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Proven Formula

I was fortunate to begin my career in career development in the national headquarters of Employment and Immigration Canada (now Employment and Social Development Canada) working for D. Stuart Conger. Stu was a ‘social inventor” who saw the civil service as the ‘last frontier for entrepreneurship.’ Stu challenged me to invent CHOICES and encouraged me when I was sure I was in over my head. We succeeded, beyond either of our dreams, and Stu remained my mentor for the rest of his life.

The not-for-profit stewardship approach employed with CHOICES, with HRDC convening authority and support, and later with National Life/Work Centre stewardship, the Canada Career Information Partnership, Canada Prospects, The Real Game Series, Canada WorkinfoNET, and The Blueprint for Life/Work Designs, invariably generates products that scale rapidly and cost-effectively nationally.

1.

When leaders in every jurisdiction in the country come together to conceive, develop, pilot, enhance, and deploy innovations to benefit users everywhere, the result is better than any jurisdiction could produce independently and scales rapidly nationally.

2.

Only the federal government can convene all jurisdictions, but they won't collaborate unless they control issues within their jurisdiction. A trusted  "stewardship secretariat," funded by the federal government, with a mandate approved by all parties, becomes the bridge. 

3.

Parties pitch their best ideas at convenings for initiatives to significantly improve talent-opportunity alignment across the country. They agree on one or two initiatives to which they will fully commit. The secretariat contracts for the expertise to create a prototype of each agreed initiative. When completed, all parties suggest further refinements and approve.

4.

Pilot sites are selected in diverse settings, serving diverse users, by leaders in each jurisdiction. Staff are trained and engaged as co-development partners. Pilot sites incur no cost for training, support, or evaluation materials, but expectations regarding fidelity and feedback are clear.

5.

Pilot concurrently in all regions of the country. Obtain in-depth feedback from clients/students, educators, career development professionals, and administrators. Encourage local decision-makers, influencers, and the media to visit pilot sites. 

6.

The stewardship secretariat contracts for further enhancements based on pilot feedback. When participants agree on the final (first-generation) product, it is launched with fanfare at a cost-recovery pricing that assures ongoing sustainability.

7.

No sales force is required. Project partners, collaborators, and volunteers are the primary stakeholders in assuring deployment to scale with fidelity in their region.

8.

If appropriate, royalties from adaptations by foreign governments can help fund ongoing infrastructure and research and development. 

Land Acknowlegement:

The land on which we work in present day Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, is the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq Peoples, the "Dawnland Conferacy." This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqewiyik (Maliseet) and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726 recognizing Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqewiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for an ongoing relationship between the nations.

Copyright 2026, Phil Jarvis

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Career Planning
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