It started by registering for a “build your confidence course.” The very first assignment was to list 100 things I liked about myself. Corny? Yes. Insightful? You bet. It was a simple exercise, yet it showed where real business opportunity could be found. What 2020 gave business owners was a gift. This isn’t to ignore…
The worst outcome in many cases is much better than not dealing with what we’re avoiding
I caught myself trying to avoid work last week. Part of my job is to make phone calls to prospective clients. As it came closer to the time I had blocked out to make the calls, I found myself getting distracted. I went through my emails, clicked on links, looked at social media and even…
Artificial intelligence can do a lot to help businesses, but its dynamic, complex nature can also make it challenging to learn – which is where Stephanie Husby loves to step in. As a machine learning educator for the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), the University of Alberta graduate teaches the AI for Strategy and Management course, helping non-technical managers…
As an online marketer, I spend a lot of my working day (you guessed it!) online. And I try to organize my time so I can be as efficient as possible for my clients and my business. About six months ago, I switched from using the Firefox browser to the Chrome browser as much as…
Part of the reason clients hire me is to give them an outsider’s opinion of the challenges or opportunities facing their businesses. I take this very seriously, so I’m constantly scanning the economic horizon for changes that could have an effect on these leaders and their organizations. Over the past few months, I’ve been talking…
Trudeau government siding wth traditional banking over the interests of small companies looking to survive the pandemic
By Paz Gómez Research associate Frontier Centre for Public Policy The Liberal government has blocked financial technology (fintech) companies from distributing aid to businesses affected by the pandemic. In the age of cryptocurrencies and investment services like Robinhood, the government clings to banks and relics such as cheques by mail. PayPal, Wave and the Canadian…
Hiring and on-boarding new employees is costly. Less staff turnover means your organization will reap considerable rewards
Last week, I called my local credit union about my account. The phone was answered by Phil, who I knew as a long-term employee of the credit union. Over the years, I’ve gone into the branch on a regular basis. Phil would always be serving her customers in a caring manner, greeting people by name…
Networking is crucial in business these days. But what happens when we break rapport before we even start?
Networking in business has spawned books, articles, podcasts and videos. You name it, there’s content out there for a business owner looking to rock their networking. The best advice I’ve been given is to simply be curious. Go in, look to have one or two conversations and just ask questions. Then listen. But what happens…
Most entrepreneurs build a business without a clear concept of what they’re building, the systems they need and where the profit comes from
I had a video meeting last week with woman whom we will call Sally. Sally was meeting to talk about her business, which she had started a couple of years ago. At one point in the conversation, Sally said she was making $2,000 a month but needed to make $5,000 from the business. Luckily for…
How to make your DIY photo shoot a success and, most importantly, give you some amazing images to use to grow your business
Photos are an important part of any social media feed. And along with stock photos, you need to incorporate some photos of you, your team, your product, your office, etc. If you aren’t in a position to hire a photographer every quarter, you are going to have to do the photo shoot yourself. That means…