Keeping it Real

2010-05-31T11:49:00.004-06:00

Please put your oxygen mask on first... And then, help others.

I read a post on facebook the other day, "In order to succeed, you must put the success of others first".

And of course, in typical facebook fashion, the onslough of "likes" and "comments" followed. I thought to myself, do I dare to post my disagreement with this statement here... for all to see... for a debate to ensue... I decided not, instead a quiet blog post sharing my perspective.

Does helping others first ensure your success. I don't think so. In fact, personally, I know it does not. Instead, I believe success is much like the safety (survival) demonstration they show at the beginning of take-off. "In the case of emergency you must put on YOUR oxygen mask FIRST, and then help others".

Think about it... business takes a lot out of you. Financially and emotionally. If you can strengthen yourself first in both of these areas, then you'll have more to give to others. I believe it's a delicate balance of giving and growing. But I do believe if starts with FIRST strengthening yourself.

It's a lesson I've learned personally over the years.

Power to you.

Taunya

2010-05-22T07:46:00.003-06:00

The Powerhouse Manifesto

Powerhouse is a Canadian co-operative of independent business owners whose purpose is to lead the new economy; an economy built on the premise that profit can be attained (and distributed) responsibly, without compromising our planet or our people–an economy where everyone wins.

We aim to replace the present form of capitalism, with its inherent injustices, with a balanced social order in which conscious consumerism will supersede commercial propaganda, in which the exploitation of independent business owners is eliminated, and in which an economy, currently based on self-interest and greed, will be replaced by a that of engaged community stakeholders committed to leading the new economy.

The present system is plagued by a lack of authenticity and accountability, a blatant disregard for the cumulative contribution of its independent business owners, and in an age when our planet is in peril, the system disregards the security and sustainability of our future for the sake of financial gain.

Power is primarily in the hands of a small minority. Due to their personal interests, the majority of our society is compromised. When personal profit is the main stimulus to economic effort, our society oscillates between periods of feverish prosperity, benefiting mainly the speculators and profiteers, and of financial depression, in which the general public’s hardship is accentuated.
We believe that these extremes can be replaced by a new and balanced economy, driven by an organized collective of Canadian independent business owners, in collaboration with concerned government, large enterprise, and public citizens; people who believe that the new economy must work well, and work for everyone.

We are a non-partisan, grass-roots movement, financed by our own members. We know there are many Canadians who believe, as we do, the time has come for a far-reaching reconstruction of our economic system. We urge you to join us in building the new economy through the following five imperatives:

#1 Strengthen Our Independents
#2 Foster a New Era of Socio-Economic Responsibility
#3 Bridge the Gap Between Independents and Government
#4 Rebuild Our Lending System
#5 Inspire Corporate Ingenuity

Reclaim Your Power…
- Join a Task Force*
- Join our online community to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other independent business owners who are inspired to lead the new economy
- Join us on facebook

Throughout the Powerhouse Manifesto, you’ll be encouraged to take action and to reclaim your power through various initiatives as indicated under the heading “Reclaim Your Power”. At any time, please feel free to call 1.866.839.2333, or email me (taunya@powerhousecoop.com) with your questions, opinions or comments.

*Task Forces are groups of concerned individuals committed to carrying out specific actions as they pertain to the imperatives outlined in the Powerhouse Manifesto.

2010-03-10T13:12:00.002-07:00

Playing for Change

Ok, I'm officially bagged. I hope my blog post last night was received in the manner in which it was intended. Middle of the night thoughts have a funny of way of magnifying themselves.

I bought Playing For Change two years ago, mother's day, as a way of marking the year I decided to take an active stand for change - the cahnge I wanted to see for the entrepreneurial community. Please take a moment to watch and then pass it on.

If you're interested, and I mean truly interested, in helping me foster the change we need to see as an entrepreneurial community! Contact me at taunya@powerhouseinc.ca It may be one of the most important things you do for yourself and your business. COMMUNITY...COLLABORATION...CHANGE! ENJOY!

2010-03-10T04:56:00.002-07:00

We're working in a Petri dish - no kidding!

It's 5:30am, I've been up since 3am... can't sleep. Part of what's keeping me up is the realization that we're (small biz owners as a community) living in a Petri dish.

We keep bumping into each other, trying to sell ourselves to one another, going around in circles, no real connection and unfortunately no progress or forward momentum.

This isn't new... this has been going on for hundreds of years - started back in the late 1800 with the likes of Edison and Bell. As our numbers grew, and more visionaries started to bring their dreams to life, we failed to plan for the future. We forgot to build an infrastructure where we protect and nurture our own.

Maybe it's our nature to be independent, proprietary, protective, but we've go to change. We've completely missed out!

If we don't look after each other, who WILL look out for us? Better question... who HAS looked out for our best interests? CASE IN POINT!

I should stop. But really!??? What's it going to take??? We need to get organized as a community - imagine what we could accomplish! Maybe now I can sleep? Why the heck does this keep me up at night!!!

2010-02-18T15:00:00.003-07:00

Why aren't we doing more of this across Canada???

Community activism at its roots!

CSA stands for Community Cupported Agriculture. Essentially, members prepay the farmer for 18 weeks of produce and share in the ups and downs of the growing season. They also sell eggs, meat, and other local/organic stuff outside the CSA that they deliver or sell at the Saturday farmers market.

You can learn more about this particular CSA program and the farm on their website - thegreenranch.ca. There are memberships of 3, 5, or 7 items per week (5 was plenty for us two non-vegetarians). We went online at the beginning of the week and picked our items from what was available that week. Then there was a central pick-up location on Tuesday evenings (last year it was the Science Center parking lot) or we could choose pick up at the Saturday farmers market (or even deliveries if needed). Selection varies but some of our favourites last year were microgreens, salad mixes, carrots, potatoes, herbs, green onions, raspberries, hot peppers, squash, and pumpkins. They let you skip one week (e.g. vacation) and you can always get a friend to pick up (or ask to contribute a week to the food bank).

Thank you to Gillian at SaskPower, for passing this on!

Taunya

2010-02-17T15:26:00.001-07:00

Free...

It wasn't specifically written for small business owners, but I'm sure you'll agree, Yamin's message is relevant to the journey we all share as entrepreneurs. Share this message with others and remember - nothing is impossible.

The message of the week...

Be free and enjoy.

Cheers!

Taunya

2010-02-11T10:25:00.002-07:00

Thanks for hanging in there!

It's been a crazy year! Thanks for hanging in there with us.
From our family to yours...

A video we made just for you...

HAPPY FAMILY DAY!

Taunya, Ian and Sophie

2010-02-10T15:03:00.002-07:00

Alberta Budget: is there fiscal sanity anywhere?

Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton released the budget yesterday and indicated that there would be a $4.6 billion deficit. You can read about the budget here.

It has been a long time since fiscal sanity was the name of the game in Alberta- or anywhere else in Canada for that matter. There is an increasing disconnect between politicians and the taxpayers money that politicians are spending (or wasting!) It was astounding to see that there was a 16% increase budgeted for health care and the government made no apologies for it.

Agriculture and the homeless, meanwhile, were hit. The province is eliminating a revenue insurance program to farmers and trimming agriculture income support and crop insurance. It's also slashing nearly a fifth of its housing budget.

We are past due for a total rethinking of how budgets are prepared and how governments manage our money. And , of course...where small business fits in the big picture. Our politicans need to start thinking beyond their personal four year legacy... and act in the best interest of the future of our country.

Leadership would mean that Premier Stelmach and all MLA’s take an immediate 5% pay cut which would remain in place until the books are back in surplus. Zero based budgeting needs to be embraced – all departments need to be reviewed to see whether they are required or not and more importantly do they bring value for taxpayer’s money.

