It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast

Sharon DeKoning

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It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast

Unlock the secrets to business success and gain valuable insights from local industry leaders. Join us as we delve into the strategies, triumphs, and lessons learned of thriving companies, empowering entrepreneurs to elevate their businesses to new heights.

FEB 6

Beyond Adversity: Pak Wong's Journey of Resilience, Success, and Embracing Opportunity

In this inspiring episode, entrepreneur and author Pak Wong shares his remarkable journey from Hong Kong to Canada and the lessons he's learned along the way. Pak tells Sharon his story of arriving at 19, building success on adaptability, integrity, and perseverance. He recounts how community trust and strong relationships helped him launch his first business venture, despite financial hurdles. Throughout his career, he has prioritized mentorship, giving back, and fostering meaningful connections in business. Pak also discusses key themes from his book, Beyond Adversity, Dawn Awaits, where he emphasizes the power of resilience, mindset, and legacy. He shares practical advice on overcoming business challenges, embracing change, and maintaining a positive outlook. Now in semi-retirement, Pak continues to mentor young entrepreneurs and pursue public speaking to inspire others. Tune in to hear his invaluable insights on success, self-care, and the importance of community. About Pak Wong Pak Wong is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and mentor known for his resilience, adaptability, and commitment to community. Originally from Hong Kong, he immigrated to Canada at 19 and built a successful career in hospitality and business. His entrepreneurial journey includes the acquisition of the Green Head Motel in Provost, a testament to the power of trust, relationships, and perseverance. As the author of Beyond Adversity, Dawn Awaits, Pak shares insights on overcoming challenges, fostering a positive mindset, and leaving a lasting legacy. Passionate about mentoring, he has been involved with Entrepreneur Canada since 2016, guiding young business leaders toward success. Resources discussed in this episode: Beyond Adversity, Dawn Awaits by Pak Wong-- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Pak Wong: LinkedIn: Pak Wong-- Transcript: Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:17] Welcome back to It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to an incredibly inspiring guest, Pak Wong. Pak is not only a successful entrepreneur, but also an author whose journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of lifelong learning. I should add 'a positive attitude' in there, too. That's probably one of the key things that I take away from you, Pak. Pak's story is remarkable. Originally from Hong Kong, he moved to Canada at the young age of 19. Embracing a new country and culture, played a significant role in shaping his career and life path. His journey is a powerful example of how adaptability, hard work and positivity can lead to success in both business and life. In his book 'Beyond Adversity, Dawn Awaits', Pak shares his personal experiences, the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and the life lessons he's gained along the way. Today, we're excited to learn more about his journey, how embracing Canada has influenced his career, and the wisdom he has gathered along the way. In this episode, we'll dive into Pak's entrepreneurial story, explore the lessons he's learned, and hear his advice for navigating challenges while staying focused on what's important. Get ready for a conversation filled with valuable insights, inspiring stories, and practical tips you can apply to your own journey as an entrepreneur. Pak, thank you so much for joining me today. Let's talk about something significant in your path, like your business journey, and how you overcame it. I know from our coffee there's a few points, but let's talk about a few significant things that knocked you down, but you had to overcome and get back up. Pak Wong: [00:02:00] Throughout the journey in my business ventures, the numerous situations and incidents that we have to deal with, some are tougher to address than others. The one that really stands out in my mind is how we acquired the Greenhead Motel. We came to Provost in 1985 on a lease arrangement to open up a new restaurant. We had a five year lease on the restaurant, and we were doing really well. We built a very vibrant business, but after about 3 or 4 years, we knew that in order to continue on with our success, we needed to have a longer term arrangement. We started to approach the landlord to extend our lease, but we were not getting any firm commitment from him. As the end of the lease was getting close, we were faced with the dreaded possibility of not having the lease to continue on with the business that we spent so much time and hard work to build. Having a young family and starting a new time, that was really devastating to even think about. Fortunately, through a local friend, and I think that's a testimony of how we build relationships within the community, we were able to make contact with Bob Gregory. Pak Wong: [00:04:25] We had a meeting with him, looked over the place, and we really liked what he had there. We saw a lot of potential. We talked and we came up with a deal, whereby we will purchase the Greenhead for $1 million. The way he came up with that price is, he said, I owed the bank $800,000, I contributed $200,000 of my own money into it, and that's what I wanted to get back and look after. Basically, we can buy the motel from him for $1 million. Which, at the time, is a pretty good value for what he's asking. But the thing is, being new in business, we do not have the capacity and ability to take on $1 million of commitment. In order to make the deal happen, he said, this is how we're going to do it. You can take over my bank loan of $800,000 and I will guarantee it for you. You'll see that it will be impossible for us to qualify, and you can pay me back my $200,000 seller's loan with no interest over ten years. Pak Wong: [00:05:52] Basically, he's offering us an opportunity to walk in there with no investment and operate. I was in banking prior to that, and this is something that you can't even imagine being offered to anybody. My question to him at the time was, why did you have so much confidence and trust in us? The answer he gave me was something that I still carry in my mind all these years. He said, you came to Provost about five years ago, you have made a tremendous contribution to this community, and you have built a very successful business. As a matter of fact, you almost put my business out of circulation. He said, I would have no worry about your ability to make this a success. He said, this is my dream, you know what we have here, but my family is not interested in carrying it on, so I'd like to see it go to somebody like yourself. I knew that you were going to be a...

