I was recently interviewed by CBC International and the Vancouver Employment Paper,  both had similar questions regarding why there are so many entrepreneurs in British Columbia.  I thought I’d share some Q&A’s.

1) What role do your programs and services play when it comes to self-employment and entrepreneurship? What needs to be taught?

SUCCESS’ BizLaunch Entrepreneur program gives tools to the budding entrepreneur in workshops, coaching and other resources so that they are not going into business by themselves. Many people think they just have to ‘hang a shingle’ and customers will come. We teach them to focus their ideas into a planned business, develop sales and marketing tools that will be specific to their business, provide them coaching and management support culminating in a quality Business Plan. Read the rest of this entry

There’s a financial program in Canada that has been around for decades that is geared to supporting the Entrepreneur in the Startup process. It’s called the Canada Small Business Financing Program. It supports the business with up to a $500,000 loan.

There’s a slight problem though, hardly anyone in British Columbia knows about it.

Financial institutions deliver the program and make all credit decisions.   Small businesses must visit their local bank, credit union to obtain a loan under the program. Read the rest of this entry

Guys – Please close your eyes for a moment or move onto my next blog entry ‘cause you won’t like this one at all!

Women make better Businessmen – oops- entrepreneurs!

Some interesting stats from the Women’s Enterprise Center in Vancouver.

• Women own and operate 35 per cent of small businesses in B.C. or almost 137,000 businesses, which is higher than the national average of just under 34%.
• The number is expected to double over the next decade. In ten years, it is estimated that 264,000 B.C. women will own and operate businesses. Read the rest of this entry

I was asked to consult with ‘Clive’, a British immigrant entrepreneur who owned a company back east this week that needed some help with raising some capital. Now, this can be an easy show me the money scenario based on sound management, a great business plan and a wonderful innovative product or it can become a finger pointing analytical dissection of a business in turmoil. Clive unfortunately is the latter. Read the rest of this entry

I was sitting with a client over lunch today pondering the different roles I face on a daily basis with my different clients. The Friend works quite well for some. I give advice and they take as they would a friend. Oddly, I have friends who won’t take my advice.

I play the bully at times playing my client like a viola hoping to instill some common sense in their brain all the while thinking how various people need diverse methods.

I become the confidante to the client who is facing doubt and fear hoping like heck I am giving solace to them and a solution to their personal issues.

I share their triumphs and their failures, pat them on the back and slap them on the side of the head when needed. Read the rest of this entry