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Mike Granek, MBA, CSEP | Granek Solutions Inc.
10 Reasons Why Your Online Job Application System Is A Disaster
Jan09

10 Reasons Why Your Online Job Application System Is A Disaster

Posted By on Jan 9, 2015

While teaching professional development classes, I often help students navigate job postings and guide them through the job application process. Most companies these days use some sort of online job application forms or systems, which ultimately leave candidates frustrated and wanting to give up. I’d like to share my experience helping students battle their way through these systems in the hopes that online job search service...

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Don’t Stand In Front of The Projector!
Dec05

Don’t Stand In Front of The Projector!

Posted By on Dec 5, 2013

As a presenter you want to maintain good eye contact with your audience and walk around the room, but make sure not to stand in front of the projector! See the video tip below to find out why.

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Sometimes You Just Need To Ask!
Aug01

Sometimes You Just Need To Ask!

Posted By on Aug 1, 2013

With corporate scandals and greed making headlines these days, it is no wonder that the public is skeptical and suspicious of the philanthropic efforts of big businesses. Until recently, I too was a cynic – thinking that most big companies focused on nothing but profits. I’d like to share with you a recent experience I’ve had that has really impressed me and given me proof that people really do care about helping another person out....

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My MBA Experience
Jun09

My MBA Experience

Posted By on Jun 9, 2013

It’s official! I received my MBA degree in paper form and can’t wait to have it framed! I had an amazing experience at Royal Roads University and would like to share with you some excerpts from one of my final essays, giving you a glimpse into my journey. Before we begin, I need to preface that my decision to return to school was with the encouragement of my previous employer. My wife and I just had a new baby who didn’t sleep for...

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Why You Should LOVE Accounting!
May01

Why You Should LOVE Accounting!

Posted By on May 1, 2013

I’ve heard so many business owners talk about how they can’t stand accounting or that they “have an accountant for that”. If you’re one of those people, than this article is for you! It’s easy to pass things off that you don’t understand – or don’t want to understand, but the challenge is, how do you know that it is being done correctly? Understanding your business financials isn’t simply about keeping the books in order, it’s about...

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The BUSINESS of Events
Feb18

The BUSINESS of Events

Posted By on Feb 18, 2013

One of the realizations that I made throughout my MBA journey, is how little many event planners know about business. This industry is full of amazingly talented and creative people whose sole purpose in life is to create fantastic events and experiences for their clients and guests. The challenge is that many of those people don’t spend enough time focusing on their own business. I was one of those people! I spent my time...

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The “Other” Green Event Checklist
Mar07

The “Other” Green Event Checklist

Posted By on Mar 7, 2011

  GUEST POSTby Shawna McKinley… When I grew up I wanted to be a park ranger. What could be cooler than being in nature, teaching kids about pond ecology to bears? Somewhere along the way I took a summer job as a community event planner and the rest, as they say, is history! Today I specialize in a pretty unique area: sustainable event management. I work with organizations to understand and reduce their event footprint, consider...

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How Do You Deal With A Prejudice Customer?
Feb28

How Do You Deal With A Prejudice Customer?

Posted By on Feb 28, 2011

I’m teaching a class right now on Customer Service, Sales and Relationship Building. A topic that came up was how to deal with racist, sexist, homophobic, and other prejudice comments made by clients. I would love to be able to say that these types of behaviours and comments have now been completely eradicated from the world, however, the reality is that there will always be people that disagree on a variety of topics – some in more...

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Yes! Event Management is Really Sales
Oct29

Yes! Event Management is Really Sales

Posted By on Oct 29, 2010

GUEST POST by Heidi Thorne… Mention “sales position” to most newly-minted college grads and you’ll likely get an “Eeewww, I’ll never be in sales!” I find this a bit amusing, especially when you ask them what they want to do. The response is usually marketing, event management, advertising, etc. Well, guess what, you’re really in sales in any of those capacities. Here’s the cold hard truth: Nothing happens until somebody sells...

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Keep Calm In A Storm…
Sep11

Keep Calm In A Storm…

Posted By on Sep 11, 2010

GUEST POST By Nadine Zrinzo… A tip for Event Management Students: A lot can be said for how an Event Manager handles a crisis. Let me warn you from now, you will be putting out fires all over the place, especially whilst you are onsite and actually running the event. As event management students you are being equipped with a multitude of resources, processes and techniques to enable you to put together great events. You know...

