Building a Successful Business Through Diversity

October 5, 2020 By Leave a Comment

In this Marketing for Good podcast episode, host Erica Mills Barhardt and I had a stimulating conversation on how leaders can make an impact.

Listen Here

This conversation covered the following:

◾ The benefits of leading from behind the scenes.

◾ Successful networking as an introvert.

◾ Understand and embracing the cycle of the event.

◾ Building a team of diverse backgrounds for a better team. 

Key Takeaways:

✔ As a leader, it is important to get involved in the business of meeting people with a mindset of being of service.

✔ Know yourself and be aware of how you need to recharge.  This is particularly important if you are an introvert or ambivert.

✔ Be a purpose-driven leader and business owner to build a strong and engaged team.

✔ As a leader help everyone to shine individually and as a team, not one more than another.

Filed Under: 2020, Leadership, October, Podcasts / Interviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Are You “Hitting the Wall”?

June 24, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Entrepreneurship and leadership have two key common features – forging ahead into new horizons. This requires you to face your fears, go where you have not gone before, find solutions to challenges, navigate obstacles and more… all while you deliver on your promise to deliver a high quality product/service with a positive customer experience, while running your business.

The roller-coaster ride can be exhilarating, common-place, mundane or frustrating. There are times when new ideas, opportunities or solutions come flooding in faster than you can deal with them. Other times, the pace of play is just right.

However… there are times when you are taking action, working hard and bam!… you are going nowhere fast! You feel like you are on a hampster wheel. Start questioning yourself. Look to break what used to work but isn’t right now.

There are often four key areas that my clients have found challenging where a breakthrough was needed.

First, getting clear on who is their ideal client, what problems their clients have, and the results clients achieve when they work with them. Alternatively, they are unsure of their purpose, vision and mission… or all of the above!

Second, they are unsure what next steps to take. This is often associated with overwhelm or a lack of focus. When we create the focus and align that with purpose and client wants and needs… bam! The next steps unveil themselves.

Poor time management and inefficient systems are ties holding business leaders back so they are unable to keep moving forward. Adopting new ways of doing things can feel overwhelming when you don’t look at the bigger picture and identify the step-by-step implementation approach.

The other key “wall” is not having enough money to fund the business, the owner and their social impact efforts. Spotlighting top revenue sources, cash leaks and where to take action can turn your biz from red to black.

Does any of these “walls” sound familiar? I think every business owner and leader I have met has hit one wall or another and those that successfully find a way to knock that wall down or go around it, reap the benefit of their efforts. Most reach out to mentors, coaches, boards of advisors, their team or trusted colleagues. In fact, very few of the most successful business leaders, can break through the wall alone.

Our Breakthrough Huddle is a short, 45 minute focused working session where we pull up our sleeves, cut to the chase and create your breakthrough so you can create the action plan to move forward, grow, innovate and crush the obstacle or use it as a launch pad to something new and better.

If you a leader, entrepreneur or business owner who is:

  • feeling frustrated because your efforts are going no where,
  • tired of trying to find a solution on your own,
  • unsure about what next steps to take, or
  • wanting to explore new ideas, create a plan, pivot, reposition or repurpose, and
  • motivated to take action to create a sustainable, profitable future

the Breakthrough Huddle is for you!

If you aren’t ready to end the inertia you’re experiencing so you can experience the thrill of momentum again … the Breakthrough Huddle is not for you.

What is inaction costing you and your business?

Filed Under: 2020, Breakthrough Huddle, Coaching, Goals, June, Leadership, Productivity, Small Business, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Impactful Legacy Podcast #51 with host Mari-Lyn Harris

April 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment

I had the honour of being a guest on the Impactful Legacy podcast with host Mari-Lyn Harris of Heart At Work.

Please contact me if you have questions or want to explore how you can create social impact through business while leading a profitable business.

Filed Under: 2020, April, Business Strategy, IMPACT Business, Leadership, Podcasts / Interviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Creating IMPACT in today’s Turbulent World

March 18, 2020 By Leave a Comment

How are you doing in today’s changing and turbulent world? Today, more than ever, I believe our ability to create a positive impact through business can be our guiding light.

Hi, I’m Catherine Rocheleau, founder of Ignite Leadership International, host of the Purpose-Driven Leadership Summit, and the creator of the IMPACT Business Blueprint online program.

I work with socially-conscious and purpose driven leaders to align profit and purpose so they can create great cultures that inspire impact-driven employees to do great work in the world.

It is hard to go through our day without facing the implications of the enormous impact of COVID-19.  It’s impact on our ability to conduct business, deliver goods and services, and plan for the future.

Change is challenging at the best of times.  When we have so many unknowns, risks greater than we ever anticipated, unforeseen circumstances that are pulling the carpet out from under us, and our employees, customers, suppliers and our community, it is easy for panic and fear to set in.

As a business leader, I believe we have to step forward and be leaders.  We don’t have to have the answers. We may feels like our world is crashing, yet, we have a responsibility to our teams, ourselves and our business to take a deep breath and hit the pause button – if only for a minute or two.

As each of us, as leaders, takes a minute or two to pause, we can start the shift – the shift to one of calm, thoughtful perspective, and openness to accept what we cannot change, take action on what we can, and keep an eye on the future and what we can become. 

Most importantly we can also recognize how we can have a positive impact on the world around us. Yes, opportunity abounds. 

I encourage you to take a moment to recognize what steps you can do to make the world a better place.

