For those in Calgary - I will be speaking at the SOHO  event at the Westin Hotel tomorrow - here is the info  and , if you would like to attend- you can register for free here

I am still reading through over 1500 comments submitted in the survey - and it certainly tells a lot about small businesses.  First let me say this - those who profitable are no different than those who are not - let me explain.

After running the results through several filters looking to se WHAT made some profitable and why others were not - I found that there were some things that might contribute to profit - but nothing so significant as to say 'This is the answer".  Until yesterday.

I ran the results through three filters - those having admin assistants, those who had been coached and those who networked - all together.  And eureka - I found it.

Those who hired help, networked and had coaching were 50% more profitable than those who did not.  But here is the important part. This group of people still said their number 1 problem was money and their number 2 problem was time.

This means that they have the same problems you and I have but CHOOSE instead to delegate, connect with others and seek after knowledge and this key set of decisions is what makes them profitable.  It is only their mind set.  They learn what to do - and do it.  They still have money and time issues - but they know they need to do these things to make themselves profitable.

Think about it. I am.

This week:

I was PIF'd in the Tim Horton's line!

Tried by Moose Mountain

Positions Available - If not you - then WHO?

Affiliate program for the store - launches next week!

Incredible feedback about WOMM - And what we will be doing about it

Have an abundant week!

Mandie and the Roaring Women Team

Oh yeah - finally - it happened to me.  I was PIF'd. And PIF'd good I have to tell you.

Let me begin with my day that began at 6:30 am - with a conference call - and then I dove right into my day.  No shower.  Brief breakfast. And it appeared to be one of those days I spent putting put fires.  I realized I had been in the same chair for 7 hours when my tummy started to growl - and I made lunch/supper for the two of us.

By 7:15 pm I realized I had a credit card bill to pay - and began transferring money from one account to the other - juggling so to speak to get enough in one account to make a payment.  (yes it happens to me too)  After I paid what I thought would be enough I found the actual bill I had been looking for.  What a surprise to see I had a payment holiday.  Ha! I felt ahead of the game!

With hubby out for the night refereeing football - I decided on the way to the bank to deposit a chequebook I had carried for a week I would get a small sandwich from Tim Horton's.  (PS I NEVER do this - in fact I rarely use a drive thru)

A large white double cab truck with a young female passenger (I did not see the driver) pulled into the line ahead of me. I waited patiently in line and when it was my turn, pulled up to pay for the sandwich I had ordered.  When I drove up - the two young servers were giggling.  I handed them my Tim's card and they said - "Oh - we don't need that. The guy ahead of you wanted to do a good deed and so he paid for your order". 

I too began to giggle.  I felt like a little kid that had won a prize at the fair. Then as quickly as I could I gave back my card.  I said  "Ok then, I want to pay for the person behind me".  The two servers looked dumbfounded.

One said to the other - "What do I do?"  After some confusion, the order was paid for and I left.  I am still chuckling and wondering how many people continued the practice after I left!

PIF.  What will you do this week to Pay It Forward?  I dare ya!

Send me your story if you PIF to someone this week - or if you get PIF'd

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Last weekend I tried something new and went for my first mountain bike ride. (yes I have lived close to the mountains for 4 years and not yet tried this crazy sport) We started at the bottom of Moose Mountain Fire Road - which was no wider than an ATV.. enough for single file bikes or two hikers...

The trail was very steep - but worse still - rocky. Sharp jagged big stones and rocks the size of soft balls. I was pedaling hard and focusing just in front of my wheel to avoid certain tire puncture - and avoid the view of the hill ahead.

The fire road does not go straight up, but up and down a bit then up then across, then down... you get the picture. So when going down - sometimes at a 10% grade I was squeezing my breaks as hard as I could and leaning back to avoid going over the handle bars- and avoiding the sharp rocks and twigs and fallen branches and SNOW. (Yes I fell in a snow bank in my shorts at one point)

On one of the down rides while - still headed up the mountain - I REALIZED WHAT I WAS DOING WRONG!

