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Jun 01 2015

Sheri Andrunyk: Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month of May 2015

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Sheri believes that we all possess the knowledge of what’s best for our own life and business. She is the catalyst that can (and does) bring those insights to the forefront; especially empowering business owners, entrepreneurs, and authors with vision, wisdom and support.

Upon the release of her first book Hearts Linked By Courage, Sheri expanded her business to share her new knowledge and resources for those embracing the writing and book publishing journey. I C Publishing was officially unveiled in 2011. Since then, Sheri and her virtual team of ten have produced an amazing cross-section of high quality books, including a second of her own called Working From Home & Making It Work© in 2012, and, Do You Have a Book In You? and The All Season Entrepreneur, both due out in 2015.

Over the past thirty years, eleven of which were spent as a successful franchise owner in the beauty industry, Sheri has also had extensive formal training and mentoring in business and direct sales, earning her numerous awards for personal achievement and team development and success.

In addition to working with her author clients, she will always remain passionate about coaching and mentoring business owners and entrepreneurs who are as committed and enthusiastic about work and life as she is. As a coach, mentor, and Master NLP Practitioner, Sheri skilfully guides her clients through many stages of their career, helping to maintain the work/life balance that is best for them… all the while inspiring confidence and providing direction to continually take those next steps in living their ideal life. When assisting clients with marketing projects, Sheri has a unique sense of how best to communicate and express their message, as if they created it themselves. Her extraordinary and obvious passion and expertise in language, communication, and relationships, makes her an invaluable source of support in one’s personal or professional journey.

______________________________________________________________________________

Our Q & A with Sheri

What inspires you?

Meaningful conversation, ongoing learning, self-awareness and self-growth, kindness and compassion in others, and the way thoughtful words can move us individually, and collectively, to do great things.

‘And a child’s smile, a friendly hug, the adoring love from a pet, and nature.
As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

On a personal note, it would be my beautiful family life and fulfilling marriage of thirty-three years. There are many business accomplishments, big and small, which I am tremendously proud of; however, they pale in comparison to that of creating a work/life dynamic that serves all in my world—personally and professionally.

On a business note, of course, each stage of my career holds its own special memory for me.

At the very beginning of my entrepreneurial path, in my twenties, I was terribly uncomfortable speaking in front of any audience. Over the years I worked on that, and have studied and practiced and learned so much. Suffice to say, I am very much more at ease sharing and delivering on topics that I am knowledgeable and passionate about. In fact, it’s like a calling to me now.

The other intangible that comes to mind is the wisdom I’ve gained over the years, and how I’m able to draw on this, as well as all of my formal training and real life/work experience. It really helps me to understand and relate to others in their journey.

And at the end of the day, if I’ve been able to help someone feel more encouraged, enlightened, and confident in their own abilities . . . and motivated to take their next steps . . . it just doesn’t get much better for me. 

What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Believe in yourself, your work, and the difference you want to make. Seek out support that elevates you.

When making decisions and planning ahead, do your homework, and ask questions. Once you have thoughtfully gathered important information and resources—check in with yourself—then trust and follow what resonates with “you” most.

Above all, I encourage business owners and entrepreneurs to be present, in the moment as much as possible. Give others your full and kind attention always. And embrace and enjoy each chapter of your life. It goes by so quickly!
What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

The growth of I C Publishing has been so exciting and significant these past few years, I’m simply enjoying the journey at the moment. Yes, I have more specific goals, for sure; however, I am a little less attached to outcomes than I once was. Beyond my daily passion and commitment to serving my growing list of amazing clients, I’m sure I will complete the writing and e-publishing of my next two books, Do You Have a Book in You?, and The All Season Entrepreneur. I look forward to taking on a few additional speaking engagements this year too.

On a personal note perhaps, as my publishing team continues to expand, I will likely get closer and closer to my four-day work week more often. And being just in my early my fifties, it feels so affirming that my hard work is paying off, and I am afforded more choice with my time, along with the chance to spend more of that time with my family.

_____________________________________________________________________

A little more about I C Publishing:

I C Publishing bridges the gap between self and traditional publishing. In many respects, we’re a one-stop shop offering “customized” high level support and services to busy authors and business owners—including consulting, project management, editing, design, production, social media, fulfilment, and more—a la carte, or in packages depending on our client’s needs and budget. We have a team of ten professionals with different areas of expertise to ensure we have all the bases covered. And we work closely with all of our clients, right from the beginning of their projects to set the pace of our work together, ensuring they have the support and guidance they need to move forward and realize their dreams.

