The Number

In this second episode about entrepreneurship, Lisa Hrabluk takes the interviewer's seat and we delve into some of the tactics that business owners can use to increase the value of their business and move up from micro and small to medium-sized business. To be ready in case you get an offer, to be able to scale and grow your business – without it running you into overwhelm. The tactics we discuss are for all businesses – not just those prepped for sale!

Lisa Hrabluk is back in the two-part episode. In the first episode, we are going on a bit of deep dive into the eco-system of entrepreneurship. Why is it important overall and why your role as a business owner is critical to the overall success? We also talk about the role of government and the future of Entrepreneurship in the Atlantic region. How Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in Immigration. How we need to think big and Why we need to move from a predominantly micro and small business region to a medium-sized business.

My guest on this episode of The Real Bottom Line is Giles Crouch. He is a digital anthropologist and a practical fore sighter – and our conversation covers some pretty interesting ground. Including What is innovation and why small businesses need to do more of it?What are the top innovation myths?The difference between internal and external innovation?Are surveys and focus groups still relevant?Why talking to your clients is more important than ever?What your current analytical stack may be missing.

In this episode of "The Real Bottom Line" podcast, the host discusses the importance of planning for the end game of a business. While the podcast typically focuses on interviews with entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey, this episode delves into the topic of succession planning and exit strategies. The host shares insights from a survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, which reveals that a significant number of Canadian business owners plan to exit their businesses in the next decade, representing a massive transfer of capital and assets. Surprisingly, only a small percentage of business owners have a formal transition plan in place. The podcast emphasizes the need for business owners to view their businesses as valuable assets and explores various strategies for transitioning the business to new owners, such as selling to non-family buyers, family members, or employees. The host also discusses the challenges and barriers faced by business owners when it comes to succession planning, including finding suitable buyers and accurately valuing the business. The episode highlights the importance of seeking professional help and engaging in exit planning early to maximize the value of the business and ensure a smooth transition. Read my article about the importance of Exit Planning: https://blackstarwealth.com/the-importance-of-exit-planning-preparing-for-the-future-of-your-business/

Welcome to "Power Sharing for Profitability in Your Couple Partnership," the latest episode of the Real Bottom Line podcast. In this unique roundtable slash webinar, we delve into the experiences of Anthea Mumby and Douglas Pinnell, a dynamic couple who have successfully navigated the world of entrepreneurial coupleship for over 25 years. Douglas and Anthea share their invaluable tips and tricks on how they've managed to work together harmoniously as spouses and business partners. Join us as they recount their journey and provide insights that can benefit anyone working with their significant other. Anthea Mumby and Douglas Pinnell were the owners of an insurance brokerage that provided life, living benefits, car, home, and business insurance. A portion of the business was sold in 2020, with the remainder retained by Douglas, who continues to educate clients about life and living benefits insurance solutions. Anthea now provides consulting services to couple owned businesses. Throughout the episode, our guests emphasize the importance of power sharing and defining individual roles within the business. Douglas specialized in the life and health side of the company, while Anthea focused on the property and casualty side. They illustrate how staying in their respective lanes and maintaining open communication have been key to their thriving partnership. We address the common reactions they receive when sharing that they've worked together for 25 years, including the skepticism and disbelief from others. Douglas and Anthea reveal how they've overcome these doubts and proved that a successful professional partnership can exist within a marriage. Drawing from their personal experiences, our guests also highlight the pros and cons of running a business with your spouse. They touch upon the benefits of trust, complementary skills, effective communication, and shared goals. Additionally, they offer practical advice on managing expectations, establishing boundaries, and finding a balance between personal and business lives. Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we uncover the secrets of power sharing for profitability in your own couple partnership. Whether you're contemplating working with your spouse or seeking ways to strengthen your existing business dynamic, this conversation with Douglas Pinnell and Anthea Mumby is packed with valuable insights that can transform your entrepreneurial journey.

