eSpot™ Blog

Year In Review

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:37:00 GMT

By : Cheryl Santa Maria

It’s that time of year again!
This month, we’re talking about celebration and gratitude here at e-Spot®. We all know how difficult owning a business can be, and you should take this time to celebrate all of your accomplishments – not matter how small – over the past twelve months.

Congratulations are in order, but before you break out the champagne, I ask that you take a step back and review 2011 with a critical eye. Analysis will lead to future success – and provide you with even more things to celebrate in the years to come.

I’m a fan of lists, and here’s one I created for my own “annual review”. Take a few minutes and create your own questionnaire, or use the one provided here. It’s important to be upfront about your shortcomings, along with your successes. Looking back over the past twelve months might provide you with some fresh insight.

And so, ask yourself:
1. What was my greatest business success in 2011?
2. What was my biggest failure?
3. What was one situation that I could have handled better?
4. What has been my biggest distraction over the past twelve months? How can I eliminate this distraction?
5. Did I market my business (and my products) effectively?
6. What are my top five goals for 2012?
7. How can I make those goals a reality?

Remember: You can’t improve upon your shortcomings if you refuse to acknowledge them. Analyzing, and trying to improve upon your faults is every bit as important as celebrating your successes.

When looking back to your year let's also not forget to be grateful for all your wonderful successes! So don't forget to also ask yourself :

What and who am I grateful for this year that has really contributed to my personal and business growth? Come by and share with us here on our e-Spot® wall :)

I wish you all a safe, happy and prosperous 2012!

Diligence Pays Off

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:24:00 GMT

By : Cheryl Santa Maria

If you're a business owner, there's a good chance you've had to deal with rejection. Personally, it takes me an average of 5 meetings - in addition to pitches, drafts, emails and conference calls - to net one job or client.

But landing a meeting? Well, there's a feat in itself. I have to attend networking groups, advertise via social media, and constantly build my portfolio in order to get people to sit down with me.

Many of the people I approach will decide not to work with me. And that's just the way it is. You see failure (and rejection) is a part of success. You win some, but you lose even more. I believe that everyone has the skills to thrive in business, but most people give up before they've accomplished anything concrete.

Consider this:

Most, if not all of the most successful people in the world didn't get their on their first try. Walt Disney was once fired from a job being "unimaginative". He then went on to run countless businesses into the ground. Oprah Winfrey was fired from a job as a TV reporter because she was "unfit for TV". Jack London, author of the classic Gone With The WInd, was rejected 600 times by publishers before having his first book printed.

Rejection never goes away, even once you've 'made it'. Steve Jobs, for example, was never without his critics. Award-winning actors still have to audition for roles. And we all know how professional sport players are treated when they underperform in the finals.

My point here is that diligence pays off. Talent and innovation can take a business far, but drive and determination is what keeps things afloat.

If you work hard, and work consistently, when you do fail, it's all in the learning. At the end of the day, you never really fail.

Finding the Motivation to Stay Diligent

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:17:00 GMT

By: Cheryl Santa Maria

I believe that “motivation” and “diligence” go hand in hand.
There are a lot of tools available to keep an entrepreneur connected and productive. Smartphones are one of them. Good old-fashioned list keeping is another.

The problem with these tools, though, is they won’t do your work for you.
A smartphone is useless if you forget to check and respond to work emails, and there’s no point in creating a list if you’re simply going to ignore it.

Motivation has to come from inside of you, and this is especially true for entrepreneurs. When I was an employee working in an office, there were times when I didn’t want to go into work. On those days, I would show up because I had to and I would sit at my desk and stare at the clock until 5:00. Entrepreneurs don’t have a boss or an HR department to check up on them when they don’t show up for work. Unlike a salaried employee, an entrepreneur who doesn’t work – or does the bare minimum - doesn’t get paid.

I can’t tell you how to stay motivated and be diligent about your work, but I can tell you this:

Owning your own business is a privilege. Nothing compares to the personal and professional growth acquired from being one’s own boss. You’ve earned the right to work for yourself – now get out there and defend it. On the days when you don’t feel like getting out of bed, or completing that last item on your “to-do” list, remember: things could be much, much worse.
You could, after all, be stuck in an office somewhere – working at a job you don’t feel connected to.

Diligence will allow you to live life on your own terms.
Doing the bare minimum will not.
Think about that the next time you’re feeling de-motivated.