37 min
JAN 23

Building Relationships for Business Success with Sharon de Koning

In this episode, Sharon de Koning shares her insights on the transformative power of building strong relationships in business. Sharon highlights the value of connecting with suppliers, competitors, and the local community to drive business growth and credibility. She offers actionable advice on engaging with community groups like local chapters of BNI, the Chamber of Commerce, and local trade shows. Sharon also emphasizes the importance of fostering supplier relationships through clear communication, timely payments, and trust, which can lead to better pricing, faster service, and exclusive product access. Her unique perspective on collaborating with competitors—such as referring clients and co-hosting events—creates a supportive environment that benefits all parties involved. Sharon’s approach to customer relationships is equally compelling, focusing on genuine connections, understanding their needs, and delivering excellent service. She shares how small actions, like remembering customer preferences, can increase loyalty. Throughout the episode, Sharon encourages listeners to step out of their comfort zones, engage with their communities, and embrace collaboration as a path to sustainable business success. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical tips and real-world examples to inspire your business journey. Resources discussed in this episode: BNI - Business Networking InternationalToastmasters InternationalChamber of Commerce - LloydminsterStartup LloydminsterBrand Advantage Expo — Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time Promotions— Transcript Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:17] Welcome back to It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast. My name is Sharon DeKoning and I am the host of the podcast. Today I want to talk about something that often gets overlooked in business and is absolutely critical to success, building strong partnerships and relationships. I have a phrase I like to use, a business builds a community, and a community builds a business. It is deeper than that, and often the benefits will not show up for a number of years later. Today we are talking about relationships with suppliers, other businesses in the community, organization, and of course our customers. These connections aren't just nice to have, they can and will make or break your business. Let's dive into it. Why these relationships are so important, we're going to talk about how they impact your business and some strategies to make those connections even stronger. Sharon DeKoning: [00:01:13] Let's start first with community connections. In any business, it's easy to get caught up in focusing only on our day to day operations. We get consumed within these four walls, we get sidetracked. Before you know it, you get here at eight. Before you know it, at six, something like that. It's a blur, our days as entrepreneurs. That has happened to me for about 18 years. I come to work, I work, and then I go home. I've been doing It's Time Promotions for about 18 years, and the last three years I can say that I'm getting better at being involved in the community. Let's take my failure with a grain of salt, and hopefully somebody out there listens to me and learns by it and jumps on the bandwagon really quickly. Stepping outside of your business and actively engaging with your local community is a game changer. I am very introverted, I know people think that's crazy and people tell me that all the time. I am game-on at work, 100%. After work, do you want to go here? Do you want to go do that? Nope. I'm very introverted, and to get me to go into a room where I know nobody, kind of makes me want to throw up. It's not my strong feature, and it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Therefore, I will find every excuse in the book not to do what I know I need to be doing. But there's ways around it. It's not easy, but keep in mind it's important. It's always not easy, those first few times. There's things that I've learned over the years, even the way you stand, make yourself feel open. When you go to those events, make sure you're standing straight, your shoulders back and do not cross your arms. Be open to people, do not turn your back on people. There's so many different ways of making it a little bit easier for people to approach you. That might be a different session, we'll talk about that. It is awkward, but it is critical for your business. Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:03] By building relationships within your community, whether that be with other businesses or organizations, you enable growth through collaboration, support, innovation, and possibly an opportunity. Sometimes opportunities don't come down the road for years later. We actually have a podcast coming up with Pack Wong, and he explains relationships that he's built over the years and how that opportunity didn't arise for many years later. Just being aware, be out, be present, talk to people, be in your community, and he's a prime example of that, and I am a prime example of that also. Even though they may be not manifested, but being out in the community and talking to other businesses. I've actually had people reach out to me with opportunities. Whether that be by their business, or maybe an employee, maybe they have reference of somebody that might fit in my team. There's so many different ways of winning through it, so I highly recommend getting out of your four walls, out of your comfort zone, and attending these community events. Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:06] When you're out with other businesses or community organizations, you're not just building partnerships, you're creating a network. You're creating a network of resources. Once you get to know these people or these organizations, you can reach out to them for ideas. For example, do you know of anybody that might fit our front end line at It's Time Promotions? That could just be somebody that you've talked to, resources you have more connections. That is just one example. These connections allow you to refer business back and forth. You share your insights, and sometimes an opportunity may arise that can change your life, which is exactly what I was talking about before. It may not be right now, it may not be tomorrow, but it will be someday. Just do your due diligence now for your future. Here's an example. Partnering with local organizations for events can help you reach new audiences that you might not have access to on your own. When you go to these events, you're talking to somebody that you kind of know, they might know somebody who you don't know at all, and it might even be in a total different network of work. That is a cool way of getting to know everybody. Just be open minded, shake their hand and introduce yourself. There's another way, you could partner with local organizations for events. Whether that be through sponsorship, a speaking opportunity, or even just being present by a table with your staff....

28 min
JAN 9

How to Build a Thriving Business Culture with Core Values: Insights from Patti Johnston

