George Torok, the host of Business in Motion, kicks off the New Year by offering these Top Ten Tips to Make 2012 a More Productive and Profitable New Year.

Here is a summary of the top ten list.

1. Fail Fast, Fail Often and Fail Cheap

Be willing to make, and learn from, your mistakes. Treat mistakes as part of the growing process – not an end. Think ahead by limiting the cost of possible failures. This tip is courtesy of Jim Estill.

2. Be Clear on Your Purpose

Why are you doing this? Ask that question of yourself more often before you invest your time, money or effort. Clarify the purpose of each meeting, promotion or decision before you commit.

3. Fundamentals

Revisit the fundamentals. Technology changes rapidly. Techniques adapt to circumstances. But the fundamentals never change nor fail you. Don’t wing it, understand the fundamentals.

4. Stop Chasing Perfection

You will never be perfect. Chasing perfection will result in repeated frustration. Instead strive to be better every time. Then you can experience a chain of small wins and progressive successes.

5. Stop Doing Things

What do you need to stop doing to allow you to do more of what you really want to do? Write your “Stop doing list”. This is as important as your “To do list.”

6. Scare Yourself

Face at least one thing that scares you. That’s how you grow. Courage is not being without fear – it is facing your fear. You’ll discover more about yourself when you scare yourself.

7. Ask Better Questions

Ask better questions of yourself, others and the world around you. You’ll be amazed at the answers you’ll get. It takes more thought to ask good questions than to answer them.

8. Review and Use Your Resources

You have resources that you aren’t fully using. Check your tangible and especially intangible resources for new opportunities. You already have what you need to succeed. Check your pockets.

9. Visit Other Worlds

Life is best observed through a kaleidoscope. Discover other cultures, opinions and perspectives. Volunteer for a charity, read about history and listen to other views without judging. Walk around the block with your eyes open.

10. Accept the Mess in Your Head

You are the best person to deal with the mess in your head. That will include a mix of ideas, questions, unfinished thoughts, self doubts, fears, anxieties, hopes, dreams…

No one else will ever know about the mess in your head. And you can work to organize some of that mess.

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Click below to listen to or download the MP3 file of this radio show.

Interview with Robert Gignac on radio show, Business in Motion.

Who is Robert Gignac?

Co-author, along with Michael J. Townshend, of the book, Rich is a State of Mind.

What is the book about?

It is a fictional story about the lessons of personal finance as seen through the eyes of a humours disfunctional Canadian family.

Who is the book for?

Individuals aged 20 to 40 who are in the early stages of financial planning.  They will discover in an easy to understand, non-intimidating story why they should care about financial planning and what they should do about it.

Insights from this interview with Robert Gignac

First simple lesson is to live below your means. If you make $100, then spend no more than $90. Its the only way to enjoy a future  that allows you to do what you will want to do.

How do you make your dream real? First write it down. “What is your goal?” is the most important chapter in the book.

The best advice that Robert received from his financial planner was to start by saving $25 a month.

To save your money, put it where it is not easy to get at.

People will call you lucky if you are doing the things that they want to do but they believe that they can’t.

Robert wrote the first draft of the book long hand because while doing that he was not tempted to stop and edit. His brain told him to just keep writing and edit later.

Rich does not necessarily mean lots of money. One definition of “rich” is the density of hue in colour

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Click below to listen to or download the Business in Motion interview with Robert Gignac and host George Torok.

Frank O’Dea is a business builder, philanthropist, author and motivational speaker

http://www.frankodea.com/index.php

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Who is Frank O’Dea?

Former skid row panhandler

Founder of Second Cup – which became the largest chain of gourmet coffees and teas in Canada.

Co-Founder of ProShred Security – a company that pioneered the entire industry of on-site document destruction

Author of “When All You Have is Hope”

In 1985 he co-founded Street Kids International, an organization developed to help homeless children in third world countries, through education and self-reliance programs. A few years later, he became the founding Chair of War Child (Canada), an organization that provides assistance against suffering and abuse of children in war affected countries. In the same year, Frank co-founded the Canadian Landmine Foundation, an organization that raises funds for the dismantling of minefields around the world

Officer of the Order of Canada

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Insights from this radio interview

Second Cup started in 1975 selling dry coffee in bags to take home. That was a disaster.

So it morphed into selling gourmet liquid coffee by the cup.

Secrets about creating a new industry:

Find a place where no one else is. It’s risky. People will call you foolish. You need to be courageous and have a vision.

Currently building houses in Brazil. Lots of opportunity there.

I made lots of mistakes. That’s how I learned.

The longest I stay at something is 10 years. Then I get bored and move on.

The formula for success?

Hope – Vision – Action

Click below to listen to or download the Radio Interview with Frank O’Dea on Business in Motion with host George Torok

Guests: Jenn Kubillis of JK Business Services & Jacquie Manore of Workload Solution Services

Members of the Golden Horseshoe Virtual Assistants Group www.GHVAG.ca

Insights from this Interview

Outsourced adminstrative assistants – evolved out of the corporate secretarial roles. Now much more than secretaries.

Work with small and medium sized business.

Do what you love and hire the rest out to virtual assistants.

Online convention for Virtural assistants the week of May 16 – 21. Follow the convention at www.OIVAC.com

Even virtual assistants need to get out of bed, take a shower and get out to meet the world.

Becoming a VA is a viable career choice.

Radio interview with host George Torok on Business in Motion

Click below to listen to or download the MP3 audio file of this interview

Who is Bruce McDougall?

