My Business Life

This is the final episode of Season 2, so Shama and Lindsay took the opportunity to look back at the many fantastic guests who joined the podcast over the past seven months, the "golden nugget" of wisdom each guest had to offer, and the inspiring theme of growth that emerged throughout the season.Season 2 of the podcast began during a time of great uncertainty for everyone, only a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic. To keep ourselves and the guests safe a big departure was made from My Business Life Season 1, which was recorded entirely in person, and for Season 2 we had to learn to record remotely and connect with each other only through our computer screens. While this was a big challenge it pushed us towards growth, and as Shama talks about in this episode "growth is essentially change."Our many guests this season brought a number of important messages for our listeners and entrepreneurs in general, ranging from the importance of staying on top of our health and wellness (along with some new and interesting approaches to doing so), to the value of knowing your worth, to how to be the great leader that your team deserves, as well as sound financial advice. While the theme of Season 2, Growth, emerged on its own through the many conversations we had, Season 3 will be dedicated to stories of resilience in the face of adversity. Keep an eye on your social media feed so you don't miss out when Season 3 launches in Spring 2021."You need to keep going no matter what."—Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedin

"It gave me so much joy, to be able to work with that many small businesses in a time of panic, and be that calm voice that's like 'You can still do business.'" In this episode of My Business Life, Jonathan Christian talks about moving to Canada,  his experience becoming an entrepreneur, and how he's managed to build a business around teaching others the lessons he's learned along the way.The unexpected can strike at any time and if we don't know how to adapt to the winds of change, we might need some insight on what do do next. Whether it's acclimating to the digital age and new social media marketing trends or just keeping the website up to date,  a bit of guidance can help lead you towards success.Throughout his own years of hardship, Jonathan found a way to use social media as a tool to build up businesses, eventually making a career around helping others build online marketing strategies. These days, Jonathan has found a way to help struggling businesses find their voice and their "why" through these dark times. "The more people that tell their story authentically, vulnerably and passionately. The more people understand why they should do business with them." Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinJonathan Christian: website | facebook | linkedin

"Are you willing to be uncomfortable, to become comfortable?" is a mantra Natalie Mitchell took and ran with while starting out in real estate . In this episode of My Business Life, our guest Natalie talks about her experiences dealing with being an entrepreneur during these difficult times, and how she kept an eye out for opportunities.Natalie talks about financial security for women in this podcast, and how there is a lack of financial education for women in today's day and age. A lot of people get caught up in their day to day, never really second guessing their outlook and behavior towards money and how changing that can greatly affect our future.It's important to be selective about how we spend our time and attention, especially in our work and our personal lives. Learning to set boundaries and say no in some cases can be a way of actually saying yes to new people or opportunities. Being mindful of this, in a time where working remotely can be a new way of life to entrepreneurs, can be quite an adjustment in itself."By saying no to others, I was also saying yes to people who I was saying no to for a long time, like my daughters."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: [website] | [facebook] | [linkedin]Lindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: [website] | [facebook] | [linkedin]Activated Leadership: [facebook] | [linkedin]Natalie Mitchell - Your Way Real Estate: [website] | [facebook] | [linkedin] 

"If someone is critiquing the product or the work, they aren't critiquing you as a person." In this episode of My Business Life, Joanne Bartolome explains why she thrives on feedback, why we need it, and how important it is to change our relationship with criticism if we want to grow our business.When it comes to building our careers, an area we often overlook is how we perceive feedback, our resistance to constant change, and before long both of these things may overwhelm us. As entrepreneurs, it can be hard to separate ourselves from our work, as we spend so much of every lives pouring ourselves into it constantly. Fortunately for us, Joanna Bartolome thrives in both of these areas.Building up her own social media strategies and helping business owners navigate the world of social media (and innovation), Joanne has spent the majority of the pandemic designing new approaches to help entrepreneurs thrive in 2021. From social media planning, to thriving on trial and error, there is a lot we can learn from Joanne and embracing the constant change going on around us. It's all about observing, learning, and adapting. "What's the best you can do right now to really set yourself up for success in 2021?"Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinJoanne Bartolome: website | facebook | linkedin