We have been asked to engage in social distancing and self-isolation depending on potential exposure.  Right now, I am in the middle of my 14 day self-isolation period after travelling from Vancouver to LA for a conference.  I believe it’s the one thing I can do to help flatten the curve in the spread of the virus.

In light of the cancellation of in-person events, how can you deliver products and services to existing customers in new or more innovative ways?

My business can continue to operate virtually with my global market.  Some programs I offer have moved from in-person to virtual, without skipping a beat, and without a loss of value.

The up-side, I have been able to adjust my pricing as my costs are lower and this benefits my clients without harming my business – a win-win situation.

Another great idea is exploring how you can spread payment terms over a longer period of time to help reduce the financial burden of your clients.  When we can maintain a continuity of business, we create some stability for everyone we impact.

If business has slowed to a crawl, is it time for you to take time out to work ON your business instead of IN your business?  Would a strategy session or coaching help you get clear on next steps, any areas to pivot, and on creating a positive future.

For those of you who have employees or sub-contractors, working remotely can present challenges, however there are tools like zoom, trello, and so many more that can facilitate collaboration.

Delegating clearly with designate job duties, milestones and expectations will foster a sense of calm and prompt the right use of time for everyone.

Communication is critical between team members at any time.  However, when you are engaging in social distancing and remote working conditions It is even more important.   I recommend you implement daily huddles as a way to check in, set priorities, identify bottlenecks and opportunities, while also celebrating successes.  Huddles are easy to lead, easy to participate in, they are also time efficient and deliver a high ROI.  This is definitely a triple-win strategy.

Reach out to colleagues, clients and suppliers. Is there some way you can assist them? How can you work together to keep business operating during this volatility?

What about your impact initiatives?  Can you tweak them to help front-line agencies and causes that are struggling to remain afloat?

Can you transition cost savings incurred by operating virtually and not communiting or travelling to different locations, into donations to help non-profits.  Can you volunteer your time or expertise?

Linking your business successes, even in hard times, to your impact strategies creates a positive ripple effect that benefits your business, and all your stakeholders.  Be a leader.  Take positive action!  Make an impact!

Be safe. Be Healthy. Be Kind… and let’s make a positive impact in the world to make it a better place.

If I can assist you please do not hesitate to book a consultation call so we can explore options that work for you.

Filed Under: 2020, Business Success, Change, Communication, IMPACT Business, Leadership, March, Small Business, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

The Ethical Evolution Podcast – Episode 18

February 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment

I had the honour of being honoured on this podcast.

Listen here…

My next guest reached out to me online to be a guest and at first I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure how she met The Ethical Evolution criteria. The more we got talking, it was clear to see she was a perfect fit and that we were divinely aligned.

Catherine Rocheleau is the Founder & CEO of Ignite Leadership International in Vancouver, Canada.

If corporate teams are orchestras trying to make music, Catherine Rocheleau is the band leader helping them hit all the right notes.

As a leadership expert experienced in working with corporations, governments, the public sector and non-profits, Catherine specializes in assisting small to medium sized companies’ create meaningful workplaces where people and business thrive. To capture it in a nutshell Catherine coaches how to do business for good and with impact and profit – whether it be paying it forward as part of your business model or including it in the way you do business. This is true collective change.

This podcast is brought to you by Ethical Change Agency.

Filed Under: 2020, February, IMPACT Business, Interview, Leadership, Social Responsibility Tagged With: , , , , ,

Profits and Purpose – They are not like Oil and Water

February 18, 2020 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to embracing an impact business model, there are many questions that come to light.  One of the biggest questions I get asked is how do I balance my purpose with profit?

Hi I’m Catherine Rocheleau, CEO & Founder of Ignite Leadership International, host of the Purpose-Driven Leadership Summit, and creator of the IMPACT Business Blueprint course.

Contrary to popular belief purpose and profit are not like oil and water.  In fact, they are intricately linked.  

In the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance on Purpose and Profit, the authors stated …

“Profits are in no way inconsistent with purpose—in fact, profits and purpose are inextricably linked. Profits are essential if a company is to effectively serve all of its stakeholders over time—not only shareholders, but also employees, customers, and communities. Similarly, when a company truly understands and expresses its purpose, it functions with the focus and strategic discipline that drive long-term profitability.” 

I think of profits as the fuel for your bus that allows your stakeholders to travel with you, and purpose as your path – your vision.  

If you run a for-profit business and want to use your business to create a positive impact in the world, you have the ability to re-allocate your profits to social/environmental impact initiatives. Although I have led non-profits both as an executive director and in a leadership capacity on the Board, I recognize my expertise is best suited to my “for-profit” endeavours.  I volunteer, mentor, and donate to non-profits who are better at delivering the change I want to support. 

However, non-profits are also businesses based on a strong mission or purpose.  As a non-profit leader, you most likely have a fund-raising plan to attract the money needed to drive your organization and deliver on your mission and purpose.

Funding, revenues, profits, capacity building are synonymous with the linking of purpose and financial status.

In order for business or non-profit leaders make a difference in the world I believe we have to shift our money mindset to one that reflects a positive relationship with a strong purpose reflected by our actions and how we back it up with adequate funding to make it happen.

I’d love to have you join me in the conversation on creating positive change through business.  I invite you to subscribe so you won’t miss future episodes.

Filed Under: 2020, Business Strategy, February, IMPACT Business, Leadership, Small Business, Social Responsibility Tagged With: , , , , ,
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