I was focusing on the terrain in front of the tire on my bike. I was so afraid to hit a rock and get sent flying - I was watching my front tire.  How foolish!  Is it not me who is always saying - focus on the end - look where you want to go - not where you are?

As soon as I did this - looked 100 feet up the path - the pedaling became easier, and although I was not watching for the sharp rocks - I hit none of them!

Hmm think from the end...look where you want to go... telescopic vision...hmmmm - did I say that at one point?

When we stopped at the half way point we had a glimpse of the view. It was surreal. The trees close to me looked like they were superimposed on a painted backdrop.

(This is the Moose Mountain view - not a stock photo.) The fact is - the view was breathtaking. But I never would have seen it unless I fell in a snow bank, got all muddy, sweat  a lot, pedaled harder, wondered it I could do it, chastised myself for my lack of commitment - and then finally just focused on moving forward.. I would never had seen the beauty of it all.

Ladies, this is what business is about. This is about being a leader. This is about you. Yes, this is how hard and lonely and scary and tiring running a business can be.  But it can be a much more enjoyable journey if we learn to look at the big picture and focus on our destination - not the rocks along the way.

In fact - when we look out towards the future - it can be breath-taking.

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We have several positions open - and you are interested - please let us know ASAP!

Needed:  Motivated  and dedicated Coaches and Leaders to facilitate meetings, encourage business owners, and lead mentoring groups. This is a paid position.  Serious inquiries only please. There is an application process you will be emailed.

Fort McMurray - respond here

Winnipeg - respond here

Mississauga - respond here

Sudbury - respond here

Cheryl McCabe our training director will contact you directly!

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Great NEWS for all subscribers!  Next week we will have our Affiliate Program up and running for Roaring Women.  This means everyone you refer through your affiliate link - whether it be product or membership - you will be compensated for!

You get paid!

So if you like a product we have for sale - you get paid if someone uses your link and purchases it.  We will provide picture links for you so you can use them in emails or even put them on your website.

Affiliate Programs

Last year I personally made over $4,000 on affiliate programs - selling other people's stuff, with little or no work at all.

Do you have Products for Sale?

If you do - we will also announce next week how you can get your products in our store for sale - so watch for next week's newsletter.

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As many of you know we requested info about Word of mouth advertising or marketing to a huge list last week.  We had over 40 responses from all sizes of business across North America - form huge publicity agencies to smaller businesses.  Here is the most promising information of all. It has been repeated word for word..........................................

Calahan Solutions, Inc. is a productivity and organization consulting firm. Since challenges with organization are 90% emotional, we have found traditional advertising does not work for us. People really need to know who they are working with and ads don’t work. The word of mouth marketing we use is a combination of traditional PR, blogging, customer referrals and speaking. We have found that these three methods of word of mouth marketing bring in over 80% of our business. Here is a synopsis:

Traditional PR – 25%

We work with all types of media to showcase our expertise and then link to our media room. Since our clients are updated every time we are in the news, they share various articles and recordings with their friends.

Blogging – 5%

We have a number of blogs that target different audiences. Since blogging is so viral, we find our articles are frequently forwarded to friends. Those friends subscribe and become clients. This is a new strategy for us (7 months.)

Client Referrals – 20%

Every time we work with a client, we confirm satisfaction and ask them for referrals. Since our topic is sensitive to some, we also teach our clients how to make a referral that they are comfortable with. We also request photos and testimonies for our various online and print marketing materials. Prospective clients will contact them for feedback and comments.

Speaking Engagements – 30%

We have a workshop feedback form that allows us to collect data on various factors including interest in services. We then contact each participant that has expressed interest. Sometimes this results in consulting work and sometimes in other paid speaking engagements.

Non WOMA Print – Flyers, brochures, yellow pages, ad books, etc. – 2%

Non WOMA Non-Print – Radio Ads – 0%

Non WOMA – Expos and other Booth type exposure – 0%

Non WOMA – Internet listings, sites, directories – 18%

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What are we doing about this?

If you take a look at our new PR page (yes we have been doing this all along - but few knew about it) you will see that we are highlighting these services.

In addition - we will be putting our Speakers training together in a modified format - to help you learn how to put together a keynote for you to use to help promote your business.