Why your business needs a helping hand - Guest Blog

Running a business is like raising a child, it’s hard to do it alone and usually takes a whole group of people who help get the job done. It’s like when they come home from school and ask for help with their algebra homework. If you’re anything like me the last time you did algebra, Richmond was winning AFL premierships. So you’d get them a tutor and make sure they had the help they needed.

Your business is no different. Calling in the specialists a job gets done is commonplace, so why should your business miss out? There are so many business areas nobody can possibly know everything, so seeking a business coach for working out the kinks in your business is money well spent. A business coach will help you critique your business objectively, form strategies for success and help you plan for the future. Here’s 4 ways a business coach can lend a helping hand.

• Small businesses present a unique set of challenges, so learning your priorities and gaining a clear sense of your future goals. Aligning your actions with your intentions is the first step in developing your business’ success.

• A business coach will help you critically assess your business for weak areas and provide advice on how you can strengthen them. There’s always room for improvement when working with a business coach.

• Once you’ve identified opportunities in your business, a business coach can help you form strategies for improvement or getting the most out of existing strategy.  

• A business coach can help you develop strong relationships with your customers, meaning you can retain them, help them refer business to you and make their views and opinions valuable.

If you feel your business can benefit from some advice from a business coach, contact Bruce Frame for a chat about your options or problem areas that may concern you.

Changing my mind

I recently was doing some success coaching with a client and was talking about how we think - and how it sets the stage for what happens in our lives.  We have heard the expression - thought created things - and it is as true as it reads.  Thought has energy.  What we think sends out the energy that attracts more energy just like it and begins the creation process.

In my coaching conversation I invited my client to 'change her mind'.  When I said it - it struck me that we use this particular saying regularly.  How do we do this?

As simple as the expression is - changing our mind may be a simple process - but not always easy.  It requires commitment and focus.

Changing our mind - means reprogramming our brain - replacing old thoughts that no longer benefit us with thoughts that do benefit us and making this process a habit.

Here is an example.  I had programming running incessantly in my brain that made me fear poverty or inability to support myself.  Despite my abilities - this programming - albeit a very old program - was running a muck in my brain.  It was a habit in its own right.  It was fearful and negative in nature and attracted more fear and scarcity than I wanted.

Over the past several months - I have been working hard at 'changing my mind' to attract more of what I wanted.  I began focusing on great abundance.  An slowly but surely, the new programming at a much higher energy level than the previous one began attracting more of what I really wanted - abundance.

Then it began.  First as a trickle - and then abundance arrived in big drops.  I know that the waterfall of abundance will arrive next!

The firs thing hat happened is that I had a call where I offered some assistance with a group coming to camp at the campground I manage.  I have lived here for four summers and always wanted a deck or patio outside the RV.  The group offered to move the patio stones that were piled here (free) to build my patio. 

What I was unaware of - was that these volunteers turned out to be 35 engineers.  (yes they build bridges for a living)  Building a patio for them was child's play.  And as I watched the beautiful patio being built I realized that this patio will likely survive a nuclear war it is so well built.  A patio would have been a gift.  This patio is a GIFT. (all caps and bolded)  It could not have been more perfect.

This past week in anticipation of the patio I began thinking I really could use a canopy or umbrella.  Two days before the engineers arrived someone anonymously dropped off a brand new (used one time) four legged canopy to sit over the picnic table.  I was blown away!  This was adding up to more than just luck.  This was attraction in action.

Finally yesterday I was thinking about how busy it was becoming at the campground and how I should look to get some canned goods on sale so that I could have some quick meal fixes when I needed it. ( I usually cook everything from scratch)  My concern however was that I get canned goods that were low sodium and nutritious.  This morning I walked outside to the barn where I go to get supplies for campers and there was a 20 litre bin with canned goods inside.  It was another anonymous drop off.  I opened it up to find cans of soup, stew and even meat - all within their expiry times and many of them weight watcher's brand.  (my favourite canned goods)

ATTRACTION IN ACTION.  I send my heartfelt gratitude to the donors and the Universe - with the intention that they too are blessed.

The most interesting part of this story is that thoughts and feelings of gratitude - which I truly feel - is the highest vibrations that one can send out.  These great thoughts can only attract great things to them - at the same vibrational level.

Some would say I am lucky.  And I am.  But it is not luck which attracted the things I wanted or needed.  It was simply the fact that I changed my mind.

Want to learn more about how you can change your life by changing your mind?  Learn more here

Coming clean - part 2

Almost two years ago - I stepped out and posted a blog about stepping into my own power. ( See this blog "A Roaring Woman coming clean" http://roaringwomen.blogspot.ca/2010/10/roaring-woman-coming-clean.html)

Yesterday after hearing a compelling campaign to end violence against women on 660 news - part of the Rogers Mega Communication company, I decided it was time to step a little closer to the plate.