We must fight for fiscal leadership all across the country and Alberta would be a great place for this to start.

What were your thoughts on the budget yesterday?

2010-02-09T14:47:00.002-07:00

It's great to be back!

Holy crap! First, may I say how great it is to be back? To be honest with you, I wasn’t sure I’d make it through 2009. But here we are... Feb 2010, and things are looking up.

I apologize for not being in touch. I feel as though I’ve let a lot of our Powerhouse members down last year, by not being more “present”. I promised you a “real” accounting of the challenges and rewards of small business, and I wasn’t delivering. Like many of you looking to get through the year relatively in-tack, I too was feeling the strain of the economic melt down, along with a new baby, two personal moves, a health scare, a car accident, and a business closure.

As hard as I tried to keep up, I couldn’t, and I dropped the ball. What am I talking about??? I dropped many balls!!! I’ve spent the better part of January, tail between my legs, doing my best to pick up the pieces.

It's at this point, that your true friends and believers present themselves. I’ve always been labeled “Independent”, but it is only now, after surviving the past 6 months, that I recognize the true value and necessity of unconditional friendship and support. Thank you to all of you that were there and supported me through my darkest days :)

So enough doom and gloom, and “oh-woe is me”… perseverance is the key… and I’m back – better and stronger than ever. So what does this mean for Powerhouse, you ask???

We're going to kick some serious butt in 2010 and we're getting started with...

1) We’ve build a new online community for Powerhouse Members http://powerhouseinternational.groupsite.com/ Check it out, I’d love your feedback!

2) We’ve partnered with Cisco WebEx to introduce a new Board – The Virtual PowerBoard. We are now building Boards for small business owners across Canada with the help of Cisco’s new online video platform! Call us to learn more 1.866.839.2333 or email me at taunya@powerhouseinc.ca

3) We're assembling four local xChange Committees; Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Saskatchewan. The voice of small businesses will be heard loud and clear across western Canada!

So there you have it… we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes. Just in case you were wondering… These are just a couple of updates to keep you "in-the-know"! But, I promise to be back with more!

2009-10-20T09:40:00.003-06:00

My interview this morning with Bruce Kenyon from AM770

That was the fastest five minutes of my life. There was so much I wanted to cover and barely got to address the point of doing the interview in the first place, which was to inform people of the upcoming xChange town hall meeting on November 4th.

As many of you know, I've dedicated the past six years of my life to supporting the small business community and in the process, I have committed myself to learning as much as possible about the small business infrastructure in Canada. In preparation for this morning's interview I had outlined the following points which I felt we're very important to convey, but didn't necessarily get the time to cover them all.

The Problem:
- There are 2.5 million business owners in Canada
- 90% of our entire business community is made up of businesses generating less than $1M in annual revenue
- 87% of Canadian businesses fail in their first year (BTW we have the highest failure rate of English speaking countries : USA-31%, UK-9%, Australia:16%)
- In Alberta, over the past year, (Aug 08/Aug 09) the bankruptcy rate has increased by 63.9%

Why are we dropping like flies in Alberta?
1. Oil & Gas: Small business in this city is dependant on O&G either directly or indirectly. Powerhouse member Kelly Stearns from Proterra Landworks is looking to reinvent himself, out of necessity, because his O&G clients are holding off on new spending until gas reaches at least $7 (close: Oct 19th was $4.81). Therefore, it's very unlikely that Kelly is going to use his capital reserves to hire more people, build a new website, increase his corporate hosting budget... you get the point.

2. Global Economic Conditions: Businesses, investors and consumers are holding on to their purse strings. Spending has slowed down, if not stopped.

3. Were our businesses strong and healthy to start with? Is this a case of survival of the fittest?

Of course, last night at 4:30 am I had an epiphany.

UNHEALTHY BUSINESSES ARE DYING!!!

Some may argue that if an entrepreneur can't figure out how to build a viable business, they should die. However, if we were to rephrase this statement...

UNHEALTHY PEOPLE ARE DYING!!!

Would our community be as quick to pull the plug. OF COURSE NOT! Instead we spend billions on finding cures and offering vaccines. Well here's the reality folks, behind every small business there is a person, a human being, that has put it all on the line: house, savings, RRSPs, family to make their business work. they are usually earning less than minimum wage, working without health benefits, not investing into maternity leave, the list goes on... And because they don't have affordable access to the tools and resources to build a sustainable business model - they lose it all.

What are the implications of not effectively supporting our small business community - not only now, but in years to come... ????

Big businesses are getting the bailouts because the government feels that their failure would have a devastating impact on the community.

Well what about our impact and contribution?

In 2007 we generating $109 billion in financing for chartered banks
We created 37% of new employment opportunities
Weemployed 65% of our working population
We produced 97% of exported goods and services
and we accounted for 43% of our GDP

The Economic Action Plan:
I believe I made the mistake of saying that the government had allocated $10M to crown corporations for lending purposes. The actual number is $450M. My mistake. It was an early morning.

Here's where I believed the plan is flawed.

BDC and other financial institutions are only lending to financially sound businesses. If we didn't need the cash we wouldn't be asking for it in the first place.

However, I personally don't think that throwing cash at the problem is the right answer either. After all if a small business has not been able to demonstrate that it can be profitable, why throw good money after bad??? :)

So when these small business owners are turned away from cash that will help them survive, where can they turn? Nowhere, this is why it is only a matter of time before they shut their doors, and if they've put personal guarantees on the money they have borrowed to-date, they will be forced to close their doors, and lose their savings and security.

The Economic Action Plan does not address the root issue - small business owners are failing because they don't have access to the tools and resources to build a strong and sustainable business model. We're missing the education. And by the way, an online business plan is not going to cut it.

If you've read the Soul of Money, you'll know that the program to end world hunger was flawed from the beginning because they kept raising millions annually to buy food to feed the starving people in Africa. They came to realize that the success of the program was going to be dependant on adopting the philosophy of "teaching a man to fish". The funds raised would be better used by teaching the villagers how to feed themselves vs. giving simply them food. The same principal exists for our small business community.

So what can we do...
First, we need to encourage the government to not just throw us a bone, instead they should subsidise programs that teach business owners how to build strong business models that endure and that can adapt during tough economic times. Programs like MNP's EI program(which is currently subsidized) and also programs like our Advisory PowerBoards for business owners who are deeply invested in their business, have been at it for several years, don;t have the time or money to get a BA in business admin, but desperately need the help and the education that will empower them to succeed.

Secondly, to truly influence the change we need at regional and federal levels, we need to work together. It is the only way our voice will be heard. I know many of you are in survival mode, and don't know where you would find the extra hours in a week to lend to this movement, but even just signing up to receive our notices of organized initiatives that will propel us forward is a step in the right direction.

Please, if you're reading this and you feel alone, scared, anxious... know that there are hundreds of thousands of us going through a similar journey. Please join us on Nov 4th so we can support and learn from one another.

Finally, I'd like to share several important resources with you because our small business community is obviously in crisis. If you're feeling as though you're at the end of your rope, and you don't know where to turn, please explore the following options. Sometimes the fear and anxiety we feel is in the NOT knowing.

Bankruptcy Canada http://www.bankruptcy-canada.ca
Trustees in Bankruptcy: Bromwich & Smith Inc. (403) 266-6665
Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/Intro

Taunya

2009-10-20T09:27:00.002-06:00

Economic Action Plan: Does it work?

The federal government is allocating the following funds to support the small business community. Will the plan help your business? Many feel that its fundamental flaw is deployment of resources. How do small businesses actually access the funds?

