SBCN Small Biz Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Small Business Community Network
The Small Business Community Network (SBCN) Small Biz Podcast. Featuring interviews with CEOs and other small business leaders, the latest new trends and tips for your successful business. Hosted by SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner, the SBCN Small Biz Podcast would be of interest to people thinking about starting a small business, or small business owners who want valuable insights for growth.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews Marios Matsias, who presents his framework of "Five Key Partners." He explains that achieving business growth demands analyzing external forces—namely customers, suppliers, competition, government regulations, and supporters. The conversation also explores the difference between coaching and mentorship, emphasizing that successful businesses build trust by customizing processes rather than adopting generic solutions.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews Kevin Trujillo, a mortgage agent, about his fulfilling career pivot from accounting. He explains that he finds fulfillment by combining financial expertise with relationship building, emphasizing that helping people guides his decisions. Linda reinforces this message, stressing that authentic networking and trust—not just sales—drive success in business. They discuss how building strong professional relationships generates crucial referrals and supports both clients and the community.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Opeyemi (Yemi) Okunbor discussed the importance of financial planning, particularly for immigrants and young adults who may not receive adequate guidance. Yemi explains her business, Experior Financial, which helps individuals, families, and businesses build a stronger financial foundation through protection, debt strategies, and long-term planning. She highlights a common issue – a lack of proactive financial planning driven by a focus on day-to-day living and a desire to maintain cultural values of leaving a legacy for future generations. Yemi emphasizes that it’s never too late to start planning and stresses the value of referrals and building relationships based on trust, mirroring the importance of a strong financial plan for a secure future.
SBCN Co-Founder and host of the Small Biz Podcast Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews Janet Benedict about her new "Diaries" project, which empowers seniors to share their life stories and wisdom. Alongside her 'Diaries' partner Will, Janet uses Substack to publish free, short stories from the senior community. The initiative preserves valuable memories and nostalgia. Janet plans to compile these stories into a future anthology, offering royalties to participating writers to ensure these unique perspectives are never lost. Small Business owners are very interested in this resource.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner hosts Chris May, who discusses Service IQ, his consulting firm for small trades businesses. Chris helps owner-operators map their workflow and information flow to identify inefficiencies, risks, and opportunities. The pair discuss how implementing small process changes saves massive time and boosts profit. Chris emphasizes that networking and authenticity drive his success, advising business owners to recognize which tasks they can automate or offload to manage stress and improve capacity.
Joining Linda Ockwell-Jenner this week... Ian Inglis, a RE/MAX agent and SBCN Member Expert discusses the current state of the real estate market, primarily focusing on the impact of the unusually prolonged winter on the spring market. He notes that the typical spring surge hasn’t materialized due to severe weather conditions and broader global events impacting buyer confidence. While entry-level homes (under $750,000) remain active with significant buyer demand and multiple offer situations, the overall market has slowed. He observes a trend of sellers strategically pricing homes low to attract multiple offers, a practice he finds less appealing. Despite this, sales are still occurring, particularly in the lower price range, and he highlights a concerning situation where appraised values are lower than sale prices, potentially creating challenges for buyers renewing their mortgages. Finally, he promotes an upcoming informational event, “When Life Happens,” hosted by his office, designed to assist individuals nearing retirement with estate planning and life transitions, offering valuable insights and resources.
Glenn Poulos, the president of ProgUSA, joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast to share tips for growing small businesses. He emphasizes four key areas: showing up creates opportunity, building relationships over transactions, protecting margins, and consistently bringing value to the conversation. Glenn stresses the importance of understanding a client’s needs, advocating for speed, and avoiding generic sales pitches. He highlights the “Punch Perfect Pitch and Close” guide available on his website (glennpoulos.com) which uses a three-point structure for presentations. Glenn also offered a valuable piece of advice – thoroughly research potential clients before engaging, as a lack of preparation can immediately derail the process.
Peter Piluk, from Creative Minds Accounting, discusses his networking journey over 30 years, emphasizing its crucial role in his business success. He highlights two key networking types: connecting with potential clients and building relationships with industry peers. Peter shares anecdotes, like securing a major software development contract through a referral from a network administrator, demonstrating the value of diverse connections. He stresses that networking isn’t just about immediate sales, but about building lasting relationships and fostering a supportive “piranha” environment where referrals flow. Ultimately, Peter underscores the importance of consistent networking, even with occasional anxieties, to unlock business opportunities.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews SBCN member expert: Peter Piluk, Creative Minds Accounting's founder, on small business tax tips. Peter emphasizes the correct tax order: current payroll taxes first, followed by HST, then income taxes. He warns against common mistakes like claiming non-eligible expenses (e.g., clothing) and stresses the importance of keeping digital and physical receipts. Peter shares that business owners can claim 61-62 cents per kilometre for mileage. He advises against DIY tax preparation if behind by more than two years and reassures that the CRA is manageable, not intimidating.
Ashley Griffin, our Member Expert, and a network specialist operating under the company Griffcomm Inc. in Canada, discusses Voice over IP (VoIP) with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. VoIP, essentially a technology replacing traditional phone systems, allows for internet-based calls. Initially developed in the late 1990s, it faced challenges due to slow network speeds – around 10 megabits per second – making it difficult to handle multiple voice conversations. As networks improved in the mid-2000s, VoIP became viable, allowing businesses to connect hundreds of users. Ashley explains that while many larger organizations utilize VoIP today, smaller businesses often rely on traditional phone lines and PBX systems. He highlights the potential risks of using cloud-based VoIP solutions, emphasizing the importance of owning the phone number to avoid losing it if service is discontinued. Ashley also showcases a mobile Wi-Fi phone that connects to Wi-Fi networks, providing a remote access point to a business’s VoIP system.
One of our podcast experts, Peter Piluk and SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner discuss the increasing use of AI in accounting, particularly for small firms like theirs. Peter explains how he and his wife use AI for research, refining financial tasks, and even proofreading his LinkedIn posts – which are surprisingly successful. He highlights AI’s strength in following rules, like accurately posting transactions based on established accounting guidelines. Peter demonstrates how AI can automate tasks like monitoring client numbers and alert him to potential issues, freeing up his time. He emphasizes that while AI isn’t a complete replacement for accountants, those who embrace it will thrive, particularly as AI’s costs are expected to decrease over time, potentially shifting to a subscription model.