Connect with Sheri: 

Sheri@ICPublishing.ca 

www.ICPublishing.ca

www.ICBookstore.ca

905.853.1968

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: Author, business, business owner, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, Do You Have A Book in You?, entrepreneur, Facebook, Hearts Linked by Courage, IC Publishing, marketing, publisher, publishing, Sheri Andrunyk, small business woman of the month, The All Season Entrepreneur, Working From Home & Making It Work

May 25 2014

VENDOR EVENTS

Last year has been quite a ride for us here at Canadian Small Business Women. With one year under our belt, we have made some important connections in the business world to help us host valuable events for our business community. We invite you to be a guest, exhibitor or a partner at some of our upcoming events. I hope to meet you all very soon.

IMMIGRANT WOMEN’S SMALL BUSINESS EXPO

This year, we are hosting two large feature events that are FREE of cost to our guests. We will be hosting our Immigrant Women’s Small Business Expo in Ottawa and in Toronto. Our Ottawa event will be held at the elegant Canadian Museum of Nature on October 4th, 2014 from 9am -5pm. This event will feature businesses from around the Ottawa area that offer services or business opportunities for our guests. We are expecting over 1000 guests to attend this one of a kind event. We will be inviting members of the Canadian Government, speakers from across Ontario and prominent members of the Ottawa Immigrant Community. We are currently seeking Exhibitors from business sectors such as education, legal, consulting, Immigrant Services, Real Estate, and more. Please view our event WEBSITE for further details. To redeem your FREE ticket to our event, click on the following LINK.

museum

 

Our Toronto Edition of the Immigrant Women’s Small Business Expo will be held at the iconicToronto Metro Hall on November 9th, 2014. This event will be the premiere Immigrant Small Business event of the GTA. Our guest list will be similar to that of our Ottawa event. To redeem yourFREE tickets for this event, click the following LINK.

 

Metro

We are also seeking volunteers for both events. Our volunteer hours are split in two shifts: 6am – 12pm and 12pm to 6pm. We require volunteers in the areas of check-in, set-up, greeting, workshop organization and tear down. If interested, please email us at info@canadiansmallbusinesswomen.caor canadiansmallbusinesswomen@gmail.com and provide us with your name, age, event of interest, volunteer experience, contact information (including phone number) and hours of availability.

We are also seeking VOLUNTEERS for both our events. We are seeking 50 volunteers for each of our Expos. We welcome students, community groups and corporate groups as well. Volunteer areas available are: Exhibitor Check-In, Guest Entrance, Guest Check-In, Media Check-In/Escort, Direction Assistant, Workshop Assistant, Dignitary Check-In/Escort, and Event Check-Out. Please view our Website for our Volunteer application.

 

 

SMALL BUSINESS SEMINAR – AUGUST 2014

Join us for our 3rd Small Business Seminar on August 9th , 2014 from 9am – 4pm at Sheraton Parkway North Toronto(Hwy 404 and 407). We are very excited to be hosting our Seminar on the Northeast end of the GTA. This gives us a chance to expand our network and showcase what our business has to offer. We are currently seeking 30 vendors/exhibitors for this show as well as a few workshop hosts. You can fill out our Vendor Agreement Form by clicking HERE. Early bird tickets are now available for only $10 (a 66% discount) by clicking HERE.

 

PERKS: As an exhibitor, you will receive a 6ft table with table cloth, access to our workshops (please do not leave your table unattended), lunch, and 5 complimentary tickets! There will be great opportunities to not only sell your product, but to also network with fellow entrepreneurs.   There is no limit to the great connections that will be made at this event.

 

 

Social Media Marketing: Beyond the Essentials

June 25, 2014. Microsoft Store, Square One

Our guest speaker for this heavily sought after topic is Kelly Farrell from Teach Me Social.  Kelly Farrell has been a teacher for more than 10 years and has experience teaching children and adults of all ages. Her experience with Social Media dates back to the days when call waiting first appeared! She has always been a bit of a techy and early adopter of new and exciting technologies and networks.

