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| The
PARO Link Vol. # 04 - Issue # 28 - Friday, July 13, 2007 | ||||||||||||
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In
this Issue: Fueling Connections Rural Women Making Change The Business Accelerator PARO Programs Grand Opening! Connecting You to a Fit & Healthy Lifestyle Clearly
Written
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On
July 17, 18 and 19, the The Team will be in Wawa on Tuesday, July 17.
They will be hosting a workshop on the Sustainable
Livelihoods Model and a general information session. They will then head to Manitouwadge on Wednesday,
July 18. On Thursday,
July 19, the team will head back to Traveling
this week will be Bobby Jo
Chenier and Karen
Rogowski. If
you want to set up an appointment to meet with any one of this
week’s “On the Road Team,” please give Bobby Jo a call
(807.625.0328) or email her (bobbyjo@paro.ca). Women’s
Economic Development Conference Planning Survey Your
completion of this survey will help us meet these goals.
July
25 Leads and Links is
being planned right now! It
will be hosted by Willow Springs at their store and studio at We
have not completely firmed up the details yet, but be assured that
the session will be fantastic!
Look for more information next week’s PARO Link!
We are asking that people pre-register
for this event so that we have enough materials for everyone.
We will be providing transportation for some in the PARO
Van, but space is limited. Please contact Maria to pre-register or to arrange transportation.
Maria at 625-0328 or ProgramAdministrator@paro.ca PARO
Leads & Links are held the fourth Wednesday of every month,
from 5-7PM, and offer networking and learning opportunities, as
well as great advertising opportunities for your business with
display booths available at each event.
To find out more about how you can promote and showcase
your business, product, or service at
PARO
Peer Lending Circles Are
you interested in opportunities to meet with other fantastic
women? Peer
support, mentoring and encouragement are among the many things
that women can gain from being members of PARO’s Peer Circles!
PARO
Peer Circles are groups of 4-7 women who are in business, are
prospective entrepreneurs, or believe in women helping women.
Circle members are also able to access PARO’s peer lending
program for small business loans.
If
you would like to learn more about Pam
and Laura M have started calling Circle Members to update the
information that we have in our database about the members and the
circles. Please be
patient with us as we make our way through the list. More
Resources for You Have
you ever wondered what it is about some young women (and older
women too!) That allows them make dangerous choices about their
partners, and even about their own safety and health?
We’ve
been talking about this topic lately in the office and are
thinking about things that we can do in our own lives as well as
things that PARO can do to ensure that young women grow into
strong and secure self-assured women.
Have you ever wondered how you can help girls and young
women develop strength and self esteem?
The
fact is that girls are getting a raw deal. They
face the double discrimination of their gender and their age, and
in many societies remain at the bottom of the social and economic
ladder. In theory
girls have the same rights as their brothers, but in practice in
many parts of the world, they cannot access these rights. “Because
I am a Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2007”
is the first in a series of annual reports published by Plan
examining the rights of girls throughout their childhood,
adolescence and as young women. This
report contains an 8 point action plan entitled, “A
Better Deal for Girls.” This
plan outlines a number of things that we can do to being leveling
the playing field.
http://www.plancanada.ca/media/executive_summary.pdf Every
Three And A Half Hours, another Canadian Woman Is Diagnosed With
Ovarian Cancer.
Learn
To Set Your Personal Boundaries and Communicate Them to the People
around You: How to
Deal When People Cross the Line Boundary
violations are common. Not everyone, after all, draws the lines in
the same places. Some of us are "huggers," while others
are more physically distant. We
communicate our boundaries in different ways, too. Personal
questions may be fine to you but inflict your sister with a case
of the squirms. People from different cultures may also have
different ideas of what is appropriate behaviour. One
thing is certain: when boundaries do get trampled, there's bound
to be trouble. http://tinyurl.com/yt7jcm
Rural
Women Making Change (http://www.rwmc.uoguelph.ca/page.php?p=50
The purpose of this research is to understand how transportation affects
the workforce participation of women living in small communities
in northern The results of the research will be used to initiate and influence policy
dialogue at local, provincial and federal levels to develop
policies and programs that will improve women’s accessibility to
employment and training in northern Your participation in a short survey can help bring attention to this
important issue. All
information collected is confidential. The
results of the survey will be used to help local organizations and
government agencies develop policies to improve transport options
in northern communities. Please contact Siobhan O'Leary to receive a password to access the online
survey. olearys@uoguelph.ca
Secrets Of Outrageously Successful Business OwnersBy Denise CorcoranAre you struggling to make a profit? Are you challenged in reaching your next success level? Would just like to reach your desired business goals faster? Try any one of these secrets with
conviction and commitment, you may experience quantum leaps in
your business.