A two year 100-per-cent capital cost allowance (CCA) rate for investments in computers is helping businesses adopt newer technology at a faster pace.
The extension of the temporary 50-per-cent straight-line accelerated CCA rate to manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment acquired in 2010 and 2011 is helping businesses in the manufacturing and processing industries make necessary equipment purchases and position themselves for long-term success.
The one-year extension of the temporary 15-per-cent Mineral Exploration Tax Credit supports mineral exploration activity across Canada, helping to keep our mining industry growing.
Increasing the amount of small business income eligible for the reduced federal tax rate of 11 per cent to $500,000 from the current limit of $400,000 as of January 1, 2009.
Increasing access to credit for small businesses through proposed amendments to the Canada Small Business Financing Program and the Business Development Bank of Canada. (www.bdc.ca)
Providing $30 million over two years for the Canada Business Network (www.canadabusiness.ca) and $10 million to the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. (www.cybf.org)
Allocating $200 million over two years to the National Research Council's Industrial Research (www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca) Assistance Program to enable it to temporarily expand its initiatives for small and medium-sized businesses.

2009-10-19T12:40:00.002-06:00

Do small business owners want to see each other succeed? Why don't we do more to support one another???
Please comment!!

2009-10-16T10:37:00.002-06:00

Entrepreneurs can change the world.

I love this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uyd5S1mZqY&feature=channel

2009-10-15T11:22:00.003-06:00

Small Business Town Hall Meeting

The xChange
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
5:30pm to 8:30pm
Bankers Hall Auditorium
Register on line at www.powerhouseinc.ca

“The recession is over” but the crisis is just beginning for small businesses.

Small business closures are on the rise, and in Calgary, the rate is double that of other provinces.

If you’re frustrated with the lack of support and resources available to you, or angered by the growing number of big businesses being bailed out, join hundreds of small business owners on Nov 4th. We’ll determine how, as a community, we can influence the change we so desperately need and deserve, and in the process build a support infrastructure that empowers us to build stronger businesses, communities and economies.

“In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity.” - John F. Kennedy

For more information please call Taunya Woods Richardson at (403) 714-2629 or taunya@powerhouseinc.ca

2009-09-20T23:05:00.004-06:00

FARMERS ARE BUSINESS OWNERS TOO

One of my favorite things… spending a Sunday morning at the market.

Few things nurture my soul more than a visit to a farmers’ market. The colours, textures, flavours, sounds, and smells can always put a smile on my face. And nothing makes my taste buds happier than a Latin Delight Latte. If you ever make your way to the Calgary Farmers’ Market, head immediately to Phil & Sebastian Coffee – and order one of their artisanal espressos or clover brewed coffees. It will transform your world. I'm serious. I’m really a “foodie” deep down – can you tell? Actually, truth be told, my “bucket list” includes a visit to every major (food) market worldwide, and if I’m lucky to learn a regional recipe or two.

But I digress. This is after all a business blog, not an epicurean one. However, my point it this…. There is something so simple about the market. No high-paid CEO’s, million dollar marketing campaigns, wasteful packaging, shareholder reports, or middle man. Instead, its commerce in its purest form; real people selling what they’ve worked hard to produce to customers looking for value and quality, and willing to go the distance to support their local businesses.

Farmers are business people too! Did you know*?
- Agri-food is one of Canada's top five industries, contributing almost 9 percent of Canada's GDP.
- Every year Canada's roughly 250,000 farms each produce enough food, on average, to feed 120 people each - that's enough food for 30 million people.
- In 2007 the Canadian agri-food industry exported $23.2 billion worth of products, 6 percent of the country's overall merchandise exports.
- The agri-food industry employs nearly 2 million Canadians. In 2007 Canadian agricultural producers paid almost $2 billion in salaries to Canadian workers.
- Farmers put significant amounts of money back into their communities and into the economy. In 2007 producers spent: $1.9 billion on fuel, over $2 billion on fertilizer, over $570 million on veterinary services and supplies, over $800 million on electricity and telecommunications, and over $300 million on rental and leasing of machinery, equipment and vehicles.

Let's show them some greatly deserved appreciation and respect. Visit your local farmers market today!

*all statistics from Statistics Canada

I am pleased to report I’m down another pound and another $555 richer (a complimentary ticket to Toronto).

DAY 9
Weight: 152 lbs
Earnings: $1,680

2009-09-19T17:02:00.004-06:00

MOMPRENEUR HEARTACHE

This week, I was sitting in Starbucks waiting for a 3pm appointment with Arif from Popcorn Technologies. And as it turned out, my husband didn’t get home in time to watch Sophie (my 10 month-old baby girl), so I brought her to Starbucks, where he was going to meet up with me and take her home.

SN: Most people I do business with are very aware of my newly found motherhood role, and are extremely accommodating.

As I was sitting at the table with Sophie, dressed in a Banana Republic ensemble and feeling quite professional, (I had managed to keep any spit-up on a burp cloth), listening to Frank Sinatra swoon SB patrons, raindrops gently falling on the window pane, and enjoying my one-on-one time with Sophie.

I was feeling like I might just be able to do it all; run an international business, be a supportive wife, an organized house-keeper, and a devoted mother.

That was until two women entered. Moms wearing their Lululemon gear, hair back in ponytails, bodies that had rebounded from a 35-50 lbs weight gain, rolling the hottest new strollers that were enveloping their sleeping cherubs in down-filled blankets. I think what really hit home was how relaxed they were. Moms on mat leave who spend their entire day concerned only with the welfare of their baby; sleeping when the baby sleeps, meeting other moms for coffee, joining the gym, pureeing organic peas and carrots, and socializing baby at Gymboree.

And my heart ached.

I felt like a failure. I felt I was letting Sophie down. How am I supposed to do it all? What could I, or should I, have done differently to not find myself in this situation? No benefits, no guaranteed salary, no savings, and "quality" time with Soph that is marred by stress and anxiety.

Is the lesson to be in the moment? To trust that everything is happening with purpose? It has to be.

2009-09-17T13:15:00.004-06:00

2009-09-16T10:33:00.003-06:00

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN 150M SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS UNITE?

Never underestimate the power of social media. It’s amazing how news travels – especially bad news? Why is that?

I’ve been doing a lot of research today on the toll our economic condition is taking on small business owners. In the United States, business bankruptcy filings hit 7,874 in June, or 358 per filing day. That's a 48% jump from a year ago. That's partly because bankruptcies are typically a lagging indicator of the economy's health. Two important factors that contribute to business failures—depressed sales and tight credit—may linger even once the economy starts growing again. And creditors, frustrated with turnaround plans that rarely succeed, are increasingly unlikely to work with business owners to help insolvent firms recover.

So, my question is this… when will we (small business owners) do something about it? When is enough, enough? When will we decide that its time for our true power to be felt? Because I know the world will be a very different place when our 150,000 million small business owners decide to work together vs. independently.

DAY 5
Weight: unknown
Earnings: $1125.00

Tomorrow, a visit to the doctor to address the unidentified lump. You’ll be happy to hear I’ve been keeping up with my commitments. However, over the past two days I’ve managed to consume my wine quota.

BTW, there was so much happening yesterday, I didn’t get the chance to tell you about my haircut. For those of you that have been following my blog, you’ll know that this has been my first haircut since December 16, 2009. Until that time, I was reluctant, opposed really, to spend any more than $40 on a cut. After all, I was only getting a trim, (but what does that say about how much I value myself?). That was until I received the best haircut of my life, a birthday gift from my partner. I happy to report, Stephanie from Goddess Hair, is now a friend and confident and is the only person I will allow to cut my hair. If you’re lucky, really lucky, you might be able to get an appointment with her. And if you do, I promise you, you’ll love it. It’s truly amazing what a good haircut will do for your ego. Not to mention the free inspirational session you receive from being in the presence of a true goddess herself. Thank you again, Stephanie. I hope you’re reading this.