Social Media can help you expand your business reach, draw traffic back to your website and grow your brand online. It goes beyond having a Facebook page. Using Social Media effectively as part of your marketing strategy includes expanding your reach to all of the most popular sites, including Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google+, thus reaching a far wider audience of potential customers. Through this workshop, Teach Me Social can show you how to manage your time to gain the most benefit from having a presence across all Social Media platforms.

Early bird tickets are now available for only $10 (a 50% discount) by clicking HERE. No tickets will be sold at the door for this event. Event seating is limited.

 

 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Events · Tagged: Author, business community, business opportunities, Canada, Canadian Government, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Small Business Women, CBC, Chatelaine Magazine, City of Toronto, City TV, CTV, Dwania Peele, Events, Expo, Fempreneur, google, Immigrant, Immigrant Community, Immigrant Women, Immigrant Women's Small Business Expo, Instagram, Kelly Farrell, Linkedin, Metro Hall, Metro News, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Microsoft, Microsoft Store, October, Ottawa, Pinterest, Public Relations, Sheraton Parkway North Toronto, small business, Small Business Seminar, social media, Social Media Marketing, Speaker, Square One, Square One Shopping Centre, Teach Me Social, Toronto, Toronto Metro Hall, TSN, Twitter, Vendor Agreement, Vendor Events, volunteer, Women in Business, Women's Diving Feminine Power, Workshop

Apr 21 2014

Vendor Events and Event Discounts!

Last year has been quite a ride for us here at Canadian Small Business Women. With one year under our belt, we have made some important connections in the business world to help us host valuable events for our business community. We invite you to be a guest, exhibitor or a partner at some of our upcoming events. I hope to meet you all very soon.

IMMIGRANT WOMEN’S SMALL BUSINESS EXPO

This year, we are hosting two large feature events that are FREE of cost to our guests. We will be hosting our Immigrant Women’s Small Business Expo in Ottawa and in Toronto. Our Ottawa event will be held at the elegant Canadian Museum of Nature on October 4th, 2014 from 9am -5pm. This event will feature businesses from around the Ottawa area that offer services or business opportunities for our guests. We are expecting over 1000 guests to attend this one of a kind event. We will be inviting members of the Canadian Government, speakers from across Ontario and prominent members of the Ottawa Immigrant Community. We are currently seeking Exhibitors from business sectors such as education, legal, consulting, Immigrant Services, Real Estate, and more. Please view our event WEBSITE for further details. To redeem your FREE ticket to our event, click on the following LINK.

museum

 

Our Toronto Edition of the Immigrant Women’s Small Business Expo will be held at the iconic Toronto Metro Hall on November 9th, 2014. This event will be the premiere Immigrant Small Business event of the GTA. Our guest list will be similar to that of our Ottawa event. To redeem your FREE tickets for this event, click the following LINK.

 

Metro

We are also seeking volunteers for both events. Our volunteer hours are split in two shifts: 6am – 12pm and 12pm to 6pm. We require volunteers in the areas of check-in, set-up, greeting, workshop organization and tear down. If interested, please email us at info@canadiansmallbusinesswomen.ca or canadiansmallbusinesswomen@gmail.com and provide us with your name, age, event of interest, volunteer experience, contact information (including phone number) and hours of availability.

We are also seeking VOLUNTEERS for both our events. We are seeking 50 volunteers for each of our Expos. We welcome students, community groups and corporate groups as well. Volunteer areas available are: Exhibitor Check-In, Guest Entrance, Guest Check-In, Media Check-In/Escort, Direction Assistant, Workshop Assistant, Dignitary Check-In/Escort, and Event Check-Out. Please view our Website for our Volunteer application.

 

 

SMALL BUSINESS SEMINAR – AUGUST 2014

Join us for our 3rd Small Business Seminar on August 9th , 2014 from 9am – 4pm at Sheraton Parkway North Toronto(Hwy 404 and 407). We are very excited to be hosting our Seminar on the Northeast end of the GTA. This gives us a chance to expand our network and showcase what our business has to offer. We are currently seeking 30 vendors/exhibitors for this show as well as a few workshop hosts. You can fill out our Vendor Agreement Form by clicking HERE. Early bird tickets are now available for only $10 (a 66% discount) by clicking HERE.

 

PERKS: As an exhibitor, you will receive a 6ft table with table cloth, access to our workshops (please do not leave your table unattended), lunch, and 5 complimentary tickets! There will be great opportunities to not only sell your product, but to also network with fellow entrepreneurs.   There is no limit to the great connections that will be made at this event.