I issued the following press release - and it has been met with media coverage.  The link to the media coverage is below.  It is time now, to ROAR - not just about business but about life!

Communications company gives victim and business leader courage to speak up

Violence has affected even the leaders in our society

On May the 9^th a communications giant announced a campaign to end violence against women.  It was then that Mandie Crawford realized it was time to speak up and reveal a 35 year old secret that very few knew – that continues to affect her daily. Crawford is the former Business Woman of the year (2010) for Calgary Alberta and also former Police Officer of the Year (2000) for Oakville Ontario.

As a young teen she had treated her sexual abuse and molestation as a skinned knee.  It was not nearly as important – or so she thought - as the death her Aunt experienced from the same abuser.  Both were violence against women.

“This violence has affected myself and my family for over 35 years.  It was a life changing event for me – that left unreported resulted in the violent death of my Aunt – and over 3 decades of sadness and loss for my family” says Crawford. 

“I have heard - and silently supported ending violence against women ever since – but I have never gone public with my story for fear of making my family and others uncomfortable.”   After hearing this campaign launched by a communications giant – she decided it was time to speak up.

“Violence – no matter how small the victim may perceive it - is never small.  It changes who we are”, continues Crawford – who despite battling depression her entire life, has received several awards for achievement – a citizen hero being just one.

Violence against women can include physical violence, sexual abuse and molestation and verbal threats. These are just a few ways to identify the ways women are assaulted.  It is reported to affect up to four in ten women in our society.  Victims are often silent because they do not want to appear victims, are afraid of reprisals from the perpetrator, don’t believe the justice system can protect them and are even afraid they will be blamed (or blame themselves) for the event(s).

Crawford admits that the silence from victims has to end. 

“Yes there is awareness –however until leaders like myself step up to the plate and speak out – and let other women know it has happened to people like myself – how can we expect the less assertive to report the crimes against them.  How will we address this problem head on if so any of us remain silent”.  Moving forward, Crawford cites that there is a book in the works – but has not yet decided when to release it.  “My sole purpose today is to have the courage to speak up – so others will have the courage to do the same”

Mandie Crawford is the President of Roaring Women Ltd – Canada’s premier business support organization for women.  She was voted Calgary Business Woman of the Year in Calgary for 2010.  She was also awarded Police Officer of the Year (2000) in Oakville Ontario as a police officer with Halton Regional Police Service.  She was also awarded a Citizen Hero award from Haldimand Norfolk Police in 1995 for identifying and reporting a sexual predator while on a hike in Simcoe Ontario.

She is the mother of four children – one of whom recently testified as a result of her own sexual assault.  Details cannot yet be released as the case is awaiting the courts decision.

Mandie Crawford is living outside of Calgary AB, can be reached for interview or comment using the contact data below.

Mandie Crawford
e. president@roaringwomen.com

Rogers media has picked up the release and broadcast this as a top story all day May 10th 2012

Here is their link on the web to a short written piece:http://www.660news.com/news/local/article/361272--business-leader-encourages-victims-to-come-forward-after-morning-for-change

Is it just me or are people a little timid about selling stuff?

OK - so maybe it's just me.  But I have noticed in my years of business coaching that many women are just plain timid when it comes to selling their stuff!  Yes ladies - I am looking at YOU!

Whether a service or a product, I often hear the following comments;

• "Well I don't want to push my service down their throat"
• "If they want my products,  they will come to me"
• "It's not about the money - I just love doing what I do"

Let me set the record straight.

1. " I don't want to push my service down their throat"
   You will never be able to make anybody buy anything.  If you do not market and blow your own horn - how will people know the benefits you offer or the problems you can solve for them?
   
2. "If they want my products,  they will come to me"
   If you are not on your potential customers radar - they will NOT come to you.  Chances are better that they will go to someone who has been educating them on the benefits of their product or service.  YOU must be proactive - and that is that marketing is!
   
3.  "It's not about the money - I just love doing what I do"
   Ahem!  Ah yes, it is all about the money.  If you cannot make money doing what you love to do - you will have to get a job!  The new business model is built around making money doing what you love to do - and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.  Making money is all about fair trade for fair value.  You give something of value and you are compensated for it.  It's that simple - and FAIR

Blowing your own horn and promoting your product is NOT about pushing your opinion or your sales speal at someone - it is about reminding them of a problem and then educating them on the benefits of your solution.  Being timid, becoming a business wildflower at the dance of marketing will result in you going home alone - without the sale. 

