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How Can You Tell Your Story is on Tuesday May 7th!

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What is happening at the GV Annual Dinner?

  • Great networking and dinner (for GV1 – 48) and non-GVers alike! Starting at 6:30 pm

    • Dinner is catered by GVers: Blue Cherry Sweets, Suite Success and Around my Gluten Free Table

  • Ian McIntosh (GV35) is onsite for an updated headshot at the same time!

    • (see the link below for more information) [At a special GV price… whether you are a GVer or a friend who hasn’t joined us yet]

  • Experts JenCB (GV 40), an M.Ed, Coach, Speaker, and former Semi-Pro Athlete, and Karen Kessler (Choose Results), an Impact and Reach Results Coach, Launch Expert, ABNLP Trainer, Speaker, and Author will go through the anatomy of story-telling through discussion and exercises.

      • The anatomy of a story – from creation to publishing

      • The impact of your story on attracting clients/networking

      • How do you get better at story-telling?

Register here:  For GVers and our friends (who may not yet have joined us!)

For more information – see the link below:

https://www.growvantage.com/about-grow-vantage/annual-grow-vantage-dinner-you-can-tell-your-story-be-an-author-and-speaker/

How Can You Tell Your Story? Annual Grow Vantage Dinner is May 7th

Date: May 7th , from 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Location: Suite Success at ESS Direct, 411 Huronia Road at Big Bay Point

 

Scheduling the next business plan sessions… are you ready?

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Hi everyone

Please let me know if you are ready to complete your business plan … and if you’d like to join the next business plan class(es).

Send me an email to let me know if you’d like to participate!

It will be 3 x 3 hour classes where we write the plan right in class so that you can get advice, ideas and critique right there.

Thanks

Patricia!

patricia@growvantage.com

Know anyone who could benefit by Grow Vantage?

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We’ve just begun Group 48 and that Group will close in mid April. If anyone you know would like some help in growing their business… here is some useful information to pass along – and of course they are welcome to sit down in a one-to one meeting to find out more:

  • We want to help you develop and grow your business
    • Having a business coach at your fingertips means you can get all the guidance you need when you need it.
    • Before each class, a free clinic allows you to drop-in to find solutions to issues you might face as you build your business.
    • A full set of notes is delivered by email following each class so you can concentrate on what the instructors are teaching – and you have a manual at the end of your term.
  • We help entrepreneurs establish a solid network – which is critical to referral business
    • Build your referral network through your groups. We launch 3 groups each year that overlap so that you mix with your own, as well as with two other groups, in order to build a larger network.
    • Through “dance cards” (or one on one meetings), we encourage participants to get to know other Grow Vantagers as they learn about each other’s businesses, give and receive feedback, and make possible connections and collaborations.
  • We help you avoid mistakes and run your business more effectively
    • We focus on teaching you how to run your business effectively and avoid mistakes that cost money and delay success.
    • Classes are taught by successful entrepreneurs who have actually been where you are.
    • Advice is practical – to give you solutions (like templates to be compliant with privacy legislation, contracts, methods to survive an audit, and so on).
    • Classes are held over 10 months (approximately twice per month) on Tuesday evenings so that you can continue to run your business, with lots of opportunity to apply what you learn, and develop solid relationships with other GVers.
  • We want to promote you:
    • You will have your own profile on the GV website (which is Google searchable and helps get you found online). If you need to find someone – you either ask people you know – or Google!
    • You can also advertise your business offers or programs to the GV database for free (every week if you like) through our newsletter email. It’s also published on the website, where they can be found on Google.
    • We like to connect business owners to others who can help them grow their businesses – and do this all the time.
  • We understand what it’s like to be an entrepreneur:
    • If you need to miss a class (perhaps because of a client meeting or family obligation) – don’t worry, we allow you to make up the class with the next group. It doesn’t hurt to be exposed to another group, although we encourage you to be in your classes as often as possible to build that network and the trust that goes along with it.
    • The cost of the course is spread over the 10 months of the program to make it easier to get the training you need (without interest)! That is $95.00 + HST. There is a small registration fee which is due before the program begins, and payments will begin the month following your start.
    • The cost of the program is tax deductible.

If you would like to join us and get the help you need to grow your business, we would love to include you. You can register online (or I could send you a word document to complete for you to email back to me if you prefer).

Here is the link: http://growvantage.com/register-for-grow-vantage.html. The one-time registration fee of $49.50 + HST.

