Well, statistics say that we should be prepared to change our careers from three to seven times during the course of our working lives.  Between the ages of 18-38, people may change jobs within the same field an average of ten times! Gone are the days of the big company goodbye party and the gold watch engraved with “Thank-you for 25 years of service”.  That seems downright surreal these days.  One could surmise that we all share in the ultimate career called ”re-invention”.

It all began with an adventure……

As many of us have discovered, mid-life often brings with it a few surprises.  My life circumstances totally changed, and I decided to take some time off to travel and explore the world.  I was very fortunate to be able to do that off and on for four years.  My employment history involves retail management, non-profit management, and self-employment in the restaurant biz.  I now have a new job in the decidedly more corporate world of customer perception management.  Can you say crash course in computer literacy?  What do you mean I have to use it for more than just e-mail?  One minute I am very excited and happy to be getting up to speed.  I dream that I am back in high school, taking typing and computer classes.  As a former social science student turned entrepreneur, who would believe that I secretly yearn to be a geek?  At this stage of my life, I am stoked to learn new things, but I am equally disheartened when I realize that my ten year old neighbor knows more about PDF’s than I probably ever will.  No one mentioned that this rather steep learning curve is like riding an emotional rollercoaster without a safety harness!

What have I learned so far, you ask? Well, I will gladly share some tips.

• Firstly I have learned that you have to be honest with yourself, and your new employer.  Be realistic about your abilities, and give yourself time to learn. Your employer must believe in you, or he/she wouldn’t have hired you.
• Make lists! Make notes! A new job is like being back in school.  Pay attention and show up prepared to give it your best.
• Don’t forget to smile and laugh.  Learning mode is pretty intense, and sometimes we just need to lighten up, take a break for a few minutes, and refocus.
• Affirm your strengths whenever you feel that performance anxiety taking hold. If you are already good at 50% of your job, you can be trained to learn the other half.
• Keep the lines of communication open with your boss, and try to enjoy the learning process.
• Last but not least:  when you get the urge to throw your laptop out the window and run back to the technological safety of the 80’s. Take a deep breath, and repeat: the world will not end because I haven’t learned Word perfectly (yet).  Then pour yourself another glass of wine with dinner because tomorrow is another day!

Stay tuned for more blogs as I master Facebook, Twitter, and a multitude of social networking skills.

About the blogger: Maureen Keegan is the Director of Operations of Oculus Business Solutions- A Customer Service Perception Management Company based in Vancouver, BC, Canada

It has become my morning routine. I wake up, and I rush out the door to my neighbourhood Starbucks to get a steaming  cup of coffee . Non-fat, no-foam, grande latte , exactly how I like it . It is  personalized to my taste, and , sigh….I can’t start my day without it !

Not wanting to be an irresponsible consumer, I also purchase ethically harvested and environmentally friendly coffee beans for my stay-at-home coffee. But recently, my local newspaper  featured an article targeted at us coffee drinkers. The irony of the situation was not lost on me , as I discovered  that  my outside coffee runs are less than ethical . The statistics are staggering : 15 billion coffee cups end up in our landfills annually  . And, I have to admit that I have been contributing to the total each and every day.  I think that we have all been under the misconception that our paper coffee cups are recyclable , so, why not use them freely ? I think back to the times when the cup has been too hot to handle, even with the sleeve, so I grabbed a second cup to remedy the situation . Shame on me, 15 billion plus 2! It turns out that the linings of our wonderful paper coffee cups are not reusable , and , in fact, make the cups hard to recycle.  So , what can we do to help reduce the use of our disposable cups? ( note to self regarding a future blog post : how can we get the manufacturers to change the linings in the cups so that they are RECYCLABLE !? )

• If you are smart, and have your senses about you in the morning, remember to bring your own re-usable coffee cup with you. This is not only environmentally friendly , but will also save you some money in the end. Many coffee houses will offer you a small discount if you bring your own cup. For starters , Starbucks will discount your bill 10 cents. If you don’t have a cup at home, don’t worry, we have a great cup available for you.  Click on www.brugomug.com to buy one now.
• Another idea …..SLOW DOWN!  Don’t forget, the real  purpose of a coffee break is to actually take a rest during the day , and clear your mind. Go ahead, take a little extra time , ask for a re-usable mug, and enjoy your coffee on-site . If your coffee house doesn’t offer them, there are plenty of coffee houses that do!

These are just a few ways that we can help keep our homes and offices green!  We can apply the same concepts to bottled water, but that is another blog post!

The holiday season is over once more.  The sparkling lights and illuminated Santa’s have been placed in their hibernation chamber until next year.  The catchy jingles and shopping mad-rush is returning to the regular grind.  The joy and laughter of family and friends have disappeared and they are distant dreams.  With the subtraction of all of the holiday audio, visual and emotional stimulus, it is no wonder why we go from a “cup of holiday cheer” to “there’s a tear in my beer” in a short period of time.

