Unlocking Business Growth - exploring achievements, challenges and what's interesting

Paul Mercer, serial entrepreneur and conqueror of personal medical and business challenges, sincerely believes that a large part of the secret in founding and growing a successful business lies in the thinking.  The crystalized vision, the strategy (both financial and operational), competitive and market strategy and planning; clear forward picture of what the business will look like in 5, 10 and more years into the future.Growth then occurs through passion and the confidence to deliver.  Part of the secret sauce in his business is the education that the Portable Power Technology team provides to customers and prospects.  For large clients they have become an extension of the R&D or technical department having built deep loyalty, and endeavoring to continually enhance knowledge in the market.Passion drives success for the entire team and the customers, and the confidence to deliver is founded in a good strategy, plans, cash availability, and fantastic people.  Each accomplishment or hurdle overcome builds confidence and enhanced competence to handle the next one, which in turn feeds resilience and injects infectious joy.Seeing a potential future in community based energy storage and greener lifestyles, as well as ongoing explosion in portable power needs, Paul believes the future is exciting.  Solving the challenge of achieving greater energy storage to feed more powerful loads, employing new minerals for onboard storage without taking away from the range of the vehicle, and developing increasingly creative applications will continue to engage his niche and potential.Tune in to hear about: The reason the pain and panic bought by pandemic lockdown became business thrive. What is business growth really and why should it be different. How large customers provide growth without purchasing more of your products. How growth in revenue and profit can be maintained above an annualized 25% despite market circumstances. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Portable Power Technology websitePaul Mercer LinkedIn

Kavita Ganesan has assisted many clients to gain the advantage of split-second humanlike thinking, from a computer.  Her secrets even assist when it is hard to get from concept to starting the project due to inadequate data.She cautious that in many situations AI is wasted, it does not work, and people believe they need AI but in fact do not. However, the examples of the potential value to be derived where AI is appropriately deployed are fascinating, and should spark initiative to identify places to apply AI in every business.Human-level thinking required? Not a problem.  Whether applied broadly or in specifically targeted situations, large companies and small all potentially benefit from deploying AI.  Don't however look for immediate, directly consequential, or automatic positive impact on the bottom-line.  Some will see it fast but for many it will evolve over time in financial results, staff or customer satisfaction, quality enhancements, etc.Use an off-the-shelf tool or build from scratch. The secret to avoid failure lies in adequate preparation … data, validation, resources.  Replace part, or the entire, process or system currently deployed, but learn first from The Business Case for AI, A leader's Guide to AI Strategies, Best Practices & Real-World Applications.Tune in to hear about: Ideas for where to consider artificial intelligence, or use automation. How to close the gap between management and data scientists. Why AI projects disappoint, and how to ensure success. Why all companies potentially derive significant value through technology investment. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Kavita Ganesa's website and book website

Bryan Clayton used many of the lessons learned in his first business to grow the second, but he did find that the nature of the business has a big impact on how you achieve success.  It was difficult to switch from growing a lawn care business to building a technology business because a tech business is mostly inventing something new; never seen or used before.One of the secrets to growing your business is to focus on one level at a time, and look to gain knowledge or experience from multiple sources in order to build your own ability.  Progressively try to move towards working more on your business than in it, but be patient because the early years are a challenge.  Success in a technology business can be developed through rapidly releasing a first product, which probably embarrasses the creators but delights the small customer base you have, and using the valuable feedback received to develop a product that the market truly wants.Employing his superpower – consistency – made Bryan show up every day and persevere on the one or two things his business was working on to get to the next milestone. By doing it over and over, enthusiastically, until successful GreenPal has grown large, and yet Bryan feels they are only getting started.  Bryan counsels to stay enthusiastic as you pursue each milestone, do not get side tracked through the highs and lows, and for those who feel they have missed their opportunity in technology – remember what Marc Andreessen thought about his opportunities in technology!Tune in to hear about: The value of the first-year customer base. How to close the gap between founder logic and user logic. The double-edged sword of external funding. Finding a business soul-mate if you need a business co-founder. And more. Mentioned in this episode:GreenPal app:  Apple  or Google Bryan Clayton on Instagram 

John Cuomo planned to become an electrician, so how did he land developing a deep love for serving in, and developing leadership for, the fire service?It was in fire academy that John found his passion, and even competing for a job for two-and-a-half years did not deter him.  Early in his career John noticed that the role of everyone in the fire service is about leadership – leading within the service and taking charge of situations that are overwhelming the community.  He spent his career learning from as many business and community role models, and books, as possible and now retired has written his first book – Leadership Refined By Fire, a firefighter's guide to develop leadership skills, motivate and inspire others, and deliver exceptional care for the public – to make the knowledge available to others.One of John's core beliefs is that leadership is about personal responsibility; to be a good leader you also have to be a good follower. His book is an excellent description and demonstration of the many qualities that make exceptional leaders, illustrated with entertaining and inspirational stories.  The book arms leaders to create a workplace fueled by meaning and during our conversation John had special encouragement for firefighters, “Never let the downs get too low, keep your chin up.  It is a wonderful thing you are doing.” Listen as he discusses some of the content and provides a glimpse into his next book on mental health.Tune in to hear about: A missile on the beach, thanksgiving dinner cooked for an estranged family, and other stories. Which do we need more - good managers or good leaders? What is, or what are, the most important leadership quality/ies? How to find a mentor when the company is too small. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Website https://www.fdleadership.com/

Why would a senior executive interpreter in American Sign language with Spanish and English want to leave and start a new career, as a single parent to small children, on the other side of the country?  Well, because she sees it as an opportunity, and because most people would not do that. Cici drove herself hard, burnt out a few times, and had to learn to plan personal activities and business tasks in her calendar, but still achieve what she set her mind to.Through implementing her three step process of Identify, Influence, and Implement Cici now leads her teams, and coaches professionals and intrapreneurs to improve their own achievements, through mindset, productivity and performance.Being an executive in travel and hospitality at an exciting time presented a new opportunity to participate on the taskforce to restart operations.  The down time during the global pandemic also instigated the start of writing her book and coaching business.  Cici feels strongly that when people work on what they are passionate about they grow more, and faster, but she also practices cross-training  of her team members to facilitate learning new skills and working as a tightknit family to achieve together.She wants them all to achieve a balanced career and life. She teaches how to benefit by doing what others can't, won't or do not do.Tune in to hear about: Stories - what happened when she was working in China when the Covid-19 pandemic started. How to build loyal, high performing teams. The importance of respecting and following a well-balanced scheduler. Not settling for anything less than extraordinary. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Website  

After four successful years in business Stacey Brown Randall learned a hard lesson.  Without the right approach to business development the business has no future. You cannot hope your business into success and being in all the places all of the time, constant networking, is exhausting.  It would be magic if the sales pipeline could fill itself as you do what you do best.  Well with the right referral strategies it can!  Referrals that flow naturally and consistently.  When not attached to compensation they work especially well is a relational business, where there is a sizeable client investment.With just three secrets – get organized, follow the methodology, and trust the process – your relationships will generate referrals without you asking, paying, reciprocating, or manipulating.Tune in to hear about: When compensation for a referral does and does not work, and why. Three alternative approaches to generating referrals – depending on your starting point. The value of metrics and discipline. The most important reason growth tactics picked up from others often do not work. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Stacey Brown Randall website Freebies 

Purush Cannane creatively combined his engineering skill, passion for solving environmental problems, and his drive to help vulnerable communities when he founded Greenii to create paper bags from waste paper.  Avoiding post-consumer paper in order to bypass the need for additional environmentally unfriendly chemicals and processes, he sources high quality paper, offers employment to recently immigrated women, and has now sold thousands of carrier bags in Canada and the USA to replace single-use plastic bags.Not stopping yet, Purush has gone on to invent equipment to facilitate growth in production volumes, and is expanding into box packaging as well. While handmade bags may continue to form a part of the product offering, it is the raw materials used that ensures bags will always remain unique.  He even affords customers the opportunity to convert their unused, expired marketing materials and paper products into new packaging products for use by themselves or another environmentally conscious and creative business.Tune in to hear about: Why common paper bags are actually worse than plastic bags for the environment. How a piggy bank start led to a college binding service. Always having five to ten alternative solutions to a problem. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Greenii websiteGreeni email: Greenii.inc1@gmail.com

Thinking and questioning originated in Carol Sanford's childhood; through influences from indigenous, white supremacist, and even fundamentalist Christian customs and beliefs. How we are in, and view, the world drives our engagement and impact.   From the contradictory, perhaps clashing, cultural influences Carol developed a drive to think, question, and write. Influenced also by studying and observing the success of basketball coach Phil Jackson's model that cultivated role models and excellence through indirect work Carol wrote her latest, sixth book, Indirect Work. She seeks to stimulate thinking and develop inquiry; to encourage readers to overcome paradigms, to escape the chains and shadows (as described by Plato).  Thinking not about the book content as a template or instruction, but about the influence on the reader - their own opinions about what is raised in the book, how they can argue with that content, and work to form their own opinions and ideas.  Then test them.Learning is as much about how one engages with new information and experience as it is about the information itself.  Carol encourages listeners and readers neither to accept nor reject anything she, or anyone else, says or demonstrates without first working it through with their own experience, reflection, and disagreements.  Society needs to stimulate its own enquiring mind and then develop a methodology of learning to think.Tune in to hear about: A glimpse at the book Indirect Work. How Phil Jackson became the winningest coach in the NBA, and elevated the value and attractiveness of the sport, without coaching (including discussion not included in the book). What to do instead of setting goals, and what billiard balls have to do with it. How Colgate in South Africa rapidly transformed their results, their structure, retained the employee team, and benefitted society through indirect work. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Carol Sanford website

