What is a Growth Hacker and Growth Hacking?
The term growth hacker was created by Sean Ellis in 2010. He used the phrase in a blog post seeking people to take over the rapid-growth systems he was creating for start-up companies. In sifting through resumes he…
Getting to Know Velsoft’s IT Department
In honor of Programmers' Day, which was yesterday, today we’re celebrating by getting to know two members of Velsoft’s IT department. Ian Taylor Ian is the IT manager at Velsoft, and he’s been working here for the past…
Celebrating programmers to the stars and beyond
When NASA’s Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1977, they each had a mission to conduct close-up studies of Jupiter and Saturn. Now, 41 years later, the twin spacecraft that were designed…
Creating a Positive Work Environment QRG
Not all of us have had the opportunity to work in a truly encouraging and upbeat environment. A positive work environment is important for the productivity of a company, but it's also important to us personally. Our emotional…
Make Your Bed Day Musings
Sept. 11 is Make Your Bed Day. I remember the fights about making my bed when I was growing up. I thought if you just threw the covers in the general vicinity of the pillows that it would be…
Bring Your Manners to Work Day at Velsoft
Most of us spend more time during the week with our co-workers than we spend with our families. Is this a good thing? Well, that’s for a future blog. Why am I thinking about this today? It’s because…
A Few Thoughts About Amphibians and Procrastination
Fight Procrastination Day was yesterday, Sept. 6. Oh … today is the sixth … I guess this means this is out on time. Cool! (I knew that, really I did!) Here are a few thoughts on putting an end…
Top 3 reasons to choose online software
You’re on your way to a meeting where you’re going to present a spreadsheet you created to show the latest sales figures, when you receive a call from a colleague telling you that some of the numbers are…
Growth hacking: Everything you need to know (almost)
Search the term growth hacking and you’ll find dozens of different definitions. Laura Moreno, a growth hacker and host of the Growth Hacking Podcast, says: “Growth Hacking is the next generation marketing for start-ups. It describes the use…
Getting to Know Velsoft
In the last installment of Getting to Know Velsoft, we introduced our summer students, who sadly, are spending their last day at the office today. This week we hope you learn something you didn't know before about two…
How are your communication skills?
One of the great things about refreshing Velsoft’s courses is that I get to learn new skills while I’m working. As a writer and former journalist, I think I’m good at asking questions in order to obtain information…
Growth Hacking Quick Reference Guide
The new economy calls for a new way of attracting customers and sales. Growth hacking is to the new economy what marketing was to the last millennium. The goal is to share a message and make a sale. The…
Training Tips from Velsoft Staff
Novice trainers make many common mistakes. These include teaching too much or too little at one time, telling without demonstrating, a lack of patience, a lack of preparation, failure to build in feedback, and failure to reduce tension.…
Comparing the Data Privacy Laws of California and Canada
With the adoption of the California Consumer Protection Act only months ago, CaCPA has joined Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation and other legislation designed to protect the data privacy of…
Getting Started with Microsoft Word Online
Getting Started with Word Online Word Online is the cloud-based version of Microsoft’s powerful word processing program. Using Word Online, you can create professional documents of nearly any type. You can also add tables, images, and much more.…
GDPR Spreading The Word Internally
An important aspect of privacy compliance is spreading the word both internally and externally. Employees need to know that privacy-related policies and procedures exist in your organization, and they need to be instructed on their use. Customers also…
An Ode to Bad Poetry Day
A few years ago (quite a few now that I think about it) I was accidently poisoned. As a result, my liver failed, and I found myself on the list for a liver transplant. After three months of…
Can Someone Learn to Lead?
I'm often asked if someone can learn to lead. My short answer is: If you want to be a leader, you can absolutely learn to lead! If you’re interested in helping others (and yourself) grow, and you enjoy…
Five Strategies for Making Training Stick
All training can be useful and applicable if the trainer keeps some simple tips in mind when developing and applying training. We all learn differently, but there are some truths about learning that can be applicable to most…
Developing a Training Needs Analysis QRG
The right training at the right time can make a huge difference in the productivity and profitability of your organization. Whether you are scanning your workplace for opportunities to make things better and training is the answer, or…
Left-Handers Day at Velsoft
We are blessed with two left-handers at the Velsoft palatial head office. Since one in 10 people are left-handed, this makes absolute sense (although we think we got two of the best). We hear loads of things about…
Learning to use Microsoft Word Online
For most of my 20 plus years as a writer and editor, it hasn’t been necessary to collaborate with anyone on any of the pieces I’ve written. So it was a new experience for me recently when I…
How to get your GDPR message out
So you’ve developed a privacy policy for your company. Now what? The policy is useless if it sits on a shelf in someone’s office. Once it’s completed, you need to let everyone know about it. This includes providing…
A heatwave hits Velsoft
At the Velsoft head office it doesn’t look like we’re experiencing a heatwave here in Nova Scotia. Cindy and Sandra have shawls draped around their shoulders. I’m sitting at my desk with a blanket across my lap, I’m…
Using icebreakers to enrich training
At Velsoft, each one of our softskills courses begins with an icebreaker. Icebreakers are used as part of training courses for several reasons. They can help introduce workshop participants to each other, they add energy, and at Velsoft,…
Seven Types of Activities to Enhance Your Training
When conducting training, choosing the right activity is really important. Because you may run into groups who have tension about “games” at work, you may want to refer to games as activities. Often used to make dry topics engaging,…
Why your company needs a fall training program
With summer in full swing, the last thing you may want to do right now is think about students heading back to school in the fall. But it’s actually a perfect time to think about the workplace classroom…
The Velsoft Vipers and the Race on the River
I’m trying desperately to put my paddle in the water at the exact same time as Cindy, who is sitting in front of me and setting the pace for our boat. At the same time, I’m trying to…
National Talk in an Elevator Day Icebreaker
National Talk in an Elevator Day is tomorrow, July 27. It's a day designed to encourage people to break the awkward silence that happens between people riding in an elevator. I’m not sure why most people are silent…
GDPR: Getting the Message Out QRG
An important aspect of privacy compliance is communication both internally and externally. Employees need to know that privacy-related policies and procedures exist in your organization, and they need to be instructed on their use. Customers also need to…