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!

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

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!

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Cheers/David