Doug Crabb, Global Director, Sales and Marketing

Always on-call

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"As long as you don't look at a job as eight to five, you'll be fine. In my situation it really is phone calls all the hours of the day. And I do take them because sometimes that phone call will bring a lot of comfort to somebody who is maybe sitting in India and wondering where his supplier is and needs an answer on something and he's going to call.

"I do get phone calls anywhere from six am to midnight, on a regular basis."

Images from my workplace

Where I work

I work for Duha Colour Services, which is one of several companies owned by the Duha family from Winnipeg. We produce colour-sampling materials primarily for the paint industry. If you pick up a paint chip at a hardware store, chances are we made that chip.

We have a plant and our headquarters here. We also have plants in New York, Australia, Mexico, Singapore and China. We even have a partnership in France. We've delivered to a hundred different countries, so our little Winnipeg-based company is quite global.

Personalized solutions

Our ability to deliver different solutions to different regions on a large scale has made us successful.

Often a supplier will try to sell a company more of an item to get a better unit price. We've taken a different approach. Instead of just making huge amounts for, let's say, one large international paint company like ICI Paints, we've changed our approach. We make a lot of one product and then customize it for many different companies.

A company man

I am the Global Director, Sales and Marketing, responsible for sales strategies, new marketing projects and new products. Company sales people around the world report to me.

I've been working for the company for 16 years and in this role for one year. I've gone through quite a number of jobs at Duha throughout the years. Every few years I start to get bored so they have to throw something new and challenging in front of me. Previously, I was a salesperson and then I coordinated our new product marketing. Now I'm overseeing the big picture.

Comfortable salary

I earn a comfortable living. For a job such as mine, you negotiate your salary with the company based on a range of criteria. My experience, personality and ability to perform are all factors the company takes into account when deciding how much they want to pay for my services.

Even though I've been with the same company for many years, we started fresh when it came time to negotiate the terms for my current position.

Desk work and world travel

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I'm at a desk 75 percent of the time. I even work from my home office in the morning, because maybe I want to get up at six and make some phone calls to Europe, or maybe I want to be up late in the day and be talking to Australia.

"The rest of it would be travel. You name it, I've been there. Asia and Africa, Europe, the Americas, South America and North America and anywhere you can think of. That's my second desk. It's a huge physical demand. In the last two weeks I was about 50 hours flying."

Do what you love

My father was self-employed and loved it. Watching my father being creative in his business influenced me greatly. I learned from him that you have to enjoy what you do for a living.

So many of the youth today want to work for a cell phone company or a laptop company selling a product they think is sexy and appealing. They need to realize their happiness won't come from what the company is making but from their role and job fulfilment within that company.

Get an education

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"Stick with whatever it is that you're trying to get an education in, whatever degree you're trying to get. I think that's a tremendous learning experience in itself. Does it mean that somebody comes out with a degree and they're smarter? No, but it does show that they were committed and they were able to get the job done.

"My wife's grandmother came from Hungary, left wealth behind to come to Canada and as she said, ‘They can take everything, they can take the shirt off your back but they can never take your education.'"

Keeping in touch

It's important for me to keep in touch with my family while I'm on the road and technology is making that easier to do. I use VoIP to phone home and talk to my wife every evening. I have a web camera in my office computer and a little camera on my laptop. It's fun to actually see my daughter every day when I'm travelling.

The technology has really helped us stay connected. My wife and I survived three and a half years apart when she went away to school in the US, so me travelling for a week now is no big deal.

Note: VoIP is Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP allows people to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular phone line.

Joys of Manitoba

Manitoba is where I want to live. I love the geography of the province. I love the Whiteshell for water-skiing and hiking.

I think Winnipeg at a population of 700,000 or so is just the right size. The city still feels like a small community. We don't get lost in the rush of a big city mentality.

Political frustrations

I don't like getting political but I'm frustrated. I'm what you call a fiscal conservative but also socially progressive. Unfortunately, there isn't really a party that suits me perfectly.

I think we forget some of the competitive fiscal issues. By providing too much strength to labour and unions, you undermine economic strength. You have to be thinking about what's going on around you and be competitive. I think if we were a little more competitive in the way we looked at our economy, we would see our economy thrive even more.

0rganization is key

I spend a good chunk of time organizing my day because it changes so quickly and I need to focus on the right projects at the right time. Even when my office door is closed, I can have three or four people in line to see me. And sometimes a so-called quick question doesn't have a quick answer but I take the time to work it through because I have a responsibility to the staff and the company,

My days are very volatile. I never know what I'm doing from hour to hour. I can plan, but I have to be driven by my customers who pay all the bills. If they need something now, I'm there for them.

