Technicolour Report

2011-01-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

The Joint is Jumping in January!

I have made up my mind that 2011 is going to be different. For some reason, 2010 lacked joy and passion for me. It felt a lot like I was swimming upstream, trying to eke out a living to just pay debts and keep my head above water.

I watched as gas prices rose and my God is it me or are groceries expensive. Why is it you can buy a few odds and sods at the grocery store and you've just spent $50.00 on next to nothing. Money seems to come in and float right out.

It seems like everything is going up...and as a result I really did feel like I was treading water financially. Work was stable, but at times frustrating and not as rewarding as I would have liked to have seen. Again, it felt like the joy was sucked out of my work, akin to someone poking a pin through a helium filled balloon...and watching it float up in the air and away!

Friendships although good, sometimes left you feeling flat in 2010...it seems we live busy lives...and don't have as much time for socializing...

Is it me or was 2010 like treading water, waters that were choppy at times and kind of luke warm at other times.

So this year as I reflect on the year that was, I focus on the wins and I look back at lessons learned...

Now don't get me wrong I am not blaming anyone for the year that was, but didn't you feel kind of helpless when the BP oil well crisis hit? Or when the G20 fiasco took place in Toronto? Or how we somehow seem to be overtaxed (cue HST) and underpaid...is it me? Does the Ontario government meddle a little too much and what does the Harper government actually do? Is it me or are you feeling it too?

Now that being said, you gotta play through the pain and realities of life...but this year I am declaring that 2011 is the year of "Passion, joy and fun".

If I am not having fun, or living passionately and fully or in-joy, then someone please call me on to the carpet on this.

I am tired of being tired of the mundane nature that life sometimes can become.

I am being truthful here in this the first newsletter posting of 2011. I am not pulling punches and yes I realize some of what I am writing is my own shit. I own it. But I have had enough! I want my 2011 to be new, fun , joyous and juicy.

So here is what you can do if you want that for yourself...let's look at making things fun.

Can you turn the bland into funtastic? You bet. Add the element of play into the mix. When you were kids, you could play at something so boring for hours, because you played time flew and it was way more enjoyable!

Think of the big picture in life, and think of what you want your life purpose or yearly purpose to be about and ask yourself in each moment, "are you in purpose"?

As mentioned, I am purposefully living a life of fun, passion and joy this year, I am declaring it so! If I am not being that, you can tap me on the shoulder and ask me, "Hey Cohen, what gives"?

So what is your purpose this year? Are you living it moment to moment? If not get back to purpose and fast, then watch the shift!

Are you living in the moment? Or are you in the past or some kind of future? This year be in the moment, in truth, it's all there is. Keep the focus, stay centered and really connect with someone in the moment and watch how much juicier your relationships can be!

Choose joy in all you do. Find the joy in what you do and if what you're doing isn't bringing you joy, then step back and step away, try a different job, or route or switch gears. Really, you do the world and yourself a favour by being in joy! Injoy yourself in 2011...and really enjoy everything you do. If negative situations are bringing you down, cut it loose, it's not healthy and it's not serving you or the world in anyway.

Humans can be addicted to the suffering, but why? I remember my good friend Shawn Shepheard talking about little Matty Stepanek, a young man of 13 who had Muscular Dystrophy, when interviewed on Larry King Live a few years ago, a caller called into the show and asked Matty, why he was so happy and why he wasn't more upset about knowing that his death was imminent?

Matty replied, without skipping a beat..."Because I don't have time to be miserable"!

Choose, to be in-joy.

Limit the negative aspects in your life or get a handle on getting them taken care of.

For example, there is a wonderful native aboriginal fable about a Grandfather and his Grandson watching two wolves fighting, a good wolf and a bad wolf, the grandson asks his Grandfather, which wolf will win?

The Grandfather replies, which ever you feed!

Which essentially means what wolf are you feeding? Are you focused on the negative people, situations and things? If so what's the cost? What's the pay off? Why are you choosing the negative?

What's in it for you if you choose to feed the positive behaviours and actions?

I will tell you that it is scary feeding the positive, because that can mean work or taking actions that might be seemingly uncomfortable at first. But once you take that first step towards a positive action or actions, you watch how that feels...it's a fantastic feeling and it's empowering you to live your best life.

The Grandfather we spoke about makes sense huh? Watch what wolf you're feeding in 2011.

As you create the kind of year you want know, that if it's meant to be it's up to you. You are enough, you have it. You're ready, you can do this.

Be sure to sit down and set your goals, make them fun, juicy, joyous. You owe it to yourself.

Make it challenging and be bold!

Be creative.

Be playful.

Make a project out of things.

Set monthly action plans and follow up on them.

Get a coach to help you out!

Make them happen and get a mentor to bounce ideas off of.

Set something important to you to play for or shoot for this year, let that be your purpose.

Know what your values are so you can be guided by your values. For me freedom, creativity and fun are key values. If these don't exist in my professional or personal life, then I know I am not going to succeed in that kind of environment.

Lastly be sure to visualize your success or the outcomes you want. Meditate for 10 minutes each day and first thank the universe for the day and then focus on what you want to have happen.

So there you go, turn the mundane into something magnificent. Take the bland and turn it into big time! Take the routine and route it! Be big, be in joy, be in health, be in the moment and be you...cause you rock!

Happy 2011!

Cheers/David Cohen

p.s. enjoy the uplifting video, play it loud!

2010-11-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. This month I want to talk about making change and also 5 key ways to be "recession proof" in your venture.

It's the 4th Quarter and it's time to make a big play!

We are well into the 4th quarter...and a year is soon drawing to a close. In football when it's the 4th quarter it's do or die time. You might see a big play, or great defensive stand...or the quarterback throwing a long bomb "Hail Mary" kind of pass hoping that the receiver catches it and get's a fast touchdown or a big gain in yardage.

Isn't this time of year like that now for you in your business or life? It's time for the big play. Or do you breathe and take the loss, but begin to prepare properly for the new year ahead?

I say that you are the one with the time clock...no one else but you is putting pressure on you to throw that long bomb...or make that big play now!

But, do an analysis of your life or business and begin to plan out what really needs tending too now!

Rank the importance of the key areas of your life and if it is highly important to make change, make change now. Don't wait. Work on the most major concerns first. Make the calls and take the actions needed to change what it is that's affecting you or hurting you most.

If it's money, call a financial planner...and get an action plan going. If it's a debt, talk to a trustee in bankruptcy and work out a plan for creditors.

If it's a health issue, call the doctor, go to the gym, get a personal trainer or a nutritionist.

If it's a family or relationship issue, get counseling, reach out, come to compromise, get some help to right the ship at home.

If it's a work issue, work on your resume, start networking, talk it up with others to maybe make a job change.

If you need more accounts and clients, reach out, make an action plan to meet 15 new clients between now and the end of the year...make things happen, network, joint venture ask for referrals...just grow your business.

The fact is you have to take action and although there is no time clock on you to get going, you do want to get going on the most important things first.

Begin with your most pressing issues first but then get into action, call the people and contacts you need on your side to help you take care of the things in your life that need changing the most.

So today, I encourage you to take that first step, the 4th quarter is now and it would be nice to end the year with a touchdown!

Go team!

How to beat the Recession in your business...5 key ways

As I sit down to write this article, I am still hearing that for a lot of us it's the "Economy Stupid"...the economy is playing havoc on our minds. There is a lot of uncertainty for sure. IN the U.S. the economic recovery and jobs are the 2 most important factors that saw the "Republicans" and the "Tea Party" came out as big winners. The American people are worried about jobs, money and making it.

Don't kid yourselves either, it's the same here in Canada. We don't want big government any more. We want responsible government and to say so long to the old boys and fat cats that spent, spent, spent. I mean just witness what happened in the Toronto Mayoral race.

So, yes there is a "Sea" change taking place. The economy is shifting. You can count on not counting on anything anymore. Change is rampant, things are moving faster and faster, there is more noise, competition, bankruptcies are up and there is a concern about our future out there...and there are no if's and's or buts about it.

So what can you do as a small business owner to rise above the recession?

Well...here are 5 things that come to mind...the first thing is to niche. Find that niche that you can do better than anyone else and market it to the exact channels your going after.

Find your niche:

One example of this is my friend Tiina Veer. She is a great business woman. She's young, passionate and creative. She is a plus sized woman. She is a top notch yoga teacher and is a massage therapist.

But...being a plus sized woman, Tiina can relate to how other plus sized (BBW) are challenged to do yoga, especially in an environment where they aren't watched and one in which they feel safe in.

So Tiina, does Yoga for Round Bodies. Brilliant! She owns that niche. Everything she does is geared to helping Big Beautiful Women. From retreats, to counseling, to yoga. Tiina leads a wonderful class too and may even branch out to plus sized men too in the not too distant future.

But find me one yoga class in Toronto doing what Tiina does, the way Tiina does it.

She's an avid social marketer too...often found linking up with her peeps on Facebook.

So...find your niche and build on it.

Get into the Green:

Get into the green. The Green business is about to take off in Ontario... A recent article in the London Free Press newspaper suggests that the Green industry is taking a new turn in the Province of Ontario... to quote...

"The green energy revolution is entering a new phase in Southwestern Ontario. It’s progressing from harnessing alternative energy sources to opening manufacturing plants at which the harnessing tools — such as wind turbines and solar panels — are built. And that could spell hundreds, maybe thousands of jobs for the London region, still reeling from a recession that sucked away 4,400 jobs in the last year."

Ontario has a number of things going for it. We have a close proximity to the U.S., we have a good labour force and excellent infrastructure (roads, transit, high tech). It's all making us the place to look for green sector investment.

Add to the fact there is a huge solar power project about to be happening soon...in fact the London Free Press quotes,

"Ontario is getting so much attention from European and North American manufacturers it's "turning heads in other provinces. Alberta is now looking (at the Ontario Green Energy Act and feed-in tariff program). What is going on in Ontario is hard not to notice," he added.

Also, the Ontario government struck a $7-billion deal this spring with Korean industrial giant Samsung under which it will build four manufacturing plants in the province, employing 16,000 - about one quarter of the jobs permanent."

So if you want to beat the recession, go green.

Go after the new:

The other hot trend is to tap into newcomers. Yes, it was a bit of an issue and political hot potato for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, but newcomers are coming to Canada n a steady basis and is the impetus to our economic growth. Without new immigrants we would probably have negative population growth. So newcomers are ensuring that Canada stays on the plus side of the ledger as far as growth goes.

But they bring skills, know-how, money and they are in need of products, services and skills. As Canada reaches the tipping point with now more than 50% of Canadians born elsewhere, this sector is too hard to ignore.

Tap into the niche markets of newcomers. You will be justly rewarded.

There is a "new Canada" just over the horizon — home to a diversity of skin tones, birth countries, languages and religious faiths unprecedented in the nation's history.

By 2031, at least one in four people in this country will have been born elsewhere, new population projections from Statistics Canada suggest, and just half the working-age population will belong to families that have lived in Canada for at least three generations.

As Sultan Mahmood suggests, Canada's multiculturalism enriches our social fabric...

"This is enriching our society," says Mahmood, who moved to Calgary from Pakistan in 1992. "We're getting good people and all the good things from all over the world, and I think this diversity has made Canada one of the best countries in the world, and I think Canada will remain one of the best countries in the world because of this diversity."

Be excellent at customer service:

How many of you know what your clients are passionate about? Do you know what kind of hot dog they like? Do you know their golf score? Or do you know their birthdays?

Jack Mitchell does. So does Harvey MacKay?

Oh and are your customers having fun? Do they enjoy the buying experience?

If you go to Pikes fish market in Seattle their clients are having a blast...fish flying everywhere, employees joking, singing, yelling, having fun.

Paddy Lund the dentist in Australia is the closest thing to experience unconditional love in a business contest according Randy Basch former Fed Ex executive.

If you aren't putting the customer first you're going to lose out.

Case in point, I was at a Country Style donuts location near the Rogers Centre. I went in needing change for a $20 bill, so I could feed the parking meter. The clerk at this location told me no...no change without buying something.

Okay, fair enough, I want a country bit...for $0.25 ...she refused to sell it to me. But I am buying something, I replied. She refused again. Not only that she left the counter and went into the store room and shut the door behind her.

She left! Refusing to honour my transaction.

She finally came out to and agreed to the business transaction, but it was under protest and she yelled at me as I left, that she would never do that kind of transaction again.

I phoned Country Style head office to complain, they took my complaint, but never followed up with me to make things right or let me know they had contacted that clerk.

Personally, I won't go to Country Style again. Ever. Bad service...and wouldn't you know the Tim Horton's I go to in the morning welcomed me with open arms...in fact I know the clerk at the drive through personally, we chat, we joke and I get excellent service...even for just buying a coffee in the morning.

So make sure you are excellent at treating your customers like gold...because they are.

Pinch the pennies...

Finally, the other key trend to beating the recession is to look at your expenses. How many you have had a review of all expenses and seen where you can cut back.

Call your accountant and re-group...re-calculate, find the waste, shop around, get deals, negotiate ...just do what you have to to stop the financial bleeding.

If you follow these 5 steps you will have a much better business at hand. I wish you nothing but the best in 2011.

Cheers/David

2010-08-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

September is a powerful month:

September...for some it signifies the end of summer...but don't fret my friends...because this is a very powerful time of year. It's a time of new beginnings, kids go back to school, we get a bit more dedicated to work and new projects and initiatives.

Plus, the cooler air is welcome for a good night's sleep.

In spiritual terms the fact that September is here means a few more things from my vantage point. Being of the Jewish religion, I want to share a concept about this time of year. This is the time before the Jewish New Year, it is a time when God had a thought. The thought was about creation.

God created the world according to biblical text when the Jewish New Year is celebrated. Rosh Hashana is the holiday and it means "The head of the year" or the start of the year.

But prior to the new year, there was the idea, the seed or thought of what God created in 7 days.

Then during the time of this holiday it's about actually manifesting the thought.

I share this with you, not because I think my religious views are better, but I share out of wanting to educate and enlighten. All religions have the path towards something higher, a better way of being.

So let's go back to what this time of year signifies according to Jewish text, it signifies taking an idea or thought to actual creation.

It's a time to celebrate that very thing. Isn't it a miracle when an idea you have actually happens?

Isn't there joy in seeing your business take shape, customers coming in the door, the phones ringing?

You bet!

So this month, celebrate, create and honour your ideas, thoughts and actions.

That's what the point of this newsletter/blog is about.

It's Jewish custom to begin to reflect on the year that was and to begin to clean up any messes you've made with those in your life, it's a time to ask for forgiveness and to right wrongs. It's a time of prayer. Praying for health, peace for all and life!

It's a time to connect with family and friends and wish them well. It's a joyous time, but a reflective time too.

So what is that you want to create?

What do you need to clean up in order for you to lessen the load?

Who do you have to forgive so you can begin anew?

These are some compelling questions to ask yourself.

Motivational expert, speaker, writer Raymond Aaron suggests that there is "power" in cleaning up messes...

He says, "Messes are the lock on the gate towards true abundance". You can't get to the future if the past is still messy. You have to clean up personal and professional messes. Oh and don't think that it's not important to clean up physical messes as well...Having an uncluttered life allows for clear thinking and allows you to move forward without the past taking you back into it's vortex.

So as you clean up messes, call someone you've wronged or hurt, work on establishing a new beginning with close friends and family or let go of relationships that hurt you in a proactive and compelling manner that allows for you both to be okay with it ending so that you can both agree to disagree and move forward.

If you've got a messy office or car or house, clean it up. A bit at a time so you don't become too overwhelmed.

The bottom line is to really create a compelling future you want to complete the past first!

The next big thing to work on this time of year is to visualize what you want to create for the year ahead. Maybe it's time to do a vision board again, or maybe it's time to re-write your business plan or maybe it's time to write your goals out on paper and see the "idea" begin to take shape.

Linda Boertjens, creator and founder of Orange Peel Systems suggests that, "Visualization is an important success element in your goal achievement efforts. A very powerful way to apply visualization is by creating a so called "Vision Board", also known as a "Dream Board". It is one of the most powerful ways to put the Law of Attraction to work for you. A Vision Board is a collage of pictures of the goals and dreams you want to attract in your life. Important is to really use the exact image of what you want to attract, as whatever you show on your Board will become part of your reality"!

Don't forget to get help along the way too. No one ever got somewhere important alone. It's always advisable to have a mentor, coach, buddy, or a team to support you in your quest.

The fear is we are weak if we ask for help. We are not worthy of help either...this kind of thinking is bogus.

The truth is that all good leaders depend on the involvement and actions of others in order to make things happen.

Dr. John Grohol founder of the website, "Psych Central" writes; "Actually, successful individuals will tell you that the key to success is knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Learning how to delegate, asking for help and letting others show you the way are part of the plan. Successful people are driven and motivated — and when the going gets tough, the tough ask for help"!

Where to begin?

So, begin to sit down with yourself and visualize and write down what you want to create this year.

The last part of your mission this month is to begin to take action...like God did in 7 days, you might do in the year ahead or longer. Unless you work fast or can pull of some miracles of course...

But when taking action it means you need to incorporate good action habits. Here are a few to incorporate this month...

1) Write down your key actions each day on a daily "to-do" list and you'll find out soon that the things you wanted to create in your life end up happening...so your "to-do" list becomes your "ta-da" list...(How cool is that huh)?

2) Focus on the most important things first. If you are wondering where to focus...I say act as if your life depended upon it. What goals and actions must you do as if your life depended on it? If you can answer those each day, then that's where you put most of your time and energy.

3) Check in weekly with a buddy, coach, mentor to let them know how you're doing, to set weekly goals and to set up some accountability

4) Play! Goals, actions take place easily when there is an essence of play to it. Don't you remember playing as a kid? Time flew when we played. Play adds a sense of fun to it, play is enjoyable, play is socially engaging too...so add a dimension of play to your big goals and the key things you want to create.

5) Have a time table. See the end in your minds eye. Keep visualizing the success you're going to have when you've accomplished your goal or actions in a set time frame. I mean if you're going to be up to creating something cool for your life or business you want to do it preferably in this lifetime. So make sure you have an "end date" like a jug of milk has...or your dreams might sour a little too if it's past the best before date!

6) Celebrate along the way. I can imagine that when God created the world we live in, he probably patted himself/herself on the back. "Wow animals...look at that, how cool"! So be sure to pat yourself on the back for the gains along the way.

As you move forward in September, get clear as to what you want to create? Is it a better world? One with peace, abundance for all, health, a clean environment too...be sure to envision the people you want in your world too...I mean you gotta hang with cool people too in your vision.

Once you're clear on the vision, write it down, journal, do up a vision board, a business plan or a goal list.

Then get into action, get into making it happen.

So have a Happy New Year or as we say "Shana Tova" may it be a good, sweet year.

Here is a video on the 8 ways to be great, it's with Richard St. John, author of 8 ways to be great and a highly successful business owner. Enjoy!

Also please take our business development survey, we need to hear from you!

Click here to take survey

Cheers/David

Time to celebrate success

2010-08-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Celebrating success...it's challenging these days given that we are seeing some tough economic times. But alas, there is still success out there. In fact if you get a copy of Profit Magazine you will learn about 100 and another 100 fast growing companies in Canada.

In this most recent edition of Canada's Profit Magazine (Magazine for Entrepreneurs) shares the success stories of Canada's Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies.

Even in times like these, businesses are still growing and succeeding. But how, you ask?

Well for starters Canada's fastest growing companies are finding access to raising capital is critical to success. If you've gone to a bank or a venture capital fund, this is no easy task. Getting money is like pulling teeth these days. So really working the "streets" to access capital is critical to business growth.

In order to access capital you need to be creative. You've got to work on your pitch and don't be afraid to ask and go to where perhaps you wouldn't think to ask. Friends, family, your best suppliers, your legal team and your accountant might all be good places to start.

Another critical success factor is in your ability to decrease costs and reduce spending. I remember reading about a company in the U.S. during the recession in 1990-92...and the owner would even count paper clips to ensure cost savings...

Not that you have to be that extreme, but it's a good thing to look at what do you need vs. what you really, really need.

Selling skills come into play too in terms of those that made the Fastest Growing list. Selling in today's marketplace, means it's less about what you sell and more about how you sell it and who you sell it too. Make sure you're clear on the value proposition of your product or service and who can really benefit from it. Who is your ideal client? How do you help them get what they want? It's a much different way to sell than calling some company or client out of the blue and letting them know you've got a great "deal" for them.

It just doesn't cut it any more. You've got think about selling strategically and then pitch, pitch, pitch!

Another key factor in business success is in the ability to tap into foreign markets. Canadian companies are still tapping into the U.S. market, but most notably their is growth in working in Africa, Brazil and Russia.

Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa...one of the emerging trading partners among Canada's Fastest Growing Companies.

Winning companies are also very clear about creating a "winning-team" culture as well. When polled many CEO's were concerned about protecting their employees from job loss during this recession. Often working long hours to make things happen in the business so that the staff stayed employed. Nothing contributes to low morale than a round of company layoffs.

These are all good business strategies to live by and it put into play, but what about the mindset of succeeding in this economy? Well...many owners of those listed on the Top 100 list see the opportunity in a recession rather that the liabilities. That is a terrific mindset to have! Is the glass half full or half empty? For example one business owner is spending more on marketing dollars...why? Well, rates for advertising have lowered considerably during this downturn and two, his competition isn't advertising as much if at all...thus creating a huge opportunity for his product to gain recognition and market share.

Important stuff for sure...

Here are some other facts and figures discussed in this issue of Profit Magazine...

Opportunity: Always be looking for the next big thing!

Starting up: Get a customer first. So many companies start without a solid idea of what customers really want, Find the customer and the customer will help you perfect your product. If you don't have a customer, you're not a real business.

Managing: Communicate, communicate and communicate. You can't go wrong by over communicating, but you can make a lot of mistakes by under communicating.

Strategy: Don't hire for the job you need done today; hire for the future. Hire for what you want your organization to be and it will become the organization you want.

Culture: Build a strong culture. It will give you a base through the bumpy times. When you don't land that big deal, people won't leave; they will stay and work even harder.

Delegating: Your entrepreneurial instincts tell you that you can do it all on your own, but the best things that have ever been accomplished were done by strong teams.

Giving back: I believe in Karma. Entrepreneurs are always chasing after the dollar, but the reality is if you give, you will gain back.

Motivating: To motivate your employees, listen to all of their ideas. When you use them, they feel part of the success and they work even harder.

Leadership: Be humble. Every time we think we're smarter than anyone else, it blows up on us.

Execution: Hire a good manager, because generally, entrepreneurs aren't good managers.

(These are some of the rules of wisdom from Canada's Fastest Growing Companies found on page 83 of the current edition of Profit Magazine).

Here are some other facts and figures that might give you some more insight into trends, ideas and the thinking of Canada's best business minds:

41 is the average age 80 of the top 100 were born in Canada

17 have a graduates degree

57 is the average number of hours that goes into a CEO's work week.

39 were solo founders 47 were founding partnerships and 9 companies were owned by women.

13 companies are in technology, 9 in marketing, 4 in HR, 3 in retail, 3 in consulting, 2 in transportation, 7 in other, 18 in manufacturing (who said manufacturing is dead in Canada)?... 16 fast growing companies are in software development, 10 in construction, 5 in consumer services, 6 in wholesale/distribution and 1 in investment.

Most growth capital is through the owners own assets, banks are next, followed by SR and ED, (financing) Leasing, credit cards, the BDC, friends and relatives, government grants or tax credits, private investors, IRAP's, Credit unions, venture and angel investors...

Ontario had 48 fastest growing companies Quebec had 20, Alberta 12 and BC 11...followed by the east coast and the prairie provinces.

So there you have it, check out the issue online at http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/profit100/2010/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=0 or buy a copy, it's well worth it. There is hope for success...if you follow some of these secrets it will be yours for the taking!

Cheers/David

2010-07-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

THE AUGUST EDITION:

Well, I just got rejected. I pitched the CBC a radio show idea and it got turned down. There used to be a time where that would really have an adverse affect on me. But not now.

Making the pitch!

Now, I tend to look at ways to build that relationship further...remembering someone wants to help you especially after they just told you "no". So I probed and asked about future opportunities and where I could have improved on my "Pitch".

The upshot of it all was that I could still be in the game at CBC radio and get in another way. The suggestion was to pitch being a contributor to other shows, like the Current and or Sunday Edition. Not only that to stay in the loop and get on board as a contributor to those two shows.

The bottom line is rejection doesn't mean it's the end...it means not now. It means you have to re-work things a bit to give people or your audience what they want.

So, when you're pitching business, keep pitching, stay in the game, nurture relationships, ask questions and plan for the future.

Let's delve into handling rejection a little bit more.

If you pitch a business proposal or make a cold call and you get rejected, the best bet is to check your attitude. It's never personal...it's just business. It wasn't meant to be and who knows maybe the next best thing is right around the corner.

Now that being said, none of us ever like to be rejected. It hurts. Sometimes the thing we seek is something that is vitally important to us. Sometimes, our future depends on it.

GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ANGER:

But when you do pitch or present a business idea/solution or proposal and you get turned down listen to the voice inside you. What's it saying? Is it hurt? Is it angry? Is it upset? If it is, then get that emotion out of you. Yell, scream, journal, whatever you do, just get your frustrations out...and really let it out, don't hold back.

I used to scream in my car alone and after about 10 minutes of that, I would just laugh at my being totally silly. That in that moment of outrage and hurt about being rejected, that after 10 minutes of pure screaming, I experienced a calm about the situation. A peace came over me.

So once you let it out...once you dump the anger...begin to shift your thoughts and think of what's next? What can you do to be better next time? This is where it's wise to ask the person that said no to your brilliant idea/proposal/concept or pitch is the person you need to ask about how you can improve in future?

It's a good time to ask about other possible ways to engage with the client and see if there are smaller opportunities so you get in on some level. You see if you close the door in anger, it may and probably will never open up again for you.

ASK GOOD QUESTIONS:

So be sure to ask the person that said "no" some questions to see if there is another possibility to continue some sort of relationship.

I liken it to dating, you might not be a fit for that person you go on a date with, but having them in your life as a friend may just be a really wonderful outcome!

So ask the person that said no...about staying in the loop somehow, because if you do get in...even on a small level, you never know when a brilliant opportunity might happen in the future. The key is to be there...and as Woody Allen once said, "99% of success is just showing up."

When you begin to explore why you're idea got rejected, you get a better sense of what the customer wants. So this pitch/proposal is a good first effort. The key now is to do a check in to see what the customer needs, based on that information you can tailor your proposals accordingly.

KEEP THE RELATIONSHIP ALIVE:

Ask also to maintain some kind of ongoing relationship with the person, keeping it light, professional and engaging. You don't want to bombard the individual, you want to just showcase your talents and ideas in a light informative way.

KNOW IT'S A NUMBERS GAME:

The other key thing about being rejected is that you have to know if you've given it your "best shot" that's all you can do. I remember pitching Adams Brands on handling all of their promotional products needs. We would have printed anything from t-shirts to pens with their logo's on it. I came in second. They loved what I did, but gave the business to someone who was offering a rebate discount. I didn't even think to offer that, so I lost the deal.

I do remember giving it my very best shot.

With this CBC radio proposal, I was up against 250 application/pitches a year. 2 of which get to air. It's hard to be upset when you're turned down with those numbers circling about.

I think I would have been more upset if I didn't have the nerve to pitch an idea.

So, never let fear be against you. Keep pitching, keep out there, keep going. If you do get rejected, seek to build and nurture your business relationships...sooner or later good things will come from it...

LEARN FROM IT:

One way to overcome rejection is to adopt a learning mindset. If you're open to learning and doing even better next time, have a learning mindset. You can be in judgment about the rejection, the company that rejected you or the person that said "no", or you can seek to understand where that "No" came from and then re-vise, re-work your submissions in future.

If you learn from rejection, if you adapt to what the market wants and you're open to being flexible, then rejection won't be so bad.

I hope this post helps you. I hope you have a ton of rejections, because that means you're playing full out. It means you're going to get business coming your way, because the more you ask, the more you pitch, the more you know your customers, the more you connect with people, the better your odds of success.

As usual, I include a motivational video and this month Brian Tracy (sales training/motivational expert) talks about handling fear. Have a great summer, keep going, remember there is still trillions of dollars changing hands around the globe each day and some of those dollars has your name on it.

Go make it happen!

Cheers/David

2010-06-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

This is our annual Canada Day newsletter...and it's a time where I list the top 10 things you can do for free or little cost in the GTA.

Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy life a little. With the new HST tax increase and our budgets being tighter, it's nice to know you can still do some cool things in our city.

This is the 3rd edition of our what to do for free in the GTA issue and there are lot's of free things to take in...so don't let the HST bug you, or the tight budgets be an excuse, get out and enjoy these Top 10 events...

Cheers/David

Let's start with the Mosaic BIA (Danforth and Coxwell) Summer Jazz series in the park...this is a cool event with some very good talent this summer...log onto...
www.danforthmosaicbia.com/blog/... To see what is in store and check out the terrific line-up they have...

2. Mel Lastman Square in North York has the "Sunday Serenade" series once again...from 7:30-9 pm with great concerts and dancing...lots of fun and free as well... live Big Band concerts and great dancing too...so get your boogie shoes on for this event...from July 11th until the end of August...
http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/serenades/2010/events.htm

3. In downtown Toronto, on Wednesdays you can have fresh food and take in a noon hour concert at Nathan Phillips Square...all free, except the food...but check out this link... http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/wednesdays/2010/events.htm

4. Nathan Phillips Square plays the music again and serves up good food as well with "Tasty Thursdays"...so free concerts, good food from local restaurants and the fresh air...check it out... http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/thursdays/2010/events.htm

5. Harbour Front by Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto has free concerts, festivals, arts, dance and tons of cultural events...alot of it is free as well...log onto http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/ to learn more about Harbour Front...

6. In Downsview where the Pope was a few years ago and the Rolling Stones were too...there are a ton of free things to do, including Movies in the Park...check this link out... http://www.downsviewpark.ca/eng/movies.shtml

7. Wanna get fit? In Ajax, Ontario, there are free family fitness events on Thursdays...check this link out and begin to "breathe" easier... http://www.townofajax.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=9248

8. There are numerous concerts in the park all over Durham Region, lot's of fun from Orono, to Oshawa to Ajax, there is no lack of music and fun and they are "free" check out this article in the Durham Region news for all the details and locations... http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/article/155869

9. If you want some theatre, the Canadian Stage Company offers live theatre for a Pay What you Can price point, here is the classic Shakespeare play in High Park info for this summer... http://www.canadianstage.com/dream

10. Lastly, if you long for the old days...wasn't life simpler in the 60's??? Then check out the listing of "Drive in" theatres, yup, roll the top down, put the kids in their "Jammies" and catch a few flicks...not free, but not over priced either...

http://www.toronto4kids.com/content/view/706/

Have a great summer and Canada Day, don't forget there is a ton of free things to do on Canada Day.

Cheers/David

2010-05-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

The June Edition: Getting into the Zone

I have a secret to share, but you've got to promise not to share it with anyone. Here it is...when I sit down to write my newsletter, I have no idea of what I am going to write about until I sit down to write it.

Are you surprised? I kind of am. It amazes me that I can stay fresh and current when I post up a new article on my newsletter/blog. It kind of comes to me naturally. I don't force it. I just sit down and start punching the keyboard and usually I write something meaningful.

My best creative piece was when I came up with the "SWIFT" method for living. "SWIFT" is about setting goals in the 5 key areas of your life. "SWIFT" stands for Social, Work, Inner, Financial and Taking Care of.

So under a social goal you might want to set goals around your social life, under work...you set work goals and under inner you set goals like pray, read, meditate, study. The "F" is for financial goals...are you saving money, paying down debt asking for a bailout? Last but not least the Taking Care of is the time you spend at the gym, going for your physical, taking the family out...taking care is about taking care of the the things that really matter.

In this post I want to talk about your Inner game, or how to get into the zone. These days it's critical to stay in the zone. I don't know about you but the negative news, horrific world events and change has kind of thrown me off my game.

My sense is this may be true for you. Are you as sharp as you used to be? Confident about life? Optimistic? Nope? Here too.

Being a big baseball fan, I relate being in the zone to what a good hitter does when they are on a hitting streak. You'll hear terms like, "he's really seeing the ball well" or "they see the play unfold in front of him as if the whole game has just slowed right down".

The athlete that is in the zone has somehow found the sweet spot and an ability to be totally in the moment, all senses working at once, magically doing the big things naturally.

So how can we get to the zone in these wild and interesting times?

First of all it takes practice. This is not something that you can just do without applying some very critical daily rituals.

First of all you want to meditate daily. This doesn't have to be for an hour on end, but just meditate, visualize your day happening and unfolding the way you want it too.

Second of all, exercise every day. Change your routine too. Mix up aerobics, with weights or strength training and yoga to incorporate a full work out regimen.

Third, eat properly, your mom was right...eat your fruits and veggies every day and when grocery shopping and yes I am guilty of this...don't go into the middle of the grocery store, stick to the perimeter or the outside, because that's where to good nutritious food is.

Stay hydrated. Drink your water. It enhances fat loss and helps you look younger...you'll have better skin...and it contributes to your health and well being.

Take mini-breaks during the day...little time outs to re-charge the mind, soul and battery. All work and no time outs makes for an evening of being grumpy and tired...let's face it your family deserves better.

Surround yourself with creative, idea people and connect to set your daily intentions and goals for the day as a group. If you're on purpose and have a purpose with clear cut goals that you want to take on...then you will have more of a focus.

Do up a daily do list. Before you wind it up for the day, do up a daily list of what you want to take on. It's critical that you have that clear direction each day or you will be like a boxer flailing in the boxing ring, throwing punches wildly in the air and never landing a bop on the nose.

Don't work too long. Recent health studies show that working more than 8 hours a day on average actually contributes to stress, heart disease and diabetes...and if you think about it, you're probably at a desk job, working hard, stressing out...that's why that trip to the gym or a break in the day helps you...you can even meditate or nap during the day.

Know what you're playing for. Remind yourself as to why you're doing what you're doing. Is it for your kids? Are you inspired by someone, or something? Connect with what inspires you on regular basis so you don't lose the passion or interest.

Always connect to what inspires you and what your passion is. I get passionate about different things in my business and work and it's in a state of flow, yet the work remains consistent.

Let go of the struggle. When an athlete is in the zone or is seeing the ball well, they aren't even thinking about struggling, they're into the fun of it all...the game. Let go of all struggles and get back into the "game" of it all. To me a "game" is the part of the work that's akin to having fun.

Be of gratitude. Each day when it ends be thankful to whatever life brings you. Remember...one of my favourite lines in the Mel Brooks movie "Young Frankenstein" when Gene Wilder asked his trust worthy assistant Marty Feldman about a mistake he had made, Marty Feldman replied, "it could always be worse...it could be raining"!!!

If you saw the movie, the minute after he said that...thunder roared, lightning struck and sure enough it started to rain! Talk about being optimistic!

So yes even thought we are overwhelmed by change and challenges, it can always be worse.

This month, I encourage you to get into the zone and let me know if you adopt any of these daily rituals if it improves your "game"

I hope it does and would love to know if these strategies had a positive affect on you.

Until our next posting, stay well. Enjoy our motivational video included with this newsletter posting and I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Cheers/David

Don't go it alone in life or in your business

2010-03-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

This Blog is geared to helping you run your small business. We post informative articles, links and share ideas and tips on how you can succeed. Being in business can be somewhat challenging at times and we are here to help you meet those challenges head on!

Check out our booklist, monthly polls and links...all geared to help you!

Enjoy the read.

Who is on your team?

This month, I have become present to the importance of having a team to support you in your business venture...in fact, having a team around you in whatever you are taking on that's big is almost mandatory. If you're having a baby, you have a doctor, a gynecologist, your friends and teacher from the prenatal class and so on. If you're taking it on to take off weight you've got support from a nutritionist, a doctor, a personal trainer and or the team at weight watchers as well.

Having a team is vital to your success. In biblical times, Moses had Aaron, Jesus had the disciples...Noah had a bunch of animals, but we won't go there this time...

The lesson in this newsletter is the importance of having a supporting cast around you to help you run and grow your business.

There are 4 key types of support in the business world.

The first is a mentor. A mentor relationship is with someone that's in your field, is successful in the field and is open to counseling you or guiding you once a month about your business and the direction you're taking it. One way to access a mentor is to talk to the trade association that's connected to the industry or field you're in. In almost every industry there is a trade association and what you want to do is ask the director of the trade association who the top 5 most successful business owners are in your industry. Once you've got that information and those contacts you then want to call each owner and see if they would be open to mentoring you.

Usually, when people are successful, they are all too happy to share their advice. Why? Because it's something to be proud of and it's an honour to share it!

A good mentor relationship is one that's done over the phone once a month. You have to be respectful of the other person's time. It's not out of the realm of possibility to send a thank you card and a gift certificate to your mentor as well...once in a while. Showing appreciation is always a good thing.

The second type of support you can have is a mastermind group. Your mastermind group can be made up of professionals in your industry or it can consist of a variety of business people from different industries.

The idea of a mastermind team was developed by the "grandfather" of the personal development movement, Napolean Hill. He felt the power of 5 or 6 minds were better than 1. One of the first mastermind groups included Ford, Firestone and Edison...quite the mastermind team to say the least.

When choosing your team you have to be with people you trust, who have the same goals and who can help you get to where you want to go. A typical mastermind meet up is about 2-3 hours a long and it's a chance for you to brainstorm, test, work through challenges and then get the advice and insight from 4-5 other people in your group.

I personally don't like a group that's more than 6 people or the meeting can take all day.

You can make your meeting fun, by having a nice breakfast, lunch, or maybe have a book review, share online resources, best practices. In my mastermind group we did experiential dance, that allowed us to get into our bodies...once we did dancing, we then created a vision board...my vision board had pictures and words cut out from magazines that resonated with me. I then glued each picture and word onto a bristol board.

My vision board reminds me of what I want to achieve for my life and business.

A mastermind group has to have respect, trust, cohesion and good communication. I recommend you meet once a month to keep the flow going.

Your mastermind group isn't about you getting psychological help, it's about getting support, ideas, action steps that you can take for your business venture. Yes, some emotional issues may come up...but remember you are with business people not a psychotherapist or psychologist. Keep the meetings more about the task at hand rather than making them more personal.

A mastermind team can be a great support mechanism for you to put into action in your business venture and the ideas and the encouragement you get is invaluable. Heck you might even get to dance like I did in a couple of my meetings and anyone who knows me...can tell...I am no "twinkle toes" but I did have fun and let loose for a while.

Sometimes you need to let loose and play even if it's during a work day.

Another support system to put into place is an advisory board. An associate coach of mine, Tanya Geisler teaches her clients about the power of an advisory board. Tanya leads entrepreneurs to have access to their very own advisory board. The difference between a mastermind team and an advisory board is that the advisory board focuses solely on you. Whereas a mastermind team is a shared focus. Log onto Tanya's site and check out the work she does helping small business owners start their own advisory boards... http://tanyageisler.com/board-of-your-life/

Another advisory board is an experience I had this past week. On Thursday, I met with 4 senior business executives this week and they helped direct me and give me ideas, advice and feedback on my business. I went in totally cold, not knowing what to expect. I did go in with some key areas I wanted to discuss and I got 90 minutes of ideas, counseling and advice to put into action immediately. I also became clear about the most immediate next steps to take and engage in.

I met with this very unique organization called A-S-E. (The Association of Senior Executives) and for $90 you get to consult with 4 very astute professionals about your business. I had a 90 minute meeting with them and walked away with some ideas that had never occurred to me before...check them our at www.a-s-e.ca

These seniors have made their living and it gives them a chance to be vital, give back and make a difference, plus the advice I got was really very amazing.

Finally as far as advisory board goes...to quote my friend Tanya...when she helps to lead and facilitate an advisory board...here is what's possible...

"Imagine a brainstorming session dedicated to your unique values, your particular brilliance. Involving people who know you well and will applaud your success. An Advisory Board from your very own life that comes together for one single purpose: to help you land somewhere new—lovingly and safely.

Board of Your Life is not for the squeamish—it’s for people who are ready to take the reins of their life and become “unstuck”. Are you ready"?

An advisory board helps you discover pieces to your puzzle.

Our last support system is a board of directors. How many of you know what that is? Better yet, how many of you have one? I have a feeling that not a lot of business people have one of these. You are in charge of putting together a board of directors...even if your company isn't on the stock exchange, it's vital that you share the state of the nation as it were about your business venture.

A typical board of directors consists of your lawyer, banker, accountant and another business colleague. A typical board of directors meeting has you take these 4 professionals for dinner twice a year to share what's going on in your business.

Since you've got 4 very differing people at the table with you, you will get very interesting feedback. One from a financial perspective, one from a management perspective, one from a legal perspective and one from a banking money management perspective. All with contacts and experience that is crucial to your success.

Make sure when you meet twice a year with your board of directors, that you take them out for dinner...

Success...isn't that what having support is all about? Isn't that what we all want for ourselves?

We want to feel we've made a difference, that we're free from worry and financial stress, that we are living our best possible lives.

