The Real Bottom Line Wendy Brookhouse

Welcome to "The Real Bottom Line," the essential podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs gearing up for a future business transition. In this unique episode, we take a tongue-in-cheek approach to explore the pitfalls that can make a business unsellable. Drawing inspiration from Rob Normandeau's engaging presentation at the Business Transitions Forum, we dive into the top 11 missteps that could lock the doors on your business's marketability. From the perils of dictatorial leadership to the financial haziness of flying blind, each point is a playful yet poignant reminder of what not to do. Join us as we dissect these cautionary tales with humor and insight, providing you with an unconventional perspective on enhancing your business's value. Whether you're planning to sell soon or just aiming for growth, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to steer clear of these common traps.

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved. 

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day: Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day
Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rulesDay 2: Unlock Your Genius
Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill youDay 3: Master Letting Go
Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto themDay 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint
Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jailDay 5: Build Momentum
Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

In this inspiring episode of "The Real Bottom Line," host Wendy Brookhouse is joined by serial entrepreneur Cathy Bennett, whose extensive career ranges from successfully running the largest female joint venture in Canada within the McDonald's franchise system to serving as the Finance Minister of Newfoundland. Cathy shares invaluable insights into the lessons learned from her time in the fast-food industry and how these experiences propelled her into a diverse array of business ventures, including construction, real estate, and even venture capital through Sandpiper Ventures, focusing on empowering female entrepreneurs. Throughout the conversation, Cathy emphasizes the critical importance of strategic exit planning, the power of mentorship, and the necessity of fostering a supportive team. Her journey not only highlights the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship but also sheds light on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in the business world.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
The Value of Franchise Experience: Cathy attributes much of her success to the foundational skills and disciplines learned from the McDonald's franchise system. "You get to refine your problem-solving and your strategic thinking very significantly with that type of intensity."Diversification and Opportunity Seizure: From owning McDonald's franchises to launching a venture capital firm for women, Cathy's journey underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and diversification. "Where I saw an opportunity that financially made sense, and where our team had the capacity to expand, we expanded."Strategic Exit Planning: Cathy advises entrepreneurs to start planning for the sale of their business from day one. "The day you buy a business, you should really be thinking about it... because at some point, that time is inevitable."The Importance of Team Building: Highlighting the role of her team in her success, Cathy stresses the importance of hiring people who complement your skills and weaknesses. "Just because you see it quick doesn't mean you see it right."Challenges for Female Entrepreneurs: Cathy discusses the bias in venture capital and the challenges women face in accessing capital. "Only 2 percent of venture capital money actually ends up with women... there is bias in decision making."Mentorship and Empowerment: Cathy shares stories of mentorship and its impact, emphasizing the importance of empowering the next generation. "It was a similar path that I walked when I didn't have the capital, but ultimately a partnership was an opportunity for me."Quotes from Cathy:
On making decisions: "It's really difficult not to make really quick decisions when every lunch hour... is a make-it or break-it type of experience."On the importance of a supportive team: "If we became stagnant, then the opportunities for [the team] became stagnant."On entrepreneurial mindset: "I got really aggressive on opportunity... it provided more opportunities for that team."On diversity in venture capital: "We investing in companies that are trying to solve very, the biggest problems of the world today."
Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved. 

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day: Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day
Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rulesDay 2: Unlock Your Genius
Shed tasks outside your zone