So let's step out of our quiet comfort zone and make some joyful noise about your business!  You will reap great benefits as a result - and might even make some money!

For more information on how you can promote your business more effectively - why not become a free member of Roaring Women.  When you join you will receive a free book with 52 Marketing ideas!  Learn more here

The ad that made me mad...

That's right.  Furious at first.  And then I thought. "what a stroke of genius!"

Having viewed it in the Financial Post on Tuesday March 6th, I wanted to discuss it with a colleague and so searched for it online to send her a copy.  To my amazement - the ad had appeared over the last several months all across Canada in over 10 newspaper publications.

It must be working.  The only reason to repeat an ad is because it works well.  And in the words of my marketing buddy and copy writer Troy White, "if an ad works, keep using it until it does not work any longer".  


Listen in here to Mandie and Troy discussing this advertising technique!

So what made me so angry about the ad?  Well, I thought it was deceptive.  It was a full page ad with fine print at the top of the page letting you know it was an advertisement.  The left 3 inches of the page was in reverse print (black with white print) with the number 2012 in bold.  Then there was another box - much longer underneath that read POSTAL CODE Distribution Notice.  There was a drawing of the map of Canada and a check box that looked very similar to the check box that Elections Canada or other government agencies use.

The Headline beneath a large photo read "Canadian residents set to get new portable heaters being released by Postal Code"

"WOW", I thought.  The government is giving away heaters?  Given the economic conditions and the incentive programs being announced almost daily - I thought perhaps this fell into the category of 'keep Canada warm' or some other silly title the Government seems to come up with when entitling their programs.

Under the title was the subtitle which read "Residents who find their Postal Code listed below qualify to get a new high performance zone heater that drastically slashes heat bills, but only callers who beat the 48 hour order deadline are getting the new heaters that keep you warm for just pennies an hour"

For many readers, this was clearly all they needed to know.  And many unsuspecting residents of said postal code undoubtedly ran to their telephones to dial the 1-800 number to order their heaters.  Imagine their shock when after giving their information they found out that the heaters in fact would cost them 'six hundred and forty dollars'.  (note I did not use numbers here - and  neither did the advertisers in the article).

It's like saying that the heaters are free and the shipping is 'six hundred and forty dollars'.  So why am I upset?  Even though I did not buy a heater nor call the number - I felt 'duped'.  Tricked in fact.  I was not upset with the ad writer but with the company who were clearly gathering a list of possible future consumers - and not just for this particular product!

For me the issue was that even  though the article mentioned the price ( and note it did not use numbers but words - harder to scan and locate), it almost concealed the fact that there was a cost by using words and not numbers.  If after the word 'order' in any part of the ad they mentioned price - it would be clear that the heaters cost money.

Now let me also say - the ad - although a little misleading is fair.  Consumers who do not take time to read the article cannot blame the copy writer or the company for their own laziness.  It is after all 'caveat emptor' in any marketing.

And this is where I recognize the brilliance of the ad.  Knowing the weakness of the consumer - time stressed and always looking for a freebie - they capitalized on the economic climate and the current behaviours of the consumer to produce an ad that got results.  And in the end - it is the bottom line that eventually rules.

The question now is "how can I use this method of advertising (applying my own ethics of course) to generate more leads and increase my income.  The ad is worth another look for that reason alone!

Mandie Crawford offers marketing training and business coaching.  Learn more here

Are the best things in life really free?

Now that's a title to ponder.  And I only ask it because lately I have bumped into some really great stuff - and all of it was free.  Things in fact that enriched my life. Added value so to speak.  And it made me wonder why I don't tap into these 'free' resources more often.

Case in point is CBC radio.  When I was growing up - you  had to be a fuddy-duddy to listen to CBC radio.  Or live in the north.  I know because at one point I lived in a town called Blue River BC (pop 400) and the only radio station we could get was CBC radio.  And I listened once or twice.  I may have fallen asleep to a CBC talk show occasionally because I was living alone and afraid of my own shadow - that and "Three Paw" - the bear that roamed the property.

Anyway - back to CBC.  Totally free.  Except that in some way our taxes support it. (I think)  I started tuning in about 2 months ago - and was intriques by the intelligent conversation.  And then - the early adapter and explorer that I am - I stumbled across a brand new program.  Terry O'Reilly hosts a show called the "Age of Persuasion".  It's not a call in show - more like a monologue filled with great history, opinion, intelligent thoughts, brilliant observations and the like - all around marketing.