There are more support systems for you to access...in Toronto you can connect to www.enterprisetoronto.com

In Durham region it's the Business Advisory Centre at www.bacd.ca

In Peel it's the Small Business Service Centre Brampton and there is one in Mississauga too...just google these and you will get access to some terrific "free" help for your venture.

Richmond Hill and Vaughan has small business service centres too that can help you grow your business as well, in fact in Vaughan log onto http://www.centrebusiness.com

So as we head into spring and a new business quarter, get the help you need in your business. Don't go it alone, because quite frankly you're playing with matches if you do.

We all need the help and ideas and encouragement to move forward.

If you're wanting that for your business I will be launching the "E-Circle" and beginning guided and facilitated master mind groups in May. My colleague Danielle Di Prizio and I will be leading these sessions in May, s o if you're interested email me at thecoach@smallbusinessbigideas.com

Until next time, take good care, go in peace and strive for balance.

Cheers/David Cohen

Here is a video to remind you about the journey to your own personal success...Enjoy!

David

Reach out and touch someone

2010-02-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

You gotta reach out and touch someone.

You remember the ad campaign, from the 80's that AT&T did, the message is simple, reach out and touch someone...

Well that is the message with this newsletter.

It's been a bit of a bugaboo for me for a while, especially since this "online social marketing craze" has taken hold.

Yes, even I have people following me on Twitter and truth is...I am not that interesting. Sometimes on Sunday's I don't shower until I hit the gym and that may not be until the early afternoon, so follow me at your own risk.

Plus I am following people on Twitter that I hardly know. How is someone in the States going to sell me a mortgage in Canada?

I now have over 500 friends on Facebook and truth is, I don't hear from all of them and a lot I haven't met and I am not sure I have a ton in common with them.

Don't get me started on Linked In...does that even work? Someone wants to connect with you on Linked in...that's what my email said. I wonder why they want too? Is it about quantity of people you know or is it the quality?

As I move forth into this new year, I am choosing something different. I want quality. I want to foster close personal business and professional relationships and hanging out online on Facebook, Linked in and Twitter is a glorious waste of time.

Ok, maybe an hour or two a week, but that's all.

This isn't to say that Facebook and these social marketing sites don't have benefit. Gosh, Facebook has connected the world and has become the leading communications tool for all of us globally!

But, from a marketing point of view... and you getting clients and building sustainable, long term personal relationships, it's not that great.

Why you ask? Because you know the answer. If you are using these sites, how many hours online does it take to convert these connections/friends/tweets into a paying client?

It takes forever and that's if you're lucky.

My time on these sites just doesn't yield enough results to make it pay.

So, here is my game plan for 2010...you can follow along with me or not...

1) I am going to phone my clients more often in the hopes to see them

2) I want to have more coffee meetings in person with my colleagues and clients

3) I want to send thank you cards and really "personally touch" them, rather than send an email

4) I am going to email less

5) When I call a colleague or a client I am going see how they how life is treating them

6) The time I waste online...I am going to read a book and learn how to be better at what I do

7) I am narrowing down and focusing on who I want to do business with

8) I am going to meditate at night and visualize, rather than visualize my computer screen as I watch what people are "Twittering" about

9) I am going to sell the old fashion way, in person, checking for needs, wants, hopes and goals and providing rock solid solutions

10) I am going to remember that no one ever cut a check or a p.o. (purchase order) over the phone or online. You have to reach out and touch someone.

I always remember my father saying, "you're to be seen and not heard". Not good advice for a kid who became a radio show host and facilitator, teaching small business owners...

So my advice to you is to get out there, shake hands, meet people, talk, dialogue with people, be creative about it too!

For example, when was the last time you had a dinner party, or a games night with friends? When was the last time you had a meaningful town hall meeting, or a discussion group at Church, your Mosque or Synagogue.

The key to surviving and thriving in these times is to build community and not lose spend your life online.

So get out there and make things happen...and touch someone!

Cheers/David

The Trend is towards making Community Stronger in 2010

2009-12-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

The Trend is towards making Community Stronger in 2010

Was that a year or what? 2009...we saw the arrival of the first ever Black President...the challenges that the economy brought, tighter money supplies, record bankruptcies, the loss of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett on the same day, baseballs New York Yankees spend their way to a world series, loss, divorce, challenges both personally and professionally and so much more.

So take a moment now to pat yourself on the back if you're still standing and in business! As small business owners we've collectively survived one of the most interesting years in history, from an global economic front, to changes in the environment, to changes in politics, media, communications and how we do business and live our lives.

Sadly, the change is going to continue. So brace yourselves. Be open, go with the flow, allow and don't get too attached to any one outcome, as long as you're well, alive and you have friends and family that love you...you're doing awesome!

On a personal note, this year has been a year of tough sledding. Working hard and not having a lot to show for it from a financial point of view at the end of the year. I am opting for joy in the New Year...Joy is my operative word.

Yet, the hard work and tough sledding had many rewards in other ways for me this year. The spiritual rewards and the fact that I have touched a lot of lives is where my currency has come from.

Maybe, that's what the world is asking all of us for now. Maybe it's not about the material possessions or the stuff, but about how we can affect lives (for the better) and help people be all they can be.

In my work in the non-profit field, I see newcomers to Canada with little or no hope as they arrive to a new land. I have seen regular Canadians, go through job loss and change, uncertainty...but what I have also seen is that somehow we've all made it through.

I am hopeful as I write this newsletter because I believe that the human spirit and kindness will rule the day. I have come to the realization event more this year than ever that we are our brothers/sisters keepers. If you think you're not...think again.

We've all been touched by some kind of life altering event this year and we have to begin to think community first, family first rather than the "Me" first we've seen during the 80's and 90's.

Now this isn't to say 'You' aren't important, you totally are. You've got to manage your well-being on all levels or you won't be good to anyone. But once you've managed your life and wellness, then you have to step up to make the community stronger.

We need new ways of doing business, we need access to money from somewhere else other than the bank. We need communities to come together.

Three such examples of communities coming together include something called "transitional communities", "slow money" and "community micro loans for businesses"

In a CBC radio documentary that aired in the fall, write David Gutnick comments that "Slow Money" is borne out of what's happened in business and society this past year...Gutnick suggests, "Combine poisonous factory-farm tomatoes with disgraced investment banker Bernard Madoff. Then throw in a stock market disaster that cost investors their life savings.

You may have the recipe for a revolution: a public spooked by the dangers of industrial food production and investors wary of risky business."

In the article about slow money on the CBC's website they discuss one of the only growth industries in North America seems to be farmer's markets. The CBC's website goes onto add that, "Slow Money takes its name from a culinary movement called Slow Food. For 20 years now, Slow Food proponents have advocated a lifestyle in which people take time to savour food and take pleasure in eating locally sourced products, rejecting large-scale farming and the hectic way of eating and living that damages our bodies and the world.

There is an exploding demand for what small farms and food producers have to offer. Yet, banks see agriculture as a risky business, and brokers trade stock in agribusiness giants, not small, local operations.

Farmers need cash and a system to get it to them.

That's what Slow Money activists want to create: an investment system in which profit expectations are redefined so that big money can help small agricultural producers provide people with local, wholesome food."

So who's investing in the Slow Money movement?

Woody Tasch is investing in organic Canadian farms.

The CBC article writes, "Until a few years ago, Tasch chaired an organization that connects investors with small businesses addressing social and environmental concerns. He was the matchmaker, funnelling more than $130 million to hundreds of new ventures.

Businesses grew, foundations fulfilled their missions to do good works and investors made profits that were close to the stock market average. Everybody was happy.

But Tasch was hungry for a more focused approach that connected health, food and capital.

People investing in big, fast-operating companies expect big and fast returns. Tasch says that the Slow Money concept he came up with promotes the idea of nurturing capital — money that supports healthy enterprise with a modest return on investment."

Other investors are former high finance people like Cathy Berry. She made boat loads of money in the markets during the high tech boom in the 90's as a stock broker. She too now has been introduced to the concept of slow money...and is quickly developed a love affair for the kind of out comes it's helping to create.

Berry hasn't seen much of a return on her investment yet. This is, after all, slow money. But she has deep pockets and is confident her optimism will pay off.

In the meantime, she's trying to bring other investors on board. It hasn't been easy. "I think we have got too hung up on 'It's not a good investment unless we get a 20 per cent return'," she says. "Why not think about loaning money for five per cent to your local farmer?"

Small is beautiful in the world of Slow Money — but so is big.

There are more than 50,000 philanthropic foundations in the United States. Their assets total $400 billion US, most of it invested in the stock market. Needless to say, that money would be a game changer if it — or even a fraction of it — was reinvested in local agriculture.

The other key initiative that has communities coming together in a much different way is a concept known as "Transition Towns".

The main aim of the project generally, and echoed by the Towns locally, is to raise awareness of sustainable living and build local resilience in the near future. Communities are encouraged to seek out methods for reducing energy usage as well as increasing their own self reliance — a slogan of the movement is "Food feet, not food miles!" Initiatives so far have included creating community gardens to grow food; business waste exchange, which seeks to match the waste of one industry with another industry that uses this waste; and even simply repairing old items rather than throwing them away.

The Transition concept emerged from work permaculture designer Rob Hopkins had done with the students of Kinsale Further Education College in writing an "Energy Descent Action Plan". This looked at across-the-board creative adaptations in the realms of energy production, health, education, economy and agriculture as a "road map" to a sustainable future for the town. One of his students, Louise Rooney, set about developing the Transition Towns concept and presented it to Kinsale Town Council resulting in the historic decision by Councillors to adopt the plan and work towards energy independence.

Some example of Transition Towns includes; Totnes, England and Santa Cruz New Mexico are two sites where transition towns have taken shape...but there are initiatives in Canada, the U.S. , England, Australia, New Zealand and Italy.

If you want to learn more about either of these two socially minded initiatives log onto

http://transitionus.org/

and http://blog.lunapads.com/2009/11/green-investing-for-change/

There is also one last way that we have to transform our communities first and that's with a local business lending organization called "Access Community Capital Fund". It's mandate is to help starting entrepreneurs get a head start.

Let's face it, with job loss and our collective credit in some disarray, Access tends to turn the other cheek should you have financial challenges, what they are looking for is a great idea, mixed with character of the person and a plan to re-pay the loan. It's a starting loan...it's not big money...the maximum you can borrow is $5000.00.

But if you're out of options and you've got that dream to start a business then Access might be up your alley.

The ACCESS Community Capital Fund, a Canadian Registered Charity, is a Community Loan Fund that helps small and emerging businesses in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) to meet their need for credit by securing initial loans of up to $5000. By granting small loans to local entrepreneurs, the ACCESS Community Capital Fund is contributing to the community as a whole -- helping more people to become self-sufficient through self-employment.

ACCESS Community Capital Fund was formed to help promising entrepreneurs with viable business plans gain access to financing not available through other sources. Individual loans are made using a character based lending decision, where the abilities, skills and commitment of the applicant in conjunction with the strength of the business plan are key decision criteria. Using a 'step-lending' approach, ACCESS provides a series of loans that increase in size as the business grows in the community. You can obtain more information on Access online at; http://accessccf.com/

So as this year draws to a close and a new one begins...maybe it's about community. Maybe too we can forget about our problems a little if we help someone else out who needs it more. I recall the song the Age of Aquarius by the Fifth Dimension and we are entering the Aquarian Age now in fact and the line in the song went like this, "Sympathy and understanding, truth and compassion abound"

I would like to think that through the hardships we all collectively went through in 2009, that new ideas to make humanity fair for all will be the hope for us all in 2010.

To make a world that works for every woman, child and man. That's what I am playing for in 2010...anyone want to join in?

Have a beautiful holidays and a wonderful New Year. If you want to kick start your year...I do invite you to register for our "Create Ignite and Inspire" event happening on January 16th from 9- 4:30 at the Monte Carlo Inns in Markham, see the post below for more information on the event or log onto http://www.smallbusinessbigideas.com/CreateIgniteandInspire.pdf

Here you can log onto to see what's in store that day. We've got 7 wonderful speakers talking about health, creativity, selling, marketing, and personal growth, plus lunch and a light breakfast is included!

I hope you can make it out.

Have a great holidays and a healthy, happy abundant new year!

Cheers/David

Get Happy or not? It's all okay.

2009-11-05T11:38:00.001-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Have you ever left something you loved doing? I did just that in October. I hosted/produced my last Small Business Big Ideas Show on CKDO on October 4th. It's not because I didn't love radio, or the listeners or the owners of the station, the decision to leave was borne out of necessity. With 2 key work commitments that take place during the week, life has been pretty full on and the body and mind needed to have a break from working 6 sometimes 7 days a week.

Now it's been a month since I hosted the last show, I have to admit something true to you. Come the weekends, I have been feeling flat and there is a piece to my life that's missing, leaving a big void. Those close to me could even suggest I was a little depressed especially for the first few weeks. I didn't have that something to get up for on Sunday mornings and there was no fire in the belly to do the work I really enjoyed doing. I didn't have the same mission and drive that I had when doing the show for the past 7 years of Sunday's.

The first Sunday off I ended up sleeping most of the day and there was a grieving process to go through. I just felt off. Perhaps it's just the body that needed to rest after going and going. Perhaps too it was the fact that once I was up on a Sunday to host the show, I would designate that day as the day to do the show, hit the gym, wash the car, do errands, clean and laundry...once the key part to getting up and getting going on a Sunday was out of the equation, it became easier to sleep and do nothing that first Sunday off. Plus if you could would you rather sleep in or get going and and get excited about doing laundry, cleaning and washing the car? Yeah you'd opt for sleeping in too...

So there you have it...I am speaking my truth. Since hosting the show, I have not had the same verve and passion to my weekends that I had. I still feel there is a void and being slightly type "A" I need something to do...I thrive on it. In fact two weekends ago I was home in bed with a nasty cold and cough too...so out of 4 weeks of not doing the show, 3 were spent feeling a little blue and flat. Those that know me, know I am pretty upbeat, like to laugh and have fun. But life hasn't been as fun as you'd like it lately.

Lately it's been about work, trying to make ends meet and I have been feeling like I am on a bit of a treadmill. Work, pay bills, work pay bills. Not that I am complaining, it's just what's so...sometimes as good as life can be it seems like you have to ask yourself is that all there is? Now I know the process I have gone through this past month is just that...it's a process, it's part of life. This too shall pass...and truthfully to me the real hero's in life are those that are on the treadmill and don't give up. They go to work everyday and make it happen... It's those of us that even though we're not at our "Optimum best" that we don't give up, we keep going.

It's okay to feel flat, it's okay to sleep in all day, it's okay not be happy all the time, it's okay to be depressed now and then and it's okay to not be going and going.

"But how so," you ask? If we're not happy with life, how can we attract the good things we want to us? Doesn't the law of attraction state that you've got be up, positive, happy for people to be attracted to you? I say drop it. Just be you, just be real.

Some good habits to adopt when you're going through the "flat times" include;

1) Talk it out

2) Have a mastermind team

3) Seek professional counseling

4) Have a laugh

5) Incorporate exercise and meditation in your day-to-day activity

6) Have that one good buddy or mentor you can connect with, sometimes those close to you get tired of your stuff...

7) Be okay with the times when life isn't all that it can be...you have to embrace all that is...

But wait? you claim...this is all well and good...but life lately is like getting to me...well if it's of any help...know that you're not alone. Life is challenging for each one of us.

In North America we are addicted to feeling good. In a book by Barbara Ehrenreich called "Bright Sided" How the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America, Ehrenreich suggests that last year, Americans spent 14-Billion-dollars on self-help books, CDs and seminars. Antidepressants are the most prescribed category of drugs in the country.

In a review about the book and this notion that we must be feeling upbeat and positive in Newseek magazine, writer Julia Baird comments that according to a study from the General Social Survey by economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers of Wharton, that despite three decades of economic growth in America, men and women are no happier. This fact has been lost in the hubbub over the finding that while women were happier than men in 1972, they are not now. Barbara Ehrenreich calls positive thinking a "mass delusion." She argues that an unrelenting drive to train our brains to overlook problems and blame ourselves for failures has blinded us to inequality, incompetence, and stupidity. Baird writes in her article, "The philosophy of positive thinking, has been developed both as a reaction to the negativity of Calvinism and a salve for the sick and anxious, but has, over time, been turned into a kind of blind optimism.

At the heart of positive thinking is a belief that you can will anything you like into happening: recovering from cancer, getting a promotion, becoming a millionaire. Often, the worse things are, the more vehemently people are encouraged to be sunny. The more companies downsized and restructured in the '80s and '90s, the more popular affirmation-chanting, team-building consultants became. And all the while, as the country's wealth shot up, the gap between rich and poor ballooned."

With tragedies like Hurricane Katrina, a sagging economy, the Iraq war, and yes even the recent H1N1 epidemic, it's maybe not a time for "Let's get happy" but maybe a time to connect to others, to team up, to talk, for dialogue, compassion and to speak up...and work to making collective change, to create a world we would be proud of for a grand kids. Maybe it's a time to shout out, get mad, be a little ornery and as Baird writes, "This is why Ehrenreich dedicates her book to "complainers everywhere," inciting them to "turn up the volume." But surely there's a middle way between clueless cheerleaders and grumpy prophets. The Dalai Lama shows you can strive to be content and remain angry about injustice."

Maybe now is the time to speak up. Drop the happy, all is well facade and get into collective action to bring justice, fairness and equality to all mankind. I recommend the book by Ehrenreich...and as Thomas Frank, author of the Wrecking Crew and What's the Matter with Kansas, wrote in his review of the book Bright Sided, "We're always being told that looking on the bright side is good for us, but now we see that it's a great way to brush off poverty, disease, and unemployment, to rationalize an order where all the rewards go to those on top. The people who are sick or jobless—why, they just aren't thinking positively. They have no one to blame but themselves. Barbara Ehrenreich has put the menace of positive thinking under the microscope. Anyone who's ever been told to brighten up needs to read this book."

So maybe as the year draws to a close, begin to speak up, begin to collect and make change join proactive groups that allow you to be a force for good, begin to be okay with not being upbeat and happy all the time. It's okay you know.

There are lot's of unbelievable, incredible people who aren't happy go lucky all the time who are doing great things on the planet. Know you're okay no matter how you feel and yes maybe take you're not feeling good and being upset with life's lot and take massive actions to make change on the planet.

So go ahead and have a Bahh Humbug this season, maybe that's exactly what the doctor ordered for you to live your most powerful, authentic, real life in 2010! Log onto Barbara's site at http://www.barbaraehrenreich.com/. Also if the feeling flatness continues past one or two weeks, please get professional help and call a doctor or therapist. Life is about being real, authentic and as joyful as you can...but there are times where that is just not how you want to be...and it's cool, so seek help when it persists for any long period of time.

I have included two videos for you to watch, one a feature on the author of Bright-Sided, Barbara Ehrenreich and a classic song originally done by Randy Newman but sung by Steve Tyrell and Dr. John, called you got a friend in me...maybe when we go through life's challenges, it's just good to have a friend to be there to listen and not fix.

Enjoy...and have a wonderful, meaningful holiday season.

All the best until next time!

David

Barbara Ehrenreich Video:

Steve Tyrell and Dr. John

Nature is an amazing healer

2009-08-23T01:07:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Nature is an amazing healer...

I just got back from a week at Rolling Rock Cottages (these are the pictures you see to the left...it's the where I was staying and of the view I had every day). I won the weeks stay courtesy a good friend and associate of mine...Sue Sutcliffe at A Web that Works (Sue held a contest for her clients and as luck would totally have it...I ended up winning) and when I won, I had to admit, I was grateful, but on the other hand was worried. I am not one that takes on change as easily as I thought. A week away at a cottage meant change, it meant being out of my comfort zone...it meant, "what the hell are you thinking dude...you just won a week at a cottage...get moving, packed and go"!!!

So Monday morning Mr. Cityboy here, got in the car and headed north...not in my two by four truck, but my Toyota Yaris...and despite my initial fear and hesitation, I wouldn't have traded the week away for anything!

Here is what I had the pleasure of experiencing during my stay at Rock Island Lake, just north of Parry Sound and South of Point Au Baril. (3 hours north of Toronto)

I saw sunrises on the lake...with mist floating along, I saw gorgeous sunsets not on the lake but along the shores of Georgian Bay, in Parry Sound. I saw stars at night!

You don't see stars at night in the city, because there are too many lights on and we don't have enough darkness to allow us to see a beautiful nights sky.

I saw hummingbirds and chipmunks, snakes and frogs.

I got to really relax, journal, meditate read and take a load off.

I saw an outdoor concert in Parry Sound at the new Stockey Centre for the arts...the concert was on a deck overlooking the Georgian Bay!