*EXPECT* TO
WIN... *EXPECT* TO SUCCEED
While we all experience highs and lows in our business, outrageously successful enterprises EXPECT to succeed over the long run. For such enterprises, Success is the ONLY option. To what extent do you EXPECT to succeed in your business? What less empowering expectations currently undermine your success? Make a *decision* today to succeed. “Cut the cord” on all other possible outcomes.
LIVE AND
BREATHE YOUR MISSION STATEMENT
While most businesses have crafted a mission statement, it is not enough just to have one. Outrageously successful enterprises live and breathe their mission statement ... in every goal, every strategy and every project of their business. It is the life force and the reason for everything they do. Do you have a compelling mission statement for your business? Do you communicate it - both in words and actions - to every client, every prospect, every employee? If you asked any one of these stakeholders what is your mission, would they know what to say? Post and read your mission statement daily. Include it in all your collateral materials. Live and breathe your mission statement in every goal, decision and action. This one principle will make your business a compelling magnet for greater and greater levels of success.
ALWAYS ASK THE
MILLION $$ QUESTION:
***** “Where is the opportunity in this situation?” ******* Within *every business challenge,* there is an extraordinary opportunity for a HUGE breakthrough. Even with the most difficult challenges, outrageously successful enterprises never see challenges. They ONLY see opportunities. They constantly ask: “Where is the opportunity in this situation?” Where is your focus right now in your business - on the challenge or the opportunity? Make it a habit with every challenge to ask: “Where is the opportunity in this situation?” that one question will blow open the doors to new solutions, new strategies and new possibilities to take your business to the next level.
BECOME THE
ULTIMATE BUSINESS “ROMANTICIST”
Outrageously successful enterprises are constantly “IN LOVE.” Yes, that’s right. They LOVE their customers. They LOVE their employees and vendors. They LOVE their visions. They LOVE everything about their business. This principle is not something you get from a book. It comes from the very heart and soul of why you are in business. When you are “in love,” it shines forth in every client interaction, every exchange with a prospect, every dealing with a peer or vendor. Remember the old cliche, “People don’t care what you know; they want to know that you care.” Are you “IN LOVE” with your clients and prospects? Are you “IN LOVE” with the benefits you offer? Are you “IN LOVE” with every aspect of your business? If not, why not? What do you need to change about your attitude, beliefs or actions to become the “Ultimate Business Romanticist.”
LOOK AT
MARKETING AS A *CONTINUUM*, NOT AN EVENT.
Contrary to conventional business thinking, marketing does not end with a sale. Outrageously successful enterprises know that marketing is a perpetual process. And, contrary to most business practices, these enterprises focus more than 50% of their marketing efforts **after the sale** -- such as ‘post sale” follow-up, repeat business incentives, backend selling, referral marketing, etc. They know that the greatest revenues are generated *after the sale.” How do you see and practice marketing in your business -- as an event or a continuum? What *post sales* and prospect follow-up activities can you incorporate as the focus of your marketing efforts? This one shift in your marketing focus alone can increase your revenues 100%, 200%, even 500% ... more than any marketing action you take in your business.
CONSTANTLY
“MARKET UP”
Within every target market, there is a high end and a low end market and everything in between. Million $$ enterprises constantly stretch their marketing sights and target prospects that most businesses would think impossible to acquire as clients. They constantly “market up” to high end prospects ... a strategy that catalyzes their business to a much bigger game. What specific prospects ... or kinds of prospects ... would you love to have a clients or customers but think it is impossible? Think out side the box and think BIG. It could be celebrities, politicians, admired companies or CEOs, leaders in your community, rolemodels, etc. Pick one high end prospect to start. Build a marketing campaign to reach that person or company. This strategy requires persistence, yet is well worth it. From my own first hand experience, ”marketing up” can skyrocket your revenues and business exposure instantly and multiply your profits for years to come .
