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.

Power of Women

Recently I witnessed first hand the strength of women working together to support one another.

I was attending the WeConnect conference which brought women entrepreneurs from across Canada to learn more about how to tap into corporations that operate supplier diversity programs – i.e. they encourage and support women-owned businesses to apply for their contracts.

The group I was in had spent an hour discussing the merits of mentorship and how best to run a mentoring program that was a win-win for all involved.  The challenge was finding the necessary funds to run the program in a professional and organized fashion. 

The recorder for our discussion group then reported back to the whole audience and advised them that we needed $15,000 to make the program happen.  She worded it in such a way that it became almost like a live auction and before we knew it, one woman business owner offered up $5,000 towards the program and within ten minutes, $12,000 had been raised.

It was a magic moment and demonstrates how as  women we have the power and influence to make things happen.

Kudos to all who signed up.  And yes, my cheque is in the mail.

Mistaken Identity

I had been looking after my daughter’s cat – Phoenix – while she was away on vacation.  Now Phoenix is an indoor cat who often sits by the back patio door looking out longingly at the great outdoors, anxious to explore it for herself.  So we take great care to lock the door after the dog has gone out as we don’t want her to escape.

So you can imagine my horror when I came back one evening to see a black and white cat sitting on the front door step.  My immediate thought and horror was that somehow I had let the cat out and my daughter would never forgive me. 

On getting closer, I started to reflect on Phoenix’s colouring – all white, with some black.  This cat was the complete opposite – all black with some white.  In my panic I was struggling to remember exactly what Phoenix looked like,  so I was still second-guessing myself and rushed into the house shouting “Phoenix, Phoenix.” Timid by nature, she eventually showed herself and I gave a big sigh of relief when she appeared.

I had nearly scooped that cat into the house. Just imagine my daughter’s surprise when she came home to find not one happy well-fed cat, but two!

Speaking Out Loud

While I am getting much more comfortable with public speaking, my interview at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore made me more nervous.  Mostly because I didn’t know the questions and therefore couldn’t rehearse my answers.  I’ve never been someone who felt confident speaking off the top of my head.  And then there was the reading out loud – I had to read two or three sections from my book. 

First, which ones do I choose?  And second, and probably more important, I suck at reading out loud. I always went to great lengths to avoid this at school, where there was the expectation that the students in leadership roles (I was one)  would frequently read to the whole assembly.

Well you know what… it was OK.  Actually it was more than OK, it was pretty good.  What I had forgotten is that when you know your topic (which was me and my book), you know the answers.  On reflection there were a couple of things I probably shouldn’t have said – being critical of a well-known entrepreneur – but hey, take a number,  there are many who take pot shots at him.

My thanks to friends who came in to be supportive, especially those who drove in from Oakville.  It was lovely to see some familiar faces and it made the whole event seem like a friendly conversation between friends. Annemarie Shrouder was a charming host who made you feel comfortable and at ease and she seemed to have genuinely liked my book, which helps.

So my advice to those of you facing a demon or taking a risk – just do it.  It is usually worse in your head than in reality.

Learn From My Mistakes

I have been in business for myself for ten years now so you’d think I would learn and not repeat mistakes from the past.

Maybe it is menopause and my short term memory is shot, but yet again, I find myself feeling ripped off and while I am loath to admit it, I am partly to blame.

It actually all boils down to communication, or the lack of it.  Just like with teenagers, you have to ask the right questions and when you don’t, you forge ahead with misinformation and make assumptions - a dangerous way to go.  When you don’t have the full picture of what is involved, you proceed unaware that trouble lurks around the corner.

So what have I learned this time?

1.        When you don’t know, what you don’t know – ask the silly questions, do your homework and have the other person explain in full what is involved in the project and for how much.

2.        Get it in writing, spelling out exactly what will be done and what each component will cost and how the person will be reimbursed, with a payment schedule.

3.        Be specific on what you want, why you want it and how the end product will be used.

4.        Don’t expect other people to resolve problems in the way you would and then you won’t be disappointed.

I guess I am just a lifelong learner.

