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Jul 15 2015

5 reasons you should join a mastermind group

sandra

When I first heard the term mastermind, I was intrigued.  I like the idea of a group of people working together to support one another with their respective goals.  I have participated in masterminds as a facilitator and as a participant.  I have seen and experienced the benefits from both perspectives and I strongly recommend finding one that suits your needs.  Here are 5 reasons why I believe every entrepreneur should be a part of a mastermind group.

  1. We can’t do it alone

    When we try to do it all on our own, we inevitably make painful and often very costly mistakes. Being a part of a mastermind allows us to learn from the mistakes and successes of others.  It also offers us the opportunity to realize that we are not alone in our struggles and challenges.  It’s nice to know that there is life after failure.  It’s even better when you know that you have a group of people that are committed to helping you achieve your goals as you are to them in the pursuit of theirs.

  1. Different minds, different perspectives

    Ideally, you want to be a part of a mastermind group that has varied skill sets, experiences and ways of processing information. You need you left and right brain thinkers at the table.  We can benefit from the creative viewpoint as much as we can the analytical.  Having these different thinkers in the group gives you access to a variety of viewpoints that you may never have considered.  I love the saying that we don’t know what we don’t know because it’s true.  Being part of a mastermind gives you access to the wealth of knowledge held by each participant.

  2. Accountability

    Meetings give each participant a change to update the group on who their week or month has been, depending on the frequency of the meetings. This is where each member celebrates their successes, talks about what’s working and what isn’t and what they commit to accomplishing for the next meeting.  Sharing your commitments holds you accountable to the rest of the group and allows the group the opportunity to offer any help they can in the achievement of your goal.  The magic happens because all of this help and support I s never one-sided.  Reciprocity is the magic ingredient that makes masterminds thrive.

  3. Expand your network in a meaningful way

    Sure Linkedin will show you how wide your network is because of your connections, but what does that really mean? When you’re a part of a mastermind group, you hear A LOT of “I know someone who can help you out with that!”  I don’t know about you, but those words are music to my ears, especially when that connection can help me with something I’ve been wrestling with for a while!  The more time you spend with your group, the better they understand your business and what you need.  Whether it’s someone to help you coordinate your next event or a client referral, your group members are there to support you, just as you are there for them.  Social media is great, but there’s still something to be said for that personal, intimate connection that can only be developed with time.

  4. Awesome camaraderie, support and encouragement

Here’s the thing –when you join a mastermind group, whether it’s a six-month or year-long commitment, you can’t help but develop a strong bond with the other members.  You’re baring your soul, sharing your struggles and celebrating your accomplishments with these people on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.  When you are committed to the group, the process and each other’s success, the magic really starts to happen.  There are groups that have been going for years, if not decades because they know firsthand that masterminds really do work!

Napoleon Hill, in his book Think and Grow Rich, describes a mastermind group as “a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with plan and purpose.”  He dedicates an entire chapter to the concept in the book for a reason.  Being part of an effective mastermind group can be just what you need to help you take your business exactly where you want it to be, or even further than you ever imagined!

If you’re considering joining a mastermind, then you should definitely think about becoming a Canadian Small Business Women member! I’m pleased to be partnering with CSBW and offering preferred rates on participating in my 6-month mastermind program. For more information on the different membership options, visit the following link. I look forward to achieving massive success with you!

Sandra Dawes is a certified life coach specializing in helping women who feel unfulfilled with their 9-5 follow their dreams and pursue their passions. She holds an Honours BA, an MBA as well as a certificate in Dispute Resolution.She has completed her first book,Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve!

Connect:

www.embraceyourdestiny.ca

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestiny

www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook

www.twitter.com/sandradawes

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sandra Dawes · Tagged: accountability, achieve, alliance, business, Canadian Small Business Women, coaching, CSBW, Embrace Your Destiny, encouragement, facilitator, goals, mastermind, mastermind group, meeting, membership, Napoleon Hill, networking, participant, perks, perspective, Sandra Dawes, support, Think and Grow Rich, working together

May 01 2014

Rose Nixon – Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month of April 2014

ROSE

“An organized space is a smiling face” is a truth that Rose Nixon holds firmly to. As the Chief Organizer and Principal Owner of ReallyOrganizedNow(RON), a Professional Organizing company, Rose knows firsthand the value of an organized space and the power of a smile. “Helping active women and families become more organized in their daily lives is my mission. Life can be stressful enough without having the added burden of disorganization,” reinforces Rose. Known as Your “Anything” Organizer and the recently named 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year (which she will be awarded at the upcoming Microskills Gala Event on May 29th), Rose shares her knowledge, techniques, tips and mindful solutions with her clients and community. Her services focus on de-cluttering, organizing and staging clients’ home, office and small business spaces for renewed clarity and function making it far more welcoming. Rose also knows that when people are organized they smile more.  They are far more pleasant to be around.  They enjoy their lives with greater ease and comfort. They become much more focused on what’s important.