I got to shoot hockey pucks at the Bobby Orr Hockey Hall of Fame(He is Parry Sound's favourite son)

I did two nature trail walks a day...went for a dip or two in the lake, sat outside most of the day and breathed in the clean air, sat in the sun, BBQ'd my meals...(oh and grill your corn on the cob on the BBQ...it's really good that way). Drank a couple of beers a day...

I got to swat big honking flies and I got mosquito bitten, I got back to me this week at the cottage and realized upon coming home, that nature is truly a gift, it's a true healer...

Where else can you experience such joy then watching a sunset along the water?

Where else can you have tranquility and peace of mind as you walk along a nature trail for 30 minutes...

Where else can you have the solitude with yourself as you over look the water, the rocks, the trees and hear the birds chirp and see them fly about at 6:30 in the morning?

If you don't think that nature is totally giving then think again?

As a business coach, radio show host and facilitator, I take on a lot in my work...but this week away allowed me to totally "Chill" right out.

Some of the perspectives I got from this magical week away is to stop wearing the mask of perfection...and just be...be in joy, be in peace, be happy. I think mother earth wants to just enjoy all that there is and be at one with it.

Oh I know what you're saying, "Have you gone cocoa-banana's Cohen"? Are you a tree hugger now? Well maybe so...because there are some things you might want to integrate in your life in order to access what nature gives us so willingly and for free each and every waking moment...

1) Begin to take a planned time out in your week to experience a nature trail walk. There are many of them in and around the city

2) Head north and just explore once a month...see what you can find and discover.

3) Meditate each day, take a 10 minute time out for you...just for you

4) Commit to walking or exercise...don't just talk the game, do it...and it starts with a 10 minute walk...which you increase each day.

5) Read more

6) Buy flowers for yourself

7) Go easy on the planet

8) Break your routine...at least one day a week...get up when you want to get up, have beer out in your backyard, listen to great music that uplifts and nurtures your soul, stretch out in the air of the morning, leave the watch off your wrist, don't turn on the television or the computer, have lunch at 2 pm and dinner at 7:15 pm...watch a movie DVD or two, just break your routine at least one day a week or every other week!

9) Go hug a tree...I mean it...if you haven't done this...try it...just make sure no one is watching because they'll think you've lost it...(but who cares really...we just know you're being your true magnificent self)

10) Just enjoy life...allow what is, let go, let go of judging things, people and experiences. Laugh more, have fun, laugh at yourself, marvel at life and the bigness of it all...and lastly cherish everyone in your life...because the one other thing I learned being in nature at a cottage is...you never know when you might have to take on a bear in the woods!

Now go create an amazing life!

Cheers/David

P.S. For amazing web design and consultation log onto www.awebthatworks.com

Oh and if you've got an easy going attitude about life then I recommend a stay at Rolling Rock Cottages...log onto www.rollingrockcottages.ca

2009-08-03T15:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Come on get happy!

This month I want to look at happiness...it's been a summer of discontent, especially in Toronto. The weather hasn't been stellar, we've had a city strike that's affected garbage, day care, social events, pollution and yes our psyches.

Add to the fact that the recession isn't abating for a lot of us...we still have to watch our debt loads, work harder, watch spending and watch the bottom line retreating.

Some of you reading this right now may think I am a bit of a pessimist. You may even think I am dwelling only on the negative...and yes, yes I am...but this newsletter does have a message of hope. Why am I saying that you ask?

Well for starters, I personally have had a week of encountering unhappy people. A co-worker at work snapping at me, a neighbour taking up my access to my parking spot and yelling at me, and today on the holiday Monday, while parking my car again to go for a nature walk, some driver boxes me in so tight that there would have been no way for me to move. Thankfully, I encountered the driver and asked them to move...and when she saw her parking transgression she moved the car...but it caused me to think that yes...we are not a happy lot these days...and some of us are so about "self" that you wouldn't think to move a parked car so as to not box someone in...and a neighbour who I have not had an issue with for 8 years all of sudden explodes on me for being upset about being not able to access my parking spot at home...not once, but twice.

What gives? I needed to ask myself this week...what was in the air? Was it me? Was I attracting this to myself? I am just doing my thing in life...and I had a challenging week.

My only conclusion is...is that we aren't happy. Life has us all a little down...collectively. I think there is an answer to our collective dilema.

I think we have to begin to live life like they do in Bhutan, a small land locked nation is the Himalyas. The people and the King of Bhutan guide their nation politics and all on the principal of GNH...they measure the GNH...which stands for Gross National Happiness...see you're giggling already.

But the GNH is part of a grand vision first conceived in 1972 by the King of Bhutan. Since then Bhutan in the wake of globalization, employess the GNH as a guiding principle to steer itself toward a more wholistic direction in development, This encompasses measing both economic and social variables.

Although GNH remains to be defined quantitatively, it is increasing being studied as a new paradigm shift toward a meaningful, sustainable and equitable socio-economic development...on both a national and worldwide basis.

Can you imagine the shift that would occur on the planet if every government measured it's success on the GNH?

The testing for the General Happiness of Bhutan looks at socio, economic, spiritual, work/life, family, environmental, belonging and health. It measures every aspect of an individuals happiness as it pertains to these key areas.

The testing is quite indepth...here log onto http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/

But should our quest in life be about happiness? Is that our only end game? Here are some quotes that might make you re-think happiness being the reason we're here...

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling."--Samuel Johnson, 18th-century English philosopher once said.

"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances." This too is quite profound...and so aptly put byMartha Washington. But the quotes by Joseph Campbell on happiness and the quote by Chang Tzu a Chinese Philosopher help me discuss some pertinent ideas with you on this post.

Joseph Campbell said, "Happiness is absorption in a cause which in the end is but illusion." So what Campbell is saying here is that happiness doesn't exist? It's an illusion...but wait, Chang Tzu a 5th and 6th century Chinese philosopher states that, "You only find happiness when you cease to look for it.

So what this tells me is that the key to any happiness lies in beiung true to our internal guidance system and to our own personal values. Maybe as we reach the half way point to summer this month that you do an inventory of your values? Both professionally and personally.

Seek peace of mind over happiness. Seek to share over taking, seek to understand over being understood...as Dr. Stephen Covey phrased it in his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?

True happiness it seems comes from giving to others. Helping, teaching, tithing. In fact in Jewish Mysticism, the Rabbi's talk about "Ego" and the "Ego" is about only wanting what's good in the world for itself. Greed basically.

But...we rid ourselves of "Ego" thinking by sharing...and not thinking about the "self" alone than that's where God comes into play.

In the book the "Purpose Driven Life" by author Rick Warren, he too examines the age old question, "Why am I here" ? Warren suggests that we're to live God's plan for us...that our purpose lies within being at one with a loving decent God, in fact Warren writes, "Think of the things our culture lures us into using for our purpose: power, prestige, glory, sex, and wealth. The problem with these things is that there never seems to be enough. Even the people who have “arrived” aren’t happy the way we imagine them being. Meaninglessness is like a black hole at the center of human existence that sucks up whatever we throw at it, leaving it as empty as it was before. Even things that are supposed to be good seem to disappear in this deep cavern."

Warren also suggests, that we think about having the desire to be significant, he adds "to make a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s just one person’s? Do you ever think about leaving something behind—something that will make life different for some relative or friend? What would you want written as your epitaph? One of the most common epitaphs in graveyards is the phrase, “Gone but not forgotten.” Why do we want to be remembered? Why not just pass on as if we never existed? Where do you think this comes from, this need to be significant"?

Stephen Covey states in a recent issue of "Success Magazine" that the times are calling for much different, practical, principally centred thinking.

Covey suggests, "Financial success—prestige, wealth, recognition, accomplishment—will always be secondary in greatness," Covey says. "Primary greatness is about character and contribution. Primary greatness asks, What are you doing to make a difference in the world? Do you live truly by your values? Do you have total integrity in all of your relationships? And when correct principles are not followed or ignored, the result can be catastrophic as we have witnessed the past year in the financial markets."

So here is where the hope is, as I conclude this months newsletter...begin to urge your governments to measure success on a Gross National Happiness level and not based on recent polls.

Begin to re-think happiness and look at your values. What are you values as far as your family goes, your love life, your friends, your peers, your church or synagogue? What differences are you making at work? Or in your business? Do you have a cause to get behind in your business?

Living a life based on values, principles and purpose is not always the easy road to take...but eventually the other road will lead you to a dead end and you will have a decision to make...

Living a life based on values, principles and purpose is sometimes hard work...there is no denying it...it's "freakin" tough sometimes...but I ask you in the end...how do you want to be remembered?

Now...yes...this summer has been a bit of a drag...there is an intensity in the air for everyone...so commit too to having some fun. I finally had some fun this weekend...and saw some live music (free live music), a football game, I connected with some friends had a date and also went for a nature trail walk and hit the gym...I encourage you to incorporate "Fun" into your life...now more than ever...

Begin to really get the passion back in your life. Go and take on enjoying all life has to offer...get back up again from a crappy economy, re-think your thinking, team up, share ideas, expenses and build community. Go walk in the park! Catch some live music, see a play, re-charge, re-energize, say no to taking on one more thing at work!

Look to examine your values and base not just your happiness on living a "Principally and Purposeful" life. Sometimes it's not just about being happy...but about knowing in the gut...that you're doing the best. That you're making the planet a better place, helping the lives of others. That's where true happiness comes from...it's that inner knowing, that inner satisfaction that you've done the right thing...you've done your best, you made someone else's day...because in the end it's not about them or how others perceive us ...it's about how we perceive us and how God see's us.

Go take on the month and re-new your values, your passion and commitments to make the world even better!

Cheers/David

P.S. Here is a link to a wonderful article by Dr. Covey in Success Magazine...

http://www.successmagazine.com/article?articleId=469&taxonomyId=21

Also here is a video clip to help you live with optimism it's by, Loretta Laroche, one of my faves speaks about choosing to be optimistic. Have a great rest of the summer...

Loretta Laroche on Optimism...

Our Special Canada Edition

2009-07-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

This is the special Canada Day Edition...like last year, I shared 10 events and places you can go this summer to enjoy the arts, music, culture and be entertained for free.

If you're like most small business owners these days, money has been a little tighter this year, sales may be flat...but that doesn't mean our spirits have to be that way? It doesn't mean there isn't fun things you can do and it doesn't mean that you have to spend a bundle to enjoy the pleasures of life...

So here goes...our annual list of the top 10 things you can do for little or no money...Have a Happy Canada Day and a beautiful, bountiful summer.

Cheers/David Cohen

1) Unionville in Markham has a number of events and music concerts throughout the summer that are absolutely free, now if you do want to spend some money, Unionville is a quaint area with shops and restaurants for you to enjoy as well. The highlight events in Unionville include; The Markham Jazz Fest in mid August and the Big Band Street Festival on Labour Day Monday...both are top notch! Here is the link... http://www.unionvilleinfo.com/

2) If you love the Lake, then you'd love hanging at Harbourfront...there are all kinds of concerts, cultural events, shops, restaurants and it's accessible by TTC...plus it's right on Lake Ontario...

Check out the goings on this summer at Harbourfront... there is music, art, free movie nights (outdoors) and much more...here is the link http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/

3) If you live East in the city or in Durham Region...there are free concerts everywhere...in the park, at a school, in a field, it's just the rule...I like my music in a park, I like my music anywhere...check out the Durham Tourism site Sam I am... Okay, in all seriousness and with respect to Dr.Suess, here is the Durham Tourism events site link http://www.durhamtourism.ca/events.aspx

4) If humour, or improv theatre is your thing and Lord knows we all need a laugh or two...then check out a little place on Danforth Avenue in Toronto, called the Bad Dog Theatre, they have improv comedy events starting at $5.00...plus if you want to study improv theatre, they hold workshops as well...lot's on the go at the Bad Dog theatre and kinda fun too! Here is the link for the Bad Dog... http://www.baddogtheatre.com/modules/news/

5) One of my favourite places is an outdoor theatre company in Millbrook...they do exquisite outdoor theatre on a farm. Rob Winslow is the theatre director and turns the "Winslow" family farm into a stage from July 1st through to the end of August with powerful, historical plays. It does cost money...but you get total value for your dollar... log onto http://www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca/

6) Once the City of Toronto strike is over...be sure to check out Mel Lastman Square in North York on Sunday nights from July through to the end of August for the Sunday Night Seranades...dancing outdoors, nice music and set in a family atmosphere...if you want to impress a woman with how nimble you are on your feet...I promise you she will enjoy dancing to the music at Mel Lastman Square... http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/index.htm

7) Also...when the strike settles...at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto there are free concerts at lunch on Wednesday's and Thursday's ...lot's of fun and a bit of a get-away in the middle of the day. It can break up your nose to the grindstone business routine nicely...again log onto the City of Toronto website at http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/index.htm

8) If you're into sports...you can grab a Blue Jay ticket for $9.00...if you collect Air Miles ...70 air miles gets you a pair of free tickets to see pro baseball for free in the 500 level seats...log onto

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tor to get your $9.00 ticket...Go Blue Jays...

9) If you want to see free pro baseball...check out an intercounty league game and see the other Toronto Maple Leafs play...this team has some heart though...log onto http://www.leafsbaseball.com/ to watch semi-pro baseball...it's a fun day out...

10) Last but not least is Downsview Park...with events, movies under the stars, farmers markets and more...it's where the Pope was a few years ago and is accessible by the TTC as well. Log onto

http://www.pdp.ca/en/events/index.cfm to check out the events and goings on at Downsview Park...

Here is a bonus too...if you're familiar with business networking groups you can pay a lot of money...well if you run a business there are two networking events that you can go too for free...one is in Durham and one is in Toronto...

Log onto http://www.smallbizhomebizunited.com/ to attend free business networking events in Pickering...George Wellsbury and Lesley Roper host business networking events from their home...and in September they are organizing a business trade show too...it's well worth checking out...

Plus, you can email me at work to attend free networking events at the Learning Enrichment Foundation each month... I am at dcohen@lefca.org and our website is http://www.lefca.org/

We have guest speakers and networking all rolled into one!

I wish you all an abundant, healthy summer...have a great time and now you can have fun, network and do it for free all at once!

David

June musings and thoughts

2009-06-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Thinking new thoughts...and having a "Spiritual Warrior" mentality

So we're now into the 8th month of this new economy and yes I am not using the "R" word...I won't use that word any longer. But this economy is one that's making us nervous, indecisive, afraid and unsure. So when you try these characteristic traits on for size how does it make you feel?

Not that good huh? I agree...how can being nervous, indecisive, afraid and unsure really ever feel good?

I think it's time to turn that corner as hard as it might be given the realities of the day and the things you hear about in the news.

It's time for us to become what I call and others have too...a "Spiritual Warrior". This can take on many meanings for us...but to me when I think of a "Spiritual Warrior" I think someone who is going to be sure in their own thoughts, someone who believes that good will happen, someone who is impervious to negativity and fights bad news like 10 "Supermen".

I think it's time to "Amp" up the positive just now. In our thoughts, in what we say and in what we do. I was just teaching a training session to youth entrepreneurs and in doing so I came to the realization that when you phone someone out of the blue you've got to be super positive in how your company is going to get that client results or how your business is going to solve your prospective clients pain.

You've got to totally know the benefits of what it is your business venture can do for someone else and you've got to communicate that. Benefits minus cost equals value. That's the value equation.

If you don't know what you do for others or why your clients like you and buy from you then you better get on knowing why and fast!

In sales you've got to "Amp" up the positive and show your value to each and every prospect and client you have.

This means a mindset change too.

First of all you've got to believe in yourself and what it is you do. You've got to believe so strongly that you're not going to quit until you get in your clients door...unless of course the client is rude, not fun to deal with and there is just no hope at all in penetrating that client. But if there is an opening, or a slight opportunity then you have to stick with it...like white on rice. In order to stick with a client until they buy it may mean numerous calls, contacts, discussions or meetings before they sign the bottom line and give you that P.O.

If you don't believe in yourself then why will your client or prospect?

The other aspect of mindset is you have to have drive...go for it until you get a lawyers letter to cease and desist or you get physically hauled out of the building. Studies show it takes 7-9 contacts to get a deal...I think in this kind of economy it's more than that...that sales cycles are longer in this economy.

Besides drive, "amping" up the positive and an internal belief in yourself, there are a few other aspects for being successful in running and selling your business.

In order to become a "Spiritual Warrior" in your business venture you've also got to have patience. There is a Hindu expression I just love that talks of patience. "Have patience eventually even grass becomes milk". Which means that in time even something so impossible becomes possible. Grass becomes milk? How on earth does that happen? Well think of it for a moment. Cows graze in the grass and eat the grass and eventually what they eat becomes milk. The impossible becomes possible.

Have patience...stay with it, have belief, be positive and totally sure in what you do.

What other traits do you need to be in business and have that "Spiritual Warrior" mentality? You've got to work well in teams. If you think you've got to do it all on your own...go for it...but that's the hard route. You've got to be able to lead others. To sell them in your dream and vision for your business...Getting help in your business in the areas you need it can be liberating...

Think of it by getting the help you need and leading others your venture has an opportunity to grow, you enable yourself to get more time, you hire others and actually keep the economy growing.

When you do things on your own though, you limit growth, you limit free time and you get mired in the muck as it were working on the aspects of the business you don't like.

So a good "Spiritual Warrior" leads others as well.

Now...if you think back to how we started this article...where we talked about the feelings and emotions we have going for us in this economy...the feelings of uncertainty, fear, indecisiveness...once you begin to don your "Spiritual Warrior" mentality...your feelings totally change...feelings of being positive, having drive, patience and looking to hire and lead others...do you feel a difference in yourself as you take those characteristic traits on and wear your "Spiritual Warrior" hat armor.

There are two other key traits to take on...and one of them is not to take "No" personally. Let negative results be like water on a ducks back. Let it go. Learn from it...but let it go. You're bound to hear no from clients...especially when you're cold calling or prospecting.

But you've got to be okay with the no...and know it's no right now and not forever. At least keep the line of communications open...and play for that day when a "no" becomes "maybe" and the maybe becomes a "YES"!!!

The last trait a good "Spiritual Warrior" needs is to have certainty. If you think back to when Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt and years of being slaves in that land...they needed absolute certainty to part the "Red Sea" ...everyone had to have the same focus and thoughts in order to manifest the parting of the "Red Sea" ...I mean how else do you pull that off? It's the power of the mind, prayer, visualization...it's about having absolute certainty that no matter how bleak things look that everything is going to work out in the end...but all hands have to be on deck.

I remember just hearing the producer and writer...of the play "Da Kink in my hair" Trey Anthony speak about the early days of getting her play launched. The play had many obstacles to overcome to get it shown and get it to a stage. There was doubt among the cast members that the play would never take off. Doubt kills certainty. Trey Anthony had certainty! She inspired her team to believe, they took a long term approach and worked really hard to fill the seats. Of course they marketed like heck too!

The play went from the Fringe Festival...to Mirvish Productions to Global TV.

It took vision, patience, tenacity, belief, certainty, team work all of the characteristics of a "Spiritual Warrior".

As I conclude this posting in the blog or the newsletter, I really encourage you to become a "Spiritual Warrior" and put these feelings and emotions at play for you.

To recap...the key traits to succeed include:

Have a strong belief in what you do for others

Amp up the positive...focus on results you get for your clients or the good things you do for them

Have unwavering drive

Be patient

Lead others to help you run your venture

Be okay with hearing "No"

and have absolute certainty!

Once you take these traits on...it feels way better than feeling in fear, uncertain, indecisiveness and worry.

So step up to the plate, don your spiritual warrior gear and swing for the stars this month!

Here is to your success!

Cheers/David Cohen

2009-04-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. It's in a blog format so it allows you to comment, add ideas, tips and suggestions. We can dialogue together...Enjoy the read because it's all about helping you.

April 2009:

There is huge economic and business opportunity in diversity...The rewards for doing business in diverse markets abounds and we are in control of our own destiny...

I want to focus on opportunity this newsletter. I am just getting it up to here with the negative economic news.

There are key markets and sectors that are in fact growing. One of which is a major trend happening in Canada. That trend is that newcomers to Canada are becoming the new normal. Over 57% of all Toronto residents are new immigrants.

What does this mean from an opportunity perspective? It means we embrace new immigrants, welcome them to Canada and into our communities.

New immigrants come to Canada in search of a better world. A place away from the war, the politics and the oppression they've witnessed in their own countries.

From an economic perspective new immigrants present beautiful opportunities.

One thing that's evident is that they need stuff. Gone are the "brand" relationships they had back home. They are open to new brands. Brands like toothpaste, soaps, household goods.

They are open to training programs, settlement programs and becoming a viable part of the community.

