Example #1: Ameriprise

Mentorship is about communication. An Ameriprise branch manager offered me the opportunity to mentor up to 10 to 12 new advisors, which included me teaching some financial classes.

Example #2: Bounds Green Press - London

Change is often resisted and subtle communication is required to get buy-in. The print shop owner was by no means obliged to give my new technology ideas the time of day, as this was not my role nor my apparent expertise. I persuaded him to consider it, research it and cost it. I also approached the senior, older printers in such a way to get their buy-in for the change.

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Example #1: Ameriprise / Private Wealth Advisor

I became the portfolio investment research expert, starting from no previous experience. By creating criteria and filters to sift through 5000 instruments, I ended up providing monthly advice to 20 other advisors on an investment portfolio worth $850 million.

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Example #2: Ameriprise / Senior Advisor

It took 25 minutes to manually calculate (an error-prone) asset allocation reports for clients with the format we utilized. By automating it with appropriate software, I brought a formerly 25-minute task took to under 1 minute, with a better report and no calculation errors. The staff-time savings was 260 hours annually.

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Example #1: Boot Retailer

I identified a time-loss issue impacting customer care. The clerks gained 50-60% more time with customers through my plan for more rational space-usage and inventory displays. The store lost fewer customers as they got quicker attention by a clerk. Sales rose accordingly.

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Example #1: Bounds Green Press - London

Change is often resisted and people may refuse to work together to create it. I got the manager, the senior print employees, customers and vendors working in sync for a comfortable, profitable result. This was not just about making ‘a pitch’ to staff, but getting them to work with me and vice-versa in a true ‘all hands on deck’ collaboration to make the transition go smoothly.

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Example #1: Ameriprise

I relied on my belief that technology should bend to our needs and not vice versa. Excel is a great tool for the beginner and advanced analyst, but was not performing for me according to my devised solution. Derived from what I knew about that application and programming in general, I learned to make software do what I wanted. For this project, the time spent on the task was reduced by about 70% – from 15 minutes to 2 minutes for the advisor… time better spent developing client relationships and more business.

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Example #2: Camera Negotiation

I recognized who could get me what I wanted and approached him rather than another person. When I got something other than expected, I analyzed the benefits of having it, and thus welcomed the chance to develop top-tier photography knowledge. I was able to win competitions and earn money from using my ability to learn this new tool.

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Example #1: Honduras Travels

I was spontaneous in an unknown environment, and adapted my lack of language skills to other types of communication; I was provided with accommodations, food, entertainment and new encounters in real safety.

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Example #1: Ameriprise

Many of the problems I identified had to do with an upgrade to an inefficient process; all the processes I modified were time-wasters and many of them were error-prone as well. Many solutions had to do with automation.

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Example #2: Ameriprise

Other solutions were about just deciding to stop the bleeding – when a business is ignoring new business that someone is waving in your face, there is a problem! Our loss of many new or recurring business opportunities through lack of follow-up led me to getting staff buy-in and the creation of a tracking tool – we captured more of the business that was offered to us.

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Example #1: Bounds Green Press - London

I risked my job by making the suggestion to uproot existing print methods! In going with my proposal, however, the business took a leap of faith in the face of transformational risks. I was low man on the totem pole of experience and age, but leaped in with management and staff support to make beneficial changes and upgrades which to me seemed a no-brainer.

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Example #1: Ameriprise

For better or for worse, sometimes I cannot leave well enough alone. My goal is never ‘good enough’, but ‘great’. I see the entire project solutions in my head, and won’t stop until the whole solution is fully implemented. Automating and improving accuracy on only part of meeting preparation tasks, for instance, was not enough – I completed the full cycle of automation for advisors.

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Operations Manager

Progressive growth in the company in a series of positions with increasing responsibility. Finance: client portfolio analysis, investment analysis and strategies. Operations: Process streamlining, client experience improvements. Business growth: Identify and track new and repeat business opportunities. Gain: helped grow assets from $62 million to $112 million – 10% in an industry only growing at about 5%.

Store clerk

A traditional printing company, I learned all the machines and printing functions on the job. I identified new technologies (desktop publishing was just in its earliest days), and although it was not my job precisely, I negotiated buy-in, collaborated in transitioning some printing functions to newer technologies, trained staff, talked to clients and vendors about the implications and benefits of this change. Gain: 100-fold gain in quality.

Salesperson

As a base-pay-plus-commission sales clerk, I wasn’t doing that well! Until I found an edge. Today it would be called an Add-On. I convinced computer buyers (in these very early days of personal computers) to additionally purchase User Training, provided by me. Word got out, not only amongst store customers but amongst other clerks. Gain: I made more sales than ever. I also struck deals with the other sales staff so that it was a win-win for all of us from this new ‘edge.’

Store clerk

As a clerk in a very tightly packed retail outlet, I devised a reorganization plan for the displayed and stored inventory of boots. This ended up better displaying the models in demand, and allowed clerks to spend more time serving customers and selling. Gain: 60% time savings for all the clerks, allowing us to make that many more sales.