MAKE “ADDING
MORE VALUE” YOUR #1 CRUSADE.
Outrageously successful enterprises are in the business of creating value. They have a strong conviction to contribute to more and more richness to their clients’ lives and businesses. In everything they say and do. they let clients know “you matter. Your well-being and success is important to us.” They focus on “what do I have to give?” ... NOT “what do I have to do to get a sale?” Where is your focus right now --- on adding value, or making the sale? Make a list of at least 10 ways yo can increase the value of your products and services. Implement the easiest one ideas ... starting now. Make “adding value” a routine business priority. When you do, your products and services will sell themselves.
The Business
Accelerator Program at PARO Centre offers
PARO’s
advanced Business Accelerator program provides a flexibility
of workshops, mentoring, business counseling, web and tele-classes
to women who are already established in their businesses but want to
‘grow a little or shift a lot’. This program builds knowledge,
skills, capacity, confidence and resilience as a business owner, and
each participant’s program is specially tailored to suit their
needs. Contact accelerator@paro.ca to find
out how the program can benefit your business.
Curious?
Well most of you already know my medical background; because I
love to share! I take medication for my thyroid, I took medication
to keep my Rheumatoid Arthritis at bay for 14 years (not at this
point – have been in remission quite some time). I believe that
if you exercise, eat right and keep your stress manageable; you
lower your risk of all of the degenerative diseases, including
arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and high blood
pressure. If Dr. Oz (You the Owner’s Manual) is right then 30%
of our health is genetic and 70% is environment –what we eat, do
and think! Well
apparently I have incredibly persistent genetics and I have high
blood pressure. At first I was pretty sure it was faulty
equipment, but after checking it myself 3 times a day at different
times and different places for a couple of weeks I decided that
maybe I should take this off to my Dr. and see what he had to say
(I was still pretty sure it was some other little glitch in my
mechanics and with a little tweaking it would just go back to
normal)! Humppphh..
that is not to be the case!! With a family history of
grandparents, Dad and brother all having HBP from a very young age
(my brother was in his 20’s) I guess if the gene was there,
there was always the risk that it would rear its ugly head
eventually. Why
am I yattering on about all of this? Because I still believe that
Dr. Oz is right! 70% of our health is what we eat, do and think! We
can’t change our genetics, but if we eat lots of fresh and
healthy food, get out there and be active at least 30 minutes 5 to
7 days a week and keep your stress manageable you may be able to
keep those genes dormant for a long, long time. Don’t
negotiate with the 70%!!!
www.coulisconnection.com
BUSINESS LETTERS CAN BE
‘SEXY’ (Continued) So,
why reconsider? ·
Business letters are
important in creating a particular image.
In
this age of globalization and the Internet, customers may never
meet, or even see, their product or service providers.
Usually, a business owner’s first contact with a
prospective customer is through a worded document.
That worded document projects the company’s business
personality – its efficiency, attention to detail, level of
care, and credibility.
Denny
Hatch, consultant, copywriter, and founder of the Inside
Direct Mail newsletter, notes that, in the future, success in
business will depend on more -- not less -- direct mail.
He states that if an “e-marketer expects to build a
business based on people stumbling onto his Web site, he doesn't
have a business. With
how many -- 40 million URLs out there? -- you have to drive people
to yours." He
especially promotes sending letters by post.
(http://www.1099.com/c/co/gw/lf/linda013.html)
This
point is driven home by Linda Formichelli, self-employed writer of
marketing material, in a column entitled “Direct Mail for Cheap
Skates”. She states:
“Let's look at an actual mailing from someone who couldn't
possibly steer you wrong -- me. Over the course of several months,
I sent out a two-page sales letter and a reply card to 600
contacts that I compiled myself from business directories at the
Boston Public Library. I spent about $200 on letterhead,
postcards, and envelopes and a similar amount on postage.
…… This modest mailing generated an 11% response rate. Of
that, three companies gave me assignments. That might not sound so
hot, but those three companies have given me projects worth over
$15,000 to date -- a 2,400% return on my investment”.
