Dan Ohler

Do you know why dogs have so many friends? Dog-gone leadership strategies.

Do you know why dogs have so many friends? It's because they wag their tails rather than their tongues. I was walking through a park in Calgary, Alberta, pondering ways to enhance business and personal relationships in our stress-filled society. The le... Read >

Humour First-Aid? Try the Stop, Drop, & Roll for Appropriate Humour

I believe that life is a game, and games are meant to be fun. Teasing, cajoling, and bantering can be great ways to add to the fun – or are they? Where is that fine-line between fun, and degrading criticism? Picture this: It was a warm summer ... Read >

How to Handle Problem People - Life Lessons from a Balky Bovine

Do you have people in your life that p… (make you angry)? You know the ones I'm talking about. It may be your child, partner, colleague, or boss. You think that you have established some boundaries, or the rules seem like common sense, and yet that p... Read >

Do you know the "A Bit More" principles of exceptional customer service? Part 2 of 3

In Part 1, we discussed exceptional customer service, plus "A Bit More." We defined a customer as anyone with whom we have a relationship (paying customer, family, neighbour). We met Master Electrician, Brent, who provides exceptional customer servi... Read >

Do you know the "A Bit More" principles of exceptional customer service? Part 3 of 3

Here we are again to look at some more "A Bit More" principles of exceptional customer service. You may be thinking, "What the heck is he talking about?" If that is the case, please read, or re-read Part 1 and Part 2 of the three-part series. You'l... Read >

Do You Treat Your Business The Same Way You Treat Your Number-One Relationship?

Business – a strange phenomenon. Here is how I understand it. I choose a business idea. I research and watch similar businesses to see what works. I decide on my target market. I invest hard-earned (or hard-borrowed) money to develop flashy marketi... Read >

News, Views, and Blues of Change. Do You Know the 5 Ways to "Re" Your Life?

"Read it, read it, read all about it. There's Canadian change cultivated in rural Northern Alberta." Change? I see it all around me. Do you? The frost has killed the plants in the garden, and the leaves on the trees have changed colour, and they ... Read >

Boy, I'll Be Happy When…

"Boy, I'll be happy when I get my house paid off." "Boy, I'll be happy when I get a promotion." "Boy, I'll be happy when I get to retire." "Boy, I'll be happy when I quit hearing all of this 'boy, I'll be happy when' crap." Dr. John Schindle... Read >

Are You Sensibly Sense-full? Don't Miss The Day

"Can you hear it? It's there. Listen." "What? I can't hear a thing." "That is exactly the point. Listen to the quiet." Yesterday was a typical day for me. I was up early, practiced a presentation for about an hour, had a quick cup of coffe... Read >

Asking is easy! Or is it?

Picture this. It is 6:00 am. I'm sitting on my deck on the east side of our home. The sun is shining brightly in the clear blue sky. The grass is green. The cows are lazing in the pasture. The birds are singing gleefully in the surrounding trees. I... Read >

4 Steps to Use Fears as Friends: Don't be a Thunder Dog!

Imagine humungous, bulbous, billowing alto-cumulus clouds building higher and higher in the sky. They are as black as tar at the bottom and snowy white at the top. It looks as if we're in for a storm. CRACK, rumble, rumble, rumble. Use your imagination... Read >

What do Canoeing, Skiing, and Life Have in Common?

Three Top Tips for Finding Mentors "Turn your shoulders toward where you want to go," our guide yelled just before the canoe turned sideways to the wave, rolled upside down, spilling us into the ice-cold North Saskatchewan River. "Turn your shou... Read >

Ten Tips to Play Together, and Stay Together

Lessons from the Teepee Turn-around There is an old expression, which may sound trite, but I believe it is true, "People that play together, stay together." A couple (by marriage or some other agreement) can increase their chance of remaining a posi... Read >