciting to see how we continue to grow and move forward in a positive and successful direction.  There are many great people to thank, including my business partners; Ali, Liqaa, Mazen, and Shawn, our spouses, who are always there for us, the incredible AlphaKORians’ and our clients (the extended team).

Thanks to our families, friends, and associates who play a role in our successes.  I thank each and every one of you, thank you!

BALANCING WORK AND THE HOLIDAYS

How do you balance work and the holidays?

This year, the month of December is filled with holiday company events, customer appreciation events, holiday networking events, friends and family holiday events, and many other gatherings.  How many events can you attend and how many do you want to attend?

We had our company holiday dinner after three years and it was enjoyed by all who attended.  It is wonderful to continue this annual tradition of enjoying the AlphaKORians and significant others in a social setting having dinner and good conversations.

Finding the right balance between work and holiday commitments can be challenging.  When clients and suppliers invite you to their appreciation events, it is important to make the effort to attend.  Don’t forget to wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

UNPLUGGING WITH THE FAMILY

Looking forward to this Holiday Season with some time off to enjoy unplugging for a bit while making time for the family.  We seem to forget this as we get swept away by all the activities and invitations.  Our annual tradition is to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family.  My sister is hosting this year.  Everyone brings a dish, so no one has to prepare it all.   

Christmas Day is spent with Carmela’s side of the family.   Another big meal and too many sweets and desserts and of course espresso.  It is always a wonderful time and we enjoy playing cards after the big meal in between naps.  

Happy balancing during the Holiday Season!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

To everyone who supported Wednesday Wisdom virtually and in person, we will continue this monthly event to connect and network with others next year.  Thank you for following the Building Circles blog and appreciated all your comments, feedback and support over the years.

Looking forward to seeing many of you soon and in the New Year!  Thank you, everyone, have a great holiday, and all the best in the new year.  Merry Christmas and enjoy the moment.  Be responsible and take care of your loved ones to ensure everyone gets home safely. Enjoy your holidays and all the best in 2023!

(Originally published on 12.14.22)

The Importance Of Contributing To Your Community

As the year winds down and we head into the holidays, I like to reflect on the things that made the year special. From our partners to our clients and community partners, the AlphaKORians' take pride in contributing to our local community.

In this post, I will be discussing the importance of contributing to community by establishing meaningful connections, as well as sharing how AlphaKOR is involved in the Windsor-Essex community.

Establishing Meaningful Connections

From our humble beginnings, AlphaKOR was founded in Windsor, ON, and grew to be the company it is today. For over 27 years, AlphaKOR has proudly been providing business technology solutions to businesses in the Windsor-Essex area and beyond.

Building meaningful connections in the community with Academia and many Non-Profit organizations, AlphaKOR supports and gives back to be a Community Partner.  Volunteering, sitting on boards/committees, and supporting and participating in community events are some of the ways we have made these connections.

This year, Wednesday Wisdom met monthly to foster new connections, reconnect with established ones, and created a network community to help each other, both professionally and personally.

Giving Back to the Windsor-Essex Community

AlphaKOR is built upon four core values that perfectly define everything we stand for: integrity, excellence, teamwork, and client focus. These values have grown to define the AlphaKORian culture, whether in-house, in the community, or on-site, this is what to expect from each other.

Beyond the call of duty, our incredible team bands together to support local causes, our community, and our education system. Each year, the AlphaKORians’ give back to the community through several causes and fundraising events.   It is important for those who can give back, especially at this time of year.

Over the years, AlphaKOR has proudly given back to the Windsor-Essex community by donating to various causes and participating in a variety of charitable events. During the holiday seasons, we have supported The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County with the help of our long-term client, John Martel. Additionally, we have supported The Windsor Youth Centre, a program of The United Church Downtown Mission of Windsor Inc., with a holiday food and care drive organized by The AlphaKORians, in addition to other local charitable causes.

Keep Giving Back

This year, AlphaKOR will be supporting The Windsor Youth Centre with an in-house HUGS drive.  The AlphaKORians are encouraged to give back to the WindsorEssex youth by donating clothing, hygiene products, winter gear, gift cards, snacks, and more essential items. We also invite any drop-in clients of ours to contribute to the HUGS drive as 100% of contributions will be donated.

There are other ways to contribute to the Community and I would like to circle back to Wednesday Wisdom.  In the Fall of 2020, many were asking how and where networking could take place during the pandemic.  January 2021 Wednesday Wisdom began as a weekly virtual networking group to bring professionals in the Community together.  This evolved into a monthly in-person networking group and peaked at 85 attendees last month!  This has helped many in our Community connect with others, create jobs, and create business opportunities, and the best part it has created relationships and friendships during this challenging time.

Fostering Growth in Windsor-Essex

As a technology leader in the Windsor-Essex community, it is important for us to contribute and give back to our community.  We like to lead by example for others to follow and give back when and where they can.  This year has been special as we continue to move forward together with a hybrid business model and more venues opening up to in-person interactions while continuing virtual interactions to help continue growing our Community.  We are excited about the new investments and opportunities as we wind down this year and welcome these in 2023.

What are you doing as a leader to contribute to Windsor-Essex Community?

(Originally published on 11.30.22)

Sales Builds Character, Character Nurtures Sales

 As a leader, having a charismatic personality attracts people to listen to what you have to offer. In this week's Optimize Yourself podcast, I am invited by podcast host Moutasem Seifi to discuss my journey to becoming a successful seller.

In this episode, I share my educational background, learning experiences that helped me in my career, and challenges that I have faced in the world of business.

With Seifi, I dive into my beginnings in computer Sales before the internet existed. In this role, doing my homework and building genuine relationships with customers were very important. Taking in everything I learned helped pave the way to building a successful career today as President and CEO of AlphaKOR.

Watch the full episode:

[embed]https://youtu.be/Jxai5VgdTiE[/embed]

What do you do to be a successful seller? Share your insight and tips in the comments below!

(Originally published on 11.23.22)

Building Relationships

 

HOW ARE YOU BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS?

Communication is always an important key to successful relationships. How often do you communicate to ensure it is often enough and not too often?

Understanding each relationship and treating everyone as individuals instead of grouping them helps balance the right amount of communication.  All of us have a threshold of how often we want to be contacted and when you understand this you will see positive results.

THOSE LITTLE THINGS

What about the little things?  Most relationships are challenged due to the little things.  On one hand, these little things do not seem to matter. On the other hand, they make all the difference.

What little things do you do to maintain the relationship to set you apart from the rest?

We take pride in dropping off products to our clients. Most of the time it leads to a good discussion and an opportunity. This little thing strengthens and provides value to the relationship.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

What do you know about the other person such as their favourite sports team, hobbies, and interests?  What do you have in common?   Make a personal connection that is real and genuine.

When following up, ask about their non-business involvement.   If their favourite team won a game recently, know about it and mention it or ask about the golf tournament they entered over the weekend.  Wish them a happy birthday or happy anniversary and better yet, mail them a card instead of e-mail or text.