Andrew Leith, an SBCN Member expert, joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. He emphasizes the crucial connection between company culture and revenue, comparing it to personal well-being – a negative mindset hinders performance. Andrew highlights the importance of fostering a positive environment through focusing on people, processes, and products, ensuring employees feel valued and have a voice. He further stresses authenticity and challenging assumptions about culture, advocating for leaders to prioritize genuine connection and employee well-being for sustainable success and ultimately, a thriving business.
The SBCN’s Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Ashley Griffin from Griffcom discussed VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), explaining their importance for small businesses, particularly those with remote workers. A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between a device and an office, protecting data when accessing it remotely. While VPNs have been around for decades, mobile VPN technology has become more prevalent and efficient. Essentially, a VPN allows businesses to securely access their data, regardless of location, and Ashley highlights the irony that smaller businesses often need this security more than larger ones. Finally, Ashley emphasizes the importance of owning your data, advising against relying solely on cloud services like Google Docs.
In this episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast, host Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews entrepreneur Glenn Poulos, who shares his experience transitioning from a 15-year Canadian business to a new venture, Prog USA, in Florida. Glenn emphasizes the mindset of an entrepreneur – prioritizing ideas and ownership over rigid processes – and offers practical advice like focusing on a minimum viable product, building a strong team, and taking calculated risks. He highlights the importance of customer relationships and acknowledges the unique challenges and rewards of operating a business, particularly concerning financial risk and the need to constantly adapt.https://www.progusa.net/
In this Small Biz Podcast episode, realtor Ian Inglis joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to provide an update on the Canadian housing market as of January 2026. He notes a 6% price decline in 2025, driven by increased inventory and explains that condo prices saw a sharper drop. Ian forecasts a relatively stable market in 2026 with potential price increases in the second half of the year, influenced by anticipated interest rate reductions. He advises prospective homebuyers, particularly first-timers, to contact a realtor early, emphasizing the importance of valuation, staging, and considering factors like roof condition and electrical systems to make informed decisions about purchasing or selling a home.www.theinglisteam.com
Andrew Leith, the founder of Octant Executive Advisory Group, discusses his business focusing on revenue strategy and leadership development, stemming from his corporate experience in rapid scaling software companies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse thinking styles, particularly neurodivergent individuals, and encouraging leaders to truly empower their employees by allowing them to utilize their unique strengths. Andrew’s advice centers on recognizing the value in everyone’s perspective and creating safe spaces for growth, ultimately fostering a more effective and fulfilling work environment.
This episode underscores the critical need for proactive communication between small business owners and their accountants, moving beyond just tax season preparations. It emphasizes thorough vetting of potential advisors, particularly in the age of AI, and highlights the value of a trusted, ongoing advisory relationship. The conversation stresses regular check-ins, practical advice like scheduling December calls, and acknowledges the evolving accounting landscape. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that a strong business-accountant partnership is built on open dialogue and mutual understanding.
In this episode, Ashley from Griffcom highlights the critical need for small business owners to understand their IT infrastructure, specifically emphasizing the importance of robust firewalls and smart technology investments. He strongly advises against purchasing inexpensive retail laptops, recommending instead durable, higher-quality models like Lenovo corporate, which offer a better long-term return on investment. Ashley stresses the importance of strategic, long-term IT budgeting that accounts for equipment lifespan and the value of seeking expert advice from experienced IT professionals to ensure a secure and efficient technology setup for the business.
This episode of the Small Biz Podcast introduces Ian Inglis, a realtor with Remax, providing the first in a series of ongoing updates on the housing market in Waterloo Region, Ontario. He discusses current affordability challenges, noting factors like interest rates, prices, and consumer confidence impacting the market. He highlights a buyer’s market with 70% of sales below $750,000, and addresses the challenges faced by first-time buyers. Ian advises listeners to seek professional financial advice and emphasizes the importance of patience and saving for a down payment. He plans to continue providing monthly updates.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Wendy Rovers of Redefining Relationships, who helps people understand what is important in their relationships and how the mind works.
Get ready for a partner-ific conversation! Linda and Dave Ockwell-Jenner, the dynamic duo behind SBCN, spill the tea on what makes a successful partnership. With over two decades of experience watching partnerships come together (and sometimes fall apart), they're sharing their top tips for making it work!Join our hosts as they dish out the secrets to building a strong, lasting partnership - whether that's in your personal or professional life. From navigating conflicting personalities to finding common ground and working together towards a shared goal, Linda and Dave are dishing out all their favorite strategies for success.So grab your favorite coffee mug (or glass of champagne), get comfy, and get ready to learn from the experts!
Linda Ockwell-Jenner welcomes back Tom Reilly on today’s episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Tom and Linda discuss the difference between Influence and Persuasion.
Andrew Leith, President & Founder of Octant Executive Advisory Group joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. Andrew has had a distinguished career in sales roles and his journey brought him to realize the differences in leadership for neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. His work now helps leaders enhance their impact through better understanding the individuals in their teams.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Tom Reilly from Reilly Sales Consulting to talk about non-verbal communication. There so much that’s ‘unsaid’ that we can pick up on to help understand those who we’re interacting with.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by a new SBCN member, April Patterson. April runs a bookkeeping and tax preparation business with a special focus on helping neurodiverse business owners find less stress in the numbers.April discusses her family’s personal experience with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how these play into her approach to the business world.
Ashley Griffin, IT expert, owner of GRIFFCOMM (and fellow Brit) joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner in today’s episode. We hear Ashley’s early days of getting into the computer and technology field, and how he brings a fair and honest approach for his customers.