Beyond the Writing

When I was pregnant I remember focusing so much on getting through the childbirth, that I gave little thought to what happens after the delivery.  

Likewise, I put all my energies into writing my book and getting the message right, that I paid little attention to how we were going to sell and market the book, once it was published.

In fact, in my book  Day to Day – Tales of business, life and everything in between, I compare starting a business with motherhood.  As in both instances you can go through such a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to out and out fear and self-doubt that you are not up for the role – be it as a parent or as an entrepreneur. Well I now want to add publishing a book to being similar to giving birth. 

In fact, authoring a book is a whole new career and for us creative types, sales is not always our forte.  Truth be told, it makes me downright uncomfortable.  I can do a great job selling and marketing other people’s products, but my own – and my own book about myself to boot, it is just not happening very easily. 

 Silly really because I know I have an important message to share.  It is almost as if I expect people to know this through osmosis and buy the book anyway.  And I have heard from those who have bought it, that it is a good read, which is reassuring and good to know.

So trust me all you would-be authors, just like childbirth, writing the book is just the beginning.  It’s a whole new world out there and I, for one, am taking toddler steps as I learn the ropes.    

Be True to Yourself

Are you running a business or pursuing a hobby?  challenged Pat Mussieux, our speaker at a recent dinner event.  Good question. 

So much depends on why you started your business in the first place and what your end goal is and lastly your definition of success.

For many women, turning a hobby into a business is a logical next step but that doesn’t mean that they want to make lots of money, but more that they want to lead a productive life and pursue a passion.  Does that mean they are not true “business owners?”

I’d argue that they are, but their definition of success is different.  For each and every one of us, our definition will vary.  The key is to be true to your own.

We all strive for different things out of our businesses, and yes, when you have to put food on the table, you need to be more driven to succeed, you have to be.  But for some, the motivation is more about taking control of our lives or living a meaningful life that makes a difference in the lives of others.

I’d hate for us to get into the same competition from years gone by, when stay-at-home moms and those who worked outside the home, each considered themselves better than the other. 

Why you start, pursue and build a business is your choice and how big you want to make it, is up to you.  Don’t let others determine your definition of success. Let’s respect the decisions others make and not compare or compete with one another on who is a “real” entrepreneur.  We all are, to one degree or another.

Taking risks

I have been talking and writing a lot lately about taking risks, stepping out of your comfort zone.

One of my suggestions to get used to the concept, is to just drive home a different way and deciding I should practice what I preach, that’s what I did today.

I was feeling quite adventurous as I went straight ahead, instead of turning right.  First thing I noticed was a local hotel where a friend will be staying next month. Good to know, it’s not actually where I thought it was.

Next as I turned the corner I noticed several large trucks and a young woman holding a stop sign.  My first thought was to be pleased that there was a woman working on the site.  That generous thought lasted two minutes, maybe three max, as the traffic came to a standstill.  Five minutes later we were all still there.  Nothing was moving either way.

Eventually being the A type personality that I am, along with the other less patient drivers, I did a three-point turn and got back onto the main road and came home the usual way, thwarted in my attempt to step outside my travelling box.

So what did I learn from this little escapade?  There were no signs warning you of the road works ahead, but then in life, we don’t see flashing neon signs of danger either.  You just have to deal with the cards you are dealt with, make a decision and move on or in this instance, turn around.

Instead of being in autopilot, I was much more observant than usual, taking note of my surroundings.  It isn’t wrong to take a risk, but like anything you do for the first time, it could take you longer than you think to reach your destination! 

But hey nothing ventured, nothing gained. I now know where the hotel is.

Be Real, Get a Life

For the past twenty-one years I have lived with cancer.  And I have done so privately. I haven’t been secretive about being a “cancer survivor” but I have chosen not to let cancer define who I am.  It is something that happened to me, but it is not me.  Yes, it has shaped who I have become and what I have chosen to do, but it is not me.

But recently I have decided to speak up more – not because I want sympathy or a pity party, but more because I recognize I have a message to convey.

I see too many people who do not realize or appreciate that we have one life to live and it could change on a dime.

I see too many people who do not realize their full potential out of fear, not stepping forward to shine.