In this episode, Sharon chats with Patti Johnston from Core Dynamics as she shares her inspiring journey from dancing on her grandfather's feet to founding a successful dance studio rooted in strong core values. Patti emphasizes the critical role of core values like healthy development, customer care, professional integrity, innovation, and community in shaping a positive business culture. She highlights how aligning staff with these values ensures buy-in, fosters better teamwork, and leads to student success stories. Patti underscores the ripple effect of a strong culture on retention, referrals, and overall satisfaction for both customers and staff. Patti also delves into practical strategies for defining and implementing core values in a business. From annual team training to creating a safe environment for growth, she stresses the importance of clarity and alignment in maintaining a thriving workplace culture. For businesses seeking to refine their own values and culture, Patti offers her expertise and invites listeners to reach out to discuss personalized training sessions. Tune in to learn how cultivating a strong culture can transform your team and delight your customers. About Patti Johnston Patti Johnston is a highly experienced dance educator and Pilates instructor with over 30 years of teaching expertise. She has trained thousands of students, from beginners to professionals, offering classes that build technical skill, resilience, and a passion for dance. A dedicated advocate for holistic training, Patti incorporates the latest advancements in dance education and mind-body awareness to help her students achieve their goals safely and effectively. As a certified member of the Canadian Dance Teacher Association since 1995, Patti has held various leadership roles, including Alberta Branch President and Exam Coordinator. Her global experience includes performing on cruise ships, leading students to prestigious events, and speaking at industry conferences. Through her work, Patti strives to inspire confidence and self-belief in every student she teaches. Resources discussed in this episode: Simon Sinek - Ted TalkSimon Sinek - The Golden CircleSimon Sinek - Start with WhySimon Sinek - Find Your WhySimon Sinek - Leaders Eat Last -- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Patti Johnston | Core Dynamics: Website: www.coredynamics.caInstagram: @coredynamics_dance.lloydFacebook: DynamicsCoreEmail: office@coredynamics.ca -- TranscriptSharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Today we have Patti Johnston with Core Dynamics here in the studio with me for It's Time for Success: Business Insights Podcast. I got to know Patti through our BNI group here in Lloyd. Her energy and disposition on values really resonates and speaks to me. With the hopes that it will inspire other entrepreneurs out there, Patti, I'm hoping that you can share your insights, maybe some wisdom over the years, some fails, some wins with other entrepreneurs out there. So Patti, introduced herself a little bit for us. Patti Johnston: [00:00:47] Well hi, I'm Patti Johnston and I'm excited to be here with Sharon today. I got started in dance when I was five years old and just fell in love with it. My first dance lesson was on my grandpa's feet in a farm kitchen, I think probably how a lot of us got started that are around my age. I think from that it was a sense of community, dancing with my grandpa, getting to go to old time dances with him, it just made me fall in love with the community that I related to dance. And then I was lucky enough to grow up in a dance studio where I had some of my best friends. Especially as a girl growing up, you all know what it's like to go to school and your friends turn on you one day, but I could always leave school and go to my dance studio and I always had friends there. So for me, it was all about community and the culture that I was in, and I've ended up making a career out of it. Was headed to university to be a pilot actually, and turn of events. I ended up teaching dance and then years later, opening up my own studio. Sharon DeKoning: [00:01:59] Well, we are glad that you stayed and did exactly that, for sure. I can see where your passion, that actually shares a lot for me, because you're so passionate when you talk about dance from 3 to 83, Patti always says to us. So those core values really resonate right down from when you were little. That's very cool. The core dynamics culture, you talked about it a lot. You talk about it a lot and you've implemented it in different, various ways, not only with your team, with your students, but also with the parents. Patti Johnston: [00:02:26] Yeah, to me, it's number one in business, because what differentiates me from any other dance studio out there, but also if you walk into a hardware store and it says our core values are customer service and all the blanket core values, it's like, okay, but what does that tell me about you and how you do business? And there's a great Simon Sinek podcast on The Golden Circle, and I love Simon Sinek. So first of all, if he's listening, I'm your favorite fan. But he talks about people don't do business with what you do, they do business with why you do it. It is so closely connected to the owner, to the CEO for their sole purpose of why. I know why you went into marketing and why you believe so deeply because of our connection through BNI, but it's because you also grew up in an entrepreneurial family with a cafe and you know what small business can do for community. And it shows in everything you do. Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:31] How do you spell Simon? I'm going to write this down and I'm hoping that our listeners- Patti Johnston: [00:03:36] Simon is S-i-m-o-n and Sinek is S-i-ne-k. And he wrote a book called Start With Why. Then he did a subsequent one titled Find Your Why and it's to do with your team. And I did this and it was fantastic. We actually had to pass around a Kleenex box because people were crying, and not because the boss was yelling at them, because they felt so closely connected personally to why they were doing the job with my business. And I loved that, because that's when you have buy in as an employer. How many employers actually feel they have true buy in from their staff? Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:15] I always think I could teach a lot of stuff, almost everything, but I can't teach, I can't get them if they don't have the buy in. I can't take that time, I can't. Patti Johnston: [00:04:26] And I'm sure every entrepreneur listening to this is thinking of ...

39 min
12/26/2024

Alternative Lending: Empowering Entrepreneurs with Community Futures, with Corinne McGirr

In this episode, Sharon dives into the transformative impact of Community Futures, a nationwide program supporting rural Canadian entrepreneurs since 1989. Her guest, Corinne McGirr—General Manager at Community Futures Lloydminster & Region—explains how the organization goes beyond traditional banking with developmental lending that considers factors like capacity, character, and community impact alongside credit and collateral. Community Futures Lloydminster serves local businesses from inception to expansion, offering vital resources such as the Expert on Demand program for customized expert advice and Digi Futures, an online learning platform. Highlighting inspiring success stories, including a thriving female-led trucking company and a retail store that provides health benefits to employees, Corinne emphasizes the program's unique ability to empower entrepreneurs and foster community growth. Listeners will gain valuable insights into Community Futures' application process, the importance of a strong business plan and market research, and the organization's collaborative efforts with regional partners like Startup Lloydminster. Corinne encourages entrepreneurs to explore these resources, especially if traditional banks have turned them away, and underscores the value of mentorship, coaching, and ongoing support. This episode is a powerful reminder of the role entrepreneurs play in building stronger, more resilient communities. About Corinne McGirr Corinne McGirr is a dedicated advocate for rural entrepreneurs and a key leader at Community Futures Lloydminster. Since 1989, Community Futures has supported small businesses across Canada with tailored guidance, developmental lending, and strategic resources. Known for her creativity and problem-solving skills, Corinne fosters growth and sustainability by addressing the unique needs of the Lloydminster region and surrounding communities. Through strong partnerships with organizations like Startup Lloydminster, Alberta Innovates, and the East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network, she ensures businesses at all stages have access to critical support. Corinne’s expertise in rural entrepreneurship, innovative lending, and community-driven solutions continues to empower business owners to succeed and make a lasting impact. Resources discussed in this episode: Startup LloydminsterEast Central Alberta Regional Innovation NetworkAlberta Innovates BDCDigiFutures -- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Corinne McGirr | Community Futures: Website: lloydminsterandregion.albertacf.com LinkedIn: CorinneMcGirr-- Transcript:Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Thank you for joining us for It's Time For Success: Business Insights Podcast. Today we get to meet with Corinne McGirr from Community Futures, and I think we got a lot of insight coming down our pipeline here. As a business owner, Corinne, I'm really excited to meet with you. I didn't know about Community Futures, and I wish I'd known about it when I started this business almost 20 years ago. I needed help, and I have stories I can tell you. I like her little quote here, it says 'be bright, be creative'. I found that on your LinkedIn profile and I think that's very cool. Corinne is always looking for different angles and puzzling out how those pieces can fit together effectively. Please help me welcome Corinne to our podcast today. Corinne, we're going to talk about Community Futures, let's just jump right into it and tell us what Community Futures has to offer. Corinne McGirr: [00:01:07] Sure. Community Futures is a nationwide program. We provide business and entrepreneurial supports to rural Canada. We were created back in the late 80s, we've been here in Lloydminster serving the region since 1989. We still get people wondering who we are, what we do, never heard of us, all those kinds of things. We're here as a nonprofit organization, and we're governed by a board of directors. That board of directors represents our communities and our entrepreneurs in our region, so that we can better serve entrepreneurs. We are federally funded, we bring the federal dollars to our community and our region for entrepreneurs to take advantage of. Our whole goal is to make sure that businesses get started on the right path. There is so much information out there, and it is virtually impossible to know where to start. Whether your business is just starting out, whether you're trying to grow or thrive, or even starting that discussion of shutting down the business. We can provide support, resources and tools throughout the whole entrepreneurial journey. Sharon DeKoning: [00:02:31] What's different between you guys and a bank? Corinne McGirr: [00:02:35] What we do is, we call it developmental lending. When you go to a financial institution, they're looking at the numbers and they're looking at returns for their stakeholders. Whereas our philosophy is that we're here to serve our communities. Through developmental lending, we're looking at more than just your credit score and how much collateral you have. We're considering your capacity, your character, the community impact that your business might have, as well as credit and collateral. We have the ability to take a little bit higher risk on those businesses that can't get lending through the traditional financial institutions out there. We pride ourselves on supporting what a community needs to grow. For example, if a retail store came to us in one of our communities, and there's already four of those retailers, it's not going to have that much impact on the community. We may be like, we're not really interested in that loan. However, if that business was to open up in a different community that had zero retailers and we knew that small business would hire two part time high school students and make a true impact on the growth of that community, we would maybe consider that more favorably for that community. We take that into consideration as well. Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:06] I love it, I think I'm picking up what you're laying down. Back in the day, I believe that banks used to have that mindset. They did more so but now they're locked, so thank you for being there for us. If a company, like for myself, I see here you have 'growing a business', sometimes a business almost maxes and then they need help to get to that next level. I believe that is in business, you get stuck there and it's like, how in the heck do we get to that next level? Corinne McGirr: [00:04:42] We can help with that whole growth mindset. Sometimes we think we want to grow, we think we're ready for the next level. We want to make sure that you are ready, that you'...