"We're planning for tomorrow, but we're still living for today." In this episode of My Business Life, Todd Schmekel reminds us why it's so important to have a financial plan, and explains the role a financial advisor can have in easing our stress.It's hard to look out at the future and wonder what our lives will be like when we retire, and what we'll need when we arrive there. What if something happens along the way and our plans are shot? There are no shortage of things to consider as we plan for the future, but fortunately for us there are people like Todd who are here to help.Having grown up in a family of investors, Todd's mother was a banker and his father was the director of a crown corporation. He was taught at a young age that "you don't get something for nothing", and that hard work and keeping your focus on your goal pays always off in the long run. It's Todd's mission to help as many people as possible live long, happy, and financially stress-free lives."What we don't understand is what money can do for us."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinTodd Schmekel: website | facebook | linkedin

"I'm going to do whatever it takes, including that discomfort, to go from here to there." In this episode of My Business Life, Randy Taylor explains the power of neuroscience, and the different ways we can use it to help ourselves rewire how we think. Everything can be boiled down to a thought: what we believe, why we believe it, how we feel about that belief, and everything in between. Randy Taylor of Taylor Made Leadership walks us through his philosophy on why neuroscience can help us shift into a winning state of mind.Having gone from being terrified of public speaking, to being able to comfortably address crowds of 50,000 people or more, Randy was able to take control of his life (and his potential) but studying the way we think. Deconstructing the "why" being our thoughts, and learning ways to strengthen healthy thought patterns, may very well be the only tool we need in our toolbox to make the most out of life."My job is to do my very best to hold up the mirror and help people believe in themselves more."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinRandy Taylor: website | facebook | linkedin

"Sound as medicine has been used throughout centuries." In this episode of My Business Life, Saleste Mele explains why sound is her preferred healing method, and the importance of applying ancient wisdom to our modern lives.When something ails us, the first way to healing we often consider is conventional medicine. When it comes to flipping the script, Saleste Mele turns to the ancient practices, and uses the power of sound to clear us of our emotional unrest, and even trauma.Having studied a variety of practices - massage, herbalism, meditation, to name a few -Saleste returns to sound time and time again, as just like sound, we too are a complex arrangement of frequencies. With classes, one-on-one coaching, and workshops, Saleste helps others tap into their voice, release their tensions, and create a safe space for anyone who needs to heal."Our voice is indicative of our spirit."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinSaleste Mele: website | facebook | linkedin

"Let's heal in a way for us that is beneficial on all levels." In this episode of My Business Life, Kristy Garnet of Almandine Wellness discusses her take on blending both Eastern and Western medicine, and how a blend of both is the ideal strategy.Most of the time we tend to perceive Eastern and Western medicine as two separate entities, not considering that in many cases the ideal approach is a blend of both. Coming from a prior stint with Western medicine, and seeing the healing abilities of Eastern holistic healing, Kristy has designed a wellness approach that gives us the best of both worlds.Although a lot of what Kristy has previously done would take place in person, now that the world is on standby and our lives are mostly digital, she has been working around the clock to service her clientele over the internet. Where others may have been deterred from their practice, Almandine Wellness is running full force amidst the heart of COVID-19."You can have real healing and real connection over the internet."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinKristy Garnet - Almandine Wellness: website | facebook | instagram