For those of us that are fortunate enough to work within the hospitality and service industry, this is especially noticeable among our colleagues and customers.  Unless you are lucky enough to make the exception list, most of us all have spent too much $$$, consumed too many calories and somewhat ignored our responsibilities for a week or two.  Now it is time to get back on track and back to business.   With all the pressure, stress and monotony of everyday life making its way back into our daily schedules, it seems the happiness of the holidays is replaced with the holiday blues!

Someone has to break the cycle and put some spirit back into our routines.  As customer service providers, we have to remember our customer’s feelings and relate to them, because we can!  We have all felt what they have in the past and we need to remember that.  We have been in their “feeling” shoes.  Empathy is to understand how someone is feeling, and not to relate to their particular situation.  Have you ever been angry, sad, happy, disappointed or tired?  Yes, we all have.  Take some time to connect with your customers and relate to their feelings.  When they feel you are on their side, they will want to be on yours!  So remember to provide that cup of cheer all year long and you will receive the gift of loyalty!

If you’ve ever seen the feature film “The Terminal” with Tom Hanks, you would experience the tale of an eastern immigrant finding himself stranded in JFK airport, and is forced to take up temporary residence there.  The next time Tom Hanks is considering being stranded (planned or unplanned), he may want to choose YVR as his final destination.

I have been a frequent traveler for many years and have always enjoyed Vancouver International Airport (YVR).  Unlike other international airports, YVR has always been more than just a giant structure of metal and glass.  I have always enjoyed the considerable mixture of dining and shopping options to keep me entertained while I wait.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that besides the hustle and bustle of busy business travelers and hopeful vacationers, YVR artistically welcomes visitors to British Columbia, Vancouver and Canada.  During my latest visits to YVR, instead of rushing off and settling into my coffee and newspaper, I took the time to be a spectator.

The first thing I noticed was that domestically, the airport has expanded!  No fighting through the rushing crowds or bumping into others with your piles luggage.  Architecturally Designed to complement our environment and local beauty, there are also local artistic surprises waiting behind many Travelers may even find themselves compelled to arrive at the airport earlier than the suggested times to explore.  The newest additional has travelers and airplane enthusiast alike flocking to airport.  The newly added public observation deck can provide a quiet retreat for those of us that marvel in watching a 180 000lb aircraft leave the ground.

If you are connecting or arriving from the United States, you will experience the Pacific Passage.  The Pacific Passage showcases and invites travelers to experience the coast of British Columbia and a taste of what Vancouver has to offer.  From the calls of West Coast birds to specially commissioned pieces of original First Nations art and sculptures, the Pacific Passage is an artistic stroll welcoming weary travelers to our daily Pacific coast bliss.

Getting to and from the airport can be a challenge in the best of cities, but Vancouver has you covered!  The new Canada Line train provides easy access for fatigued travelers.  Steps from the baggage claim, you can board a train and sit back and relax on your 25 minute journey to the downtown core.

We all enjoy the concept of travel & travel, but the process of getting to your final destination can often turn into an effort full of unpleasant bumps.  When visiting Vancouver, your turbulent journey will be met with creativity, tranquility and the welcoming Pacific coastal spirit.  What more can you ask for?

Vancouver is a fashionable city, and this week is the host to Fashion Week.  Designers from all over the world come to showcase their wares to our forward thinking and city trend setters.

Oculus Marketing was pleased to help the Maggie Coulombe Fashion House prepare for their showcase here in Vancouver.  Bringing flair, the Hawaiian spirit and just a whole lot of fun, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Visit fashion week and Maggie Coulombie at  http://www.vanfashionweek.com/ or http://www.maggiecoulombe.com

By Kevin James Saunders

Last week I was privileged to attend the Vancouver Island Special Places event with our partner, Abigail’s Boutique Hotel (www.abigailshotel.com).  Having worked with Abigail’s, I was already familiar with the quiet exclusive comfort and luxury that they provide.  What I didn’t expect was the plethora of locations on Vancouver Island that offer their own lavish oasis.

Living in the city of Vancouver, I sometimes forget to explore my own “backyard”.  I have spent many pain filled hours researching and planning for a few days of tranquility outside of the city.  More often than not, this planning would lead me to the torture of cramped airplane seating and the constant worry of lost luggage upon my arrival.

Vancouver Island is just a short trip by car/ferry from Vancouver, or if I have the “need for speed”, can include a variety of aero-transport options such as airplane, helicopter or floatplane.  No currencies to exchange or fear of drinking the water, just instant relaxation and a warm island welcome.  Many of the hotels have full service spa’s and/or restaurants to awake and refresh your dulled pleasure senses from the overshadowing craze of city life.

Without weeks of planning or the inevitable jetlag, everything that I seek when trying to rid myself of the routine of my daily duties, can be found on Vancouver Island.  I think the next time that I need a getaway; I will find myself my very own “Special Place” close to home.  Check out www.vancouverislandspecialplaces.travel to find your own special place.

