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When the TIPS for TOUGH TIMES newsletter first launched back in March 2020, we found ourselves at the beginning of what remains a journey through uncertainty. Uncertainty, the trusty sidekick to fear and panic, can sometimes feel like an insurmountable challenge in and of itself.
What is truly beautiful though, is how this community has come together to support one another through each up and down. I have seen the benefits first-hand, not only in a business sense but in a human sense as well, that caring communication has brought to the GYB family through this crisis.
Today marks the final issue of our newsletter until September. Floored by the ongoing support that this group of inspiring, passionate and tenacious business leaders bring to one another, I know that we will carry this connection through each chapter that awaits.
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Civil rights leader and Georgia representative John Lewis was laid to rest last Thursday in a ceremony honouring his life and legacy. Remembered as one of the greatest heroes of American History, Lewis was described as a “champion in the on-going struggle to demand respect for the dignity and worth of every human being” who dedicated his life to non-violent activism and advocacy in the struggle for equal justice in America.
Shortly before his death, John Lewis penned an essay set to be published on the day of his funeral.
“Though I am gone, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart
and stand up for what you truly believe.” – John Lewis
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This week, take time to watch the documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble. The film chronicles Lewis’ “60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration”. You can find it on a range of platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, & YouTube. |
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On August 4th, a massive explosion went off in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Heartbroken by this disaster, we are sharing some resources on how you can support relief efforts in the aftermath of this tragedy. Please note, link requires subscription to read.
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Image Credit: Reuters Tv/Reuters |
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Here are some organizations you can donate too:
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The Lebanese Red Cross – providing ambulances, staff and first responders to those affected by the explosion. Establishing triage centers in mosques and centers across the city.
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Impact Lebanon –a non-profit raising disaster relief through their Just Giving page, which has raised almost £150,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
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The Lebanese Food Bank – working with individuals and families to ensure they have food and provisions.
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Beit al Baraka – a non-profit established to support older citizens by providing food, housing, medical support and agriculture.
- You can also support local NGOs by accessing this crowd-sourced list of local groups and resources.
Amplify social media accounts like @locatevictimsbeirut, which is trying to locate victims after the explosion, and @open_houses_lebanon, which is working to provide houses for those in need after the explosion.
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The Safe Restart Agreement. Trudeau has announced an investment of over $19 billion to both stimulate the economies of the country’s provinces and territories and provide resources for necessary protective measures. This agreement will fund initiatives such as contact tracing and increased testing and will also fund municipalities to enhance services like public transit, child-care, and income support.
Funding for women entrepreneurs. Minister Mary Ng has announced a $4 million investment that will support more than 700 women-led SMEs in southern Ontario. Funding will take the form of non-repayable contributions of up to $5,000 that will support WBOs in purchasing PPE, updating workspaces for physical distancing and shifting their business models online.
Jobs in sustainable energy. The federal government is investing over $200,000 to train Canadians in the energy efficiency sector, preparing workers for emerging jobs in this broadening field. By improving the energy efficiency of homes, buildings and industrial sectors, these projects will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save Canadians money.
Some other key announcements…
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Extended commercial rent assistance. The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) has been extended to include the month of August. As a quick refresh, the CECRA provides forgivable loans to commercial property owners so that they can reduce small business tenant rent by at least 75%.
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Canada’s COVID Alert App is now available to Canadians for download. Access it through the App store or on Google Play here.
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Ending the CERB. Trudeau announced plans to end the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and transition applicants to Employment Insurance (EI).
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Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe |
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Bonnie Henry’s mantra continues to ring true.
BE KIND - Everyday life as we know has come to a screeching halt, yet the natural systems of our planet continue uninterrupted. If our beautiful earth could speak to us right now, what might it say? Haroon Rashid’s powerful poem WE FELL ASLEEP challenges us to ask ourselves that very question.
