Drive of Champions Fundraiser
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, Community, DavidIrvine, Education, Leadership/by David IrvineIt was an amazing day at Drive of Champions, a unique fundraiser hosted by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation at Spruce Meadows. All proceeds go to support children and youth by keeping them safe from crime and victimization through crime prevention, education, and early intervention programs. Attendees, car enthusiasts, and members of the public had […]
What do you do when someone on your team stops caring – and what if that person is you?
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, Caring, DavidIrvine, Leadership, Team Work/by David IrvineCaring is a part of who we are. If you’ve stopped caring, it is a coping strategy in response to stress. Not caring means you have built a wall to protect yourself. Maybe you’ve been hurt and are shielding yourself from further pain. Or perhaps you are exhausted from too many demands and expectations of […]
When offered an opportunity that feels too BIG or too Challenging – how do we know what we can handle?
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Growth Mindset, Trust/by David IrvineFrankly, sometimes I don’t know. I have often found myself jumping off a cliff and building wings as I fall. Usually things work out if I lean into whatever is challenging me. Here’s a few things I do know: If I’m comfortable, I’m probably not growing. I don’t need to be growing all the time, […]
3 Habits you can start TODAY to make you a better leader
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Growth Mindset, Habits, Leadership/by David IrvineStop working. I’m not saying be lazy, but reconsider what real work is. We typically think we aren’t working if we aren’t in front of our computer. Get up from your desk and visit or call a member of your team. Find out how they’re doing. Listen to their concerns and take the time to […]
Words people use to describe great leaders
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Leadership, Self Awareness/by David IrvineIf you ask AI for a profile of a great leader, you’ll get something like, “great leaders are visionary, inspirational, empathetic, decisive, innovative, collaborative, charismatic, resilient, authentic, and strategic.” This may be a good list to aspire to, but it’s an impossible standard to uphold if you think you have to be there to be […]
When is help not helpful as a leader?
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, Caring, DavidIrvine, Leadership/by David IrvineWe raised chickens on the farm growing up. It’s painful to watch a chick hatch when you’re a born caregiver like me. One day I “helped” a chick by breaking the egg for it. To my horror, it died. On that fateful day I learned that sometimes help isn’t always helpful. Sometimes people need to […]
Honouring Terry Fox September 15
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Hope, Inspiration, Leadership/by David IrvineRaised in British Columbia, Terry Fox was an active teenager who participated in many sports. In 1977, at 18 years old, Terry was diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma (bone cancer) and his right leg was amputated six inches above the knee. In the hospital, Terry was overcome by the plight of other cancer patients and decided […]
Are you re-inventing yourself when necessary?
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Growth Mindset, Renewal, Success, transformational/by David IrvineIt’s natural to get comfortable in our life situation. But if we aren’t conscious and intentional, we can unknowingly become unsuitable to our existing environment. I’ve learned is that it’s good to periodically re-invent yourself in response to different life events. Regularly renewing yourself is a crucial component of personal growth and development. Otherwise, we […]
Four Pillars of a Good Life
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authentic Leadership, Authenticity, Character, Connection, DavidIrvine, Gratitude, Inspiration, Leadership/by David IrvineLindsay Kimmett was an athlete, leader, learner, and aspiring doctor with the skills and ambition to leave a big mark on the world. After her tragic passing on February 17th, 2008, her family and friends, committed to carrying on her legacy and passion for hockey, organized a 3-on-3 pond hockey tournament in Lindsay’s hometown of […]
Why “being nice” and avoiding hard conversations isn’t really “nice” at all
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, Connection, DavidIrvine, Honesty, Kindness, Leadership/by David IrvineHave you ever met a “nice” person who is polite, but hard to connect with? There’s a difference between being nice and being kind. The chart illustrates an extreme dichotomy between the two. Nice comes from insecurity, a lack of confidence Kind comes from high self-worth and respect Nice is polite aloofness Kind is genuine […]