Darby Vannier would never have imagined his career could have taken him through human resources, operations management, coaching and so much more.  He certainly never dreamed the experience could be gained in industries as diverse as movie theatres, print and copy, and even alpaca livestock.Through his diverse experience Darby observed effective and ineffective business leaders.  People are naturally more inclined to be either a manager or visionary but, as further explored in his book “The Indispensable Leader”, the two are never mutually exclusive.  Most people are naturally stronger in one than the other, but the best leaders strive to have a mix of the best characteristics from each and to play down or let go all less desirable characteristics. Indispensable Leaders exhibit traits within the intersection on a Venn diagram, having pulled in desirable and let go undesirable traits and tendencies of both visionaries and leaders.  Becoming indispensable requires active effort – observation of others with characteristics you need, surrounding yourself with good people to provide honest feedback while you develop strengths and eliminate weaknesses, and intentionally changing habits that need to go or be learned.  Progressively moving through unconscious to conscious incompetence, and on to conscious competence to attain unconscious competence of the indispensable characteristics.It is necessary to guard against the inclination, under stress, to revert to your natural tendency.  Lean on strong trusting relationships to help you “see and correct”, and manage excessive stress by controlling what you can control and letting go what you cannot. As a leader it is your task to encourage and coach people to develop their indispensable leader characteristics; be aware of your own impact and role as you shift someone's career.  Tune in to hear about: Darcy's four-point advice for all leaders. What are the best and worst characteristics of each of visionaries and detail-oriented managers. Stories: Movie print flying around a projection booth. Petitions lobbying for your removal during a major event you are hosting.  A food service managers demanding sick employees attend work sick. Learning through experience and the way leaders model and develop behaviour in their team. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Be Indispensable Website

Devin Durrant believes talent, drive and having the right coaching helped him to achieve his childhood dream of playing in the NBA.  But a year later he was cut and this was what allowed him to start his real life's work - adding value to real estate, and lives.  Well grounded, supported, challenged and encouraged in his youth provided a foundation to call on in order to reassess, stretch and grow through the difficult time.  He leaned on what was important and valued in his life, used values learned in athletics, and applied them in life.His work has proved that by putting more focus and effort into your personal values, as they impact or intersect the people and things you value, you can create increasing delta to improve life and experience for all.  This v-effect is achieved using the simple process described during our conversation.With multi-generational appeal, stories and applicability The Values Delta is interesting.Tune in to hear about: Why gratitude and optimism are values that work well together. What is a Values Delta. Two questions that create large impact in life. And more.  Mentioned in this episode:The Values Delta website - https://thevaluesdelta.com

Julie Broad harnessed her entrepreneurial fabric to succeed in real estate investing even when circumstances were not idea, and then told the stories in a self-published overall #1 bestseller.  That experience now makes the road smoother for other self-published non-fiction authors.  Two wins.  The authors keep 100% of their book sale proceeds.  And the upfront marketing plan ensures the book is more successful from the start - sells more copies, included in more libraries, nominated for and wins more book awards, and appears on more podcasts and live events.Julie reminds all aspiring authors that writing a book does not have to be intimidating, but the book must be written for the reader, not the author.  Write for the audience, include what they need, and do include stories, case studies, anecdotes that make the book engaging, Also remember that patience pays in everything – when the book is published it is like a baby and needs to be nurtured and allowed time to grow.  Knowing, upfront, what you want to achieve with the book is more likely to ensure it is successful.Tune in to hear about: How to allow magic to produce the title and cover of your book. The marketing plan required for book success. The way large publishing houses bait and switch authors. How artificial intelligence will help authors. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Book Launchers website7 Steps guide to planning and writing your own book

Kelly Ruta decided she would not become a statistic after her early life sexual abuse.  Instead she works on her own success, and became first a psychotherapist helping adolescents, and then followed her calling into raising the bar in coaching limitless entrepreneurs.  Although she works with clients of all genders Kelly has a special focus in helping smart, driven, women entrepreneurs in the interface between mind, emotion and behaviours.  Unlearning social paradigms and gender learned biases that don't allow being the best version of themselves activates the entrepreneurs to lead themselves, their teams and the business to greater impact and revenue.  But confronting biases and doing better requires bravery!Kelly advises that there are two places one can start to identify the subconscious baggage to be removed: Look at your life and business as a mirror – it will reflect back to you your pain points. Acknowledge where you know better and continue to do the same things or make the same decisions that sabotage you, your team and business, perhaps in revenue, schedule and other ways. Subconscious beliefs will override intellect nine times out of ten and cause immense frustration, spinning wheels, overwork, overwhelm, and burnout.  Most people continue investing in strategy and tactics instead of working on themselves.Your business needs you to be in command, not in control.  Do the uncomfortable skill building work now, when it is more manageable. Become responsive, not reactive!Tune in to hear about: The –ation people are craving instead of the information received most of the time. How can smart companies learn from medicine and psychotherapy to arm their teams with the skill for truly succeeding in online meetings in the future?  The three core reasons entrepreneurs and their business succeed, or don't. What is so different about what women and men talk about in business? And more. Mentioned in this episode:The Invisible Saboteur Assessment – www.invisiblesaboteur.com

Chemical poisoning from her work in the industry she loved, including in her own studios, drove Ryan Margolin's mother into early retirement.  This was the catalyst that spurred his family to found Professional Hair Labs and substantially improve the industry.  Today so much more is driving their growing success – their safety first, people first model finds additional niche expansion and growing enthusiasm from their team.It has not always been without challenge - in 2011 their international expansion failed dramatically, in 2017 counterfeit started and expanded rapidly.  But they have pivoted and escalated when required, and today Ryan and his family lead a highly accomplished, multi-industry, multi-million dollar, international company on a path to a further five-fold expansion this year.  In speaking with Ryan you see why he has been successful. He sees every challenge as an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive; there is no learning in wins, it is the challenges and failures that allow for growth. Always focused on the future, never an opportunity for complacency – he comments that when you start to feel more comfortable the pain may be right behind!  When you find success or start to hit your goals it may be time to run a little faster, and stay ahead. The challenges, and hence skills and techniques required, in going from $1 million to $10 million are very different to going from $10 million to $50 million, and more.Ryan is energized by what is in store for the future of both the company and his team.  In turn, we as listeners can learn from his safety first, people first success.Tune in to hear about: Why a USA company does their principal manufacturing in Ireland … it may not be what you think! Inventory management is a major challenge in manufacturing – how did a move from contract to in-house manufacturing impact this? Ryan's evolution from learning, improving and developing in the early days, to the current empowering. What is different about a truly “family” business? And more. Mentioned in this episode:Pro Hair Labs websiteRyan Margolin LinkedInProfessional Hair Labs LinkedInLook for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest

Kristina Shea had her life changed, or even turned upside down, a few times through events in her work and personal life.  Then, collapsing in the Toronto financial district was the wake-up call she needed. Kristina worked to address serious health conditions, and her own holistic wellness.  She found natural replacements for chemicals and drugs.  She studied CBD and continues to engage with groups to bring positive change for women, breaking down barriers and stigmas.  The culmination of much of this was Kristina's launching BlueSkys Life to focus on women's natural health and wellness.Non-toxic thinking, natural and sustainable products, and a new line of CBD and natural ingredient skincare products combine to elevate women and their wellness.  The goal is to help women step into their skin with confidence, literally and figuratively, and to improve mental and physical wellness. Kristina has also launched a content platform, Making HerStory, with the goal of helping women share their stories and amplify their voices.  Wishing to promote embracing people of all ages, genders, races, sizes, or even passions to work together rather than compete.  Turn women from victim to victor.  Kristina sees a future filled with positive change: society welcoming a return to ancient medicine and plant-power, clean beauty, the digital creator economy, innovation in payment solutions, longevity and a skincare focus. She encourages women to surround themselves with those who inspire them and not allow people to poison their thinking.  Women hold tremendous value for society.Tune in to hear about: How does the endocrine system feature in the mix of replacing “traditional” skincare products with healthier alternatives? Do CBD products produce a “high”?  What does CBD oil do to the skin? Why is BlueSkys Life spelt with a “y” (not –ies)? Why Kristina is not a member of, but has a close personal connection to the challenges experienced by people in the LGBTQ community.  And more. Mentioned in this episode:BlueSkys Life website   – see also cheat sheet to learn ingredients that interrupt and disrupt the endocrine system.BlueSkys Beauty website Clubhouse – MakingHerStory