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BE CALM – Nothing brings serenity like a call from a good friend. Just ask long-distance friendship experts Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedmann – here they share in a deep exchange over the role of their bond in each other’s lives. In the context of social distancing, we can learn a lot from their long-distance model. Can’t get enough? Read their new book, “Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close”.
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Unless of course, you feel that masks infringe upon your personal freedoms. In that case, you might like to head on down to the Freedom Cafe, where servers are free to touch the food, staff don’t need to wash their hands after using the bathroom, and cooks can cross-contaminate as they please – all in the name of personal freedom! |
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As our astute author Libby writes, |
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Seriously though folks, as King George says, can we maybe just all agree to wear a tiny flipping mask? |
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What does collaboration do for business development? How does experimenting impact employee motivation? How can you best communicate big changes as your business evolves?
The answers await.
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A pivot in plain sight. Spotify moves to podcasts, Airbnb transforms into an online lifestyle platform, and Unilever shifts its priorities– check out the businesses that are changing amidst the changes.
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Communicate the change. Adapting is one thing, getting your message out is another. Check out these helpful tips on generating awareness as your business takes a new turn.
…More success stories. Renowned party planner Bronson Van Wyck discusses how he pivoted his business to virtual events, and stage magician Alan Chamo outlines how he navigated his brand through a shut down in venues.
Collaboration is key. When researchers examined the role of collaboration among law firm workers navigating the 2008 financial crisis, they found that the top 10% most collaborative workers not only grew their business during the crisis but sustained that upward trajectory. On the other hand, the bottom 70% guarded their clients, hoarded their work, and still had not recovered their contracted revenue even five years after the recession ended. Here are some words of wisdom on how employers can promote collaboration at work.
Boardroom à la 2020. Forget big tables, scattered attendance and long travel times – the virtual board meeting is proving to have quite a few upsides. With improved collaboration, shorter agendas, clearer presentations and more inclusive conversations, these 8 best practices for virtual board meetings are transforming the way we approach
corporate governance.
Planes, trains and automobiles. Mika Manninen, CEO and co-founder of dairy-free yogurt brand Hälsa Foods, is no stranger to business travel through the pandemic. Having taken 33 flights and spent 160 nights in hotels since the beginning of 2020, Manninen is the only designated traveller for his company. Here, he shares some of his tips and tricks on how to do so as safely as possible.
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Image Credit: REUTERS/David W Cern |
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Growth comes in many shapes and forms. Whether it’s an eye-opening webinar that spurs a new strategy or a new perspective that moves you to re-visit your own practices, sharing in knowledge is powerful.
Scale up. WBE Canada is hosting an online workshop to assist Canadian business women scale up and secure contracts as they navigate large corporate supply chains. Hosted on August 19 th, you can register for “Growing Your Business Through Supplier Diversity” here.
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Retail resilience. Retail executives – this is for you. The RISE Again Retail Webinar Series, available to all small retail businesses in Atlantic Canada, offers tools for innovation, leadership, decision-making, and strategy in the changing landscape of a global pandemic.
Power to empower. Learn from the triumphs of 100 global women leaders - Vital Voices’ upcoming book release, titled The Vital Voices: 100 Women Using their Power to Empower, showcases the transformative power of women in leadership, and its need across cultures, sectors and generations. Donate $95 for your very own copy, or $175 for a personalized and signed copy by Vital Voices President & CEO Alyse Nelson! The book will launch and ship this September.
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Looking for more barrier-breaking content? Gayatri Rangachari Shah’s new podcast series, Uncommon Women, follows inspiring stories of trailblazing women who are all connected in their tenacity, drive and resilience.
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Benefits, benefits, benefits! Don’t forget to check your business’ eligibility for Covid-19 support on the Government of Canada’s intuitive and responsive online form. You’ll get a tailored list of benefits that are currently on offer for YOU! |
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Our community knows that all businesses, no matter their size, face strikingly similar challenges. From that shared experience, comes the possibility for genuine growth, as we learn and share in the wisdom of fellow leaders.
And without further ado, we introduce…
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Founder, Betty Hines Business Strategist dba Women Elevating Women (W.E.W.)
