Leaving a Legacy

Like most people I was saddened to learn of the recent death of Whitney Houston.  It seems such a waste to see such a talented person taken from us.  As I read the tributes to her, one of her quotes stuck with me. “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”

In other words to leave a legacy; to make an impact in the lives of others.  Certainly 
Whitney did that with her beautiful voice.  What would be your legacy?  Or are you too busy living your life, juggling all that you have to do in a day to be thinking beyond the immediate demands on your time?

Certainly if you have children you are leaving a legacy.  As parents, we all want our children to grow up to become healthy, happy adults and that is not as easy as this simple sentence sounds.

Children and youth today face so many pressures and a wide range of choices, that our best hope is that we have raised them to weigh up the odds and make sound decisions. What values would you want to instill in your children?

For me, kindness, respect and thinking of others have always been important.  Perhaps because I have worked for charities and seen the darker side of life, I believe that just one person, one adult can change the outcome for a child spiraling down a path of destruction.

Naïve maybe, but so often all we want as adults and children is to be loved, to feel we are worthwhile and that someone believes in us.

As a writer and author, I would like to believe that my written words and books will be my legacy too.  My goal with Day by Day was to give a real snapshot of what it is like to run your own business; the range of emotions you feel and the thrills of being successful, despite the trials and tribulations you may have to overcome to get there.

I also know through Company of Women that the organization I created has impacted thousands of women, helping them to realize that they are not alone, that they can realize their dreams when they believe in themselves and support each other.

But all of us leave a legacy in one way or another whether we realize it or not.  Just helping a neighbour or friend has an impact.  A kind gesture can change someone’s life and sometimes we will never know that, but trust me it does. 

So as you go about your day, think about what legacy you are leaving behind.  What have you done of late to make a difference?  What have you created that will live on beyond you?

Life is too short and fragile.  Don’t wait until your deathbed to regret what you could have done, but didn’t. Do it now.

Always Moving Forward

As she stood up at the podium, Tanya Sarakinis admitted this was just her second time public speaking and asked the audience to be kind.

She needn’t have worried.  She held their attention to every word as in her modest, down-to-earth way she shared her story.  As she talked about the challenges of finding balance in her life – wanting a meaningful career while raising her children - the women were nodding their heads.  They could completely relate to this desire, it was one they all shared with her.

From a young age, Tanya had always wanted to be a nurse.  Seeing her younger brother who had spina bifida and the challenges he faced, she knew she wanted to help people feel better.  So she realized that dream and became an emergency room nurse.

After a short hiatus after the birth of her first son, she found when she went back to nursing that the quality of care provided in ERs, was just not there.  Identifying this gap in service, she set about starting a temp agency that would provide quality, trained emergency room nurses to local hospitals.

At first it was a hard sell and a bit of a catch-22.  Did she recruit the nurses first and then secure the contracts, or get the contracts and scramble to get the nurses to fill the shifts?  In the end she did a bit of both.  Then out of the blue, one hospital phoned and placed 82 shifts with her, she knew then that the business was off and running.  Tanya smiled and joked that no sooner had she hung up the phone from the hospital, than she called her husband, and said, “we’re screwed.”

But they weren’t.  Since then she has grown the business to become one of the top 200 fastest growing companies, with Tanya being listed as one of the top 100 women entrepreneurs for three years in a row.

What struck me about Tanya’s story is she never rested, sat back and said we’ve made it. No, she was always thinking ahead, like the software they had developed so hospitals, nursing managers and nurses could schedule shifts online.  Or the training she offered to nurses to bring them up-to-speed with latest technology and treatment options.

She also tackled her challenges head-on such as the slow payment turnaround at the hospitals, which with an ever-growing payroll to cover, could have dramatically impacted the business.   She negotiated that they receive prompt payment instead of the typical two to three months experienced by other service providers. 

She recognized the importance of diversifying, a lesson she learned the hard way when she lost one of her biggest accounts because of a change in hospital leadership.  As a result, she broadened her scope, partnered up with other similar organizations to deepen her offerings.