"You need mentors that have some of the knowledge and perspective you can draw from." In this episode of My Business Life, Cory Fehr of Integrity Insitu tells us how he managed to make the most of the pandemic, and how to be there for your team in hard times.We don't often imagine as we go about building our businesses, that something could happen that completely derails all of our plans. As entrepreneurs, it falls on on us to find new ways to adapt to our environment, and Cory Fehr is no exception. Trying to make the most of unfamiliar circumstances in the oil and gas industry, Cory has found ways to expand his business and keep pace.Meanwhile, he's had to provide support for his family, team, and those around him, as they all deal with their own hardships in these turbulent times. All in all, no matter how difficult the situation, there is always a way through it. If we can make ourselves available, listen, and support our team, then we will get through it together."If you do that then you will keep pushing, and if you can't you're going to have a real uphill struggle.Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinCory Fehr- Integrity Institu: website | facebook | linkedin

"I want to help a million men, and empower them to really get their life back." In this episode of My Business Life, Madhura Joshi of Madhura Joshi Coaching discusses why male vulnerability is important, and how to help them always show up as their best selves.From a young age, culture starts to place many expectations on us as we enter the real world. We may not realize it, but men are often taught to: carry the world on their shoulders, man up, suppress their own emotions, and always find a way to figure it out by themselves. Unfortunately, this is a very unhealthy lesson to be taught, and eventually it can lead men astray.Taking the fight into her own hands, Madhura Joshi of Madhura Joshi Coaching has decided to take this fight on herself. By learning how to address men in a way that they respond, and to try and set the example for her two sons, she hopes to shift the narrative and help men find healthy ways to cope with the expectations placed on them by society."If we can create young men that are capable of changing the way they operate in the world, it benefits all of us so beautifully."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinMadhura Joshi - Madhura Joshi Coaching: facebook | linkedin

"My passion is education, and educating people on what good nutrition can be." In this episode of My Business Life, Meghan Barefoot explains the connection between what we eat, and how it not only affects our daily lives, but our business lives too.Starting her career as a geologist trying to find the next big pot of gold, it wasn't until nutrition changed her children's lives that Meghan Barefoot began to study nutrition, diet, and how so many of our physical ailments stem from what we eat. As entrepreneurs, we often forget to take the time to make sure we are taking care of our physical health. Diet is no stranger to being put on the wayside as we build our careers.Nutrition also has tremendous impacts on our emotional health. The state of our gut flora, and the fact that our gut is responsible for sending the majority of our emotional signals to our brain, it's crucial to practice clean, and healthy eating. That doesn't necessarily mean eating like a rabbit, it just means watching our eating habits, adjusting when necessary, and continuing to thrive at our best ability."If your gut is not working right, it's really hard for your brain to work right."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinMeghan Barefoot - No Shoes Nutrition: website | facebook | linkedin

"I find the world of work deeply meaningful." In this episode of My Business Life, Tom Morin shows us how to connect with our work, find meaning in our careers, and ultimately accomplish our goals.It's not uncommon to hear friends and colleagues dreading going to work, or feeling a lack of fulfilment in how they spend their working lives. There may be a variety of reasons for this, but in the end our work will feel aimless if we don't connect with the meaning behind it. After spending some time in the military, and almost dying twice on the job, Tom Morin set out to help others find ways to connect with their work, so instead of trying to escape the workforce, people would strive to become a part of it.Now, a public speaker, an author, a consultant, and a mentor for those seeking a better way to find meaning in their careers, Tom reminds us that connecting with our work may not be as out of reach as we once believed. Whether you're a bus driver, or a fortune 500 CEO, a shift in perspective is all that stands in the way between you and unlocking the limitless potential we all possess. Work Feels Good, Tom's agency, is all about empowering the individual, and setting you on a path to greatness."Humans are masters at filling our days with tasks to accomplish goals."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinTom Morin - Work Feels Good: website | facebook | linkedin