Justin Cochrane applied his knowledge and experience from the investment banking world, specifically in royalties and streaming, to create a vehicle for investors to target focus to creating a net-zero carbon future.  The appetite of investors is large and in two years Carbon Streaming Corp has grown from around two-hundred thousand dollars to one-hundred-thirty million in next assets, and more. Investors are enthusiastic to advance and accelerate carbon-reduction and climate-advancement projects around the world.  Justin's team creates a cycle of benefit - invests capital in the projects, markets the greenhouse gas (GHG) credits and return the proceeds of the credits to further grow the project investments.  Achieving climate abatement in the world will take decades but the GHG credits achieve a middle ground on that road.With a goal to become the largest player in the voluntary carbon market, Carbon Streaming also has strict criteria to be met for investments to qualify for funding and assistance.  The projects under consideration are numerous but already Carbon Streaming's investments are fascinating: Protecting 6,500 hectares of Indonesian peat swamp from being converted to palm oil, creating a  sanctuary for orangutans, providing community assistance, advancing women's business, and making available clean power and water. A blue carbon credit project: protecting 22,000 hectares of Mexican mangroves (which absorb up to 10 times the carbon of a terrestrial forest, and hold 75% of that carbon under water) , surrounded by 137,000 hectares of marine ecosystem from shrimp farming and aqua culture. Tune in to hear about: The Carbon Streaming investments are REDD certified – what is REDD? Two kinds of projects can be funded with the streaming and royalties model, what are they? How many metric tons of carbon equate to 1 carbon credit? How many tons are the projects removing? Which is the only project in the world verified to achieve all 17 United Nations sustainable development goals? How does volatility in the investment market change corporate investor relations? And more. Mentioned in this episode:Carbon Streaming Corporation website info@carbonstreaming.comNEO: NETZOTCQB: OFSTF

Having entered the world of mining in part by accident Daniel Major has accumulated impressive experience in the operations, financing and management sides of the industry.  Going full circle from uranium in Africa, through platinum, gold, mergers and acquisitions, and even investment banking in parts of Africa, Russia, South America, and Canada he returned to African uranium as CEO of GoviEx.  GoviEx is well positioned to take advantage of the move to clean energy, and specifically nuclear energy, that is more reliable, cleaner, and safer than alternatives.  Their first uranium mine, in Niger, West Africa, one of the most significant areas of producing sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the world, is forecast to begin producing by 2025. GoviEX's culture is to add value for all stakeholders and focus on ESG.  They utilize a 100% local employment strategy at all of their properties in Niger, Mali and Zambia, and work extensively with the communities they form a part of.Historically investors have derived the largest return when a mineral investment is acquired, or goes from developer to producer.  GoviEx is poised to do exactly that with the development of the mine.  The last time the market looked like it does now uranium went to $140 a pound (currently around $46) so do we expect history to repeat itself?Tune in to hear about: What career was Daniel Major asked to consider before he chose engineering? Why is international travel and work experience invaluable in business success? Why has exploration funding neglected Africa and why is that changing now? Just how small have nuclear reactors become? What scale is now possible? And more. Mentioned in this episode:GoviEX Website  info@goviex.comTSX-V :  GXUOTCQX: GVXXF

Was it a “baptism of fire” as a new graduate, or a fortuitous start to a career that Mickie Kennedy took advantage of?  Early in his career Mickie identified the need for smaller organizations and individuals to be able to access the media, but at an affordable price.  Journalists, in turn, want news flow in a useful and timely format, and eReleases fills that gap.  Press releases for smaller organizations at an affordable price.  eReleases is the perfect fit for those in the niche from start-up to several million dollars in revenue.   Using a couple of efficiency tools and a lot of personalized customer service this small team helps to get the word out, coaches clients on how to attract effective press, and even writes the press releases if clients prefer.  Mickie encourages even the most “un-newsworthy” to attract attention, boost their credibility, and leverage it into valuable social media, client brag books, and website content.  Prospects that find a supplier through a press release are ready to buy, and usually don't price shop.  The return for clients always beats paid advertising.Mickie's artistic talent and interest in technology gave him the ability to innovate and scale.  His willingness to persevere and try developed his analytical ability that is very helpful in this industry.  What lies in the future of press releases and news distribution? Mickie predicts this from ample experience – listen for some fascinating and really fun comments.  Tune in to hear about: Is it more important to write press releases well or to be strategic in the message?. Do prospects that find business through a press release have higher value than those that find you through many other routes – yes!  Listen for why. The highly effective tool that has got media attention for 100% of eReleases' clients that have used it. And more. Mentioned in this episode:eReleases websiteeReleases free masterclass  

Jim Pakulis has turned his sights from successful corporate growth in the cannabis industry to plant-based protein.  Seeing potential for significant growth in this industry, he and his team acquired and took Boosh Plant-Based Brands through initial public offering in 2021.  Boosh's plant-based, gluten-free and non-GMO heat-and-serve bowls and meals, mac & cheese, pate, and non-dairy cheese are well received by the health-conscious, special diets and flexitarians alike.  This is just the beginning, this team has their sights set on dominating frozen, refrigerated and shelf stable categories.Jim believes in keeping the team as small as possible, with a true participation culture.  But expansion plans are large - moving to new markets, acquisitions or mergers (one of each already complete in 2021), online delivery, and the food service industry.  The best investments are identified by avoiding emotional decisions based on hype.  Use strict metrics, identify an industry with significant upside potential, a growing sector within that industry, and excellent management.  These will drive company success and hence growth in the market value.Tune in to hear about: The success of foodie Connie Marples that created the start for Boosh Foods. Just how big the plant-based protein industry is expected to be by 2050. How diets are changing, and consumers increasingly demanding healthier options. Advice for entrepreneurs and management to grow success and market value. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Boosh website  CSE – VEGI  OTCQB – VGGIFFrankfurt - 77I

Max Porterfield started his career with an opportunity to work in global resource company investment, and then gold and uranium, before taking over Callinex Mines.  A unique opportunity to explore for minerals in Canada, in areas well served by infrastructure, with no geopolitical risk, and potential to benefit remote communities.  Because government policies are requiring a shift away from hydrocarbons and there are very large infrastructure projects ongoing or planned in the world, the demand for base metals is forecast to increase exponentially.  However, minimal investment in new exploration over the past decade means the current mines are becoming end of life and new discovery is urgently required.Callinex Mines is exploring, with a well-respected technical team and a modern exploration approach, at properties in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Manitoba.  It is however the Manitoba, Flin Flon, property that exposed a rare base metal volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) rainbow deposit in 2021 that will receive most attention through 2022.  The development may be urgent as it is in close proximity to an established mine that is due for closure in May 2022.  This will eliminate jobs for this remote community, and trigger large reclamation liabilities. Max counsels that the best business decisions are made with a calm mind; there is significant value in meditation or in the potential that the research in psilocybin will deliver.  Maturity has taught him to make decisions with a calm mind and patience rather than in a panic or driven by fear, and to let the world come to him rather than chasing it.  Exploration is not for the faint of heart!Tune in to hear about Valuable lessons that can be learned from Steve Jobs, Mark Benioff, and Robert Friedland. How to know when the return on mining or exploration shares will start improving. How timely and important the Callinex exploration and discovery is. The benefit mining brings in long-term lasting job creation in remote communities, and strong focus on best practice social and environmental standards. And more. Mentioned in this episodeCallinex Mines Inc. websiteTSX.V – CNX    OTC - CLLXF

Pieter K de Villiers proved in his own business that automation could free up people to perform value added tasks.  Macanta CRM evolved to remove the need for a person to perform certain repetitive, but business critical tasks, and in the process complete them more efficiently and consistently.  The secret however is to ensure the tool fits the business, with functionality for data manipulation, interconnected relationships, email and SMS, notifications and more.The no-code Macanta software enables the business to easily create a bespoke CRM with full process and workflow automation without the need for costly, risky, custom software development.  Identify the core business flow or delivery object (usually a customer, object, case file, etc.) accurately, and tell the software how the process works.  It will create the automation to perform tasks at the correct trigger points.With the option for granular user permissions, and guaranteed GDPR and security compliance, Macanta also facilitates effective segregation of duties, can be self-serve or supported, and works well for work-from-anywhere teams.Could every business derive value from utilizing a small amount of time to explore new tools and be curious? Tools that allow constant forward momentum, or improvement?  Is the value in “tak(ing) little bets, enjoy(ing) the process and the result” as Pieter suggests.  Tune in to hear about: How a background in popular music performance and contracting as an electrician creates software. What is a two-minute task and why is it cancer. How relentless perseverance of an inflexible goal, but with a flexible approach pays. Painting with a hammer and an airplane with a tow hitch. And more. Mentioned in this episodeMacanta CRM website - https://macantacrm.com/Pieter K de Villiers LinkedIn