Matt Benvie is the owner of Evolve Fitness – a gym that focuses on group and semi-private training. The gym has grown to 4 locations and Matt is focused on total health – including good nutrition, sleep and weight training. We talked about Work/life balance is a mythOwning a business is going to be hardFinding and staying in your zone of geniusHow personal growth may result in a change of friendsHow music and travel is his self careHow the 6 week challenge helped grow his business

The 6th Annual Financial Stress Index from FP Canada has just been released and surprise, surprise Canadians are more stressed about money - it is their number one stressor yet again. In this special edition of The Real Bottom Line I am joined by financial literacy champion Tracey Bissett and Financial Therapist Aseel El-Baba. We are going beyond the numbers and discuss real actionable strategies to reduce your stress around money.

In this thought-provoking episode of "The Real Bottom Line", we delve deep into the critical role of a CEO and how transitioning into this role can help you amass wealth. Our discussion begins by defining wealth not just in terms of money but also time, freedom, and resources. We illuminate how your growing business becomes your primary asset and how its increasing value directly impacts your wealth. Drawing references from Michael Gerber's book "The E-Myth", we explore the different hats a business owner wears and emphasize the significance of the "entrepreneur hat", akin to the CEO hat. This episode further contrasts the roles of a "Rainmaker" and an "Architect", and argues the limitations of being solely a rainmaker for your business. We share insightful questions to help you identify where you stand on the spectrum of Rainmaker to Architect and offer actionable tips on transitioning towards being an Architect for increased business value. By providing tangible steps such as documenting your sales processes, simplifying your service offerings, and involving a team member in your sales meetings, we guide you to transition from the limiting role of a technician and facilitate business growth. Join us to learn how shifting your role can lead to wealth creation and remember, the real bottom line is the more you step into your CEO role, the wealthier you become. Email us at [email protected] to continue the conversation.

Terry Tucker is an inspiring human being. His beautiful soul shined through in this interview and it was like an aura that makes you want to be his friend. Founder of Motivational Excellence, speaker and author, Terry is currently in his 11th year of battling cancer and he has had his foot and leg amputated in the last couple of years and currently has tumors in his lungs. Terry uses this as his fuel to spread his 4 truths to the world. There is much to be learned from Terry and his journey – and I hope you will take the time to join us as I learn about his 4 truths Control your mind or it will control youEmbrace the pain and discomfort we all experience and use it to make you a stronger and more determined individualWhat you leave behind is what you weave in other people’s heartsAs long as you don’t quit, you can never be defeated. Check him out at www.motivationalcheck.com

The Riches are in the Niches – as business owners we have probably heard this saying a number of times. My guest Mark Chyz, President of CM2 Media. He niches in a couple of ways, but one of the most interesting is by psychographic markers. He also keeps a list ranking his clients – a fascinating exercise. Some of the other roads we go down are: SEO vs SEMWhy you should start with StrategyCost of Client AcquisitionSetting your marketing budget and how oftenHow to interview for a marketing agency Mark’s 11 years of being a business owner shine through this episode and I just love how he gets his confidence!

Have you ever been fearful of public speaking? Of taking the stage in front of an audience? My guest, Corey Poirer is now known as That Speaker Guy – but he had a huge fear of both of those things. We talk about how his fear of having regrets, of looking back and wishing he had done something was great than those fears. And that set the stage for some pretty interesting and philosophical topics like: Who do you have to become to achieve your milestonesWhat if the journey is the destinationThe power of passion and purpose. It is such a great discussion, I know your thinking will be sparked!

Building a business over 35 years and then recognizing a niche and then going for it – that is Larry Keating story. In this episode, we talk about How to stay excited about businessRecognizing opportunitiesThe importance of getting out of your comfort zoneHiring to keep people at least 2 yearsThe importance of recognizing teachable versus non-teachablePersonal blocks vs. World blocksWe also got into the subject of confidence and over presenting. I really enjoyed this conversation.