New immigrants come to Canada for various reasons...one is as a refugee escaping a bad socio-political situation and the other key is to actually begin businesses here in Canada. The agreement they make to come to Canada is an "economic" agreement and they are to open up a business within the first year of arrival.

Did you know that the Ontario government often hosts training programs for newcomers to Ontario on how to do business here. The Ministry of International Trade and Investment hosts half day clinics that help newcomers get familiar with doing business in Ontario.

Can you imagine tapping into this niche?

Begin to market to various ethnic communities. But market smart, focus on one ethnic group and really begin to carve out a niche within this sector.

On May 17th on the Small Business Big Ideas Show, we will focus on doing business in Ontario from a new immigration point of view. I invite you to listen to a full discussion on why it makes sense to pay attention to those new to Canada. Let's open our hearts and minds and work effectively, forging partnerships and business relationships with this segment of the population...I guarantee that if you do, you maybe generously rewarded.

There is another sector that's getting attention and that it's in the area of Social Purpose Enterprises. Businesses like co-ops, or businesses that help those that are disadvantaged. Take A-Way courier for example.

It's a courier company that is giving those that suffer with mental illness a chance to contribute. They are employed and paid as couriers. They don't drive or ride bikes to do the work, they are only allowed to ride the TTC subway and buses. A-way is a viable and successful business that gives marginal individuals to have something to look forward too. It offers their employees hope so that they are relevant, and making a contribution.

Other co-ops that assist individuals in need includes the Somali Woman and Children's network. They help Somalian women new to Canada earn money buy providing cut and sewing services to clothing, furniture and manufacturing organizations.

Social Purpose Enterprise Networks is an organization that helps and assists businesses that are doing business with a heart. Businesses that help those that don't normally have a chance to succeed in "mainstream" companies.

The third industry profile is the business of going green. There is an organization of "Green" businesses in Toronto called Green Enterprise Toronto. There are an increasing number of businesses that are doing business from a more ecological and socially responsible vantage point. In a recent article in the Financial Post, it even indicates that "Green" is here to stay,"To call environmentalism a mere "movement" today is to underestimate the hold it has over us. Sustainability is no longer a sphere dominated by activists and special interests; it can be found in every aspect of our lives, whether in curbside recycling programs or corporate initiatives or political speeches. Today, green is mainstream, and nothing - not the recession or cheap oil or resurgent consumerism - is going to stop it".

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1419566

Businesses doing "Green" range from the Organic Coffee House to the Clothing supplier that sells Hemp or Organic cotton clothes that use a vegetable based dye.

Green Enterprise Toronto is a collective of companies that are making a difference and they are tapped into the City of Toronto and other socio-political initiatives that are slowly making a difference in how we're going to business in future.

The fourth and last business opportunity is with respect to doing business with the Government. Did you realize that the Province and the Federal Government are the biggest industries in Canada? They use and need business equipment, products and services like no other company in Canada.

It's a market and industry that puts out tenders regularly for companies like yours to do business. Log onto www.merx.com to access government tenders. If the amount is negligible than you don't even have to go the tender route you can just go direct to the end user at government level.

If you want to access the largest organization and do business with them, you can actually get on the supplier list and take workshops that help small businesses do business with the government.

Caring for people new to Canada, caring for those that are disadvantaged and caring for our environment. It's where the opportunity is and it's where money and investment needs to come from...

If you think that the government is going to constantly fund these initiatives, think again. These sort of community initiatives are being funded and supported by the small business community.

It amazes me that when we are overwhelmed by the economics of the day, that if we get together in the spirit of opening up to new possibilities, to healing our world, to love and joy, that the small business community can really thrive and be on the forefront of leadership, change and making the planet a great place to be.

For more information on Social Purpose Enterprise call:

Catherine Lang
C. Lang Consulting
513 Crawford Street
Toronto, ON M6G 3J9

(416) 588-7129 Phone
(416) 588-3275 Fax

For information on doing business in Ontario for Newcomers contact:

Ministry of International Trade and Investment-Business Immigration Dvision 416-212-8866 Phone 900 Bay St. Hearst Block 3rd Floor Toronto, Ontario

For information on Green Enterprise Toronto contact:

Leslie Domenico

Marketing & Membership

Green Enterprise Toronto

T: 416-644-1012

E: leslie@greenenterprise.net

w: www.greenenterprise.net

For information on doing business with the Government call on:

Public Works and Government Services Canada
4900, rue Yonge, 2ième étage, Toronto ON M2N 6A6 | 4900 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON M2N 6A6
ONT.bpme-osme@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca | ONT.osme-bpme@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Téléphone | Telephone 1-800-668-5378
Télécopieur | Facsimile 416-512-5200

The February Edition

2009-02-01T05:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

The February Report:

You never know when you're forced to learn...so embrace being able to be educated

Back on December 4th I fell down some stairs while out with clients, I inadvertently missed a step and went right back on my leg...it killed...the kind of injury where you see stars and feel ill for a moment or two...What I didn't do was go to hospital to have it diagnosed, I knew it wasn't broken so why bother going right?

Well on Christmas Day, I slipped on some ice going back on the same leg again...doubling it back and falling back on it. This time it hurt more and it swelled up too...this time I knew I had to go to the hospital for X-rays and I am glad I did because it was determined it was not broken...but during the course of the Christmas holidays I could barely move, the leg hurt like heck, I could barely get in and out of my bed or my car without it hurting like heck and then it began to swell up...my calf, thigh and feet...so I got back to the hospital on New Years day and had an ultrasound, sure enough it wasn't broken, I didn't have blood clotting but I had a nasty partially torn quadriceps muscle, with bruising and bleeding inside the leg that caused the swelling.

So that was my Christmas holidays. I did not go out Sam I am. Not to dinner, not to a movie, not to the World Healing Meditation and not to New Years Eve celebrations...I did not enjoy the holidays much Sam I am...

Actually the thought of re-injuring my leg or slipping again was just too painful a thought. So I stayed in and iced the leg, and stayed put...but here is what I am really getting at with this newsletter. I do not want this to be a pity party for me...I just do not like those kind of parties. I love fun parties...the pity party you can put on hold for now. I am just reporting the facts...and the key fact was I spent a lot of time alone over the holidays.

Some of my friends said..."Good" that's what you need, you need some downtime, time to relax...and I agreed. But I discovered a new world I had never really discovered before. It's a world of wonder and learning and discovery!

I know what you're thinking, you're thinking how can you discover a world of wonder, discovery and learning being laid up with a bad leg?

Facebook

Well let me share with you, because truthfully it's very exciting. On Facebook they now have access to wonderful "Tele" classes you can take with a myriad of topics. Anything from networking with business women (which I can't join apparently), to creating your year with Life Coach Hunter Phoenix or learning with the Goal Guy from Florida and Alan Hunkin in Vancouver.

I took 3 powerful telephone classes in December. One on selling with Kevin Boyle...author of the Secrets to Sales Mastery, then I took a class with the Goal Guy and then I took create your 2009 with Hunter Phoenix...I made two new connections with both Hunter and Kevin and as a result have had Kevin on the radio show back on December 28th and Hunter will be on February 22nd.

To access great telephone classes using facebook and keep in mind you can use facebook as a tool to market your classes too by notifying your contacts and perhaps even posting an "Event" On facebook. Now, next time you're on facebook check out an application called "Calliflower" it's a complete service allowing you to host and promote your own tele-classes. If you have an idea or a business that will be enhanced through educating your client base or prospects I say go for it! To log onto Calliflower free tele-conferencing...check out my page and then access it on your own...
http://apps.facebook.com/calliflower/

Educate away. It's a powerful way to market and position yourself as an expert, leader and teacher. Gone is the hard sell, bring on the thoughtful, compelling consultative sell.

Blog Talk Radio

It didn't stop there...this world of online learning is deep, powerful, exciting. I discovered Blog Talk Radio. This is online radio that has a myriad of topics and shows, you can access them all for free and sign up for your favourites. What blog talk will do is notify you when your favourite shows are on. How cool is that huh?

I tapped into online meditations, topics about spirituality, human potential and positive thought...wow...I got to learn from people like Zen DeBrucke, and master coach Michelle Meiche...two incredible women and thinkers.

Log onto Blog talk radio and let you're world unfold. Also you can host you're on show. So if that craving has been to host a radio show, now you can... www.blogtalkradio.com

Once again hosting a radio show online positions your business as an expert, and with that there is a built in Trust Factor...

World Puja Network...

The third cool online site I discovered was a site called the World Puja Network. It provides thought provoking programming that talks about the deeper meaning behind what's really happening in the world today. This sense we're all feeling, the uncertainty, the economic upheaval, the changes is all happening for a reason. The World Puja network makes sense of it all in a spiritual, practical way. With hosts like Kerrie O'Connor and Barry Goldstein and Dr. Steven Greer and founder and creator Maureen Moss, the information and shows on this website, will engage ideas, inspire you and help you to have a deeper understanding to what's going on in your life and in the world we live in.

I recommend logging on and joining by tapping into www.worldpuja.org

Lastly, for those that know me personally and those that don't know me too well, I am of the Jewish religion. I like what I am and love some of the guiding principals contained within Judaism. I am not overly religious though, but I do like attending services at Synagogue. I like the singing and the music and I find it comforting to pray. I pray for peace, money, to meet a nice woman...but I also pray for people so that they'll be healthy, I pray for my friends and business colleagues so that they will be well too. If they're well then I am well!

But back in early December, I discovered that a Synagogue in Winnipeg broadcast their "Audio" only of the Saturday Sabbath service online. Based in Winnipeg, this congregation offers access to their members who perhaps don't like going out in the cold of winter and going to Sabbath services...and who can blame them? Winter in Winnipeg is wild and woolly...it can be minus 50 degrees no problem in Winnipeg.

So back on December 27th I listened to the service online and participated online...between you and me it was the first time I have gone to a religious service in my pajama's, but it felt right.

Commit to learning in 2009

If you are looking to power up. Learn, be inspired, grow and meditate, there is a world that awaits online. It's incredible and I encourage you to tap into it and be the best you you can be this year.

Online learning offers you the convenience of staying put. Learning from home and there are numerous choices too. From cool online radio stations, to tele-seminars, webinars, and tapping into e-books and blogs like this!

So be kid-like in the year ahead and embrace learning as a way to enrich yourself and embrace teaching others as a way to market your business more effectively.

Enthusiastic Learners in action!

Until March, have a healthy, happy winter and just know that in 2 more weeks baseball spring training begins and even though it's been a wicked winter...spring is coming. Have faith my friends.

Cheers/David Cohen

The December Edition...go ahead Create Your Year...

2008-12-01T04:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really focused on helping small business owners succeed in these exciting times we're in. It's time for community, working together, and making a difference...kind of what this newsletter/blog is all about.

What do you want to create in 2009?

Welcome to this months posting and newsletter. The picture to your left is titled, "If these walls could talk". My question to you is...what would they say?

As we close out 2008 and head into 2009 there is a sense of optimism, closure, fear, excitement, the unknown all wrapped into the time of year and more so this given the times we are in now.

So if the walls could talk, what would they say about how you're going to live life in 2009? Are you going to play full out? Give it all you got? Leave it on the field?

What would you want the walls to say about you in one years time?

Personally, I am going for it. I don't care any more about the economy (well I do and don't...but that's another story for another day)...I don't care about other people judging me, I don't care if I have total support of my family...I am living my best life, my highest life for me in 2009.

Is anyone else on board?

Here is the game plan.

1) Get clear on your true value and be confident in your abilities. I am not saying become an ego maniac about your skill sets and abilities but be confident that you can do what you do and do it well. Walk with pride and an inner knowing that you can do it and if you can't you'll learn, you'll be open to coaching and you'll be a team player. What are you're true gifts? What are your strengths? What do you do better than anyone else? What do you love to do...and would even if you didn't get paid?

Know your value. Get clear and confident about your best abilities and begin to communicate and market them effectively.

2) Develop an action plan and re-work your business plan. Once you get clear on what you bring to the table in terms of talents and skills and value, you want to position yourself with companies, people and organizations that can benefit from them. Personally I intend to re-chart my course this year and be more "Niche" focused in who I target. I don't know about you, but spray marketing (telling everyone) is really tiring. Having a clear target segment, knowing them and talking their language is where it's at. Shotgun, Spaghetti marketing doesn't work. It's a long road to take. Figure out who you're ideal client is. What their issues, concerns and challenges are and get clear as to how you bring value to them and you have a good starting point for doing business. So...create your plan, re-visit your goals, your business plan...bottom line is chart your most safest, optimal route towards your living your best life.

3) Have a supporting cast around you. I have realized this past quarter that I can no longer do what I do alone. I need a mastermind team, a mentor, a coach and someone to help me sell. If you're a solo-entrepreneur, who can you hire, what help do you need, who can take on the tasks that don't serve you? In my mastermind team meeting this past weekend, I have established a very cool direction and it's now begun to take shape. It means some re-branding but it's totally cool. My supporting mastermind team, has me focused, excited and guess what?...they are there to support me in my business. Be sure to create some support in your business or life. Remember even Moses had his brother Aaron to bounce ideas off of...don't quote me, but if it wasn't for Aaron, the Jewish people would have been in the desert for another 10 years...but Aaron said, "No Moses...turn left, turn left man"!!!

4) Don't worry, pray. How many of you have been focusing on what you don't have? Or are in a state of fear about the economy, the future...all that. Reverend Michael Beckwith (from the Secret and the Moses Code documentaries and Agape Ministries in California) states we are in a time of "Prayervolution" a time when prayer leads to a new spiritual evolution. You can't control what you can't control, but you can control what you think and you can take actions towards solving the worry points in your life. Pray, focus, meditate, visualize...however you do it...just do it.

5) Trust. My good friend Jennifer Hough of the Vital You (www.thevitalyou.com) says in her work as a facilitator and awesome coach, "The Universe has your back". Meaning the universe, god, or whatever you want to call it...has your best interests at stake. You have to have faith and trust all will be taken care of. As Jennifer so aptly puts it and I love her for this line, "In a Universe that makes Milky ways and galaxy's and made all that there is (I am paraphrasing) and made you, then you can count on it to come through" It's brilliant stuff and a needed way to think. So trust, everything is as it should be "All is well", as personal development expert Louise Hay would say. Or finally, "Get over it" as Jennifer would suggest.

6) Think BIG! Set big goals this year. Do what you've dreamed, stop buying into the darkness, the fear, the naysayers. Cut them out. As Nelson Mandella once said, "Who are you to play small, you're hear to glorify G-d" (or the universe) and be all you can. Take on living your wildest dreams. Lately, I have been setting the intention for how my day will go in my day-timer...and low and behold if it's not coming true. Last week for example I wrote "Get two new clients" and it happened. Friday, I led a training session and I wrote in my day-timer, "It's going to be an awesome day of learning" and it was!!! Think Big, train your mind to have amazing ideas and juicy thoughts and for gosh sakes write it down. It becomes real then!

7) Have balance and self love. No matter what happens take care of yourself. Exercise, eat well, take your vitamins and accept failures as learning lessons. If you don't take care of you...who will? We have to take "Responsibility" and "Care for the self" now more than ever. Incorporate self-care in your life, every day.

8) Have an attitude of gratitude. Act like whatever you want in your life has already come through. Express gratitude everyday for all the good things in your life. As my good friend Shawn Shepheard says, "Yes the guy in front of you on the road, just cut you off, but instead of getting even or angry, have an attitude of gratitude in that moment". Be thankful you didn't crash, that you're well, that your family loves you, that all is good in your life, that you have a place to go too on your drive...

Gratitude gets you more of what you want...so be thankful for all of the good things and trust me there are lots of good things...

I am going to leave you with a magical prayer that I read almost every day. It's a prayer that if you read every day it will change your life. It's called the Prayer of Jabez. It will open doors and broaden your horizons. If you want grab the book at a bookstore. Call my good friend Shelly, she owns an independent bookstore called Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge and she would love the business plus you don't have to go there you can order the book by phone from her. It's called the Pray of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. Shelly can be reached at 905-852-4282 and she will order it in for you.

Here is the prayer, read it every day and watch how your life will unfold:

Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that your hand might be with me and that you would keep me from harm that it may not pain me.

Read that every day and watch will unfold in your life.

I want to invite you to 3 events:

One is the Durham Small Business Meditation Project...happening on December 11th at Essential Communications at 101 Dundas St. W. (at Brock in Whitby) at 6:30-8 pm.

The other is the World Healing meditation on December 31st at 6:30 am until 8 am at the St. Lawrence Centre at King and Jarvis St. (Pay by donation) and this is not an event I am running, I am just letting you know...it's a beautiful to close a year and begin a new. Log onto http://www.peace-the-21st.org/dec31/ to learn more

Also on January 9th at the Business Advisory Centre Durham. I am co-facilitating "Create your year" from 9:30-12:30 and it costs $49.00 (plus GST) to get in. I would love you to come out and get ready to create your most amazing year yet.

I want to wish you a wonderful, peaceful, holiday season...with health, fun, and abundance in 2009.

David Cohen The BIG IDEAS GUY -"BIG"

P.S. I have embedded a video this month...an interview with Bruce Wilkinson on his other book (The Dream Giver) a follow up to his Prayer of Jabez. Plus a Gospel Version of the Prayer o Jabez...

In Joy!

David

Take time out to connect

2008-11-02T17:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

GET CONNECTED:

This months theme is about connecting. Let's face it we're all going through our stuff these days about the stock market crisis and the global financial crisis. It tends to bring up deep rooted fears, feelings of insecurity, fear about abandonment, loss, lack, not being good enough, you name it and our "stuff" is coming up. So if that's the case then, then be sure to take extra time for those you work with or do business with.

You're not alone now, others are going through change, fear, worry, doubt and are wondering about life and it's meaning.

So now more than ever is a good time to connect to those you do business with or work with. Plan a meeting, a coffee, a lunch if you're feeling extravagant, but the bottom line is to connect.

I find this time of year...near year end a great time to meet clients and talk about plans for 2009.

Find out what motivates your client, what drives them, what they think about, get to know them on a deeper more meaningful level so that when spending and the economy bounces back (and it will) you have vastly improved the relationships you have with your clients. In fact by taking the time now to get to know them, and help them I guarantee that when things do bounce back in the marketplace you'll be the first place they buy from.

I was attending prayer services this morning and saw a good friend and associate. Sure enough his business is going through challenges and life isn't all that great for him just now. So I put my arm around him and said, I could relate, business was a bit more challenging for me too. I let him know that if ever he wanted to chat, go for coffee and just connect, that I am all ears.

We left knowing that our bond is closer and can become more so. You see...in tough times, people need to connect more, have a sense of closeness, community, to be able to count on our fellow man and woman.

So if you are not connecting to those business colleagues that matter, you may be missing the boat. But connect out of sincerity, out of a sense of love and compassion to your clients. They say what you give comes back, so if you can give without expectation of receiving back immediate dividends then you're business has a built in "insurance" plan for the future.

You can insure that the good things you do for your clients and team you work with will come back tenfold later on.

I remember during the SARS crisis that hit Toronto my coaching business had pretty well gone out the door. No one was spending. To make matters worse, the 2nd Gulf War had just started and people in Toronto were just a little too panicky.

When discussing my business with my mentor back then, he suggested I offer my services for free. This way I could stay in front of my clients, keep in action and also be remembered as guy who went that extra mile.

You know, it worked. I did free coaching. It didn't pay off right away, but it did later on after the effects of SARS had disappeared.

My clients were happy, they stayed with me and even commented that it was nice to get the coaching at a time that they too were facing challenges.

You see, when it comes down to it...what matters isn't the money you make, but the lives you impact. That's the real currency that no one talks about on the news. It's the lives you touch, it's the positive feelings you generate. Studies show that us human beings buy goods and services base on feeling and emotion. Wouldn't it behoove you to sell that way? To generate good vibes and feelings for your team at work or the clients you serve?

I was just at a friends wedding too this past weekend...and was there with my High School buddies...and we felt a connection, a closeness and a sense of all was right in the world...Why? Well...because we were together, celebrating, honouring our friendships and honouring the newly married couple.

That is what life is all about. It's about experiencing the "Sacred" special moments. If you don't think that that is true for your clients, then I have news for you...take time out to ask them and check in on them. Generate new conversations, plan for 2009, link them up with someone else that can benefit from what they do. Plan to help a charity together at Christmas time...but just get "Connected" to your clients...and watch the magic happen in your business.

Take the slow time perhaps in your business to now connect more profoundly with your clients. Work to get close to your team at work or your clients and be darn sure, to give back now, because it will pay off down the road. It's when the economy does bounce back that your business will soar.

It's about positioning too. Ask yourself how you want to be viewed in the marketplace? What's the legacy you want to be known for in your life and in your business? How high do you want to go?

Then get in action and give back your time, your sense of compassion and understanding to your clients.