CONSISTENT AND PROACTIVE

Make your communications consistent and be proactive. The conversation is about building the relationship first and adding the business dialogue afterwards resulting in a well-rounded relationship.  Sell after the relationship is built.

This is where the rule of the three keys to success sets in: follow-up, follow-up and follow-up.  As a leader, I cannot stress this enough:  be consistent and proactive in all your relationships.  By following this rule, watch your relationships grow stronger   When someone reaches out for an update, you have not followed this rule effectively.  Listen to what they are asking and adjust your communication to strengthen this relationship.

OVERCOME CHALLENGES

When there are challenges, it is very rewarding for one party to contact the other and share their concern. Working together on a challenge is the ultimate sign of a successful relationship. You actually do not have to agree; however, you both have to accept each other’s facts and move forward together.

Saying thank you and showing your appreciation is another way to maintain relationships.

How are you building your relationships?

(Originally published on 11.16.22)

Accomplishing Great Things

One of my life long motivators to accomplish great things is the fear of failure.  Sometimes we do fail and at other times we need to fail so we can learn from it.  This helps leaders keep focused on being successful.  To accomplish these great things, we are positive and we are energetic.

Being Optimistic

What really moves me about this fear is the ability to think positive, to be optimistic and  focus on achieving the goals at hand.  This is not blind optimism.   You have to be reasonable when you are setting that bar high to ensure it is within reach.

Being optimistic is not just smiling and pretending all is wonderful and good.   It is your passion and your positive vibe you bring every time.  When you channel your energy  to move forward in a positive and confident way to overcome the obstacles along the way is being optimistic.  Navigate your way against all the negative chatter and turn the conversation in a positive direction.  I call this "smother them with positive news!"

Create Your Own Destiny

The result of this motivation?

When we focus on being successful, we can create our own destiny.  It is easy to get frustrated when we hear all the "nay-sayers" around us.  Focusing our energy onto the positive side will help you stay on your path of success.  The person you see in the mirror is the only one you can hold accountable!

This destiny leads to achieving great things.  The positive feedback, the difference one can make and the feeling of successfully accomplishing something great are the motivation drivers to keep yourself going.

Accomplishing Great Things

What do you want to accomplish to make a difference?  We are facing this challenging time together by helping everyone we can along our journey.  The AlphaKORians' are dedicated and focused into helping and playing a role for so many to accomplish great things.  We thank them for all they do!

Take time to reflect on your successes and where you want to go from here.   Set some big goals and some smaller goals.   Take them one at a time.  Make plans to successfully achieve them.  Keep leading your team with direction, support and positive recognition.    They will make you a better leader.   Being a better leader results in accomplishing more great things as you continue to grow.

Share your story on the great things you are accomplishing.

(Originally published on 11.09.22)

How To Spot Phishing: The Seven Red Flags

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM). The goal of CSAM is to help Canadians stay cyber-safe by equipping them with knowledge through the following four themes:

• Week 1: You Got Phished
• Week 2: Where, Why and How It Happens
• Week 3: Prevention
• Week 4: Putting It All Together

For the final week of CSAM we're focusing on the theme, “Putting It All Together”. This week, we're discussing how to spot the 7 red flags of phishing, cybersecurity tips for older adults and children, and how to equip colleagues with knowledge of phishing.

The 7 Red Flags of Phishing

Phishing is a common method that hackers will use to steal valuable information from individuals and organizations. Phishing scams are often disguised as messages from people and organizations that you trust, making them easier to fall victim to.

The most important way to avoid a phishing scam is to learn how to recognize one. Here are seven red flags to look out for:

1. Urgent or threatening language: Look out for threats of closing your account or taking legal action, and pressure to respond or act on something quickly.
2. Requests for sensitive information: Be on alert for links directing you to login pages, requests to update your credentials, and demands for your or your company’s financial information.
3. Anything too good to be true: Avoid actions on messages that claim winnings from contests you’ve never entered, prizes you must pay to receive, and inheritance from long-lost relatives.
4. Unexpected emails: Disregard emails such as receipts for items you’ve never purchased and updates on deliveries for things you didn’t order.
5. Information mismatches: Look out for incorrect (but maybe similar) sender email addresses, links that don’t go to official websites, and errors in spelling or grammar that a legitimate organization wouldn’t miss.
6. Suspicious attachments: Avoid attachments that you didn’t ask for that have weird file names or uncommon file types.
7. Unprofessional design: Be on alert for incorrect or blurry company logos, image-only emails, and company emails with little, poor, or no formatting.

If you encounter any of these red flags in an email or message, do not interact with it. Rather, delete the email or message. If you are unsure, ask the sender about the message through a different channel.

Cybersecurity Tips for Older Adults and Children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ9ZNShXbC0

Learning how to be cyber safe can seem like an overwhelming task. For older adults and children, there is a lot to learn about practicing safe online behaviour, as well as ensuring your devices are protected from cyber threats. The best way to prevent falling victim to a cyber-attack, such as phishing, is to know how to recognize and prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

Our devices do a great job of making our lives more convenient! For example, older adults can turn to their computers and tablets to chat with their family and friends, and kids can turn to their smart speaker and ask for homework help (“Hey Google, what is 2 x 2?”), learn about any topic of their choosing, play music, and more! But, just like other internet-connected devices, smart devices can give potential cybercriminals access to our information.

If you encounter any of the seven red flags of phishing in an email, phone call, or text message (aka smishing), do not interact with it. Delete the email or text, do not answer the call (or hang up), and if relevant report it. Phishing attempts are becoming more sophisticated, so if you are unsure ask the “sender” about the message through a different channel.

For example, if your child receives an email from their teacher asking them to send them personal information- it is likely a phishing attempt as teachers, or the school would reach out to the parent. In this case, you or your child can ask their teacher directly in their next online or in-person class to confirm if the request was legitimate or not.

Older adults must also be on the lookout for the red flags of phishing as they can become a target of cybercrime such as romance scams, tech support scams, and even grandchild scams. Some actionable steps that both older adults and parents of young children can take to practice cyber safety include:

• Teach children about cyber safety
• Think twice before you share any personal information online
• Always verify requests with a trusted source
• Use anti-virus and malware protection
• Backup your data
• Only visit trusted websites and do not click on unknown links or attachments
• Protect your accounts with MFA
• Use complex passphrases and passwords

For more tips about how older adults can stay safe online, check out this article by Get Cyber Safe.

How To Equip Colleagues with Knowledge Of Phishing

Whether you’re working at the office or remotely, cyber security practices should be taken seriously. Businesses of every size can be a target of cyber crimes such as ransomware, phishing, and malware. While not completely unavoidable, proactive measures should be taken to avoid cybercrime and protect your business networks.