"I didn't even know how to run a business myself." In this episode of My Business Life, John Vuong shares his experiences building his own business from scratch, the growing pains along the way, and the importance of a team you can count on.John is a seasoned sales professional and internet marketer, with an exceptional track record helping companies grow their clientele and profits. Through years of experience working with CEOs, business owners, and marketing leaders at some of Canada’s most successful corporations, John developed a deep understanding of local marketing dynamics and consumer behaviour. Working with more than 5,000 local business owners, John was inspired to start his own company, Local SEO Search, in 2013.Having never built a business before, John quickly learned the importance of accelerated growth, building a reliable team that can act as the backbone of the company, and just how pivotal a team can be to let you focus on the "why" of your business. Now a proud father, John enjoys coaching and mentoring new entrepreneurs, and runs an annual school supply campaign to help deserving young people in elementary and primary grades."Let's let other people evolve, and do things so they can show their leadership skills."Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedinJohn Vuong - Local SEO Search: website | facebook | linkedin

"They understand my value, so they fit within my target market." In this episode of My Business Life, Lloyd Hamshaw discusses the importance of knowing your worth, finding clients that can see the value in what you do, and what can happen when they don't.There is no doubt that COVID-19 may be remembered as one of the most disruptive events in the last century. Between the lockdowns and social isolation measures, there was no way to predict just how much the pandemic would affect business owners. Now that we're a few months into isolation, we can begin to see trends emerge, and can start to paint a bigger picture of what the road ahead may look like.As consultants, Shama and Lindsay are determined to find alternative means for businesses to navigate this unpredictable circumstance, and provide insight that may help entrepreneurs stay afloat in these trying times. At the end of the day, our mind set is what gives us the strength to face life head on, and activated leadership might just be a good place to start."Sometimes people you charge the least to are the ones that are the most difficult to deal with."Lloyd Hamshaw - REAL Recruitment: website | facebook | linkedinShama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedinLindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedinActivated Leadership: facebook | linkedin

"How do you figure out overnight what you're going to do?" In this episode of My Business Life, Shama and Lindsay discuss the impacts COVID-19 has made on business owners, and what the future landscape of business may look like for 2020. There is no doubt that COVID-19 may be remembered as one of the most disruptive events in the last century. Between the lockdowns and social isolation measures, there was no way to predict just how much the pandemic would affect business owners. Now that we're a few months into isolation, we can begin to see trends emerge, and can start to paint a bigger picture of what the road ahead may look like. As consultants, Shama and Lindsay are determined to find alternative means for businesses to navigate this unpredictable circumstance, and provide insight that may help entrepreneurs stay afloat in these trying times. At the end of the day, our mind set is what gives us the strength to face life head on, and activated leadership might just be a good place to start. "Once hope comes into the equation maybe you can start to see recovery." Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedin Lindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedin Activated Leadership: facebook | linkedin

"They're looking for things that will fuel them in some way." In this episode of My Business Life, Shama and Lindsay discuss co-hosting the show, and how they'll be consulting live on the air for future episodes. As Shama gears up for another season of My Business Life, she brings back former guest Lindsay White as the new co-host for this upcoming season. Together, Shama and Lindsay will be openly addressing hot topics that arise for HR consultants, the shifting dynamics and applications of activated leadership, and bringing on guests to receive real-time consulting live on the air. Employees often require more than just a steady pay-check. At the end of the day, they aren't just a function of your business, but people who require fulfillment and a sense of purpose. By implementing activated leadership into your practice, we don't just invite our staff into our vision, we actually give them a sense of ownership and the ability to thrive inside of our businesses. "It's not just something that's written on a piece of paper. It's something you can actively take into your business every day." Shama Yunus-Joynt - SYJ Consulting: website | facebook | linkedin Lindsay White - High Voltage Coaching: website | facebook | linkedin Activated Leadership: facebook | linkedin

"It's not normal to talk about this stuff at work, or at home." In this episode of My Business Life, Demetre Balaktsis lays out his mission to change the narrative of mental health, and strides to build more healthy work environments. Mental health is a topic that is becoming more prevalent in the workplace. Demetre is doing everything he can to change the narrative around mental health, so that employees can feel safe to openly discuss their struggles and have space to heal. We have all heard "walk it off" to such a point that we begin to believe emotional transparency is weak or taboo in our careers. With a Red Cross certified program, Demetre believes that with enough enrollment, we could change the way we see mental health, gain the necessary tools to cope when it hinders us, and build a new frontier for overall well being as functioning adults in the 21st century. "We fear our job loss because we are no longer adding value in some way." SYJ-Consulting.com Proactiv Resilience Solutions