And she did all this while raising her children – now four of them.  “It is ironic that I did all this so I could have more time with my children, and that is not always the case. I have to work at it, to make sure it happens.”

Before she talked, Tanya shared with me that she wasn’t sure the women would find what she had to say of interest.  She was wrong.  The women left inspired, believing that one day maybe they too could build their businesses to become so successful.  

We all need role models to show us that it can be done.  And Tanya did just that.

Busy, busy, busy

Is it just me, or has the pace of business life just heated up a notch or two since we entered 2012

Everyone I meet seems to be complaining about how busy they are. It seems to be one meeting after another. In fact so many meetings, it is hard to keep them straight and manage your to-do list as an outcome of all these gatherings.

I guess part of it is the economy.  We are running scared.  Worried that at the next turn, our business will be the one to falter. Worried that we won’t be able to cover payroll or worried that the orders will stop trickling in.  So we work harder and harder, like a hampster on a treadmill.

Or perhaps in an effort to save money, staff have been let go and everyone has to do more to pick up the slack. This stretches all involved, with people not playing to their strengths, but just treading water so as not to drown in a sea of activity.

I am not sure what the answer is.  Fear is a tough master, demanding its pound of flesh.  What I do know is that it is overwhelming, and you end up spreading yourself too thin.  Something has to give. Instinctively we all know that there is a price to be paid for this frenetic pace of life.  The question to ask ourselves is whether it is worth it?

I am not so sure.  What do you think?

Give and Take

Copyright (c)123RF Stock Photos

At the beginning of any relationship – personal or professional – there is a tendency to skirt around the issues, each trying to impress, posture and hold your own.  But there comes a point when the honeymoon is over and you either like what you see or you don’t.

When it is a business deal that by all accounts should be working well and is a win-win for all involved, it is hard to admit that something is not right.  Take Mary, who has taken the plunge, moved her account from the tried and true to take her chances with someone, who like her, runs her business from home.

The quality of her work is great, and on paper it sounds like an ideal situation. Both are eager to be successful and keen to work with each other.

But then, seeing a great potential ahead of her, the new colleague started to get greedy.  She wanted a bit more of the action.  My friend, wisely decides to nip this in the bud, and draws up a contract, spelling out the arrangement.  

Problem solved right?  Well no.  The actual work goes well but the nickel and diming continues, to the point where Mary starts to question the wisdom of staying in business with her.  There’s a fine line between getting what you are entitled to and getting what you deserve.

Now both these women are on a learning curve to know when to push and when to back off.  Sometimes you just have to give, go that extra mile in the belief that down the road it will pay off.  It is all about give and take. But when you get greedy, you rarely win.

David vs Goliath

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

As the person who does not like driving, it is ironic that I find myself navigating my way   to work every day on the 401.

Some of my fear has gone but then when I witness a large, giant truck bullying the small car ahead of it, I remember why I don’t like to “run” with the big guys.  But does that mean that you avoid the highways, that you only take the side roads.  Probably not, it certainly would take much longer to reach your destination.

I was reminded of this the other morning when I watched a truck almost elbowing the small vehicle ahead of it into the slower lane.  At first the car resisted but as the truck menacingly persisted, the driver eventually moved over.

It’s a bit like running your small business.  Do you stay in the slow lane or do you venture forth and mingle with the big boys; with the giants who believe they own the road. 

It can be scary but one of the assets we have as small businesses is that we can move fast and be nimbler than the bureaucracy-heavy corporations.  We don’t have to check with layers of people before making a decision. And if we are savvy, we have partnered up with other small business owners, so that when a big contract comes our way, we can take it on with confidence.

One way to prepare yourself for ‘running with the wolves’ is to become part of WeConnect Canada, a non-profit organization that helps women-owned businesses become certified (and therefore recognized) by the Fortune 500 corporations, who have diversity policies.  Supplier diversity means that they have a policy in place where women-owned businesses are given the opportunity to compete for contracts.

Only two-years new to Canada, but with a sister organization in the US that has been advocating on behalf of women for years, WeConnect Canada is making inroads and truly helping women make the connections; enabling them to line up with the big boys, and in many instances, succeed in landing the contracts.