Cyber security is a team effort that requires action from both management and employees. The best way to equip your team to prevent becoming a victim of cybercrime is to learn how to recognize and prevent it! Here is what you can do to ensure your team is prepared to avoid common cyber crimes, such as phishing:

• Implement Email Best Practices: Combat the inevitability of cybersecurity breach attempts through email by communicating best practices with your employees. Practices such as: separating internal and external emails, prohibition of all unknown email link clicks and keeping an updated SPAM filter.
• Educate Your Team: Ensure that your team understands what is at stake with a business’s cybersecurity. Highlight case studies to show your team how poor cyber habits cost other businesses and share examples of what an attempted cyberattack looks like. Learn the seven red flags of phishing, and always be on alert.
• Implement Information Regulations: Create strict rules on when it is appropriate for an employee to give out personal, sensitive or business-related information through any form of electronic communication or online medium.
• Implement Browser Best Practices: Combat the inevitability of cybersecurity breach attempts through online websites by communicating browser best practices with your employees. Practices such as firewall implementation, browser monitoring/usage limitations and education on online safety features (such as SSL).
• Implement Personal Account Regulations: Create regulations surrounding what personal accounts employees can and cannot access on the business network (such as personal banking and email accounts).

Your colleagues are your first line of defence against common cyber attacks, including phishing and ransomware. Did you know that AlphaKOR offers Cyber and Phishing User Training services? These services include dedicated training and educational materials to educate your employees about cybersecurity risks. Click here to learn more.

Your Cyber Security Partner

As Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to an end, be sure to extend what you have learned this past month into your everyday cyber habits! For more tips cyber security awareness tips, be sure to check out all of our CSAM blogs.

For all your cyber security needs, be sure to reach out to our security experts at AlphaKOR! Use the orange chat button on the bottom right of your screen or visit our Contact page to send us a message.

(Originally published on 10.26.22)4

CSAM Week 3: 5 Tips To Prevent Cybercrime

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM). The goal of CSAM is to help Canadians stay cyber-safe by equipping them with knowledge through the following four themes:

• Week 1: You Got Phished
• Week 2: Where, Why and How It Happens
• Week 3: Prevention
• Week 4: Putting It All Together

This week’s theme, “Prevention” focuses on 5 actionable steps to prevent becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Tip #1: Use Strong and Unique Passphrases and Passwords

Did you know that at least 65% of people reuse the same passwords across multiple sites? Although this makes remembering your credentials easier to do, this also makes your accounts vulnerable to cyberattacks.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeUFL3GTFT0[/embed]

By creating complex passphrases and unique passwords for each site you use, you instantly tighten up your security, making your accounts less attractive to hackers. Some best practices for creating complex passphrases include:

• Avoiding family, pet, company, and familiar names that can be easily guessed by others
• Using unique combinations of letters, numbers, symbols, and cases for each site you use
• Creating passwords with at least 4 words and 15 characters long

Tip #2: Use A Password Manager

Our passwords protect the things that are important to us, such as our financial information, our social media accounts, and more. But with all the platforms and websites we actively use, it can be difficult to keep track of unique and complex passwords for each platform.

Password managers such as Google Password Manager and LastPass can help you create complex passphrases and store them so that you never forget a password again.

Tip #3: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an added layer of security that is catered to you so that only you can access your accounts and private information. This dual layer of security is simple to implement and consists of two or more independent credentials to verify you are who you claim to be. Three of the most common credentials consist of what the user knows (password), what the user has (security token) and what the user is (biometric verification).

Some common forms of MFA include:

• Fingerprint scanners
• Voice verification
• Facial recognition
• Security questions
• PIN numbers
• SMS authentication
• App-based authenticators
• Hardware tokens

Implementing MFA is an excellent way to add an extra security layer to your system. Did you know that by adding something as simple as MFA to your accounts, you can protect yourself from 100% of automated bots, 96% of phishing attacks, and 76% of targeted attacks?

In short, MFA works to prevent malicious activity on your network, keeping your sensitive data safe and secure. We suggest you allow MFA everywhere it can be used and if you don’t have the capabilities perhaps it’s time to invest in a little extra digital security.

Tip #4: Regularly Backing Up Your Important Data

Your important data is important! Be sure to keep it safe on your devices so that it does not get lost, corrupted, or fall into the wrong hands. One of the best ways to keep your data safe is to regularly back up your important data.

There are many benefits to taking the time to back up your data, including:

• Ensuring you always have a backup in case of a disaster such as a cyberattack or breaking your device
• Freeing up storage space on your device
• Protecting your special moments from accidental corruption

Backing up files is easy to do! You can back up your data physically and/or digitally. To back up your files physically, you’ll need an external device such as a USB stick or an external hard drive. Once your files are backed up physically, you’ll want to ensure that you keep your external device stored in a safe location.

To back up your data digitally, you can use a reputable online cloud server. There are many great options to choose from! Some online cloud servers offer free storage up until a certain amount, while others have subscription fees.

Whether you decide to back up physically or digitally, choose what works best for you.

Tip #5: Protecting Your Small Business Against Phishing Attacks

No business is too small to become a victim of a phishing attack. In fact, more than half of email scams and phishing attempts target small businesses.

Phishing is a common method that hackers will use to steal valuable information from both individuals and organizations. Phishing scams are often disguised as messages from people and organizations that you trust, making them easier to fall victim to.

It’s important for small businesses to take steps to protect their private and important information. The following are simple tips for small businesses to follow:

• Only visit legitimate and trusted websites while working from a business computer or device used for business operations
• Verify that you are only providing personal and business information to trusted sources
• Always question why your personal information is required when asked for it
• Do not remove or disable any security safeguards on your business network and devices such as anti-virus software

For more information about securing your small or medium-sized business, check out this guide from Get Cyber Safe.

Stay Cyber Safe

Whether it’s Cyber Security Awareness Month or any other day, always keep cybersecurity practices in mind to keep your cyber safe. For more information about CSAM, tune into our weekly CSAM articles for the month of October.

For all your cybersecurity needs, contact our security experts at AlphaKOR today!

(Originally published on 10.19.22)

Phishing: Where, Why And How It Happens

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM). The goal of CSAM is to help Canadians stay cyber-safe by equipping them with knowledge through the following four themes:

• Week 1: You Got Phished
• Week 2: Where, Why and How It Happens
• Week 3: Prevention
• Week 4: Putting It All Together

This week’s theme, “Where, Why and How It Happens”, focuses on what phishing is, where it happens, the motivation behind cyber threats and how it works.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a common method that hackers will use to steal valuable information from individuals and organizations. Phishing scams are often disguised as messages from people and organizations that you trust, making them easier to fall victim to.

What are the different types of phishing?

Phishing can take on many different forms, as well as come from a variety of mediums including email, phone, online shopping, gaming, social media, and direct messages. The following is a quick overview of the most common types of phishing campaigns that cybercriminals use to steal your information.