Taunya

2009-09-15T21:38:00.004-06:00

A DARK DAY

I don't know where to start. It's been a tough, tough day. I think I'm going to keep my blog short tonight so I can gain some perspective before I launch into a rant, and say something I regret.

However, if you check out my tweets you'll see just how angry and frustrated I really was today. http://twitter.com/TTaunya

I need a good night's sleep.

Day 4
Weight: I need to buy a scale :)
Earnings: $1125.00

2009-09-14T14:54:00.004-06:00

TGIM?

I don’t know about you, but I normally dread Mondays. I wake up anxious. I think a big part of it is due to a relatively large to-do list that I typically assemble on a Friday night (all the things I didn’t get around to doing throughout the week) and commit to completing over the weekend. The reality is that I barely touch my to-dos, getting maybe, if I’m lucky, a third of them completed. If I’m going to be totally honest with you, my to-dos are typically the things I’ve been procrastinating on all week, so I decide to procrastinate a few more days more. Which is why, on Monday mornings, I know I can procrastinate no longer, and must deal with the monkey(s) on my back.

So, how to deal with this??? Because anxiety cannot be contributing favourably to my health – and ultimately my wealth, I will commit to dealing with the “monkeys on my back” before the end of the week, most likely on Friday afternoon, rather than start a new week with them still on my back.

Actually, for those of you reading this, this would be a good time for you to determine what monkeys are sitting on your shoulder right now. If you’re a Powerhouse member, this is the time for you to be writing these things down in your accountability action plan. Get naked (figuratively). Get real. Be free!!! Your board members are there to help you through the tough times.

Also, just so you’re aware of my “renewed” commitments, as a result of this experiment;
- I am committed to walking 60 minutes each day
- I am committed to NOT eating any foods which includes gluten
- I am committed to staying away from simple starches (rice, potatoes, legumes, etc.)
- I am committed to drinking only two glasses of wine per week

I am certain my commitment list will grow as I uncover more bad habits that are keeping me from great wealth.

Speaking of wealth, I should make a point of blogging about what wealth really means to a small business owner. For many of us, we’re happy to collect a minimal salary. Let’s face it, most of us pay ourselves last (with what money is left over in the account after paying people and bills). Few of us have benefits or pay into employment insurance. For, the past six years I’ve drawing just enough from the company to pay for groceries and rent. And I don’t think I’m alone? Am I right? I never thought to set myself up as an employee so I could collect maternity leave once I decided to have a baby. Anyways, I digress. This subject is best left for a future blog. I obviously have lots to say on this topic.

Back to the TGIM subject of this blog, for those of you who also dread Mondays, try this tip I came across in a life planning workbook… schedule an activity you enjoy, and look forward to, for each and every Monday. Maybe it’s the spa, or a bike ride, or breakfast at Diner Deluxe (have you tried the oatmeal with maple syrup and lemon curd) that will definitely melt your Monday blahs :)

Ok, well I’m heading out for my 60 min walk.

Blog with you later. Hope you’re enjoying.

Taunya.

2009-09-13T10:05:00.002-06:00

YAY!!! MY FIRST $25

Day 2
Weight: 156
Cumulative Earnings: $25

You’ll be happy to hear, that yesterday I earned my first $25 of this social experiment in the form of a SuperStore gift card.

I decided to get organized, and wrote down a list of all weekly purchases. These included things that I would typically make separate trips to the drug, office supply or local grocery store for. Things such as diapers, wipes, bibs, a note book for Powerhouse to-dos, and monthly birthday and anniversary cards. You get the idea. By buying everything at one place I spent $290 (my average weekly grocery bill [for food only] is usually $125-$175) but because I spent over $250, SuperStore handed me a $25 gift card. So there you have it.

Just a quick note on purchasing groceries. In an attempt to eat the healthiest foods possible, I avoided, to the best of my ability, the middle isles of the grocery store. This is where the processed foods are stocked. Aside from no-sugar-added jam, almond butter, dish-soap, rice crackers, pesto, gluten-free bread and dog food my purchases were contained to veggies, fruit and protein.

Shopping Tip: Keep to the perimeter of the grocery store. This is where you’ll find the healthiest foods; produce, beef, poultry, fish, pork, dairy, eggs… you get the idea. Also, keep an eye out for the organic produce section. Most grocery stores now have one.

Speaking of pork, I read yesterday that pigs are a symbol of luck and prosperity. Hence the idea of piggy banks. I wonder if eating more pork will have an impact on my bank account? Just kidding :)

Also, in the spirit of full disclosure, when I wrote my blog yesterday, I forgot to mention several additional health ailments. They’ve been present for so long, (and not properly dealt with), they almost feel normal. Not a good sign.

One is a rash I’ve had for the past four months. And the second is a mole on my nose that continues to change shape and every three or four month bleeds. Now, I should tell you that I’ve been to the doctor. Cream was prescribed for the rash, it seems to be getting marginally better. And the mole, they suggested was not an issue? I’ve always hated playing the victim role. Perhaps this is at the root of my avoidance?

Off for my 60 minute walk with hubby, baby and dog.

Here's to the good life!

Taunya

2009-09-12T11:52:00.007-06:00

PERSONAL HEALTH = PERSONAL WEALTH
A social experiment.

I started Powerhouse almost 6 years ago now – November 2003. Since then I feel as though my health has taken a back-seat. My body and mind are showing the signs of wear and tear that the entrepreneurial journey can inflict on a human being. Add to this the birth of my new baby girl, Sophie, now ten months, and I have a hard time recognizing myself.

After a recent four-day holiday to Nevada with my husband, we took some time each morning to attempt a 60 minute walk, before the scorching sun and soaring heat made any form of exercise unthinkable. During this time, we started to consider the parallels between being fit and making money.

Maybe I should explain. I’ve been working hard, as many do, over 12-18 hours per day on my business for the past six years. And although I am this first to strongly encourage small business owners to take a salary from their company (vs. a draw), I was last person to do so. I felt that putting the money back into the company was more important that paying its founder, president ad CEO. It’s funny the games your mind can play on you.

It was only this past August, with great trepidation, that I accepted my very first pay cheque of $2,000. In all honesty, I believe the only reasons I was able to take the cheque was because I wasn’t the one writing it. It took Powerhouse’s new controller, Dawn, to demand that I take the cheque which forced me to graciously accept.

So, needless to say, the past six years have been financially challenging. This brings us back to why my husband and I were contemplating the possible correlation between health and wealth.

Ironically (or maybe not), at the time I was making the most amount of money (unfortunately as an employee not as a business owner) I was also training for the NOVA competition, an international fitness competition established by a former Navy Seal. I was in the best shape of my life. I was eating well, sleeping well, and exercising daily. I was feeling strong, healthy and confident. I felt on top of the world. My personal finances afforded me a savings account, RRSPs, and some personally selected stocks. I was paying off my credit card balances monthly. I owned a new home and car -- all of this as a single, 29 year old woman.

Fast forward to 2009… my financial and physical world feel upside down. Every single penny, my entire savings including all my investments, has been funneled into Powerhouse. My safety net is long gone. My health seems to have spiraled out of control. I have gained weight (yes, some of it may be baby weight). I have issues with a distended stomach and perhaps Celiac disease. I get dizzy spells. My hair is falling out. The hair that I do have is turning gray. I have dark circles under my eyes. I feel stressed and anxious. I have not slept through the night for over ten months. And just three days ago I discovered a lump under my skin (it appears to be shrinking).

My life needs to change. I’m on a destructive path that will ultimately end with devastating consequences if I don't change my ways. I am also keenly aware that my actions (or inaction) are being absorbed by Sophie, and are forming the building blocks to Sophie’s future. This thought terrifies me.