33 min
12/12/2024

The Ride to Visibility: Building Loyalty and Community with Jill Kelly

In this episode, Jill Kelly, owner of Red Bicycle Communications, takes us through her career journey, from her early days at a top advertising agency in Halifax to founding her own marketing firm in Lloydminster in 2014. Jill shares insights into how the marketing landscape has evolved, emphasizing the importance of building a strong brand identity, maintaining consistent messaging, and utilizing digital tools like social media and Google My Business. She underscores the value of SEO, a user-friendly website, and a solid online presence to help local businesses stand out. Jill also discusses the need for regular website updates, authentic branding, and a well-defined strategy to engage clients and boost business visibility. Jill and host Sharon explore the essential elements of a strong brand, such as differentiation and emotional connection with customers. Jill explains how market research and brand strategy can help businesses navigate today’s competitive environment and highlights the significance of collaborating within the marketing industry and building community ties. She shares examples of how Red Bicycle has fostered partnerships with other marketing professionals to provide comprehensive support to clients. In closing, Jill offers actionable insights for businesses looking to enhance their brand strategy. About Jill Kelly Jill Kelly is the brand strategist and owner of Red Bicycle, a creative marketing agency based in Lloydminster. Jill is a hometown girl, born and raised. While she has lived across Canada, she always finds her way back home. After obtaining her Bachelor of Management and Bachelor of Arts simultaneously through the University of Lethbridge, Jill started her career at a top advertising agency in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she fell in love with advertising, marketing, and design. Jill returned to her hometown of Lloydminster in 2013 and soon opened Red Bicycle Communications, where she works with various local and provincial businesses and non-profits to build a better and stronger brand. You'll often find her giving back to the community, studying for her Masters in Marketing, or spending time at the lake with her family and friends when she's not at the office. Resources discussed in this episode: Wordpress.comWixDreamweaverAdobe XDGoogle My Business-- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Jill Kelly | Red Bicycle: Website: redbicycle.comLinkedIn: JillKelly-- Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Hello everyone, my name is Sharon DeKoning. I'm with the 'It's Time for Success: Business Insights' podcast. Today we're talking with Jill Kelly. Jill Kelly is from Red Bicycle here in Lloydminster. Jill has a Bachelor of management, a Bachelor of Arts, and she's worked at a top advertising agency in Halifax. Then you fell in love with advertising and marketing and came back to Lloyd. Tell us the story from there. Jill Kelly: [00:00:45] I was getting my undergrads at the University of Lethbridge. They have a great program where I could take them simultaneously. Everyone in my graduating class was, I'm going to go work for this company or this industry, and they had it kind of all figured out and I did not. I thought, I am brilliant. What I'm going to do is not pick an industry, I'm going to go into the advertising world and try to get a job at an ad agency. In that case, knowing that they work with a variety of different industries. So I did that, and I worked for a power company, I worked for an alcohol company, I worked for a tourism company, I worked for a government organization, a lot of different industries and different experiences. My intention was that, I'll pick out from there. I'll say, I really like working for government, I'm going to go and do that as my career path. That was the intent at getting a job in an advertising agency. It turns out I actually really like working for all of them. I didn't want to choose, and I really loved the connection and the projects and helping people have their business or their organization, have that idea come to life and help them grow further. I fell in love with the whole agency side of things and never left. I left that agency just to move across the country, but once I got to Lloyd I started doing it again on my own. I moved back to Lloyd in 2013, and then I started working for one organization in the petroleum field, and it was wonderful. I was working on the rebranding and it was really exciting for me because I love it. As soon as the word got out that, there's somebody local who can actually do marketing and rebranding and branding in general, who has experience and education behind them, I got a lot of different contract job offers to say, come work for me. I just said yes to all of them and started Red Bicycle January 2014. Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:05] Very exciting. Looking back from 2014, I feel that we're on a crazy climb for marketing. Maybe I'm wrong, but how has it evolved from 2014 to 2024? What are the differences that companies are needing? What's the main difference that companies need right now? Jill Kelly: [00:03:20] I think Lloyd in particular is a bit of an anomaly. In the sense that, back in Halifax I was working for big organizations, they had big budgets, they understood the value of marketing, it wasn't a need to pitch them on that. Where Lloyd, especially in 2014, 2013 even, they didn't know. They thought, I do marketing, I put my logo on these pens. I'm like, that's promotions and a great piece of your marketing pie if that's where you want to spend your budget, that's great, but that's not actually marketing. That's where I had to do a lot of education. I had to do a lot of 'why', and a lot of it was around social media. People didn't really understand the value that social media could bring, people were having their receptionist or sometimes the owner on the side of their desk running the social media account. They'll get to it when they get to it, and they'll post those smiley faces that say, Happy Tuesday. Oh my gosh, what is your strategy with this? They're like, we just post. If I can run my own personal Facebook page, I can run a business page. I'm like, we need to have consistency in messaging, we need to have a strategy in play, we need to know what we're talking about. Because every time that you switch people, I can tell. I can tell when I watch your posts and read them that it's a different ...