 

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN

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The Art of Production will be back in Toronto this May with The Art of Leadership for Women. This event will feature Martha Stewart, Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, New York Times bestselling author Erica Ariel Fox, BBC World News Lead Anchor Katty Kay, New York Times Best Selling Author Liane Davey, and Award Winning Broadcast Journalist from CBC Wendy Mesley. I had the pleasure of attending The Art of Small Business last year during Small Business Week and it was definitely worth it. It is a great opportunity to connect with business leaders from companies that are held in high esteem internationally. Canadian Small Business Women is delighted to offer up to $100 off your admission ticket to this May 29th event being held at The Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  Use the promo code SMALLBIZWOMEN32 when you click HERE to register. See you there!

 

 

BECOME A PR PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 2014

Can’t afford a P.R. Agency or Publicist?Now you don’t have to….Veteran Broadcaster and Producer Teresa Kruze (CTV, City-TV, 680News, TSN, Chatelaine Magazine and Metro News) has worked in the media for over twenty-five years appearing on television, radio, and writing for magazines and newspapers. As a reporter, she has worked beside some of the best Assignment Editors in the business and observed on a daily basis what stories made it to air and what press releases ended up in the garbage bin or deleted file. Now she is going to share her knowledge to help small and medium business owners professionally promote their company or events in this informative workshop, you will learn the following:

  • Who are the key players in a news-room
  • How to write a proper press release that will get you and your company noticed
  • How to find your Media Hook
  • The right time to send a press release and the worst time to call a newsroom
  • Insider Tricks and Secrets to get past the Gatekeepers

This event is being held at The Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre from 9am – 1pm. There are only 20 seats available. This workshop is being offered for a special price of $350 to all of our affiliated entrepreneurs. This workshop is normally priced at $797, which is a saving of over 50%. Get your tickets by clicking HERE.

Snacks will be provided.

 

 

5 Ways to Lead and Succeed as A Fempreneur on Your Terms with Less Effort and More Profit

May 21, 2014. Microsoft Store, Yorkdale Mall

 

Our guest speaker is the one and only Janette Burke from I’m Every Woman TV.  Before Janette Burke, Your Marketing Magnet, FEMPRENEUR Marketing/Mindset Mentor, Speaker, Author and Host/Creator of I’m Every Woman! TV became an advocate of Women Rights & Issues and champion to Women in Business she spent 17 years behind the camera as the Founding Publicist of Prime Time PR and Former Editor of PRtalk – Canada’s only online PR magazine.

Today Janette’s mission is to awaken WOMEN’S DIVINE FEMININE POWER and provide them with the muster, support and tools they need to ignite their passions, stay on track and create a business & life they love – which she delivers through her I’m Every Woman! TV Show, Magnetic Women in Business Blog, Marketing/Mindset Mentoring, Dynamic Speeches and Columns.

Thinking of taking the entrepreneurial plunge or already there?

In this talk you will …

  • Break through the # 1 barrier to Women’s Success
  • Make the ONE simple change to be more productive in business that leads to more profit
  • Get the ONE essential element every FEMPRENEUR needs in her business to gain momentum and achieve success day after day, month after month and year after year
  • Duplicate my Marketing Recipe comprised of my ‘guaranteed-to-attract more clients & make more money’ on and offline strategies – which will have you clearing defining and conveying your compelling marketing message – so your ideal client sings your praises
  • Understand the differences between the Male and Female Success Models and go forward creating a Divinely Feminine business and life you love
  • And become an impressive role model for future generations of Women to follow as a result

Early bird tickets are now available for only $10 (a 50% discount) by clicking HERE. No tickets will be sold at the door for this event. Event seating is limited.

 

Social Media Marketing: Beyond the Essentials

June 25, 2014. Microsoft Store, Square One

 

Our guest speaker for this heavily sought after topic is Kelly Farrell from Teach Me Social.  Kelly Farrell has been a teacher for more than 10 years and has experience teaching children and adults of all ages. Her experience with Social Media dates back to the days when call waiting first appeared! She has always been a bit of a techy and early adopter of new and exciting technologies and networks.

