Ascending Solutions, Inc.’s Post

Today marks the end of my first week at McMillan LLP...here is my impression Over the past week, I had the opportunity to go through the McMillan onboarding process and for those who are curious, here is how I feel about it. Top quality! Let me tell you why. I have worked in different places throughout my career (both law firms and in-house) and experienced different onboarding approaches, so I can more objectively present my point of view. From the moment I walked into the McMillan offices, I was treated with warmth, care, and professionalism. During the week, I received highly useful training on the firm's inner workings, and everyone in IT, #HR, and other business units took great care to ensure that I was properly established and set up. I still need to find my new routine and groove, but that's a quick fix! What I appreciated the most was to have the McMillan folks welcome me with open arms. One by one, different people proactively stepped into my office to present themselves to me and, each in their respect, made my first week highly enjoyable. Many colleagues from Montreal and different offices took time in their day to write me a welcome message, call me, or set up a call so we could get to know one another...what a delight. I want to congratulate McMillan for establishing a robust, impactful, and effective onboarding process but also implementing a welcoming and collaborative culture. Now, let the games begin! Shoutout to: Lyndsay Wasser, Robert Piasentin, Jordana Loporcaro (she/her), Joshua Krane 🎗, Robbie Grant, Victoria Snook, Kristen Pennington, Enda Wong, Eric Vallières, Franca Giannini, Keith Hanna, Eve Leung; Elizabeth Stoute, Alice Ahmad, Marilou Lapierre, André Paquette, Tania Boulanger, Ousmane Cisse, Lucie Lanctuit, Baya Touré, Suzie Williams, Janine MacNeil, Kelsey Millward, William Pellerin, France Theoret, Marie-Lou Beaumont, Clemence Tamayo, Sidney Elbaz, Émile Catimel, Vincent Maltais, Redha Ait, Maude Colpron, Yoni Petel...and so many more (I'm sorry if I missed anyone that has supported me during this week!!) #onboarding #lawfirm #companyculture #businessgrowth #employment

🏆 We won! 🏆 Not the usual industry accolade or business milestone, but something that matters just as much to us: 😆 Pub trivia night. Last night, our team clinched the top spot for the first time, despite being small and mighty with five members against the typical eight. Every question we answered correctly was a result of collective knowledge, which luckily for us is quite random! Working with clients across the country definitely comes in handy when you need to know Armarillo isn’t one of the ten largest cities in Texas. 🤷🏻♀️ ➡️ Just about every success in our lives and careers is built on collaboration and shared wisdom. This little trivia win with Jim and our friends is a reminder that whether in a casual, low-stakes setting or within the pressure of our professional lives, the principles of success are consistent. 👉🏼 We go further together. It doesn't matter if your team is small or if the challenge seems trivial; recognizing what each person on a team brings to the table is important. 👉🏼 Everyone has a voice. Success is better shared! PS: How do you celebrate your wins - big or small? #careercoach #professionaldevelopment #businesscoach #entreprenuer #successstories

✨ Ringing in the New Year with Sparkles and Cheers! ✨ As the clock strikes midnight and the sky lights up with the promise of new beginnings, we at Madsen Beck are excited to step into the New Year with you. May 2024 be a year of bright opportunities, sparkling moments, and joyous achievements. 🥂 Here's to a year filled with success, happiness, and prosperity. Happy New Year to our wonderful community! Let's make it a year to remember! 🌟 #newyear #businesslaw #familylaw #eagleidaho

You have the best interest of the people you're hiring to work with you and the people you're providing services for. Know that it's going to come to you when it's the right time. You will have these opportunities in the future. So if right now, you have to say, "This is really cool, but I can't accept it," that's okay too. Sometimes saying no comes with fear of missing out, sadness, or guilt, but that's okay. We're here to support you either way. Remember, there's no wrong answer—just listen to your gut. Download our free start-up list here: https://lnkd.in/ed5tETaW Explore membership options with 3 Pie Squared here: https://lnkd.in/eU2xQMb2 Featuring Alecia Barrett, founder of A. Barrett Academy LLC. Learn more about her and her work at A. Barrett Academy: https://lnkd.in/eqYAdCar #ABABusiness #PracticeManagement #Opportunities #SayNo #Support

Two years on and the magic fairy dust is still there - Natalie “Do you believe in magic fairy dust that makes a business sparkle” were the words that first interested me in becoming a PEA at Peas in a Pod Consulting. From day one, it felt like stepping into a supportive company where integrity, empowerment, friendliness alongside communication and accountability thrives. The enthusiasm from all my fellow PEAs practically bounces off the walls! On my first day, I remember the warm welcome extended by Kay, Rebecca and Beth. Getting to select my office slippers set the tone for what has become two years of great memories. Rebecca and Kay embody visionary leadership, steering us all toward excellence with unwavering dedication and a profound commitment to our collective success. However, what truly sets the Company apart is its people - colleagues who have become more than just coworkers; they are mentors, collaborators, and friends. Together, we've weathered challenges, celebrated victories, and forged bonds that extend far beyond the boundaries of our professional environment. The infectious spirit and friendship that fills every nook and cranny of the POD makes working there a great experience. (And let's not forget the constant supply of brownies that sweeten the deal!) As I ponder over the last couple of years, I can't help but feel like someone entrusted a squirrel with a nut stash - deeply appreciative for the trust placed in me to add some zest to our collective goals! Whether it's brainstorming sessions that spark creativity, project deadlines that foster resilience, or team outings that foster camaraderie, every moment spent with the PEAs family has been a testament to the power of collaboration and the beauty of shared purpose. Looking ahead, I am excited about the limitless possibilities that lie on the horizon. With our collective talents, I am confident that we will continue to surpass expectations, break barriers, and redefine success. I look forward to the exciting experiences that lie ahead of us in the future. Here's to celebrating two years of awesomeness, and to many more achievements yet to come! #WorkAnniversary #2Years #fairydust #HRConsultancy