As far as I am concerned the government could simply stop throwing good money after bad into small business programs and simply support Terry's program - and businesses in Canada would be better served! Yes - it is good.

Back to "the best things in life are free".  Is this really true?  Well think about it.  Hand holding.  Hugs.  Someone opening a door for you.  Laughter. Good advice.  But these are more ethereal in nature.  How about more free stuff for your business?

Have you checked out Google lately?  Google offers so much for free that we forget the benefits even exist.  Free document storage.  Free document sharing.  Free email for your web site.  Free calendars.  FREE FREE FREE.  In fact when they actually ask for your credit card for something because it costs money - we seem shocked!  What?  It's not free?

Chris Anderson penned an insightful look at FREE in his book by the same word.  (Unfortunately the book was not free.)  It examined the give-away strategy to get someone to buy a product.  He cited many many examples including the Google business model - and it prompted me to ponder how I could use this same strategy in my business.  We had marginally explored free and offered up sporadic 'freebie' strategies but did not have in place a good product ladder - starting with free.

This is why we came up with the Free Membership level at Roaring Women.  Do you get good stuff for free?  Yes!

The question now is how can you use FREE in your business?  What thing of value can you give away for free?  And let me stress the value part - because all of us have drawers - and might I offer - boxes of free stuff that is literally junk that people have given us for free.  No free is only good when it is of value to you.  So what good things can you give away?

Well let's start with your expertise. And I will go back to Terry O'Reilly.  His radio show or podcast is free.  He gives away his expertise.  I laugh - I think and I am inspired by his knowledge.  So much so - I now am looking for what else I can buy from him.  And if I cannot find anything to buy from him - I will likely tattoo his name on my arm. (really?)  He does have a book - and I am looking to see where I can get it for free (ha ha).

Yes the best things in life are free.  And next in line - are the things that people who give free stuff away - have for sale.  Are you thinking yet?

BTW did you know we offer Free Coaching to members.  And free tips?  

Time to reconnect and ask the "Important" questions

Every once in a while - its important to ask those all important questions truth seeking questions.  As individuals in an ever changing universe, we sometimes find ourselves looking inward when we look in the mirror - instead of critiquing the new wrinkle that appeared from 'God knows where'.  (I think this introspection revs up after 50)

Questions like: "Why am I here?",  "What's it all about?" and the like.  For anyone who has ever done any personal growth or life coaching - there are  these and other probing questions routinely raised by coaches that go beyond the "how are you?" and "whatchya doin?"

Yesterday while rubbing my dog's ears and cradling his furry brown head in my hands - I peered into his eyes and said, "Hey Finnegan - What's going on for you?".  Not surprisingly he looked directly at me as if he understood and leaned into my ear rubbing and gave me his 'ahhh that feels good' dog groan.  He was satisfied.  Warm, walked, well fed and loved, he had answered my question with a knowing look and a groan.

Strangely - I got a much different response from my "on again, off again" partner.  When I asked him - "what's going on for you?" - he cocked his head to the side and looked at me as if I had two heads.  Clearly not understanding the meaning of the question or the intent behind it - he hurried on to do his stuff.  I was reminded by this response that there is a time and place for every question - and this was clearly not either.

Probing questions like "what's going on for you",
(or for me when looking in the mirror),  can be very revealing and can help us to reconnect to who we are and what we stand for.  I ask them of myself regularly; birthdays, when feeling blue or when involved in mindless repetitive tasks that have little purpose.

Many would tell me that I think too much.  But I have always believed that even if we are not always truthful with the world - we must be honest with ourselves.  ( or shall I say I must always be honest with myself)   It is how we stay connected to that life breathing force.  Our source as Wayne Dyer calls it.  Many others call it God - or the God within.

So one day before I reach my 51st birthday, I am awakened at 4 am by a dream where I am having an extremely revealing and honest conversation with someone I barely knew - but sensed a connection with.  And it made me ask myself - "what's going on for me?"

My first response as I swung my legs over the side of the bed was to think, "Oh, I dunno - not too much".  Then I realized the meaning of the question and the intent behind it.  It was time to reconnect to myself.  My source was reaching out to me - to see how I was doing.

Some would say that this question was posed to me from none other than God himself.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"  Many other scriptures and holy writings also confirm us that God resides within us.

Realizing I just heard the voice of my creator - asking me how I was doing and what was going on for me, made me recognize -  I am loved and cared for.  It's time to reconnect and answer the question!

A much needed reminder...

Today I received and important phone call and an equally important email connecting me back to my past.  Both came from women with whom I had significant relationships not so long ago.  Last year however - like it has been for many others - was a devastating year for me.