In this episode of "The Real Bottom Line," host Wendy welcomes Sandra Reimer, an experienced entrepreneur and founder of CoLabourNation. The discussion delves into the nuances of entrepreneurship, storytelling in marketing, and the burgeoning world of freelance talent.  
Key Points:
The Evolution of Storytelling: Sandra discusses how storytelling in marketing has evolved with new tools, stressing the need for authenticity and considering the audience's perspective.Launching CoLabourNation: Sandra explains her motivation for starting CoLabourNation in 2020, driven by her desire to help others leverage their strengths in entrepreneurship. The platform focuses on connecting freelancers with business owners.Challenges in Hiring Freelancers: The conversation shifts to the challenges business owners face in hiring freelancers, such as finding trustworthy talent and understanding their own needs.Vetting Freelancers: Sandra details her process for vetting freelancers, looking for continuous learners with aligned personal and professional interests to ensure a perfect match with business owners.The Rise of Freelancing: The discussion touches on the increasing trend of freelancing, attributed to individual desires for meaningful work and the challenges businesses face in hiring full-time employees.Final Advice: Sandra advises entrepreneurs to understand their strengths, identify energy-draining tasks, and consider hiring freelancers to focus on high-value activities.
About Sandra Reimer:
Bio:Sandra Reimer is a dynamic Marketing Matchmaker, adept at connecting overwhelmed business owners with top-tier Canadian freelancers. Her venture, CoLabourNation, is pivotal in accelerating success for entrepreneurs by facilitating outsourcing in marketing and administration. With a rich experience spanning two decades, Sandra has carved a niche in helping world-changers articulate their narratives as a freelance communication strategist. Her influence extends to her roles in co-organizing Communitech’s Future of Work & Learning Peer-to-Peer Group and serving on the Conestoga College Entrepreneurship Collective Advisory Board as a Freelancer Evangelist. Her work with startup founders through Boundless Accelerator and Innovate Niagara showcases her commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent.
Her Story:Sandra's entrepreneurial journey began 20 years ago as a writer, editor, and communication strategist. Initially handling both content creation and design, she soon realized that her strength lay in storytelling, not design. This epiphany led her to collaborate with a graphic designer, enhancing the quality of her services, client satisfaction, and her ability to sell these services. This experience was Sandra's first lesson in identifying and focusing on her highest value activities - tasks where passion, performance, and pay intersect.
As she honed her skills, Sandra expanded her collaboration with professionals like website designers and other writers, embodying the essence of technicians collaborating to boost revenue. Gradually, she shifted towards higher-value work, embracing the roles of manager and CEO by hiring virtual assistants for administrative tasks. This evolution in her professional identity was crucial in freeing her to focus on areas where she excelled.
Three years ago, Sandra embarked on a new venture with CoLabourNation, leveraging her expertise to match business owners with freelancers skilled in marketing and administration. She understands the challenges entrepreneurs face, such as being trapped in technician roles or needing skills outside their expertise, particularly in the increasingly complex field of marketing.
Topics of Interest:Sandra is keen to discuss several key areas:
Owner Identities: Understanding the different roles an entrepreneur plays - Technician, Manager, and CEO - and what it takes to transition between these identities.Levels of Delegation: She emphasizes the importance of delegation, outlining level

In this insightful episode of The Real Bottom Line, host Wendy delves into the entrepreneurial journey of Sophia Hoareau, a seasoned entrepreneur who successfully built and sold her business. Sophia's story is a rich tapestry of ambition, strategic growth, and adaptability, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs at various stages of their business lifecycle.
Sophia's entrepreneurial spirit was ignited at a young age, influenced by her family and her early business ventures. Her professional journey began in the insurance industry, but her entrepreneurial aspirations led her to co-found a business in the relocation industry, leveraging her background in Canadian immigration. Her company specialized in providing comprehensive destination services to expatriates relocating to Canada, including housing, work permits, and community integration.
The podcast highlights the challenges and triumphs of Sophia's business journey, emphasizing the importance of a CEO mindset and strategic planning. Sophia shares her experience in scaling her business, focusing on quality service and maintaining a work-life balance. Her approach to business growth was methodical and ambitious, aiming to double revenue annually, a goal they impressively achieved.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of selling a business. Sophia candidly shares her initial reluctance to sell and how she navigated the complex process, emphasizing the importance of being well-informed and building a strong advisory team. She stresses the value of negotiation in the sale process and the emotional journey of letting go of a business she nurtured from the ground up.
Post-sale, Sophia took a brief hiatus before launching her consulting and coaching business, Conseil Waro Inc. Her new venture focuses on business strategy and international mobility consulting, drawing on her extensive experience in the relocation industry.
Key takeaways from this episode include the significance of building a supportive team, both in running and selling a business, and the importance of self-awareness and continuous learning in entrepreneurship. Sophia's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, strategic thinking, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances in the world of business.
Listeners can connect with Sophia for expertise in international hiring and business strategy, gaining insights from her rich experience in entrepreneurship and global mobility.
Sophia's BioA true entrepreneur at heart, at the age of 11, Sophia seized her first opportunity to solve a problem when her family returned to live in the Seychelles after immigrating to Canada 7 years earlier. She started selling healthy sandwiches and homemade popcorn during recess to replace the junk food offered in the schoolyard!
Her life journey inspired her to study Immigration first and then Business Management at the HEC of Montreal. She began her career in an immigration and relocation agency as well as a training centre helping new comers launch their business.
At the age of 28, she moved on to a more significant challenge: the labour shortage in Canada. She co-founded a company specializing in the relocation and integration of foreign workers to address the pressing labour shortage.
Sophia set a goal to double her company's revenue every year, which she achieved with her partner and team. This goal was accomplished through her hard work and dedication to both her business and family balance. The fact that the success of her company resulted in a seven-figure acquisition agreement is a testament to her leadership and strategic vision.
Passionate about entrepreneurial challenges, Sophia has become a sought-after strategic partner by her clients to foster their success and growth.
Connect with Sophia on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sophia-waro