The Discomfort of Leadership

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:52:00 GMT

Blog post by : Cheryl Santa Maria

"It's uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers.
It's uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail.

It's uncomfortable to challenge the status quo.

It's uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle.

...When you identify the discomfort, you've found the place where a leader is needed."

-Seth Godin

When we think of business moguls, like the late Steve Jobs for example, we tend to visualize them riding around in expensive cars or rubbing shoulders with the world's elite. It's easy to forget that there's more to leadership than fancy boardrooms and televised shareholder's meetings. I love the above quote because it puts the role into perspective. Sure, leaders enjoy more time, freedom, authority and power than the general public, but those liberties come at a price. In fact, many leaders will tell you that their jobs can be downright unglamorous.

Leaders are continually forced to work late nights and weekend shifts. They miss out on family gatherings and undertake a lot of menial tasks. A true business leader will stand up for his or her beliefs while maintaining the humility to ask for help.

Trailblazers don't set out to make friends. They set out to be hard working, diplomatic and strategic. A leaders understands that his or her business goals are worth some discomfort.

The e-Spot® manifesto says that the 'greatest reward comes from leaping into the unknown", and that's exactly what a leader does, regardless of how terrified he or she may be. The combination of courage, creativity and vision that make up a leader is a rare one, but worth every ounce of effort.

Seeing Your Business Through New Eyes

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:23:00 GMT

By : e-Spot® member Cheryl Santa Maria, Business Communications and Social Media Specialist

September’s theme is “novelty” or, in other words, taking a step back and looking at your business from a new perspective. That’s all well and good, but how do you go about doing that exactly? After all, most opinions, perspective and beliefs are formed on an unconscious level.

Personally, I think the best way to re-assess and re-analyze is to venture outside of your comfort zone. How you decide to do that is up to you; you may, for example, want to take dance lessons or join a public speaking group like Toastmasters. The objective is to try and experience life in a way that’s foreign to you, and then translate that experience into a new way of perceiving your business.

I like to venture outside of my comfort zone by travelling. After having shopped in the souks of an ultra-conservative, remote Moroccan village, eaten siopao from a nightstand in Hong Kong and wandered the Champs d’Elysees in the wee hours of the morning, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are infinite ways to enjoy food, leisure and work.

Whenever I start to feel bored or restless, I spend some time going through my vacation pictures. For me, they serve as a reminder that the world is a beautiful, diverse place and that there’s so much I’ve yet to discover. Travelling has had a profound effect on me, both personally and professionally, and I’m grateful for the experiences that I’ve had.

This month I urge you to look at your business in a new way. What can you to do get excited, adventurous and creative? Think about it, and then drop us a line and let us know. We’d love to hear how you’ve put a fresh lens on the world and your business!

Have you done your SWOT Analysis?

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:16:00 GMT

For anyone who missed our meet up this month, no worries because Cheryl Santa Maria is giving you all a glimpse of it!

This month we’re talking about “assessing your business” here at e-Spot®, so I thought it would be a good idea to provide you with a handy tool that I use, time and again, when I feel the need to take a step back and go over my business plan.
When you’re running a business, it’s important to have goals and targets in mind, and they shouldn’t be written in the sand. If you want your business to succeed, you need to ensure its growth, and part of that involves continued re-assessment and re-calibration.
When I work with a new client, I create a communications plan and part of that involves developing a “SWOT analysis”, i.e., a simple (yet effective) method of assessing one’s business.

I suggest writing up a SWOT analysis every six months. This will help you gauge growth and rectify any potential problems.
So what is a SWOT analysis, anyway? I’m glad you asked! Here’s a breakdown:

1. Strengths

Here’s where you want to list 4-5 of the things you’re most proud of, for example:

• Expertise and experience
• Innovative marketing techniques
• Customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Above average customer service

• High quality products 

2. Weaknesses

Nobody likes to talk about their weaknesses, but it’s important to acknowledge them. Examples could include:

• Market stagnation
• Poor search engine ranking/SEO
• Lack of product differentiation/branding
• Non-existent mission statement/long term goals
• Damaged credibility/poor customer reviews

3. Opportunities

How can you take your business to the next level? Here are some opportunities to consider:

• Developing markets (i.e., social media, conferences, networking workshops, etc.)
• Partnerships or joint ventures
• Adding to current product line/services

• Expanding into other areas/markets 

4. Threats

Lastly, you’ll want to identify potential red flags, such as:

• Competitors
• New taxation/governmental protocols
• Recession/unstable marketplace
• Limited distribution channels

And that’s all there is to it!