Our guest today is Glenn Poulos - recently retired from his role as Executive Vice President and General Manager of NWS. Glenn and Linda discuss post-retirement from NWS and Glenn’s exciting new venture in Florida, US. He’s now on a mission to grow another business to great success.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Maxine Metzger about the launch of Synergy Business Events. Maxine's newest venture hosts the Synergy Business Events Expo on January 29th, from 2pm-8pm at Forbes Hall, RIM Park, Waterloo, Ontario. Featuring a number of local businesses representing a wide range of industries, networking and information sessions.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by April Lupi to explore a fascinating topic: Somatic Coaching. We’ve all heard of coaching before, but April integrates somatic experiencing as part of her approach. If you’ve never heard of somatic coaching, then this episode is for you.Find out more about April at https://lavenderlaneptw.ca/meet-april/
In today’s episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast, SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Niharika Sinha Chopra from Staebler Insurance. Having lived in India, Africa, the UK, Niharika has called Canada home for the past 20 years.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Adam Mawer, Director of Workhaus KW - a Canadian co-working space. Adam started with the organization as a member, before taking a role at Workhaus itself. Workhaus is the title sponsor for the SBCN and home to our monthly networking events in Waterloo Region.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner, SBCN Co-Founder is joined by Brenda Schrader-Sanders of Jumpstart Your Success (www.jumpstartyoursuccess.ca). Brenda previously enjoyed a distinguished career in real estate and now through Jumpstart uses hypnosis to support her clients find greater success through her coaching programs. Brenda de-mystifies her approach and the types of outcomes that she’s seen her clients achieve.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Robert Dice, Insurance Made Simple. Rob has always liked helping people and now works with his clients to solve their insurance problems across families, self-employed, and corporations.
Tom Fournier, CEO of Markets Connection joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner to talk about a novel money raising approach for his latest business venture, a multi-vendor marketplace called Markets Connection (https://marketsconnection.com/). Tom and his business partner are pursuing an equity crowdfunding model - something that is relatively new to Canada - selling shares in the company to small investors.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner’s guest on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast today is… Linda! Linda MacLeod from AMJ Campbell joins our SBCN Co-Founder to talk about the company’s role in helping people move things across the street, across town, across the country or across the world.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is back with a new episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Today we welcome back a long time member of the SBCN, who has recently taken a new role in the cybersecurity space. Theresa Ullyot talks about the importance of cyber insurance, and working beside their clients.
Today’s guest is Brodie Mei, a Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) with expertise in the B2B Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) space. He chats with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner about the role of a Fractional CMO and the types of businesses that can benefit from this type of expertise.Find out how to connect with Brodie here: https://www.sbcncanada.org/whois/5527
Linda talks with David Dinh about the work his company does in visual communication, helping businesses get their message out in a consistent way.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Executive Coach Amy Ballantyne to talk about the importance of quality communication at work and at home. Amy covers concepts such as clear expectations, boundaries, appreciation and relationships.
We welcome back a familiar voice: Kayla Droog is today’s guest on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. She joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss how she helps her clients with developing and putting systems in place to effectively manage their business. The conversation also covers the importance of focusing on priorities.
A rare opportunity with both SBCN Co-Founders! Linda is joined by Dave Ockwell-Jenner to discuss social media security, and some of the common ways attackers target your social media accounts; but most importantly: what you can do about it.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Sean Lyn - of By Sean Lyn a professional photographer specializing in helping you with the perfect headshot. Whether you’re a smaller business, a large company, or even an individual, everyone can benefit from a professional headshot. Sean shares some of his tips for getting a better headshot and enjoying the process.
Today’s guest is one of the newest members of the Small Business Community Network (SBCN): Frank Le of Kitchener Hypnosis. Frank speaks with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner about his fascinating line of work and some of the misconceptions around hypnosis.
Today’s guest is Michelle Martin - a transformation and team coach, and member of the SBCN. She joins our co-founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner to talk about her transition from corporate director to small business owner. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion!
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Lisa Medeiros - a professional photographer who discusses how she has pivoted between different types of photography since her business started. Lisa also talks about the value of a strong brand and what the Lisa Medeiros brand is all about.
Linda welcomes back Kayla Droog, CEO of Kayla Droog Consulting to talk about her tremendous growth and how it impacted her company, as well as her views on how to ensure you offer the right services.
We welcome Bill Judge to the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Bill is a Wedding Officiant, and joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss how he changed from a career in hospitiality to helping make people's dreams come true.
In today’s episode we’re joined by Lisa Bragg, Founder and CEO of MediaFace. Lisa and SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner open the conversation talking about the title of Lisa’s book: Bragging Rights - all about talking about your successes with pride.
Linda is joined by Jeremy Travers of JT Productions, focusing primarily on video production for weddings, product advertisements and more. Always being at home with a camera, Jeremy shares his perspectives on story telling through this visual medium.
Bill Waters is back to join Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss his current venture: Xtreme Eco an innovative new product that changes the way many household products are consumed. In this second part, Bill and Linda cover the road to launching this new product and the lessons learned along the way.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by serial entrepreneur Bill Waters. Having been involved with many different businesses, Bill has some terrific views on what it takes to be a success, with refreshing honesty. Find out how Bill's current venture includes a former NHL hockey player. We also learn about the value of networking between communities.
We’re delighted to welcome the new sponsor of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast: Brad Poulos. As an expert on running a fully operational small business (he literally wrote the book on it) there’s no better person to feature on the podcast.
Realtor Ashley Close returns to talk about Real Estate Misconceptions with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. When is the right time to sell you home, or to make that purchase of your dream home? How do you find the right mortgage product for you?
In today's episode, Linda is joined by Glenn Poulos, Co-Founder, VP & GM of Gap Wireless Inc. a leading distributor of products and services for the mobile broadband and wireless markets. Listen to hear Glenn's perspectives on the importance of meeting customers face-to-face. Award Winning Author of Never Sit in the Lobby
Linda is joined today by Pathway’s Peter Piluk - an Ontario based company providing bookkeeping, accounting and other services. Many people don’t have a great understanding of their business numbers, which means they might be missing some key opportunities.
Small business isn’t all “fun and making lots of money” - it’s hard work. Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by one of the hardest working ‘First Lady of Networking’ to talk about being unique. As we mature should we embrace our uniqueness?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Brad Poulos - a lecturer at the Ted Rogers School of Management Entrepreneurship at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). From being a technical trainer, to CEO of a public company and everything in between, Brad has a fascinating and passionate approach to business.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Theresa Ullyot, a Waterloo-based Automotive Sales Specialist with Canada Cars. As a small business owner herself, Theresa has turned her experiences to help other business owners find their idea vehicles. There’s even a special deal for SBCN members!