I see too many people who sweat over the small stuff when it truly doesn’t matter in the scheme of things.  Get rid of the negativity in your life, you don’t need or deserve it.

That’s why I wrote my book.  And my message is – live life now. Surround yourself with people who believe, love and support you.  Do what you are meant to do…now and take that risk, swallow your fear and become who you are supposed to be.

Another Four-Letter Word to Ban

Soon. As a child that seemed like a vague term given just to pacify you and make you believe that whatever you wanted would be happening…. well, soon. As an adult, it’s a cop-out. 

And in the six years since we bought the farm, that is what we’ve heard about high speed Internet. How does the ad go… Coming soon to a neighbourhood near you. Well high speed may have come to numerous neighbourhoods near us, but it ain’t here yet. 

Some of you may be wondering what the big deal is? Remember dial up? How s..l..o..w it was? After a couple of years of tying up the phone line and still not getting great service, we gave in and went to satellite. Now this is not an inexpensive option and while faster than dial-up, high-speed it is not. It is also very fickle – and very sensitive to the weather – so if we have had a storm, it has rained, or a bit of snow… forget it. 

Lately there has been a rumour that we are getting high-speed …soon. But I am somewhat cynical and it can’t come quick enough for me. 

Word of advice to advertisers – forget the word soon – be specific – you might get more buy-in then.

Time Strapped? Revisit How You Spend Your Time

Like many women there are times when I feel time-strapped to fit everything in.  So I was interested to read an article on how to get an extra hour out of my day.   

There are several culprits that eat away at our time – too many face-to-face meetings when a decision could just be made without the meeting. For the perfectionist, procrastination was another time guzzler, as the strive to make something perfect stopped us starting in the first place. The article also touched on our inability to value and use free time without feeling guilty.  When you own a business, the day is never done and if you work from home, it is even harder to close that door and leave the work behind.  

Certainly in terms of meetings, I get a lot of requests for face-to-face meetings and much as I love to meet with people, I am finding it harder to do and have become stricter about with whom I meet.

One screening tool I have introduced of late is asking people to send me information in writing, so I can determine if it is worth our time getting together or whether we can just talk over the phone. I often then hear nothing and the request fades away.  That’s when I know it is not a win-win situation, but someone trying to sell me something or hook me into something I don’t want to do.

Another point that the article raises is that it is not just the meeting that eats into your schedule, but the time prior to the meeting when you don’t start anything important because you know you will have to leave it unfinished. And then there’s the time afterwards when you have to change gears and switch back to the work on hand. 

I remember years ago being on several committees with one woman who started to evaluate the use of her time.  We nicknamed her “The Terminator” as she would ask questions at the meeting like – Why are we meeting? Do we still need this committee?

And she was right.  Often we get locked into meeting or serving on a committee, because we’ve always done it, not because there is a need.  When the purpose of the meeting/committee has been achieved, maybe it is time to say “Congratulations, we’ve achieved what we set out to do.” and end it there. 

What’s the answer?  The article suggests we take an audit of our time and how we use it. By examining it more closely, we likely will find areas that we can change and curtail and more importantly, they say, reframe how we look at quality time and the value of taking a break.  

The Personal Touch

It has been over a year since I started our LinkedIn group for Company of Women and we have over 1,000 members from around the world. That’s pretty neat when I consider that I really just started it on a whim, thinking it would be a way to get us involved in the social media arena. 

Back then, women were quick to join and I must admit to a moment of panic as I fretted about what to do with the group. As I wrote in my book, I decided to ask the women involved what they wanted, and you know what that has worked. Often there are as many as 15-20 discussions going on at one time, and women are listening and giving each other good advice. 

But I am still old-fashioned – I like meeting people face-to-face. It’s a bit like dating online, there comes a time when you need to meet in order to deepen the relationship. 

Recently I have been running our Company of Women 101 sessions myself. In the past I had delegated them to staff, but you know what – I am excited to doing them again. It gives me an opportunity to meet new women business owners, to build relationships and to share my passion for Company of Women and what we have to offer. 

So yes, get involved in social media, but don’t forget the personal touch, that’s the icing on the relationship-building cake.

Jack’s Legacy

Like many Canadians I watched Jack Layton’s funeral. It was a moving tribute to a man who represented and crusaded for ordinary people from all walks of life. Like his inclusivity when he was alive, the people who spoke, sang and performed at the service were all speaking to his warmth, passion and interest in equality for all.

No matter what your political stripe, people admired and respected Jack. He represented a type of politician that we rarely, unfortunately, see – someone who was honest, treated everyone with respect and valued the opinions of others. He was authentic.

You just hope that his legacy will live on and that the politicians in the audience listened, reflected on his message and determined to change the way they do business. Like many, I am tired of the hostility, game-playing and manipulation that has become an integral part of politics today.

Too much time is spent trying to win a point, to score a slight against an opponent, instead of finding ways to work together, to improve Canada and to focus on what is important.

We need hope, optimism and love. We need Jack’s vision to live on. We need to be proud to be Canadians.

Getting Past Myself

This week I met with book coach Sabaina Malik to talk about how to literally get the word out about my new book – Day by Day - Tales of Business, Life and Everything In Between.

As she talked about what I could do to create a buzz about the book, I realized that what was holding me back, was me. “You’re too modest, Anne.” she observed. Like many women, I am uncomfortable about selling myself and given that the book is about my life and the lessons I have learned – it really is all about me.

Why do we do that? I’ve had a very successful career, have accomplished a lot and I believe I have made a difference in the lives of others; so it’s not that I lack confidence in myself, yet I still hold back from tooting my own horn. Maybe it is my British background, because growing up in the UK, it would be deemed highly inappropriate to brag about yourself.

Maybe we need to follow the example of our southern sisters because they don’t seem to have the same difficulty in selling themselves. But there is a fine line between being confident and being in someone’s face.

Or maybe I just need to take my own advice because in the book I talk about slaying dragons and facing fears head-on. My fears there concerned driving into the unknown, especially on highways and public speaking – and I am getting better on both fronts.

But I sometimes wonder if my fear in this instance is the fear of failing, that people won’t like my book, and because of its content, by extension won’t like me. There I said it. As Jane Fonda said the other night, the disease of pleasing. I know better and I need to get over myself.

“But the other challenge,” Sabaina remarked, “is that people see you as the founder of Company of Women, not as an author.” So she recommended that I first start to identify myself as a writer because if I don’t believe it myself, how can I expect other people to.

My homework is to write my bio as an author, which given this is my third book, shouldn’t be a stretch, I just have to remember I can write.

So let me start by introducing you to Anne Day, author – OK Sabaina - accomplished author.

Memory Lane

At the risk of aging myself, do you remember that song How Much is that Doggie in the Window? It was one that my father would sing to me when I was a child.

So you can imagine my delight when we spotted this little dog in a shop window. It wasn’t a pet store, just a general shop that sold assorted items. The dog clearly belonged to the owner and did not seem too happy to be there.

When I used to teach the course Your Child’s Self Esteem I would often ask the parents to reflect back on their own childhood and identify a time when they were happiest. The most frequent answer – special time spent with a parent.

Seeing that dog brought back similar memories for me. My father would have chuckled at the photo we took and worse, would likely have burst into song. Not a good thing.

Summers Past

On a recent radio show with Jann Arden, she was asking the audience to phone in and talk about their worst summer job. It was fascinating to hear what people had to say and that day I asked several people the same question and got a similar reaction – in that people said they took what they could get to earn some money. Is that what happens today? I wonder.

It is good to reflect back on where we have been. I had numerous jobs over the summer months, but one of the most boring, and therefore in my estimations the worst was packaging letters of the alphabet in a company that produced letters to go on briefcases and the like. It was tedious and did not require much thought, other than knowing the alphabet.

Another time I worked as a chambermaid in a hotel and discovered what slobs people could be and how well or not, they treated people in service. Then there was the time I worked in the kitchen of a hospital, delivering meals to patients.

It seems to be me that I have come a long way from those early more menial jobs, but it is good to remember where you started. What about you? What did you do?

To me those summer jobs built character and an appreciation of what you didn’t want to do when you grew up.