So, I’m ready and willing to do what it takes to turn my physical and financial health around. I’ve decided to turn it into a social experiment. Does personal health equal financial wealth? Let’s find out, shall we?

The Experiment:
Personal Health = Personal Wealth?

Experiment Objective:
My goal is to get healthy and by doing so, ultimately, I’ll become wealthy.

Experiment Guidelines:
Personal health, for the purpose of this experiment, will include both physical and emotional health. I will engage in daily activities that will have a positive impact on both. Activities such as:
- Exercise
- Diet
- Sleep
- Hobbies that de-stress me (painting, cooking, reading)
- Physical tune-ups (doctor’s and dentist appointments, hair cuts, massages, etc.) (Side note: My last hair cut was December 16, 2008!!!)
- “Just me” time
- Organizing household and office clutter
- Taking action (fear tends to hold me back)

To tabulate my anticipated corresponding increase in personal wealth, all earnings will be accounted for. Earnings will include paychecks, draws, bonuses, benefits, gifts, etc. And yes, I’m willing to declare it all to the CRA. Note: I will only account for personal earnings not for increased revenues or investment capital for Powerhouse, although I will keep you posted on Powerhouse updates.

Experiment Time Frames:
365 days.
Start Date: September 12, 2009.
End Date: September 12, 2010.

Experiment Measurables:
Starting point:
- Weight: 156 lbs
- Waist: 38 inches
- Physical issues: Dizziness, Celiac disease (?), lump to be diagnosed, hair falling out and graying, dark circles under my eyes. I’m stressed and anxious. Low energy.

Earnings: $0

Well I’m eager to get started. I might start right now with a walk to the farmers market with Sophie to get some fresh vegetables. I’ll do my best to keep you posted daily. I'll also be tweeting at http://twitter.com/TTaunya. If you have any pearls of wisdom, recipes, exercising tips, insights on how to balance mother-hood with entrepreneurship, or perhaps just looking to share your experiences, I’d love to hear from you.

Here’s to living the good life.

Taunya.

2009-07-02T14:53:00.002-06:00

What Really Generates Referrals

Provided by: Cidnee Stephen, PowerLink Mentor
Content from: Duct Tape Marketing

So much of the literature on the subject of referrals focuses on the proper ways to network, ask for referrals, and create incentive programs for referral sources. While some of these more tactical things do indeed produce referrals for the organizations and salespeople that employ them, they are often little more than window dressing when it comes to the big picture.

Building a foundation that automatically generates referral momentum is not done through external actions – like some many things in life, you do it from the inside out. Plain and simple the most widely referred business are purely more referable. I’ve studied a lot of businesses that easily generate referrals and they share some common internal tendencies as part of their brand and culture.

Make people look good
Looking at all business relationships with an eye on making prospects, customers, vendors, mentors, and staff look and feel good is a tremendously attractive internal quality. I read this quote recently and I think it works well here - “To a large degree, our success and happiness in life depends on how much people like themselves when they’re with us.” Joe Caruso

Ready to refer
We all know that giving referrals is one of the best ways to get referrals, but the difference lies in the systematic preparation. There is a big difference between understanding this philosophically and practicing proactively. Building your back pocket with a group of “best of class” providers takes work. You’ve got to discover, recruit, train and build the trust necessary to develop a proven network of providers who can help you add value to your client relationships, but once you do, the rest is pretty easy.

Keeps promises
The word trust is easy to use and even easier to lose. But, as Stephen M.R. Covey so correctly points out in his book, The Speed of Trust – trust is a hard currency and asset. Trust impacts how fast things are done and how much they cost. It is so much easier and less expensive to refer a business that keeps its promises.

Creates an experience
We will travel to the ends of the earth to be entertained or at least not bored to tears. The businesses we love to refer aren’t boring. They realize that it’s not just about the product and service they sell, it’s equally about the total experience – the marketing, the message, the people, the processes, the delivery are all carefully considered as props integral to a successful customer experience.

Educates, instead of selling
Nobody likes to refer a friend to a sales pitch, right? But, exposing a friend to information that might help them get more of what they want out of life, now that’s a different story. Even better when that information is packaged and presented in multiple locations, formats, and venues.

Adds value beyond price
In Bob Burg’s book the Go-Giver the main character, Joe, encounters the 5 laws of stratospheric success. The first law, the Law of Value states that your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment. This is a tough one for so many people because we often have no great baseline for the value we bring. The key here is to work tirelessly to understand, quantify and enhance the value our customer receives and the rest will
take care of itself.

Does something talkable
My spell check isn’t balking at the word talkable, but I think it properly expresses this one. You’ve certainly encountered the concept of word of mouth constantly of late, but I think that concept tends to lean heavily on tactics and stunts, like viral videos, that might create a flurry of word of mouth. To do something talkable to me is to have something at the core of your business, a higher purpose, an inspirational story, a product or service that is simply brilliant, or a habit that makes people smile. Authenticity and consistency are what make something talkable.

Exceeds expectations
This one seems pretty easy, but why isn’t it. When someone buys a product, toss other stuff in the box, right? Maybe, but the only way to actually exceed expectations is to know what they are. And that’s where people fall down. In business and in life, it’s extremely difficult to exceed an expectation you have not participated in setting. Widely referred business work very hard to set the proper expectations and then it’s pretty simple matter to exceed them. So, you see exceeding expectations might also include understanding and attracting the right customers, laying exactly how you work to get results on the line, teaching customers what’s expected of them, and even saying no once and while.

Focus on even one of the internal mindsets and practices above and watch how much more referable you become.

2009-06-29T15:25:00.004-06:00

The Perfect Storm: A Trifecta of Opportunity

I came across a new magazine -- SUCCESS (I think it's relatively new, as I haven't come across it in my six years of scouting all things wonderful and relevant for small business) that appears, at first glance, to be an inspirational resource for us. What caught my attention is the publisher's letter in the July 2009 edition.
As many of you know, I believe this is our time---our time to reclaim the power that is rightfully ours. Darren Hardy, publisher and editorial director of Success Magazine agrees. Check it out...

...While it might look like a tough time for the national and global economy, we are actually in the middle of the perfect storm for entrepreneurship. In fact, it is my predication that 20 to 30 years from now we will look back longingly at these times and call this the greatest window of entrepreneurial opportunity of our lifetime. It is over the next 12-18 months that the wildly successful companies of tomorrow will be born or make their bold move.

Candidly, this is no great prophecy. Did you know that 16 of the Dow 30 companies were started in a recession or depression? It's true; these are companies like Proctor & Gamble, Disney, McDonald's, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson and others -- once entrepreneurial startups, now the behemoths of industry.

Let me help reinforce this point and build up your confidence on why now is the right time to strike out your own. I call this the trifecta of opportunity for you as an entrepreneur.

First, every so often our system of capitalism reshuffles the deck. The financial crisis and economic downturn have disrupted the status quo. In sunny times it can be a difficulty for a small business to punch its way into an existing market. But the playing field has been leveled; it's now all up for grabs. The new kings and queens of the kingdom will be crowned over the next couple of years. You could be one of them.

Here is the second and maybe most important reason why now is the right time for entrepreneurship: problems. This economic downturn has created a ton of new problems that need solving. Problems are the food and oxygen for entrepreneurship. These who create solutions to our new problems will become the great beneficiaries of these times.

Lastly, everything is on sale! It has never been cheaper to build, outfit and market your business than it is today. Vendors are flexible, partnerships are open and there is a pool of extremely talented people looking for exciting and promising companies with good ideas.

Quintessential entrepreneur Richard Branson, reminds us that challenges and obstacles force us to think outside the box and to come up with more creative solutions, products and services. The challenge is to follow through on a great idea.

Now is the time to get started!