We have a returning guest! Ashley Close once again sits down for a chat with Linda Ockwell-Jenner for a conversation about cold calling - something that makes many of us shudder. As a realtor, Ashley shares her experiences and tips for reaching out ‘cold’.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Realtor, Ashley Close from Guelph-based Davenport Realty, Brokerage. Ashley’s goal is to delight her clients. Today’s conversation shines a light on how Ashley approaches this and how she got started in the real estate world.
Linda is joined by Sara Lodge, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, and a member of the Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Professionals. Today’s conversation looks at the role of a nutritionist and how they fit into the health and wellness spectrum.
We all know the real estate world is hot right now. Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by realtor Ian Inglis from Remax Solid Gold. Ian’s been helping people find their perfect home for 40 years, so he’s seen a thing or two! As you can imagine, things have changed significantly over that time, but one things remains the same: the personal connection. Ian’s been working with multiple generations of families he helped years ago, so what’s his secret?
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Maxine Metzger, Project Manager at Gecko Websites and owner of Joyful Giftbaskets - a business she started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maxine shares her love of bringing organization to small businesses and their digital assets and the power of the personal touch.
On International Women's Day, 2022, Linda speaks with 'the first lady of networking' Janet Benedict, from the Canadian Networker. Janet juggles networking and mentoring with being a long-term carer to her husband, Ron. Despite all her challenges, Janet has risen above to be one of the most well known connectors around.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Tom Fournier from the Shades Mills Group (and also the History Symposium!). Tom spent a long career as a proven sales leader, and now shares his expertise with businesses of all types and especially those in the B2B space. Success is founded in having a plan and sticking to it, core beliefs that Tom promotes and helps his clients embrace.
Foster Your Mortgage is a mortgage broker with a difference - putting you front and centre in the most important transaction of your life. Todd Foster joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss his approach to finding the best mortgage options for his clients, and how sharing his knowledge is integral to his brand.
Kayleigh Kennedy, a Sales and Mindset Advisor, joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss this fascinating area of business. We’ll hear some of Kayleigh’s approaches to working on a positive mindset that leads to results.
Linda is joined by Kayla Droog from Kayla Droog Consulting - who provides virtual assistant services to many different types of business. So many businesses struggle to do it all, but they don't need to! Virtual Assistants like Kayla can help free your valuable time to spend on valuable activities.
Planning: it’s not always the most glamorous activity in a business, but it’s perhaps the most important one. When we’re planning ahead we should always prepare for unanticipated impacts, avoid planning paralysis, and making sure we’re also prioritizing and executing.
Opportunities are everywhere. We have to capitalize on the opportunities we’re presented with in order to make the most in small business. With COVID changing the way we do things, we may have a little extra time to focus on our business aspirations.
SBCN Co-Founders Linda & Dave Ockwell-Jenner are back to discuss some of the changes to SBCN networking events beginning in 2022. No more Zoom fatigue, and a far more exciting lunchtime are in our future!
With networking events being predominantly online, it’s more important than ever to sharpen your skills for video networking. This video tackles one of the most critical and overlooked parts of looking good on camera: lighting. We’ll cover some do’s and don’ts for lighting, the equipment you might consider and how to make your Zoom, Skype, Teams and other video calls sparkle.
They say the secret to a good video, is great audio. Sound quality goes a long way to promoting our professional image in a virtual networking situation. You don’t need to spend lots of money to get excellent results. We’ll look at some options to help your sound… sound great.
Join SBCN Co-Founders Linda and Dave Ockwell-Jenner as they explore the top three small business myths from their 17+ years experience with businesses at the SBCN.
SBCN Co-Founders Linda and Dave Ockwell-Jenner team up for the latest episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Today's topic is spyware - software designed to spy on you. With so many events going virtual on Zoom we specifically ask the question: is Zoom spyware?
Is your background helping or hindering your image at virtual networking events? What’s behind you is sometimes just as important as you! Here are our tips for making your backgrounds stand out… in a good way. We’ll look at distractions, banners and virtual background and where’s best to conduct your video calls from.
Your audience sees what the camera sees, so how can we make sure that’s the very best version of ourselves? Join us as we take a closer look at the view from your camera. What’s the best type of camera to use? How should we position the camera to get the best results?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares more small business insight. Today's episode looks at branding as part of an overall business strategy.
Host of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast, Linda Ockwell-Jenner, returns to talk about a very important topic: referrals, and how they interact with trust and reputation.
Crystal Remillard from Red and White Realty, Inc. joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner for a chat on what makes Crystal's approach unique.
In our latest episode we welcome Vittoria Trinchi from Homewood Suites, part of the Hilton group of hotels. Vittoria speaks with Linda Ockwell-Jenner about career growth in hospitality.
Todd Foster from Canadian National Mortgage Corp. rejoined Linda Ockwell-Jenner for our SBCN Small Biz Perspectives video series. Listen to the discussion here.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Sylvia Greschner from SG Money Coach to discuss marketing and a variety of other topics in a fascinating discussion.
Jessica Sloan of Inspired Living joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss the role of the inner critic.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner joins Todd Foster of Canadian National Mortgage Corp. They discuss the difference between various financial institutions to allow homebuyers to make the best choices for themselves.
Sylvia Greschner of SG Money Coach spends some time chatting with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. Originally recorded as part of our SBCN Small Biz Perspectives series.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Diane Krompart to cover Quantum Physics and the energy of healing!
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Diane Krompart to talk about highly sensitive people and how Diane's healing programs can help.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Steve Bentley to chat a little about about her business Motivational Steps, her leading consulting and personal development company in Ontario, Canada.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined again by Jessica Sloan from Inspired Living to continue the conversation on wellness and it’s impact on business. In today’s chat, Jessica and Linda discuss the ‘stress connection’.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Steve Bentley discuss finding the right 'fit' with your customers and clients. We learn how important that synergy is with those who you do business with.
Returning guest Jessica Sloan from Inspired Living once again joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. Today’s topic covers how our mind can impact our healing process.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Jessica Sloan of Inspired Living Waterloo to discuss how an early illness has led to Jessica finding her passion for helping others.
Taken from the latest in the SBCN Perspectives video series, the SBCN’s Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Steve Bentley of Northern River Financial. Today’s topic focuses on how marketing has changed for today’s businesses.
Northern River Financial's Steve Bentley returns with host Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss the topic of card-first buyers.
Taken from a recent SBCN Perspectives video, SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Steve Bentley of Northern River Financial discuss the topic of Growth Hacks.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Steve Bentley of Northern River Financial to discuss building strong foundations for business success.
Northern River Financial's Steve Bentley, and SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner return to discuss how to keep your spark and stay motivated by believing in yourself.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Sheryl Scott from LegalShield. Legal advice is one of the most critical services that businesses rely upon, and Sheryl shares the unique approach from LegalShield that can make legal services more easily available.
Steve Bentley returns to talk with SBCN Co-Founder, Linda Ockwell-Jenner on the subject of Social Networking.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner spends time chatting with Diane Krompart Coach & Mentor with Sensitive Soul Coaching and Mentoring, about working with highly sensitive people. They discuss the myth of the quick fix and how highly sensitive people experience the work world around them.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Steve Bentley return for another episode of SBCN Small Biz Podcast. In this episode they discuss the pitfalls of trying to sell to strangers!
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Northern River Financial's Steve Bentley return to discuss Multi-Generational Networking. The discussion highlights the benefits of network with all age ranges.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Northern River Financial's Steve Bentley for an online chat about social selling.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Clint Sinding of the Elite Training Facility where they discuss optimum maintenance of fitness, not just in the gym, but through diet and other aspects. The importance of eating healthily and in a way compatible with our lives, is critical to supporting fitness in their lifestyle.
Dorothy Sinding joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner in the latest episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Registered massage therapist, Dorothy, discusses the benefits of hot stone massage therapy, and how it can help ensure we’re tuned-up for the demands of business.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner welcomes returning guest Stephen Currado from TELUS Business Solutions to discuss the TELUS Small Business Challenge, now in it’s sixth year. The event, hosted and funded by TELUS promises the winner $100,000 and other resources to help grow the winner’s business.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with a new member of the Small Business Community Network (SBCN), Tim Campbell of Relation Media. Tim and Linda explore what it’s like being the owner of a relatively new small business, and some of the differences in networking in different places. Tim also shares some of the steps he’s taken in setting up a solid foundation for the business.
Joining Linda Ockwell-Jenner is Stephen Currado from TELUS Business Solutions to talk about some of the ways in which TELUS gives back to the community. TELUS Days of Giving, now in it’s 12th year, are a series of events taking place from coast-to-coast in Canada. To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday this year, TELUS are aiming to do 1,000,000 hours of giving—a phenomenal goal!
Celebrating our 100th episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Kerstin Kramer, owner of Premier Focus Translations, a company focused on helping companies do business in other languages. In this episode, we focus on doing business in Québec, and dealing with Québeçois buyers and the market in Canada’s unique province—a topic which Kerstin has written about previously.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with guest Holly Parsons of Beauticontrol discussing her recently launched beauty care and spa business and the unique approach she takes to marketing. Holly regularly posts tips and tricks as well as a great series of videos.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Detective Shawn Marshall from the Computer Cyber Crime (C3) section of Intelligence Services of the Toronto Police Service. In the discussion, Detective Marshall shares some important lessons for small business owners to protect their business from cyber attack.
Northern River Financial’s Steve Bentley returns to chat with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner about RSP season. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the RSP program by the Canadian government. Find out some tips on how to maximize for your retirement and integrate saving as part of your regular financial planning.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner, Co-Founder of the Small Business Community Network (SBCN) returns with another episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. In this episode, Linda discusses the importance of asking questions of potential vendors. Do you need their services? Are they delivered in a way that supports your business?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner, and regular SBCN Small Biz Podcast guest Steve Bentley, discuss the topic of how an entrepreneur can benefit from ‘giving back’ to charity and the community. Have you heard of Giving Tuesday — perhaps the lesser known day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Beyond that, what are the benefits of giving back?
Steve Bentley returns to chat with Linda Ockwell-Jenner about Entrepreneurs who make mistakes, and share their experiences. We all make mistakes, but what can we recognize as positive outcomes from that? What did we learn? Failure may be an "opportunity to progress".
Nathan Parsons joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss holiday light safety! It’s the time of year when many of us will decorate our homes and gardens with Christmas lights, so what do we need to consider when brightening the winter months?
Steve Bentley and Linda Ockwell-Jenner chat on the latest episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. In this episode, the pair discuss a video and article from Ottawa Public Health. It highlights that the psychological demands in the jobs that we do today that could be a hazard to our health and wellbeing if our jobs aren’t matched properly to our skills, knowledge, and emotional intelligence. Did you know that Canada has a National Standard for Psychological health and safety in the workplace?
Regular SBCN Small Biz Podcast guest, Steve Bentley, returns to chat with Linda about the important topic of grappling with the challenges of taking time off work… and the temptation to make it a working holiday. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, do you feel guilty when you take a holiday?
Regular Podcast guest Steve Bentley returns to chat with Linda Ockwell-Jenner about very important topics for all small business: how to get paid for the work you’ve done, and how to get access to financing. The UK’s Guardian newspaper highlights that government’s efforts to better deal with these (and other) issues with a new Small Business Commissioner. Beyond government, what can we do?
Chris Davis from Polarverse IT joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to cover the topic of downtime costs and continuity. Polarverse has an online downtime calculator that can help your business make an informed decision. The costs to protect your business data might be much less that you’d think, for peace of mind.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner and regular SBCN Small Biz Podcast contributor Steve Bentley return to discuss a Huffington Post article which highlights the problem of not having enough time in the day! It’s a common problem facing all small business owners, but how can we find the time? Beware of time suckers and use prioritization as your weapon against them!
Regular guest Steve Bentley returns to discuss an interesting article with Linda Ockwell-Jenner. Why is it so important to express gratitude in your business? The article from US-based Smart Business emphasizes that experiences are what your customers remember. We work hard to get new clients, but the focus isn’t always the same on keeping them… so let’s focus on enhancing the relationship!
Returning guest Steve Bentley joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner on today’s episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Today’s topic centres on an article published in the Globe and Mail article titled “Young Entrepreneurs and the Myth of Lazy Millennials”. Millennials sometimes suffer from a negative image, but is it justified?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner welcomes returning Podcast guest: Karen Egoff. A recent article in the Harvard Business Review brings up some questions about the value of wellness programs based on the cost. Karen brings some of her experience to the discussion to explore some of the issues in this area. How can wellness programs help the business manage challenges faced by employees?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner welcomes a new guest to the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Nathan Parsons of Verve Electric joins Linda to chat about the challenges of juggling a busy business life with family time, especially in a new business. The conversation also touches on the importance of engaging a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
The SBCN Small Biz Podcast welcomes returning guest Steve Bentley. Linda and Steve discuss some of the important points of starting and marketing a new business. The discussion touches on everything from defining your target market to establishing your brand.
Gunther Kramer of Gecko Websites joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner on this episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. This episode covers the MailChimp email marketing platform; why you might need it, what you can do with it and more. It’s also important to make sure your email marketing programs are compliant with the Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)—a topic that Gunther covers. Is email marketing and MailChimp right for your business?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Steve Bentley continue the discussion on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. In this episode, Steve and Linda discuss the importance of trust in business relationships. Does asking people for help, help to build trust?
We host a warm welcome back to Chris Davis, who joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to talk about the dangers of ransomware. One of the biggest cyber threats around, ransomware can have devastating effects on a business. Find out how to combat this and protect you and your critical business data, with a Free eBook: The Business Guide to Ransomware.
Why do you need to be selling your company every day? Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Steve Bentley to discuss this interesting concept, recently mentioned in the Globe and Mail. The discussion also touches on succession planning when you may want to move on from the business, and how to understand the value in your business.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Steve Bentley return for this latest episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. In this episode the topic is mentoring, both from the point of view of the person being mentored, and the mentor themselves. Mentoring is a great experience for both parties, but can flourish when following some simple tips.
Janet Benedict returns to speak with Linda Ockwell-Jenner, covering Direct Sales. Many still think of direct sales as being the realm of Tupperware, but times have certainly changed with much more diversity and flexibility.
Steve Bentley rejoins Linda Ockwell-Jenner on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. In this episode Linda and Steve discuss business planning in the short, medium and long term. The conversation also touches on the need to avoid ‘overplanning’ - trying to plan for perfection rather than being pragmatic.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Janet Benedict once again, and in this episode speak about a Globe and Mail article covering SBCN members Wagepoint. Janet shares some of her background in the corporate world and how she made the transition to the entrepreneurial role in creating her own business.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner welcomes back a familiar character on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast: Steve Bentley. In this episode Linda and Steve discuss the glass ceiling, changes in leadership and the challenges of examining differences between the genders in the workplace.
Janet Benedict returns with Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss how to avoid being a ‘Hobby Business’. Being successful is a lot more than simply hanging up an ‘open’ sign, it takes dedication, passion and hard work. This episode includes some practical ways to get out of the hobby business ‘rut’ and on the journey to business success.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns after a short break, with Karen Egoff. In this episode they discuss mindfulness, relaxation and motivation.
Karen Egoff joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to talk through some practical tips and advice on dealing with our wellness challenges. In this episode, the conversation includes tackling stress in the workplace and mental health with a body, mind and soul approach.
Steve Bentley rejoins Linda Ockwell-Jenner on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast to cover a critical part of business: Content Marketing. This episode covers different ways in which customer can connect to you, and how to keep your content current, fresh and consistent with your brand.
Janet Benedict and Linda Ockwell-Jenner are back, talking about techniques for dealing with sales rejection. We all hate to be rejected, so how can we overcome some of the common pitfalls when in the sales cycle.
Janet Benedict returns to the SBCN Small Biz Podcast, continuing the discussion with Linda Ockwell-Jenner. In this episode, the discussion gives consideration to how we communicate in the sales process, and especially making sure your are communicating with the decision maker.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Steve Bentley to continue their conversation around effective marketing tips. This time, the discussion turns to the use of video as a way to promote your business and reach your audience.
Steve Bentley returns to speak with Linda Ockwell-Jenner about the important of an online presence for marketing. Most importantly, how do we differentiate marketing, from sales, and how may they compliment each other.
Janet Benedict returns to speak to Linda Ockwell-Jenner as we imagine the metaphorical toolbox, those tools & techniques you need for business success. Look at the tools of your trade, and see what tricks you can use.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is back to continue the conversation with Karen Egoff and today they start with something on many people’s minds these days: coughs and colds (and how to remedy them!)
Steve Bentley returns with Linda Ockwell-Jenner to continue the conversation. This time, Steve shares the concept of Value Communication based upon the four pillars of tolerance, trust, truthfulness & transparency.
Gunther Kramer from Gecko Websites joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to talk about some of the unique aspects of a web site ‘project’. There’s much more to do beyond getting the site built and hosted, so what else should we be thinking about, and how does this fit into your overall marketing strategy?
Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Dorothy Sinding of Elite Training Facility to talk about the benefits of a proactive approach to massage therapy along with overall body and muscle health. Massage therapy is often thought of as a luxury, versus a necessity.
Karen Egoff returns to chat with Linda Ockwell-Jenner about some of the techniques she employes in dealing with stress and the remedies that she finds effective.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Gunther Kramer of Gecko Websites. In this episode the conversation dives into the area of pricing and the need to know your value.
Janet Benedict returns to share more details of her on-line modular course to help businesses meet their success targets.
Why is business like a puzzle? Where should we focus our efforts when growing our business? Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Janet Benedict as they talk about a modular approach to building business success.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Podcast favourite Steve Bentley. In this episode the discussion covers many topics, but a theme of core values runs throughout. Find out Steve's thoughts on how these shape his business strategy.
When you are at a networking event, what would you like people to say about you? How will you be memorable and are you giving the impression you think?
This episode includes the audio from a video chat between SBCN Co-Founders Linda & Dave Ockwell-Jenner as part of their Networking Strategy video series.
In this episode we discuss the importance of branding. This episode includes the audio from a video chat between SBCN Co-Founders Linda & Dave Ockwell-Jenner as part of their Networking Strategy video series.
Where better than to start, than at the start! In this podcast episode, we listen for some tips on where to network, when to network and much more. If you're resolved to better your networking in 2016, then this episode gives you ways to find success in networking.
This episode includes the audio from a video chat between SBCN Co-Founders Linda & Dave Ockwell-Jenner as they look forward to 2016.
Starting at the beginning when planning you networking strategy is vital to the success of your business.
This episode includes the audio from a video chat between SBCN Co-Founders Linda & Dave Ockwell-Jenner as they look forward to 2016.
Passwords. You gotta love 'em... but the reality is we just don't care enough about them to pick good ones, and use them safely! In this episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner is once again joined by Chris Davis, to chat about the problem of passwords. We also learn about a fantastic, and simple, solution to managing passwords that overcomes the challenges we all face.
Find out more about Password Management and Passwords as a Service.
Steve Bentley is back, chatting with Linda Ockwell-Jenner as part of their ongoing discussions on rebranding. In this episode, the pair cover some of the nuances of promoting your brand such as having a deliberate and consistent approach to networking and social media.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Karen Egoff to continue their discussion. In this episode Karen and Linda talk through mindfulness and meditation - two great techniques to help business owners focus and be more productive.
Steve Bentley of Northern River Financial returns for part 3 of his discussion with Linda Ockwell-Jenner on the rebranding initiative he's undertaken in 2015. Steve and Linda chat about some of the subtle touches that have helped make the rebranding effort shine, such as some of the considerations around appearance.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner returns with Steve Bentley as they catch-up on the next part in the discussion on rebranding. In this episode Linda and Steve cover the importance of being prepared for a rebranding effort, and how to ensure that the project is successful.
In our latest episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Karen Egoff to discuss some of the techniques she employs to help people achieve balance in their lives. As busy small business owners know, stress is always close by, but there are ways to reduce it's effects on our long term health and wellness.
In this episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner hosts the first in a series of discussions with Steve Bentley, a long time successful business owner. For their first chat, Linda and Steve discuss a recent rebranding decision, what prompted it and how the new brand is positioned.
Linda is once again joined by Chris Davis to continue their discussion on IT topic for small business. In this episode Chris tackles the Cloud, what it is and what it means for your business. As always there are some great tips that can help you avoid costly mistakes, yet embrace the value that cloud based services can provide.
As a special bonus, Chris shares an important article on Cloud Data Protection.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Donna Simpson from Cards Connect People. With technology making communication faster and more efficient, isn't still nice to receive a good old fashioned personalized card in the mail? Donna uses her passion for building relationship with a personal touch together with technology, with Send Out Cards, a great way to send someone a card!
We welcome back Gunther Kramer who discusses the importance of not trying to do everything yourself. Speaking with Linda Ockwell-Jenner, Gunther shares some of his experiences in helping to scale his successful business over the past 20 years.
In this episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews The Canadian Networker's Janet Benedict on her rise to become an expert in networking. Janet's story demonstrates that networking can be both rewarding and fun, and that it only takes simple steps to get great results.
In this episode, SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Lisa Sinclair of Enviro Painting. Learn why an environmentally friendly approach to painting is also friendly to our health.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Dorothy Sinding of Elite Training Facility.
A car hit Dorothy when she was 5 years old, physiotherapy followed and because of the accident, she decided to follow her passion.
The Team Spirit Programme is a big part of Elite Training Facility and you can find out more about Dorothy & Clint, her partner, and how fitness programmes can ready you for everything you do in life.
They say that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, so don't miss some fantastic approaches to maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.
Chris Davis returns with Linda Ockwell-Jenner, co-founder of the SBCN, to delve deeper into the subject of IT downtime and what it means for your business. It's quite easy to think of downtime purely as the situation where your PC stops working, but as you'll discover, there's so much more to it than that.
What is Downtime?Many small businesses do not have a solid plan for preventing "bad things" from happening to their computer networks. "bad things" such as server/desktop crashes, firewall crashes, or router/switch malfunctions can take down an entire network for many, many hours. These instances are considered downtime, but they have another hidden component that is possibly even more costly than when a network device crashing.
Things you may not realize that contribute to downtime can be as simple as waiting for applications to load.... waiting for slow web pages to load..... Waiting for pages to print on the printer.... When you recreate deleted and missing documents... these are all forms of downtime that can quickly add up.
- Employee deletes something by mistake
- And employee clicks something they shouldn't - crypto locker
- Wait time to restore files and systems
It comes down to:
- RTO how much downtime can you tolerate? (Recovery Time Objective)
- RPO how much data are you willing to lose (Recovery Point Objective)
Free Calculator on the Polarverse web site: http://rcalc.polarverse.com calculates RTO and RPO.
That is just protection from failure, it doesn't mitigate issues cause by a poorly maintained network and that is where something like managed services comes in where your network is monitored with regular maintenance. Does your car run better with regular maintenance and care? Would you just drive it till it stops working?
The main benefits of Managed Services is discovering and fixing problems before they can negatively impact your business. A well maintained, proactively serviced computer network always runs better than a network serviced by a break-fix method. Proactive network monitoring, patch management, and desktop optimization performed on a regular basis, you will notice a tremendous difference in reliability. With this type of service you can typically reduce your annual IT costs by 30 to 50%.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Loretta Morrison, who shares some valuable tips she's learned on her journey to business success. Driven by a desire to spend more time with her family, and to enjoy the flexibility that comes from owning a successful business, Loretta created some winning strategies to lead her toward her goal. She now applies these to help other businesses find their success, fast!
In this episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with our featured guest, the ever bubbly Sylvia Pond! Sylvia is well known for two things: great photography and being part of great local networking events. If you've ever wondered how professional photography can help your business, Sylvia has some excellent insight and great tips for you.
In this episode, Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Chris Davis, Founder and CTO of Polarverse IT Services to talk about IT Managed Services and specifically around Business Continuity. With IT forming an important backbone of our businesses, it's important that we're able to have resilience in the face of interruptions, so that IT problems don't become business problems!