"Having a podcast creates credibility around your services." In this episode of My Business Life, Alex Hochhausen explains just how vital having a podcast is in providing credibility for your services and products, and the different ways it can be an effective marketing tool. When launching our businesses, we can easily overlook effective ways to legitimize our services and set ourselves apart from the pack. Marketing can often go beyond having an effective product or service roll out. A simple way to further establish yourself in your industry is by providing your customers and clients with a means of connecting with you through your own podcast. Being one of the fastest growing industries with one of the lowest levels of market penetration, taking your business to the next level with a professionally produced show that can be shared and streamed is a sure shot way to strengthen your branding and ride the wave of the biggest upcoming boom of media marketing since the birth of internet radio. "Once business owners are really able to dial in their content, the benefit grows." SYJ-Consulting.com Astronomic Audio

"At the end of the day you're buying your time back." In this episode of My Business Life, Jon Lamont shows us just how important automated systems can be for entrepreneurs as we construct the frameworks of our businesses. For many of us, starting our own business is a means to an escape from the 9-5 of standard industry. As we start to build our business, it can be incredibly easy to get carried away with fixating on certain aspects of what it will take for our pursuit to become self sustainable. Jon Lamont has found an angle in this process, and has set out to help lierbate entrepreneurs by introducing automated systems into start-up (and established) companies. The less we have to do, the more we can begin to take advantage of our current situation. Automation can help us spend less time in front of our desk, and more time with our families, loved ones, and alleviate some of the weight of being and entrepreneur. "Time is the most finite resource we have. Once you lose it you never get it back." SYJ-Consulting.com Jon Lamont

"When we live in fear we are not creative." In this episode of My Business Life, Claudia Velandia dives into the importance of understanding the Ego, it's affect on our state of mind, and how to liberate ourselves from its grasp. It's not very often that in a Western society focused on business (and entrepreneurship) that we are reminded to take the time to reflect on the Self. Claudia reminds us that it's invaluable to do the deep work and learn to understand on a conscious level who we are, how we choose to react to our surroundings, and how we can learn strategies to not only better ourselves, but better our business. To some of us, Eastern philosophy is something we tend to brush over, but Claudia delivers her message in a way that's accessible, digestible, and matter of fact. A truly refreshing perspective signaling through the noise of "self-help" and wellness. "Ego puts us in a box." SYJ-Consulting.com Quantum Thinking

"I recognized the bad rep of the industry." In this episode of My Business Life, Aarti Connell shares her innate passion to educate the public about the automotive industry and pave the way for mechanically literate customers. How many times have you gone to a mechanic shop, only to walk out feeling like you've been taken advantage of or unsure about what repairs are necessary? Having been a victim of this once before, Aarti Connell decided to take mechanical literacy into her own hands and create a series of workshops (both female and co-ed) to educate car owners on automotive maintenance. Aarti and her husband own a mechanic shop, and she is more than aware that mechanics haven't always been known to have the greatest reputation. With this new initiative, it is Aarti's hope that her mechanical literacy classes will empower car owners to be more comfortable with how to handle automotive maintenance, and the knowledge to understand when they are being taken advantage of (or not). "We want people to feel comfortable." SYJ-Consulting.com JCOAuto.ca

"In reality it's just about getting in front of people." In this episode of My Business Life, Chris Eder sheds light on digital marketing and how the right team can scale your business. As we set off into the land of self-employment we may often ask ourselves, "How do I generate a clientele?" Fortunately, the digital age has many tools that allow us to generate leads, build a clientele, and scale our businesses to new levels. Focusing on Facebook Ads, Chris and his team at One Source Profit help build, manage, and operate digital marketing campaigns to help generate predictable cash flow for business. Additionally, they go the extra mile to help educate their clients to ensure further success, and deploy strategies that will help you maintain the growing workload as you secure new clients. "Predictable cash flow helps remove so much stress." SYJ-Consulting.com One Source Profit