I'd love to hear from you on how you plan to seize your opportunity at taunya@powerhouseinc.ca

TWR.

2009-06-21T16:28:00.002-06:00

You are powerful!

One of my favorite quotes, often mistakenly credited to Neslon Mandela, is found below...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.

2009-06-02T11:44:00.005-06:00

Dream BIG and Make it Happen!

A good friend and Powerhouse member, Kari Dunlop from Glinda Girls, shared this remarkable video of her friend Scott Parazynski.

Talk about an over-achiever, not only has he been to the moon, but just last month he conquered Mount Everest. I am certain he can teach us a thing or two about dreaming BIG and making it happen.

When I listened to his story, (YouTube link attached below) I drew so many parallels between climbing Everest to building a business, that I thought I would share his incredible story with you, so that you too can be inspired.

I'd love to hear your comments on Scott's story, and how your entrepreneurial journey parallels that of Scott's climb up Everest.

http://www.onorbit.com/node/1046

Astronaut Scott Parazynski and Sherpa Danuru check in from Everest base camp after their successful summit at Mount Everest. Scott, who has flown on five shuttle mission and completed 7 spacewalks, told Miles O'Brien the experience was "the most challenging thing I have ever done."

TWR.

2009-06-02T11:23:00.003-06:00

WestJet: A lesson from the legend

First of all, sorry I've been so quiet. Shannon, Tracy, Veronica, Rebecca, Stephen, Doug and I (along with the support of many others) have been busting our butts to bring you an outstnding xChange town hall meeting this Thursday. I'm very excited about our line-up. I believe this will be one of our best xChanges yet.

We've introduced a new element to the mix... the PowerPlayer. It's an opportunity to hear from an entrepreneurial legend -- a succeess story that will lick off the xChange and show us how "it's" done.

On June 4th, at the xChange, hear from one of Canada's most successful entrepreneurial success stories, WestJet, on the importance of building your own unique culture, and the impact it will have on your business for years to come.

In case you didn't know, WestJet was founded in 1996 by a team of Calgary entrepreneurs. With 220 WestJetters, they began service on February 29, 1996, to five cities in Western Canada. Due in large part to their award-winning corporate culture and commitment to providing guests with a friendly and caring WestJet experience, business quickly soared and WestJet has become Canada's leading high-value low-fare airline.

REGISTER HERE

Networking from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
xChange starts promptly at 6:30pm and runs until 8:30pm.
Bankers Hall underground parking is $2 after 6pm.
Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit www.powerhouseinc.ca, or please contact us at (403) 444-6926 or email at info@powerhouseinc.ca

TWR.

2009-05-13T12:14:00.004-06:00

Government cracks down on "contractor" status

I'm just returning from a PowerBoard meeting this morning where we discussed the government cracking down on small-business owners hiring "contractors" vs. "employees". We have it on good advice (Tannas Walsh, TEG), that if you're caught (that is to say, your worker is actually an employee of the business, not a contractor), you will be accountable to pay all source deductions (employee and employer portions), dating back to their start date. Needless to say, this issue could have a big impact on your cash flow and your bottom line.

Use this checklist to determine if your "workers" are employees or consultants of your small business:

Control Factors

Employer provides training to worker (Y=Employee)
Worker works on-site (Y= Employee)
Worker works off-site (Either)
Company supervises worker's job (Y=Employee)
Worker has regular work hours (Y=Employee)
Employer sets work hours (Y=Employee)

Financial Factors

Worker is salaried (Y=Employee)
Employer sets hourly rate (Y=Employee)
Employer provides tools/equipment to use in job (Y=Employee)
Worker receives benefits from from employers (Y=Employee)
Worker has ability to have profit or loss from job (Y=Contractor)
Worker pays own expenses (Y=Contractor)

Relationship Factors

Worker and employer have contract for products and services (Y=Contractor)
Worker can hire others to complete task (Y=Contractor)
Work relationship relates only to contract work (Y=Contractor)
Worker performs similar projects for other companies (Y=Contractor)

Make sure you're covered. Please feel free to comment (or email me), on this blog if you have more information on this thread that small-business owners should be made aware of.

TWR.

2009-05-08T11:19:00.003-06:00

New program to reimburse up to 75% of salary and benefits for ICT projects.

On April 7th, 2009, The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced the launch of a new program to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow in the knowledge economy and to help students get jobs in the field of information and communications technologies (ICT).

Industry Canada's Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) will help Canadian small businesses hire a total of 400 student interns annually to help with ICT projects, improving their productivity and competitiveness.

“SBIP will help small businesses grow through the power of ICT and e-commerce,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Just as importantly, this program will help post-secondary students across Canada gain valuable work experience, while earning money for their education.”

SBIP will allow Canadian small businesses to submit an application to participating delivery agencies in their area. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to directly hire a qualified student intern for a 12-week period to help them with e-commerce ICT projects. SBIP will reimburse up to 75 percent of each participating SME's eligible salary and benefit costs.

“SBIP is an important part of Canada's Economic Action Plan,” added Minister of State Ablonczy. “It is vital during the current economic instability that we do whatever we can to help small businesses, which account for so many Canadian jobs. As well, we need to ensure that Canada's youth have the skills and experience to take advantage of the opportunities that will arise as the economy improves. SBIP will meet both of these needs.”

Industry Canada will send out a request for applications from organizations that want to participate as delivery agencies for SBIP. These delivery agencies will be responsible for selecting SMEs to participate in SBIP. This is being done in anticipation of the first interns being placed with small businesses this summer.

SBIP is a collaborative effort of Canadian small businesses, post-secondary institutions and non-government organizations that offers promising post-secondary students hands-on experience working on e-commerce projects under the mentorship and coaching of entrepreneurs.

SBIP will receive $17.5 million in funding through 2014 as part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.

For more information go to:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/sbip-pspe.nsf/eng/home

2009-05-08T10:03:00.011-06:00

Every small business owner has VOICE...
Come on out and make it heard. We're hard at work pulling together your next xChange: Canada's Town Hall Meeting for Small Business.

The focus of our discussion on June 4th will be The People Part of Business. We were originally referring to it as HR, but after discussing the upcoming xChange with a number of small-business owners, we realized that small businesses perceive HR to be payroll, benefits, source deductions, etc., and didn't believe that the topic applied to them. However, quite the opposite is true. The People Part of Business refers to addressing all the components that make up how your team comes together and stays together, including: creating your culture, recruiting people (including consultants), retaining and motivating your team, and of course, compensation.

Our panelists include:
Anne Howard, Anne Howard Consulting
Wayne Thomas, Hunt Oil
Kathy Legg, LittleBrownMouse
Alistair Shepherd Cross, Agile Recruiting

We've also extended an invitation to Brett Harris to help us with moderating, WestJet (to kick off the xChange and tell us a little more about how they built their culture and the impact it's had on their success), and of course, The Hounourable Diane Alblonski, the Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) - to come and hear about the issues and successes small-business owners are experiencing.

And, most importantly, we've extended an invitation to over 25,000 Calgary-based small-business owners to join and participate on June 4th.

If you're in Calgary on the 4th, please come on out and join us for a fun, interactive and collaborative town hall discussion.

You can register:
1. Right here, right now;
2. On our website;
3. Or by calling us at 1.866.839.2333

See you there!

TWR.

2009-05-05T17:01:00.003-06:00

It's here!!!

Well, it's been a crazy process, but well worth it. It's not perfect, and there is still more content to come (not to mention additional phases), but the Powerhouse website is up and running.

This project would not have happened had it had not been for the support of two very creative, talented, and patient people... Mike Le from Emphasize Design and Shannon Chittick.

Mike is the owner of Emphasize, a web design and development company. And in all honesty, I've never had a more pleasant, professional experience working with a contractor.