You’ll be surprised at how much insight and value a SWOT analysis can provide. I hope you use this handy tool, and often!
What are some areas of your business that need re-assessment? We’d love to trade stories with you. Head on over to our Facebook page and join the discussion!

Take a Step Back!

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:59:00 GMT

By: Cheryl Santa Maria

This month our newsletter talks about taking your head out of the sand, and I love the quote Grace chose for its introduction:
“An ostrich with its head in the sand is just as blind to opportunity as to disaster.”

She rightfully points out that many small business owners have a tendency to become “ostriches” in their own right. It’s easy to become focused on day-to-day demands and in doing so business and skill development can get left behind.
It’s important to take a step back and examine your business from an outsider’s perspective.
Personally, I set aside an hour at the end of every month to chart my growth and set targets for the following thirty days. If I’m meeting my goals, I ease up a little. If I’m way off, I hustle (non-stop) until I’m back on track.
Being an entrepreneur is a privilege; I love it more than I ever thought possible. But there’s so much more to achieving success than simply putting in a full work day. My mom is known for her little pearls of wisdom, and she always told me that “practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect” – and she’s so right. Going into work every day and doing the same thing over and over again is great, but it will only work for a short time. Assessment is an important part of the game, and if you neglect it, your business can suffer.
This month at e-Spot’s®, we’re challenging you to try and do one thing to make your business better. How can you improve your customer service, your products, your processes? What aspects of your business are you the most proud of? Where can you stand to improve?
We would love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a note and tell us how you’ve taken your head out of the sand!

Five Fun Workplaces

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:06:00 GMT

By : Cheryl Santa Maria

Since we’re talking about fun this month, I thought I’d take you on a little tour. Here are five companies from around the world that have created fun workplaces for their employees. I’m absolutely loving the creativity here – I’m going to have to look into getting a slide installed in our workspace.

Here’s the list in no particular order – as far as I’m concerned, every one of these workplaces is equally fabulous.

1. Pixar. Pixar’s HQ in Emeryville, California is seriously cool. The massive campus is decorated with piñatas, comfy couches and cubicles that have been fashioned to look like cottages. I love the way Pixar uses its workspace to encourage creative thought. Click here to take a photo tour. Amazing!

2. TBWA. TBWA is an advertising agency located in Tokyo, Japan. Situated in an old bowling alley, the company makes good use out of every inch of its unusual workspace. I love how the designers have brought the outdoors indoors with this creative design. Really love the innovative thought that went into designing this office.

3. Google. I am speechless after looking at pictures of the Google HQ in Zurich, Switzerland. No wonder Google is one of the most innovative (and successful) companies in the world. From an indoor slide, to private relaxation rooms, to a selection of gourmet restaurants offering free (!) food to all employees, Google has clearly made employee satisfaction one of its top priorities. Never mind working at Google – I’d like to go there just to enjoy the facilities!

4. Selgas Cano Architecture. I guess it makes sense that there would be an architectural firm on a list of neat-looking workspaces. The Selgas Cano office, located in Madrid, Spain, is – well, I’m not exactly sure how to describe it. You have to see it to believe it. Nestled in the woods, the structure resembles a long tube, almost entirely comprised of windows. Talk about a room with a view! Click here to take a photo tour. I am in awe.

5. Nendo. Nendo is a design concept company located in Tokyo, Japan. I love the design of its office – it’s free-flowing, crisp and modern. This is an office built to inspire creative thought. Take a look at these workspaces. How could you not be inspired?

The next time you re-vamp your workspace don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. A little creativity can go a long way towards creating a fun and happy environment.

Choose fun to run your business

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:20:00 GMT

Business doesn’t always have to be hard. In fact, business can be fun while building your success. Society and popular belief lead us to feel that work is valued by the hard, stressful and sometimes seemingly impossible road one takes. However, that approach only creates the opposite – feeling devalued in our work. As much as it’s about the results, it’s also about choosing fun and engaging others through your passion. When work doesn’t feel mentally, emotionally and physically hard; it doesn’t mean we’re not working well or that there’s no value. Sometimes it may even feel harder to pave a passionate journey before it feels simple.