The importance of being true to yourself and energy is what Lisa Drader Murphy is all about. Lisa is the founder of LDM Group of Companies – which encompasses her namesake fashion line, Studio, Willow Vale Estate, and coming soon a fabric enterprise. Lisa is a force of nature, extremely focused, and a true businesswoman. She has always carved her own path and is unique in the fashion world – she designs, manufactures, and retails all her own products. The pandemic resulted in a hard stop for all her businesses and the first pivot was to manufacturing face masks – over 55,000 of them! We talked about the slow return to normal – and how that may have shifted. We cover some really juicy topics like: When a good opportunity really isn’tThe importance of observationCreating space for creativity Enjoy the episode!

It was time to turn the tables! In this episode, Andre Brisson is the host and I am the guest! After 100 episodes where I ask all the questions of my guests, we flipped the script so that you could learn more about me. Andre was able to get some pretty interesting stories and philosophies out of me. My favorite story is one that I haven’t spoken of in years – and it is about my mother. I lost my mother to cancer just over 17 years ago. She was and is a driving force in my life. When I was around the age of 5 or 6, she was declared legally blind. But that did not stop her in the least. I think I have a lot of her characteristics – including the fact that the older I get, the more my filter is fading! Enjoy this episode.

2 years and 13 days later, we are at Episode 100 of The Real Bottom Line. Along with co-host Donna Alteen, we are featuring clips from 12 previous guests: Ross SimmonsAnthea MumbyKatelyn BourgoinDiana LidstoneShelagh CumminsLaural CarrCynthia MasonJohn SwainMichael DevenneyMonique BryanTeresa EaslerPaul Fitzgerald The lessons from the past 100 episodes are almost too many to list - and were certainly super hard to narrow down! The big takeaway I had after reviewing a few hundred pages of transcripts is that as business owners we know more than we realize. It has been an absolute privilege to highlight the ones on this episode and the others along the way! I truly appreciate all my guests – they have freely shared their stories and provided some amazing lessons – who have helped me learn and hopefully the audience as well. In this episode, we have built the clips around OperationsMarketing/BrandingThe Inside Game – mindset. Donna and I provide some great commentary along the way! It’s a little longer than normal, but well worth the time! And check out the gifts from the featured guests at https://www.blackstarwealth.com/100

I am too small….it won’t happen to me. Thoughts that a lot of small business owners have when they think about Cyber Security. You aren’t. Cyber theft is big business and we cover a lot of ground in this interview. We talk aboutThe dark web.The importance of cyber insurance and the way it works.The importance of ongoing training and awareness for all your staffWhat is your cyber security stack Darryl Cresswell is the founder of MYDWARE a firm that specializes in helping small businesses prepare. For listeners of this episode, he is offering a gift of a free security assessment. www.blackstarwealth.com/cyber to sign up.

In this week's episode of The Real Bottom Line, Jesse Adams, Founder of Ember Experience, shares insights on building a positive workplace culture and how leaders can model behavior that encourages psychological safety. Here's a breakdown of the key takeaways: Acknowledgement vs Agreement: Leaders can create a culture that values open and honest communication by acknowledging without necessarily agreeing. By doing so, they can foster a safe environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions.Aligning Values with Social Contract: The social contract made with employees at the beginning of the relationship needs to align with the organization's values. Leaders must ensure that the expectations they set at the outset are consistent with the organization's values, and execute them properly.Compassion and Boundaries: Compassion is crucial in the workplace, but it's equally important to set boundaries. Leaders must have uncomfortable conversations when necessary, and approach them with empathy and authenticity while still addressing issues effectively. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into building a positive workplace culture where employees feel safe to express themselves, and leaders can effectively address issues with empathy and authenticity. If you're a leader looking to improve your organization's culture and create a safe and inclusive workplace, this episode is a must-listen!