(http://www.1099.com/c/co/gw/lf/linda013.html) Writing
Tip Misplaced
Modifiers: Words
or phrases that modify (alter or qualify through further
description) nouns must be placed immediately adjacent to the noun
modified; otherwise, the sentences can be awkward, unclear, or
humorous. For
example: Unclear: She served quiche to her guests on
paper plates.
Clear:
She served her guests quiche on
paper plates. In
the first example, the phrase ‘on
paper plates’ suggests her guests are on paper plates.
In the second example, it is clear that the quiche is ‘on paper plates’
because the modifying phrase, ‘on
paper plates’, is adjacent to the word modified,
‘quiche’. Although
it may seem obvious that guests are not on paper plates, readers
should not have to pause to think about the relationship between
words and phrases; writers must make these relationships
self-evident. (See Jane E. Aaron and Elaine Bander, The Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, (Don Mills: Addison Wesley Longman Ltd., 1999), p. 45.)
Learn
a New Word Susurration: noun: (pronounced soo-suh-RAY-shun) 2.
a soft murmur; the indistinct sound of people whispering For
example: Every morning, just after dawn, she listened intently to
the soft susurration of the wind through the branches of the birch
trees. Susurration
comes from Late Latin susurratio, from Latin susurrare,
meaning ‘to whisper, to mutter’, from susurrus, meaning
‘a whispering, a muttering’. (See Dictionary.com, Word of the
Day Archive, It
is the aim of this column to address the issues of the importance of
good writing to the success of business, correct grammar, proper
punctuation, and the writing of business letters, cover letters,
proposals, resumes, brochures, faxes, e-mails, and memos. I
invite readers to submit questions related to writing; send your
questions to clearly_written@hotmail.com. Articles
are contributed by Marina Robinson, owner of Clearly Written, which
offers proofreading, editing, critiquing, and research services.
For the 2007 tax year the following
credits will be available:
We have all heard of the new tax
credit for parents with children under the age of 18 are
available. It will
give the eligible parent a non-refundable tax credit of
approximately $310.00 per child.
There is also a fitness tax credit
taking effect in 2007 for parents of children under the age of 16.
The credit will apply on eligible amounts up to $ 500.00
per child to register a child in eligible physical activities.
An annual tool deduction will now be
allowed for employed tradesmen.
The deduction of $500.00 will apply to the total cost of
tools over $1,000.00 bought after May 1, 2006. There
is an addition tax credit available for eligible apprentices.
Teresa Kelly,
Car
Wash Saturday, July 14th 11:00am - 3:00pm One Stop Auto
Lube
Saturday,
July 14th, 9:30am - 10:30am As part of the Neighbourhood
Strategic Plan in the Simpson Ogden Neighbourhood, the Evergreen Health Committee is hosting
Saturday Wellness Mornings in Minnesota Park throughout July and
August.
SUMMER
IN THE PARKS
The PARO events calendar will list all dates, times and places of events that will be held during the next few months. Unless otherwise specified, events will be held @ PARO Place. Please contact the office at 625-0328 for any information. All Biz and Bagels will take place from 12:15pm until 1:15pm. BIZ & BAGELS RETURN ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH JULY
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PARO Centre For Women's Enterprise - 110-105 May Street North, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3N9 Tel: 807.625.0328 Fax: 807.625.0317 Website: http://www.paro.ca/ Email: info@paro.ca If you wish to cancel your subscription to this newsletter please click here Please Note: Due to the popularity of the PARO Link, please be informed as follows: By popular demand, PARO is pleased to offer businesses an opportunity to advertise (within size limits) in the PARO Link. Fees are set at $20 per ad for PARO Circle members, $25 per ad for PARO Networking Members, and $50 per ad for non-members. Non-members are encouraged to purchase an annual $25 Networking Membership to realize savings. PARO reserves the right to limit content and size for all PARO Link submissions. We ask you to keep your special events and/or community announcements to a maximum of 100 words. We cannot guarantee any graphics, please submit in a pdf format. Learning type column submissions must be limited to a maximum of 200 words. | ||||||||||||