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews one of our SBCN Ambassadors, Brendan Waller and talks about the stratgies that his business relies upon to differentiate and provide value to their clients. Brendan is always looking to innovation in the marketing space, so don't miss some insightful hints into how Unison Measurable Marketing approaches the space.
In this episode, we continue to explore some valuable tips for small businesses. Gunther Kramer, CEO Gecko Websites, joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner to cover some of the tips that's helped Gunther's business recently celebrate 20 great years!
SBCN Member Mike Diamond of Appcast joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to discuss some simple IT tips that any small business can use. Since IT is so important to many of our businesses, we need to make sure it's reliable and effective, so these tips are invaluable to keep business rolling!
Wagepoint CMO, Leena Thampan joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to share a number of important tips for small business that keep her sane. These include Leena's tips for managing email, taking time to meditate and more. Wagepoint was founded in 2012 and has grown to over 1,000 customers.
You can find out more about Leena and Wagepoint on the SBCN website member directory https://www.sbcncanada.org/whois/4680
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Tim Elgar, Director of Small Business Services, American Express Canada to discuss the latest Small Business Monitor. This ongoing study, of which this is the 17th report, looks at issues facing small businesses. It provides excellent insights into what motivates small business owners and it's perhaps not what you think!
The latest Small Business Monitor commissioned by American Express Small Business Services examined the change in SBOs attitude towards work-life balance, revealing how they’re reclaiming control by working to live, rather than living to work.
Some key findings include:
55% of SBOs believe their work and personal lives blur because their business is their passion
64% of SBOs believe technology makes it nearly impossible to disconnect from work
To find out more check out the SBCN Small Biz Podcast.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner talks about Content Marketing and why it's a powerful way to help promote you, your expertise and your overall brand.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner discusses the importance of building alliances and partnerships with trusted connections.
One of the most important aspects of networking, is also one of the most overlooked. SBCN Co-Founder, Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares some tips for successfully following up with your connections and making sure you maintain strong business relationships. Until someone says NO to you it's often a case of the person you are following up with is too busy to respond, has lost your contact information or they are not ready to move forward. If you don't follow up you could lose a sale to someone else.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares some tips on influencing your network. It's not all about selling; you may need your connections to partner with you, refer you, sponsor you, etc.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews the CEO of CivicAction, Sevaun Palvetzian. CivicAction lives and breathes leadership and knows the importance of growing strong civic leaders for today and tomorrow.
Sevaun Palvetzian is the Chief Executive Officer of CivicAction, based in the Greater Toronto area, a non-partisan organization tackling some of the city-region’s toughest social, economic and environmental challenges.
SBCN Co-Founder, Linda Ockwell-Jenner, invites you to join her at the Small Business Mentor-in-Residence Open House, at the TELUS store in the Festival Marketplace Mall, Stratford. The launch of the Mentor-in-Residence program enables small business owners to get free mentoring from Linda and her team of business experts.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with SBCN member Lucie Fournier to learn more about her fascinating business and her views on wellness in the workplace.
Connected for Business, a Rogers Magazine, has named the Small Business Community Network (SBCN) one of five great communities for Canadian entrepreneurs. Listen as SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares the news.
We're back chatting to Athena Varmazis, VP & General Manager, Small Business Services, American Express Canada on the latest findings in the quarterly Small Business Monitor. This episode features some fascinating insights into Canadian small businesses and the growing positive sentiment amongst them.
Well-known networker in Waterloo Region, and one of the most highly-regarded business success consultants Lois Raats joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to chat about some of her tips to stimulate business growth.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined in this episode by Elite Resumes Martin Buckland. They discuss the finer points of handshakes: why they're important and exactly how you should approach the often mis-executed greeting.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner speaks to SBCN member Steve Nicholson about how networking has helped him grow his success, in both business and personal aspects. Steve speaks candidly about some of the unique challenges that he's faced, and how he's dealt with them to ensure his business thrives.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner once again chats with Athena Varmazis, VP & General Manager, Small Business Services, American Express Canada about results of the Amex Small Business Monitor. Find out the latest findings from this fantastic initiative, including business owners views on competition.
We all need a helping hand, but where do we start? SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner offers some quick tips when you're looking for help.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner speaks with Jim Senko, Vice President, Small Business Solutions TELUS about the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) - and TELUS' tremendous support of entrepreneurs. TELUS launches November smartphone campaign, donates $50 from the sale of every smartphone on a TELUS Small Business SharePlus Plan to CYBF.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Athena Varmazis, VP & General Manager, Small Business Services, American Express Canada about results of their quarterly Small Business Monitor. This insightful look touches on customer loyalty, growth and what this means to Canadian small business owners.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares a little of what's in store at this year's MarketPlace Conference.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews Deb O'Brien from Send Out Cards to find out how she got into this fascinating business and what lessons we can learn.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares a few tips on effective networking and how to make it work for your business.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews Jennifer Hawkins, VP & GM Merchant Services at American Express Canada, where they discuss the Shop Small Program. Listen to find out more about this innovative pilot project and how you can get involved.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares how you can win an amazing BlackBerry® Z10 prize pack from TELUS and the SBCN.
Host Linda Ockwell-Jenner shares a few thoughts on how we must sometimes engage a degree of political correctness in order to get ahead in our businesses.
Now is the perfect time to indulge in some planning for 2013. Find out why and how you should go about this, with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner.
Linda Ockwell-Jenner talks about the latest feature on LinkedIn: Endorsements. Find out if these are something you should focus on in building your online network with LinkedIn.
SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner chats with Matt Inglot, owner of Tilted Pixel - a local web site design and development company in Waterloo Region, Ontario. Listen to some fascinating perspectives on running a successful small business and tips you can use from Matt's experiences.
Too often than not small biz owners, who have a remarkable business offering, loads of motivation and are keen to work hard give up after a couple of years, when they deem their business failed. Find out why this shouldn't be the case, and what you can do to avoid the situation.
SBCN Co-Founder, Linda Ockwell-Jenner, talks about the importance of building strong business foundations to help you when you enter the world of networking.
Welcome to the first episode of the SBCN Podcast. In this episode, SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner introduces us to the SBCN and a little of our history.