Lisa Hrabuk is a former award-winning writer and journalist turned business strategist and problem solver. Through her company, Wicked Ideas, Lisa helps shift power dynamics, untangle problems, and access the money and influence needed to create sustainable change that sticks. We get philosophical, yet also practical, as we discuss wicked problems, what they are, and how they can be solved. If you want to find out what FAST and SLOW mean when it comes to these wicked problems and ideas, and how to embrace being a disruptor and stepping into the power of shifting your ecosystem, then this is the episode for you! Listen now to learn the importance of your values, and how identifying where you want to go (not where you are) is integral to finding your success. Learn more about Lisa at wickedideas.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisahrabluk/

Alison Taylor is the Co-founder, CEO, and Portfolio Manager of Invico Capital – a leader in the alternative investment space. She is the winner of several prestigious awards, including Female Executive of the Year in 2019, and made the 2021 Top 100 list of Canada’s Most Powerful Women. We dig deep down into how Alison and her Co-founder started Invico, the products they have, and how they work. We also talk about how she grew the company from 3 employees to 50, and the importance of investing in your employees, inspiring your team, and giving back to your community. She is a proponent of women in Finance, and the high number of females working in all levels of the company certainly stands out in this traditionally male industry. If you would like to understand more about how your business can access debt capital, even if you don’t fit in the bank mold or benefit from a fund that does that type of investing, take the time to listen to this episode. You won’t regret it!

Kristen’s business was started as a side hustle that became the main act in the Pandemic. She is a true purple brain – what I call people who are equal parts of logic/math and creativity. Her husband also owns a business in the creative side of marketing and they are definitely helping each other grow. She didn’t always like math, but she has truly gained respect and appreciation. We covered a lot of ground in this interview – How to use planning to escape the hustle and grindHow to schedule your tasks to take advantage of when you are at your bestTwo things that can help you grow your appreciation of mathHow using personalize letter design can create a curated client experienceHow to stand out in your field with customized fonts

In part two of this special episode of the Real Bottom Line we are concluding the Master Class – Mixing Love and Business. If you are part of an Entrepreneurial Couple, you are going to want to take a listen and find out about The Montebello Rule and why you need oneWhy intense hobbies are importantBeing open to renegotiationMoney, risk toleranceBalancing roles at work and homeLegacy

We recently ran a live masterclass for Entrepreneurial Couples – Mixing Love and Business: Crafting a recipe for success. And boy did we delve into the meat and potatoes of how to be successful – and Eleanor Beaton and Neil Stephen deliver the goods. So much so that we have taken the class and made it into a special two-part episode of The Real Bottom Line. In part one, we cover decision making Having space and grace around decision makingThe importance of shared values and the difference these make. It’s soo good….enjoy!

Have you ever gotten a key chain or some other branded product and wondered – what are they trying to tell me? Justin Lee is trying to change things. Justin’s journey to entrepreneurship was a bit winding and a big learning process for him. His focus now is on Promotional Products done differently. Some key subjects we discussed were How a repeatable process can unleash creativityHow it is important to be intentional with your promotional productsHow promotional products can impact your brand and reputationHow his Entrepreneurial Wife is key to the success of his business

Valentine’s Day is all about love, friendship, and showing others that you care. Last year, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Tareq Hadhad, CEO of Peace by Chocolate, who exemplifies all these qualities and more. A native of Syria, Tareq knows all too well how important it is to share peace and hope, especially during difficult times. The messages he shared in this episode are timeless and really worth a listen. The recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey was devastating, and the aftermath of the disaster is nothing less than heartbreaking. The death toll is already over 33,000 and growing, and now more than ever, the survivors need hope and to know that the world is thinking of them. While thoughts and prayers aren’t nearly enough, in situations like these, every little thing helps. Tareq and Peace by Chocolate are raising money to assist with rescue and recovery efforts by donating proceeds from several of their products. The link is the comments to help – spread the love today by buying some chocolate to support an extremely important cause https://peacebychocolate.ca/pages/earthquake-in-syria-and-turkey-relief

In this episode, we are going to talk about the next most important book for your reading list and how building a vision of your future life will change everything.