45 min
11/28/2024

Exploring AI for Small Businesses & Startups with Matt Peck

Host Sharon DeKoning and Matt Peck, Director of Innovation at Startup Lloydminster, discuss how artificial intelligence can support small businesses and startups. Matt highlights the practical uses of AI, from creating social media strategies and writing business plans to providing mentorship. He shares insights on leveraging tools like ChatGPT for generating emails, targeting social media audiences, and developing marketing plans. Sharon asks questions that most business owners are asking about AI, and how it can help them. Matt answers by highlighting tools, including Microsoft Co-Pilot and Amazely.com. Matt’s message is clear: AI is a valuable resource, and he encourages businesses to explore its potential through free workshops and personalized consultations offered by his team. Listeners will also learn about Matt’s efforts in building a tech ecosystem in Alberta, covering a broad region to support innovation-focused businesses from concept to funding readiness. His advice for business owners is to start with accessible tools like ChatGPT and gradually integrate AI to streamline operations and enhance decision-making. For those interested in getting started with AI, Matt’s organizations provide resources and hands-on support to help businesses at any stage make the most of these evolving technologies. About Matt Peck Matt Peck is the Director of Innovation at Startup Lloydminster and leads the East Central Regional Innovation Network (RIN). In his role with Startup Lloydminster, Matt is dedicated to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed by providing tailored support to address their unique challenges. Startup Lloydminster, funded by the City of Lloydminster, is committed to empowering local startups and small business owners as they navigate the complexities of business growth. In addition to his work with Startup Lloydminster, Matt manages the East Central Regional Innovation Network, a program funded by Alberta Innovates, the research branch of the Alberta government. The RIN program is designed to foster innovation and support tech-driven startups across Alberta. Matt's responsibilities extend across a broad region from Lloydminster to surrounding communities such as Wainwright, Provost, Vermilion, Saint Paul, and Bonnyville. His work focuses on supporting tech and innovation-focused businesses, helping them develop from initial ideas to stages where they may qualify for Alberta Innovates' non-dilutive funding. Through initiatives like AI workshops and technology integration strategies, Matt actively contributes to strengthening Alberta's tech ecosystem, ensuring that regional businesses have access to the tools and knowledge needed to advance and succeed in an evolving market. Resources discussed in this episode: Alberta InnovatesChat GPTGeminiCoPilotAmazely.com — Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Matt Peck | Startup Lloydminster: Website: startuplloyd.comLinkedin: MattPeck-- TranscriptSharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Thank you for joining us today on the It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast. Today we got Matt Peck. Matt I had met at an AI luncheon, or actually it was an afternoon, I think. How long was that course, three hours? Matt Peck: [00:00:29] It's about two and a half, three hours. Basics of AI workshop. Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:33] Basics of AI workshop. I took so many notes and that was at Startup Lloydminster. Matt is the Director of Innovation with Startup Lloydminster and leads the East Central Regional Innovation Network. If you could chat a little bit about those two organizations with us, Matt, before we jump in. Matt Peck: [00:00:55] Yeah for sure. Startup Lloyd is funded by the city of Lloydminster to help small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed. Understanding that every small business is a little bit different, facing different challenges. Then the Regional Innovation Network is funded by Alberta Innovates. Alberta Innovates is the research arm of the Alberta government. They've broken up Alberta into eight different regions, or RINs as we call them, our regional innovation network. There's one in Edmonton and Calgary, but then there's six rural RINSs. I cover the east central Alberta RIN. We're based in Lloydminster, but we cover about 150km into Alberta in every direction. Wainwright, Provost, Vermilion, Saint Paul, Bonnyville, Aklavik, all those communities. We have two goals with the RIN to support tech and innovation startups. Anywhere from that idea-on-a-napkin stage, if it's to do with tech or innovation, our goal with the RIN is to get them ready to potentially receive Alberta Innovates funding. There's quite a bit of non-dilutive funding through Alberta Innovates to support innovation in our province, which is really cool, and then also to support the tech ecosystem within our province as well. For me, part of that has been these AI workshops. Maybe it's setting up companies with a Google profile, maybe it's working with an existing company to see how they can incorporate new technology to advance. That tech ecosystem piece, we do a lot of research to see what company needs, what our region needs. Then we work for Alberta Innovates and provide those supports. Sharon DeKoning: [00:02:30] That is so in depth. If somebody has any questions how do they find you at any of those places? On a website, do they email, how do they get hold of all that? Matt Peck: [00:02:39] Through the Startup Lloyd website or the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network website, there'd be contact. You can fill out a form through that, and then one of us will reach out. From there you should be able to find my contact details as well and reach out to me directly. Things change very quickly and so typically it's easiest to speak with one of our team directly, as we're typically up to date on what programs are currently available, what's the focus at the moment from the Alberta government, things like that. We are the best resource, so go through the website and find us from there. Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:08] So they would reach out to you, not only startup businesses, people that are wanting to grow their business. Who reaches out to you for businesses? Matt Peck: [00:03:16] We work with businesses at any stage. Like I said, that idea on a napkin stage, but then all the way through working with starting, scaling and then succession planning as well. Sometimes businesses need help with shutting their doors and going through that process too. We have contacts all throughout the province to support at any stage of that. We have our business coach, Holly Andony, who has worked with hundreds, dare I s...

