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Angie McLeod

HIP Strategic Consulting

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CPR for your Strategic Plan: Review, revise, revitalize.

Jun 28, 2019
3 min

CPR for your Strategic Plan: Review, revise, revitalize.

Planning. It’s one of those things that is really easy to ignore—to shuffle to the side of our desks where it gets dusty. There is no doubt that finding time to sit down and do planning – especially if it involves your team, board, and stakeholders (and it should) – is almost impossible. After all there is so much day-to-day stuff to do that is urgent and important. And yet, planning is essential. It needs to be prioritized. And reviewing the plan is essential too. Dust sh

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3 Strategic Planning Challenges: A Consultants Perspective

Jun 26, 2019
3 min

3 Strategic Planning Challenges: A Consultants Perspective

I am often hired to help non-profits compile strategic plans. I love this work. I love the energy that flows from the idea generation, the synergy that evolves as the team puts its mind together to shape their future, and the conversations that arise as a result of the planning process. This is where I find my HAPPY place. It feeds my passion for co-creation, conversations, and community. A solid strategic plan, when actively followed and consistently assessed to recogniz

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A lesson in being present: Sweet Georgia Brown

May 3, 2019
3 min

A lesson in being present: Sweet Georgia Brown

I like to pride myself on being self-aware, of being grateful, and of being present in the moment. However, while I would like to say this, I know it isn’t alwaystrue. I have ritual I go through most mornings. Meditation. Yoga. Gratitude. And then my day begins by determining what I need to do today, what can wait until tomorrow, and what I may need to connect with someone else on. This ritual is how I ground myself at the beginning of each day. And the points on my to-do lis

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Blowing away the winter blues | Get cozy & explore HIP’s top 5 blogs of 2018

Feb 21, 2019
2 min

Blowing away the winter blues | Get cozy & explore HIP’s top 5 blogs of 2018

If you are finding yourself cocooned in your house because of the winter wonderland that has descended upon us, now is a great time to explore some of our favourite blog posts from 2018. So cozy up with your tea, a blanket, and your computer and enjoy. Our Top 5 Blogs of 2018 are definitely worth a read, if you haven’t already, or a second look through if you have! #1) A leap of faith: from scarcity to abundance for non-profits What if we thought it terms of abundance … that

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The Stories that Shape Trust

Jan 1, 2019
3 min

The Stories that Shape Trust

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how TRUST is built. It’s the cornerstone of every relationship we have – and yet there isn’t a magic bullet that creates it or sustains it. And trust is often hard to earn – but easy to lose. So why is it that we spend so little time thinking about how we build trust? Given its vital role in our relationships – both personal and professional – you would think that it is something that we would ponder more often. Brene Brown, author of Dar

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Balance: Make Choices, Manage Expectations

Dec 26, 2018
3 min

Balance: Make Choices, Manage Expectations

As an entrepreneur and mother of two, I’ve occasionally complained that my life is out of balance; that I’m either doing so much family stuff that my business isn’t getting the attention it needs, or vice-versa and business is overshadowing family. After 15 years of this—and of hearing it from others in the community—I wonder if we are speaking less about “balance” and more about aligning our choices and expectations with our core values. After all, we make decisions about ho

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Non-Profits Can’t Make Profits | A Challenge: Rethink to see the bigger picture

Oct 1, 2018
3 min

Non-Profits Can’t Make Profits | A Challenge: Rethink to see the bigger picture

Working with non-profit leaders is rewarding and invigorating. It feeds my soul. These are my people. They are driven by their hearts and are passionate about serving others. We share many of the same values. Over the two decades (oops, I think that is creeping up on three now) that I’ve been working with non-profits, I’ve noticed that they are focused on serving those who mostneed their help. As a result, they can fail to see the bigger picture: that their services are of va

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How good is your conversational agility?

Oct 20, 2017
4 min

How good is your conversational agility?

The reality is that not all conversations go the way we want them to. Some plug along in neutral, wishy-washy by their very nature. Others we know going in are going to be tense, as the conversation topic is fraught with misunderstanding or the level of trust between participants is low. And still others take an unexpected turn and we lose control of where the conversation is going and the intent of connecting. This is real life. As individuals who are part of these conversat

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Bring on the Oxytocin.

Oct 20, 2017
2 min

Bring on the Oxytocin.

Our brains are intrinsically wired to release a number of neurochemicals—some that lead to stress and arousal, and some that lead to a sense of connection, calm, and pleasure. 1 We know the difference, because we feel the difference. For the purposes of today’s post, we are going to explore the role of oxytocin and cortisol. Each plays a vital role in how we respond to various situations. What is interesting to note about each of these chemicals is that they are part of a “ch

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Management vs. leadership: Are they the same thing? My perspective.

Jul 31, 2017
3 min

Management vs. leadership: Are they the same thing? My perspective.

What is the difference between being a manager and a leader? And what do these differences mean to your business?[1] In more traditional jobs, we so often strive to earn the title of Manager. The title generally comes with more prestige, increased pay, and greater responsibility. There is no doubt that being called the Manager, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), or Executive Director feels great. Earning the title means that someone has recognized one’s skills and abilities.