In this episode, Anthea Mumby and I talk about the importance of having a vision statement for your company and your life. And the extra importance this takes if you are an Entrepreneurial Couple. When Anthea first made a vision statement and howHow it affected her mental healthWhat is in a vision statementHow often to review your vision statementHow to turn your vision into a tool for recruiting staff, ideal clients, and measuring your progressWhy you also need a personal vision statement

In this episode we talk about building wealth as a business owner Discussed in this episode: Is investing all your money in your business a good move?Are you building a business to sell or for personal income or both?Start with the end in mindWhat is your big purpose and how do you balance that with growing your wealth?How wealth helps you fulfill your big purpose in lifeProfit is good, wealth is goodWe may not have a choice about when we stop working in our businessBuild your wealth in your business, in a holding company, or in your hands?Aiming toward your Power NumberYou have professionals help with your business, you need them in your life, tooIt costs more to not do proper planning and set upThe work you do to make your business more saleable, also makes it easier and more profitable for youNo one wants to buy a job that pays $40k/yr

Our first business couple interview!! Before we got there we talked about some of the ways they have structured their business operations so that they can work well together. Some key points: Saying Yes to Opportunity – even if you aren’t quite readyBalancing perfectionism and getting something out the doorRole fluidity And we talk about Crypto and Blockchain – not as an investment, but rather as a tool in business. Some of the topics we dug into were The different types of wallets and when to use themWhat is an exchange and why do we need itWe even dug into the FTX implosion/explosion. It’s a great 30 minutes on some pretty interesting topics.

In this episode, we talk about profit and available money in your business and what to do with it. Discussed in this episode: Your profit isn’t all available for you to spend1st pot is for shock proofing - how much is enough?2nd pot is for investing in your businessWe do a deep dive into the 3 areas for investment in your businessHow to measure ROI 3rd pot is for fun, to make life better4th pot is for futureHow to balance debt repayment with filling your pots Replay Link: 3 Key Decisions You Need To Make To Thrive As A Business Owner During A Recession

My guest this week is Diana Lidstone. Diana has been building businesses for over 4 decades. She started with her own and then transitioned into helping women in service based industries as a Strategic Marketing and Growth Catalyst. Her engaging style is captivating – as are the subjects we cover: The advantages of technology and mentorsThe components of an irresistible programWhat is an upsell and down sellWhy it is important to simplify the number of offers you haveThe importance of differentiationWhy you may not need social media in your marketing. www.dianalidstone.com

In this episode you’ll get a technical, yet approachable, lesson in paying yourself, investing, retirement and insurance. Discussed in this episode: Start with the end in mind Think of putting your money into buckets RRSPs and TSFAs explained Best places to keep your money How to pay yourself Corporations and liability We break down life insurance as a strategy for wealth building Protecting and growing your wealth: risk and liquidity This is a very technical, yet approachable discussion Reach out with your questions and we’ll cover them in future episodes

Laura Simpson is co-founder of the start-up Side Door. And a deal maker on Dragon’s Den! She is powered by the purpose of helping musicians get paid for their worth and providing a platform. We talk about her journey from journalist to CEOHow creative brains workHow to embrace innovative waysThe Covid PivotCreating a corporate culture where asking tough questions is the normDifferent types of investment fundraising

In this episode, you’ll learn how to choose which projects to execute on and the role of project management in getting them done. Discussed in this episode: The challenge is that we have many more ideas than we can ever get done The hard part is to decide and curate which are the best for us One screen or filter we can use is our values to see which projects match most or all of our values Another tool is to create an x,y chart and plot the projects against resources needed and expected return Resources can be time, investment, difficulty, Recognize that you may be the bottleneck and allocate your time where it makes the most sense Return can be money, reputation, or other outcomes you want to achieve Projects need clear outcomes, high-level strategy, and do-able tactics Plot work on a GANTT with who is responsible and dates required Sometimes it help to work backwards from when you want to project completed Work on one project at a time and defer the rest to later Put important dates and your work in your calendar so you allocate the time for it Set aside time to evaluate every project Values Exercise to help you discover your values https://www.businessownerssuccessclub.com/2013/01/15/discovering-your-values/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt_chart https://www.gantt.com/

Donna Alteen, CEO of Time Space Media will be celebrating 35 years in business in 2023. This interview is just full of great lessons and perspectives from the wisdom she has garnered along the way. Lessons like How to hire for curiosityA new Definition of failureHow to prepare for a recessionThe value of a business coach and communityHow to ensure your products and services always have a marketEnergy managementGiving yourself space to think.