Curiosity triggered passion for Brandi and Craig Garden, founders of Eversio Wellness.  Inside of eighteen months they discovered the health and wellness benefits, and enhanced the product quality, of functional mushroom supplements.  Now the journey continues in a licensed facility with research in quality and efficacy for the psilocybin mushroom industry.  Consumer enthusiasm is growing.  Significant evidence is available that mushroom products of an extremely high quality deliver advanced health and wellness through making available all of their immune-modulating, anti-oxidant and secondary metabolite compounds.   Brandi's personal experience of radical health improvement, the Garden's family wellness experience, and client's testimonials that supports and amplify the laboratory results, expand the evidence daily.In producing premium, dual-extracted, functional mushroom extracts in Canada which clients use in capsule or powder form, and conducting research to produce high quality psilocybin mushrooms under laboratory conditions, this young company has an exceptional business model.  Through the tears and rainbows of entrepreneurship as a humanity-plus company Eversio successfully launched, pivoted, and took timely advantage of the challenges that the pandemic dealt.  They structured an advantage.  Their functional product division ensured a pathway to revenue and sustainability while building research capability, while they awaited grant of their psilocybin research license.  Now they can also apply their skill and capability in their second functional division.Tune in to hear about: The difference between premium quality mushroom products and others – to mycelium or not. What mushrooms eat, where they grow best, and why those grown outdoors are exceptional. How cultivation of psilocybin producing mushrooms has to be different and how Eversio Wellness is contributing to the pharmaceutical aspect of the industry. The array of developments to come from the mushroom industry – watch for significant research in products, food, and health. And more. Mentioned in this episodeEversion Wellness website – look for products and information.InstagramYouTubeFacebook

After starting his career as a stock broker in Canada and developing the ability to fund mineral projects Perre Leveille found an opportunity to focus on mine development in Africa.  Later electing to sell the first opportunity back to the majority partner, due to conflicts that existed between the partnership agreement and need to disclose information in compliance with public company regulations, Pierre identified an opportunity in copper mining in Namibia, Southern Africa.  Deep-South Resources is now focused on the Haib Copper project in Namibia, and working to identify other opportunities in stable countries that also have accessible infrastructure.  The area was explored in the 19th and 20th centuries but found to be sub-economic, Teck Resources initially owned 70% of Deep-South Resources and conducted exploration.  When Teck divested Deep-South assumed full ownership and listed in 2017; Teck remains the largest shareholder.  The area is now believed to be economic due to a combination of commodity prices driven by demand for copper, and improvements in exploration technology.  The proposed use of bioleaching that allows for extraction of the copper at significantly lower capex spend and low operating cost, and newer drilling methodology, where significant advances have been made since the early exploration, have made it feasible. A feasibility study commenced in early 2021 was cut short when the Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy failed to renew their license.  Believing the decision may have been made with inadequate information, or misinformation, Deep-South launched a challenge and is seeing early success.  Of course the stock price tumbled on the news!  In the interim they are investigating other opportunities with the option to develop a larger portfolio of exploration projects to guard against similar delays in future.Pierre projects that copper will continue trading at high prices for many years, due to high and increasing demand.  There is inadequate supply because the past 20 years have seen inadequate base mineral exploration.  Copper, along with lithium, zinc, nickel and cobalt, is required in the green vehicle industry, wiring for the 5G industry, cloud storage, batteries, bitcoin mining, and so much more.Tune in to hear about: The small percentage of exploration projects that actually become a mine. Carbon fueled vehicles contain around 23kg of copper, how much does that increase in green vehicles? How stockpiles and discarded rock from bioleaching is more stable and avoids polluting ground and water.   Significant research to green-up mine vehicles and improve mining generally. And more. Mentioned in this episodeDeep-South Resources websiteinfo@DSR.com

John Briggs became an accountant because he really loved accounting.  But he grew to dislike the traditional CPA time billing model where clients pay for inflated billable hours.  So he created a service where clients pay only for valuable service received, and clients can access a broad portfolio of services. Incite Tax has a high focus in micro-gyms, but serves a diverse clientele.John implements the Profit First system in many of his clients.  It is an effective method to manage business growth and avoid burnout that results if they have run the equivalent of a business marathon yet have nothing to show, and continue to struggle.The methodology to “spend the money on paper” before the actual spend, replaces the hope and pray business strategy with conscious effort.  The success was clearly demonstrated in John's gym clients during the pandemic - those who had been running Profit First had runway and survived the lockdowns.  Many did also work with business mentors to create online services for a little extra cash flow to make it through.  Those new to the methodology joined many who did not apply Profit First and went out of business.   John's clients also enjoy the value of having a guide to extract reality from the tax myths.  Their guide counsels them to manage cash well (which includes paying the correct tax only), maintain profitability, and use the correct reserves to attain their growth.Tune in to hear about: How or why do most business owners diligently follow Parkinson's Law with cash. An excellent case study - excess entrepreneurial optimism guaranteed insolvency. Business advice for inflation and the great resignation. And more. Mentioned in this episodeIncite Tax websiteLook for the free resources and blogs

Johnathan More found his start as the paper shredder in the office of a stock broker.  He went on to become a highly successful broker with a focus in mining and now identifies exceptional candidates to take public.  Anticipating sale at the right time to a major mining entity, he is building a star performer in Starr Peak Mining.Located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Starr Peak Mining geologists prioritized an area that is plumb centre between Amex Exploration, who hit gold in 2019, and the past-producing, Normétal Mine (that Starr Peak also owns).  They hit a rare volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit on their first drill hole, and enjoy further success as they have drilled further.  Now exploring with three rigs the opportunity is growing.Starr Peak is potentially focused two sides of the green energy revolution.  A deal to extract minerals from the tailings pond on the property.  And developing a VMS for future mining in an area already well served by infrastructure, communities and an operating mill.  The economics are superior.  Johnathan More counsels that a second rally in the base and precious metals markets is coming.  He strongly encourages investors to identify companies they like and invest early enough to benefit from the rally.  Don't regret not getting in on the ride.Tune in to hear about: Careful opportunistic investment opportunities. Why the precious metals market has been subdued for the past 8 to 10 months, and why it is poised to start the next rally. What a VMS deposit is, why cost economics are superior, and how large a portion of Canadian production of zinc, copper, lead and silver have come from one. Why there will be good returns in this stock, more so than many others. And more. Mentioned in this episodeStarr Peak Mining Ltd.    Ticker symbols:  STE  and STRPF

Anne Hill's lifelong desire to help other people is driving growth and success for her clients.With placement of superior, right-fit talent, implementation of exceptional procedures and systems, and targeted assistance on strengthening the back-office and strategy, Hilltop Virtual Solutions enables genius.   Clients focus in their zone of genius and delegate non-core tasks for even better completion and propel the business forward.Anne Hill notes that it is essential to ensure additions to the team are an excellent fit, and that systems and procedures are in place to ensure success for all – team members and the entrepreneur. These make it easier for the entrepreneur to be comfortable delegating non-core tasks to identify and focus in their zone of genius.  Onboarding a new team member is as important as onboarding a new client; bring them on with goals for 30, 60, 90 days.  Structure is helpful.  Further secrets to business success lie in taking time away from the business to look at it from a distance, and getting an outside perspective eg. by working with a coach or with a consultant on a specific strategy when feeling stuck.  Most business owners do not know what assistance they need and in which areas.  By getting structure in place and finding out what is, and is not, working the business owner can enhance their enjoyment of what they do.Tune in to hear about: How an entrepreneur can get a handle on their zone of genius. Ideas on how to recruit people to fit well in an entrepreneurial business. Secrets to relieving bottlenecked processes that trickle down into other areas, and what not to do in relieving bottle necks. How to delegate with ease. And more. Mentioned in this episodeHilltop Virtual Solutions websiteAnne Hill LinkedIn

Chris Kenney was an excellent contributor in a sales organization, but burnt out by how they managed producers, so he became even better …. for himself!  He presented a low-priced class to a group of twelve people and transformed it to be multiple six figures.  Today, having identified and overcome his own “money-rules” Chris is paying it forward by teaching entrepreneurs the secret to rapidly accelerating income.  A big believer in “sell it before you create it”, obtaining feedback as he went along allowed Chris to hone his training to exactly what the customers wanted and to develop his own skillset.  This progressively further niched his service offering so today he contributes enormous value for his clients' business by allowing them to follow a similar pattern with top-notch mentorship, real people, and giving value with discipline.Chris also counsels that your success will be determined by your approach – you can control your response to situations.  The pandemic proved to be a valuable opportunity to consider reinventing his business and further show undercover superstar entrepreneurs how to master high-ticket sales, rapidly accelerate income and live lives of uncommon freedom and choice.Tune in to hear about: How anyone can convert $47 into $263,000 inside of a year. What the secret to success is when naming your first sales. What are money rules, what do they impact, and how are they created and destroyed. Where to find prospects, and where the sales niche will appear rather than be created. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Facebook: Sales Mastery Inner Circle 