So while on the highway, it may be more prudent to just move over, when it comes to business – think big.  You have as much right as anyone else to be there.

My name is Anne. I am a social media convert

photo by neededwanted.com

When I started out in social media, I gingerly put my toe in the LinkedIn water and before very long, was swimming with a robust group, where some lively and helpful discussions were taking place.

So next was Twitter.  After all, as a busy small business owner, I could only devote so much time to this new fad - social media.  Well, fast forward a few months and I am hooked.  Actually truth be, with my addictive personality, it is sometimes hard to switch it off.

And I have had some success, proudly boasting that I have over 1,000 followers.  I have to admit, having a regular column with the Huffington Post has also helped to boost my numbers.

What I have found is that when you send out useful information/reports, peppered with just a few promotional pieces, people trust and want to follow you.  You become recognized as an expert in your field.

So what do I find to tweet about? No one really wants to know or cares what you had for breakfast.  Keep it professional, with the occasional personal tidbit, just to keep people interested.  I have subscribed to several of the topic-based daily e-newspapers. They provide a quick summary of blogs, articles and reports on your chosen topic, which in my case is women and business. 

While sometimes it does take time to scan through what is available, they are great resources.  I also add to my time commitment as I actually read the articles or blogs, before tweeting or retweeting.  One, I want to make sure the information is worthy of tweeting and will be of interest to my followers, and second, I gain useful knowledge too.

In our busy lives, these quick snippets keep me abreast of what is happening, and I am always learning something new.

Industry-related magazines such as Inc and Entrepreneur and business section of The Globe and Mail are also good sources of information for me but I am sure you know where to get the latest information on your industry.

I am often asked how long I spend on this activity and it is usually just half-an-hour a day.  I tend to do it first thing before the emails start to pour in and the phone rings off the hook. 

There’s also some Twitter etiquette to follow which can take a bit of time because when someone retweets your tweet or mentions you, it is expected that you will say “thank you.”  But if you do it at the end of the day, you can send out a one-time tweet to acknowledge everyone, rather than individual ones.

You can also use programs such as Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to program and schedule your tweets so they are spread out throughout the day.

I know… you are wondering about Facebook.  It’s on my list.  We have a Company of Women page, but I have not paid too much attention to it.  Like everyone else, the “to-do” list grows but I know from others that it will be time well-spent.

So if you are hovering about getting into social media – take it from me, the non-techy one, that once you get over your initial fears, it is worthwhile and can be another way to grow your business.

And yes, I will be tweeting this blog.

Showing Up

Years ago I remember a member complaining to me that no one had rallied to support her when she was holding a home party.  However, when I quizzed her further about her involvement in Company of Women, it turned out she hadn’t actually attended any events nor had she, prior to this invite, bothered to connect with other members.

In other words, she was missing in action and missing the point.  I responded by saying  that it was hard to provide support to someone you’ve never met.  No one knew her and she hadn’t taken the time to build any relationships.   

And that is what it is all about. Women are quite intuitive about their relationships.  Most of us can smell a “taker” at a hundred yards, although we can be mislead by seemingly kind overtures.  That sort of attitude wears thin and when it is “all about me” the path to success can be very lonely.

Many of us give willingly not expecting anything in return, and when you have that attitude invariably we do gain something – maybe not straight away – but regardless, trust that you will reap the benefits down the road.  I take great pleasure when someone does well as a result of a lead or introduction I have instigated. The person’s success is reward enough.

But you can’t expect people to know who you are or what your business does, through osmosis – you do actually have to show up.  Even if the topic is not of interest, the people attending are.

Make a date with yourself and your business to get out to networking events – if nothing else – it is a break from the four walls, a chance to meet like-minded women – and hey, who knows -  you might even have fun.

Learning Through Play

As I sat on the floor counting and sorting out Lego, my husband was shaking his head, quizzing me on why I was doing this.