Shannon, our Communications Director, was able to articulate my thousands of thoughts and visions into words that came together and make up the content that unfolds before your eyes when you open up the site.

Take a look. Let me know what you think.

TWR.

2009-05-02T12:22:00.004-06:00

Boost Your Business With an Advisory Board

I came across the following article this morning, and for obvious reasons I though I should highlight the fact that advisory boards are a hot topic these days. They are proving themselves to be one of the most important tools a business owner can invest in--especially these days.

Globe and Mail Update
May 1, 2009 at 12:48 PM EDT

...Whether you are a "lone wolf" entrepreneur or part of a family dynasty, every business person can benefit from the impartial advice of a peer.

Personal advisory boards are one of the hottest trends in small business today. Setting up a group of friends or colleagues who meet periodically to offer wisdom and support can expand the size of your management team without increasing your payroll costs. It can also bolster your legitimacy and increase the value of your company.

A personal advisory board can range from an informal group of trusted friends to a more formal peer-to-peer mentoring group...

To experience what a PowerBoard will do for your business, join us a FREE three-hour PowerBoard Trial. Call me personally at 1.866.839.2333 or email me at taunya@powerhouseinc.ca to have me save a seat at the PowerBoard for you.

TWR.

2009-05-01T09:08:00.007-06:00

Our Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal

So it's taken us six years to finally get the courage to publicly declare the true vision driving Powerhouse. I know that many of you have read Jim Collins, Good to Great. In Good to Great, Jim talks about the "Big Hairy Audacious Goal" or "B.H.A.G.".

It's a statement we've been working on for a while. And then, after hearing our brilliant PowerLink mentor, Colleen Hende rson from Baxter Bean, suggest to PowerBoard members that coming up with an image that represents your Vision or BHAG can make the process a simpler one--we decided to give it a try. And, she's right! It completely changed our approach and made it considerably simpler.

So here it goes... here's our BHAG... and our "Vision Logo" that I must admit, revs up the entire team every time we see it.

Pow erhouse's vision is to create a global entrepreneurial revolution of over 10 million small businesses by 2020. Building a powerful collaboration of entrepreneurs, enabling us to reclaim our power; and to once again be recognized for our contribution and impact on the economy, the environment and lives of the earth’s population.

There you have it. We hope it gets you revved up too.

Just a couple other tips for you, from Colleen, on developing your own BHAG or Vision Statement:

1) Your Vision should always be generated by the leadership of the company. That's you and your executive team, if you have one.

2) Your Vision should always be tangible, specific and measurable.

3) Your Vision should always be inspiring. You need something to keep you charged up -- event through the tough days.

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." Joel A. Barker

TWR.

2009-05-01T08:44:00.004-06:00

The BIG reveal... it's coming

Well, here we are, May 1, 2009 and I'm now 8 hours (and counting) late in delivering our website to the world. Many of you have probably been wondering why I haven't been blogging or tweeting this month. The answer: Every drop of creative juice I have in my bones has been squeezed into building web copy. For those of you who know me well, you know that writing is my Achilles heel. I always have a lot to say, but when it comes to putting words to paper, I freeze.

So, with that being said, I would like to communicate two important pieces of information:

1) Our website should be completed this weekend. Rest assured I'll send you a link for the grand unveiling. I know you'll be impressed with the changes we've made. And remember, it's just Phase 1. By the end of the summer, we plan to have membership and mentorship directories in place along with several other cool member functions.

2) I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our PowerTeam... Ms. Shannon Chittick. Shannon has come on board as our Communications expert extraordinaire. Her role is key to ensuring we're regularly communicating with you--our members, and to ensure that what we're communicating is valuable to you and your business. Information such as our monthly BulletinBoards, ongoing web content, business development templates, eBriefs, Welcome Kits, and the list goes on. And of course, she'll be holding my feet to the fire when it comes to keeping up with the blog posts. You'll be able to read more about Shannon under our PowerTeam tab on the website. :)

Take in every single ray of sunshine.

TWR.

2009-04-08T13:42:00.003-06:00

Just use your best judgement

Chuck Bean from Baxter Bean, a Powerhouse PowerLink Mentor, participated in a Calgary PowerBoard yesterday for a healthy conversation around strategic planning. Several important pieces of information came out of the meeting including some insights on how to ensure employees take ownership.

As an example, apparently Nordstrom's empowers their employees by replacing the "Employee Manual" with the simple phrase "Use your best judgement."

This "suggestion" not only empowers Nordstrom employees (from the front line sales associates to the CEO in the executive office), but you can clearly see how it would also hold them accountable.

Four simple words that pack a powerful punch for employee morale, corporate performance, and culture.

Something to think about.

TWR.

2009-03-17T20:53:00.003-06:00

We knew this was going to happen, didn't we?

Weary of Looking for Work, Some Create Their Own

By MATT RICHTEL and JENNA WORTHAM
Published: March 13, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Andon, 24, a graduate of Duke University in biology, was laid off from a biotech company last May. For months he sought new work. Then, frustrated with the hunt, he turned to jellyfish.

Click here to read fell New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/technology/start-ups/14startup.html?_r=1&emc=eta1)

2009-03-13T18:10:00.005-06:00

Met Guy Kawasaki Today

I've been quiet this week, with blogging that is. As for business activity, we've never been busier. It's actually an amazing feeling, to know that after five long years of hard work, learning from mistakes, and non-existing cash flows the tipping point is near, very near.

I'm actually having a glass of Kim Crawford to celebrate.

But here's what I really want to share with you this evening. I had an opportunity to see Guy Kawasaki speak this morning. Actually, I was seated at the head table with Mr. Kawasaki himself, compliments of my friend Mark Rosenberger.

Here's the summary of his presentation today, Inspiring Innovation.

Top 11 List

1. Make Meaning: Your business should make the world a better place.

2. Create a Mantra: This is coming up over and over again at Board meetings. We need more than mission and vision statements. We need a Mantra, two to three words that motivate us and our teams to keep giving a 1000% percent.

3. Jump to the next curve: Innovate. Improve your products and services by 100% not by 10%.

4. Roll the DICEE:
D -Your business should have Depth
I - Your business should be Intelligent
C - Your business should be Complete
E - Your business should be Elegant
E - Your business should be Emotive

5. Don't worry be crappy: Don't wait for perfection. "Ship and then fix."

6. Polarize People: Don't try to make everyone happy. Some people should love you and some should hate you.

7. Let 100 Flowers Blossom: You never know what gifts come from perceived mistakes. Let your failures blossom, see where they might take you.

8. Churn Baby Churn: Persevere. Keep at it regardless of what people may tell you. In the early stages of building your business, ignore the naysayers. As you start to evolve listen to what clients are telling you so you can improve.

9: Learn all you need to know: Go in prepared. Know how you stack up against industry players.

10. Follow the 10-20-30 rule; When pitching your idea you should keep your presentation to 10 slides, 20 minutes and 30 pt. font size.

11. Don't let the bozos grind you down: Don't listen to people who tell you it can't be done. Did you know that even Guy Kawasaki is subject to miscalculation. He actually turned down the opportunity to be CEO of Yahoo, believing at the time it was a "lost leader" and the two hour daily drive to the office would do him in. In his own words it was a $2 Billion dollar miscalculation.

Here's what I say. If you believe in what you're doing. Stay with it! Make it happen. I could tell you stories of the hundreds of people who told me the Powerhouse model would never work. That I was s fool for investing is small business. Because of you and the commitment you show to your business and Powerhouse, I'm proving them wrong and loving every minute of it.

Thank you.

TWR.

2009-03-08T17:36:00.003-06:00

In 10 words or less.