Would you like to be interviewed on video? (My gift to you). Put April 9th in your calendar

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I’m interviewing Grow Vantagers on April 9th at Suite Success at ESS Direct (5 – 6:30 pm)

…and do a little pre-work to help us prepare for that session. Us is me and James Martin (GV46)

During the next Grow Vantage Networking session (2nd Tuesday of the month from 5:00 – 6:30 pm), join us to do your video interview. In addition to seeing it on YouTube and linked to the Grow Vantage site, you will have access to it – to put on your YouTube Channel, your Facebook page (or wherever it makes sense).

Why video? Video is critical to help your business be found (local or international). Buzzsumo did a study of 777 million Facebook posts this January. They found that posts with video are 75% more effective than those with just links. We’re following best practices (a short video to keep peoples’ attention, with captions…because not everyone turns on sound).

Who is it for? If you are a current GVer, or one of the alumni – get on the list to have your video done.

Will it cost anything? We’re piloting these interviews…so for now – N0!

What do I need to do?

  1. Email me at patricia@growvantage.com and let me know you’d like me to interview you about your business – we’ll do as many interviews as we can that day (but there is a limit). (Please include answers to the questions below)
  2. Let me know 2 questions you’d like me to ask you particularly. Hint: These should not include: “Tell me every product you sell” – because people will stop watching.
  3. Think about and email me what you are planning to say in response to the following questions:  (Hint: we’ll put key words up on a white board behind the camera to help you remember what you want to say. And I’ll be there to prompt you.
    1. I’ll introduce you as [your name] and [your business name] – how do you want me to say that?
    2. What GV number are you?
    3. Who are you looking to help?
    4. What do you do for your customer (again, not a laundry list, but what difference, or transformation are you helping them make?) For example – Julia, as a pedorthist (…a what?) will help correct problems with your feet that may be causing that pain in your butt, or hips or legs and that prevents you from playing with your children, enjoying long walks, or standing up without pain.)
    5. Why did you decide to start this particular business?
    6. What one piece of advice would you give someone who is starting a business now?
    7. And if there is something else you are dying to have me ask you… great!

Any Questions? For those who are on the list – we’ll send out final instructions (like what to wear)…

See you on April 9th (5 – 6:30 pm at Suite Success at ESS Direct, 411 Huronia Road). Even if you are not having your video done, come out and watch, network and have fun.

Patricia

Women Entrepreneurs Breaking the Mold Event Invitation

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This BDC event will take place from 2:00 – 5:00 pm just before the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurial Awards on March 27, 2019 at Georgian Theatre

The guest list is limited to 50 people, who will also get a ticket to enter the awards show (a $25 value).

The BDC event will feature the stories of 3 different women entrepreneurs (including our own Jen CB) and also a presentation on 5 Best Tips to help your Banker Finance your Business (for when you are ready to grow.)

The featured speaker for the HBEC Awards event will be Manjit Minhas of the Dragon’s Den.

Please email  Emily Lu at BDC to reserve your ticket (first come first served: Emily.LU@bdc.ca

 

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So…. What Have We Done This Year???

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As business begins to wind down (later than usual this year, don’t you think?) I find myself thinking about 2018 and what it meant for me and Grow Vantage.

There are a lot of things to think about when you are looking back…just below there is an end of year exercise to help you take inventory of your 2018 accomplishments.

But first… a few thoughts that arose as I’ve looked back:

I’ve had a lot of discussions with Grow Vantagers (GVers for short) about how to banish distraction, stay on top of time, and go further (as quickly as possible). So I thought it would be a good subject to get into. Here are a few guidelines to think about:

  • Get a hold of your time. Grow Vantagers do an exercise that’s all about deciding what’s important (and whose “to do” it really is). We also want to get out ahead of what’s really important – so prioritize.
  • Create a structure and stick with it (for your day and your week): Day to day can slip through your fingers – so it’s also about structuring your time. I personally use a version of the Pomodoro technique for focusing my activities in mini work periods. I use lists to frame my day, time blocks to get work done, and I assign specific tasks to specific days.
  • Even so… my head can be turned by bright, shiny objects… so get a hold on discipline. GVers know that the way we process information is wired into our brains (courtesy of our Communications and Understanding Personalities classes)…but we also know we can be trained. Self training and discipline are really, really, really important. (I’m borrowing a phrase from my granddaughter… who is absolutely correct. Some things just are).
  • Horse blinders for humans? (Photo courtesy of Daniel at Pexels!) Anyone who has been around horse racing knows that some horses need blinders to focus their eyes on the track ahead and avoid being distracted by their peripheral vision. They can be affected by bright, shiny objects too! So someone has some up with headgear for people who want to stay undistracted…. (Check out a story that was published in October by the Boston Globe – link below). I don’t know if we need to go that far… but if someone has an idea for blinders on the inside of my head… please let me know.
  • Divide social from work: Being an entrepreneur can be lonely. And the truth is we need other people to hang out with, laugh with, get honest feedback from, and spark our imaginations. I have just made a decision to move my office home – for 3 reasons: to cut back on distractions, to qualify for growth funding for the future and to channel funds into digital marketing. Classes will still be held at Suite Success, and I’ll miss the day-to-day hallway chats, but I’m still committed to meet with you all… and this is getting serious about how I spend my time.

As you look back this year,  try an exercise our GV Mastermind did recently: “How did you do?” Leave a comment and let me know your ahas!

  • I rocked these things….
  • I stopped being afraid… (aka: I let go of….)
  • I learned these things (accompanied by… joy? pain? surprise? duh?)
  • I started these things…
  • I finished these things…
  • Now, what is still unfinished that you really want to get done? (This is the start of your story for 2019, apart from the new ideas that are out there waiting for you to embrace).

As you wind down, I also want to send you wishes for a wonderful holiday season (however you may celebrate it) from our our family to yours…

P

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2018/10/19/innovation-week-horse-blinders-for-humans/wCbx2Fdaz3BVxCRPKdfcuO/story.html

Next Tuesday (Aug. 21st) GV Session on Funding – Open to Everyone

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A special Grow Vantage session on August 21st on Funding

Jean Leggett (Grow Vantage 30) and her husband Blair have raised over $300, 000 in funding to fuel the development of their company, One More Story Games. She has a special bird’s eye view on funding a start-up business from the beginning. Hear about their personal experience and the lessons they learned to help you navigate a sometimes mystifying quest:

She will talk about:

  • What they started with – what they were willing to leverage, and their personal investment
  • When friends and family came onboard – the beginning of crafting that pitch letter, how they handle that with lawyers, communication with investors
  • The challenges of building a biz with other people’s money
  • Accessing government funds – the challenges and the successes
  • Going through and using Research Innovation Centres like ventureLAB, Henry Bernick, Communitech – what the highlights were and where they drop the ball
  • How mentors can effectively help your business
  • Building an effective brand for yourself and your business
  • “What I wish I knew sooner” – the “fastest path to cash” strategies

Register now for this unique look into the world of funding. A snack will be provided. https://www.growvantage.com/events/funding-your-business/

Location: Suite Success at ESS Direct, 411 Huronia Road (at Big Bay Point)

Timing: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Nibbles will be provided

Fees: $8.85 + HST

Patricia

patricia@growvantage.com

Grow Vantage feature: Congrats Brent Foster (GV45!)

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Brent Foster (GV45), ex military, family guy and Pop-A-Lock business owner was recently featured in the Franchise Canada magazine. Great article for a great company!

Not only do they unlock houses or offices when keys are left inside, misplaced or broken; they also unlock vehicles. They have a PAL program that unlocks kids and pets from locked cars – and they drop everything to do it. Across North America Pop-A-Lock has rescued hundreds of thousands of children and pets through this free community service.

Here is the article: https://franchisecanada.cfa.ca/the-first-year-pop-a-lock-security-professionals/

Drop me a message or email if you or one of your Grow Vantage colleagues are being recognized… we would like to recognize you too!

Patricia

New Founders Fund for Women in STEM

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The Start-Up organization has published information on a new fund for women entrepreneurs who are involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Startup Canada has partnered with Evolocity Financial Group to invest in women-led companies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) through the Startup Canada Women Founders Fund, providing micro-grants to women entrepreneurs and women-led companies in Canada to help them start and grow their businesses while accelerating gender parity and further unleash the economic potential of women.

Funding is available with an application deadline of 11:59 pm, August  31, 2018

  • $1,000 to $5,000 grants to support business operations or business growth opportunities.
  • Featured on StartupNews.ca and a guest-spot on THRIVE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs.
  • VIP Pass and Program at Startup Canada Day on the Hill on October 18th in Ottawa.

Please look for further details at: http://www.startupcan.ca/2018-women-founders-fund/

Patricia

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