Friday, May 8, 2009

Entrepreneurial challenges


So there's one thing about operating a home-based business that poses a bit of a challenge. Distraction.
However, my son Gabriel, while certainly capable of distracting me, he brings great perspective to my working day.
Now, so long as I can keep him motivated to help with the landscaping and weed control we're in good shape.
This winter I fully expect to be relieved of the burden of shovelling snow.
That's a challenge I'm happy to forgo.

What recession?

Maybe we're just isolated from world-wide trends here in Old Oakville but I don't think so. In our region there is a tremendously high concentration of entrepreneurs. In fact Halton region may have more independently run businesses than anywhere else in Canada.
Heard on the news this morning that there was an increase in job creation last month of 39,000. Yes, the majority were self-employed positions but regardless kind of encouraging on the one hand to realize that people are taking matters into their own hands and foresaking the victim mentality that can arise from depending upon large behemoths to provide for you.
On that point, my friend and colleague Grace Attard is about to launch a great new service here in Oakville. I won't spill all the beans but suffice to say she has a terrific idea about how to enable and empower entrepreneurial breakthroughs. She will create a spot where entrepreneurs can gather to benefit from senior-level, multi-discipline advice; make use of meeting space other than the traditional coffee shop or beige hotel meeting room; and, most importantly get the personal and business coaching required for many of us to truly bring our ideas to beneficial fruition.
Anyway, stay tuned for more about this and be watching for the CBC program, Enter the Coliseum (I'll let you know when it is expected to air) to learn more about Grace and other entrepreneurs who are taking the 'recession' into their own hands and saying, "I'm in control of my own destiny!"