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Finding Yourself in Quicksand? Here’s What to Do!

Jul 6, 2017
2 min

Finding Yourself in Quicksand? Here’s What to Do!

It’s been an interesting year so far here at HIP Strategic Consulting and in my world in general: a year of highs and lows. My year started off with a BANG! Lots of changes (by choice) and exciting new contracts (and opportunities)—it was exhilarating! Then, I got in my own way … and found myself sinking into self-doubt, fear of failure, and disillusionment: my own personal quagmire of quicksand. And my accountability partner (whom I love, but I don’t always like when she spe

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I Can’t Fail These Tests—and Neither Can You!

Jun 30, 2017
2 min

I Can’t Fail These Tests—and Neither Can You!

Business is all about growth and evolution. Entrepreneurs know that to achieve long-term success and growth, they need to push boundaries and experiment, while staying true to their vision for their company. That’s why it’s so important to develop “tests” that will help you make business decisions, tweak product and service offerings, and better serve your clients. I’m doing it. Should you too? My vision for my company revolves around helping clients (individuals and organiza

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Out of bed and off the couch!

May 29, 2017
2 min

Out of bed and off the couch!

I love people—and I love meeting new people—but I am really an introvert at heart. I recharge by being at home, curling up with a good book and cuddling with my coffee. However, I know that in order to grow my business, I must get out and connect with other entrepreneurs. So on mornings like this morning, I drag myself out of bed, make myself look respectable, and head off to a networking meeting. Sometimes it’s a brunch or lunch meeting, other times an evening soiree. Someti

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The truth about "found time"

May 16, 2017
2 min

The truth about "found time"

What is an entrepreneurial woman to do when suddenly faced with an evening free of children’s sporting activities? Write a blog post of course! I say this tongue-in-cheek, but it is the reality that I face—and that many of my colleagues face as well. We need to make the most of “found time” to build our businesses, expand our connections, and strategize about our next steps. Somehow, the ball field—as much as I love watching my daughters play—isn’t the right place for these a

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Can balance be achieved?

Apr 27, 2017
3 min

Can balance be achieved?

Balance. It’s elusive. It was elusive when I worked in the mainstream workforce, before I had children. Now, as an entrepreneur with two young daughters who play sports all year long, achieving balance is still a continual work in progress. Prior to launching my business, I’d dabbled in part-time entrepreneurial adventures. And I knew that one day I wanted to be an independent business consultant. Then in 2003, faced with a daughter going to daycare for 11 hours a day and a j

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The view from here

Apr 13, 2017
2 min

The view from here

As I write this I am sitting in White Rock on a nice spring day (considering the weather we’ve had) enjoying some fresh air. It’s been a long winter of rain, snow, and being cooped up in my basement office. It’s nice to get some new scenery … to change the view that I gaze at as I work at my computer. From here, I glance at the boardwalk and the seaside walk. The song “Jump” by Van Halen is blasting from a nearby restaurant. Couples and groups are walking by talking and giggl

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30%: The difference between setting goals and being truly accountable

Apr 4, 2017
2 min

30%: The difference between setting goals and being truly accountable

I found some statistics online about the success rate of goal setting and accountability systems from the Association of Training and Development (now the Association for Talent Development). These statistics struck a chord within me in relation to the accountability work I do with others. “The probability of completing a goal if: You have an idea or a goal: 10% You consciously decide you will do it: 25% You decide when you will do it: 40% You plan how you will do it: 50% Yo

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What Batman taught me about business

Apr 4, 2017
2 min

What Batman taught me about business

Creativity. Fun. Laughter. All are easy to lose in the day-to-day-busy-ness of our lives, particularly when we are entrepreneurs juggling our business and our family obligations. However, I’m here to tell you that we need more creativity, more fun, and more laughter. Rarely do we take time to slow down, breathe, and take a moment to explore something a little different; something that might make us smile, giggle, or actually snort. There is great value in laughing so hard you

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Blowing away the winter blues.

Feb 12, 2017
2 min

Blowing away the winter blues.

In my 20’s I had a friend who hosted an annual Winter Blues Party in February. We gathered at his home for a potluck meal, a fire, and some warm, welcome company. It blew away the gloom, our desire to cocoon, and got us outside, mingling, and having fun! I’m sharing this story because there are so many simple ways to blow away the winter blues. February offers a number of opportunities’ to do just that: February 13th is Family Day in British Columbia; February 14th is Valen

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A well-placed punch.

Jan 6, 2017
2 min

A well-placed punch.

“Your only limit is you.” I found this quote as I was scrolling through Pinterest, looking for inspiration for this article. Looking for something that I could link with the work that I do and that truly reflected a challenge that my clients face; something that would make my readers pause, consider, and reflect… This quote is like a well-placed punch. OUCH! Your only limit is you…. True. In the past two years, I’ve faced down some of my own fears, internal messages, and

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