“Stress-less, live more” is an ideology that Rose believes everyone should aim to do more of. Two and a half years ago Rose was faced with a life-threatening health concern that pushed this ideology to the forefront of her life. “I’ve been working since I’m 19 years old and haven’t stopped. Even when I became a mother, I never stopped. When I was rushed to the ER as a result of much discomfort for several days prior, the news that I had an accumulation of more than a litre of fluid around my heart, was astounding and a huge wake-up call to me. I was lucky to have arrived at the hospital on the day that I did”, Rose recounts. She was lucky to be alive and thankful to have another chance to live life differently. She really had to seriously evaluate what that difference looked like.

Choosing to live her life as simply as possible, Rose began to refocused more on the quality not quantity of her life. So, she began by de-cluttering some of the excesses in her life—people, places, things, thoughts and mindset. Stress is a silent killer. With the increasing demands of work and lifestyle, a growing majority of people, particularly women, are on the receiving end of risky health problems and mental disorders. Rose knew that she had to continue to remain relaxed and really organized in order to maintain her overall health.

A mother of two, now teenaged, boys, Rose had to readjust her focus and align her personal vision with what was truly in her heart—to do something significant with her time and her life. Not wanting to re-enter the world of Payroll, Rose decided to explore some of her other interests and passions. Entrepreneurship was always looming and the time had come to explore it with much more vigor.

Combining her innate abilities in domesticated and corporate office management, her sensibilities in restoring order, educational background in Public Relations and Corporate Communications, and her organizational skills was now taking shape in her new endeavor. She enrolled herself in a business plan development program specifically designed for women with entrepreneurial designs, there she reconfirmed that her ideas for ReallyOrganizedNow was viable as a business. Rose Nixon has the desire to chart herself a new course to success and live a life with purpose.

Rose Nixon is an active volunteer in her community, offering support to several causes and organizations. She is a business owner, newbie blogger and aspiring published author, an ambassador of creative expression and a keen supporter of women in small business.

 

Our Q & A with Rose Nixon

What inspires you?

Inspiration comes to me from many different sources. As a woman, I am inspired by other women who simply make things happen. They push for change. They use their creativity and ingenuity to provoke innovation that improves the quality and well being humanity. As an entrepreneur I am inspired by women and men that took NO and turned it into YES through sheer determination and belief that all things are possible. As a person, I am inspired by my children. My life’s interaction with them teaches me that I am capable of far more than I realize.

 

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

My proudest achievements thus far are first and foremost that I have embarked on this adventure and still holding true my vision that organized living is a change maker in living better. My nomination of Microskills 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Award is another. It is an honour to be considered but it is also an honour to be an award recipient. My appearance on DayTime Toronto highlighting the Basics of Organizing; My The presence of my business on social media platforms—Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin; The growth of my networking community; and my valuable volunteer participation in many community organizations—YWCA, Luminato, CSBW. All of these interactions are motivation to keep active in my pursuit to establishing ReallyOrganizedNow as a well-respected business.

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

My advice to aspiring small business owners: Go for it! Be patient. Enjoy the process. Keeponsmilin’!

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

In the upcoming year, I’m looking to continue taking my business to the next level. I am currently working on a fully functioning website, the development of a radio/TV blog show, becoming an event sponsor, establishing some B2B partnerships, more media exposure, hosting a variety of self-help workshops focused on the principals of organizing and mindful solutions for our living spaces and continuing to involvement in volunteer projects within the community.

 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Rose Nixon, Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year, Anything Organizer, Basics of Organizing, business development, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, corporate communications, CSBW, Daytime Toronto, de-cluttering, entrepreneur, Facebook, Linkedin, live more, Microskills, Public Relations, Really Organized Now, Rose, Rose Nixon, small business development, stress-less, Twitter, YWCA

Nov 01 2013

Gabriella Mammone – Canadian Small Business Woman of the Month of October 2013

gabriella-mammone-gaby-divirgilio-motivational-speaker

“One of the greatest goals I ever achieved was learning how to make myself cry of laughter”, says Gabriella Mammone.  Gabriella has faced that awkward moment of laughing hysterically and unable to control her authentic sobbing.

Gabriella is a devoted wife, a loving mother, a serial event planner, a public speaker, a motivational ambassador and an active volunteer.  She has a zest for life and appreciates the small things that life has to offer – hot apple cider, an orange gerbera daisy and a warm blanket.

Gabriella lives daily with multiple sclerosis.  She experiences extreme lethargy, cognitive issues, numbness, loss of balance, weakness and extensive itching/tingling.  She has over 16 lesions in her brain and 2 in her spinal cord.  Despite her innumerable daily challenges, she attacks each day with a smile and successfully reached her goal of inspiring others.