If you have any comments on this post or want coaching or to brainstorm on some ideas, I personally will offer you 30 minutes free coaching. It will be a phone session only, but it's my gift to you. Just email me for your free session at thecoach@smallbusinessbigideas.com

All the best.

David

2008-10-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Managing in turbulent times:

You'd have to be living under a rock to not be affected by the recent week that was on the markets. Bay St. in Canada and Wall Street in the U.S. both were rocked in a steady stream of downturns this week and the money supply is beginning to get a bit tighter. The "Economy" is on the minds of every politician north and south of the 49th parallel.

We all know that there is uncertainty in the market place and in our own businesses. Personally, I have been questioning some of the business moves I have taken on and if it's worth it or not. Am I on the right track? Why aren't those tele-classes working, how can I just get 3 more advertisers on the show for our new season? Why is more money going out and than in? I don't think I am alone in these thoughts...Have I miscalculated the marketplace? Why aren't the ideas and services I have created in my business not yielding results?

Am I off? Do I give up? Go get a job?

Well here's the deal. First of all I think in this market place you've got to really be flexible. Be prepared to change or shift gears at any moment. If it's not working and it's not feeling right then give it up and move onto another aspect of the business. Life should not be about the struggle, it is not about doing things and not getting the results. It's not about banging your head against the wall and having a sore head and little else to show for your efforts.

So be prepared to change. Don't get too wrapped up in what you're doing from an emotional point of view and give up the struggle. Shift gears, step away or go for a walk in the park as a former boss of mine once advised.

In my weekend walk with my friend Bob, (we go for weekly walks and then talk about life or business after) we were discussing the notion of him working with former CEO's in his accounting practice and how they are reluctant to change and do something new because they expect the secretary, the expense account, the luxuries of how it was...so I told Bob...I got one piece of advice for these ex-CEO's and that was..."Get on with it"!!!

You have to let go, be flexible and move forward big time...no fear here!

The next key to managing in turbulent times is to really tune out the news. I mean it. Watching the 11 am news is akin to you watching a dreadful horror flick just before bed. I don't know about you but when I watch a horror film I can't sleep after, because my imagination runs wild and yes...what if a boogie man comes to attack me in the middle of the night?

You should have seen me after seeing the Shining with Jack Nicholson, I slept with the lights on that night...

Tune out the news and tune into positive messages. Meditation CD's, good news reports or read the bible or other religious teachings that lift your spirit up. Read positive books, look at others who live successful lives, have someone or something that inspires you.

In these times of uncertainty don't take things personally, it's funky for everyone in this day and age, so it's important to have an attitude of compassion and forgiveness. You don't know what's going on for people these days...one of my colleagues lost over $20,000 in net worth on the stock market decline...I got an unexpected bill for my business for $500.00. So who's having a worse day? One day like that can just put your day into a tailspin. Have compassion on people in your life and as Stephen Covey would say. Seek to understand before seeking to be understood.

Another key step in managing in tougher unstable times is to hold the vision. Be the vision, continue to to do the actions and you will have the success you seek. Hold that vision, take time to meditate on it each day...but hold that vision.

So where are we at? We've talked about being flexible in your business, tuning out the news, putting positive messages into your mind, holding the vision, being compassionate and understanding of others, but there is something else that matters when managing in turbulent times and that's about doing what brings you joy.

Do the work that brings you joy. Do things with passion and love and I promise you your businesses and life will always work out. No one can take that away from you. Do what brings you joy. Let go of what brings you down. Because if you're not "In-Joy" than life will surely be a drag and it's already a bit of a challenge these days isn't it? You deserve to be in joy...so enjoy your life. You got one go around you might as well have fun!

Some other aspects to consider when managing in challenging times is to surround yourself with good people. Not that you want "Yes" men or women in your life, but you want people who see it as it is but can see possibility in what you're doing. An angle you haven't thought of or an opportunity that's around the bend or a contact for you to call on. But surround yourself with positive people.

Lastly, one other key to managing in challenging times is to trust. Trust that all will work out and whatever is going on around us is just what needs to have happen. Remember the Chinese expression, "out of chaos comes opportunity" so the change, the turbulence we're all going through is an opportunity to change, to shift, to manage more effectively, to let go of what's not working and focus on the things that matter most and bring you more joy.

So go get 'em this quarter. Keep at it, keep reaching and don't give up. Because if you give up...then the bad guys win...and we don't want that do we?

Here are some website links to help you stay positive and in the flow...plus I have embedded a really uplifting video...again there is a sponsored message at the end of it...and we don't know this company to recommend them...but the message is poignant and powerful.

WEBSITES:

www.postivenews.net

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

All the very best to you. Our next newsletter will be in December so stay well until then!

David Cohen
Learning, coaching, radio
The Place where Small Business Comes
To learn, grow and succeed
This is that place, this is your home.
www.smallbusinessbigideas.com

Get help along the way

2008-07-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you need help along the way...don't be afraid to get it...

August 1st.

This spring and summer has been a great time of change for a lot of us. I mean look at how some of economic and social realities are forcing us to change and adapt. What I think is happening is that these socio-economic factors are really getting in touch with what matters most and really giving us a choice to having absolute focus on the areas in our life that impact us most.

But you know...change doesn't happen without help along the way.

I mentioned in the May newsletter about some personal change I was going through. One was taking weight off, two was re-configuring my business plan and concepts and three was personally adapting to those socio-economic conditions that we're all facing it seems these days.

So in taking weight off and so far I am down 20 pounds...thanks to some dedicated workouts with my personal trainer Chris Bennett at Good Life Fitness...Chris has coached me and pushed me to a point where I am jogging around the gym in between my sets of weights...he even makes me do squats...and I hate squats!

My good friends Kim Ades and Jacqui Markowitz and new colleagues Pauline and Esther helped me get my head on straight around my body, and weight loss at Frame of Mind Coaching...and now Louis from Isagenix...Louis introduced me to this wild cleanse program that has immediate results on weight loss and vitality. I am on this earth shattering cleanse program and it's working wonderfully. The energy is back, the vitality and the passion...all necessary to run a business these days...

The business is starting to take shape too as the re-branding and new website are oh so close to completion. Help from Sue Sutcliffe at A Web that works and Carol Ann Walker at the Business Advisory Centre along the way has me taking the business into a new and exciting direction.

I have been surrounded by great people. Helping me along my journey.

Now study and look at the picture above...because that's us sometimes...we are like little kids needing a guiding hand and when times are good we are the adult...leading the way. The sage, the spiritual warrior...knowing and guiding us along the path.

We all need help...and as entrepreneurs our downfall is that we don't ask for it. Out of shame maybe? Or God forbid...someone will think we're weak and not successful. Or sometimes our belief is you can't hire someone or my staff can't do it...I will do it myself!!!

I say park those stories and get some help. Train your staff to do what you do. Take on the tasks you like in your business and hand the ones you don't enjoy to someone else...oh and get the help you need...Ask...ask...ask...get the help along the way.

You know...I mentioned I got coaching help from Kim and Jacqui at Frame of mind coaching around my weight loss issues...The program that Kim and Jacqui designed included weekly coaching calls and journaling on a daily basis. Journaling your thoughts and feelings around a certain weekly discussion point. Well in week 7 of our 10 week program we had to journal about "Gratitude" and I wrote about a time in my life when I had lost my father. I was 10.

He died suddenly...the abruptness of it all left my entire family in shock, depression and wonderment...

It left me without a dad...totally not cool...and I felt like an outcast at school and in life...I mean crap eh? I was the only 10 year old at school without a dad...

So in writing about gratitude during my 10 week coaching calls with Kim and Jacqui at Frame of Mind Coaching...Kim reviewed my journal and asked me a critical question about this time in my life...

She asked...about who my mentors were after my father passed on? At first I thought who were they...I wasn't sure. At first thought I thought no one was a mentor...It wasn't my uncles or those closer to me...but then as I wrote my response it became apparent that the people you'd think would be your mentors weren't but my cousinsm my brother-in-law and a CFL football player...were my mentors. You know it's odd...but when you're not looking life supports you totally.

Sometimes if you expect people to show up they don't...and that clouds those that do show up and help you along the way.

So you've got to lose the expectations you have about and around people and just let life unfold...and the lesson I got in this time in my life was that life totally supported me.

I am going to share something very personal with you about that time in my life when I lost my father and had to reflect back on who my male mentors were...I was in tears when I wrote this...but I feel confident to share the important lessons of my own journey and hopefully they help you in yours.

Part of the "Frame of mind" coaching program involves journaling...it's vital to the outcomes of the program and I found it very cathartic in fact.

I thought I would share what I wrote about my past, my childhood, the lessons learned, the gratitude and the people in my life that influenced me. I hope I do their lives justice in mine now.

Before I leave you now and let you read the posting I made on June 30th in that journaling exercise. I want you to get some core lessons this month.

1. Ask for help if you need it in business.

2. Lose your expectations of others.

3. Trust that the universe is taking care of you at all times.

4. Know that the best people will show up if you allow them too...

5. Have an attitude of gratitude and

6. That you've got to get out of the way, let your thoughts, worries and fears vanish and choose positive ones!

All the best and have a great summer!

David

Here is my post for June 30th for the Frame of Mind Coaching Program I was on...

Little Davey is home with the flu today...wow...achy, tired, no energy, stiff and sore...oh man...I hate the flu...but intrinsically...maybe it's just time to rest up a little...and life will be ok when I crave "rice pudding" ...I haven't eaten anything today and don't feel like it...but you know I have turned that corner towards health and wellness when I have rice pudding...lol...I am such a suck eh? Did I say I want my mommy?

Ok...Kim...I had no role model from 10-17. My family was small. My dad's two brothers didn't have kids and my mom's brother lives in England. My uncles were all older...and not that good at getting close. I did have a cousins in Montreal...Irving and he and my other cousin Leon ...were nice to me...and so was Morry Krantzberg in Montreal. Morry was a family friend who fixed my mom and dad up in England...he started Kiddie Kobler shoe stores. I would work there when I visited as a kid and got Greb Kodiaks (work boots) and Adida Rom's (I was a slave to fashion can't ya tell)?

As a kid I went to Montreal a lot to visit my cousins and hang. Morry, Leon, Irving and Mickey and Moe all had kids my age that I would hang with. We had brilliant games of road hockey and street football.

It was at Mickey and Moe's that I saw my first ever Playboy magazine...going to Montreal from Ottawa had such a high to it...there was a vibe in Montreal...action, business, big buildings...great radio stations like CKGM and CHOM-FM. (I liked radio even then). Plus I would get to see the Montreal Expo's play or the Canadians at the Forum.

My family in Montreal and my little cousins my age were all awesome. But in Ottawa I didn't really have someone who stepped in. I also felt awkward still not having a dad. I had to go home after those great visits to Montreal and back to the reality of being that outsider kid again.

In fact...I even had a "Big Brother" and he lasted a short time due to he and his wife going through a divorce...but he was a nice guy.

I was really left to my own devices. I thank God...I had "Zaikel" ...that's Yiddish for common sense and direction...although I under achieved in school until I took Radio/TV journalism...(then I over achieved...yay me)...

But at 17 my sister Jan who lives in Toronto married the nicest guy. A doctor no less...he taught me the importance of being a mensch and being a solid guy. He's never missed a day of work, has total commitment to his family and is a fun, loving man. Jerome Lyons is his full name...he's not always a saint...but boy he's the one that's impacted me the most.

His practice is at Warden and Ellesmere...and he works hard...now later in his life he's a golf nut and his best friend Lorne Rubenstein is the golf writer in the Globe and Mail. Jerome is just one good guy. He was my best man at my wedding, he was there when my oldest sister passed away, he was there when I lived there after my marriage broke up...he was there to go to a baseball game with, he and my sister always host family events at their house, be it religious or celebrations and holidays. My niece and niece got married there, I had my 40th birthday celebration there a their home, his brother Carl had his 60th birthday their...Jerome and my sister Jan are just so generous.

Yeah...do they have some issues..yes...but when you can look past that...they shine like diamonds.

So I am grateful to them and now that I think of it my cousins in Montreal had a brilliant impact on me too. I loved Irving and his wife Doris the most...like an extra set of parents. Irving is no longer with us...but he taught me to pitch a baseball and took me to Jarry Park to see the Montreal Expos and would go for walks with me...he always said you have to walk fast like you have a purpose...

Irving also taught public speaking, which is a career that I engage in now. Maybe it rubbed off on me by osmosis.

I remember visiting their house in Montreal and he was an avid gardener and he'd take me to his basement where he had a herb garden and he'd wave his hand under a light and the light would magically go on...I was in wonder at how this light would work. Plus he'd take his thinning hair in front and lift it up into a point for us to knock down...it was so funny as a kid.

Irving was my dad's nephew. They were a couple of years apart and very close growing up ...he and Doris, were so close to my mom Doris and my dad. They were with us when Pierre Laporte was found dead in the car during the FLQ crisis, they were always there for us and we had real soft spots in our hearts for each other...I am almost literally in tears now as I write about because I realize now I maybe didn't mourn his passing enough...wow...and really appreciate the kind of man he was to me.

I remember going into Montreal in 1976 (after the Olympics) and he and his son Billy took me to see the Montreal Alouettes and the Ottawa Rough Riders at the newly built "Big Oh" ...wow the place was packed...65,000 fans...we share some great times in Montreal visiting Irving and Doris...but hopefully you get the magic of my cousin Irving.

They lived in a modest home in Cote St. Luc...but he and his wife Doris created a beautiful home. In fact I live in the Bathurst Manor today because it reminds me so much of Cote St. Luc...wow...big observation huh?

I will leave you with this last story about Irving...he passed away with brain cancer back in the late 80's (like about 87 I believe)...he didn't pass away until his grandson who was being Bar Mitzvahed (A commencement type ceremony for a Jewish child at 13...similar to a Christian commencement) until late at night as the party was wrapping up. Now is that an amazing thing to do. He didn't pass away until his grandson Lee had his Bar Mitzvah and the celebration was on and almost done...so we could enjoy the occasion as best as we can.

I had one more mentor...Rhome Nixon...he was a tight end with the Ottawa Rough Riders...and as a kid (14) I got to meet him. He took me into the dressing room after practice, allowed me to hang out on the field, meet the other players and give me the thrill of a lifetime. What an amazing player and man he was. I remember being 16 and I got to hang with the players at his place after a game for a little after game socializing. I got to hang with QB Condredge Holloway, Defensive tackle Rudy Sims, Art Cantrelle, Art Laster, Rhome Nixon, Art Green and Wayne Smith who's son plays with Montreal now...These guys weren't the crazy athletes you see now...these guys were really cool. I got a ride home with Condredge Holloway after that event and I would always be allowed to hang out on the field and interview the players for the school paper...

I realize now that although I lost my dad, God was taking care of me...and I had an amazing childhood with lots of mentors...

I am grateful to life an God today...and I am feeling like Rice pudding now too.

So those are my mentors Kim...now that you examine it. I was in pretty good hands wasn't I.

David

This months embedded video is about embracing change...it's really well done...but alas it's an ad for Tranquility Alive, a competing coaching company...

I like the video and thought I would share the message with you, check it out...as I think it's an uplifting way to end this edition of the Technicolour Report.

All the best.

David Cohen

Disclaimer: We don't know or endorse this company. Any decision to work with them is solely your responsibility.

2008-06-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

It's all about choice this Summer...

As I sit down to write the "Special Canada Day Edition" of the Technicolour Report...I thought that this month I would love to share some cool things you can do for free during the summer.

Let's face it our spending habits have changed over the past few months as gas, food and other costs have gone up while incomes perhaps have stayed the same. In fact in the Toronto Star this week, they wrote about the fact that "Stagflation" was fast becoming the term to describe the economic climate. Stagflation is when the economy stagnates...and doesn't grow much and inflationary pressures from rising oil and gas costs begin to take root not only at the pumps but also in other products and services we buy.

So...that's the bad news...costs are going up...but does our sense of fun and wonder have to follow suit this summer?

I say no way.

In fact here are a few things you can do for free this summer...

1) At Mel Lastman Square in North York from July 20th until the end of August there are "Free" concerts every Sunday night...it's usually big band music...but it's fun to people watch and there is lot's of dancing...it starts at 7:30 pm...but you might want to get there early to get a good seat. Mel Lastman Square is located off of Yonge St.just north of Sheppard in the North York City Hall. http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/serenades/index.htm

2) It's not free but it's darn close. The Bad Dog Theatre does improv. Man with gas prices shooting up we need a good laugh and the Bad Dog Theatre delivers. Located on the Danforth near Broadview Street and Station...it's fun night out on a Saturday to see live Improv theatre for just $10.00. Check them out online at ... http://www.baddogtheatre.com/modules/news/

3) Right in the heart of downtown Toronto is Nathan Phillips Square and on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the summer they Fresh Wednesdays and Tasty Thursdays...market grown foods for sale on Wednesdays and gourmet lunches on Thursdays...plus there is music at the bandshell each lunch time. I went down a few years ago...and saw the Satellites...you might remember that band...with one of their hit songs being "Just give me some kind of sign girl". These concerts are free...and the food is fairly well priced and it's pretty healthy too. Log onto http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/wednesdays/index.htm for Fresh Wednesdays and then check out http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/thursdays/index.htm for Tasty Thursday's if you spend $12 at most for lunch and TTC downtown then you've spent too much.

4) Another cool thing you can take on this Summer...is go to the Islands man...Well...the Toronto Islands...pack a picnic and take a low cost ferry ride to the Islands and it feels like you got away for the day...there are a few Island destinations to choose from...I like Wards Island personally...here is the link to information the ferry rides and the Islands themselves...
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/#wards

5) In Pickering you can enjoy a free concert series too...at Millennium Square Park by the waterfront there are free concerts starting at 7 pm on Thursday's through July and August...
It's a nice night out...gives you something else to do and get's you connected with your community... log onto http://www.durhamtourism.ca/events.aspx?id=13323 for more information on the concerts in Pickering...

6) Not to be outdone by Pickering...the town of Brooklin in North Whitby also has a free concert series on Thursday nights too at Grass Park at 41 Baldwin St. This event goes from 7 pm until 8:30 pm...and it's free too...bring your own lawn chair though...Concerts start on July 3rd and goes until August 28th...

7) The Town of Whitby has a beautiful central library and they too have free jazz concerts in the square at the library...so check that out too...plus...having a library card costs nothing and you have access to books, CD's and DVD's to watch and listen too respectively. Log onto http://www.durhamtourism.ca/events.aspx?id=14151 for events at Celebration Square at the Whitby Library...

8) Nature Trail Walks...I walked on Sunday after my radio show (June 22nd) from Rotary Park in Ajax to the Senataph...I reached the peak of the escarpment and yelled and jumped up and down like Rocky...and then walked back. By the time I had finished an hour had gone by and I ended my walk by pushing some kids out of the way at the kids zone splash area...I ran through the cold sprinklers 3 times and got soaked but got cooled off nicely...there are many nature trails in Durham. One in Ajax, one just past the GM head office in Oshawa and Lynde Shores in Whitby...there are others believe me...but these are some personal favourites...

9) The Driftwood theatre group is hosting Romeo and Juliet in July...on the 22nd...it's a pay what you can for the event so if bucks are tight pay what you can...the suggested price is $15.00...but again...it's a pay what you can o do your best...that's all you can do. Log onto http://www.driftwoodtheatre.com/ for more information...it's outdoor theatre and it's a nice night out.

10) Lastly I love the 4th Line Theatre company in Millbrook, Ontario...just north of Hwy 401 off of 115 (towards Peterborough and Lindsay)...they are putting on the Last Green Hill this July and then the "School House" in the August and it's stunning outdoor theatre set on a farm in Millbrook...they use all the elements of the farm and outdoors too...for $20.00 you're in like Flynn... log onto http://www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca/ to learn more...

So there you go...your budgets maybe limited...but your fun quotient doesn't have to be. Log onto www.durhamtourism.com and or www.city.toronto.on.ca for fun things you can take in this summer...

Now...usually I embed a video...in my newsletters...well this edition has a gem for you this month and a touch of nostalgia...I have Summer Nights from the movie Grease...enjoy the video and...

Have a great summer and Happy Canada Day eh?

David Cohen

2008-05-30T02:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

What's on the horizon these days?

Change...

Change is always on the horizon. As I sit down to write my newsletter...(and I only do it every other month), I meditate on what it is I am going to write about. Usually it's what's on my mind...and lately...change seems to be on my mind a lot.

Personally, I am looking at my life from every possible angle. It's like I am in the process of a re-do, a makeover if you will and I am thinking to myself..."Self what the heck...here we go again...my entire life is up for grabs right now...and it's going to take everything I have to make some postive moves in my life so that I remain healthy, wealthy and well." It's going to take focus, determination, a positive attitude, vision, a mission and surrounding myself with a really supportive cast of people in my life.