Social Media can help you expand your business reach, draw traffic back to your website and grow your brand online. It goes beyond having a Facebook page. Using Social Media effectively as part of your marketing strategy includes expanding your reach to all of the most popular sites, including Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google+, thus reaching a far wider audience of potential customers. Through this workshop, Teach Me Social can show you how to manage your time to gain the most benefit from having a presence across all Social Media platforms.

Early bird tickets are now available for only $10 (a 50% discount) by clicking HERE. No tickets will be sold at the door for this event. Event seating is limited.

 

Woman on Fire Gala

Sunday, April 27, 2014

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Canadian Small Business Women is proud to be a media sponsors of the upcoming Woman on Fire Gala being hosted by Allison Harvey, of The Networking Diva Group.   WOMAN ON FIRE will be an epic evening of inspirations; passionate connections, laughter, tears, entertainment and so much more we invite you to become a sponsor or a guest.

Speakers:

  • Jilian Saweczko, Mother, Wife, Entrepreneur, Politician
  • Suzette Dallas, Mother, Wife, Entrepreneur – Suzy Mari Health & Fitness Studio
  • Natalia Popovich, Entrepreneur – Nat & Home
  • Natasha Morris, Entrepreneur – Gift’d
  • Tamara Sylvan, Mother, Wife, Female Firefighter & Entrepreneur – BeCPR Smart

The “Woman on Fire” is creating a blazing path, creating success for not only herself, but for those behind her. She boldly shares her journey on this road with others so they too can appreciate her challenges, witnessing her tears, but most of all…the smiles of accomplishment. While on the road full of pot holes and blind spots, the “Woman on Fire” seeks mentorship and support through the hills and valleys of business. She is not afraid to fail because she knows that in her failure lie her lessons for success that will bring her from the darkness and into the light. “Women on Fire” are known for listening to that small voice in the depths of their inner being, choosing to believe in themselves when no one else does.

For further information, please click HERE.

 

Our event blog post is contributed by Dwania Peele, Executive Director and Owner of Canadian Small Business Women. Please connect with her @DwaniaPeele , or at @CanadianSmallBusinessWomen on Facebook or @CdnSmallBizWmn on Twiter.

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Events · Tagged: 680 News, Allison Harvey, anchor, Assignment Editors, Author, BBC, BeCPR Smart, business community, business opportunities, Canada, Canadian Gold Medalist, Canadian Government, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian Small Business Women, CBC, Chatelaine Magazine, City of Toronto, City TV, CTV, Dwania Peele, Erica Ariel Fox, Events, Expo, Fempreneur, Gift'd, google, Hayley Wickenheiser, I'm Every Woman TV, Immigrant, Immigrant Community, Immigrant Women, Immigrant Women's Small Business Expo, Instagram, Janette Burke, Jilian Saweczko, Journalist, Katty Kay, Kelly Farrell, Liane DAvey, Linkedin, Magnetic Women in Business Blog, Martha Stewart, Metro Hall, Metro News, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Microsoft, Microsoft Store, Nat & Home, Natalia Popovich, Natasha Morris, New York Times, October, Olympic, Ottawa, Pinterest, Politician, PR, Prime Time PR, PRTalk, Public Relations, reporter, Sheraton Parkway North Toronto, small business, Small Business Seminar, social media, Social Media Marketing, Speaker, Square One, Suzette Dallas, Suzy Mari Health & Fitness Studio, Tamara Sylvan, Teach Me Social, Teresa Kruze, The Art Of, The Art of Leadership for Women, The Art of Production, The Art of Small Business, The Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre, The Networking Diva Group, Toronto, Toronto Metro Hall, TSN, Twitter, Vendor Agreement, Vendor Events, volunteer, Wendy Mesley, WOF, Woman on Fire, Woman on Fire Gala, Women in Business, Women's Diving Feminine Power, Workshop, Yorkdale Mall, Your Marketing Magnet

Apr 01 2014

Josephine Casey – Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month of March 2014

Josephine Casey

Josephine Casey is an Author and Poet.  She also works full-time at a prestigious Law Firm in the downtown Brampton area as a Law Clerk. Her voyage through life has inspired her to write a book of poetry.

Josephine has been writing poetry from an early age. Her book, Life’s Poetry is a collection of poems that expresses freedom of speech in everyday challenges through life’s journey. It is a balance of our emotions and a combination of inspirational messages throughout the good and bad and times. Life’s Poetry is realistic and portrays our human nature in what we feel and do.