As an active volunteer with the MS Society, Gabriella helps with the MS Walks, golf tournaments and other fundraising initiatives.  She is also an Ambassador with the MS Society of Canada, advocating on behalf of people living with MS.  Annually she visits Queen’s Park to raise awareness with decision makers about select priority issues for people living with chronic conditions and disabilities.

Gabriella is a serial philanthropist and event planner.  She is the Event Director of Family Jingle & Mingle, a shared Christmas celebration for companies and families in support of The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.  www.jingleandmingle.ca

An entrepreneur, Gabriella is the Passionate Owner and Gift Guru of Occasion Giftware, www.occasiongiftware.com, an online gift store catering to weddings, showers, and religious events including baptisms, first holy communions and confirmations.

Gabriella is also the Managing Partner at Senso 3C, www.senso3c.com, an organization that helps companies source, develop and retain their people.  Gabriella actively develops their business resources division assisting companies with training, development and the planning of their corporate events.  She also provides operational support to the talent division that assists companies find staff for their organizations.

She was featured on CBC’s hit TV show, Dragons’ Den and although she didn’t expect the unfavourable outcome, she quickly bounced back and has become an excellent guest speaker.

Talk about an inspiring woman!  Gabriella continues to motivate people and is truly an inspirational presenter and keynote speaker.  She believes that volunteering adds to her life.   In 2013, she earned a Community Civic Award, presented by Mayor Hazel McCallion and members of council for her positive contributions to the City of Mississauga, ON.

Is she a busy gal?  Yes she is.  Gabriella’s passion is built on her personal experience of living with MS and finding the humour in her ‘interesting’ life.  She is enthusiastic and relentless in her message that success if available to anyone, even for those that have an illness or disease.   We will encounter many defeats in our lives, but Gabriella strives to never be defeated.  She encourages you to find the humour in your situations and sends you this message:  “make yourself cry of laughter”.

Our Q & A with Gabriella Mammone

What inspires you?

There is nothing like positive thinking to get me psyched!  I am inspired by my son’s mind – he’s only 5 and yet he is completely logical in his own passions and interests.  I am inspired by the progression of people – I very much enjoy spending time with colleagues and seeing them grow as their confidence increases.  I am inspired by driven and passionate people – seeing others achieve their goals empowers me.  I am inspired by people that have strong ethics and go out of their way to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  I am inspired by volunteers that selflessly donate their time and exemplify the spirit of giving back.  I respect and honour my inspiration for I am grateful that I am able to make changes, not excuses.  Here’s to inspiration!

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

I remain strong in the face of adversity.  I am not afraid of a challenge and have an uncanny ability to bounce back after a setback.  I was on the television show Dragon’s Den, for example, and truly felt humiliated by one of the Dragons.  Looking back at the video, I felt that I handled the situation with grace and professionalism and didn’t let the comments bring me down.  I was grateful for the opportunity and thankful that it opened new doors for me…new doors that I created.  I am most proud of the leadership that I provide to the MS Society of Canada and those affected by illnesses.

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

Make an action plan to achieve your goals.  In business, we make action plans for marketing campaigns and projects.  Why not create a detailed step-by-step plan for achieving your own personal goals?  The steps that you take will help you keep focused on achieving your goals.  ‘Action planning’ your goals will help you focus on your ideas and decide what steps you need to take to achieve your milestones.   Each step you take is a journey and will create new priorities and keep you organized.  As you achieve your personal goals, the passion and success will translate into your business and objectives.

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

Family Jingle & Mingle 2013 will have an awesome silent auction and fun surprises in store.  Next year we will work with another charity to help them raise valuable funds.  I personally plan to do more public speaking and motivate those faced with adversity.   I am working on a book and am excited to learn more about the publishing process.

Contact Gabriella (aka Gaby) at:

 

www.gabriellamammone.com

www.jingleandmingle.ca

www.senso3c.com

www.occasiongiftware.com

twitter.com/gabymammone

YouTube: Gabriella Mammone 

LinkedIn:  Gabriella Mammone 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Small Business Woman of the Month · Tagged: A&W, Action Plan, adversity, advocate, ambassador, aspergers syndrome, autism, Canadian Small Business Women, Carassauga, Children’s Wish, christmas, civic award winner, corporate events, Costco, CSBW, debilitating disease, dragon's den, em09 Media Group, emcee, entrepreneur, event planner, events manager, Family Jingle & Mingle, Female Author, festivals, FJAM, Gabriella Mammone, Gaby DiVirgilio, inspiration, Italian, keynote speaker, Mayor Hazel McCallion, motivational speaker, Mr. Lube, MS Society, MS Walk, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Occasion Giftware, public speaker, Queen’s Park, Rogers TV, selective mutism, Senso 3C, Sheridan College, small business woman of the month, small business women of the month, television, The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, volunteer

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