Long, flexible hours

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I start often around seven and, except for Fridays, most the time I'm working to six, seven. Fridays, I don't stay late.

"I don't work much on weekends, other than Sunday evenings [when] I work a lot because of Asia starting to do business.

"If I take off one day at three o'clock in the afternoon, nobody is there to say, ‘Oh where are you going?' I put in enough hours, it's just a matter of picking the times."

Intense environment

I thrive on intensity, which is exactly the kind of work environment I'm in. Things are moving very fast. This is a business and time is money. I enjoy the thrill of a new deal. If things weren't moving a mile a minute, I would be bored. I can't just be in a job where I show up for a few hours and then go home.

Anybody looking to get into my kind of a role has to be ready to put in some serious time. There is some flexibility, but you have to be committed and ready for a very intensive workplace.

Cultural awareness

I have to be able to understand and respect other cultures and other personalities.

I go into meetings in certain parts of the world where I might think the customer really doesn't like me because they yell and argue about everything. Then later that night when I'm socializing with the same person, it's like they're my new best friend. Their culture influences how they act. It's fascinating but can be confusing if you don't know what's really going on.

Constant collaboration

I travel around the world to personally meet business clients.

Much of the sales work is done by our sales force who live and work in the different regions. I collaborate with them to make sure we are selling the right products to the right clients in the right countries. There's no way I could handle all that effectively on my own. Our salespeople follow up with the clients to make sure their needs are being met and I follow up with the salespeople every day.

So many perks

I really enjoy finding a business solution to a problem, establishing a relationship and sealing the deal. It's fascinating to go through that process.

I also enjoy the travel. I have the opportunity to visit places that I probably would never have seen otherwise.

But the hours are long and my wife has been very understanding. So has the company owner, who realizes I need to be with my family on certain occasions.

Painting a bright world

We don't sell artificial knees that help people walk. We sell paint chips. But I still feel I'm helping make the world a better place.

Most people can relate to picking a new colour before painting their bedroom or living room. We make that decision easier for them. Paint is the lowest cost way to redecorate a home. For 50 dollars you can have a bigger impact. Colour can put people in a good mood. It can make a home cheery and welcoming. That may not be earth shattering, but it's something.

Technological advantage

I have a small laptop, which I like more than the big 17-inch screen versions because it's great for travel. It's light to carry and that is more important than looking fancy. I have a Treo, which is another version of the Blackberry.

I use a lot of remote technology from home so I have access to all of the same files, all of the same technology and calendars as at the office. Our company was the first in our industry to use electronic presentation methods like PowerPoint, projectors and remote controls.

Transferable skills

I can use what I've learned here in many industries. I'm not limited to selling and marketing paint chips.

I think people shouldn't worry about whether they have the experience to work in this industry or that industry. That's not really the question to be asking. A person can learn how to perform a job but it's their personality and mindset that really allow them to flourish and to take what they've learned and apply it elsewhere.

Patience brings rewards

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"My father did very well but they lived in an apartment for a number of years. Nowadays, gosh, you've got to have your house, you've got to do all this, wanting too much too fast.

"You've got to just slow down and look at what's important and look at the future. You have to enjoy today, but don't focus entirely on today."

Unfocussed at school

I wasn't dedicated in school. I did what I needed to get by. I don't like to look back with regret, but I wish I'd put a little more focus into it.

I went to a great high school, St. Paul's, and really enjoyed it. But I became sidetracked with music more than anything and became less interested in schoolwork. I guess school was not intense enough for my personality. It didn't offer me enough go, go, go, so I didn't focus on it.

Bounced around university

In my undergraduate years in university, I started in Arts and Political Science and then went into Economics. I just bounced around. I always had an interest in Computer Science but realized I was in the wrong field there. I am more of a high end user than a developer of the equipment.

I ended up with a general degree. It was the best decision I could have made. University opened my mind and helped me think in a whole new way about everything.

Work before Masters

Most undergraduate programs provide the foundation to do all sorts of different things. Each offers its own positive influence. You can get a business degree, but I would recommend finding some area of interest and focussing on something other than a business degree. Then, do the business degree as a Masters. It's a great combination.

You also take in a lot more if you've been working for a while. I don't believe in taking Masters programs right after an undergraduate degree. Many programs don't even accept students right out after graduating anymore.

First summer job

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"My first summer job was on an apartment block with a grinder, grinding paint off of the railings and then priming and painting them. That was hard work. You come out at the end of the day and you might be able to buy beers for the night but you aren't going to retire off of that any time soon.