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented busine

Today, we're going on a journey back in time, revisiting an interview that struck a powerful chord with our audience - a conversation I had with the incredible Michael DeVenney about a year or so ago.
So, you might be wondering why this rewind is so important. Well, it all ties into a hot topic we've been discussing recently - breaking out of the business prison we often find ourselves trapped in. You see, this interview with Michael, it wasn't just any interview; it was one of our most popular episodes, and for a good reason. We tackled a subject that doesn't get nearly enough attention in the business world: entrepreneurs and their mental health.
As entrepreneurs, we're often so focused on building our businesses that we forget to take care of ourselves. And this, my friends, can have a profound impact on our mental well-being. It can lead to a cocktail of less-than-positive feelings about our business and, even worse, push us to make decisions driven by exhaustion and overwhelm rather than sound long-term strategies.
That's why, to complement this episode, I've designed a challenge tailored specifically for entrepreneurs like you. It's a chance to revolutionize the way you run your business and, more importantly, safeguard your mental health. You'll find all the details about this challenge in our show notes, so make sure to check it out.
So, without further ado, I invite you to dive back into this enlightening replay with Michael DeVenney. Let it serve as a mirror reflecting your own journey as a business owner, and start thinking about your own mental health. Are there steps you need to take to ensure you're thriving, not just surviving, in the entrepreneurial world? Join me in this episode, and let's unlock the path to a healthier and more prosperous business future, together.

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved. 

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day: Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day
Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rulesDay 2: Unlock Your Genius
Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill youDay 3: Master Letting Go
Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto themDay 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint
Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jailDay 5: Build Momentum
Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/

In this entrepreneurial podcast, the host delves into how business leaders often feel trapped in their own enterprises and offers 11 strategies to escape this 'business prison.' The strategies include creating a query diary for the team, listing team members alphabetically rather than by title, taking a teammate along for client meetings, simulating parental leaves to identify gaps, communicating company values frequently, documenting the sales and onboarding processes, and simplifying business operations. The host also advises limiting customization, creating marketing funnels, niching down for clearer messaging, and potentially eliminating products or services that only the leader can deliver. Not all strategies may apply to everyone, but choosing even one could bring in rewarding results.
00:11 Introduction to Breaking Out of Business Prison00:19 Understanding the Concept of Business Prison01:22 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Creating a Question Diary01:54 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Listing Employees Alphabetically02:21 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Not Going to Client Meetings Alone02:58 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Pretending to Go on Parental Leave03:41 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Communicating Company Values04:34 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Documenting Your Sales Process05:27 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Limiting Complexity05:57 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Avoiding Customization06:27 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Designing Marketing Funnels07:05 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Niching Down07:41 Strategies to Escape Business Prison: Dropping Certain Products and Services08:07 Conclusion: Choosing the Right Strategy for Your Business

Join us for the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge, designed specifically for ambitious and growth-oriented business owners who are feeling overwhelmed and hitting revenue plateaus. In just 60 minutes a day, over the course of 5 days, we will provide you with the blueprint to go from bottleneck to breakthrough by reframing your relationship with time. This challenge will help you break through revenue plateaus, spend more time in your zone of genius, and build a more valuable business – even if you feel like you've tried everything and are time-starved. 

Join the Bottleneck to Breakthrough 5-Day Challenge. Here's what you'll learn each day: Day 1: Design Your Ideal Day
Explore what your ideal day looks like as an entrepreneur and how to allocate your time based on entrepreneurial time rulesDay 2: Unlock Your Genius
Shed tasks outside your zone of genius and focus on activities that energize and fulfill youDay 3: Master Letting Go
Analyze tasks and activities, determine their fit in your zone of genius, and understand the cost of holding onto themDay 4: Leverage Your Time Blueprint
Build a step-by-step process to shed undesired or time-consuming activities, explore delegation in a new way, and escape business jailDay 5: Build Momentum
Learn how to execute your ideal day by chunking down activities, overcoming forces of perfection, procrastination, fear, and ego, and amplifying growth drivers for your business.Register at https://bottlenecktobreakthrough.com/