Today, I’m celebrating five incredible years at The Loading Dock! It’s been a wild ride, and I’m excited to share (finally!) that I stepped into the role of President back in March. You might wonder why it took me five months to make this announcement; and the truth is, I doubted myself. In January, after months of restructuring, I told our founder that I felt I needed to step away—that the company needed someone with more experience to lead us through the challenges ahead. I doubted my ability to manage our finances, heal a fractured team, and rebuild trust and joy within our culture. I wasn’t sure I could juggle all the spinning plates. Thankfully, Philip Freeman didn’t ask me to leave. Instead, he listened and held space for my fears, but most importantly, invested in executive coaching for me. Through daily reflections and guidance from my coach, Janie Brooks, I began to shift my mindset. Slowly but surely, I rediscovered my voice and started to believe in my ability to help turn the ship around. What once felt like insurmountable challenges became opportunities. Our team leaned in, committed to rebuilding, and together, we developed a playbook that fortified our culture, mission, vision, and values. We refined our hiring practices to ensure the right people were in the right seats, and we simplified our focus to three goals around team health, financial health, and member experience. When I was ready to throw in the towel, our team stepped up to the plate. Collectively, we’ve rebuilt our culture, strengthened the health of the company, and—most importantly—brought FUN back into our day-to-day. As I embark on my sixth year at The Loading Dock, I couldn’t be more excited for our future. This place inspires good, sets the table for connection, and cultivates an ecosystem of professional support. Its honestly a REALLY cool organization that I get to be a small part of. If you want to learn more about the beauty of coworking and how it can benefit your team’s ability to connect and collaborate, let’s set up some time to chat. ❤️

I acknowledge my mangers - well three of them: The first who made me question what I was doing and why, The second for giving me opportunities - involving tasks, which I thought were beyond my capabilities and the third for mentoring and NOT managing me. You, as an individual and business need to question what you are doing and why? Have you the resources to do the task justice - Is it a SMART task or the daily grind? Are you empowered or has the task been delegated - Be clear about it. Remember luck has nothing to do with it - As the great man said The more I practice the luckier I get. Get in touch if you want help.

25 years! I began my Articling Term at #BLG (then Borden & Elliot) on July 2, 1999. My most immediate reflection is I cannot believe how quickly time passes. I still have vivid memories of that first summer. I recall being blown away at a downtown restaurant that had pre-printed a menu just for our Articling Group Dinner! It was truly the height of luxury. Over the years, I've had wonderful mentors and colleagues at BLG (too many to mention by name), introducing me to a diverse group of clients who look for support with real estate and development matters. With some reservations about providing advice (what works for me may not work for you), here are 3 nuggets for those interested in developing a practice in a large law firm: 1. When starting your career, look to work with a variety of partners. You'll observe practice styles that you can imitate (and want to avoid) and learn how different personalities practice differently. 2. Similarly, when it's time to delegate work, make sure to delegate to a variety of people. This will help avoid burn-out and will build team camaraderie. In order to make sure your clients don't see a revolving door of people working on their matters, you can keep distinct client teams. This will create great balance in your practice. 3. Engage with an industry organization that isn't law-centric. It will introduce you to a variety of people who problem-solve with a different lens, create some seeds for business development, and give you more interesting topics of conversation at social events. My recommendation is to join one industry organization and participate heavily, rather than have "shallow" participation in a number of different organizations. Most organizations have a young leaders group that you can start with. For me, it's been #ULI Toronto. The practice of law has changed over the years, but in many ways what keeps you motivated on a daily basis remains the same: A great team that genuinely enjoys working together on interesting and challenging work. If you can make that your reality, 25 years can go by pretty quickly!

Saying no is hard, but sometimes it's the best choice for your practice and your peace of mind. In this episode we talk about recognizing when to step back and how to manage the fear of missing out. 

I recently caught up with a friend, and he was like, "Hey Vance, what's this partnership thing you do at Employment Hero?" Usually, I'd reply with a one liner, "I form strategic partnerships and grow businesses together," but then it got me thinking that not everyone grasps what partnership really involves. Having been in the partnership role for a while, I've found that it's all about putting the partner's interests first. It's not just about listing out all the incentives to them; it's about figuring out how you can support them to achieve their goals. Anyone can sign on the dotted line, but making the partnership thrive is a whole different ballgame. I believe successful partnerships require alignment of expectations and goals. Both parties should have the same level of commitment and be invested in growing the partnership. Each region has its unique approach to partnership, so being dynamic and flexible is key to ensuring mutual wins. It's a long term journey and most of the time the partnership will eventually become friendship. What's your take on it? 😀