36 min
11/28/2024

Backyard Tourism: Giving Back to the Community, with Lindsay Heisler

Ever wish you could take a day trip to see the amazing attractions in your own backyard? In this episode, Sharon DeKoning talks with Lindsay Heisler, who created a business to do just that! Whisk’d Away with Lindsay is a local travel company that gives participants the opportunity to take a day trip and explore the amazing local businesses and attractions in their local area. Lindsay shares her inspiration and entrepreneurial journey of building a tour company dedicated to supporting local, independently-owned businesses in Alberta. Lindsay’s tours, each designed for groups of 10-15 people, explore a variety of venues, from coffee shops to wineries, with each tour tailored to showcase the unique charm of Alberta's local businesses. She speaks passionately about the impact of community support, the value of personal connections, and the joy of creating memorable experiences for her clients. Lindsay also discusses the challenges she faces with her non-profit-inspired model, particularly in helping venues understand her mission to drive community engagement. Lindsay offers inspiring advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of pursuing passions, taking risks, and staying open to feedback. She underscores the vital role of local businesses in sustaining communities and encourages others to explore entrepreneurial paths that bring people together. For Lindsay, Whisk’d Away is not just a business—it's a mission to uplift and celebrate the local economy, one tour at a time. About Lindsay Heisler Lindsay Heisler, an AMA member and local entrepreneur, is committed to uplifting Alberta’s small businesses through her community-centred company, Whisk’d Away with Lindsay. Her boutique tour service offers curated day trips to spotlight local businesses and bring customers directly to their doorsteps. A former chef at Waterton Lakes National Park's Prince of Wales Hotel, Lindsay began by sharing her favourite local spots on Facebook, sparking interest from friends eager to join her explorations. Inspired by their encouragement, she launched Whisk’d Away with Lindsay in late 2022, hosting over 20 group tours across Alberta, from Wainwright to Stettler and beyond. Resources discussed in this episode: AMA Insider Article: Local Business Owner Supports Local Businesses -- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Lindsay Heisler | Whisk’d Away with Lindsay: Facebook: Whisk’ed Away with LindsayEmail: whiskdawaywithlindsay@gmail.com -- Transcript:Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Thank you for joining us, Lindsay. This is our 'It's Time for Success: Business Insights Podcast'. The purpose of our podcast is to help others in business, whether they are thinking about starting up, whether they've been doing it for a number of years, there's always something that we can share and help other people, and that's the purpose of this. Today I'm talking with Lindsay Heisler, she has a company called 'Whisk'd Away' and she's got a remarkable story. I don't think that I've ran into another business that is so community orientated than what you are, Lindsay, and your story is absolutely remarkable. Lindsay, I've probably known you for almost 15 years, since I've been in Provost for about 18 years, we've crossed paths along our little town and it's been a delight getting to know you, and of course you are a customer of ours too so I thank you for that. Lindsay has recently been in the AMA Insider. It's a local business, and they did a documentary on you. I love this one phrase, and I'm going to put it really close before we jump into the podcast. This really resonated and I think it speaks to who you are, so here it goes. It says, I love how the venues I choose share the hard work and passion for their businesses. Seeing the happiness, laughing, sharing new friendships and people supporting each other that happens on these adventures, what's better than that? That's remarkable, absolutely remarkable. I'm going to let you talk about your business before I start asking you some questions here, Lindsay. Just explain to us what 'Whisk'd Away' is. Lindsay Heisler: [00:01:45] Thank you, Sharon, for including me in your podcast today. 'Whisk'd Away with Lindsay' is a business that I created visiting, supporting, showcasing small, privately owned local businesses. I could see the need for small business support. We would go into our small communities and see another store closing or less stock on the shelves. We all shop Amazon, we all shop online. When you live remotely, some things you can't get in our local communities. I try to support as much as I can. I always say to people, buy the gift bag at one store, go to the other store and get a gift card. That extra $1.50 will help somebody. It might be the sale they didn't have that day. With 'Whisk'd Away with Lindsay', I am bringing you a vendor, at least 12 ladies. I generally take, I guess I should say, 10 to 15 ladies walking through your door at one time. I also do groups of men and women that we can visit 6 to 14 venues in a day is what we do. Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:08] I think I read somewhere, Lindsay, that you focus on locally owned. Is that correct when you go out with your people? Lindsay Heisler: [00:03:15] Yes, not chains. I try to support someone that is a family owned business, someone that is a small business owner, not somebody that has five chains. I just think it's important, those people worked hard to get where they are to open the doors of that venue. I want people to be able to walk in, and I look for unique. I look for things that I like and also things that you might like. With the 15 ladies in my group or the 15 men and women in my group, not everyone is always going to like the same venue, but they will honestly learn something from every venue we visit. Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:07] As we discussed, before we started recording, the importance of these businesses in our smaller communities. They're so important to be able to thrive. The local businesses, they hire people, that's what helps our community is these people. So thank you for helping them so they can help others. It's a ricochet effect, we're all in it together. What inspired you to create this, Lindsay, is there any 'aha' moments that you thought that, we need to do this? Lindsay Heisler: [00:04:33] I was seeing that we all needed a fun adventure. Not necessarily days away, but one good day, I feel, is equivalent to a week holiday. Not everyone can get away for a whole week. I just wanted to create one day that was good for you, was good for me, was good to support the venues we visit. Sharon DeKoning: [00:05:00] This is a very rare service that you're offering. I don't think I've ever heard of it before. So what triggered this adventure for you? Lindsay Heisler: [00:05:08] I would say time spent with people. Years ago, I was with one of my friends. We ...