It started back in March when I looked at myself in the mirror at Wal-Mart. "My god I shrieked...where did that gut come from...it's not like I really over do it in the eating department...and darn it if I don't get to the gym 3 times a week...what the hell is going on with me"? I asked myself...I knew then and there somethings had to change. The tough thing is not to make yourself wrong about a seemingly bad situation, but to accept what is and embark on taking action to change.

So I got pro-active. In early April I booked for my annual physical. I saw my dentist too, went to my gym and took the plunge and signed on for 24 personal training sessions...

On April 30th I had my annual physical with my doctor. My numbers are up as it turns out and I must work harder at bringing my sugar levels, and my bad cholesterol levels down a bit.

On May 1st, I started and signed up for 24 personal training sessions at my gym. (Goodlife) and so far to date my personal trainer (and he's a gem Chris Bennett) is putting me through the paces of a very high energy workout twice a week and he's kicking my butt to be doing something physcial 5-6 days a week. He's also got me eating better too... We've had 8 sessions and my strength is top notch, I still have to work on more conditioning and taking off the belly...

On May 6th, I signed up for a tele-class series too with a new associate coach friend of mine Kim Ades from Opening Doors Coaching...Kim is a very awesome coach and speaker and is on the cutting edge of the work you need to do today in order to bring about successful change in your life and business. She and Jacqui Markowitz are outstanding leaders. They are leading a pilot weight loss tele-coaching session, complete with journaling each day and weekly assignments.

Also in April and May, I met with Carol Ann Walker from the Business Advisory Centre Durham and I am in the process of re-shaping my business and my business plan. Carol Ann is a gem of a woman and business ally.

Add to the fact that gas prices are forcing me to re-think my spending. Economics and a slight business down-turn for me are forcing me to really prioritize what I do and where I spend my time, money and efforts.

These are all major issues facing a lot of us today. Health, energy costs, business success, direction, managing and dealing with never ending change that permeates are lives everyday.

An earthquake in China, a cyclone in Myanmar...rising prices...it's all enough to make one totally be on edge. How do we make sense of life when it seems to be out of control?

I believe it starts with us. Each one of us has to manage better.

So how do we manage it all without going absolutely off the deep end? How do we make adjustments to our way of life, our businesses, and our economic model without it being too painful?

Look at your return on investment

I believe the most important thing to look at is R.O.I. What is bringing you a good return on your investment. Is the work you're doing bringing you joy? If not why not? Are the areas of your business brining you a decent income? If not why not?

Is the marketing you're doing working? I know a lot of us love to network...but really when you look at it...does going to those morning networking meetings pay a dividend for you that's quantifiable?

Look at the Return on your investments...what's working for you and what's just a bust?

Take care of you first:

The next area you have to examine as you go through change and managing your business so that it works better is to take care of you first! I don't mean this in a narcissitic way, but purely from the point of view that you matter. Your health, your wellness, your sanity, your savings, your money, family, social life, home, business...if they aren't firing on all cylinders than it may be time to impliment some change.

When I talk here of taking care of you...it doesn't mean to all of a sudden hoard your money or not be a giving, decent, loving and charitable person...it means that if you're not happy with the results in the key areas of your life, then it's time to make adjustments, changes so that those areas can now become way more satisfying to you.

If your eating needs work, then strive to develop a plan and actions that will line up to you making improvements. If your business needs to change, look at the areas that work and aren't working and decide where to invest time and energy. If you even want too at all.

In some cases what might happen is you may decide to throw it all up for grabs. Like a Toronto lawyer named Jeff Brown. He gave up his law practice to pursue a more spiritual journey. He's written a book about his experiences and his determination to bring "Unity Consciousness" to the planet. Check out the work Jeff does by logging onto http://www.soulshaping.com/ . It's a powerful shift and change that speaks to his soul and life purpose.

Put a daily plan of action together and put in place some accountability to help you make changes that ensure you take care of you first. It could be meditation, getting a coach, being more aware of your choices and if they line up with your goals.

Here is the last point on you taking care of you first...and why it's perhaps the most important...If you fly any of the major airlines...they always instruct you to take the oxygen mask and place it on you first even before your kids. It's not that you don't love your kids with all of your heart and might...but if you faint from no oxygen...how on earth can you take care of your kids...so put your mask on you first!

Do an inventory of your life:

What's really important to you? I mean really...what is it that you can't live without? Is it the big stuff? Like more technological gizmo's or that new SUV? Probably not right? I mean there nice to have...don't get me wrong...but when you do an inventory of what's really important...it's usually the simple things in life. Like music, reading, sipping a coffee, doing yoga, watching a sunset, walking on a nature trail.

What is important to you and put more attention and focus on that.

Make friends with being flexible:

As we encounter the overwhelm of change that we literally face everyday...you've got to really go with the flow. The upset from this is..."it's supposed to look different way, right"? Life has to be just as is or...maybe if it's not it's because you failed at it...well I am here to tell you that whatever isn't working in your life, whatever change you're going through is not always a reflection of you. Sometimes it's just what's so. Sometimes there's nothing wrong with you...it's just a matter of what it is.

Sometimes even you with your best intentions and efforts may not get the ideal results you seek. So be open to change, to making modifications towards your ultimate goal and vision and have less focus on why things didn't work out for you.

A good colleague once said, "You don't drive looking out you're rear view mirror...so why on earth do you do that in your life"?

Focus on the what, how and when...rather than the why...and stay flexible...don't stay stuck. The change you might be going through may not be your fault. Just move forward!

Exercise:

I can't say this enough...get thy to a gym or a yoga class or a nature trail and include excerise as part of your daily to do. My colleague Benjy Karsh, who works in sales at Chum-fm, once said about going to the gym, "it's the most important appointment he has all day"...

When you exercise have some variety too so you don't get bored and maybe have a buddy to go with so you can challenge eachother and have more fun.

Surround yourself with optimistic-proactive people:

Do you have a mastermind team? A coach? A mentor? If you're thinking to yourself no...no I don't have any of these things...then you may be missing out on you getting more optimum results. The best of the best in business have all of these. Why? Well to quote master weight loss coach and expert Harvey Brooker from Brooker's Weight Loss for men..."If you could have done it on your own you'd have done it by now".

Sometimes you can't do change alone. Sometimes you need a Sherpa guide to help you climb the mountain.

Put in place a mastermind team, hire a coach or at best get a mentor...someone you look up too in your industry that you can speak to once a month for ideas, feedback and advice.

Hold the vision:

These times demand we be sharp and at our best. I can't explain why I feel this way...but we really have to be on our game right now in order to make it. We have to be in shape, healthy, mentally and spiritually healthy as well. One way to do so is to really focus on your vision. What is it that really lights you up, turns you on and makes you giddy? Take that, bottle it and keep visualizing it happening. Isn't it a good feeling when you do?

Make a daily practice of having a news fast...not watching the news and holding onto your vision...

Meditate daily, visualize, keep the focus, and be a "spiritual warrior"

I am always reminded of Mr. Honda...seriously, he invented the Honda engine and motorcycle. He did this amidst the death and destruction of Japan during the 2nd world war. He collected parts (gas cans from the U.S. bombings) to build his motor bike and he got the fuel from those empty gas cans (funny how there is enough fuel for a war...but not for people) ...anyway he held his vision...overcame bankruptcy, loss, and the 2nd world war...but hung onto his vision to build the Honda motorbike.

Today, Honda is a leading automotive manufacturer and has led the way in building enviro-friendly Hybrids.

So keep the focus...do it daily...feel it, let the good thoughts and visions over-take you so they become you.

Take Action:

With respect to goals, projects, and other to-do items, it’s easy to get stuck too long in the thinking and planning phase. You can sit around writing and rewriting your goals, delving into your subconscious mind, working through emotional blocks, summoning the power of Thor… whatever. But if you don’t eventually get into action, you’re wasting your time.

What you resist...persists, right? But if you have a challenge in front of you big or small at least take action steps. Get educated, learn and explore the situation you're needing to put to attention to and take the proper action steps needed to reach your end goal or vision. Chunk things down, take baby steps and you'll get there!

Choose love:

Oh gosh, I sound like a hippie now..."Choose love man"!

Whenever you're facing change or a situation that is forcing your hand...choose love. What would love look like now? Let's say it's confrontation with someone else or it's a bit of bad news that you're facing...ask yourself..."What's the most loving act I can do for me and for the other person" and choose that over fear or retribution.

Conclusions:

I would love to hear your thoughts on managing change and managing in this kind of economy...what works for you? Let's start a forum for positive change and a community of those that can help, lead and inspire.

Enjoy our video...on Change...it's short, funny and to the point...

Have a great summer!

David

2008-04-01T03:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Being in business can seem like a long lonely journey...but does it have to be?
Here are some sure fire success tips for you to take to your business.

Tip One:

It's been about 6 years this month since I started my business. It came as a result of a job loss...and it started from nothing. I lost my job on April 19th 2002. I didn't have one client, few contacts and no money coming in. That's a lonely feeling...sometimes sinking. So what kept me going you might ask? Go ahead...ask...what kept you going?

As I reflect on life back then what kept me going was a burning desire to succeed. I remember one day about 2 months into launching my new venture and working for a private client as her coach, actually walking around Toronto by foot, making a list of contacts for her...you see she wanted to market a "Singles" event and we suggested she market to local Toronto Psychotherapists. The logic there is that they would promote her event to their clients seeking to be in relationship. So I walked around to all the medical buildings in downtown Toronto and got names, contacts and made sure I got an accurate contact list to her. I wanted to be my word...

Take the long Canada Day weekend 6 years ago when I got a training contract from a client too...my computer "Blue Screened" on me on the Friday of the Canada Day long weekend...I had a week of sessions to do on the Tuesday. I was teaching a group of Women entrepreneurs at Rexdale Microskills and I had to be ready, I had to be prepared and give them my best. But I lost all my material...never to be retrieved again. I recall taking the TTC (I had no car then) at 7:30 am on Canada Day to my sisters house to work there all day long preparing my seminars for the client. I thought to myself, "I am either insane to do this on a holiday (and the day was gorgeous out too) or I am committed to my success and my clients success)...I smiled to myself as I rode the TTC and pondered which of the two I was...and I found contentment in knowing I was a bit of both...

We did a bang up job that week...the material I created from scratch was good and the women that attended that week of my marketing workshops got a lot out of it. So...as I look at the lonely road of being in business I believe it starts with having a burning desire to succeed. Sometimes you have to go to where no one else will.

Tip two:

The other aspect of starting a business is having a no quit attitude even when others say you're wrong. As I started my consulting business 6 years ago, I developed my practice through another organization, the owner of that consulting group wanted me to give up doing the radio show that I was getting off the ground then too. My gut said "no way"!!! Why you ask? Go ahead, as me why? Well...the reason I didn't give up on doing the radio show was because I worked too hard to get it going. I wasn't about to walk away from something that brought so much joy...no way...even though my work with this consulting group may have depended on it...I felt in my heart of hearts that the radio show was a joy and after putting that energy and sweat equity into it...I wasn't walking away that easily. So...success tip number 2...is to have a No quit attitude no matter what they say about you.

Tip three:

My next success tip is to go around obstacles. If you focus on the obstacle you'll only see it in front of you. But if you see beyond the obstacles and look beyond it you will only see opportunity and options you never knew existed. So you ask, why see beyond the obstacles in your way? Go ahead...ask me...Why see beyond the obstacles in your way? Well, you will remain painfully stuck if you don't. Didn't Einstein once say..."The definition of craziness is doing things the same way, over and over and expecting a different result". My friends, you have to look at options each time an obstacle comes to you. I remember doing the show in the first year...and I didn't have or own a car. I had just been working with a non-profit agency and the pay there wasn't enough for me to have a car. I loved the work, it was a solid job, but it didn't afford me the chance to own a car. So...get this...I live in North York and did the show in Oshawa on Saturday mornings back then...how on earth do you get to Oshawa for 8:30 am every Saturday morning? One option I ruled out was taking the Go Bus...the station was too out of the way for that to have happen. So...I thought...mmm...my guests. They have cars, they can pick me up in exchange for being on the show with me. It worked...for the first 9 weeks of doing that show...I got a ride with my guests...So...success tip number 3 is...look at options not obstacles.

One way around obstacles is to play "What if". Look at a problem and ask yourself..."What if we could change it...what would that look like? What if is a great question to ask when you're stuck.

Tip four:

Leverage your contacts...this is so key to success I can't even begin to tell you. I remember my early days in my business and I would work my own contacts first...getting them on board, or asking for referrals from people I knew. I had a connection with them and they would gladly refer me. So if you're business is slow right now, I challenge you to call on people you know and ask them who they think might be a good contact for you or who would love and benefit from what you do? You'd be surprised what might happen from asking those you know...you just might get some awesome leads.

If you figure that you know at least 50 people and if you asked each one of them who they know that might be a good contact for you in your business venture...you will soon find that they know at least 2-3 people (on average each)...that means you will end up with about 100-150 warm prospects. Success tip number 4 is to leverage your contacts and networks...Why you ask? Go ahead ask me...The reason is it's better to ask those you know then go cold to someone you've never met. It's easier on your psyche when you make that first call.

Tip 5:

That brings me to my next success tip. Believe...yup...sound kinda hocus pocus right? He's talking about G-d here right? Yup...I am. When I was cold calling potential advertisers for the show 6 years ago...I called on 130 of them. 125 said no to me. If I didn't believe in myself and in G-d...I would have surely stopped. Something kept me going...desire, hunger, belief. Belief is the trump card my friends...it really is. If you ain't "walking the talk" you're going to fall over when the waves of negativity come at you. Believe. Believe. Believe.

Still don't believe me? Well when I was cold calling a bunch of potential advertisers to get the radio show going 6 years ago...I remember getting rejected by a prospect...and they were rather rude in doing so too. I looked up to the heavens and yelled at G-d...and had a temper tantrum right in my own home office...I said to G-d, "Look buddy, I need your help here...if you want me to live my dreams and do good work...I need some clients and now"! (ed.note: I wasn't too demanding eh)?

Well...the next client I called on was the Dunbarton Fairport United Church, Reverend Glenn Brown...why a church you ask? Go ahead...ask why... Well Reverend Brown ran a business organization out of the Church called, "The Ethics Group" they did ethics training and their focus was Business-to-business. So after my temper tantrum and yelling to G-d...I called the Reverand...a man of G-d...and get this...he became a client...I laugh at this because at one minute I am yelling at G-d and the next I am doing business with him/her too...through the Dunbarton Fairport United Church...Go figure...Do you believe now? The next success tip is to have a belief...be it in what you're doing and in G-d or a higher power.

Tip 6:

Another success tip is to ask. Never stop asking for business, for help...keep asking. I have developed an attitude now that if I don't ask, I won't get. I don't care if they say no. The reason we don't ask, is based in our fear of rejection. But understand that when someone says no...it's not personal...it just means no. You put meaning into that word...trust me you do. I remember hearing "no" when I was cold calling 6 years ago...getting my show up off the ground and getting my consulting business going...and I heard my mom in my head when I heard "NO" from a client...oh man...she came in loud and clear and gave me this bit of career advice..."David...see...I told you radio wasn't meant for you". That voice in my head was my own inner critic...trying to trip me up...but I wasn't buying...I kept going...remembering that no...means no. Or at the very least when you hear someone say no to you...it's really about them not knowing enough about you for them to say "Yes".

So you're job as a good little marketer is to get permission to continue to market and educate them on the benefits of what you do. Got it? No means no...or I don't know enough about you just in this moment to say yes to hire or retain your services...

The 6th tip is to ASK no matter what. If you don't ask you don't get. Plain and simple.

Tip 7:

My next success tip is to have balance. Hey, I know being in business can get away on you. There's so much to do in the early days...but whatever you do...make sure you schedule time for the other aspects in your life that are totally important. Family, health, your friends.

Just keep the schedule clear from your prime time working time. For me...from 8 am until 5 pm...I work...after or before I leave time for my workouts at the gym...and yes I go 3 times a week...make time for your family...or you will be living a lonely life if you ignore them in the equation and also make room for social time too...

Some ways to plan for balance include, scheduling things into your planner, chunk things down...a big project can be accomplished in bite sized pieces and also negotiate for time with your clients...often a deadline has some room to move. So success tip 7 is...have balance...

Tip 8:

Lastly, look at your clients or potential clients not as sales...but as new and awesome people to have a great relationship with. Can you imagine if the service we got at a store...was based in this idea? That if the girl at the check out counter looked at all the customers as friends...as people to have a relationship with?

Look to build relationships...nurture your clients, add value, dine out with them once in a while, get to know them more personally and you will soon see that you have loyal clients referring business to you...

So my last tip is to build relationships with your prospects and customers...like you're own marriage...relationships take time...but can be so sweet.

Until our next newsletter...I wish you all the success and joy that the Spring season brings enjoy our video too this time out...!

David Cohen
Your small business Sherpa Guide...taking you along an amazing journey

This months video...

2008-01-24T03:53:00.001-08:00

February 2008

Welcome to our mid-winter edition...the good news is the days are getting longer and yes...baseball spring training starts soon...

This edition we have 2 articles and a motivational video...so enjoy the February edition...it's a little more heart centred this month for Valentines Day!

David

The good news is there is always hope if you just stick with it. So, what do I mean? Well...I have to be honest with you...for years I have not had contact with my daughter...she lives outside of the city with her mom, step father and half sisters...in fact her mom and didn't even talk...we couldn't...we're like oil and water...they just don't mix.

So one of the more painful aspects of my life was this lousy relationship I had with my ex-wife and my daughter. I planned things out, I thought about how I would overcome and win, I prayed for a reunion, I saw a psychic once a year and would ask her about it...and you know what? No matter what I did...I wasn't going to re-establish that relationship.

Here's the lesson, stop out-thinking the situation and just allow life and nature to run it's course.

I have not seen or spoken to my daughter for almost 4 years. Nothing, she wanted nothing to do with me...and it's not that I am some bad guy...it's just that her perception was that I was.

Now back last November...November 2006...I get a call on birthday of all days, that m daughters step father wants to meet me with me to discuss some matters about her. I know what you're thinking as you read this...the same thing I thought when I got that call. "What the heck...why are you calling me today on my day to talk about some issues...couldn't it wait".

Well it did. For 3 weeks. We finally met and had coffee to talk about the fact that my 12 year old daughter and soon to be 13...(a teenager) felt awkward at school and wanted to blend in more by changing her name and being adopted. She had my last name and wanted to have his (her step-fathers).

Wow! I thought and you called me about this on my birthday? What kind of a gift was that? I thought.

So after being in my head about it and thinking I could control the situation...wanting to get my daughter to see things my way and not agreeing so fast...I somehow severed the relationship again...that was in December of 2006.

After my tactics kind of backfired...I let things go. Then in March, I got the adoption papers from the lawyers. I sat on them for a month. I didn't do a thing. I didn't know what to do. Was I to sign them and just walk away never to see my daughter again?

I didn't have a relationship anyway right?

But...what happened is I got into action thankfully due to a personal development program I was involved with as a coach. (Landmark Education http://www.landmarkeducation.com/ ) and I faced my fear...and thought...if I am going to lose my daughter then I want a meeting with her prior to me just signing the papers. I was going to agree to allowing the adoption, but I wanted her to know that I was committed to be there for her, that I loved her and that I wanted to re-establish a relationship. I wasn't just going to sign and walk away...I wanted a meeting. I wanted some assurances I could talk to her once in a while and even visit too...I felt that I should be in her life and she deserved that in the long run!

Well by mid April, that was my stance. I did not sign any papers and in fact requested what I wanted to have happen.

Fast forward to October of 2007 and the meeting with my daughter, my ex-wife, her new step dad and the lawyers was set.

It was set for Saturday November 3rd...one day before my birthday. It's all fitting isn't it?

I met my daughter for the first time in 3 and a half years that day and wow...she's awesome. I told her how I felt and why I was signing. I was signing for her to be happy and that I wanted to resume on some level our relationship...

My legal council suggested I fight this in court. My pocketbook suggested it wasn't a good investment and my heart said, I have other things to take on in life that matter more.

We signed the agreement that day in November...and in one move I let my daughter go...but got her back!

The 4 of us decided to walk in downtown Montreal and go for Sushi...we all suggested Sushi for lunch for some reason...(I still find that uncanny)...but anyway we walked and couldn't find anywhere for Sushi...so we went to Mike's Italian instead. I got re-connected with Jordyn (that's her name) and my ex-wife and her husband...and lunch was awesome.

When it was time for us to leave, we all hugged eachother and acknowledged that this day, we had peace finally and a new appreciation for one another as being a part of our daughters life in some way. I personally want to set a good example...like I do anyway in my life.