By Kevin James Saunders

I was standing in line in the grocery store on Friday and between my glancing over the magazine headlines of “UNFIT CELEBRITY MOTHER” and “ANOTHER CELEBRITY ADULT FILM”, I found myself peeking at what some of my fellow shoppers were buying.

You can often tell a lot about someone by what they purchase at the grocery store.  It can even be a sneak peek into their lives.  Well, perhaps a pretend one for those of us with an active imagination.  I always think that anyone with blueberries, tofu, and some type of vegetable that I don’t really know, would be a typical Vancouver yoga loving health guru.  I imagine that this would be the type of individual that would wake at some awful hour to jog 5k before going into the office.  Maybe they passed up their comfortable office chair for a posture-correcting exercise ball.   I can imagine myself sitting on the ball and then leaning back in my “thinking” position, only to land on the floor, hitting my head and spilling hot coffee all over myself.  I will pass on the bumps and burns during the work day!

Then we have what I like to refer to as the “life of the party” individuals.  Usually their cart will consist of frozen juice, frozen fruit, soda, frozen pizza, tortilla chips, salsa, and cheese.  Anything that would be able to accommodate an impromptu party including tasty frozen party drinks.  They also seem to either have someone shopping with them, or laughing care freely into their telephones with the discussion of the later evening!

This time around, everyone seemed (except one person), to have something in common on their shopping list- TURKEY!  It was Thanksgiving and everyone was preparing to cook their own household feast that would entertain their friends and family.  It is one of those rare events encouraging everyone to sit lazily around the living room after stuffing themselves full of tryptophan!

One poor soul seemed to have no event to attend, seemed to have been passed by the love of friends, family and turkey alike.  The poor soul was me!  I had completely forgotten about the holiday and even though I knew there would be Thanksgiving feasts to attend, I now felt like an outcast without a “bird” to call my own!  I continued in line and blushed with embarrassment.  Maybe I should tell my blueberry and tofu shopper that I was protesting for the fair treatment of turkeys internationally.  I could quickly get onto my phone and speak of how “wickedly fun & awesome” the turkey party was going to be at my friend’s house this year. But no, I was stuck! I was in line with my no-turkey shame.

I started to think of the holidays that we participate in and how we all love the traditions they bring. From the parties and blow toys at New Years to the fireworks on Canada Day.  When we become accustomed to something, it is almost impossible to feel satisfied without everything being in place.

The ways we interact with our customers follow those similar concepts.  The standards they become comfortable with, they demand each and every time they return to our business.  When the service levels slip, then those “traditions” and comfort levels slip also.  When you strive to offer an experience that will IMPRESS, then you must strive for this on every opportunity.  So this year, let us be thankful for our customers, but not forget the “Turkey” when they come to visit us.

Most business just love having too many customers to handle.  More customers means more money and that is the basic concept of business that we are all trying to achieve.  Well, not all of us!

In the consulting world, having too many customers in one area means everyone is getting the same ideas, concepts and consulting experiences.  One one is becoming competitive, they are just being cloned!  ATTACK OF THE CLONES!!!  No, it is not a star wars movie, it is a reality!

Luckily, we don’t clone ourselves!  Customization for each client/location that can in turn be passed on to your customers.   You get an edge, without having to jump off of one!!!

Keep your secrets

After attending The University of Coimbra, several colleges and The Coaching Academy in London, Pedro Miguel gained practical experience in Law and Consultancy working with numerous multi-national companies, such as the Portugal Embassy in the United Kingdom, and through project work for the Scotland Yard. Recently, the combination of these experiences, in conjunction with IT studies, allowed him to become an innovator in the world of Electronic Power of Attorney and Electronic Divorce.  These innovations were recognized by Harvard University and Guinness World Records, and he received a Certificate of Merit from the President of the Republic of Portugal.  Januario has formed partnerships with Google, Hi-Media Europe, PayPal, Sonae.com, and has formed a network of agents operating in Brazil, the UK, Macao (China), UAE, and over 80 additional countries via the Internet.

A seasoned world traveler, Januario has lived in Mozambique, France, Brazil, the UK and the United States. He currently resides in Miami, Florida, U.S., providing legal consultancy for firms all over the world.

As a key player for our services within the Spanish speaking countries, Mario brings exceptional communication and presentation skills to our partners within South America/Spain.

After his studies at the Universidad Simon Bolivar and Centro Venezolano Americano, Mario proceeded to gain a variety of invaluable and essential experience with such companies as the Gran Melia Hotel, Global Meetings, Organización Italcambio Agencia de Viajes, and MundoPass Agencia de Viajes.  An experienced presenter and learning specialist, Mario’s pleasant and calm personality provides a comfortable learning environment for his participates.

Mario brings with him a passion for travel and a creative eye.  His passion for photography and his abilities to relate well to others help promote superior customer service & human relations.