500 entrepreneurs surveyed
Being a business owner isn’t easy at the best of times but it’s especially difficult these days. That’s evident in a new study released on Tuesday by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), supported by BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada). The study, Going it Alone: The mental health and well-being of Canada’s entrepreneurs, found that…
Take some time off for pleasure, don't hesitate when you need to fire someone and above all, play to win
Few politicians in recent history have polarized people the way Donald Trump has. Chances are you either love him or hate him. But whatever you think of him, there’s probably something you could learn from the American president. So what’s Trump doing that most business leaders could learn from? Let’s start with the obvious and…
National Workaholics Day is no reason for celebration. By working smarter, you could work less – and have more time for family, friends and fun.
July 5 is National Workaholics Day. But is this something we should really be celebrating? According to Forbes, the average Frenchman works 18 hours a week; the average Italian about 16.5 and the British work 21.5. But in North America, our idea of full employment is a standard 40-hour week. And in some locales, that…
Sometimes leaders get so caught up in the struggles of their enterprises that they don’t realize the impact they’re having
We were going 64 km/h in a 50 zone on our way to bury Larry when we got pulled over. When the police officer asked the reason why we were going so fast, we told him we were on our way to Larry’s funeral. As he marched back to his car with my wife’s licence…
‘Governments haven't always done a great job of understanding the reality of running a small business’
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business released its Federal Small Business Platform on Wednesday, outlining issues that matter to the group as the nation heads to a federal election in October. “Small businesses employ more than half of Canada's private sector workers and account for 52 per cent of the business-sector GDP,” said CFIB president…
Measuring shows our progress, provides targets for employees, gives us something to celebrate and helps us form strategies
I’m getting slower, there’s no doubt about it. I have been keeping track of my cycling times for the same routes for over five years and each year my times are slower. Since I turned 50, five seasons ago, my climbing is slower by a minute or two for the same hills, and my times…
A safe environment, fair pay, leadership and consideration for employees’ futures should always be at the forefront
I recently heard of a leader within an organization who was treating his assistant much like a slave. Not only was the leader verbally demeaning to the assistant, he would often bring his dog to work and expect his assistant clean up the mess his dog left in the building. Working in a non-unionized environment,…
Body language, posture, voice modulation and pitch, eye contact, hand gestures, dressing for success and much more
You may be a senior-level executive, an innovative entrepreneur, or a respected expert in your field – but when you’re on camera, do you know how to project leadership presence? Sylvia Gorajek is a video strategist and executive producer helping Fortune 500 and Silicon Valley tech startups narrate their stories with impact. I was honoured…
What does a properly functioning board of directors look like and how can its members pull their weight?
If you’ve ever sat on the board of a non-profit or charity, sports organization or even a company, you’ve probably noticed that most meetings are boring. Usually one person, the president, runs the meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order. After minimal discussion, the board votes on agenda items, provided a quorum has shown up. Without…
After wasting hours of my life, I realized I was not the valued customer Telus continued to claim I was
One of the first signs of a business headed for decline is poor customer service. When we fail to meet our customers’ expectations for our product or service, they generally start to leave us for other options. Business owners should always keep a close finger on the pulse of our customer service. For the three…
As entrepreneurs we all heed our calls, we plant our seeds and hope they germinate. But we need to stay patient
I was driving through the Prairies last week and as I saw farm after farm for sale, my mind drifted to what it would be like to be a farmer. I imagined the rhythm of the seasons, the sense of accomplishment of seeing crops grow before my eyes and the reaping of abundance from seeds…
Increasing number of businesses for sale as entrepreneurs get older, days BDC report
Entrepreneurs who acquire other businesses do so to grow, says a report released on Tuesday by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). And Pierre Cléroux, vice-president of research and chief economist at BDC, said the issue has become important because of the increasing number of businesses for sale as entrepreneurs get older. “For many…
You need to create a foundation now that establishes strong communication and systems, and the ability to adapt
A business in my community recently marked 100 years of operation. There was a party, celebrations and even recognition from politicians for their years of service to the community. I honestly don’t know much about the business except for the great service I’ve experienced as a patron over the years. What I do know, however,…
We need to be prepared and to have considered our options in the event our lives change unexpectedly
What would happen if you had to sell your business this week due to illness? A man recently contacted me because his doctors told him that due to an illness, he had to stop working immediately. The problem was that he owned a business. How, he asked, could he comply with his doctors’ orders and…
71 per cent of Canadian freelancers and micro-businesses struggle to get paid on time
It’s an issue that many Canadian entrepreneurs face – getting paid in a timely fashion. Now, a new survey released Monday by Interac Corp., indicates just how big of an issue it has become. The survey said 71 per cent of Canadian side hustlers (freelance or piecework in nature, providing a supplemental income) and micro-businesses…