Since then we've seen eachother, emailed eachother, written and phoned eachother.

Lesson two. Have patience in life...it does all work out.

Lesson three. Walk proudly no matter what...it's just a state of affairs and you can shine no matter what.

I am so proud of what happened that day in November. The profound transformation that occured...relationships healed.

I can honestly say, that I saw no possibility in this situation. I was resigned to a life of it never, ever getting better. But it did. It was to me a miracle!

I can also write you and say, that my daughter is awesome, pretty, wise and smart. That my ex-wife did a fantastic job and that she too is pretty amazing. Jordyn's new chosen dad is a good guy too...but there is one thing...they are all Montreal Canadians fans...oh well, you can't have it all now can you?

The bottom line is stay with it. Stay true, be proud. I wasn't the same person that left that marriage the day I re-connected with my ex-wife and daughter...I had grown, learned, was humbled and had survived. Don't ever give up hope and pray...(alot)...good things will happen, I assure you!

Article 2:

My best client:

My next story...is about a client. I can't name names though...Sometimes as a coach working in the non-profit field where clients are assigned to you whether you want them or not. So last year in 2006 I met (Robert...not his real name)...Robert was nice young man and in the high tech business. There was however a slight challenge with Robert. He had a learning difficulty. I never asked about this and I never asked Robert about it either, but it was obvious there were some challenges. Plus he was painstakingly shy and not a "people" person.

So there I was...my first meeting with Robert and I am so in my head about working with him. I went through doubt, fear, worry...a broad range of negative emotions...and it really impacted me just being there for my client. My major concern then was "How on earth can I help this guy"? "How am I possibly going to make a difference"? Worse is I know nothing compared to him about technology...the guy ran circles around me.

I had the soft skills, that he lacked and he had the technical skills that I lacked.

Then I got informed that I would be coaching Robert for the next 18 months or more...I really felt off about this. Still wondering how I would make a difference, if I could reach him, help him grow his business.

After a few months I found that if you're just ok with the fear and the negative emotions and you just do you very best on each meeting, that you give your best ideas and advice, that you listen, that you learn ...that everything should be ok.

Now fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I had my last meeting with Robert...and was no longer going to be his business coach, he would be assigned to a new coach for the remaining 4 months as I was moving on from that organization. In that meeting we had the best learning come forth and I got a chance to wish Robert well in his path.

The same day of our meeting we both attended a networking event and as the event drew to a close, Robert came up to me and asked to see if I would continue on as his business advisor somehow.

What a total joy that was to hear. It's not easy for him to express his feelings like that...but by asking to retain me somehow, even though I was leaving the organization, was like hearing music from heaven. Through all my fears, worries, and concerns...I connected with Robert.

My bottom line advice is just be your best, listen, go the extra mile (we'd coach by phone too plenty of times) communicate your fears openly and be open with your clients...Work on being supportive in your business relationships and hold your clients in high esteem...even though they might not for themselves.

More than money...Robert paid me very, very well with what he asked of me. What a joyous experience.

Until next time...make it happen in your business.

Best Regards/David Cohen

Oh and this month we have a treat...downloaded a video from Metacafe dot com and this should leave you with a little inspiration this time out!

Enjoy!

David

The Winter Edition

2007-12-11T04:40:00.001-08:00

The Winter Edition

2007-12-11T04:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Happy Holidays and my very best wishes to you for a healthy, abundant and joyous New Year...making it great in 2008...that's my motto for the year ahead.

One way to make it great is to volunteer...on December 5th, the world celebrated International Volunteer Day. It's a way to recognize volunteerism. In Toronto, CITY TV staffers were involved with building a house for a family in need through Habitat For Humanity. Recently, I gave up a couple of hours on a Saturday to help prepare a meal for the homeless...my good associate and business woman Gail Hutton takes time out of her business life to spearhead this event that helps the homeless...She feels that in life...you have to have meaning and by volunteering she finds that in helping others.

I know I have been a mentor to a young entrepreneur and am on the board of directors at the place I pray at.

I have helped the homeless, raised funds for the Kids Help Phone, coached individuals, made phone calls, walked the Terry Fox walk a few times...the bottom line is when I volunteer, I get to enrich my own life.

I remember when I was with the Kids Help Phone Foundation. I assisted them for 5 years. I was in the promotional products business and met a ton of contacts through my work with the Kids Help Phone Foundation. I enjoyed doing that more than networking to be honest.

When I volunteer I feel real, a connection, like I am making a contribution and I am networking believe me. Only the networking isn't forced...it's natural...people you volunteer with get to see the "real" you. A you with time pressures, with assigned tasks, with ideas, with a helping hand.

If we are really going to make a shift in the world, it starts with us. Helping eachother...making a difference. 2008 is about community. We're already hearing the phrase "Buy local, shop local". We want to make our communities stronger and volunteering is a good place to start.

Rules of thumb though...get involved with something you're passionate about. Make sure you involve your business associates. My good associate Shawn Shepheard let's us all know about his involvement with Team Diabetes...he is a diabetic and the guy is hero in my books having run 3-4 marathons for that very cause...believe me Shawn let's everyone know about this charity and the work he's up too.

You may also find that going to those monthly networking sessions isn't bringing you much joy...well there is no better place to network then at an association you're lending time and energy too.

As you look ahead to 2008...choose a charity that you want to become actively involved with and volunteer...it makes good business sense. Why you ask?

Well...the networking you can do while you donate your time is one reason. The other is that you can test your skills sets to a new limit and bring that back to the business you run. Lastly, if you promote your involvement with a charity then let your clients know...it really puts you in a different position in the minds of your customers. You are now part of the community. You aren't just taking, you're giving something back.

Companies now are encouraging their staff to volunteer too. It brings forth better comraderie at work, it unites the team, and it helps to retain employees as well.

The facts are there believe me. It fills the soul when you volunteer. Be it your own or the soul of the company you own or work with.

In my religion, (Judaism) there is a standard by which we live. It's known as TIKKUN OLAM (teak oon Olam) and it means to mend the world. To make the world a better place while you were here. I live by that philosophy in my work and in my volunteerism. It's a good feeling too...seeing a project get completed.

In the new year, commit to volunteering and watch your sales and business improve vastly.

David Cohen

It's a jammed pack newsletter this month...as we are featuring two articles...the second is courtesy my good friend and associate Peter Miller...I think you'll like reading it.

There is a solution to everything!
By Peter Miller
Essential Communications
905-668-4141

Two years ago this May, driving through northern Portugal with another couple we encountered a dilemma which was about to ruin a good portion of our vacation. That morning we had left a lovely posada (historic resort) along the banks of the Douro River and had traveled winding mountainous roads with many stops for breathtaking views and small villages to reach our destination of Guimares. Arriving, I noticed the red knapsack, containing all our passports, prepaid hotel vouchers and airline tickets was missing. Upon reflection I could only hope I had left it at the checkout. To say I was unpopular was an understatement. We proceeded to tell the clerk at our new destination our story, register and attempt to figure out our next steps. However it got worse, we were told we were a day early. More trouble. The manager appeared, reached out his hand, welcomed us and simply stated “not to worry there is a solution to everything”. Sure enough he methodically worked his way through our situation first verifying that the knapsack was actually where we thought it was, then looked at alternatives for us to be reunited with the knapsack. He found that one of the staff from the previous posada actually lived reasonably close to where we were and arrangements were made for him to bring it when he came off shift. Everything else was resolved and we celebrated our good fortune - a few euros later. I will always remember the outstanding customer service provided by the manager but more his philosophy that there is a solution to everything. I use that in my life now and while it may seem intuitive, actually thinking that way has made a difference. So as life's day to day challenges hit you in the face, I think you'll find, as I do, that if you think that there is a solution - you too will find one.

If you service your clients with that philosophy your business can not help but flourish.

Happy Holidays!!!

EVENTS:

This is one event I just love...it's a time where you can come together in prayer and meditation with all of mankind...and pray for peace, for abundance...for health, for the planet, for eachoter.

Plan to attend on the morning of December 31st...

It's the...

22nd
World Healing Event

Join the millions worldwide in the 22nd
World Peace Prayer/Meditation

Monday, December 31, 2007
6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
(Noon G.M.T.)

In Toronto the festivities are held at

St. Lawrence Hall
157 King Street East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(Southwest corner of King and Jarvis Streets)

For more info...log onto...

http://www.peace-the-21st.org/dec31/

The DSHBA has there next networking event on January 2nd...log ont www.dhsba.com to find out more about Durhams choice for networking

Also Small Biz Home Biz United starts up too in January with some networking events too...very friendly, relaxed and cozy...log onto www.smallbizhomebizunited.com

The Business Advisory Centre Durham is putting calls out to young people who want to start a business this summer. The Summer Company Program is taking applications for the 2008 program. If you are 18-29...and going back to school next year...then Summer Company may be the program for you. Log onto www.bacd.ca

Wanna start a business? Essential Communications in Whitby is taking applications for the Ontario Self Employment Benefit Program...if you are on E.I. or have been in the past 3 years and have a viable business idea, then the OSEB program might be the one for you. You get 8 weeks of business training, a completed business plan and also...income support and coaching for your first 48 weeks in business. Call Essentials at 905-668-4141 or log onto www.essentialcommunications.ca

We're not kinder and gentler these days it seems

2007-10-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Is it me, or are you noticing the same thing in the business world these days?

Lately, I am finding people I am doing business with to be really kind of funky. The networking group leader I used to network with is out of contact with me. The paralegal person I hired to do some work for me, never calls me. My own financial agent, never checks in to see how I am doing. Prospects you call, and finally get to speak with don't return future calls. It's all kind of mind blowing sort of isn't it. A former VA just dropped my like a hot potato...without warning and checking to see if all was okay before she did that.

Now I don't want to come across like I am complaining, but wait a minute yes I am. I am complaining. What happened to common decency, courteous service, a friendly phone call once in a while, a word of encouragment even if the answer is "no". Especially from those in larger companies, when as a small business person your livelihood sometimes depends on your success with the bigger organizations. Just a phone call to say no...or to at least let me know where I stand, so we don't waste our time calling, emailing and embarassing ourselves. Let us small business owners have some dignity.

Where did that all go too?

What about what Aretha Franklin once sang, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T! A little respect would be nice huh?

Are we just too busy to do that? Or are we too wrapped up in our own world of concerns and priorities?

You know this week on the radio show our guest is a wonderful guy named Jack Mitchell. He's the author of "Hug your customer". He runs 3 clothing stores in Connecticut and he runs them based on the philosophy of hugging your customer. Treating people so well that it feels like a warm hug to them.

When was the last time you got that kind of service? A thank you card from a supplier, a kind word, a lead, a helping hand...it just doesn't happen so much anymore.

I think it's time to offer good service again. I think it's time to make people our priority. To nurture relationships instead of the dollar.

Want other examples of these kind of people? Go to Jeff at Durham Volvo, he'll lend you a car to test drive for a day or two? When was the last time someone trusted you like that?

Or go to Ceragem in Ajax off of Harwood...in the plaza, next to Pharma Plus. Leanne and Sil...ensure that you get a free massage, testing their massage beds. Free! No you don't have to buy. You can as often as you want and it's free. But it works...the company philosophy is based on Love, kindness, health...really amazing business principles huh?

What about the free massage thing though, you ask? Well...eventually you'll buy the massage bed or belt...but there is no pressure to do so and you are welcome in anytime. Maybe one time you'll tell someone who will buy Ceragem's products.

Love, health, kindness, trust, respect. Durham Volvo and Ceragem are leading the way.

Now I am not suggesting you give your car away to some guy that walks in off the street, but what about incorporating random acts of kindness in your business? It goes a long way believe me.

Here are some things you can do to encourage that you beef up your service level this fall...

1) Be of gratitude no matter what. Sometimes the people that cause us the most grief in our lives teach us the most important thing about ourselves. From a customer service point of view, thank your tough customers, or send a basket, send a card now and then for one of your clients who may be in pain with a life issue. Do something to pick the other person up.

2) Return all calls...even if it's no...From someone who sells and has a business I gotta tell you those who buy from us, it's frustrating as heck when you don't return calls. For gosh sakes have some courtesy and return a call...What is 1 minute out of your day to acknowledge a call, thank them for the offer and then politely say, "no just not now"?

From someone who sells something, I know if I didn't call a client or prospect I would lose the business...so for gosh sakes return all calls. You know, you never know when you might have to rely on that vendor again or when the tables will be reversed one day and it's you calling someone who doesn't reply back to you.

3) Connect with your clients once a year to review where they're at and where they want to go. In other words do a "Needs analysis" once a year.

4) Have some fun with your clients. A few years ago I booked tickets to see the Royal Canadian Air Farce at the holiday time. It was the "New Years" show too...so it was an even better show. I took my radio advertising clients and they got a chance to connect and meet one another. It was fun, interactive and free...not bad huh?

5) If you mess up...do something about it. I messed up with a client this year...yes...maybe more than I care to imagine perhaps...but on this occasion I messed up. I asked them if as a way to help the problem if I could make good on the error and also donate in their name something to their favourite charity. They loved the idea and so did the Sick Kids Hospital.

6) Be kind first. Gosh...it's such an insane world these days it seems. Wouldn't a little kindness to others go a long way? It's funny, I was walking the Nature Trail in Ajax on Sunday October 21st after my show was done. It was a gorgeous day out that day if you remember. Temperatures in the early 20's ...and as I walked the trail I was so delighted that about 80% of those I saw along the trail that morning...said hello and good morning...WOW...did that blow me away. Do that in Toronto and they think you escaped from the psych ward.

7) Give back to community. You know...we all have challenges these days, money, health, an aging parent, our kids, the environment. Take time out to give back to the community. As bad as we think we have it...there is always someone who has it worse than you...so give back a little. Donate food at Christmas, lend a hand to the Out of the Cold Program...help out at the Kids Help Phone, walk for a disease or volunteer to help a fundraising walk.

8) Slow down for 10 minutes a day. For gosh sakes. The world will go on without you, your job is safe, I mean if it's really that stressful of a job you do, ask yourself, "Who on earth would want it anyway"? You might be more unreplaceable than you think!

So slow down for 10 minutes, breathe, meditate, do some yoga...but take a break from it all.

You know with the end of the year coming soon, can we all resolve to be a little nicer to those in our lives. You can all learn from them, even though at first it doesn't appear that way and who knows what value and richness they can bring to your life.

Have an awesome month and a happy holiday season. Be good to one another and be safe!

Best Regards/David Cohen

EVENTS!

Who's going where? What's going on? Let me check my daytimer...and all that kind of thing...I love an event...

1. Bridges to better business...Small Business conferences and learning opportunities...one on the 1st of November in Vaughan and the other on the 6th in Newmarket...log onto http://www.york.ca/_Contact+Us.asp to get more information on these events...

2. TBDC is hosting the annual Holiday Show case featuring loads of holiday buying ideas from new business start-ups, crafts, jewellery, clothing and more on December 1st at 9 am. Located at 1071 King St. W. Toronto or log onto http://www.tbdc.com/

3. The DHSBA has monthly networking events...plus an upcoming trade show...log onto http://www.dhsba.com/ to learn more...

4. Brilliant will soon be online...a magazine for entrepreneurial women is set to go...log onto http://www.brilliantonline.ca/ to learn more!

5. If you're entrepreneurial, have been collecting E.I. within the past few years...(3) you qualify for the Ontario Self Employment Benefit Program through Essential Communications in Whitby. If you live in Durham, then you want to apply for the OSEB program now for the next round of orientation sessions. Call 905-668-4141 for more info.

6. If you live in Toronto and want to apply for the OSEB program, log onto http://www.tbdc.com/ to do so.

7. The E-Circles, it's a very creative way to learn, grow, overcome challenges and develop your business. Each session is facilitated and after the learning, we will mastermind. Costs are $119.00 per month and our first session is on November 1st at Isabella's cafe on Simcoe St. in Oshawa.

The Technicolour Report

2007-10-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Hang tight, a new article will be published soon.

I am really jazzed up about blogging with you...and posting the Technicolour Report...on a more regular basis.

I would love your feedback and comments too.

Best Regards/David Cohen
Coaching, learning and radio

Technicolour Report

2007-10-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our newsletter...in it we have information, articles, events to help you propel your business forward. I am really excited about adopting this new format for my newsletter and hope that you like what it's all about.

Here is our latest article:

Maintaining balance in a seemingly unbalanced world

"Hey David, it's summer still ease up on the the topic matter man...why so heavy"? I can totally relate to what you're saying about my choice of topics. It is kind of deep considering it's summer time still. I know , I know, you're thinking..."Hey we're busy getting the kids back to school and labour day is upon us and you want to soak up every last moment of the summer break "...Yet, technically this time of year signifies the ending of summer...and it's a good time, time to contemplate the meaning of life, don't you think? Some personal development workshops you attend suggest life is meaningless and empty.

That isn't a bad thing ok...I mean life is what you make it and that is what is behind the idea that life is meaningless and empty. Viktor Frankl while interned in sub-human conditions in a Nazi concentration camp...found meaning through meditating. He would overcome these horrendous and barbaric conditions by holding a mental image of him speaking to a group of International Psychiatrists at a special dinner event.

Sure enough that mental image that Viktor Frankl meditated on came true. This isn't to say he didn't endure the hardships that Jews and others of different ethnic backgrounds went through as well, but what kept Viktor Frankl going was his dream, his goal, his vision. What's yours? What is the vision you want to see realized in your life as we move into the fall season and back into action after taking it easier during the summer months? You see Viktor Frankl is a master of meaning. After he was released from the Nazi Concentration Camp he went onto study Psychiatry at the University of Vienna and developed the concept of logotherapy. The following list of tenets represents Frankl's basic beliefs regarding the philosophy of Logotherapy:

Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones. · Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life. · We have freedom to find meaning in what we do, and what we experience, or at least in the stand we take when faced with a situation of unchangeable suffering. A short introduction to this system is given in Frankl's most famous book, "Man's Search for Meaning", in which he outlines another important conclusion of logotherapy, Frankl states in his book:

"If a prisoner felt that he could no longer endure the realities of camp life, he found a way out in his mental life - an invaluable opportunity to dwell in the spiritual domain, the one that the SS were unable to destroy. Spiritual life strengthened the prisoner, helped him adapt, and thereby improved his chances of survival."

Man in Search of Meaning, p. 123

These theories helped him to survive his Holocaust experience and how that experience further developed and reinforced his theories. The human spirit is referred to in several of the assumptions of Logotherapy, but it should be noted that the use of the term spirit is not "spiritual" or "religious." In Frankl's view, the spirit is the will of the human being. The emphasis, therefore, is on the search for meaning, not the search for God or any other supernatural being. Frankl also noted the barriers to humanity's quest for meaning in life.

He warns against "...affluence, hedonism, [and] materialism..." in the search for meaning.

What's your will wanting? What's so deep inside you that you really want to realize it, something so deeply profound and life fulfilling that it inspires you into massive action? What's holding you back is maybe a better question to ask don't you think? Who can you call on to hold you accountable to realizing this one big goal you have inside you?

You see Viktor Frankl isn't the only one talking about meaning. Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King all lived with such strong conviction and purpose that nothing else mattered. Martin Luther King was a brilliant orator and his landmark speech entitled "I have a dream" shaped and molded a Black community that at the time were still treated horribly almost still as slaves in the United States. Martin Luther King was a man of peace and and non violence, so much so that in 1964 he became the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

As a British-educated lawyer, Gandhi first employed his ideas of peaceful civil disobedience in the Indian community's struggle for civil rights in South Africa. Upon his return to India, he organized poor farmers and labourers to protest against oppressive taxation and widespread discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for the alleviation of poverty, for the liberation of women, for brotherhood amongst differing religions and ethnicities, for an end to untouchability and caste discrimination, and for the economic self-sufficiency of the nation, but above all for Swaraj - the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led Indians in the disobedience of the salt tax on the 400 kilometer (248 miles) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and in an open call for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years on numerous occasions in both South Africa and India. Simplicity, truth, non-violence, leading without fear of what might happen to him. That was Gandhi's purpose, passion and meaning.

I challenge you to look inwards this fall and really commit to leading a life you were meant to lead. I don't know about you but all summer I have been feeling this edge come about me. I am wanting change, truth, meaning in my life and a connectedness with what's real.If you want to connect to what's real, I go back to things I value. It may sound silly but here goes...but my values focus mostly on peace and freedom. I value, peace, good conversation, freedom, family, good friends, the joy that attending an outdoor jazz concert brings, a day at the baseball game, abundance, financial freedom, balance in life, god (in whatever way that shows up for you), community and success on your terms. What's your value list about? What meaning do you want your life to have?

What is your legacy going to be about this fall?