24 min
11/28/2024

Power Networking: Secrets to Building Business Relationships, with Aanand Mehta

In this episode, Sharon DeKoning talks with Aanand Mehta from BNI Alberta North. Their conversation delves into the critical role networking plays in business success. Aanand explains how networking serves as the foundation for building relationships, resources, and referrals. He shares a story of two BNI members whose networking efforts led them to secure major clients for each other, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building over direct selling. Anand advises listeners, especially new networkers, to focus on being genuinely interested, following up after meetings, and giving before receiving. He highlights the value of attending both in-person and online events and underscores the global reach of BNI, which helps entrepreneurs connect across 80 countries through its resources and app. The conversation also touches on key networking strategies, such as being present and mindful, building trust and credibility, and how introverts can excel in networking by taking a more strategic approach. Anand shares tips on how new entrepreneurs can get the most out of networking events and emphasizes that true networking goes beyond social media. He encourages listeners to attend BNI chapters to hone their skills and provides insights into BNI’s global presence, inviting people to connect via LinkedIn or through BNI Alberta’s website for further resources. About Aanand Mehta Aanand Mehta is a Co-Executive Director of BNI Alberta North. He was been a member of BNI for 9 years and a part of the regional management team for the past 3 years. He has a passion for working with Albertan entrepreneurs and professionals to build a culture of proactive and reciprocal business relationships. In 2018 he was recognized as Director of the Year and in 2019 was awarded the honour of the Givers Gain Award. Before his role at BNI, Aanand co-founded Output—a company focused on improving the efficiencies of trades companies through new technology. Aanand is a volunteer with the Christopher Leadership Courses of Canada, instructing classes on effective public speaking & community leadership. Resources discussed in this episode: BNI“The Introvert’s Edge” by Matthew Pollard-- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Aanand Mehta | BNI Alberta: Website: bnialberta.caLinkedIn: AanandMehta-- TranscriptSharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Thank you for joining us today on our It's time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast. We're with Aanand Mehta with BNI. I have met Aanand, a little bit of history between you and me, back in 2018 I had reached out to Anand, not knowing Anand. Actually, I'm going to back up a little bit. We have a business coach and he's out of Calgary, it's Action Edge business coaching, I was at a 90 day planning session. In this room, I get to sit with about 30 different businesses in the region. One of the guys beside me he says to me, Sharon, are you part of BNI? I'm like, no, what's BNI? Never heard of BNI ever. Being in a rural area, I've never heard of it. He told me at that meeting that it's about 80% of his business is networking, and he's a busy man so he is really appreciative of BNI getting him out of his comfort zone, and we'll go into a little bit more detail about that later. Since that meeting with that gentleman in our 90 day planning, I reached out to Aanand in 2018, I believe it was. Anand is the executive director of BNI Alberta North. Thank you for joining us today, Aanand. Aanand Mehta: [00:01:28] It's my pleasure. Thank you so much for the invitation, Sharon. Sharon DeKoning: [00:01:31] It's going to be fun and exciting. I'm very passionate about BNI, maybe it's because I've learned to step out of my comfort zone a little bit and doing those presentations are huge. As we've learned, networking is huge. That's what we need to chat about today, so our episode today is 'Power Networking: Secrets to Building Business Relationships'. If we could jump into a little bit of detail from your knowledge over all these years, can you tell us what role does networking play in a success of a business. Aanand Mehta: [00:02:02] I think it's the absolute cornerstone of success in business. Everything that we do in business requires relationships, it requires resources, it requires word of mouth referrals, and that is all at its root. It all comes from networking. Especially as an entrepreneur or a solopreneur, you need to surround yourself with people that are going to either motivate you, be a sounding board, people to collaborate with, otherwise it's a really lonely world and you just cannot do it alone. So networking is absolutely a cornerstone of business. Not only for small businesses though, but it has a huge value and impact in larger organizations as well. There's that age old saying, it's all about who you know, and it's absolutely true if you want to grow. If you want to move your business in a positive direction, you definitely need to be out there networking. Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:07] Sometimes I find that I can go and have coffee with my girlfriend and it's great. It's absolutely great, but having coffee with a fellow business owner, there are two different conversations, and I feel like I need both in my life. Aanand Mehta: [00:03:20] Yeah, absolutely. I felt the same way. When you're in business, a lot of our friends are not necessarily in business along with us. They don't understand those challenges, the struggles, they don't necessarily understand the wins when we've achieved something monumental in our business. For them, they don't see the challenges so it's hard to also appreciate the big successes. Through that networking, through that coffee with a local business person, by meeting somebody that has also started their own business, you're getting their knowledge, their expertise, their resources. You can be each other's mentor, and help work through problems, adapt quicker. There's so much to be gained from building those types of relationships in the business community. Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:16] I can go for coffee at one of our one-to-ones, and in particular, well almost every session, but in particular the last session, I was making mental notes like you wouldn't believe about sponsorships, how they do their sponsorships and donations, how it's a different letter that they implement. A light bulb went off, and that's just from having a coffee with fellow business people, getting to know him, getting to know that relationship and having those questions and that open door. They're fantastic. In business, we can't do it alone and I think networking really helps us. Aanand Mehta: [00:04:47] Absolutely. Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:48] Is there anybody in particular that you can share a story with us that networking helped their business and their entrepreneurships? Aanand Mehta: [00:04:57] I have a lot of BNI related stories, but it's about networking ...