Gladly - I have left 2011 and jumped eagerly into new opportunities in 2012.  Oh what a difference a day can make in terms of how we view the world.  I mean really - what could really be the difference between December 31st and January 1st 2012?

It wasn't so much as a change in the year as it is a change in how I feel and my attitude towards the future.  Interesting huh?

As eager as I was to leave 2011 behind I did take time to reflect on what made that year in particular so difficult for me.  And then I realized after the call and the email - that I had left behind many good things without realizing it.  And in just a few moments in the new year - two of those good things (relationships) came back  into my life.  And in a moment- I brought forward all the good things that I had left behind!

Tara - a client and friend was first to connect.  She too has had her share of 'stuff' in the last couple of years.  One of the decisions she made in the new year was to reconnect with important people in her life.  I hope she realizes the importance of her reconnection - how healing it was for me.  I see that when those important connections become broken - we lose a little of ourselves.  So thank you Tara! (please see her site here)

The other reconnect was with Deborah.  Her company designed our site - and has been instrumental in encouraging me to continue moving forward in my business no matter how much it hurt. (yes I do have bad years too)  Deborah is in re-invention mode - stretching her entrepreneurial reach into the hotel business!  Pretty soon I expect her to 'rule the world'.  She already rocks it!

Lesson for me?  It could be summed up in "don't throw the baby out with the bath water".  But in all seriousness, the second lesson is about staying connected.  In order to become the best 'us' we can be - we have to remain connected to the good bits - because every time we leave one good bit behind - we lose a little of the best of who we are!

Deborah and Tara bring out the good bits in me - and I am glad that they have found me again!  Makes me feel like orchestrating group hug... or joining the one below!

Lessons from my brown furry business partner

It seems that 90% of all things good that I have learned in the last three years about balance in my business - I learned from my dog.

Time off - the need for encouragement and non-judgmental acceptance are only a few of the lessons Finnegan has taught me.

I realized it this week - when at 6 am I was up and working on some things to get caught up.  He walked up to me and with a sleepy look in his eyes nudged my arm off my keyboard.  He waited patiently - nudged again and then lay at my feet. I petted his head, scratched him under the chin and went back to work. Several minutes later he went back to bed - which at 7:30 I realized I should have done because all I had accomplished was a little work and a lot of changing of my mind - causing rewrite after re-write!

Later that day - around 10 am - Fin decided we both needed  a good walk. As I drove us both to the dog park - I could see him in the rear view mirror - his Labrador laugh and his tongue hanging out.  As I turned the corner to the the local off leash dog park - his ears went down and he seemed to slump.  He realized we were only going to the little dog park - he knows it well.

Then like lightening - a thought crossed my mind.  (some would call it a flash of brilliance!)  I turned the car around and headed to the highway.  He immediately sat up - tongue out - and began to laugh again - we were going to the woods by the Bow River!  I smiled as I realized how much he loved our long walks together.

He bounded out of the car, chased sticks, laughed, jumped, walked calmly beside me, nudged me for treats,  perched on rocks like a trick circus dog and tracked elk and other wildlife.  He was in his element - and he had taken me there with him.

I took long deep cold breaths of the woodland smells. Pine, Aspen and wet earth.  When we got to the river - Finnegan lay in the icy water and I smelled the freshness of the rushing water on the rocks.  The sun shone - the blue sky winked at me and 'Three Sisters" mountain wrapped her arms around me in a spiritual hug - holding me near to her greatness.

As I looked around me - I realized that I was experiencing the universe in all its splendor - right where I was standing.  Finnegan instinctively came to my side and sat there  - just looking forward, around and up - totally at peace.

There were no sounds except the winter birds chirping,  the fragrant pine boughs rustling in the wind and the whooshing rushing sounds of the river.

Nothing and everything was important - all at one time.  There was no need to make decisions - no need to say anything, no need to move.  All I needed to be was to BE.

Three Sisters Mountain - Canmore AB

On our drive home I began singing at the top of my lungs to a song I loved that was on the radio.  I didn't know all the words - so inevitably sang the first ones that came to mind.  They made no sense at all - and I began to mentally chastise myself for singing the wrong words.  Funny thing was - Finnegan didn't even protest - or remind me the words I just sang were the wrong words.   He just knew that the sounds I was making - was a joyful noise - and he accepted it just as that.

I realized as I got back to my desk - that it was time to relinquish some of the reigns of power - and turn them over to Finnegan.  He knew how to just BE - and enjoy BEING.  He did not have to achieve anything before 7:30 am, and did not require accolades have the 'need' to make the sale.  He was happy in the experience he was in - wherever that was.

I think it is time I began listening more to my dog and less to myself!