I feel very fortunate to work with an entrepreneurial community where the meaning of ‘work’ is completely transformed. This transformation requires us to change our mindset and redefine the importance and value of work. For just a moment, I need you to turn off that switch in your brain feeding you stories of what work should mean. Let’s focus on how you want work to participate in your life. The great thing about being an entrepreneur is that only YOU have the power to decide how the world will see you and your business. So, how do you show up? How do you make sure that everyone sees your business in the way you intend? Let’s shift our thinking around – fun. I’m not talking about casual Friday’s, evenings at the bar or happy Monday’s. Sure all those things can be fun for creating team culture, but I’m talking about a deeper meaning of fun.

Fun is about creativity, innovation, play and experimentation. It’s about taking the risk to integrate those into your business and allowing the results to come to life. Often times, fear rears its ugly head and blocks us from having the right kind of fun in our business. It’s about embracing the unknown results of bringing fun into your business yet trusting that it plays an integral part of your bigger goal. Sure we understand at the end of the day that we need to make money. We all have bills to pay, cars to gas up and mouths to feed. However, life becomes more purposeful when we can inject fun into how and why we run our businesses.

Here at e-Spot® we make fun top of mind. We approach all the things we need to do with fun being our driver. From monthly themes serving as focus for our conversations, seminars and workshops to setting goals and being held to them in different ways. From drop in Spot Checks in an open and safe setting, to celebrating and sharing our successes at Spotted Affairs. We believe in growing businesses uniquely through unconventional e-Spot® meet ups and Tweet Up’s where we vlog and ask entrepreneurs why they’re passionate about what they do and we share it with the community. We believe in creating masterminds with each other, where new ideas and strong relationships are born. Bringing fun into the everyday, is bringing passion into our lives.

When we choose to have fun while creating our business, it gives us permission to really envision what we want and taking that leap into the unknown doesn’t feel so scary anymore. Choosing fun, means choosing authenticity. So have fun, be real and let your business reflect you.

Creative Relationships -- A Tweet Up Recap!

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:35:00 GMT

By: Cheryl Santa Maria

That's right, e-Spotters! Our first-ever Tweet up went down on June 14 and it was a huge success!

Last month we spoke about the importance of forming good relationships, so in the light of this, we thought we'd lead by example and use the Tweet Up as an opportunity to promote relationships that we've developed with the Oakville Women's Networking (OWN), and what better time to do it then now -- our month of Creativity. We'd like to send a big shout out to all of the OWN members who made it out to our Tweet Up, and we look forward to working with you in the future.

From OWN to e-Spot® members, we were a full house! We were filled to the brim with amazing entrepreneurs, and we were so inspired by all of the positive energy, creativity and networking that went down. Naturally, we enjoyed some great eats a la Chef Holloway as well as awesome smoothies with Ms Kaitlin behind our bar.

Erick Nettel from Nettel Media did an AMAZING job filming the event. Twenty entrepreneurs sat down with either Grace or Elaine to talk about their business and why they're so passionate about the work they do. I am still in awe over the way Erick put everything together. Check out all our live VLOGGING from the event. Seriously, incredible stuff!

I did all the live tweeting for the event, and don't forget to check out all my pics! I'd like to give a special mention to my business partner Ian Turner from Sydcam Marketing Communications for holding down our booth and working with me and e-Spot® to plan and execute this event. And we mustn't forget to mention the lovely Jennifer Lopinski who not only helped with stuffing the loot bags, but her openness and generosity in partnering with us to make the event a hit.

If you weren't able to make it out, fret not! A little bird told me there may be another e-Spot® Tweet Up just around the corner! Follow e-Spot® on twitter to stay in the know.

Until next time!

Cheryl

Using Creativity to Promote Your Business

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:42:00 GMT

By: Cheryl Santa Maria

Goodbye parkas and hello flip-flops, BBQ's and afternoon Coronas on the patio. June is shaping up to be a great month. We're excited about all of the changes taking place at e-Spot® and we hope that you are too!

This month's theme is one that is near and dear to my heart. Steven Covey once said that in order to be successful "we must live from our imaginations, not from our memories." In other words, success and creativity go hand in hand. This month we're exploring this notion in depth with an emphasis on developing creativity, harnessing it and using it to promote and grow our business.

Let me start by saying that everybody has the ability to think outside of the box. While it might come easier to some, creativity is not a rare talent reserved for a chosen few. I firmly believe that it is a skill that is developed through questioning, observing and learning about the world around us.