Smishing

Smishing is a phishing attempt that occurs through text message (SMS) and involves a cybercriminal impersonating someone to steal information from you. In many cases, smishing messages contain a link they are trying to get you to click on.

To protect yourself against smishing attacks, always be cautious about the messages you receive from people you do not recognize. If you are unsure, try to verify the information and confirm if the identity they are taking on is legitimate. For example, if you receive a message claiming to be your school, call your school using the contact information available on their official website and verify whether the request is real or smishing.

Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a message that is tailored to the target's potential line of work, interests, and/or personal characteristics. To do this, cybercriminals conduct research about their victims and use their findings to make their messages seem authentic. They then send these spear phishing attempts disguised as a credible source, with the subject being something relevant to their victims in hopes to increase the success rate of their attempts. When successful, victims hand over their personal information, such as a credit card number, to the cybercriminal.

Whaling

Whaling attacks are sophisticated messages that target high-profile victims who have the authority to issue large payments. Whaling attempts are designed to trick these victims into thinking they must make a payment to another organization, but in reality, the payment is directed to the pockets of the cybercriminal.

Phishing Trends

Now that you know the various types of phishing, it’s important to be aware of phishing trends so that you can spot any potential attempts.

Banking Scams

Cybercriminals will pose as your financial institution and send urgent, or too good to be true messages in hopes of their victims taking action. If you receive a phone call, email, or message that asks you to claim the money in exchange for verifying your credit card number or asking you to pay for outstanding banking fees, be wary and do not give over your information. Always verify with your banking institution by visiting in person, or calling the phone number listed on their official website to verify if the request is legitimate.

Romance Scams

There is plenty of phish in the sea! Looking for companionship online has been made easy with the help of dating websites and apps, but sometimes profiles are too good to be true. Romance scams happen often when a cybercriminal creates a fake profile with the goal of taking advantage of someone looking for romance.

To avoid becoming a victim of a romance scam, always be cautious about what information you share on dating websites and apps. Never give your personal information such as your SIN number, banking information, or even the answers to security questions such as your mother’s maiden name.

Event-Based Scams

Event-based scams happen when cyber criminals take advantage of events, such as a concert or sports games, to steal information and money from their victims. When it comes to phishing, cyber criminals will typically send out messages posing as event organizers and include a link. When the link is clicked, you are likely to be prompted to enter sensitive data such as a credit card number or credentials to your financial institution.

Spoofing is a tactic that is often used with event-based scams, which is when a cybercriminal will create a fake look-alike website or app to trick users into making fake purchases. Be sure to guard your personal information and always verify that the websites you are using to purchase event tickets are legitimate.

Malware and Ransomware

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Malware is one of the most common ways people experience a cyber attack. Did you know that 2 in 5 Canadians have had malware on their computer? Malware is software that is specifically designed to interfere with, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. If your device is infected, it can cause freezing and crashing, poor performance, unwanted pop-ups, and toolbars, and even send out unwanted emails.

Malware presents itself in many forms, including viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware and adware, and ransomware.

With a ransomware attack, access to your computer or electronic device is blocked until a ransom is paid to the cybercriminal. These common forms of malware are sometimes difficult to recognize. The following best practices can help you protect your computer system against malware:

• Install and use anti-virus software
• Avoid suspicious links and email attachments
• Download only from trusted sources
• Use a VPN on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi

Beware of Social Engineering

A social engineering attack is when a web user is tricked into doing something dangerous online. There are various types of social engineering attacks, with a prominent form of it being phishing.  Always think twice before you share your information online and take actionable steps to protect your devices against phishing, malware, and ransomware.

Stay Cyber Safe

Whether it’s Cyber Security Awareness Month or any other day, always keep cybersecurity practices in mind to keep your cyber safe. For more information about CSAM, tune into our weekly CSAM articles for the month of October.

(Originally published on 10.12.22)

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: You Got Phished

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM). The goal of CSAM is to help Canadians stay cyber safe by equipping them with knowledge through the following four themes:

• Week 1: You Got Phished
• Week 2: Where, Why and How It Happens
• Week 3: Prevention
• Week 4: Putting It All Together

This week’s theme, “You Got Phished”, focuses on actionable steps to take to recover from a phishing attack.

Before we get started, it’s important to understand what Phishing is. Phishing is a common method that hackers will use to steal valuable information from individuals and organizations. Phishing scams are often disguised as messages from people and organizations that you trust, making them easier to fall victim to.

How to tell if you have been phished or hacked

The most evident sign that you have been phished or hacked is when you notice changes to your accounts. This might look like not being able to access your email accounts, noticing suspicious charges to your bank or credit card accounts, or even receiving notifications on social media from friends alerting you that your accounts have been compromised.

Before you notice these clear signs of unusual behaviour, there may also be notifications from your accounts alerting you of changes. For example, if a malicious actor is attempting to sign into your email account, you may receive notifications asking you to confirm that “you” are trying to sign in from a certain location. In some cases, these alerts may also come after a successful sign-in attempt from a malicious actor. Banks may also block purchases from being made on your card until you confirm whether the transaction is coming from you.

To help keep you safe from phishing, we’re sharing 4 easy tips, as well as what to do if you have been phished.

Tip #1: Change passwords and upgrade passwords to passphrases

Did you know that at least 65% of people reuse the same passwords across multiple sites? Although this makes remembering your credentials easier to do, this also makes your accounts vulnerable to cyberattacks.

By creating complex passphrases and unique passwords for each site you use, you instantly tighten up your security, making your accounts less attractive to hackers. Password managers such as Google Password Manager and LastPass can easily help you create complex passphrases and store them so that you never forget a password again.

Some best practices for creating complex passphrases include:

• Avoiding family, pet, company, and familiar names that can be easily guessed by others
• Using unique combinations of letters, numbers, symbols, and cases for each site you use
• Creating passwords with at least 4 words and 15 characters long

To learn more about creating strong passwords, check out our 12 Passwords Best Practices post.

Tip #2: Enable anti-Malware and anti-virus software

Malware is one of the most common ways people experience a cyberattack. Did you know that 2 in 5 Canadians have had malware on their computer? Malware is software that is specifically designed to interfere with, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. If your device is infected, it can cause freezing and crashing, poor performance, unwanted pop-ups, and toolbars, and even send out unwanted emails.

Malware presents itself in many forms, including viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware and adware, and ransomware. These common forms of malware are sometimes difficult to recognize. The following best practices can help you protect your computer system against malware:

• Install and use anti-virus software
• Avoid suspicious links and email attachments
• Download only from trusted sources
• Use a VPN on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi

Tip #3: Enable automatic software updates

Updating your programs and operating systems regularly ensures that you are benefiting from the latest security patches and bug fixes, making it harder for cybercriminals to exploit your data with malware. Keep your systems, programs, and applications updated. Most programs and operating systems do a great job at reminding their users when an update is available. Enabling automatic updates on your devices will help ensure that you don’t miss an update!

