Real Entrepreneurial Stories with Levi Lawrence

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Entrepreneur - Dave Carroll

Current or Primary Business(s) - Big Break Enterprises

Topics of Conversation

Storytelling is a superpower - you can affect real change in words and sounds alone
Love, look and look again - Build compassion in your organization
ADHD adult diagnosis, a superpower in disguise?
Investment in relationships/customers over time compounds
Leveraging huge exposure (United Breaks Guitars) for longer-term opportunities
Meaningful stories and concepts can reach anyone, at any age.
Giving people the benefit of the doubt until they prove you wrong
Reach out for advice, you will be surprised who will take the time
The Business of Art and being a creative
Songwriting/Storytelling as a Service (SAS Model)
Say yes to everything - a double-edged sword

Books and recommendations

The Business of Creativity by Philiy Page
Seize The Opportunity by Applwood books
Tell your authentic story with Ryan Williams
With great power comes great responsibilitywith Dan Harris and Jerry Colona

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Entrepreneur - Bryan Clayton

Current or Primary Business(s) - GreenPal

Topics of Conversation

Sometimes it's better to not hire an industry expert, hire a motivated person and teach them your systems instead
Business is hard, but you should have a fire in your belly to get through the obstacles
Find a hacker and a hustler - ideal business partnership
Need a beta testing stage, helps to identify skill gaps in the team - then address the missing skills
Build, measure, learn cycle
I don’t have an articulate thought - but very cool to see such a small add-on service (cigarette butts) increase a businesses revenue so drastically
Be patient, plant seeds and keep watering them, they could grow and become something huge
Become a ‘learn-it-all’
Hitting a plateau leads to resentment
Naivete can be a powerful tool
Keep sight of what matters
Whether you plan to sell or not, if you build it to sell it will run smoother

Quotes and Soundbytes

Feel the fire in your belly
Naivety can serve an entrepreneur well
Luckily I’m not very creative
Be paranoid you don’t know enough
Don’t worry about level 10 when you’re at level 3

Recommendations and Links

The E-myth by Michael Gerber
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald miller

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Entrepreneur - Edward Rocha

Current or Primary Business(s) - The Morning Goals, Rola Languages

Topics of Conversation

Don’t build the ship while sailing
Sometimes you need to Pause and regroup
Pause sooner rather than later
Making the worst decisions when he didn’t have money, decisions out of necessity that were not necessarily the best
Learning to be unfocused in a very focused way - any seed he plants has to relate to the overall vision
Can you trust that your team will run the business without you?
Don’t hire someone like yourself
We need more diverse voices with access to wealth
Think about the 3 things that will make you happy. Be selfish.
Find your cheerleaders who are there to support you, people you can be authentic with and who will guide you to whatever your life plan is
Be honest about your mission - opportunities will be more likely to arise
Don’t negotiate your values, but give people the time and space they need to come around
Make money with what makes you happy - It is possible

Recommendations and Links

The 4-hour workweek by Timothy Ferriss
Never split the difference by Christopher Voss and Tahl Raz

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Entrepreneur - Gerry Valentine

Current or Primary Business(s) - Gerry Valentine

Topics of Conversation

Writing a book and why - The thriving mindset and lessons from a life of overcoming disruption
Value Perspective - Solving client's problems instead of selling expertise, selling solutions.
Building a "Practise" vs. "Business"
Thriving is not only surviving the disruption but coming out of the disruption better
Writing is not about perfect grammar or wording, it’s about trading in the currency of ideas
"Interrogating your own ideas" by writing
Surround ourselves with people who can lift us up and who we WANT to return the favour for.
As an entrepreneur, you make daily mistakes Every Day.
New knowledge/technology is a disruptive force and we can't go back.
Goal Setting Question - If successful, What will you have that you do not have now
Good writing is writing what other people want to read
There is a shortage of people who are able to thrive through disruptive times
Selecting a Coach

Books and recommendations

The Thriving mindset -Gerry Valentine

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Entrepreneur - Chantal Brine

Current or Primary Business(s) - EnPoint

Topics of Conversation

Mentorship is one of the most transformational tools - how can we help more people access that tool
A mentor acts as a mirror
We are all both mentors/mentees, just depends on circumstances, what stage we are in, the subject
If i go back i would have hoped to take 5 steps further
I know my “why”
Fostering relationships is important
The buck starts and stops with youThe weeds are inevitable
Work should be meaningful
Get out of your own way. Listen to your instincts
She created something that no one could do on their own, she found a way to work together to create more impact
Mentorship doesn’t happen to you, you have to want it and embrace it
Mentors have no stake in the actions of your conversations. Coaches have a bias because of the nature of their role
Technology is the engine, the heart and soul are the people we work with

Quotes and Soundbytes

I love what I do, I choose what I do
Find a mentor
Invest in yourself
It can never be just me

Recommendations and Links

The Confidence Code - Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
Getting to Maybe - Richard Michael Fischl, Jeremy R. Paul
No Rules Rules - Reed Hastings, Erin Meyer

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Entrepreneur - Sylvie Desjardins

Current or Primary Business(s) - NxCareer

Topics of Conversation

Navigating Imposter Syndrom
Hardship fuels the fire - pursuing a more impactful legacy
If you don’t have a mentor go get a coach, invest in yourself
Networking - create the connection, entertain the relationship and then meet new people
Networking needs to be a habit
Power of the hidden job market
Network before you need something from your network (networking should be a proactive strategy vs short term tool)
Being a better speaker, take the time to understand your audience
Stop low-balling yourself - whatever you think you deserve add 20K more
Create networking habits just like brushing your teeth - create blocks in your calendar specifically for networking - focus on giving (making introductions, sending resources, etc).
Understand your non-negotiables when job-searching, understand your ‘why’