So -- keeping that in mind, where do you begin? Here are three tips that will help you use creativity to better promote your business.

Observe and question. Read up on business and people that you admire. How have they marketed their products/service and brands? Have their initiatives been successful? Why or why not? Can you implement a similar strategy within your business? If so, can you do it better? More importantly, can you add your own personal 'spin' to these initiatives?
Don't fear mistakes. Mistakes can be a wonderful learning opportunity. WHat can you learn from the mistakes you've made in the past? How can you ensure they don't happen again? Do you have a strategy in place for communicating with clients about any mistakes and misunderstandings that might occur?
Keep Learning. Five years ago, nobody knew what 'Twitter' was but now, its a way of communicating for people and businesses alike. Never, ever stop learning about the world around you. What are some trends that you've heard about lately? How have businesses used these trends to effectively promote their products? What are some technologies and marketing techniques you'd like to employ and what resources would you require to make them work?

Remember, 'creativity' isn't a switch that can be turned on or off. It's a way of thinking and functioning. It requires courage, foresight and passion. It may require you to take risks from time to time and, in order to get good at it; you must be prepared to continually update your skills and knowledge base.

Do you have a creative story you'd like to share? We would love to hear it! Head on over to our Facebook page and tell us how you've been using creativity to promote your business!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Creative Branding and Marketing : Show Up! No, we really mean it!

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:06:00 GMT

By : Karen Couillard, Vercomedia

Creativity for entrepreneurs can come in many forms but the most visible form is what you present to your prospects and clients. Your promotional material and website speak LOUD about your creativity and how you have differentiated yourself from your competitors and allow for people to choose YOU. And creativity sometimes just flows but more often than not, strategic creativity is the way entrepreneurs succeed.

We all know that bad advice is floating all around the net. You must work seriously, if you have intentions of making a decent “e-income.” How do you decipher the junk from the gems? Marketing strategies abound on the internet is so reachable and you can be creative while planning it too!

We are not going to present a marketing plan to you. We are going to show you what, why and how every marketer should use a checklist, for effective marketing with every business plan.

First and foremost, there must be a real need for what you are trying to sell. If enough research has "not" been done, you will have very low chances of success. O.K., let's assume that you already have a good product or service. You are supposed to promote it after finding out "who" needs this product or service. If the product or service has a target market, these people should be ready to promote for profit!

Regardless of the motive for starting a business, the product must be sold and always at a profit.

Here are a few things that you need to look for when you are wondering if your marketing plan will be effective:
1. You will need a market summary to determine if there is a need for your offer.
2. You must clearly be able to explain your product or service definition.
3. You need to do some ethical research on your possible competition.
4. Positioning is something many people worry about. If you have a good, well rounded plan or method, this should fall in place, if you are patient. Spending a lot of time and money to position your business is useless, until you know what your market will buy from you. Beautiful and popular websites are only one part of the sales process.
5. Communication strategies are very important. Know who to contact and build your business image.
6. You must have a launch plan set in place, if this applies.
7. Public relations, advertising and other types of promotion should be considered, according to your budget.
8. Next comes pricing and distribution.
9. Vertical and related markets must be examined.
10. Consider international markets for a broader customer base.
11. Metrics can help but there is a cost to equip yourself with metrics. If cost is a factor, look into metrics after you acquire some experience and profits or alternative method to track your efforts.

A marketing schedule needs to be mapped out. Inconsistent marketing will get you no place. Have a plan and a set schedule to promote your offer. Never get lax about that schedule. You now have an idea of what you need to look for to get started with an effective marketing plan. No matter what you intend on selling, you must have a concrete and organized, sell-for-profit-plan.
—————————————————
What now?
Well, if we were you, we would click this link and attend the upcoming Seminars, June 9th, from 6:30 to 8:30 — Fundamental of a Successful Website.

Is your website working for you? Are you attracting people and converting them into clients? If NOT, this seminar is for YOU.

A website is like an employee.... If he doesn't deliver or perform to your standards, you should FIRE him! Would you keep an unproductive employee on your payroll? I wouldn't. What do you think? ... because It's all about BRANDING!

Is your website working for you? Are you attracting people and converting them into clients? If NOT, this seminar is for YOU. A website is like an employee.... If he doesn't deliver or perform to your standards, you should FIRE him! Would you keep an unproductive employee on your payroll? I wouldn't. What do you think? ... because It's all about BRANDING!