Tip #4: Back up your data

Backing up files is easy to do! You can back up your data physically and/or digitally. To back up your files physically, you’ll need an external device such as a USB stick or an external hard drive. Once your files are backed up physically, you’ll want to ensure that you keep your external device stored in a safe location.

To back up your data digitally, you can use a reputable online cloud server. There are many great options to choose from! Some online cloud servers offer free storage up to a certain amount, while others have subscription fees.

Whether you decide to back up physically or digitally, choose what works best for you.

Keep Others Safe and Report The Scam

If you have been targeted by a phishing scam in Canada, you can help keep others safe by reporting the scam. You can report the scam by contacting:

• Your local police: file a report about the phishing scam or fraud. Remember to get a report number for your reference.
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: provides assistance to law enforcement agencies by identifying the connections between fraud cases
• Regulatory bodies: if the scam involves someone from a regulated profession, regulatory bodies may have the ability to take disciplinary action to prevent further incidents.

To read more tips on what you should do if you have been scammed, check out this article.

Stay Cyber Safe

Whether it’s Cyber Security Awareness Month or any other day, always keep cybersecurity practices in mind to keep your cyber safe. For more information about CSAM, tune into our weekly CSAM articles for the month of October.

(Originally published on 10.05.22)

Top 5 Instinctive Habits Of Remarkable Leaders

What instinctive habits do you have?

Communicate Effectively

This is the #1 instinctive habit seen in remarkable leaders.  Clear communication results in everyone understanding the leader.  Each person on the team always knows their expectations. Each member knows the value of their role.

Remarkable leaders invest focused time with everyone, asking questions and listening.   Speaking is only half of the equation and the other half is effective listening.  This has been a bit more of a challenge with virtual meetings over face-to-face discussions.

Make the Decision

Decisions are made.  Process the information at hand, weigh the results both positive and negative and then make the decision.   The important point to note here is to make the decision.  Sometimes the decision is to defer or to not make the decision.

If you procrastinate and wait until you have all the information, a timely decision may not be made.   Most of the time, you will not receive all the information.   Make the decision.

Praise and saying Thank-you

Saying thank you to those around you who have helped and who are contributing to the overall goals.  It is important to tell people you appreciate them.  Recognize them by acknowledging them for their contributions.

Say thank you more often and show your appreciation.  Try it and see what great results you get!

Always Challenging

Set the bar high and keeping raising the bar.  Do not accept the status quo.  Keep challenging by asking more questions such as "Can it be done better?" and "What else can we do to improve?".  Question the process and review how things are being performed.  Keep asking how it can be improved to achieve excellence.

The beauty of striving for excellence is you never achieve it because you need to keep raising the bar.

Seeking Help

Everyone should seek help from time to time to keep growing.  Remarkable leaders look to further educate themselves by reading, attending seminars, asking experts, viewing podcasts and so forth.  It is okay to ask for help and it is not a sign of weakness.   Enriching your mind, your skillset and asking others to assist, strengthens leaders into becoming remarkable leaders.

What are your instinctive habits?

(Originally published on 09.28.22)

Leaders Overcoming Obstacles

This week’s blog was inspired by Andy Stanley’s book “Next Generation Leader”.  Five primary obstacles are identified by Andy for leaders to adopt their way of thinking.

1. THE QUEST FOR BALANCE

We have heard of being well-rounded and knowledgeable in all aspects of our respected profession.  However, being a leader, it is more important to have a focus.  Focus on your core competencies and build your team to bring the well-roundedness under your leadership.  This is more challenging for leaders who are used to having their team together in one office and the hybrid office-remote team for today's leader.

Defining what you can do best and make this your focus.  Stick to it.  My core competencies are:  building trusted relationships, creating opportunities, being a leader, invigorating /energizing the team, telling our story and making new connections.

2. INABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AUTHORITY AND COMPETENCE

Just because you have the authority, it does not mean you have the competency to lead every single aspect or task.  Think about that for a moment.  Good leaders need to know where they are competent, seek knowledge if they must, before deciding if they should exercise their authority.  There are times when you will use “lack of authority” as part of your leadership role.

Providing autonomy with guidance, metrics to measure success and coaching show your competence to lead with authority.  Ask questions more often, say thank you and reach out to your team with a phone call, a virtual discussion or walk over to their desk if they are in the office.  Show them you are competent and your balance of authority to create a collaborative environment.

3. INABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN COMPETENCIES AND NON-COMPETENCIES

Leaders who are successful in some areas feel they can have the same success in most other areas.  This is not always true.   Know your competencies and grow your success in these areas.  Know your non-competencies or more often referred to as your weaknesses.  Educate yourself, delegate or simply say no if outside your competencies.  This is my biggest challenge today:  say no instead of saying yes most of the time.   It allows me to step out of my comfort zone and learn new things.   However, sometimes due to time challenges or lack of specific knowledge it could show up as not being as competent as we would expect.

All great leaders know most of their weaknesses and are not afraid to admit them. One of mine is “letting go” as many of you have heard me share a few times as a work in progress.  Updated report:  this is getting better!  I like to be updated on fewer things now instead of everything and getting out of the way.

4. GUILT

This is a very powerful obstacle.  Leaders are reluctant to delegate certain tasks they dislike and presume others will not like them either.  This is not usually the case.  As the leader, you must learn everyone on your team benefits when you delegate tasks to others when it is not part of your focus or tasks that are out of your core competencies.

I always find myself feeling guilty handing off proposal preparations for pricing and specifications when I can do this myself.  It is best to delegate since it is virtually impossible for me to be on top of all the changes happening hourly in our sector.  We have a great team that takes care of these types of responsibilities!

5. UNWILLINGNESS TO DEVELOP OTHER LEADERS

Tough one for most leaders to fully embrace.  When we get caught in the trap: “If I want it done right, I have to do it myself” we have to look in the mirror.  As the leader, we must provide the tools each team member requires to be successful, to help them grow and understand the value of their role and responsibilities.

Remember, your team follows the way you have led them.  If there is no one to delegate to, then it is the leader’s responsibility to build up their team and create leaders.  It takes time to develop leaders.   For some roles, it could take years.   Have a plan, focus and most of all be nurturing and caring.   Today, genuinely caring about each other is at the top of the list.   This will help leaders develop other leaders.

What is the biggest challenge you are facing?

(Originally published on 09.21.22)

Do You Hear What Is Not Being Said?

Peter Drucker' shared "The most important thing in communication is to hear what is not being said”.  It made me stop and think about what we think we hear and what we miss that was not spoken.

Read Body Language

Try this next time you interact with someone face-to-face or virtual video meeting:  watch their eye movement, look at their body position and see if their face changes to convey a different meaning then the choice of words they are using.  There are times when you just do not understand where the other person is coming from.   You seem to get along, feel like you are on the same page and walk away thinking it was a good conversation.   Little do you realize, when you continue the dialogue, you feel like you really missed something.   Does this ever happen to you?

Single Tasking!