Ivan Bebek started his career as a stock broker and developed an interest in contrarian investing as practiced by Warren Buffett.  He focused on mining companies but found there was limited reward in tracking several companies; he wanted instead to focus extensively on one or two stocks. This intense analysis and focus led to Ivan's significant success in Ghana - Cayden Resources, sold to Agnico Eagle in 2014 for $205 million, and Galiano Gold that continues to operate the Asanko gold mine in joint venture with Gold Fields.Ivan now has his drills focused on discovering new mines in Peru, Chile and Canada.  The resource markets are out of favour with investors but this makes them the contrarian play Ivan loves.  He sees a looming perfect storm as demand for base minerals grows at the same time established mine reserves are decreasing. Prices should begin escalating significantly just as his new mines come on stream for development, to produce into that demand. The mining industry has made, and continues new, enormous strides in the environmental, social and governance arena (ESG).  This includes working with local communities where mines are developed, on sustainability and shared success, avoiding mine disasters, and reducing their own carbon footprints.The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact even in the exploration industry where less people are available to assay samples extending time to results by as much as 15%.  Bebek's companies mitigate the impact by running more drills and with careful cash management.  Despite having caught the virus twice and had a serious reaction to the vaccination he believes the vaccination is potentially the best way for the world to eliminate the pandemic.Tune in to hear about: What combination of mineral investments to hold for mixed, but well above average, return over a longer time horizon. How to know when the return on mining or exploration shares will start improving. Government green energy bills and decarbonizing economies – what happens to gold. How Ivan Bebek can effectively drive progress in four exploration companies, simultaneously. And more. Mentioned in this episodeIvan Bebek LinkedIn Email Ivan Ivan@SombreroResources.com 

Friends and business associates Brett and Brent came together to solve legacy challenges of the automotive industry.  The launch of their technology platform could not have been more timely.  Canada headed into the pandemic lockdowns, and both dealers and customers required a new way to do business.  The Hey Auto platform is a super approachable technology solution that facilitates a superior experience for both dealers and customers.   The marketplace aggregates dealer inventory across Canada, sends purchasers to the dealer's own site for information gathering, provides an opportunity for purchasers to reduce greenhouse gases, and even incorporates functionality for individuals to confidentially solicit dealer bids when selling their personal vehicle.  What power!  From the user's perspective the experience is very familiar.  Able to create their own avatar, save searches and favourite vehicles, keep history and even message dealers directly from the convenience of the Hey Auto platform. A very immersive experience with strict safeguarding on privacy and confidentiality; personal details are only disclosed when the individual elects to move forward with a transaction or communication.Hey Auto develops and trains the tech talent needed for their web based technologies and disciplines; few students have these skills when they graduate.  Brent and Brett have taken a very strategic approach to acquire well over 2,000 dealer participants.  By identify the most important needs of the customer to solve first the talented team avoids being distracted by edge cases, and they feasibility test all concepts before build.    Hey Auto boasts already having received excellent strategic partnership and funding support because Alberta is a progressive province actively embracing tech investment, and their aggressive expansion continues with a new raise currently underway.The automotive industry is moving fast as original equipment manufacturers push to go direct to the customer, and the digital retail experience allows customers to purchase and take delivery from the comfort of home.  The Hey Auto platform helps dealers to stay competitive and to meet the nuanced market demand in new ways.Tune in to hear about: Zero emission and Keys-for-Trees options when purchasing vehicles through the Hey Auto platform. The current Hey Auto funding and strategic partnership round and how to get involved. The unexpected impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on vehicle demand, why, and how it continues to impact Hey Auto. The potential offered by a multi-pronged approach where well-established enterprises and the web based technology space work together. And more. Mentioned in this episodeLinkedInWebsite – Hey Auto and Vivid TheoryEmail Brett Brett@VividTheory.com Email Brent Brent@VividTheory.com

Anthony is the chairman of Nickel 28, one of the largest suppliers in the world of MHP, a battery concentrate used by the growing battery industry.  He combines this with a pursuit of sustainability principles that offset the carbon footprint of the mining, and mankind's modern demand patterns and lifestyle.  Anthony invests in both regulated exchange traded credits and the voluntary carbon market.Voluntary carbon markets are considered fascinating as they direct private financing to climate-action projects.  That is, they combine diverse nature-based solutions, e.g. saving forests and reforestation, operating a protection habitat or sanctuary, preserving blue carbon ecosystems, with technological carbon capture, and facilitating the entrepreneurial drive for profit.  Almost every industry is looking to create or buy carbon credits as they attempt to improve environmental impact, while still facilitating a modern lifestyle, so the demand for carbon reduction options is growing.  A new class of investments includes carbon streaming, modeled on mining royalties and streaming, where investors prepay for carbon credits and environmental projects.  Anthony sees a potential 25% escalation in prices and investment returns generally over the near term as 25% of all dollars ever printed were produced during the pandemic, and are all chasing the same liquidity. Venture markets have suffered most, recently, as many juniors are in mining and the liquidity in that market has transferred to some extent to new investments like cryptocurrency.Success growing business and increasing shareholder returns requires the entrepreneur to have a divergent view.  Anthony quotes examples where the founder had an idea, often related to an aspect of their life or an early opinion on a situation in the world, before it became mainstream or generally held.  These often deliver returns due to being an early entrant on a beneficial trend. In terms of future trends, Anthony expects the green wave to be the biggest and to be experienced in many ways.  Through ESG, carbon credits and trading, climate actions like artificial intelligence around climate change, and many other ideas we can all witness the momentum. Tune in to hear about: How Nickel 28, mining nickel and cobalt in a 10 to 1 ratio, was able to continue to produce spectacular economics even through the down part of the market cycle. What the connection is between an orangutan sanctuary and nickel mining. Fascinating work also being done by Carbon Streaming Corp. as they apply a streaming and royalty model (normally seen in mining) to carbon. Smart investment advice for those with minimal time or risk capital, and those who can watch the market. And more.  Mentioned in this episodeTwitter - @A_Milewski LinkedIn

Early in his career Tommy Zizian observed that the power of the internet afforded a significant opportunity to work remotely and earn an income.  He did follow advice to “have several revenue streams” and attributes his success, having become involved in several businesses, to the fact he is goal-motivated, driven to achieve objectives and does not try to pretend to know everything.  The career he describes as a work-in-progress currently invests a lot of his time focused in social enterprise. Sock Rocket designs and markets funky socks around the world and then, for every pair sold, donates three pairs to agencies and initiatives across North America. Donations started with the Drop-in Centre and Children's Cottage in Calgary, and now have reached over 130,000 pairs to worthy causes; doing good while operating a profitable business and having a lot of fun.  The activity and reach suddenly escalated significantly late in 2019 due to a slip of the tongue in the USA that provided incredible unexpected marketing.  The “rocket” came at a time when Sock Rocket was seeing the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their supply chain in South East Asia.  This allowed them to start the process of supporting, and being supported, locally which has allowed for continued growth through the lockdowns, although the market did shift.Tommy's entrepreneurial flair is activated in working as a team, and by himself.  He also very successfully manages extensive involvement in both local and remote business.  Smoke and Sow BBQ Restaurant, located in Whitehorse Yukon, combines success in a food truck, restaurant and in catering for events.Through his own social enterprise activity Tommy has noted the growing trend for people wanting their dollars to deliver more value – to receive the goods or services purchased, plus.  Younger generations are increasingly influencing the demand for business to support good causes. Social enterprise has a bright future as people learn that profitable business can provide social benefit as one of the inherent business costs.  To this end he would welcome seeing more teaching and discussion in schools about the social enterprise alternative, to facilitate awareness and show how easy, fun and lucrative it is to help people meet their basic needs.Tune in to hear about: The unusual, unexpected and high profile boost Sock Rocket's activity received.  It caused an instant growth from thousands to hundreds of thousands in annual sock volume. How Sock Rocket was able to navigate the pandemic lockdowns by implementing major structural changes and still maintain growth. A lesson in how to successfully physically work in a food preparation business, daily, across 2,450 kilometres. Justification for why social enterprise is growing in consumer popularity even as it becomes a lucrative entrepreneurial pursuit. And more. Mentioned in this episodeSock Rocket WebsiteEmail hello@rockrocket.caCall 1-855-24SOCK8Facebook Instagram Twitter 

Empowering the Individual with their health information, and empowering professionals with client management is the mission of TAMVOES. They deliver! A secure, confidential platform that places the power in the hands of the individual to manage their health information and share it with a team they approve.Motivated by personal experience Jessica Lunshof identified an urgent need for an individual focused system that could efficiently save and share medical history, records, and notes, even instructions, in a confidential way between patients, their family and caregivers.  The bridging of medical silos, removal of repetition, and accumulation of comprehensive records is invaluable. The launch, in 2020, of the web based system, although in design much earlier, was expedited by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.  Demonstrating that the team of people is the secret to entrepreneurial success TAMVOES rapidly deployed and validated the journal, my team and health profile functions within the application and drove effective adoption as users in the USA and Canada saw the value in recording, controlling and sharing their personal records.Co-founder Madison McBay is driven to launch the mobile application in fall of 2021 and they are onboarding an increasing number of medical service providers.  The latter load test results and data directly into patient records on the TAMVOES system, thereby increasing the value and reducing the need for manual data capture by the individual.  Technology focused healthcare increasingly is delivering reliability, accessibility and connectivity, and this volume of data is an influential factor in enabling preventive and more effective health care.Like most businesses founded by women, and further complicated by having a very young team, TAMVOES has largely bootstrapped their growth and find raising investment a challenge but their focus on the end goal is significantly motivating.  Tune in to hear about: The ease with which individuals, with their chosen family and service providers, can sign up for free and take advantage of the power of secure record keeping and sharing. The Talkative community of connection. The origin of the name TAMVOES and its deeper meaning. The enhanced value delivered by TAMVOES records as people travel, especially if the unthinkable happens, and in removing the need for paper and repetition. The functionality that artificial intelligence brings to effective search of published documents and proactive user health response. And more. Mentioned in this episode:TAMVOES website: Email info@Tamvoes.comLinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Unlocking Business Growth podcast episode 18: Jon Trask| Emerging Technology, and Simple Beautiful Useful AgTech Delivered Globally at Blockchain Guru and Dimitra