Recommendations and Links

Atomic Habits - James clear
Into the wild podcasts
Miracle Morning - Hal Elrod
E-Myth Revisited - Michael Gerber
Escape Velocity - Dan Martell Podcast

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Entrepreneur - Shane Borthwick

Current or Primary Business(s) - Impact Wealth

Topics of Conversation

Entering the family business at 21
Innovating and growing the new aquaculture industry in its earliest stages
Finding the right client FIT before selling
Aligning goals with values
Long term relationships vs. short term sales
Changing directions as an entrepreneur
Considering social, environmental risks of investments
Understanding personal guarantees on business loans
Don’t underestimate the influence of the government on industries
Find clients that value your time as much as you value theirs
What happens after the government support ends. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Irony that entrepreneurs are risk adverse on personal investment
Business is there to help your personal needs
People, practice, process

Recommendations and Links

A Promised Land – Barack Obama
Ten Lessons For a Post-Pandemic World – Fareed Zakaria
Long walk to freedom - Nelson Mandela
Former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney

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Entrepreneur - Steve Anderson

Current or Primary Business(s) - CoLo Consulting Personal Website: https://www.steve-anderson.co/

Topics of Conversation

Starting with small steps
Find the people that understand your situation
Share what you’re doing with your network. Build in front of an audience, be vulnerable.
If something isn’t working, try something new
Failure isn’t ‘not succeeding', it’s not living up to your potential
Use the skill sets you have
Success is being able to live the life that you want to have
Tell people about your idea earlier than you feel comfortable

Recommendations and Links

The Art of Community- Charles Vogl
Kindle
Peak by Anders Ericsson
Company of one by Paul Jarvis
The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni

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Entrepreneur:- Angélique Binet

Current or Primary Business(s):Social Media Love Lab Topics of Conversation

Beware the "Buffet" of service offerings and lack of focus
Working on self-perceptions to improve in your business, self-confidence & pricing - Know your own value
We all have fear, it’s an auto protection
"Unselling" your clients, filtering and offering an out to curate the best fit
Make your mission greater than you fear
3 prong marketing approach - Social, Speaking and "playing" with those further ahead
Your business grows as much as you grow
Swim with big fish - those who are 1 -2 levels above where you are
"Don’t believe everything you think"
Money is not for the rich, it’s everywhere
As you grow you share what you learn - Share your journey

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Entrepreneur: Barbara Fletcher

Current or Primary Business(s): Barb Fletcher Associates

Topics of Conversation

Being entrepreneurial in the civil service
Building a business as a solopreneur
Tactical tips for business owners on stress management
As a business owner how much do you have to do and how much is too much
Practical advice or tips for wellness for people working from home.
Tools and language around heart math
Positive change of Covid = the move towards better understanding individualization in the workplace
Don't wait until wellness is in critical condition before tending to it

Recommendations and Links

Tiny habits by BJ Fogg
Clubhouse

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Entrepreneur - Steve Foran

Current or Primary Business(s) - Gratitude At Work

Topics of Conversation

Turning your work and personal experience into a business
The power of purpose... and the need to find yours
The complications of describing what one does
Peer Group support model
You have to Genuinely care about your people to improve your culture
Habitual rituals - ask how each thing you do in the morning is serving you
People are rooting for you
How has Covid-19 changed business
Who are the gamechangers in different aspects of your life - these should be your inspiration
Needing to have all the answers is a myth
'Liking' your work (vs. loving or really being rewarded) can be dangerous

Recommendations and Links

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegi
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
Abundance by Peter Diamandis

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Entrepreneur: Tammy Ward

Current or Primary Business(s):TLW Yoga and Wellness

Topics of Conversation

Using entrepreneurship to help others after personal trauma and experience
Overcoming harassment, perseverance and grit
Investing in yourself
The importance of self-care
The wording is important when marketing - Lessons Learned
Don't be afraid to ask for help - build your support network
Know your value and charge people what you're worth
Have the difficult conversations
Trust yourself
Transferable lessons from leading in a male-dominated world
The power of proving yourself when others doubt - origin story of the decision to become RCMP

Quotes

Invest in yourself
Fight for what you know is right
There is no much you can do for someone who doesn’t want something for themselves
Always have plan B
Take a leap of faith and trust yourself and just do it

Recommendations and Links

Ladies stop apologizing book by Rachel Hollis Click here

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Entrepreneur: Johan Arcos

Current or Primary Business(s): InverteSpecial Note: Most of our conversations are with entrepreneurs in various stages of their journey but this special edition examines a young entrepreneur in the very early stages. As all entrepreneurs started somewhere it is very interesting to explore a conversation with someone who is still validating, learning and exploring their first start up. We hope you enjoy.

Topics of Conversation

● Navigating a startup as a student, as youth, and as a newcomer to Canada - advantages and challenges.

● Working with future clients to improve the product

● Biggest fears in growing the business

● Building your team and partners early on

Recommendations and Links

● Mom test (Click Here)

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Entrepreneur: Terri-Ann Richards

Current or Primary Business(s) - Balance Equation Coaching and Consulting

Topics of Conversation:

Female leaders and entrepreneurs "owning" what they have already "earned"
Learnings from a serial entrepreneur with 8+ businesses
Failing forward
Power of mentorship - 3 "rule" - Someone pulling you up, a peer and mentoring someone who's growing
Real-world burnout
You need a WHY big enough to overcome and WHAT
7 levels of Why - Exercise
"Be a Lighthouse, not a Tugboat"
Putting your own mask on first
Real GDP impact if Female leaders were unleashed in Canada
Grit = Where Passion, Purpose and Perserverance meet
Focus = Follow One Course Until Successful