"We interface with the client in a way they understand." In this episode of My Business Life, Kelly Speers shares his perspective on cyber security, working through panic with clients, and how conflict resolution can be a peaceful process. It isn't always a simple task dealing with clients who are stressed out and in a panic. Fortunately, Kelly has taken it upon himself to disrupt the IT industry and has developed a way to handle tension in a way that leaves the clients and staff feeling calm, empowered, and knowledgeable. It is all too common of a story that working with an "IT Guy" is negative experience, but Kelly is challenging the industry with his forward thinking. As he continues to put the customer first, even in situations involving incredibly technical nuances, Kelly continues to make waves in the cyber security , in the business world, and as a father. "We're here. We're going to make it okay." SYJ-Consulting.com Your IT Results

"You cannot lead others if you can't lead yourself." In this episode of My Business Life, Lindsay White talks about the power of activated leadership, and the immense impact it can have on all aspects of our lives. When it comes to leadership, entrepreneurs don't always anticipate the need to lead a team when they first invision their business. We often make the mistake that because employees help us build our business, that they must be as passionate about it as we are. As the opposite is usually the case, learning to lead, empower, and create a sense of ownership for our team can change not just the outcome of our business, but also become a state of mind we carry into our personal lives. Activated leadership can be a game changer for everyone. "We all show up as a leader in a different way... it has to be authentic." SYJ-Consulting.com High Voltage Coaching

"It's about a deep meaningful connection with a purpose." Lindsay White returns to My Business Life to share her insights on how working with a personal coach and be a life changing experience. While society has lead many people to believe that we should be able to handle any of life's hardships by ourselves, Lindsay White beautifully illustrates how much of a positive impact working with a personal coach can be. Trained to recognize subtleties in our choice of words, body language, and helping us face areas of life we unknowingly ignore, a professional coach has ability to create a space for clients to work through difficult emotions, self-limiting beliefs, and empower us to live our best lives. "Why is the self-help section so big? Because we're looking for answers." SYJ-Consulting.com High Voltage Coaching

"We have to be open and honest with ourselves." Today's guest Vishal Ramanuj reminds us of how important it is to disconnect as an entrepreneur, and why we choose this life in the first place. Setting out to build a career as an entrepreneur so that he could spend more time with his family, Vishal inspires us to disconnect when we can in order to stay the course of being a business owner. It is all too familiar that running our own business can slowly start to blur the line between our personal lives and our professional ones, and it's up to us to separate the two. When the time comes to reconnect with himself, Vishal takes to the mountains to feel small, or fishes to stay present. It is men like Vishal that bring peace to an often chaotic industry. "Being able to feel small allows you to put things into perspective." SYJ-Consulting.com

"It's no surprise that people want to help others." Today's guest is content creator Matt Biggar. We discuss the philosophy of being a heart centred entrepreneur, and how we can apply this idea to business. There are a few different flavours of entrepreneur that exist, whether it's tracking balance sheets or investing time in building a company with the purpose of helping those around us. Matt shares his views on what it means to be a heart centred entrepreneur, and why it's important to not perceive the pursuit of monetary gain an inherently negative. With scale, success, and reach, we can take the fruits of our labour and use it to expand the power and impact of our businesses in ways that could one day impact millions of lives - all things that Matt shares with us in this great talk about our industry. "There's this saying that money is the root of all evil, but that's not true. It's about what you do with it." SYJ-Consulting.com Empowering Video