2020 Winner of the WPO Adrienne Hall Award
“As an advocate for women entrepreneurship, elevating women is my passion and purpose. It is with gratitude I participate on a platform here multicultural women can engage in powerful conversations about their experiences, as they help other women scale their businesses. With my corporate experience as a C-Suite Executive, Entrepreneur, and now Business Strategist, I have witnessed obstacles in organizations/institutional infrastructure (or society in general) that lack understanding in the importance of diversity and inclusion. I’m excited about bringing multicultural woman together in ways that not only benefit them individually, but also to act collectively -in advancing the role that women play in contributing to the health and sustainability of the economic landscape. As women we must continue to encourage, inspire and elevate each other. I am honoured to be that servant leader.”– Betty Hines
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Co-Principal, Baker Communications
“Lifting up women and supporting them to excel is a passion of mine. Having the opportunity with GroYourBiz to come together monthly to share, learn and grow from successful and accomplished women in business is an incredible privilege.” – Donalee Baker
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Former Partner in Accounting Firm, & Former CEO, Imprint Plus
“After 20 years in business I couldn’t imagine joining a group of businesswomen and meeting once a month could change my top and bottom line significantly, but it did. Fun and new friends are a lovely by product.” – Marla Kot
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Owner, Petra Mayer & Associates Consulting Inc.
“A group is knowingly stronger than the combined individual parts. Collaboration is key for entrepreneurs to grow and innovate, enabling the individual to recognize blind spots and get the support they need, particularly as they are building their businesses. GroYourBiz is built around the essence of collaboration and therefore I am proud and excited to be part of the organization in building and leading a virtual global board.” – Petra Mayer
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Founder, InSync Executive Coaching
“The positive and supportive energy of the women entrepreneurs of GroYourBiz struck me from the first event I attended. I just knew it was a place where I could contribute to a fantastic group of female leaders, building businesses of all sorts and sizes. And yet, they all share the same issues as they establish and grow their businesses. GroYourBiz provides support, encouragement, connections and sound advice to help them flourish. As an entrepreneur, I know just how lonely that road can be. I’m honoured to be selected as a chair and am committed to the growth and success of all the members I have the pleasure of meeting and supporting.” – Victoria Eastwood
We are both grateful and thrilled that these accomplished, passionate women will be bringing their extensive expertise to the table in order to support other women in the business community.
And while we have you…
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Thursday, August 20, 2020 - 10:00AM-11:00AM EST
Chair: Marg Hachey, GYB Managing Director, ON & Former Owner, Duocom Canada Inc.
Monday, August 24, 2020 - 11:00AM-2:00PM EST
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - 5:00PM-6:00PM PST
Chair: Marla Kott, Formerly Partner in Accounting Firm & Former CEO, Imprint Plus
Thursday, August 27, 2020 - 5:00PM-6:00PM PST
Chair: Petra Mayer, Founder, Petra Mayer & Associates Consulting
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WELL FOLKS, It's with a full heart that we call a wrap for the summer due to the fact that our wonderful writer Franny Johnstone is starting full-time at Simon Fraser University doing a Masters of Public Policy.
I was introduced to Franny in March when COVID 19 came into our lives. I was looking for a writer/researcher who could start GroYourBiz TIPS for TOUGH TIMES, reflecting and sharing all the news in one place that members were being inundated with each week. Franny went above and beyond my expectations! With little direction she produced each weekly issue with relevant material and tips to cope and survive the changes happening in our lives.
In this final issue of Franny as writer and editor of TIPS FOR TOUGH TIMES, we extend a sweeping thank you – through the laughs, the tears, the late nights and the long weeks, she has enabled us to create a supportive space that both uplifts and celebrates in a time of turmoil.
To Franny, we owe you a big “Thank-You” for your leadership.
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To all of our readers, thank you. |
#togetherathome #togetherweshare #togetherstrong #excelsior
GroYourBiz Ltd.
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Let us know what you thought of this week's newsletter! |
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