It was all in preparation for an exercise we were doing at a Company of Women dinner.  Now interactive sessions are always a bit of a gamble, especially if the people there really don’t want to play.  Fortunately, the women were more than ready to tap into their creativity and go with the flow.

Divided into groups by industry, the task was for the different teams to brainstorm ways that they could work together and upon reaching consensus, build a Lego structure that would best illustrate their proposed project.

It was actually quite fascinating and served to remind me of how when we chose a career we naturally gravitate towards work that suits our personality style. I am actually a trained True Colours/Personality Dimensions Trainer but it’s not something I have done in some time, yet that’s really what we did on Tuesday night. 

We had three groups – Business to Business (B2B), Health and Beauty and Home/Finances and each model revealed the underpinnings of the participants’ personality style. 

True to form, the folks who made up the B2B group, developed a business toolbox, through which small business owners could remove the chaos in their lives. This group represented virtual assistants, bookkeepers, graphic designers and HR specialists, all of whom are organized, and detailed oriented. They’d thought through their business plan and done the math.

 At the other end of the spectrum, the Health and Beauty group which was made up of spa owners, life coaches and health service providers were more interested in reaching out and helping other women feel better about themselves. They wanted to reduce the sense of isolation for women going through  cancer, divorce, abuse, etc…    Money never even came up in the discussion.

Five minutes prior to the end of the exercise, the group,  mainly made up of financial professionals, had no sculpture on the board. Nothing.  But one of the team quickly erected a creative model that represented their project.

This group wanted to develop a website that would provide people with vital information which would assist them in connecting to professionals in the instance of a difficult life situation such as cancer diagnosis or an accident. They’d worked on revenue streams to make the project financially viable and where they differed from the Health and Beauty Team was that their project focused on providing education and information, whereas the other group wanted the women to feel better through the services provided.

 Despite their tardy start, the financial planners won.

This exercise truly reminded me of the validity of personality type programs as each group was consistent to their colour type.  The B2B group were gold – organized, structured and wanting to help, while the Health and Beauty team were blue, the colour most interested in supporting people and for whom, money is a necessary evil.  This group finds it hard to invoice or chase up payments. 

And as for the financial planners, they were green – life long learners who take a logical approach, spending more time on planning so that when they deliver, every detail has been thought through.

Now we did  have one colour missing– oranges – they would be your event planners, actors, performers or recreation specialists.

Years ago I did a similar exercise with a group of seniors, assigning them with the task of designing the perfect centre for seniors.   It was equally fascinating to see how people of all ages and backgrounds, still came forward with suggestions that were so true to their personality styles.

What did they come up with?  The oranges wanted a multi-rail system that would take them to the different recreational activities offered throughout the facility.  The blues – the romantics, wanted a dating service. The golds wanted storage space and the greens, well they were still thinking about it.

All of which goes to show that when we choose the right career for ourselves, we are being true to our personality style.

Growing Your Business

What’s the best thing you ever did for your business? I can think of a couple of steps I took. First I joined a mastermind group and later after I had been in business seven years, I hired a business coach. 

Both involved some commitment on my part. I had to invest in myself, put out some money and do the homework but the return on investment was well worth it. 

Why? With a mastermind group you quickly learn that you are not alone with your fears and frustrations. Not only do others feel the same way, but together you can learn and create some practical solutions. Helping others realize their truth is also rewarding, as you start to realize a) you do know something and b) you can be a useful resource. 

So you don’t just learn from the business coach leading the group, you benefit from the objective input from your peers. And you need to leave your ego at the door. One time I remember presenting a sponsorship package I’d crafted. I thought I’d done a pretty good job but after a few choice comments from a marketing expert in the group, I realized my work was not done and it was back to the drawing board. 

However, it is the accountability that takes you the furthest. Having to report back each month makes you do the work. Excuses won’t wash and it is hard if you have to ‘fess up that you haven’t completed the task assigned. You also build a support network for yourself, one that lasts well beyond the six-month group meetings. 

Having a business coach was the next step up, but this is not always an affordable option for everyone. Her undivided attention for an hour on my business and my challenges, was well worth the money. The process also boosted my confidence, helping me realize that actually I did have business savvy, I just needed to fine tune where I spent my time and money. 