Besides observing the other person closer and effectively listening with your full attention and you can ask more questions to fully understand what you heard.  By the way, multi-tasking on your phone is NOT listening!.   This can be painful at times, however, how else can you be certain you heard everything that was not said?  Just put the phone and focus on the person speaking.

Repeating back in our own words to show you understand or not understand is another way to hear what is not being said.   Have you heard someone say, “well what I really meant to say” and some will just blurt it out “I was actually just being polite, but now that you asked.”   STOP.   Go back a read that blurt out again.  Sometimes it takes three to five “poking questions” to get to the root of what is not being said.   I do not think I have made it to questions six yet and usually have it on the second or third question.

Hello, How Are you?

Ask someone how they are doing and they reply good, fine, steady as she goes or fantastic.  Besides the politeness of the greeting, when you do want to know, ask another question.  You can say that is great you are having a good day and ask why you are having a good day?   Watch their reaction because some will not even realize what they replied!   So that brings back to what are people not saying?  I admit sometimes telemarketers' approach makes me answer with "having a horrible day" to see if they can venture off the script.  You guessed it, virtually all of them will just continue and I will stop them and say "Did you hear what I said?"  Their autopilot reply:  "You said you are having a good day" as they continue the script.  In their defense, they cannot see what I am not saying which compliments what I am saying.  Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine and wanted to share it.

Reading The Room

I recall meeting with an associate who called “out of the blue” to have lunch.   We sat down and I asked what news he brought from his end of town and he replied with he had no news.  He was bursting to share some news so instead of diving into my stuff, I said glad to have lunch and asked how he was doing in his business.  The next words out of his mouth were “Well since you asked, I will share with you I sold my business”.   You probably guessed it – that was the whole reason for lunch.   So why not just say it!

Sometimes it can be uncomfortable or difficult to share information, feedback and to be open with our feelings and emotions.  Read the room and help others to communicate what they really want to communicate.  When my emotions start to rise, you will certainly know by my body language.  I have coined this emotion "passion" to let the others know it is only because of how much I truly do care.

Skip The Sarcasm & Smiley Faces

Communication is a bit more challenging in virtual appointments, over the phone, and more so with e-mail and texting of course!  There is a lot of guessing and missing more of what is not shared over what is being shared.   Be clear, concise, avoid negativity and emotions.   Remember, e-mail and texts do not have emotions even with emoji's.   I repeat, e-mail and texts do not have emotions.   Even the smiley faces and sarcastic remarks with smiley faces might go unnoticed or make the situation worse.  What is the person not saying when they do this?

Observe, repeat, ask questions, if applicable, take notes, send minutes of meetings including action items, pick up the phone when an e-mail or text look like they are going the wrong direction.  Some communicate straight to the point by sending an e-mail or text with a simple message:  “call my cell”.  It works, enables better communication, saves time and significantly reduces misunderstanding.  I don't respond and simply call their cell if readily available or reply with "will call you as soon as I can".

What are you doing to hear what is not being said?

(Originally published on 09.14.22)

Building Your Connections

 

Building Your Connections

This Building Circles blog started back in August 2011 and reflecting on one of my favourite topics this week.  The main purpose of building your connections is to create strong long-term relationships and to reach out to them on a regular basis.  It is about Building Relationships both personally and professionally. Everyone builds relationships on a constant basis and they are built at different levels.

The two most important aspects for me are Honesty and Integrity.  Both values apply to each relationship, however, there are times when one person may not fully share the same agenda.  This leads to the negotiation side of the business relationship.

Value And Respect

All relationships are valued and respected.  When an error is made or there is a misunderstanding, the strength of the relationship is weakened.  Sometimes it is for the moment or for a short time and on rare occasions, it lingers until the relationship is severed.  We learn and we strive to improve with our experience.

Sometimes these relationships may go dormant for a while and one day, they are rekindled with both parties moving forward together.  A good practice is to always leave the door open to rebuild it in the future and the saying "don't burn any bridges" is good advice to follow.

Virtual Relationships

Creating relationships in the "virtual" world is different and we certainly had to adapt in the last couple of years.  Social Media channels such as LinkedIn and Facebook along with e-mails do not have any emotions.  These virtual relationships exist and take on dynamics of their own!  Communication is most important in what you say and how you say it as clear and concise as you can.

We will continue to build virtual relationships with the technology in place to easily allow us to communicate with anyone around the world.  Video communication does help with virtual relationships.  Focus on the conversation and leave the phone, e-mail and other distractions until you finish the conversation at hand.

In-Person Networking

During the pandemic, Wednesday Wisdom was born as a weekly virtual networking group.   It has now evolved into an in-person monthly event.  The shift was easy and supported by many who were ready to network again at venues.  We are averaging 65 people out at the monthly events and appreciate all the support!

If you have not attended any Wednesday Wisdom events, join us by registering at Wednesday Wisdom which runs the first Wednesday of the month from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Daily Connections

Building your connections daily with open discussions and creating win-win situations result in very strong, trusted relationships.  You can rely on each other for more than just a professional relationship and build a good personal relationship.  Sometimes it can be to share advice, either personal or business.  Other times it can be making an introduction to help others make new connections.  Other times it can be mentoring or volunteering to help others.  These connections can open doors and help you to continue to grow professionally and in your personal life.

How are you building your connections?

(Originally published on 08.24.22)

Why So Busy?

This week we look at one of my favourite topics about being so many saying they are too "busy".

"Busy" Is Banned

Ever wonder why you are so "busy"?  For the Building Circles followers, you may know "busy" is banned from the AlphaKORian's dictionary.  That is why it is in quotation marks.  It really stands out when I hear this word several times a day.  Hold on while I drop a couple of loonies in the banned words cuss jar!

Lots Of To Do's

Everyone has a large number of things to do.  They all need to get done!  Some should have been completed yesterday, other things need our attention right away and it always seems there is not enough time to take care of it all.  Does this sound familiar?

So how do we respond to this?  Some of us panic, some get frustrated, and some talk about it to everyone they interact with while others stay focused, calm and prioritize.  Working on the calm part and admitting it is easy to panic sometimes.  I like to call it passion when I take it up a notch above calm.  I am task-oriented and make a fresh task list for priority items first thing in the morning.

Eat That Frog First

Do the big task you do not overly enjoy first.  Remember to Eat Tat Frog (Brian Tracey) and the rest of the day will be easier.  No procrastinating.   Take on that big ugly frog first.  One system that works is First In, First Out.  Many of us tend to take on a new task immediately and get frustrated when the other tasks do not get completed.  The trick is to know when to add the new task to the top or not.  This one is tougher than it sounds.

If we move to the Last In, First Out model, we tend to be less productive, scramble to take care of the other tasks and feel overwhelmed.   Don't fall into this trap.  Breathe, and evaluate the latest task to see where it goes on the list.  Thinking in terms of First In, First Out will help reduce that feeling of being "busy".