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Tech Stuff – You’re Not As Dumb As You Think!
Sep03

Tech Stuff – You’re Not As Dumb As You Think!

Posted By on Sep 3, 2010

“I’m so dumb when it comes to tech stuff”. If you’re one of those event professionals that constantly puts themselves down, has a fear of technology, refuses to learn anything about tech, or if you are a supplier that has experienced these types of clients – then this article is for you!

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7 Tips For Mutually Beneficial Relationships With Event Suppliers
Aug30

7 Tips For Mutually Beneficial Relationships With Event Suppliers

Posted By on Aug 30, 2010

  What would you do if your linen supplier suddenly disappeared and closed up shop? What about your décor, lighting, staging, rental, or audio visual suppliers…or perhaps your favourite florist? Would you be able to conduct business as usual? Would you be able to continue producing events without them? Sometimes, event managers take the relationships they have with suppliers for granted, and don’t realize the impact these...

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Looking For #eventprofs Guest Bloggers!
Aug30

Looking For #eventprofs Guest Bloggers!

Posted By on Aug 30, 2010

Mike Granek is looking for #eventprofs guest bloggers that can provide event industry stories which can be used as case studies by students.

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Customer Service: You don’t have to be perfect. Just be on my team!
Aug25

Customer Service: You don’t have to be perfect. Just be on my team!

Posted By on Aug 25, 2010

GUEST POST by Jenise Fryatt Imagine:  you’ve landed a new client during difficult economic times. Your first event with them sets up in 4 days, 2,000 miles away. You’ve paid the “Good Deal” (not their real name) trucking company 10 days in advance to pick up your gear on Sunday. It’s Saturday and Good Deal isn’t returning your calls. OH, IT GETS WORSE Finally Good Deal’s representative Mr....

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Trade Show Booths – Don’t Waste Your Investment!
Aug24

Trade Show Booths – Don’t Waste Your Investment!

Posted By on Aug 24, 2010

One of the most valuable marketing tools for a company, product or service can be a exhibiting at a trade or consumer show. It can generate a great amount of interest through product or service demonstrations as well as allow you to reach a targeted audience. Trade and consumer shows put you directly in front of potential customers and provide an opportunity to develop relationships with them. While there are many more benefits to...

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Blaming The Supplier
Aug18

Blaming The Supplier

Posted By on Aug 18, 2010

Over my many years in the special events industry, I have encountered a few different event producers, meeting planners and suppliers that have had some sort of paranoia when it comes to accepting responsibility for a supplier’s mistakes. For some reason when there’s a problem, they think that it will save their reputation to explicitly tell the client that it wasn’t their fault, and that it was the supplier’s fault. I have...

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One Big Tip For Event Management Students
Aug17

One Big Tip For Event Management Students

Posted By on Aug 17, 2010

I asked Event Management Professionals on Twitter to answer the following question: #eventprofs – If u could give an event mgmt student one big tip, what would it be??? Please reply, I’ll pass it along to my students!!! Here are the responses that I received… virtueevents @mikegranek work with vendors that you trust and build solid relationships with them. Kaisteffan @mikegranek focus on what ever brand you create...

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Customer Complaint? Keep Your Mouth Shut!?
Aug06

Customer Complaint? Keep Your Mouth Shut!?

Posted By on Aug 6, 2010

I recently discovered a national company that has an internal policy that directs staff to not respond to customer complaints. This is a pretty big company that has locations all across Canada, and I was privileged enough to come across this information during a meeting with them. A little confused, I asked them to elaborate and essentially the policy is that if a customer complains through email, they are not to provide any response...

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My Very First Blog Post!
Aug05

My Very First Blog Post!

Posted By on Aug 5, 2010

After some encouragement from my Twitter followers over the last year, I have finally decided to make an attempt at creating my own blog! About a year ago, I met Lara McCulloch-Carter at an ISES Canada national board retreat where she introduced me to Twitter. It took me almost six months before I really understood it and began tweeting on a daily basis. Mostly as an experiment to see how effective twitter was, and following advice to...

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