How do you convince small business owners to change the world in 10 words or less? I've been working on Powerhouse's homepage today. Building an entrepreneurial revolution is no easy task... if you have any ideas on what to tell people to grow our entrepreneurial community let me know.

TWR.

2009-03-07T15:05:00.003-07:00

Tweet, Tweet!

Listening to Cidnee Stephen talk about social media at Thursday's xChange, I decided that I better get on Twitter asap. Who would of thought it, me a social butterfly. Talk about being out of my comfort zone :)

What a crazy experience. Navigating new waters, I looked for a few of my favs including Sir Richard Branson, Obama, Guy Kawasaki, Howard Schultz, and Maria Shriver. Here's the freaky thing... within several hours they send you a message letting you know that they're now following you. It's actually quite surreal, getting a message from Obama and Shriver. Regardless of its marketing function, you feel a sense of connection that's hard to explain.

I've hear from a few Powerhouse members, that they too have put Twitter into action, and in some cases, like my good friend and Powerhouse member, Kari Dunlop, it's generating sales and interest in her upcoming event The Business of Bliss (www.glindagirls.com).

So if you haven't done so yet, check out Twitter at (www.twitter.com). Make sure to say hi (User: TTaunya) so I can follow what you're up to.

2009-03-05T23:20:00.002-07:00

Just a quick note before I hit the hay. Great xChange tonight. Certainly wouldn't have happened without the help of our Community Partners, Media Partner (Citytv),volunteers, panelists, and of course the 120+ small business owners that attended.

We'll be getting out a transcript of the event next week - the xChange Report with copies distributed to media, government and all other community stakeholders.

As for me, I'm drained and I have to call it a day. Events take a lot out of you. They remind me of my catering days, when you work on an event for months in advance all to culminate into a 3 hour segment of your life, where anything can happen, and often does.

This week I lost my data (all my data - we pretty much had two days to build everything from scratch), dropped my baby, and lost our mediator. And I;m still standing and stronger for it. It's all about making it happen :) One step at a time,,, right?

Goodnight all.

2009-03-05T09:35:00.002-07:00

Good Morning!

Big day. The day of the xChange. Very excited. Lot's happening this morning. Our phone has been ringing off the hook with RSVPs. Of course it is... Calgary is the "last minute capital" for event registrations. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all this evening. If you haven't registered but want to check it out, come visit us at Bankers Hall Auditorium at 5:30pm.

Moderator update... we've got calls into Tara McCool, Jebb Fink and Ted Henley from 660. Brett Harris from BNN can't help this time, but mentioned he might be able to get on board for our May xChange.

I'm off to pick up the food and wine for tonight. See you all in a couple of hours.

2009-03-04T12:02:00.002-07:00

Last minute moderators?

We just received a call from our xChange moderator, Judy Gabriel from Citytv. She's put her back out and can't moderate the town hall meeting tomorrow. Anybody have any ideas out there? We've got 30 hours to find a solution :)

Judy, we love you and hope you get better soon!

2009-03-03T22:43:00.002-07:00

What a way to start the week.

The week got off to a shaky start. Our main computer, with the majority of our data, crashed over weekend. I rushed it to an IT medic on Sunday and I am still waiting for the verdict. In the meantime, as many of you may know, our xChange is this Thursday so Angela and I have been re-loading design software to build the majority of our collateral and xChange material from scratch with only 3 days left.

To top it all off, my four month baby girl, took her first fall off the couch on Monday. The tumble happened as I was on the phone taking a guest's registration for the xChange. Thankfully, the guest was Carrie, another mom, from MomCafe (www.momcafe.net). She was very understanding, as I basically hung up on her to rush to baby.

In a heartbeat, I was reminded of what is truly important in the midst of entrepreneurial chaos... the health and well being of those you love and cherish.

2009-03-01T12:28:00.002-07:00

Show us some love, will you!

OK, I just finished watching Fortune Hunters on CBC, and I am bothered. This episode told the story of two dynamic entrepreneurs (husband and wife team with a new baby) from North Vancouver, running an eco-friendly car wash business, Easywash (www.easywash.ca).

In only two years they found themselves $3.5 million dollars in debt. They then filed for bankruptcy, got back on their feet and re-opened Easywash. They were then illegally evicted from their location. After fighting it in court, they are back in business (with a new landlord) and their books showing a profit for six of the nine months they've been back.

Now what struck me about this story, aside their unwavering perseverance, was the lack of heart or compassion shown by the show's host and two guests, especially Kevin O'Leary from the Dragon's Den. I should know better. Perhaps, behind the scenes, the guests called these two struggling entrepreneurs and provided some suggestions on how they might create a stronger business model. But the viewers didn't see it. Instead we heard comments to the effect of "It's time to pack it in," and "...these two don't stand a chance."

It just reiterates the point I continue to make, that society in general sees business as numbers, profits and margins, and they fail to recognize that behind every business is a person with everything on the line, with no option but to succeed.

Edison took 4700 tries at the light bulb before he got it right. Where would the giant GE be today if it wasn't for Edison's tenacity?

2009-02-28T22:40:00.004-07:00

I'm calling it like it is.

I've been inspired to take action. It's long been suggested by members that I should write it like I speak it - from the heart.

From what I understand, blogging is the perfect medium for this. So blog I shall. I can't promise to write every day. But when I do, I promise to be real, raw and relevant, sharing with you my realities as they relate to building the business. I should also forewarn you that I am not an eloquent writer by any stretch, so please don't expect a literary masterpiece.

I've struggled with how personal the blog should be. Many suggest that posting my realities may be perceived negatively. But I came to realize that that having the tough conversations is why Powerhouse was built. I'm doing this because I want you to know that you're not alone in the struggles you face as a business owner, and that no business, regardless of their size or stature, is perfect and without its own set of challenges.

I also hope that by doing this, our society comes to realize that "business" is more than just numbers, margins and profits. At its heart, small businesses are comprised of courageous individuals on a profound journey of continuous learning, perseverance and innovation.

I invite you to read my blog and hopefully share in the dialogue. Let me know what you think.

2009-01-25T18:09:00.003-07:00

The way I see it... Our time is now!

Have you ever stopped to consider where we would be as a small business community if we chose to work together rather than on our own? We are 2.5 million strong in Canada, but because we work independently from one another, our true power has not been felt. There is strength in numbers, but only if we come together.

Our continent was founded on entrepreneurship, by courageous individuals whose vision and tenacity overcame challenges, obstacles and naysayers. Their ideas and dreams started as seeds and grew to become roots that anchored and nurtured the needs of the people and the communities they served. However, the 1930s saw the advent of lobbyists and government conspiring to ensure that corporate decisions were based on their own interests – not the interests of the shareholders or community -- destroying the integrity and intent that the founders stood for. Many suggest that this fundamental change in governance has led us to the position we are in today; corporate corruption, faltering economies, and eroding environment.

But this is our time, our opportunity and our responsibility to write a new beginning. The economy is calling on us. The environment is calling on us. Our communities are calling on us.

Where would our economy be if instead of only 5% of small businesses surviving past year five, 50% were to survive?

Where would our communities be if we decided to support one another through buying locally grown food and produce, purchasing products made right here in Canada, collecting art from regional artisans, and subscribing to services provided by independent contractors?

Where would our environment be if the entrepreneurs with the ability to envision and create alternative solutions to power our world were embraced and nurtured?

I encourage you to not only think about it - but to take action. Each one of us has something of value to contribute; regardless of our size or stature, regardless of our struggle or success!

I am calling on you in the spirit of collaboration. We need to work together to ensure we succeed as a community. I invite alliances, mentors, volunteers, champions, advocates, board members and investors to get on board. There are hundreds of ways for you to get involved, call me to find out what's best for you.

The time is now!!

Taunya
Founder, Powerhouse Int'l Inc.