In much of the world companies, and various special interest groups, have since at least the middle of the 20th century been working on the issue of gender equity in business.  At least 50 to 60 years! Yet statistics show that little progress has been made.  There remains significant lack of diversity at the senior management and board level.  Many would describe it as  Not yet having moved past the problem of “like hires like”, and A need to challenge, in a more forceful way, a range of embedded assumptions. We need to acknowledge and deal with gender and inclusion as the business issue that it is, not as a women's issue.Too many women either choose to leave large corporations or, when they stay, have to work to overcome significant challenges.  The explanation is nuanced and complex.  Women who succeed have CAPS.  Men who have supported and gained the most from enhanced representation and inclusion of women have a different mindset to the traditional; they fully understand the business advantage of true diversity.The cyclical process, or staircase, of earning Credentials, Adapting, gaining Profile, and being Sponsored serves to elevate deserving women to senior roles and break the cycle of “hiring the convenient candidate rather than the right one for each role”.As the world continues to change in areas spurred by the pandemic, and with new potential for recognizing the value and success of managing on output and productivity rather than presence, or time in the office, an opportunity exists to also innovate in this area.  Business will experience significant financial and operational benefit from achieving greater diverse representation and including more women in senior roles of management and boards of directors.Tune in to hear about: Four key biases Holly and Paul identified in their research - including a tightrope, a wall, judgement by women, and repeat proof. The detailed explanation of how credentials, adaptability, profile, and sponsorship create an exceptional partnership and model for success of, and by, women and the network around them. The work being done by the CAPS Leadership Institute to promote gender equity, start the conversation and effect change that removes barriers. And more. Mentioned in this episodeThe Invisible Rules - At Indigo ChaptersThe Invisible rules - on AmazonThe CAPS Leadership InstituteReach out to further the conversation with Paul and Holly 

David Garofalo believes the world is poised for a significant bull run in base and precious metals prices.  Strong fundamentals combined with supply deficits in gold and copper will cause significant appreciation in prices.  Investors can participate in this upside through investing in vehicles like Gold Royalty Corp, a royalty and streaming company that IPO-ed in March 2021 with capital to invest in exploration and development juniors at lower finance cost, and boasting an executive and board hat are experienced as industry operators.Several factors point to higher prices: gold benefits during quantitative easing and hyper-inflation, gold remains a reserve currency, ETFs now facilitate institutional investment in gold, high barriers to entry and a long development cycle that cause inelastic gold supply to demand.David comments that there is a significant need for new investment in gold exploration and development as the industry has been focused on harvesting existing assets rather than continually replacing with new deposits.  Gold is a very cyclical business yet companies undertaking the exploration and development have 10, 15, even 20 years from first discovery to production so it is impossible to time the market.  The primary challenges in developing new mines remain the same as always – impact of inflation and constraints in supply of people and machinery. The gold industry is making significant strides to improve their environmental impact; they have done well and continue to improve in carbon intensity as equipment is scaled and commercialized to replace carbon fuels, but there is a long way to go in improving water consumption.  The newer technologies being developed are naturally more capital intensive upfront but the savings and enhancements in water consumption, reduction of risk and reduced mine closure costs should be enough economic incentive to justify industry adoption.  Funding at reasonable rates, like by the royalty corps, can provide the early stage assistance required. Tune in to hear about: What is so different about the composition of the Gold Royalty Corp executive and management, compared to competitor royalty corporations? Advances occurring in the environmental aspect of the gold industry. Why demand for gold is now higher than 20 years ago, and will further drive the price. Why a cyclical peak above $3000/ounce expected in this run, will be the first to exceed the $850/ounce achieved in 1981 at the last peak.  And more. Mentioned in this episode:Gold Royalty Corp website GROY and GROY.WS listed on the NYSE

Weatherskin sees every need for top of the line, heavily tested, environmentally engineered construction coatings as a wonderful challenge, and opportunity to continue to grow and adapt.   Every project presents a nuanced opportunity to add to the service offering, keep the team driving forward, and continue the success.Smart business sense, careful consideration of application specifications, return on investment, and training the customer - engineering, architectural, or large general contractor firm - have ensured that project risks have been avoided and premium outcomes achieved.  The Weatherskin team prides themselves on the ability to push the envelope on what water based chemistry can achieve, in substitution for more traditional compounds, in delivering high efficiency, higher sustainability, premium quality, and low volatile organic compounds.Co-founder Brandon Carbol has led his company to noteworthy success and believes there is a lot more to come.  They continue with new innovative products to unveil (including a recent medical grade, eco-friendly surface wash), attaining premium certifications (including the exclusive Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label), and driving accomplishments for themselves and their customers.Tune in to hear about: Characteristics of entrepreneurs who succeed … are they illogical? Finding threads to enable continued momentum and the importance of not staying in maintenance mode. The industry future as systems replace discrete products. Emergence of alternative materials with potential to gain market share where shortages and price increases exist. And more. Mentioned in this episode:Weatherskin websiteEmail addresses on the website

As a plumber and HVAC fitter Jaeson Cardiff cared about the greenhouse gas emissions from building heating systems, and felt the industry could do better.  So he and his team invented a unit to capture the carbon in a commercially viable way.  He now leads a highly successful company that supports the circular economy – flue gas is captured in their CARBiN-X(TM) units, CO2 scrubbed and in turn converted to a component for the cleaning materials the company then makes.  The heat generated during the process reduces the energy consumption of the building, and even the CARBiN-X(TM) unit is fully recyclable at the end of its useful life.Working in collaboration with other participants in the industry Jaeson believes the global emissions issue can be solved effectively and efficiently.  There certainly have been major hurdles to overcome but, through persistence, surrounding himself with the right people, a willingness to consider opinions, and to learn new skillsets, CleanO2 is making a noteworthy global impact.Tune in to hear about: How the CARBiN-X unit works and produces components for soap. Challenges that had to be overcome on the road to success, even in learning about the industry. The need to significantly increase inclusion opportunities for the trades in strategies seeking new innovative solutions.  Government focus in think tanks is not currently broadly inclusive. Concerns around polarization in the heating industry, rhetoric and focus on electrification as the sole, or primary, solution to solving environmental issues. And more. Mentioned in this episodeCleanO2 website Email Jaeson - Jaeson@cleano2.caCleanO2 general email - soap@cleano2.ca

Having developed a taste for cryptography and security right after school Jon Trask honed his skills in logistics and supply chain.  He then moved into emerging technology creating Blockchain Guru with a focus in software development, training and consulting in blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet-of-Things (IoT).  In 2020 Jon, with his team at Dimitra, began focusing in the global Agricultural Technology (AgTech) niche with a mission to help small farmers around the world.  They plan to enhance farm productivity, improve food safety and enable food security by placing technology and information efficiently in farmer's hands.Blockchain offers high security and high immutability i.e. it is near impossible to hack or corrupt, but some challenges do remain.  Password security is critical; humans are the weak link.  Obstacles also have to be overcome in situations where specific data location is required or where corporate structure creates restrictions. However, artificial intelligence has such special value in its ability to combine, correlate and interrogate large volumes of data efficiently and securely.  When used to empower human excellence the sky truly is the limit on where it can go and what can be achieved. The advances in IoT, Blockchain and AI are truly exciting and are revolutionizing multiple areas.Jon's success in business can be attributed to facing business challenges head-on, listening to customers, and uniting his team in the direction of the vison, motivation and objectives.  They of necessity make course corrections as needed and tweak the business plan to fit the niche; but this is why they are so excited about the difference they make and the creativity they engage.  Dimitra has ambitious goals and is establishing mechanisms to revolutionize the ecosystem so that a difference can be made in the lives of many.Tune in to hear about: A simple explanation of what blockchain is and does. How secure blockchain and artificial intelligence are available now to all companies, and how to access the benefit. The advantages inherent in blockchain to contrast the average 280 days it takes to find and address most system breaches and loss of data. The area where blockchain and AI are currently most effective and how this can create accessible advantage to spring farmers ahead of global competitors. And more. Mentioned in this episodeDimitra Technology Blockchain Guru Jon Trask LinkedIn  Jon Trask email - Jon@Dimitra.io