The Right Answer Could Be No

Sometimes the right answer is to simply say no and it does not become part of your things to do.  You can delegate some tasks to others and hold them accountable to complete them.  You can group tasks together to be more efficient with your time.

Saying no is still difficult, however, I am getting better at it and still feel a bit bad when I do.  Most understand when they ask if there is a chance you might say no and we need to accept this is okay.

Multi-Tasking

Multi-tasking is not more efficient.  How many conversations have you heard the person multi-tasking ask, "Sorry what was that again?"  We are not built to read an e-mail while listening to someone talk to us.  It takes discipline to focus, be in the moment and actually hear what the other person is saying.  When the conversation is completed, go back to reading your e-mail.

Speaking of e-mails, how many hit your inbox every day or hourly?  With all the incoming e-mails, social media traffic and other interruptions, it is no wonder we sometimes struggle to keep up.  During this pandemic, all these have increased exponentially and lately many e-mails and voicemails go unanswered or the responses take a lot longer than usual.  When we do connect, many times I hear how "busy" things are and are sorry it took so long to reply.

Just Do It

All of us have good and legitimate excuses for being too "busy".  One of the best answers is to Just Do It.  Why do we invest so much time in explaining all the things we have to do and why do some need to share a story each time they complete something?  Take all that time, channel it into your next task so you can focus on accomplishing more and continue along your day without constantly interrupting everyone around you.

Group your storytelling in shorter, less frequent interruptions and remember to ask others what they are doing, how they are feeling and how you can help.  Most just want to be heard so stop and listen.

How "busy" are you today?

(Originally published on 08.17.22)

Top 5 Ways To Connect

This week I’d like to share my favourite ways of connecting people. Thanks to so many supporters and for labelling me “The Connector”. This blog is dedicated to you!

Connecting in Person

This is the best way to connect two people I know to each other. You can share a bit about each person and add why it would be good for them to stay in touch. This is called triad relationship building. Introduce two people, start the conversation and walk away to connect with others.  This was challenging during the virtual networking we had to do during the pandemic and easier now in person!  If you have not attended any networking events, get out there and connect with others.

Connecting via LinkedIn

The nice thing about LinkedIn is you can see the other person's profile. Most profiles include work experience, groups they belong to and what circles they are in. Some include their interests, groups they belong to and accolades. This provides a good way to start the dialogue when being introduced this way.  When your invitation to connect is accepted, share a thank you note and ask them a question, such as, how are things going or what is their biggest challenge.  No selling when saying thank you.

Connecting via e-mail

This is similar to LinkedIn without the added bonus of looking at the other person's profile. It is good practice to Reply All, thank the person making the introduction and say hello to the other person. Another good practice is for the two people being connected to continue the conversation without the person who made the introduction. Later, they can go back and thank that person for making the introductions!

Connecting via Referral

Many times during business discussions with clients and prospects, an introduction would be ideal to introduce a resource that can help. Creating immediate business opportunities for your Circle is a great way to be seen as the expert on the subject matter. Knowing the answers and knowing who has the answers you do not have outside your scope strengthens the relationship with your clients and builds a good foundation for the prospect you are converting to a client.

Connecting via Social Media

This is a fun way to make new connections! Following others on your social media channels, liking their posts, retweeting, commenting and joining the conversation helps with your current connections and creates many new connections. Start your own groups and invite your followers to join them. It is a long process so be patient.

How are you connecting with others?

(Originally published on 08.10.22)

Understanding Expectations

 

What is their Expectation?

Do you ever have a conversation where someone asks you to do something, you appear to understand, you perform the task and feedback is not at all what the other person was expecting?  For those of you who immediately answered "never", share your secrets with the rest of us!

Pay attention to all the details.  As we move faster both virtually and in-person, we tend to skim or skip some of those little details.  This can lead to misunderstanding expectations.  Sometimes you find yourself in a who is right and who is wrong discussion.   Go back, understand and reach a mutually agreed definition and keep moving forward together.  It is not about who is right and who is wrong.

Understanding Expectations

Understanding expectations can be difficult.   All the information is not necessarily shared.   You do not ask enough questions and you may make some presumptions along the way.

A good practice is to repeat the request in your own words.   Follow up with a summary of the discussion with action items.   More times than not, someone will miss something either at the time of discussion or in their summary.  This helps to set and understand each others' expectations.

Unrealistic Expectations

When an expectation is not realistic, it is up to the other person to acknowledge this and to help set a realistic expectation.   Effective communication is the key here.   In some cases, the demand will be to meet the expectation while in most cases you can both reach a more realistic one.  The alternative right decision may be to just walk away if it remains an unrealistic expectation.  This is okay in some cases.

Asking Questions

We tend to say yes and nod our heads often to show we understand and we are listening.  Ask more questions to ensure you dive deeper into the expectation.   This will give you a better understanding and provide you with more information.

It usually takes three to five questions to get to the full scope of some expectations.  To truly be effective, asking more questions will help along with listening to the answer.

What are you doing to understand and to set realistic expectations?

(Originally published on 07.27.22)

You Make It Look So Easy

 

It's So Easy For You

Someone once said to me "I wish I had your life, it's so easy for you".  This certainly struck a nerve!  I asked why they felt this way and the response was "You are so happy, everything just happens for you and you make it look so easy."  I sit and think to myself about 34+ years of dedication, late nights, early mornings, weekends invested on my career, the people I met along my journey who made a difference, my family, friends, partners and the AlphaKORians'....and on I went.

Keep On Smiling

Today, I have learned to simply smile and laugh when this type of comment arises.  Now I respond with "Thanks.   It takes a lot of sacrifices every day.  I get up, do what I love, and focus on one thing to give it my best and then some."   They usually do not believe me.   Why?

Why do some people assume it is just so easy?  We work at it every day, each conversation, each meeting, each client and each prospect requires preparation, energy, focus, expertise, caring and time to build and continue to build a trusting relationship.  It requires a team to work together and everyone plays an important role in making good stuff happen!

Only 10 000 Hours!

We have heard professionals, such as athletes and musicians, say it only takes 10 000 hours to become an expert!  That's almost five years if it was a 9-5 full-time job!  Then they hear what an overnight success they are once they become famous.

Once you have a taste of a little success, remember to keep going to keep you moving along your journey.  Do not stop and rest on your laurels because you feel you made it or you think it is easy.   It's when you feel you do not have to work at it that you later realize you are no longer succeeding.  Make every day count, take a moment to count your blessings and thank those around you.

When you love what you do and bring your true self with passion, positive energy and drive, that's when it looks easy.

(Originally published on 07.20.22)

Do Not Do Lists Help You Grow

 

TASK LISTS

Most leaders have priority task lists to help them grow.   However, do they have a “Do Not Do” list?  How are you handling everything that is demanded from you?  As you may know, I make a new list every morning with some recurring priority items and new ones.

This list keeps growing as the day goes on while crossing off the ones that are completed with a check mark.  Check!