"You've got to have a tailored message." Today's guest is entrepreneur Andrew McLean. We discuss Andrews's views on listening to our clients, building trust, and how to effectively pitch ourselves to the industry. We often believe that when it comes to securing new clients, the most sure shot way of doing so is by displaying all of our accomplishments, achievements, and former successes. Andrew McLean explains how this often does the exact opposite, and the true way to build connections and establish a healthy network is by learning to listen to what our future clients have to say, and how to cater what we can offer to their specific needs. Having left a previously lucrative career in the oil industry, Andrew has set out to inspire the next generation of business owners and guide them along the way. "Networking and business development is about listening, not flaunting your resume." SYJ-Consulting.com Triforta

"A good coach gets into the muck." Today's guest is inspirational coach and entrepreneur Lindsay White. We discuss Lindsay's views on aligning ourselves with our values, how our beliefs define us in business, and how to deliver on our vision. Many times in business we find ourselves seeking to deliver a story or a message that resonates with our coworkers, employees, and our clients. In order to do this, it's imperative that we learn what our values are, get specific with our vision, and intertwine them into our company culture effectively. Taking the bull by the horns, Lindsay White left a 10 year career behind to seek a deeper sense of fulfillment and inspire those around her to live their best lives. Giving back to the community, she shares her story with us and has set out to be a coach to those yearning for more in their day to day lives. "Culture is a living breathing entity, like another employee." SYJ-Consulting.com High Voltage Coaching

"Personal development is critical." Today's guest is content creator and marketing storyteller Matt Biggar. We discuss Matt's views on personal development, how to connect with our audience, and how we never stop learning in life. When it comes to marketing, Matt seems to have uncovered a tried and true method of connecting with our audience: tell them a story. Taking content creation to a personal level, Matt shares his perspectives on why it's important to understand exactly who your target audience is, and why resonating with them on a personal level will yield dramatically improved results in business. When it comes to personal development, a key takeaway from this discussion is that no matter how many breakthroughs we have, we will never run out of obstacles to overcome. "People want to feel understood." SYJ-Consulting.com Empowering Video

"Encourage young people to think about how they're going to leave their mark on the world." Today's guest is software engineer and big-picture thinker Tami Miguens. We discuss Tami's career, inspiring future generations, and the search for equality. Tami has been paving the way for female software engineers, and is a force to be reckoned with. Not only is Tami doing her part to change the status quo and mold her industry to be more inclusive, she's also doing her part to inspire future generations to consider what impact they'll leave behind. More importantly, she has set out on a mission to help the general population understand the importance of technology, it's applications to everyday life, and why integration, individuality, and technological literacy is crucial in our ever changing world. "I think every day we have on this planet is an opportunity to do something important." SYJ-Consulting.com Ripeda.com

"Remember that you're not alone." Today's guest is business owner and loving mother Laura Bechard. We discuss Laura's life managing accounts for their family farm, the give and take of our partnerships, and why family comes first. When Laura and her husband got married, she quickly came to realize that balancing running a business while raising her family would be no simple task, especially when her husband would be at the farm almost day in and day out. As summer months grant her the ability to spend time with her family, winters are much labour intensive, both inside and outside of her bookkeeping duties for the family business. Fortunately, the power of conversation has given Laura the means to address her adversity, nurture her relationships, and bloom into an unstoppable entrepreneur. "It doesn't cost anything to have a conversation with somebody." SYJ-Consulting.com Provision Coaching

"Asking for help is not a sign of weakness... don't be afraid!" Today's guest is accountant and business owner Robyn Ring. We discuss Robyn's perspectives on the importance of a support community, tips to stay focused, and why help is important. In many ways, the freedom of being an entrepreneur is both ebb and flow. Starting her own paperless accounting firm, Robyn has learned first hand that the success of running a business isn't free from hardship. The highs are high, and the lows are low - but she has found a way to persevere through whatever is thrown at her in order to succeed. Not only that, but Robyn has come to learn that helping others (and having enough humility to ask for help) can go a long way. "Because I openly talk about it, they feel comfortable talking about it with me." SYJ-Consulting.com Cre8ive Balance