What do high end architectural floors, antimicrobial sport floors, indestructible industrial surfaces, and pothole repairs that are not season restricted have in common?  They are among the spectrum of surfaces researched, supplied and fully warranted by Warhorse Materials.Whether 80,000 or 350 square feet, and a seamless architectural resin floor, high wear industrial floor, exterior surface, or simple sealer, Warhorse Materials and CEO Ben Jones work with multiple formulators to create proprietary flooring systems that perfectly fit the requirements, and are sustainable.  They support the architects and designers with a guarantee against deterioration of any kind when used for the specified purpose.Aside from the fully customized flooring systems they also launched a pothole repair service that allows end-user customers to request a repair that is performed by a licensed operator within 48 hours of the request, in any season at any location.  The pothole dimensions determine the quantity of material and the cost which is then paid directly on the service website. No longer do property owners have to wait for “pothole season”.Entrepreneurship can be frightening suggests Ben Jones.  There are many challenges to overcome and areas where you may not be comfortable, but believe in yourself, and do what it takes to make your own success.  It can be done and is rewarding.Tune in to hear about: Why a switch of shareholders was required for Warhorse Materials to be in a position to raise working capital.  Optimize for circumstances. How flexibility and focusing on building credibility and reputation amplify success. Why Ben suggests you are only as good as what you know, and why it is essential to seek understanding and streamline for efficiency and return, especially in areas that are not your strength. A recommended approach to ensuring the business always meets regulatory liabilities. And more. Mentioned in this episodeWarhorse Materials website  Pot-Lock permanent pothole repair  

Marina Phillips wants to honour mothers who have babies and toddlers, by providing one aspect of the village it takes to raise a child; in the process she has created a very successful business.  Prior to the pandemic Bébé Station was active in Ontario but the post Covid-19 model will be a significant expansion to encompass franchise opportunities available to other women across Canada, and possibly licensing in the USA.  Watch also for Bébé Station vending machines coming to malls and public places.  A visionary who has successfully used logic to overcome challenges and roadblocks thrown her way, Marina encourages women entrepreneurs to be confident.  She suggests that “not all business is good business, not all money is good money, and not all customers are the right customers; be okay with that and believe in your ability and value.”  Decide if your business is a business or a hobby, use the appropriate mindset to achieve the success you desire.  If you are running a business, be sure to invest in appropriate professional services to promote and secure that quality and success, have a plan and strategy for making it work, and know what your alternative action will be if your objective is not achieved.Tune in to hear about: Marina's personal Bébé Station accomplishment - it is not the growth or financial success. Canadians learning from the USA business discipline related to support, assistance, mindset, marketing, and “letting go”. Pursuing business when the founder's heart is in it and she enjoys the fruits of her labour as well as the journey. The value and facilities families demand from event organizers.   And more. Mentioned in this episodeBébé Station website Instagram BébéstationBébé Station vending machines on Instagram

Lisa Gareau has been a connector for most of her life; more recently as a connection strategy coach rather than running her own events.  She prefers to see the impact of her work on a wider scale as people connect authentically in person.  Lisa finds inspiration in the grace given and received over the last year, the success by which the formerly behind-the-scenes aspects of events became front and centre, and the growth in content, technology and worldwide support.  She does highlight that mistakes in the virtual format tend to be more apparent but also how event planners have so effectively learned to co-create with their audience, guests and even sponsors or partners.  In this way they have succeeded in getting their message out, connected with the right people, and crafted events that are meaningful and builds relationships in an organic natural way. Looking forward Lisa sees events playing an important role in the societal healing process as people, who are craving true relationships, will experience a well put together event as a true gift to the attendees.  She is helping her clients to see the gold in themselves and the numerous resources they access to in order to deliver to this need.Tune in to hear about: The value of flexibility, partnership, and teach ability in achieving successful events. The importance of involving the technology team in the entire event plan, not only their responsibilities. How Candy Events Consulting serves as a lighthouse. How event planners achieve their dream event only through ensuring they have a fully agreed understanding of the strategy. And more. Mentioned in this episodeCandy Event Consulting : Making Your Team StrongerCandy Academy of Event Management + PromotionsCandy free short guides to learningMoments Magazine - Event Planning Ideas + InspirationCandy Youtube channel

A pivot from a career in law enforcement, in the USA, led Jake Hirsch to discover his passion in live entertainment.  More specifically, his experience in interviewing people allowed him to speak with fascinating people and dive deep into the entertainment business.Jake is, and has been, active in many different aspects of live entertainment, including talent management, podcasting, promotion of events, video production, ticketing, touring, and even creation and promotion of virtual events.Not content to wait, Jake took advantage of his entrepreneurial spirit to develop and maximize a “pandemic plan B” to offer entertainers a way to safely practice their craft.  He developed innovative ways to present entertainment within social distancing guidelines – how about a live zoom concert for 800 people? Or a live in-person concert for over 300 all seated in their private box above the stage? Offerings of daily comedy …. Hush comedy secret shows… the list goes on.  Is there any aspect of the business where Jake has not developed personal expertise? Tune in to hear about: How rewarding it is to further your passion as a career and give back every day.  Jake's compliment to society during the pandemic. The number of different ways there are to experience live comedy and music entertainment, and how live entertainment is surviving the pandemic and lock-downs. Potential benefits, disadvantages, and hurdles to either bringing back live entertainment or continue on the virtual platforms after the pandemic. And more. Mentioned in this episodeJake Hirsch Entertainment Group -  also look for Instagram Facebook and Twitter on the website 

Governance, which is effective decision making, is gaining increasing recognition as ESG measurement and reporting becomes more mainstream.  Boards of directors are being held increasingly accountable to fully perform their strategic and governance role for their organizations; no longer serving a purpose to rubber-stamp management decisions where they are called to serve the best interests of the organization and stakeholders. But how does an organization access a diverse pool of qualified board candidates and perform at their best with a united vision of their strategy and operation?  Enter DirectHer Network to open governance to a broader community, with an emphasis on women, and BoardWell to train boards of directors to work as a team with an agreed definition of strategy and activity.Tune in to hear about How a USA election led to an organization to empower women to take their place at the board table. The most important question not on most board agendas.  Curious questions and actions to enhance governance, board of directors value, and director service. The value derived from achieving alignment of the individual members of the board of directors. And more. Mentioned in this episodeDirectHer NetworkBoardWell

Persuading her MBA class to work on solving a need she had identified set Serese Selanders on a highly successful entrepreneurial journey.  Despite not personally having the technical qualifications necessary for the task Serese developed a technology solution with significant market demand that is successfully growing two companies, simultaneously.  Serese had searched for a discrete personal panic button or safety device that could be used by the older adult demographic, and determined one was not available, so she invented one.  Little did she know at the time how versatile her solution was or that it would be drawn to fill a need for workforce protection and monitoring, lone worker safety, personal protection in vulnerable groups, and the original senior adult market.Serese believes that a founder's grit and determination to solve their identified product or service need despite challenges is what makes them successful.  A company's culture will always win in the effort to attract and retain the best employees with a diverse mix of skillsets, cultural heritage, work habits, etc.  Tune in to hear about The amazing functional, yet attractive and discrete, hardware and software solution that keep users safe and connected to their employers and loved ones.  Encouragement for women to be bold and lead in entrepreneurship, even in industries not normally considered “female”, and in the absence of personal expertise to develop the solution. What is a risk that is also an opportunity for Serese's technology and companies. How little funding has been required and why now is an excellent time to open a round for growth of ORA and SolusGuard. And more. Mentioned in this episodeSerese Selanders LinkedIn – mention the Unlocking Business Growth podcastORA website SolusGuard website 

After moving to Canada “for a few years” of post-qualification exploration and experience Dr. Ingemaud Gerber found her passion in the proactive and holistic health space.  Combining her practice in health-span, quality of life and aesthetic care, with service in both acute and long-term care she especially enjoys the ability to work with patients who make informed decisions for a healthy life.Dr. Gerber's anecdotal evidence suggests it may take up to three years for patients to make healthy changes to their habits.  Mindset is the most important factor that promotes or inhibits change – until or unless a person wants to make the change it will not happen.Trends indicate a move for people to seek information which informs their decisions towards longer, healthier lives with reduced dependence on acute care, and a reduction in drug use (many of which have side-effects that may compound other signs of ageing).  Unfortunately all take work, there are no quick fixes despite many patents desiring a drug that is the solution which “avoids” the effort inherent in improved lifestyle.Tune in to hear about The four pillars that enhance and support health. The best drug a physician can prescribe. The components of a comprehensive medical and wellness service. Signals that tell a health professional that a patient does, or does not, have an improvement mindset. And more. Mentioned in this episodeINLIV Website  