Josephine has been promoting her book at different venues and bookstores such as Knowledge Bookstore, Accents Bookstore, Ascend and Andrea’s Gift Shop.  Her book is also available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and xlibris.com.  The ebook is available at kobobooks.com.

Josephine continues to aspire in her work and has accomplished several book signings with Chapters/ Indigo. She has also attended on events organized with the Brampton Library and is currently the host of the Open Mic event at Cheers Lounge.  Josephine continues to strive and work on new projects with high hopes to motivate and influence others.

What inspires you?
I am inspired when I see others living their dreams.  To have that ability to know what you want and go after it is a huge accomplishment.   Fulfilling that goal and standing up for your rights and beliefs also inspires me.
As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?
The achievements that make me most proud are the milestones and challenges I had to overcome which has led me in the direction that I am today.  Planning my first event with no experience was a proud moment for me because I took that leap of faith and despite the outcome or circumstances I made the the best of it.
 
What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?
The advice I would give to small aspiring business owners is to never give up, stay focused and motivated.  There will be challenges and difficulties but as long as you are patient with a positive attitude you will have the courage to succeed.
What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?
I hope to collaborate with aspiring entrepreneurs and continue to network and promote Life’s Poetry.  I am also looking forward to incorporate different mediums of art when presenting my poetry at events.  I plan to attract more local artists to feature them at the open mic monthly segment that I host in high hopes of giving them that platform to inspire others and create that environment for creativity to flow.

 

 

 

Social media:

 Twitter @Lifes_Poetry    

 Facebook Life’s Poetry     https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lifes-Poetry/616103795071458

 Email  josephines.poetry@gmail.com

 

 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: Accents Bookstore, Amazon, Andrea's Gift Shop, Ascend, Author, Barnes and Noble, Brampton, Brampton Library, business development, Canadian Small Business Women, Capters, everyday challenges, Indigo, Josephine, Josephine Casey, Knowledge Bookstore, kobo books, Law Clerk, Law Firm, Life's Poetry, poet, poetry, prestigious Law Firm, small business development, xlibris

Dec 02 2013

Sandra Dawes – Canadian Small Business Woman of The Month of November 2013

sandra

Sandra Dawes is a speaker; author and certified life coach specializing in teaching women how to stop arguing for their limitations so that they can reclaim their power and live the life they deserve.  She holds an Honours BA, an MBA as well as a certificate in Dispute Resolution.  After the passing of her father and circumstances that followed, she suffered from bouts of depression and sought the help of psychotherapists. Unwilling to seek pharmaceutical assistance to deal with her chronic unhappiness, she was lead on a journey of self-awareness and forgiveness that changed her life in deep and meaningful ways.

Through meditation, affirmations, yoga and mirror work, she has learned to achieve balance and awareness that has helped her to discover her desire and passion to help others to do the same.  A student of A Course in Miracles, she works with clients to help them rediscover their connection with the Source of all Creation and the power it provides all of us in the pursuit of making dreams a reality.

Sandra enjoys spending time with friends and family, her partner Satnam, her dog Lulu, as well as writing articles for her blog www.embraceyourdestiny.ca.  Her first book, Embrace Your Destiny! 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve, is available at major book retailers or directly from her here.

 

Our Q & A with Sandra Dawes

*What inspires you?

I’m inspired by inspiring and motivating others to really step into their power and take control of their life!  I know from personal experience how challenging it can be to live your life the way you want instead of striving to please others all the time.  I also know how rewarding it is when you reclaim your power and live your life authentically!
*As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

Completing my first book is definitely an achievement I’m proud of!  I’m also proud of being at a point where I’m really ready to step into my business on a full-basis!  Both of these achievements happened this summer!  Life has really just been a blur since July! J
*What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Be clear on your goals, both for the business and for yourself personally.  Remember “overnight success” takes a lot of work.  As long as you’re committed to your business and it aligns with your personal values, you’ll be able to maintain momentum and focus regardless of the challenges and obstacles you may face along the way.
*What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

Look for more speaking engagements as I start to promote my book!  I also plan on doing more workshops, both locally and virtually.  I’m looking forward to doing my first retreat in 2014 as well!

