" I have just begun" says Shafik Hirani - winner of the T.O. Peterson Long-Term Achievement Award & National T.O.P. Leader Award. It was the sixth year in a row that Shafik earned the award for the Division Director with the highest T.O.P. points nationally, finishing 2011 with 958,017 T.O.P. points. “Words can’t describe how I feel about being the only person to win this award six times,” said Shafik. “Records like these may never be broken and I am honored to be a part of them.”

1. IG MAGAZINE >
The last thing you’d expect someone to say after winning a
prestigious lifetime achievement award and another award for
an unprecedented sixth time is that they “have just begun”.
But considering the results that Shafik Hirani, Calgary South,
consistently delivers, it’s easy to believe that he’s not done yet.
“There is always another level,” said Shafik. “I would like to
spend this year focused on building the correct infrastructure
to take the practice there.”
While Shafik sets his sights on building a successful 2012, let’s
recognize his 2011 achievements.
National T.O.P. Leader… again
“This is becoming quite a routine,” said Rob O’Keefe, Senior
Vice-President, Financial Services, as he announced Shafik as
the National T.O.P. Leader award winner at Leaders Forum.
It was the sixth year in a row that Shafik earned the award for
the Division Director with the highest T.O.P. points nationally,
finishing 2011 with 958,017 T.O.P. points.
“Words can’t describe how I feel about being the only person
to win this award six times,” said Shafik. “Records like these
may never be broken and I am honoured to be a part of them.”
Achieving this Investors Group first leaves many wondering –
how does he do it and how can they do it too?
“At conferences, strangers come up to me and pay me wonderful
compliments! Even those I know closely bring rookies over to
introduce to me. It’s a great stroke for the ego, but I’d say that ego
is the ultimate enemy of our success, as it blurs reality and distorts
the truth. For me, the key to success is balance. My advice is to
have a good balance of intelligence and emotional awareness.”
Ultimate recognition with T.O. Peterson
Long-term Achievement Award
For his outstanding lifetime achievement as a Division Director,
Shafik also won the coveted T.O. Peterson Long-term Achieve-
ment Award, making him only the fifth recipient since the award’s
inception in 2004.
“To be associated with the calibre of people who have won this
award is awesome, and I’m thrilled to be the first recipient from
Western Canada,” said Shafik. “A lifetime achievement award
makes me feel old and I laugh because I’m still burning youthful
blood and a zest to show everyone my region’s true competence.”
Shafik’s results showcase that we are seeing true competence.
Since he joined Investors Group in 1995 and became a Division
SHAFIK HIRANI,T.O. PETERSON LONG-TERM
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD & NATIONAL T.O.P.
LEADER AWARD WINNER
“I have just begun”
14 JUNE 2012
IGMag_May2012-EN_v1_Layout 1 6/5/12 2:10 PM Page 14

2. IG MAGAZINE >
Director in 1999, a commitment to excellence and leadership
has characterized his career. His achievements are countless
and include: Business Achievement Award (2010, 2011), T.O.P.
Awards (2006-2011), President’s Club qualifier (2004 as a
Consultant), President’s Elite qualifier (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010 and 2011) and Sales Achievement Award qualifier (2008).
The extra effort and commitment that Shafik brings to Investors
Group are traits he shares with the man for whom this award
was named – Theodore Oscar Peterson, Investors Group’s
President from 1946 to 1966 and Chairman from 1961 to 1969.
Winning the T.O. Peterson Long-term Achievement Award
is an honour that can only be won once during a Division
Director’s career – something that will be new to repeat
award winner Shafik.
Beyond the awards
There are many things that Shafik is proud of in his professional
and personal life that the awards don’t mention.
“For every step I take I realize that the people in my region are
the reason for my awards. The awards don’t mention the many
areas that our region has been tops in like rookie productivity,
BDP1 qualifiers, Pillar Awards, and NBC. They don’t mention
our struggles and challenges. They don’t mention everything
that adds up to make our region work.”
Becoming a parent last year to son Avery also has had an
impact on Shafik’s outlook.
“I have come to realize that we are all meant to shine as
children, yet along the way we become conditioned to think
that the ‘worst’ mistake we can make is simply being wrong,”
explained Shafik. “Avery will learn to color inside the lines,
but I think that when we take a chance and shine, we
encourage others to do the same. I try to shine every day.”
JUNE 2012 15
“There is always another level.
I would like to spend this year focused
on building the correct infrastructure
to take the practice there.”
– Shafik Hirani,Division Director,Calgary South
“To be associated with the calibre of people who have won this award is awesome,
and I’m thrilled to be the first recipient from Western Canada.”
– Shafik Hirani,Division Director,Calgary South
IGMag_May2012-EN_v1_Layout 1 6/5/12 2:10 PM Page 15