And just like counselling, there comes a time when you don’t need that support any more and you can stand on your own two feet, happy in the knowledge that, on the most part, you are headed in the right direction. 

As you look at what you need to do this year and what you want to accomplish, I really encourage you to consider joining a mastermind group. You won’t regret it and it is well worth the investment of your time and money. And aren’t you worth it?

Company of Women has several mastermind groups starting in January and February – for the new entrepreneur, more seasoned business owner and an online group as well. Check out our website to learn more – www.companyofwomen.ca

Staying ahead and afloat – reinvent your business

I remember years ago hearing an early childhood educator explaining that in children's art, whatever is important to them is usually larger than life, and out of proportion because that was their focus. At that time, when I looked at my young daughter's sculpture of herself, sure enough, the earrings were massive (she desperately wanted to get her ears pierced).

If you relate this concept to your business, I wonder if we tend to focus most on what is important to us rather than what is of crucial interest to our clients or customers? In other words, we've maybe taken our eyes off the ball and been all consumed with getting the word out about our product or service, when we are not even speaking the right language, one that translates well to our target audience.

It therefore pays to look at the big picture -- of your own business and everyone else's rather than focusing on one aspect, no matter how important it may be to you. It's a changing world of business, and if our businesses are to survive, we need to be flexible and prepared to change how we do business. It's time to reflect, rethink and redesign what we do.

Easier said than done. Many of us are locked into delivering our products and services in one way, but it behooves us to look beyond that and truly reflect on what our customers need and want, not what suits us to provide for them or what makes us the most profit. Remember if no one is buying, you're not making money at all.

Where do you start?

1. Check in with your customers. Find out what are the pressing issues and challenges they face. They will be pleased to be asked.

2. Look to see if there is a fit with something you could offer to relieve their pressures or address their problems.

3. Revisit your offerings, ask yourself what could still be offered but re-tweaked and packaged in a different way.

4. In this tight economy, people are looking for value for money. Do the math, number-crunch the figures and see how you can come up with something that is affordable, but still allows you to make a profit.

5. People like to feel they are getting a deal. Be prepared to give something away in order to attract them to your business and other purchases.

6. Once you have decided on your new track, let your customers know. Thank them for their input.

7. Consider starting up or reviving your ezine so customers frequently hear from you. Make sure you provide value-added information and don't just promote your business.

8. Use social media -- like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to spread the word. The price is right.

And like the earrings, just because you want something badly doesn't always mean that it will happen straight away, sometimes you just have to wait until the time is right.

Your Success is Our Business

Like many women, I am uncomfortable selling my “wares” especially when that actually equates to selling myself.

However, after hearing our guest speaker Kim Duke, I have a new attitude. “Think of ‘sale” as a four-letter word.” advises Kim “And replace it with another one – ‘help.’

Now that I could get. So often what we have to sell is solving a problem for someone else so in other words, we are helping them. I like that way of looking at it. I like the idea that what I have to offer is making a difference, and when I can get past myself, yes, this sale approach could work.

What are you selling? What problem are you solving? Does this perspective change your outlook on sales? When I used to run classes for women starting a business, one of the big questions we asked was what business are you in? Often it was not that obvious to the newbie owner.

For example, it could be said that through Company of Women I am in the networking business. But I would rather say that I am in the business of hope - inspiring women to realize their potential – personally and professionally. In other words, your success is our business. When I look at it this way, I feel empowered to sell, to help women connect with one another and with all that we have to offer.

So what business are you in? Think about it. Perhaps this different take on what you do, will help you sell and achieve your goals.

The Takeover

I was super-organized for this Christmas. By the time the office closed on December 20, the gifts had been bought and wrapped; the food purchased and stocked in the fridge and freezer and the tree stood erect and decorated all ready for the best of the season.

Just as well. Talk about the best laid plans…. From the time we closed the office, I was sick, coming down with some dreaded flu bug, and forced to retreat to my bed where I could be heard barking and coughing all day.