Register now

Hope to see you there!

Your beloved branding & Design Experts;

Steve & Karen

Vercomedia

Steve and Karen

Vercomedia

Is your website working for you? Are you attracting people and converting them into clients? If NOT, this seminar is for YOU.

1. You will need a market summary to determine if there is a need for your offer.

2. You must clearly be able to explain your product or service definition.

3. You need to do some ethical research on your possible competition.

4. Positioning is something many people worry about. If you have a good, well rounded plan or method, this should fall in place, if you are patient. Spending a lot of time and money to position your business is useless, until you know what your market will buy from you. Beautiful and popular websites are only one part of the sales process.

5. Communication strategies are very important. Know who to contact and build your business image.

6. You must have a launch plan set in place, if this applies.

7. Public relations, advertising and other types of promotion should be considered, according to your budget.

8. Next comes pricing and distribution.

9. Vertical and related markets must be examined.

10. Consider international markets for a broader customer base.

11. Metrics can help but there is a cost to equip yourself with metrics. If cost is a factor, look into metrics after you acquire some experience and profits or alternative method to track your efforts.

Having Hard Conversations

Mon, 30 May 2011 16:23:00 GMT

Last week, I had the hardest conversation of my career here at e-Spot®. As someone who embraces conflict and strangely feels energized by it, I sometimes forget how difficult it can be for most people. As we end the month of May where we really focused on 'relationships' our members shared great stories about relationships that drain them and what exactly their plan of action is to make them stronger. Here's one great learning from one of our members, Cheryl Santa Maria.

"I don't like conflict.

I'm what you call a pleaser, someone who won't rest until every person in the room is happy. Of course it's impossible to please everyone. I learned this the hard way, when I landed my first office job.

Business relationships can be funny. Teams and departments are comprised of eclectic groups of people with differing points of view. Sometimes these personalities mesh and other times they clash.

But no relationship, business or otherwise, is perfect 100% of the time. Working in an office taught me that being a pleaser is an ineffective (and exhausting)way of communicating. Pleasers tend to alter their point of view to suit the person they're speaking with. THis denotes a lack of conviction and consistency, which makes it hard to establish trust. In other words: it's better to stick to your guns then to try and make everyone happy.

This however can lead to conflict, and where there's conflict, there's tension. And when there's tension, there are 'hard' conversations to be had.

Communication is an essential part of every relationship. When a problem arises, nip it in the bud. Talk with the other person right away, to avoid further confusion. Be sincere. Focus on the positives. Be authentic. Try not to get emotional. Tell the other person how much you value them, while defending your own opinion. Listen. Offer a compromise. And don't walk away until the problem has been resolved.

Hard conversations are an unfortunate part of life but if you engage in them the right way you'll strengthen your relationships.

A successful partnership is an investment, both in time and in resources. It's important that we bring our best selves into our relationships, and we can only do that by being authentic, open, and honest. Having 'hard' conversations is never pleasant, but the benefits of doing so always outweighs cost of taking no action at all."

Choosing the Right Relationships

Fri, 27 May 2011 16:40:00 GMT

After a day of referral marketing at the Third Annual Referrals For Life Day yesterday in Mississauga, I'm completely inspired to post what one of our members is writing about...enjoy and thank you Cheryl Santa Maria;)

Here’s a typical day in my life:

I wake every morning to a hungry cat jumping on my bed. That’s usually at 7:00 a.m., sometimes earlier.

Here’s a typical day in my life:

I wake every morning to a hungry cat jumping on my bed. That’s usually at 7:00 a.m., sometimes earlier.

Here’s a typical day in my life:

Here's a typical day in my life:
I wake every morning to a hungry cat jumping on my bed. That’s usually at 7:00 a.m., sometimes earlier. From that point on I’m rushing from appointment to appointment. One day I’ll be in Mississauga, the next Toronto. Sometimes I’ll hit three different area codes in one day, busy little bee that I am. By the time I get home around 6:00 p.m. I’m pooched. All I want to do is relax with a good book or glass of wine, maybe catch a yoga class, and turn my brain off for a couple of restful hours.

You can probably relate. The hectic pace of our day-to-day lives can be overwhelming. In order to preserve my sanity, I’ve had to learn how to say no. My evenings and weekends are precious. When I find myself with time to spare, I want to spend it with people who energize me, and not the ones who leave me feeling drained.

I think it’s important to be selective about relationships and in doing so, I’ve become unapologetically cutthroat. If a relationship provides little-to-no ROI, if it brings out the worst in me, if it fills me with doubt and insecurity, then it isn’t worth my time. Period.
That may sound harsh but I believe in surrounding myself with people who inspire me. The “real world” can be unforgiving, but that doesn’t mean I need to let negative energy encroach my personal space.

Of course, some negative relationships are unavoidable. We can’t choose our neighbours or our family, and most of us don’t have the luxury of choosing our bosses or business partners. There’s no easy way to handle a bad relationship, but you can use this experience to your advantage.

A draining relationship can be an opportunity for introspection. Instead of letting it get the better of you, analyze the way you react to negativity. Pay attention to your mannerisms and tone of voice. Are you contributing to the draining situation? There’s always room for improvement, provided you’re willing to take a step back and acknowledge the role you play in your daily interactions.

We can’t change people, but we can change the way we react to negative situations. Similarly, we can – and should – be choosy about the people we let into our lives.

Of course, some negative relationships are unavoidable. We can’t choose our neighbours or our family, and most of us don’t have the luxury of choosing our bosses or business partners.You can probably relate. The hectic pace of our day-to-day lives can be overwhelming. In order to preserve my sanity, I’ve had to learn how to say no. My evenings and weekends are precious. When I find myself with time to spare, I want to spend it with people who energize me, and not the ones who leave me feeling draine

From that point on I’m rushing from appointment to appointment. One day I’ll be in Mississauga, the next Toronto. Sometimes I’ll hit three different area codes in one day, busy little bee that I am. By the time I get home around 6:00 p.m. I’m pooched. All I want to do is relax with a good book or glass of wine, maybe catch a yoga class, and turn my brain off for a

A Member's Journey : Darlene Vilas

Mon, 02 May 2011 17:46:00 GMT

What I like about entrepreneurs: they don’t let what they can’t do interfere with what they can do, ‘I can’t’ really means ‘I won’t’ and what feels ‘impossible’ is only because we choose for it to be so – it’s all about the choices we make.

Many people know Darlene Vilas as a mortgage agent with Mortgage Centre. She arranges financing for people who want to purchase homes, looking to refinance to pay off debt and seniors looking to extract equity from their homes for a better retirement lifestyle. In her previous life, Darlene had a successful career in the food and confectionary industry working with national retailers including Loblaws, Sobey’s A&P, Costco to name a few. However, being caught in the midst of changes in the industry, Darlene felt she needed a new challenge and so began her journey of entrepreneurship.

“I liked the idea of working with money and it gave me an opportunity to really help people financially” so after her son was born, Darlene got into mortgage financing. Becoming an entrepreneur required Darlene to really push outside her comfort zone and be accountable. “As a mortgage agent, I was responsible for my own results”. What Darlene really recognized was her ability to expand and add multiple streams of income to my business. Today, Darlene runs a successful Mortgage Centre but this is just a small part of her contribution to the world.

The most integral part of Darlene’s journey is not how she started or even how she grew her Mortgage business, rather it was her desire to understand the why. “ I wanted to know what happened and why my life changed so much”. In January of 2010 Darlene attended a book launch at the Royal York Hotel. Little did she know the impact it would have on her life. Darlene now works with Bob Proctor (from the movie “The Secret”) and his wife Linda Proctor, helping people gain a greater awareness into their own great potential and creating additional streams of income. Darlene strongly believes this “everyone has potential locked up within ourselves and we only need to get quiet and harvest our talents and dreams”.

Darlene joined e-Spot® in the spring of 2010 because she wanted to be in a place where she can be inspired to grow personally and professionally. Darlene describes her last year here as “one of quantum growth”. She says “I am so grateful for this community and its contribution to our lives. It allows me to connect with like minded people and meet my clients in an uplifting and positive environment”.

Darlene has literally lived the e-Spot® manifesto in the past year that she has been a member and represents someone who really experiences leaping into the unknown. “My purpose is to assist people all around the world to step into their wonderful talents and abilities to positively impact themselves and the world around them” and she offers different programs to take anyone there. Darlene’s biggest learning in her journey is that “you attract more good into your life when you are grateful”. Darlene’s entrepreneurial journey has allowed her to find her true purpose and today sees the world through clearer lenses, “This says it all: “I am not limited by anyone and I am free to seek the life that is seeking me".

Darlene Vilas
www.mortgagecentre.com