Having herself been exposed to personal development Leah Fink is passionate about helping people develop skills in self-awareness and mental health.  She is especially enthusiastic about developing youth on the journey because of the benefit she derived from similar experience, and because it provides an exceptional foundation from which to benefit throughout life.  The programs bring together self-awareness, mental health resiliency, and skills development before the person requires those skills in a stressful, or crisis, life situation.Experiential programs, ideally outside of the “familiar” environment, potentially in the wilderness, very effectively develop strength within people, solidify relationships and provide purpose for living.  Although the COVID-19 restrictions have postponed the ability to meet in person Leah's group workshops maintain the core value of shared experience, in an online form.  They explore values, purpose, communication, conflict resolution, and more, through programs like True Colors® colour typography, and Right Use of Power power dynamics.For the benefit of mental health while managing infections Leah recommends against “social distancing” in favour rather of “physical distancing”.  People require ongoing social interaction for mental health; social distancing is destructive as people must feed their social connectivity for wellbeing.Tune in to hear about The need for proactive skills development, including resilience – don't wait for a big challenge. Overcoming perceived stigma and vulnerability of acknowledging “failures” or mental health. Eight week mother-daughter guided experiential webinar workshops. True Colors workshops: the fun, the benefit and some available for the family. And more. Mentioned in this episodeAll Thrive website

Lindsay Blackett founded PeakTerra Ventures as an entity that curates complimentary businesses that are engaged in, or a supplier to, the cannabis and hemp industry.  Bringing a collection of craft growers, processors, producers, and complimentary suppliers together in a business park to share expertise, enhance proficiency and develop depth in the industry.  Quality product grown and further processed into products for the medical, health and aesthetics industries.  Even extending as far as relevant professional services, insurance, regulatory applications and retail.PeakTerra seeks to build a more sustainable infrastructure for premium quality cultivation, and the non-plant facing aspects of processing, dispensing, education, insurance, real estate, banking and data, in order to enhance stability and economic success within the legalized cannabis industry.Drawing on a wealth of experience that includes service in the Alberta Legislature, engineering and construction, public sector, cannabis consulting, plant genetics , cultivation and testing, and more the PeakTerra ecosystem is  setup to help craft entrepreneurs enter the market with unique plug and play growing and processing facilities at Premium Park.Tune in to hear about The need for this facility in order to meet the demand for high quality product currently only available in the black market. The extent to which the industry is enhancing technology for its own use, and broader commercial application. The surprising statistics of the extent of cannabis use among women in Colorado (not all inhaled), and what it has done to alcohol consumption. The similarities and differences between cannabis and hemp crops, in both CBD, THC, nutrition and raw materials for manufactured goods. (Which is more versatile?) And more. Mentioned in this episodePeakTerra Ventures Inc. website

Kent Burkholder uses a practical team-based approach combined with proprietary decision support software to guide, and teach, clients to enhance their risk analysis and decision processes.  As a done-with-you or done-for-you project Decision Frameworks significantly elevates the quality of the corporate strategy and asset decisions clients make, while decreasing the time required because of the discipline inherent in the process.Clients learn to practice quality decision-making as an ongoing habit.  They learn to consider as wide a group of alternatives as possible, encourage diverse thought and questioning to attain common ground, avoid group think and confirmation bias, build more flexible strategy, and make disciplined planning part of their business advantage. Kent's substantial experience has allowed him to see the value in effective change management.  A combination of true top down support and bottom up drive reliably deliver exceptional performance in teams.  Even major global challenges and societal issues, he suggests, may effectively be addressed by each individual taking responsibility to do their own part to consume or pollute less, contribute to changed behaviours, etc.  The call for “big bang” instant solutions comes from a biased approach and bias can doom all decisions.Tune in to hear about Three simple, but perhaps not easy, steps to make a quality decision. Why the human brain is wired to make decisions fast. Six elements inherent in effective, quality evaluations and flexible strategic decisions. What could a decision about a pump and an elevator possibly have in common.  And more. Mentioned in this episodeDecision Frameworks websiteKent Burkholder profile and email contact Kent Burkholder LinkedIn 

Through personal experience Kathy Mendham discovered the significant, challenging, shortcomings of acute-focused seniors care and restricted information exchange.  So she did something about it … a service to fill the gaps and deliver cost effective, customized care specific to the individual needs of every client.   The team at Proactive Seniors propose and recommended a collage of free and for-fee services, and provide information specifically identified for the individual health, wellness and assistance needs, preferences and ability of each individual senior.  The multi-disciplinary team helps families to achieve their individual goals, manage risks, provide personal assistance and enable their clients to thrive.Kathy's most important advice – plan lifelong health and wellness in a similar way to financial or retirement planning. Give yourself enough time; the earlier the better!Tune in to hear about: Four factors thriving seniors consider in wellness plans for quality of life. Timely appropriate information improves health and wellness. The tangible family cost of not having it. The Sunshine fund – what is it, how can it assist, and how seniors and families are involved.  How proactive aging involves three generations. And more. Mentioned in this episodeProactive Seniors websiteEmailing info@proactiveseniors.ca and Kathy@proactiveseniors.caCall Proactive Seniors for a chat (403) 809-1971Proactive Seniors educational community webinars – recordings and upcoming events

Murray Malley, during a career in which he turned companies around to profitability identified a significant need for a streamlined efficient people system.  So he did something about it!  Hr-and Inc. MediDirect developed a single system that entirely avoids duplication of records, data entry or master files.  Data input at source (often by the employee) is captured once for: records required by the human resources team,  running the payroll,  detailed accounting, including time input to project costing and customer invoicing,  direct reporting for insurances, and managing staff schedules and attendance (with timesheets if required). All accomplished while encouraging significant individual customization of each employee's pay between taxable and non-taxable benefits.  The system ensures 100% compliance with regulations and has on-demand custom reporting as may be required by auditors or management.Tune in to hear about: How easy it is for employees to personally structure their own remuneration for taxable and non-taxable benefits without creating any employer administration. The single six letter word to unlock business growth. The significant advantage derived from “supporting local”. The surprising area where 50% of audit challenges lie for companies and the auditors. And more. Mentioned in this episodeEmailing Murray at Murray.Malley@Hrand.comHR-and website Murray Malley LinkedIn 

Amanda Hall, as a professional geophysicist and CEO at Summit Nanotech, is a steward of the earth and believes she has a responsibility to contribute as society learns from the mistakes of mankind and endeavours not to repeat them.  Progress and development should be smart and sustainable.Summit Nanotech is breaking boundaries using unconventional cutting-edge nanotechnologies to offer cost effective green solutions to lithium production.  They supply the direct lithium extraction plant (no client capital expenditure) that delivers product with reduced CO2 emissions, less use of fresh water, keeps the reservoir charged, and can produce lithium from diverse brines.Amanda has advice for aspiring entrepreneurs – when you are ready … achieve what you are capable of and feel responsible for … take the knowledge and experience you have gained, and have the gumption just to follow your dreams and passion!Tune in to hear about: The explosive need for battery metals in the short and medium term, why producing to meet the demand requires careful strategic positioning, and just how Summit Nanotech is responding. The primary challenge that has delayed adoption of direct lithium extraction, and how the pace is quickening. Summit Nanotech's surprise obstacle to locating a pilot plant. How many ways are there actually to mine lithium and why is lithium the mineral to focus on? And more. Mentioned in this episodeSummit Nanotech website  Contacting Amanda via  info@summitnanotech.comLinkedIn for Summit Nanotech

Melanie McClare and her team at Swirltex are collaborating with customers to field test their portable tubular membrane filtration system with impressive success in some of the water that is the hardest to clean – airport runoff, tailings ponds, food & beverage waste, oil extraction wells, and more - the potential applications are numerous.The service Swirltex delivers to customers is consistent high quality filtered water for reuse or water conservation purposes, removal of contaminants, ability to avoid disposal surcharges, increased dissolved oxygen concentration … and more.  All done with less energy consumption.Melanie sees a bright future in cleantech's impact on our ecosystem, especially if the processes can be expedited by adopting a community theme – big industries and companies working with small companies, industries enthusiastic to “find a better way” partnering with innovators exploring new approaches to challenges, and potentially technology from one application considered for use in another.Tune in to hear about: How unique tubular membrane water filtration can reduce both energy consumption and the water footprint, while also eliminating capital cost. How ESG investment and collaboration could expedite control of climate change and benefit society. How filtration system-as-a-service (SaaS) provides a techno economic solution to improve sustainability and ESG integration, including the benefit of processing onsite. And more. Mentioned in this episodeSwirltex Swirltex LinkedIn posts 

Trevor Prentice has had a life-long fascination with all things learning, fun and entrepreneurial.  Today he uses his passion for the benefit of others - both in securing and optimizing intellectual property assets of business clients and in sharing stimulating parenting ideas for raising future bright minds.  As intellectual property strategist at The IP Link Trevor assists his clients to refine their intellectual property strategy, register optimally targeted patents, and to maximize their licensing revenue.  His service fills the gap between the business inventors and the lawyers, translating the language of developers and executives into patentable legalese that protects the core assets.He comments that there are arguments both for and against securing intellectual property for proprietary use.  What is the correct approach in business and for society?  Trevor amplifies ….Tune in to hear about The eight types of value IP may create or unlock for a company.  Why companies consider patents or other methods of securing IP, and when? (Hint: When is it too late to commence a thorough review for prior art?) How can spending on intellectual property service create cash for the business?  How can the invention fund its own further development and commercialization? Some of the pros and cons of patenting intellectual property: is there value in open source, how can academic discoveries be developed (instead of remain journal articles), returning benefits to society.  And more. Mentioned in this episodeThe IP Link Trevor Prentice LinkedIn Rocket Cubes