30 min
11/28/2024

From Vision to Culture: The First Steps to Systemizing Your Business, with Jarrod Stanton

In this episode, Sharon DeKoning and business coach Jarrod Stanton explore the critical first steps to systemizing a business, focusing on creating clear and impactful vision, mission, and culture statements. Jarrod, who has been coaching businesses since 2006, emphasizes that these foundational elements are essential for guiding a company’s growth and attracting the right team members and customers. Sharon shares her personal experience of overcoming business challenges, crediting Jared’s guidance for helping her align her team with the company’s goals through these statements. Sharon and Jarrod break down how a vision statement should clearly define where the business is going and inspire both the team and potential customers. They also discuss the importance of a detailed mission statement, which describes how the company plans to achieve its vision. Jared highlights that a well-defined culture statement helps create a positive work environment where employees understand how to act and collaborate. Throughout the conversation, listeners will learn how the need for clarity, alignment, and continuous reinforcement of these statements are essential to maintain focus and drive business success. About Jarrod Stanton Jarrod has worked with and directed a team of 12 coaches and trainers, which helped create and implement programs and projects that were completed under budget and on time. The depth of his business knowledge is truly inspiring. He has guided and mentored hundreds of companies to achieve and surpass their goals and, in some cases, increased profits by an astounding 1000%+ in 12 months. He has worked as a volunteer with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, now Futurprenuer Canada, delivering quality industry guidance to our younger generation of entrepreneurs, giving them the tools and abilities to succeed. He also sits as Co-Chair of the Boxing Day Classic Foundation, an organization devoted to helping victims of Cancer, and other community initiatives. Jarrod subscribes to the philosophy that a business should give you more life, not take away from it. A successful business is an entity that can function efficiently and profitably without the owner. Large or small, Jarrod’s wealth of information can help your business grow, become more efficient, and ultimately run without you. Resources discussed in this episode: The E-Myth - by Michael E. Gerber -- Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time PromotionsContact Jarrod Stanton | Action Edge Business Coaching: Website: ActionEdgeBusinessCoaching.comFacebook: ActionEdgeBusinessCoachingLinkedin: JarrodStanton-- Transcript Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] My name is Sharon DeKoning. Today's podcast is 'It's Time For Success: The Business Insights Podcast', and today I'm with Jarrod Stanton. Jarrod is a business coach with Action Edge Business Coaching. His firm is out of Calgary, that's where I met Jarrod. Jarrod has been coaching since 2006, I believe. Is that how long you've been a business coach, Jarrod? (That's right.) That's a long time. Jarrod has coached over 300 clients and is frequently listed in the top 100 coaches in the world. I am very honored that I have been able to work with you since 2018, Jarrod. Thank you for joining us today. Jarrod Stanton: [00:00:55] It's great to be on. Thanks, Sharon. Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:58] I've known Jarrod since 2018, so Jarrod and I talk frequently, we know each other very well. We had decided that today's part of the topics will be on nine steps of systemizing a business. I'm going to quickly go over these, Jarrod, and cut in if I'm wrong. The first one is vision statement, the second one is mission statement, third one is culture statement, fourth, smart goals, I really like that one. Organization chart, positional contracts, KPIs, how-to systems and management systems. Before we jump into that, I'm going to get you to elaborate a little bit on that, but I just want to tell everybody a little bit of our story if that's okay, Jarrod. Why and when and how this all came about. Back in 2014, I was in the process of buying a business in Lloydminster, it was a big merge. Then, I think, at the beginning of 2015, we took over this business. Then in the same year, the oil crashed. Not only was I up against pricing, but I was also up against not really knowing how to run a business. Yes, I was a business owner, but I really didn't know the ins and outs of all that. I didn't know about profit margin, I didn't know about systemization, I didn't know all that kind of stuff. I had all that up against me. Sharon DeKoning: [00:02:15] So anyways, I did power through that, and then I got a call. My mom had lung cancer, I don't know if you remember that, Jarrod. My mom had lung cancer and I knew I wanted to be out with her after her surgery, which also fell into our busy season. I didn't know how I was going to do that because at that time I was the business. I worked in 12 to 15 hours a day in my business, so it wasn't a business that could run without me, and I knew there was a difference out there and I needed to get to that. I was out for a walk, and I was listening to an audio book. It was Jen Sincero, 'You Are a Badass'. In this book, she said that she had a business coach, that was the best thing she did. She didn't have any money to get it together, but she figured it out. I didn't know what a business coach was, I'd never even heard of that before, so I had to Google it. You come up, and one of my suppliers had used you as well, so I phoned her directly. Anyways, the rest is history and it's been a great relationship between you and me since then, so I really appreciate you. I did go out with my mom after that surgery, you did implement systems, my team was on board and now we've definitely evolved. Let's go back to our nine steps, Jarrod. What do you have to say for yourself on any of those comments so far? Jarrod Stanton: [00:03:28] Well, thanks for those sentiments, Sharon. It's obviously been great times working with you and the team. I consider it a privilege and never take it for granted, that level of trust. So much of the topic of today and what we might get into in future podcasts here, you've been just absolute living proof of how it's possible and obviously passing it down through the team, too. I think you'd be one to definitely say that when you provide your team with organization, provide your team with systemization, it's in no way suffocating or limiting or micromanaging as some narratives online would say, but it's actually the best thing you can do for them and allows everyone to have fun. Everyone knows what their job is, everyone knows their teammates got their back, and everyone can trust each other because everyone knows what the systems are, what everyone's job is, and people can just have fun and perform. Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:2...

42 min
07/24/2023

Trailer: It's Time for Success

Unlock the secrets to business success and gain valuable insights from local industry leaders. Join us as we delve into the strategies, triumphs, and lessons learned of thriving companies, empowering entrepreneurs to elevate their businesses to new heights. — Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time Promotions

1 min

TRAILER

Trailer: It's Time for Success

Unlock the secrets to business success and gain valuable insights from local industry leaders. Join us as we delve into the strategies, triumphs, and lessons learned of thriving companies, empowering entrepreneurs to elevate their businesses to new heights. — Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions: Website: itpromo.caLinkedIn: Sharon DeKoningFacebook: It’s Time PromotionsGoogle: It’s Time Promotions

07/24/2023

•

1 min

Unlock the secrets to business success and gain valuable insights from local industry leaders. Join us as we delve into the strategies, triumphs, and lessons learned of thriving companies, empowering entrepreneurs to elevate their businesses to new heights.

Creator

Sharon DeKoning
Years Active

2023 - 2025
Episodes

10
Rating

Clean
Copyright

©2024 It's Time Promotions
Show Website

It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast