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The Annual Dinner is May 1st featuring Donna Douglas and Jeff Nixon

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Are you coming to see Donna and Jeff at the GV Annual Dinner?

Hi everyone:

Come listen to Donna Douglas, our Founder talk about her journey from building businesses to planning her exit strategy. Jeff Nixon, partner at Lardner Nixon will also join us to help with tips and ideas for what you can and should think about for the future – so bring your questions and your ideas!

Dinner, learning and networking from Groups 1 – 45! 

Tickets for the dinner are on sale now!  Register Here

Bring lots of business cards to network with Grow Vantagers from Group 0 to Group 45! This is our annual opportunity to network… we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Dinner is being catered by our own GVers! Please register to let us know you’ll be joining us… so we can make sure to have enough food for everyone!

Get Your Dinner Tickets Now

What are the details?

Date: Tuesday May 1st, 2018

Where? Suite Success at ESS Direct in the Donna Douglas Room

What time? 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Networking and dinner begins at 6:30 pm. Our speakers will begin at 7:30 pm.

Bring lots of business cards and please join us at our Annual Grow Vantage Dinner on Tuesday May 1st, at Suite Success at ESS Direct (411 Huronia Road at Big Bay Point).

Harness the power of Co-op (Students) – a free Chamber event

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Are you thinking about hiring and you’d like to look at all options?
Join us at the Chamber for this free event on April 27, 2018 (please register using the link below)
Time: 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM EDT
Register Now
Event Description:

Join us for a free workshop with Georgian College Co-operative Education and Career Success to learn how to Harness the Power of Co-op!
Hiring a co-op student not only benefits the students by providing valuable work experience, but also benefits the employer and business as well!

Key Topics that will be discussed:

  • What is co-op?
  • When is hiring a co-op student a good option for your business?
  • What are the benefits to Chamber members?
  • How can you get started?
  • Overview of services and supports provided

Thanks everyone

How are you starting off the new year?

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There are a lot of podcasts and video messages out this week about end of year planning and looking forward to 2018. As I have been processing my own plans for the new year, I’m also reviewing my current list of gurus (those people I follow because I respect their wisdom).
Here are a few of my current favourites to share with you as we start off the year… and I look forward to sharing yours on January 4th at our first Alumni Lunch of the year (see below)!
Chris Brogan reminds us that we can’t have empty shelves when people want to buy from us (he was comparing some retail stores to Amazon at the time). He talks about a mandate for 2018:
“The new year is upon us.And I don’t really mean just the calendar.The sun is coming up on an age where people will measure your ability to serve them based on three specific categories you’re definitely not tracking today: 
  • Velocity – how fast can you deliver what you sell?
  • Friction – how easy is it to do business with you?
  • Connectedness – can I communicate with you and/or other buyers?
How you answer all of this, how you build and align your efforts and interests to serve this will determine your success or failure in 2018.”
For several years, I have also followed Chris’ 3 words process at the beginning of January.He picks three words that will form a personal guidepost for what he will do in the coming year.They have to have meaning and there are some interesting rules around that (see the link to Chris’ blog below…).
Other advice?
John Reese advises us to create a “to do” list. John puts the tasks that will be achieved the fastest at the top of his list to avoid being slowed down by the involvement needed to complete one large task.That’s different from Brian Tracy’s advice: “Eat that Frog”(or even better:“If you have to eat two frogs eat the ugliest one first” (see link below).
Reese again:
  • Focused execution: Avoid being totally distracted by new ideas…. shiny objects to entrepreneurs. What about what you have in play already? John says that what already generates results should be your focus. Cut out the noise: that is distractions … Facebook, browsing, research, clutter…
  • And of course rewarding yourself… hmmm. What if you were to establish a reward system for working in a focused way, or taking the steps that will help you achieve your goal? I’m up for a bribe My favourite one, when I’ve finished something on my list is to grab a cup of coffee and read a chapter or two from my latest book for 15-30 minutes. That’s freedom to me. What about you?
  • Figure out how to be productive: I like the Pomodoro technique (modified a bit). What technique will you use?
Nandapani talks about the importance of focus and directing the energy you spend. Sad to say for a recovering multi-tasker, but multi-tasking doesn’t generate results.
Jeff Walker: One of my long term favourite authors and entrepreneurs (so much so that I’ve joined one of his masterminds to help me launch Grow Vantage online).In his latest message he suggests a planning framework that analyzes existing conditions, what your environment looks like, what’s coming down the pipe and what you want for your future… Are you analyzing your past year?
What do you believe about yourself? Success Magazine consistently features articles on being successful… including a Les Brown YouTube episode from October this year in which he encourages us to set goals in 3 major areas: personal goals; your financial freedom number; and your social contribution goals. He asks: What will be different because you showed up?
I believe in making aspirational goals. One of my past mentors – Natalie Sisson – encouraged us to develop BHAGs (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals). After all if you only dare a little, even if you achieve your entire goal, you’ll only achieve a little. If you aspire to something BIG, chances are even if you don’t get there – you’ll have achieved a lot more.
So please join us Thursday – or leave a comment to let me know your goals for 2018!
And in case you are interested in reading or viewing the original posts, here are some links:
Btw are you curious about my three words? Go create your own words first… then let’s share.
What are the Alumni lunch details?
Date: Thursday January 4th, 2018
Where? Market Grill, 140 Mapleview Rd. W in Barrie
Time? 12 noon – 1:30 pm

Do you know someone who we could help in Grow Vantage?

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Grow Vantage 44 is scheduled to begin November 7th.

Do you know someone who would benefit by joining us?

We’re holding a brainstorming and business inspiration session on Thursday October 19th from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Invite  can brainstorm business challenges, and learn about the Grow Vantage program and how it can help them.

We love referrals! Contact patricia@growvantage.com

Note: We’re about to schedule a 3-part business plan class to get advice on your plan as you write it (in class). Stay tuned for our next scheduled dates.

The 5 Habit Checklist to take your resolutions from idea to action

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You were motivated. You made resolutions at the beginning of January.

But weeks later, how are your resolutions? Alive and well? Or already a thing of the past?

There is no simple method to take your well-meaning goals from an idea that actually bears fruit, even something you are passionate about. It’s the action that makes it real.

No amount of enthusiasm or determination by itself will help you achieve your goals. You are going to have to approach goal setting realistically. You’re going to have to change your behaviour. And that’s the catch.
Try comparing this 5-point checklist against your goals to see if your goals are falling apart.Read More

Making resolutions…

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This time I’m really going to turn over a new leaf…

So many of the people I’m following are talking about starting off the new year …with a resolution, a plan, a new you. When you’re in the trenches it all sounds hopeful – but a little daunting.

Hopeful, because let’s face it; we would all like a magic wand (or a magic process) to wipe away all our mistakes, bad habits, and the shortcomings we experience as entrepreneurs. And sometimes making a new resolution or a new plan feels like magic. It isn’t really magic, but yet we approach New Year’s resolutions as if we have the silver bullet in our hands.Read More

Balance isn’t a myth (really)

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… but you have to treat your body like you treat your dog.

Entrepreneurs often wonder what their main priorities should be as they build their business. The first thing that comes to mind (unsurprisingly) is making money. That’s a given of course – eating is good.

When we are launching a new business, or a new phase of business, creating revenue is absolutely a focus for any entrepreneur. However while we focus on making our business the success we envision, we don’t often stop to notice how our bodies and minds operate on the ebb and flow of energy… or balance.Read More

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