Many times over the last 15 years or so I’ve been asked by friends, acquaintances, clients and employers ‘how do you know your relationship is working?’ Or, ‘if we hire you, how will we know that you’re committed to our firm and that you won’t just leave in a few months when something better comes along?’ Good questions! Tough questions that require some introspection and self-analysis to determine their answers. Perhaps you’ve had these same sorts of questions leveled at you? Perhaps it’s been a struggle or you’ve been confused for some time now as to what to do: “should I stay in this dead-end job or should I leave?” Maybe you like the work you’re doing but you still don’t feel quite right, happy that is? Maybe you’re in a relationship with someone where things seem to have gone stale over the months or years you’ve been together and you don’t know whether to stay or go. Honestly, the way you view and handle your relationships with yourself, your significant others or your work are all essentially the same. You need to do some personal work and come up with some answers for yourself that will be the foundation for your relationship approach.  For myself, putting it quite simply, I typically look these unsuspecting Questioners in the eyes and say “as long as I’m winning!” Let me explain in more detail what sounds like a self-centered answer.

Came across a great little tax-related book written by David Voth for Canadians. It’s not a long book (just over 130 pages) and doesn’t take the place of your personal tax Adviser but it’s chock full of great tax saving tips any taxpayer or entrepreneur should take advantage of if they aren’t already. Especially if you don’t like paying taxes - I mean, who does really? And the tips Mr. Voth talks about are legal and simple. Take for example the tip on the “reasonable expectation to make a profit” test.

While my posting of these workplace/workforce predictions isn’t that timely, it’s still relevant and interesting to see what futurists predict for this year. Myself, I predict that a flattening of the upward growth curve for the economy (particularly here in Alberta) will feel to some people like a catastrophy given that employment growth will slow down, cutbacks made, debts out of wack, etc. As well, a lot more folks will try the contract or self-employment route. So, work hard and clean up your personal finances for the coming rougher waters ahead. Then it’s back to clear sailing.

If you’re new to Workbytes you’ll notice that in the right column of the blog is a number of links you can click. In particular, there’s one heading called Useful Job Links with what seems like a million links under it. Okay, not quite a million but the start of a million. I have tons (is that correct English?) of work and job related links for you to click on from my own company Canada-First to ones like Job Central to government labour relations sites like Alberta Human Relations & Employment for example. These sites and hundreds more that I have that I’m culling through (from A to Z) will all be posted here. Eventually I’ll also organize them a little better for you as well. In the mean time if you’re looking for a job somewhere in Calgary or Vancouver or in Oil & Gas or Retail or Insurance, whatever - besides the usual “big job board” culprits - check out some of the Recruiters and smaller niche career sites. You just might find the new home (your new career or employer) you’re looking for without doing so much waiting around.

Employers...I’ve included links for you as well, so don’t be shy to check them out.

Anyone has any links they want to share that aren’t on the list, make sure you send them to me either by registering on the site (free & confidential) or by posting a comment with the link.

Happy job hunting!

PS: you’ll note that my mileage log down below hasn’t changed much since last Sunday. Why? Can you say “bad rash”, “much pain”? Note to self: Never run long distances again without my allergy pills and “Glide”!!!!

This is what a Dad looks like on Father’s Day after running a 10k race with serious “Runner’s Rash”! If you don’t know what that is, google it - it’s better than getting it. I still ran faster than any previous 10k I’ve run but still pathetic when compared to some folks who obviously were first timers, much younger and apparently in far better shape. Oh, well - did I say I was doing this to win the Olympics? No, I’m running for my health primarily and I quite enjoy participating.