In this episode you’ll learn what numbers are important as you think back over the last year. Discussed in this episode: Get your numbers up to dateHow to keep your values in mind while looking at your numbersThinking about funding the life you chooseEvaluating your sales to know what to focus on next yearHow to audit your costs Costs of acquiring customers and lifetime valueQuantitative and qualitative decision making

Adam Knithila owned a thriving accounting practice doing taxes for entrepreneurs – but it wasn’t what he loved doing. Here is how he sold his accounting practice and became a fraction CEO. In this episode we will talk about: Carrying a knapsack of rocksTactics for managing a recessionThe importance of cash reservesKnowing when to say knowHaving a growth mindsetCreating partnership.

This week on The Real Bottom Line I interview Business Consultant Anthea Mumby – Founder of Dream Team Consulting We cover a lot of ground including What it is like to work in a business as the daughter of the ownerThe importance of using an expert when doing complex transactionsPreparing for business succession andHow to decide when it is time to sell and transition out of the businessThe importance of working with a coachThe importance of having a customized business visionHow to deal with business squirrels.

In this episode you’ll learn what role to never completely delegate and how it makes all your other roles easier Discussed in this episode: The 4 main business outcomes the CFO makes happen The skills you develop as you learn how to do this How mastering those skills makes your job easier Taking on this role sets up a level of formality in your business The real danger of not doing this What a bookkeeper, an accountant and a financial planner do for you What parts you should delegate First steps in taking on the CFO role in your business Links: Be Your Own CFO YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSbBrzq_xFJ66lcWQSXRNpw Be Your Own CFO newsletter on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/be-your-own-cfo-6869009567674712064/ FREE Be Your Own CFO course https://damp-paper-4668.ck.page/bto-cfo

We are going to talk about all things PR with Paul Fitzgerald, President of Salt and Pepper Media. We dig into some meaty topics like: Re-inventing vs. PivotingOops vs What ifWho needs PRThe difference between earned and paid mediaWhat is Crisis PR and why do you need it.

In this episode, you’ll learn why people hesitate to raise their prices and the reasons they should anyway Discussed in this episode: The 4 reasons people use to keep their prices low Who to talk to change your thinking What people really expect based on your price How a higher price makes it easier to make people happier How a higher price helps people more What’s high to some people is low to others The best way to help people is to build a healthy business Links: Be Your Own CFO newsletter on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/be-your-own-cfo-6869009567674712064/ FREE Be Your Own CFO course https://damp-paper-4668.ck.page/bto-cfo

If you have ever wondered if there was free money – grants or funding for different projects or initiatives – this episode is for you. This week on the real bottom line we talked to Dr. Aria Hahn – the Chief Technology Officer of www.hellopocketed.io a company dedicated to making finding and applying for grants easier than ever before. Think of them as your Grant GPS. We also talk about Macro vs. Micro managingBecoming comfortable with being uncomfortableThe language of science.How to get lots of free money It is a great episode that you don’t want to miss.

In this episode you’ll find out why not charging enough can mean you are losing customers and the secret ingredient of choosing the right price. Discussed in this episode: Your price tells your customers if they are for youPeople who like your lower price may not be your best customersValue-based or hourly-based pricing, which is best.Your price is too low if you have plenty of customers, but you aren’t making enoughFixed costs and variable costsCost of Goods Sold (CoGS)The difference between revenue and incomeThree legs of price - the 3rd will surprise you Links: Delight With Price article https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/delight-price-frances-schagen/ Be Your Own CFO newsletter on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/be-your-own-cfo-6869009567674712064/ FREE Be Your Own CFO course https://damp-paper-4668.ck.page/bto-cfo

