Category Archives for "Sales & Marketing"

In a ground-breaking study[1], University of Chicago Booth School of Business economist Chang-Tai Hsieh and University of California at Berkeley professor Enrico Morerri reported that restraints on new housing prevented people, especially young talent, from moving to or staying in clusters of innovation. They found that such constraints: “lowered aggregate US growth by 36 percent […]

Young clients of mine refused to meet with me last week to learn about how they could rent a house for free or close to free (via an augmented tenancy) and they said, “No we just want to rent!” No wonder they’re poor. Are they stupid for saying this? Maybe. But I think not… it’s […]

Look at the way this developer sells towns… see below. It’s more of a “swimsuit” competition rather than a value proposition. Key words: “limited” “priced low” “hardwood “ceramic.” #BigMistake IMHO They do OK on location but are missing out on any of these desirable characteristics: walkable, mixed-use, transit, nearby attractions, employment opportunities… which would help […]

If you talk to many developers like I do, the answer to this question is often, “No one” or “Not many.” I disagree. Market segments which need the extra income or space include: -seniors who need extra income for their retirement-millennials who need extra income to help pay their mortgages -investors who need higher cap […]

According to podcaster Mark Leruste, Ernest Shackleton’s famous recruitment ad for his 1914 Endurance expedition to Antarctica could be a useful stand-in today for anyone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, https://youtu.be/f6nxcfbDfZo. Here’s that ad, which it is believed first ran in the London Times (although that is far from certain, https://discerninghistory.com/2013/05/shackletons-ad-men-wanted-for-hazerdous-journey/): Men wanted for hazardous […]

If you are like me and think most condos are poor investments with little or no ROI for investors, homeowners, visitors, guests, neighbors and neighborhoods, let alone the environment, well, have a look at these over-priced, over-hyped “branded” homes. Who said: There’s a sucker born every minute? Mind you, branded waste-of-space places apparently sell for […]

Want to create an above-average performing real estate investment portfolio and/or a PB4L (personal business for life) that will take care of you and your family for 3 generations? Want to learn how to finance, buy, lease/rent, animate, and manage real estate properly? Want to know the secret to driving up the value of your […]

My friends in Quebec at High Cube, led by Patrick Sauvé, build awesome container homes, offices, workshops and hunting cabins. Their model container home is now for sale for $79,995; that’s Canadian dollars (not USD). They’ll deliver the model to any place in Ontario or Quebec for free; ie, it’s included in the price. You […]

[This article originally appeared in Ottawa Business, Journal, https://obj.ca/article/opinion-big-rig-gaining-steam-microbrewery-biz.] What’s in a name? Well, if you are Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips and the other four founding partners of Big Rig restaurant and brewery, a lot. Mr. Phillips and his partners – Angelis Koutsos, Lon Ladell, Pierre Cleroux and Jimmy Zourntos – spent $5 million […]

As folks get older, they tend to earn less even before they officially retire. Many people will recall the “Freedom 55” slogan from an old advertising campaign. I tell young people I coach, “Don’t pay any attention to the idea of retiring any time soon… if ever.” Why? For two main reasons: I believe human […]

I try to support worthy causes as best I can. How? By auctioning me off… for breakfast! This is what we do: What: breakfast for you and two amigos (total of up to three) with Sens founder, Century 21 Explorer realty broker, Real Estate Investment and Business coach, Bruce M Firestone, PhD Preparation: send Prof […]

Whether you are a high-flying coach or consultant or a house cleaner, painter, handyman, what should your hourly billing rate be? I get asked that a lot. Here’s my answer: There has been a secular increase in costs in Ottawa and Ontario over the last few years. And not just in Ontario, but all across […]