DO NOT DO LIST

What goes on your “Do Not Do” list”?  It will change from time to time depending on your priorities and goals.   Here are some of the items on mine and welcome you to share your list.

DO NOT ALWAYS SAY YES

This is the toughest one and wanted to share it first.  I enjoy helping others, taking the lead (well maybe control?) and taking care of everyone.  Always saying yes is unrealistic even with good intentions so knowing when and what to say no to makes the list.

It is okay to say no.  Each day we receive numerous requests to support a cause, an event, donate a prize, speak at an engagement, or volunteer and the requests go on and on.  I used to feel guilty when saying no.  It is a bit of a struggle sometimes when saying no; however, I say it, accept it and move forward.

Say you are sorry, send your regrets and if this is the case, let them know you have a prior commitment.  Do not go into a long-winded explanation/excuse as it may make the situation worse.

DO NOT GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS

Sometimes we just feel if we can go through the motions it will work out.  It usually does not!   Be prepared, do your homework, and invest the necessary time to bring value and yourself to the moment.  If you feel you cannot, go back to the first item and just say "sorry, I cannot do this”.

There are times when we feel we are not at 110% and that is okay.  Your effort, you being in the moment and delivering your value the best that you can helps offset when we are only 95% prepared.

DO NOT COMPROMISE CORE VALUES

Our core values are Integrity, Teamwork, Client Focus and Excellence.   If anyone or anything compromises one of these core values, the answer is “Do Not Do It”.

Ask yourself what your core values are.  If something seems to challenge your core values, review them, ask questions and if they are not in line then a decision needs to be made.  Do you compromise your core values?  The answer is no.  Move onto what supports your core values.

DO NOT GIVE AWAY YOURSELF

What I mean by this is to not give up your leisure time and your personal commitments, especially to loved ones.  There are so many demands all the time with deadlines and “emergencies” to deal with.  In most cases, all of this will be there waiting for your return.  We are fortunate, client-driven emergencies are handled by our dedicated team both during the day and after hours.

I am grateful for the support of my Partners and the AlphaKORians for all the time I spent with my daughters’ school events and sports.  This time with the family is cherished and it simply could have been focused on work instead.  Find the right balance to not give away yourself.

DO NOT LET DEVICES CONSUME YOU

Guilty!  Some days and nights are better than others by leaving the phone alone.  Why do many of us feel the need to look at the phone every few minutes, during dinner or even during conversations?  This goes against being present in the moment.

On the good days, I feel I have kicked this habit.  Then for some reason, on other days I cannot stop looking at the phone.   Some are work-related and some are personal   There seems to be a constant urge to like, retweet and reply to everyone all the time.  Working on this one!

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE

This one is not usually a challenge as I am task-oriented with deadlines in place to help prioritize, schedule and finish on time.  Brian Tracy has a book called “Eat That Frog First” which is a good read and helps with dealing with procrastinating.

Do the biggest most difficult thing first (the frog) and the rest becomes easier.   Some like to do all the easy things first to lead up to the “frog”.  What is your style when dealing with this?

DO NOT HIDE

Just answer your phone, or reply to your e-mail, text and voicemail.   Why do so many hide?  If you do not have time at the moment, then just let the other person know and schedule a better time.  Communication is a key skill and with technology, we have better tools and it makes it easier to hide behind them.

Step up, communicate and deal with the demand for your time head-on!   I find it takes more effort to listen to voicemail than it is to answer the phone.  One of my pet peeves is no response which seems to have increased significantly during this pandemic.  When you do communicate with these types of individuals, many will say “yes, received your message”.   This does not help because they did not respond!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What are your thoughts about creating your own “Do No Do” list?  Do you agree or disagree with any above?   I always enjoy your comments, messages and feedback.

(Originally published on 07.13.22)

Inside Sales at AlphaKOR

Inside Sales at AlphaKOR is critical to both internal and external business growth; our Inside Sales team is the glue when it comes to forming business relationships between AlphaKOR and our clients. At AlphaKOR, Inside Sales is responsible for supporting the Sales Team and Account Managers by conducting product research, providing custom quotes, pricing, and more. This month, I sit down with Haley to capture a behind-the-scenes look at the role of Inside Sales.

Haley has been an integral member of our Inside Sales team for about six months! During this time, Haley has worked with various clients to offer technology solutions to help manage, protect, and augment businesses in every industry. In this interview, Haley discusses what the average day is like in the Inside Sales role at AlphaKOR, as well as provides insight into the professional qualities and skillsets needed for success in the role.

Meet Haley:

What drew you to the Inside Sales position?

I was looking to find a job that would be more stimulating and where I would feel challenged. I wanted to find a position with room to grow and that would teach me something new.

What motivates or drives you?

I am motivated by hard work and the sense of completing something. I am motivated by my team and the people who support me.

What does the average day look like for you in the Inside Sales role?

On average, my day-to-day involves:

• Quoting out proposals that I receive
• Reviewing sales orders
• Checking for any renewals
• Researching pricing on products or ETAs

And more!

What skillset is critical to your job?

For the Inside Sales role, the following skillset is critical:

• Problem-solving
• Managing multiple inquiries
• Multitasking
• Staying on task
• Organization

What professional qualities do you think someone in the Inside Sales role should possess?

Having the professional quality of maintaining customer and supplier relations is important to the Inside Sales role. Relationship building and maintenance are important for the company in order to get the best deals and pricing.

What is the most exciting part about working at AlphaKOR?

I like working at AlphaKOR for the environment because it is very welcoming and you feel like you are an important part of the team.

What is the least exciting part about your role?

Some days can be overwhelming when new situations arise that I have never dealt with before, or when several quotes are needed to be completed urgently.

What are your professional goals? 

I am hoping to have completely learned my role and that I am able to do it with ease. I have already taken on some HR tasks and my goal is to take on more and incorporate more HR tasks into my role

What’s the most difficult challenge you have faced in life?

The most difficult challenge I have faced is growing outside of my comfort zone. I have learned and am able to push myself out of my comfort zone and be comfortable in newfound growth.

What have you learned at AlphaKOR that has helped you grow on a personal level?

At AlphaKOR, I have learned that there are people who are truly rooting for you to succeed and will help in any way they can. It gives me a sense of happiness that I have a team of people that I can depend on.

If you could choose to have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would choose the power of time travel in order to relive some past happy moments. I would also want the ability to freeze time once in a while as I think sometimes time is moving too fast.

Careers in Business Technology

To read more about the AlphaKORians, check out our Career Insights blogs where we share employee interviews on the first Wednesday of every month.

Are you an energetic and passionate individual who thrives on providing excellent service to both clients and fellow staff? If so, we want AlphaKOR to be the place you want to work. We want you to love your job. Because when you love your job, you’ll do great things. Come and do great things with us! To view our current openings, please visit our Career Opportunities page.

(Originally published on 07.06.22)