Now I am not someone who usually capitulates to a sniffle or two. Being of strong Scottish blood, I have been trained to carry on regardless but I tell you, I was beat with this one. Not only did I miss several local parties, but my kids had to rally round and cook Christmas dinner.

And I have to say, I was totally impressed with how they took charge. They assigned the tasks, divided up the chores and wouldn’t let me darken the doors of the kitchen. And while I was proud of them, you could tell they were pretty pleased with themselves too because the meal was great and Christmas was saved.

It was also pretty nice to just sit and have the meal prepared and cleared away by someone else. I could get used to this but they’ve already told me it was a one-off. Normal service is to resume next year.

Too bad.

Saving grace

“I don’t do vulnerable”  I confessed to my friend.  But years ago when I was going through chemo and my kids were little, I did just that.  I had to.  I needed friends to drive me to and from my treatments, to pick up the girls and help prepare meals. And I will always be grateful to the team of friends who rallied round to support us.

I think of this as I receive help once again.  This time it is business-related.  I am usually the one offering assistance – be it to friends or women starting out in their business.  So it feels strange to be on the receiving end and I am trying to accept the generosity with grace.

Company of Women’s magazine Company, has been my pride and joy for the last four years.  But as anyone in the publishing/printing business will tell you – this industry is hurting, big time.  Up until now, I have been using my own money to bale it out as advertising sales dropped and continued to drop, but a month ago I had to admit to myself that I couldn’t keep doing that.

Enter Michele Bailey of blazing the Agency.  Michele has a successful marketing agency, complete with design studio and over coffee, she generously offered to have her studio design the upcoming issue of Company, which ironically is about partnerships and collaboration.  This is HUGE and enables me to use the advertising dollars I collected to cover the costs of printing. 

I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to Michele.  Not just for having the work done, but for her faith that our small, but mighty publication deserved to be saved.  I have always talked about women helping women, but now I have lived it.

So Company is off life support and breathing on its own for now. 

Thanks Michele.

PS Watch for your copy coming out in late January, 2012

Why?

Christmas is a hard time for many people, especially for those who have just lost a family member or friend. 

To commit suicide always seems such a desperate and selfish act to me, as family members are left to pick up the pieces, always questioning what they could have done to avert this tragic action; what cues they missed and what they could have done differently.

So to commit suicide a week before Christmas seems the ultimate selfish act to me. Why? It sounds almost flip to ask this, but couldn’t you have waited? Now every Christmas your family is left with the haunting memory of your death.

It does make you wonder what drives people to take such drastic steps. And I am not immune to this. I have a cousin who tragically took her own life on the birthday of her son, who she had to give up for adoption, at a time when it was not socially acceptable to keep your child as a young, single mother. I often think of Eileen and reflect how differently it could have been if she’d just lived a decade later when her life choice would have been more acceptable.

But what a waste. And how hurtful for the surviving family.

None of us knows what happens behind closed doors or closed minds. It speaks to the power of depression and mental health challenges which are insidious but eat away at a person’s ability to logically combat and fight against all the negative feelings that they hold close inside. It tells you how for some the force of negativity and feelings of hopelessness are too strong and outweigh the ability to see options beyond the current situation.

So I find the sudden and tragic death of a young man we knew, who has a young family, just beyond my comprehension. I just keep thinking why? What could have been so bad that it warranted such drastic action? Why? And why now?

My heart goes out to the widow and her two young daughters. I hope they find the strength and peace to accept what has happened.

Lost in the Woods

The one badge I never passed when I was in the Brownies, was map reading.  A skill, my husband would attest, I have still not acquired.  So often when the kids were little and we escaped for a romantic interlude, we’d barely be speaking by the time we had reached our destination. My navigation skills left a lot to be desired, and of course, he wouldn’t dream of asking for directions.

Well, the other night I got lost again.  This time I was with a girlfriend and we’d been to visit a new friend in her home.  We got there OK, but coming home was another story.

One of the challenges of living in the country is at night, it is dark and one tree looks like another.  The road signs are hard to see, if there at all.  So we literally drove around in circles and whenever we reached a junction, I’d suggest turning one way and my friend another.

