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Mar 25 2015

Are you stopping three feet from gold?

Uchechi

If you’re into personal growth (which is highly recommended for all business owners), then you most likely have come across Napoleon Hill’s classic book Think and Grow Rich. There was a story he shares called Three Feet from Gold. It’s basically a story during the time people went digging for gold to achieve wealth.

There was a man (Mr. Darby) that used his savings and those of his family’s and bought a great deal of equipment in order to dig for gold. He went on his quest to dig, but then got to a point where all signs of gold seemed to disappear. Feeling disappointed and frustrated, he then sells all the equipment’s to some ‘junk man’ who sought counsel of an engineer that lead him to finding gold just three feet from where Mr. Darby left off!

This story struck me because there are so many times when many of us face what seems to appear as a defeat and failure as we take on a project that we hope will bring us success. This is something many business owners face. We get an idea that we are passionate about, and then we plan and start taking action. At first things are going well and we are surprised at all the opportunities that seem to present themselves to us. As time goes on, things may get stagnant and we feel that our business is not progressing and we find it difficult to get to the place we envision in our dreams. Months, even years go by and nothing. As a result, many of us see this as a sign that it was not meant to be and often times, just when the tide is about to turn, we give up!

What would have happened if Mr. Darby kept going? He would have had all his dreams come to reality. However, his dreams of finding gold never came to pass because he stopped just three feet from gold!

How many times has that happened to you? Have you ever started something just to give up because it was just too difficult? If you knew you could not fail, what would have been your choice? I truly, believe that we can never fail! I know some people may not agree with this statement, but that is my belief! If we are persistent enough and keep working on our dreams, we will see it in physical form.

I am also reminded of the story of Jim Treliving who is Owner of Boston Pizza International Inc. and also one of the dragons in Dragon’s Den, the show where “wealthy high-powered entrepreneurs are pitched ideas from hopeful entrepreneurs looking for the dragon’s investments.” I saw a feature story on Jim when he was just starting out. There were times that were so difficult for him and his business that it was difficult to make ends meet. He worked several different jobs just to keep his business going. It amazes me when we look at him now, and admire or even envy his success and not realize nor think about all the trials he went through before he “reached gold”. He did not stop when times got tough, but keep persisting until his goal became a reality.

This is not easy to do, I know this, and that is why I always advise people to have passion in whatever business they wish to pursue. Your passion will fuel your energy and not allow you to give up just shy of your goal. It is the passion and love for what you do that drives and inspires you to keep going and push past any delays or detours in your journey. During these times, it is important to remember that these delays are not denials and that it only becomes a denial when you say so! Only at the point that you call it quits will you lose because if you keep persisting you will eventually achieve your dreams. It is not a matter of if, but when!

Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse is a Business & Lifestyle Strategist, Speaker and Writer, but most importantly, a proud Mother and Wife. Uchechi is Founder of My Empowered Living (http://www.myempoweredliving.com) a website aimed at helping women shift their mindset and live their passion! Whether it’s starting and building their dream business, or helping them create a lifestyle they crave, Uchechi is the modern woman’s secret to success! Visit Uchechi at www.myempoweredliving.com to get her FREE online video training series The 4 Keys to your Business Success! This free 4-day business training reveals her 4 key strategies needed to build a profitable and successful business, and how to put them to work in your business!

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse · Tagged: Boston Pizza International Inc, business owners, Canadian Small Business Women, defeat, dragon's den, entrepreneur, fail, failure, finding gold, Gold, Jim Treliving, Mr. Darby, My Empowered Living, Napoleon Hill, small business, small business development, Think and Grow Rich, Three Feet from Gold, Uchechi Ezurike-Bosse, wealth

Dec 27 2013

Help! Where’s My Work-Life Balance?

MVR_profile-pic.2_Nov2012_-_Copy

New business owners start out on their own for many reasons; one of them may be having more control over one’s time, that work-life balance.

According to a recent radio segment by Calgary’s News Talk 770 and interview with successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former Dragons Den ‘dragon’ W. Brett Wilson, work-life balance no longer exists. Wilson, a self-declared workaholic, explains his new approach: “I blend my work and play. I’ll be working every day while I’m in Australia but that allows me to be in Australia.”

One could argue that work-life balance has not become extinct, it has merely evolved. With technology having reached new heights, most business and communication now takes place via Internet and e-mail and the proverbial 9-to-5 job has become a relic. Business owners can and do take their work wherever they go: the golf course, home, and on vacation. The rapidly growing number of solopreneurs working from their home-based offices or dining-room tables, with 24/7 access to and tempting/distracting visibility of their workspace, has further blurred any lines of separation between work and life.

As Wilson points out though, the balance is there for the taking – it just requires more self-discipline and boundaries than in the past. In an article in The Art of Magazine, Fall 2013, Mitch Joel, author of the book Ctrl Alt Delete – Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends On It, uses the metaphor of a three-legged stool. Without the right blend of the three legs – family and friends, profession, community – Joel says the stool (aka life) will topple.

Business owners and solopreneurs therefore have to take charge of balancing their work hours with their personal lives to stay physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and maintain good relationships all around. Just as Justitia’s scales need to stay in balance in the judicial system, so do our life scales. Piling tons of work onto one side, and only a few ounces of personal time on the opposite will otherwise have us hitting the ground and rock bottom in no time.

To improve your ‘balance’ and work-life blend, try implementing the following:

  • Schedule breaks: Set an alarm on your cellphone or computer. When it rings, step away from your desk/workspace for at least 5-10 minutes every couple of hours.
  • Turn off your cell phone and laptop during your downtime: Vibrating phones and flashing indicator lights are too great a temptation!
  • Don’t procrastinate exercise and workouts: Schedule them, just like any business meeting! Arrange a date and time to meet a friend at the gym, yoga class [insert your preferred exercise here]. Whether you work out together or not, this makes you accountable to show up.
  • Take your personal time just as seriously as your work. Well, maybe don’t be serious when you’re off work but see it as important as anything else you do.

So in the New Year, take charge of your personal time and tip the work-life scales in your, your health’s, and your family’s favour.  Happy New Year!

Martina Rowley is the founder and operator of Beach Business Hub – THE coworking space east of the Don Valley. She combined her passion and experience in the environmental sector with her community engagement side to create a local work environment where space and resources are shared. She fosters and facilitates collaboration, networking, and learning for and with small business owners and new startups.  Contact her at:http://www.beachbusinesshub.ca, on Facebook and on Twitter

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Martina Rowley · Tagged: Beach Business Hub, business, business development, Calgary, Canadian Small Business Women, Ctrl Alt Delete - Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends On It, down time, dragon, dragon's den, entrepreneur, Martina Rowley, Mitch Joel, new business owners, new year, News Talk 770, personal time, procrastinate, solopreneurs, The Art of Magazine, W. Brett Wilson, work-life balance

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

Apr 05 2013

Making Your Business Stand Out

making your business stand out

http://youinc.com/video/from-arlene-making-your-small-business-stand-out

In this video, Arlene Dickinson provides some tips on how to help your small business stand out from the crowd. Make sure you have clear product differentiation, innovative packaging, great customer service, and well-expressed brand propositions. Ensure you do product sampling, community out-reach and that your intent is loud and clear.

Vlog by: Arlene Dickinson, CEO Venture Communications

Source: www.youinc.com

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Shannon Lauzon · Tagged: Arlene Dickinson, business, business development, Canadian Small Business Women, dragon's den, entrepreneur, female dragon, making your business stand out, small business, small business banking, small business development, small business owner, small business owners, Venture Communications, youinc

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