"I think the worse thing you can do is get the perfect job, the first summer job. I think the best thing is to get a really crappy job as your first job, so that you learn that, boy, you've got to work hard to get ahead. It isn't easy."

Special Olympics coach

I volunteered with Special Olympics for eight years, coaching a swim team. I was head coach for three years, organizing the team and all the events. I still go back every year and enjoy helping with their big swim meet.

I was involved with the team when I was at St. Paul's, where we had to volunteer as part of our classwork. We had to commit a certain number of hours every week. That really taught me something. I'd like to get back into the Special Olympics. I just have to find a way to do it.

Strategic planning

I'm always looking for new challenges, so I think I'm situated in a great role to be doing that. If I want bigger and better opportunities, I just have to create them.

I would like to be more involved in strategic planning. We're a smaller company and I need to grow the business first before I have the resources to create a new administrative team. That team would allow me to shift my focus away from the day-to-day sales to a broader strategic vision.

Owner is strong mentor

I could be in this role for a while, because I can help the business grow. Luckily, the owner who used to do this job is still with the company. But he decided to step back a little bit and hand the reins over, so I have big shoes to fill.

The owner Rick Duha is very passionate. He hasn't completely removed himself because he's forged relationships with many of the companies we deal with and they still want to deal with him. But he has coached and mentored me. I've benefited more from his guidance than my own work experiences.

Changing business

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"A lot of people would say that we would be replaced by the inkjet printer. Just print a paint chip at home. We actually investigated the whole concept years ago. It was something I was involved with, so I personally know that's not going to happen any time soon. The whole technology of ink to reproduce paint doesn't really work well.

"My goals for this business are to take it to a different business level. If I can change this business to be more focused on a high quality sample to the consumer that they are willing to pay for because it's that useful, then I think that is my biggest mark."

Learn a language

The one area where I'd really like to improve myself is by learning another language.

Most of our salespeople have a second language because if you travel to Italy for instance, you should know Italian. I can follow French but can't speak it, so I need someone to translate for me. Speaking another language would be another tool I have at my disposal.

I really need to put time and effort into learning another language but I haven't found a way to do that yet.

Stay in Manitoba

I feel fortunate to have some things that not everyone can achieve.

My wife and I are raising our daughter in the same province where we grew up. If we're lucky, we'll have more kids and spend the rest of our live here.

I definitely want to stay in Manitoba. My proudest accomplishments have happened here. If my job ended tomorrow and I had to leave this province for similar work, I'd have to think long and hard about what to do.

Job market info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official title for Doug's occupation is "Sales, Marketing and Advertising Managers" and its NOC* code is 0611.

Manitoba Job Futures

Employment Prospects - Labour Market Information

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupation Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

Useful High School subjects

- English (Communication)
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Math
- Computer-related courses

*Source: JobFutures.ca

For those out of school, Adult Learning Centres can help you get or upgrade your high school diploma, including adding subjects that are required for work or further education. All Manitobans are normally entitled to four free courses.

Below are links to various programs and courses that will you on the path to a career as a Sales, Marketing and Advertising Manager:

University of Manitoba, Asper School of Business

Marketing and Executive Education

University of Winnipeg

Marketing Management Diploma

Canadian Mennonite University

Pre-Professional Program in Business (Management)

Brandon University

Business Administration

Skills

The most important skills for Sales, Marketing and Advertising Manager and other related occupations are:

-Leadership and supervisory abilities
-Business experience including sales, budgeting and accounting
-Entrepreneurial skills
-Communication skills

Source: Manitoba Job Futures

There is not yet an Essential Skills* profile for this occupation.

*For more information on Essential Skills and their importance, go to: Essential Skills.

Professional Resources

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) - Manitoba Division
Canada¹s leading business network and senior business association with established alliances between universities, colleges and training organizations throughout Canada, ensuring the availability of adequately skilled labour

Manitoba Customer Content Association (MCCA)
The industry association of Manitoba companies and organizations in the customer contact sector that addresses specific labour needs for the contact centre sector in Manitoba

Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA)
Involves five school divisions, each offering different technical-vocational courses that are shared among them, including production of manufactured goods, research and development of products as well as the engineering, production, sales and support of the products and providing students with exposure to many different careers along the way

Related Careers

Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications (NOC 5124)

Retail Trade Managers (NOC 0621)

Retail Trade Supervisors (NOC 6211)

Senior Managers - Trade, Broadcasting and Other Services. (NOC 0015)