Every now and then we have a guest that brings a very impactful message to our audience that we feel it's important to bring it to the forefront again. Eleanor Beaton is one of those guests and I wanted to replay her March 22nd episode here in the best of series. Episode Description: How about this boundary? Only pursuing opportunities that offer the potential of adding 7 figures to the top line. Eleanor Beaton is the Founder and CEO of Safi Media. She is on a mission to double the number of 7-figure women business owners by 2030 through business coaching, entrepreneurship education and story telling. We talk about the filters that Eleanor uses when evaluating opportunities, and dig down into niching – how to know when it is time to narrow your focus, and the bliss and pain of executing on this strategy. We'll discuss CEO time and what it is, as learn what a 'Jewel Business' is and why you want one! (HINT: 30% open time for the founder is one of the foundation pieces)

In this episode you’ll learn about the 3 kinds of entrepreneurs and how to approach your business as each one. Discussed in this episode: What it means to have a business that replaces your job and the challenges with that What a lifestyle entrepreneur is Talking about growing a business to scale it Moving from one to another The importance of growing your team Who should you hire first Who should you not hire at the beginning Hire for the level of expertise you need Answering the question of hiring a VA or full-time support Advisors, mentors, coaches and masterminds, why you need all of these Links: Gillian Selby episode of Real Bottom Line Article about hiring appropriate people for appropriate tasks https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/delegate-like-pro-frances-schagen/ FREE Be Your Own CFO course https://damp-paper-4668.ck.page/bto-cfo

Have you ever had a grand idea for a product or a software? This episode is for you.\ Suvojit Ghosh is the Founder/CEO of FYE Labs, a product development lab in Hamilton Ontario. Our conversation covers a lot ground including The three levels of product development (and they apply to products and software)The importance of understanding the pain point you are solvingShould you get a technical co-founder on boardThe different ways you can develop your product and the pros and cons of each.

In this episode, you’ll learn why collaborations are critical to success, what makes good collaborations and what makes bad ones. Discussed in this episode: One form is to have the same audience but come from different directionsWomen are natural collaboratorsThe myth of the lone entrepreneur is just that - a mythBehind every success is a teamThe many different forms of collaborationsFinancial Besties are an example of great collaborationThe most important things that have to be in alignment for it to be a successIt’s decision-making that leads to the downfallLeave space to be differentYou need to have collaboration partners who you can talk to without censoringThe real bottom line Links: Be Your Own CFO newsletter on Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/be-your-own-cfo-6869009567674712064/ FREE Be Your Own CFO course https://damp-paper-4668.ck.page/bto-cfo

Join me as I sit down with Jodi Daniels of Red Clover Advisors to discuss the differences between data privacy and data security. In this episode, we talk about all the things that make up your data. You may be as surprised as I was at all the data we collect - some of it inadvertently. There's a lot of interesting information surround data privacy and security, and Jodi breaks it down so well! She discusses the standards you need to consider if you sell internationally, especially in the US where different states have different requirements, and what things you do or don't need to have - like a cookie banner, for example. There's a lot of important info in this episode - you don't want to miss it!

On this episode, I interview Scott Patterson - a proper business mogul and entrepreneur in the world of tech and entertainment. Scott discusses opportunities and where to find them, what drives him personally, the kinds of fears he has, and the important lessons learned from his grandmother. This is a true 'rags to riches' story, and I have a feeling you're going to want to listen to this one!

Whether you are thinking about a technology start-up or using more technology in your business, this episode is for you! Maxim Cramer, a technology coach based in the UK with a special focus on female founders, joins me today for an exciting discussion about the value of curiosity and using an agile methodology. Maxim describes how Hollywood has done the tech industry a disservice, and how developers are like musicians in a band. She also answers questions that you may be asking, like... "what does a CTO do?" and "when do I need one?" - we cover a lot of ground in this episode, and I hope you enjoy it!

Are you part of the 11% of people who know they are in sales, or are you one of the 89% of people who are, but don't know it? Join me as I sit down with Gillian Selby, a professional sales coach of Gunn + McQueen, as we discuss the difference between technical and social sales, and how to decide when to hire a professional sales person. She also summarizes what she believes makes phenomenal sales people, and whether or not those people are introverts or extroverts.