Eventually at one point I joked that I knew what my friend needed for Christmas – a GPS.  “Oh I have one “ she replied. “It’s under the seat.”  I laughed out loud and questioned why we hadn’t been using it.

Well we dug it out and sure enough it got us home.  We were miles away and definitely off the beaten track.

It made me think of when we start a business.  We don’t know what we don’t know, so eager to learn we listen to all the advise people are quick to give us. And like deciding    which way to turn, it is often conflicting.  Who do you listen to?  Someone, or something like the GPS, that has more expertise, who knows how to help you get there, preferably on the shortest route possible and with no tolls.

My advice? If you are a newbie to business, turn to experts like accountants, lawyers, marketing gurus for advice.  Filter the other suggestions and listen to your gut. Consider getting a business coach.  Otherwise you too could be going around in circles, lost in the woods.

That Final Event

I have reached the age of maturity when much of my time lately has been spent going to the funerals of friends, my peers.

I know this trend will only continue as we all get older but it really doesn’t make it any easier to take. And of course it makes me face my own mortality.

I often come back with a few more notes for my funeral file on what I want and don’t want when I finally check out.  My daughters think I am joking – I do have a black sense of humour – but more and more, it makes sense to think ahead. Plus as someone who has made a career out of putting on events, of course I want a say in that final one.

1.   I don’t want any fancy coffin – rent one if you like.

2.   No, I repeat, no open casket. As the fashionista I prefer to be in control of how I look and likely someone will put on the wrong jewelry that doesn’t match with the entire ensemble.

3.   I want to select the photos now.  Years ago my daughter held a surprise birthday party for me, with a gallery of photos chosen based on the criteria, I believe, that I looked dreadful in the photo. None of that.

4.   Talking of photos, the family better start clicking now because there are no recent ones of me.           

5.   Have some stirring; lively hymns that are upbeat and everyone can burst forth into song.

6.   Have a private family service early on and a Celebration a few weeks later, when family and friends feel less raw and ready to party

7.   No dreary speeches – make people laugh, that’s always been my motto and hey I have provided enough material for you to share some funny stories about me.  In fact, with some advance notice, I could even write a few.

8.   Have a party – celebrate each other – some good food, wine and company. (Will just be sorry to miss it.)

But I plan to stick around for a while yet – I mean there’s a lot to organize.

There’s a quote from Tuesday’s with Morrie that I have always found comforting –

 “Death is the end of a life, not a relationship.”

So even when I am not here, I am. 

Tough Times

I have just heard of the demise of two long-standing businesses – Homemakers magazine and POWE (Power of Women Exchange).   It’s kind of a wake up call to this changing economic climate.  Businesses that were doing well one day, and are gone the next.

And as someone who publishes a magazine, I know how tough it is.  We are down to two issues this year and even that is pushing it.  I am grateful to all the advertisers who have stuck by us and the writers and colleagues, like Michelle Bailey from Blazing the Agency, who have rallied round to make sure we continue.

As for POWE, I really feel for Lia and Tina who started the organization.  It is so hard to close the doors on something that you know was making a difference, and which you have poured so much of yourself into making it happen.

One argument might be that there isn’t a need for women-based business organizations, but I don’t think so.  It’s more that we need to pay attention to what is happening, adjust what we are offering so we continue to provide meaningful, real experiences for women.

It reminds me of when I ran mothers’ groups for Children’s Aid.  Obviously their mandate was to improve the women’s parenting skills, but when they didn’t have enough money to put food on the table or were worried about when the next blow would come from their abusive partner, teaching parenting skills seemed a bit futile. 

Like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the women needed basic life skills and once those basic needs were met, and they felt better about themselves, then they would be more willing to tackle their parenting skills.

Likewise, for the past nine years we have put on event after event, brought in amazing speakers and helped women learn and connect with one another.  But I am not convinced that this is what is needed now in today’s climate.  Yes, we all need to continue learning, and we will still bring in the speakers and cover topics of interest to business owners at all levels. But if you are worried and feeling all alone, finding out that others feel the same way and that they have some solutions to share, can really change your reality.