You can contact Sandra Dawes via the links below

www.facebook.com/sandra.n.dawes

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny
www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook

www.twitter.com/sandradawes

 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes, Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: Author, Canadian Small Business Women, career coach, coaching, Dispute Resolution, Embrace Your Destiny, Embrace Your Destiny Book, entrepreneur, Sandra Dawes

Jun 01 2013

JESSICA ALEX – CANADIAN SMALL BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE MONTH OF MAY 2013

Jessica A

At the age of 20, Jessica Alex (Jessica Cobran) sat down and started writing what would become her first children’s book, “What If the World Had No Colour?” The idea to write this book came just a few months after she decided to put her first company Urban Voice (a free publication she started at the age of 17) aside to focus on her other goals, which included finishing her undergraduate degree.

After transferring from Ryerson University (Toronto) to Concordia University (Montreal) she finished her Bachelors of Arts with a Joint Specialization in Sociology and Anthropology. From there she decided to move back to Toronto, unsure of what her next step would be. She decided to get back to what she loved most: writing. The summer of 2012 saw Alex go through a writing frenzy. She also went through all her old materials including her story, “What If the World Had No Colour?” and realized that this story was worth publishing. After spending some time during her summer researching details on how to get her book published, she decided to attend a networking event.

That’s where Jessica Alex says she met a fellow author Darren Hogarth who planted a seed. He told her, if she had the entrepreneurial spirit she should try self-publishing; if not, she could try publishing the traditional way. She knew without a doubt that she always has had an entrepreneurial spirit. So from there she shifted her research from getting published to starting her own publishing company. She frequented bookstores and tried picking the brains of managers from the children’s book section.

After weighing all the pros and cons of starting her own publishing company and finding the perfect name for it, she went ahead and registered Upon A Star Books Inc., a publishing company geared toward publishing children’s books that are educational and inspirational.

Her first publication is both educational and inspirational as it teaches children to play with one another no matter what their ethnicity and cultural background is; but also to love themselves the way they were created.

Within a few months, she has sold 90 books mostly through word of mouth. Her main goal at this point is continuing to get media coverage for her debut book and getting her books into local bookstores.

Now after just turning 25, she has also made a commitment to work with local charities and non-profit organizations by supporting them during events that she attends. Giving back in some shape or form is something that has been important to her, and something that she wishes to continue doing.

Q&A with Jessica Alex

What inspires you?

Working hard, and seeing the fruits of my labour. I’ve never been someone who can sit at home and do nothing. I have to constantly keep busy, whether it is work, school, volunteering or running my own business.

As a small business owner, what achievements make you most proud?

When I decided to publish this book, I said from the very beginning, as long as one child reads my book, and understands the message I would be happy. Cliché I know, but it was honestly how I felt. So I had my company launch in October 2012, and at least 20 people preordered my book. That gave me a lot of confidence.

I recently attended a book reading with a class of grade three children, and they came up to me afterwards to tell me how much they liked my book and the pictures I drew. We had a discussion about the moral of my story. They also asked me to sign their lunch bags, which I thought was so adorable!

What advice would you give to other aspiring small business owners?

Start small, and manage your expectations. If you are going out on your own, it usually means that you are passionate about what you are doing, and believe in the product you are selling. However, sometimes it takes others a while to also believe in your vision as well.

I also believe it is a good idea to work at another job until your business takes off. Currently I work at a full-time job. It’s hard work juggling the two at times, however, with my full-time job I know that I am getting paid every two weeks, and I use part of my income to fund my business activities.

Another piece of advice I can give is that it is important to network and “social” network. Attend as many events as you can, especially if it relates to your field, and always have a business card handy. You never know whom you will meet. Social media and networking on social media outlets is very important as well.

I would also say do your research, and never stop reading up on your industry to keep up to date. Last but not least, have a plan B (and even up to Z). Things may not always go your way, but it is how you recover that can make or break your business.

What new things can we look forward to from your business in the upcoming year?

I have a few more books upcoming this year. The first one will be a follow-up to “What If the World Had No Colour?” I am also looking to put together workshops for children and pre-teens.

For more information on Jessica Alex and her company visit www.uponastarbooks.ca or follow @UponAStarBooks on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook.

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: Author, Canadian Small Business Women, Concordia University, Darren Hogarth, Female Author, Jessica Alex, nee Jessica Cobran, Ryerson University, Upon A Star Books Inc, Urban Voice, What If the World Had No Colour, Young Author

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