Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category

Robert and I are constantly gathering and sharing useful business resources with BusinessCast podcast listeners. For example, last month, we gave away a Blackberry Bold to an intrepid entrepreneur in our “Entrepreneur Be Bold!” contest.

And, we’re always adding to our library of practical business books. In fact, recently, we added several new titles including:

• Business Lessons from the Edge – Learn How Extreme Athletes Use Intelligent Risk Taking to Succeed in Business
• Digital Strategies for Powerful Corporate Communications
  
• Financial Statements Demystified
• Click: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships
• Fearless Leadership
• Winning Sales Letters
  
• Every Family’s Business – 12 Common Sense Questions to Protect Your Wealth
• Turn Small Talk Into Big Deals
  

To get any of these free resources,  just send a note to robert@BusinessCast.ca.

Later this week, we’ll be posting an interview with Tom Deans, author of Every Family’s Business. Because this book is focused, practical, easy-to-read and truly universal, it’s become  a “BusinessCast Essential” book — that is, a critical resource that we believe all entrepreneurs should spend time with. Tom takes a fascinating, controversial and unique approach to ensure that every entrepreneur — buying or selling a family business — can retain wealth.

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Successful entrepreneurs are always harnessing the latest technologies and processes to ensure that their business is as focused and efficient as possible. This requires entrepreneurs to constantly be on the lookout for broad trends (e.g. political, social, demographic) as well as industry-specific trends (e.g. market receptivity, competitors, access to resources and required skills).

So, in BusinessCast podcast episode 115 — Business Trends — Part One — we take up the discussion of the importance of trends with Sacha Ghai. Sacha is a Partner at McKinsey & Co — which is one of the world’s leaders in helping companies develop/improve their strategies, technology and operations.

In future episodes, Robert and I will also drill down with other experts on the trends that will have the greatest on entrepreneurs and their success.

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Entrepreneurs are constantly looking for practical ways to hone their marketing skills and improve marketing results. And, in today’s world that means leveraging digital marketing strategies, tools, resources, trends, events and insights — whatever business you’re in. But, with so many sources online  — often very self-serving — the question for time-pressed entrepreneurs is: “Where can you get the straight goods”?

We ‘tip our hat’ to the folks at One Degree.  The blog bills itself as “the inside scoop on digital marketing and social media for Canadian marketers“. But, the information is presented so well and without pretense that it is an excellent resource for all entrepreneurs. That’s why it’s become one of Canada’s most-respected and widely resourced marketing blogs!

Since One Degree is such a great complement to the BusinessCast podcast, every so often, we’re going to start highlighting some of the key insights that you can find there.  Enjoy!

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Over the last several months, Robert and I have been identifying those things that are common to Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs. So, we’ve been spending time where entrepreneurs ‘hang out’ to gather key business insights, exchange ideas with influencers and secure resources. And, it turns out, not surprisingly, that successful entrepreneurs ‘hang out’ with specific business groups.

So, in BusinessCast episode #114, Success by Association, we focused on one of Canada’s most well-known groups — The Toronto Board of Trade(B.O.T.) — that shares our passion for ensuring entrepreneurs’ success.

We sat down with Carol Wilding, President and CEO, to uncover the value that groups like the B.O.T. bring to their entrepreneur members. Carol also shared some great success stories and highlighted how the B.O.T. continues to evolve so that they are always relevant for entrepreneurs.

If you are evaluating what combination of online/offline professional groups will help you succeed, listen to BusinessCast episode #114, Success by Association.

Also check out the following BusinessCast podcast episodes, where Robert and I gather stories from the leaders of some of the most popular Canadian entrepreneur-focused business groups:

Episode #111 – Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs

Episode #104 – LinkedIn Groups

Episode #94 - Canadian Franchise Association

Episode #85 – Canadian Federation of Independent Business

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“Green” your business?  Why should you? After all, you’re busy dealing with day-to-day business challenges in the middle of a soft economy. Do you really have time to be thinking “green“? What’s the payback? Will it really matter to your top line or to your bottom line?

Well, “greening” your business means a host of different things to different people. So, in BusinessCast Podcast episode #112 – Greening Your Business — we sat down to get a perspective on greening from an entrepreneur who has a strong track record of successfully implementing green practices. Rob Grand, the President of Grass Roots Store has a relevant perspective for all entrepreneurs. For the better part of 15 years, Rob has worked through the various ways that businesses can become more green. In so doing, he’s weeded through the hype and chosen strategies that have seen his business grow its customer base, its revenues, its brand and achieve operational efficiencies.

If you’ve ever wondered about the value of greening your business, listen to BusinessCast Podcast episode #112.

Here are some additional resources to help you to determine if, when and how you should green your business:

• Government of Canada guide to energy conservation, waste reduction, chemical disposal, environmental inspections and relevant legislation

• A carbon footprint calculator that allows you to play out various scenarios regarding the impact of items such as servers, travel, facilities, etc.
  

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