People seem to be hunkering in.  Let’s face it, when money is short and you are feeling discouraged about your business, the last thing you feel like doing is shelling out even more money so you can put on a mask and pretend all is well with the world.

No, it is time for some honesty, some authenticity and some down-to-earth, practical conversations.  We can support one another.  We can problem-solve together and yes, we can get through this challenging period, and not only survive, but thrive.

As the Dalai Lama said “ It is worth remembering that the time of greatest gain in terms of wisdom, and inner strength is often that of greatest difficulty.”

So don’t give up on networking.  Yes,  meeting people online is one alternative, and I maybe old-fashioned,  but I still like meeting people face-to-face.

 

Fast Forward to Next Year's Trends

Looking for what will be hot in 2012?  A recent article in Entrepreneur highlighted ten trends that will shape business next year,  and for website and software developers it would seem the sky’s the limit as nearly each trend has technology implications.

More and more we are relying on information, feedback and recommendations from others to help us in our decision-making,  Knowledge is power.  In a 2010 study it was found that 62 percent of online retail shoppers think product recommendations are useful.  With sites offering recommendations on products, restaurants, decision-making does become easier. So how can you tap into this trend?  At minimum, ask for referrals and make sure your testimonials are front and centre on your website.

Collaborative commerce speaks to the increase in businesses interested in sharing, bartering, lending and renting goods, skills, money, space or services. Take Getaround, it’s a social car-sharing service that enables a car owner to make money by renting out their car when it is not being used.  Or TaskRabbit which is like an eBay for errands.   What services do you need?  Is there someone you can barter with?  We actually will be talking about collaboration at our January Oakville dinner.

 More and more customers are wanting products customized to their needs and they are willing to pay for these special orders – be it chocolates, shoes and jewelry.  Closer to home, Megan Barnes with her customized play mats for children can testify to this growing trend, with orders flooding in from all over the world for her product.

New electronic devices, like the tablet, give people mobility and make it easier to work from home or while on the road.  Any applications that can further increase their productivity will be successful in the year ahead. Are you accessing useful apps on your mobile phone?  Consider checking out what is available to you.  You might be surprised.

Today resources are available to foster creativity and help creative artists sell their wares.  Websites like Etsy, an online marketplace for direct-from-the-artist crafts clocked up $314 million in sales last year.  While other sites like skillshare.com sell in-person lessons on everything from guitar to gardening and with Blurb, authors can self-publish bookstore quality books or produce photographic journals.  

The push for food grown locally is growing. As a society we are more concerned about what we eat and what we put into our bodies. With urban farming, people in cities are converting their back yards into vegetable gardens; public places are being developed to include community gardens; and local farmers markets are turning into social gathering spots where the community collects and supports its local farmers.

The popularity of social gaming devices has been ever growing, but gamification is actually looking at “how to use game-design thinking to non-game applications to make them more fun and engaging.” explains Nathan Landes, founder of Gamify, which has developed a product that allows individuals and brands to gamify their own virtual space.

 Simplicity and authenticity are the current driving forces behind design. It is about moving back to basics. Several websites are marketing design products.  With the increased interest in industrial design,  the Rhode Island School of Design, is equipping its graduates with “artrepreneur starter kits”  in preparation for this growing market.

High intense boot camps proved more popular this year compared to fitness centres where people join but never go.  Software designers are also capitalizing on this extreme fitness, developing boot camp apps that let its users develop their own circuit training workout.

With unemployment at an all time high, online tools such as LinkedIn are linking people to jobs through social media.  Entrepreneur reckons “the employment support sector is rife with opportunity.” New software apps, for example, are being developed to make it easier for job-seekers to post their resumes on numerous job sites at the same time.

Regardless of your business or industry, if you are not online, don’t have a website presence or are not taking advantage of all the new software and apps out there, you may well find yourself on a desert island. 

One fast growing trend for sure is that technology is changing faster than anything, and now is the time to get on board.