He is the founder and president of The McDougall Group, a financial planning company in Burlington, Ontario. A past president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce he is a long time active Rotarian. He is a marathon runner, tri-athlete, a past competitive racquetball player and an avid golfer.

Insights from this interview

“Building wealth requires discipline and a plan. You don’t need a lot of money to start.”

“Biggest mistake that people make is starting too late.”

“Biggest myth is that you need to take big risks with your money.”

“The hardest thing in sales is the ability to get up off the floor and keep going. When hiring sales people – that’s difficult to test for.”

“As a financial planner you are really a sales person. You are running a business and every business needs sales.”

“When I was interviewing wait staff for my restaurant I would try to intimidate them to test how easily they might be intimidated by customers.”

“How do you choose a financial planner? You have to like the person.”

“Most entrepreneurs have had three or four failures. Don’t dwell on it. Learn from the mistakes and move on.”

“Get inspiration from keeping people around you who are experiencing similar experiences.”

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Click below to listen to or download this audio interview with Bruce McDougall.

Who is Infinity Communications?

Infinity is a full service communications agency specializing in public relations, branding and social media strategies.  We help our clients “Get Noticed and Stay Noticed”, through focused communication programs designed to build brand awareness and drive revenue growth.

One of the best ways to reach your target audiences is to use a combination of traditional public relations strategies offline, while leveraging social media and web strategies online.

We are living in a connected world and it is important to bridge the conversation both online and offline.

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Insights and excerpts from this interview with Alan McLaren of Infinity Communications

Purpose of marketing is building the brand to be top of mind.

Common mistake on the web is not connecting the dots.

Key question is, does more traffic mean more business? That is the bottom line.

Marketing is not scientific. One plus one does not equal two.

Half the time, we turn prospective clients away because the fit is not right.

Red Flag Deals was one of our proud success stories.

I hate doing the numbers – but you need to do that.

As Co-CEOs we each have our strengths and defined roles.

Interview on Business in Motion with radio show host George Torok

Kathy Bardswick has been with the Co-Operators for 32 years. She worked her way through various roles with the company. A working mom with four children she was inspired by her own mother (with six children) who encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Kathy earned her MBA at McMaster University.

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Inisghts from this interview with Kathy Bardswick

The Co-Operators is a co-operative that is owned by 47 other like-minded co-operatives.

Each owner owns an equal share. The share value does not change which means that the company does not focus on driving share value.

They are in the business of offering financial security for Canadians along with peace of mind for the ups and downs of life.

Co-operators was formed to meet unmet needs in 1945 by Saskachewan farmers who were unable to buy insurance from the traditional insurers.

It is run democratically in that everyone has a voice – yet people are held accountable.

A big concern and worry is the sustainability of our world environment and the quality of life. The increasing gap between rich and poor does not bode well.

Youth Sustainability Conference – an opportunity for students to leverage their passion for sustainability.

We have reduced our internal footprint by 22%. The next goal is 50% and the step after that is to be carbon neutral.

entrepreneur to separate the two.

Click below to listen to this radio interview with Kathy Bardswick.

Wayne Vanwyck is the owner of three businesses – a training company, a call centre and a franchise business.

He is also the author of “The Business Transition Crisis”

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Insights from this interview with Wayne Vanwyck

71% of business owners in Canada plan to retire in the next 10 years

This book is for baby boomers who own businesses and are or should be thinking about leaving the business.

Why would a successful business owner sabatage his own retirement?

Took a six month sabatical to travel around North America and research the book.

Your buisness is a product. One day you might want to sell it for a profit.

There are five million businesses in Canada. 98% of them employ less that 10 people.

Of the businesses that are for sale – only 1 in 5 will sell.

Your business is not you and you are not the business. It’s tough for an entrepreneur to separate the two.

Click below to listen to this radio interview with Wayne Vanwyck.

SpyderWorks is a strategic design firm. They are “stratical” – a blend of strategic and tactical.

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Insights from this interview with Ken Tencer

The 90% rule is based on doing the things that you are 90% capable. That lowers risk and cost.

I came from a family of entrepreneurs and always believed that I would be and entrepreneur.

The book is perfect for anyone who wants a practical way to grow their business.

The risk test is – could it put me out of business?

Don’t try to hit home runs.

Look for what the next 10% can offer you.

It’s not necessary to invent anything.

Click below to listen to this interview

Beakbane Retail Connections is a marketing firm that helps business develop their brands and bring their products to the market.

Tom Beakbane started his company 23 years ago and employs 11 people. He was born in the UK and raised in Worchester – the same as the famous sauce.

Tom is a renaissance man. He lived in Kenya and France. He studied Neurophysiology and Bio-Chemistry and would sneak into art classes. He worked as a Sous Chef in southern France. Now his job in the kitchen is to wash up.

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Insights from this interview with Tom Beakbane

“What I love the most is when someone comes in with a raw idea.”

“Distilling complexity into a single message.”

“We like coming up with a good name.”

“The fewer things that you ask people to remember, the more likely they will remember it.”

“Our best client is passionate and open minded with a challenge.”

“Education is a foundation – not training for a job.”

“Words are merely buckets for creativity.”

“I hate cold calling but…”

“When we do a good job for clients they don’t need us anymore.”

Listen to this radio interview below

George Torok offers insights and ideas for small and medium sized buisness on branding and building relationships.

http://www.powermarketingblog.com/

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Insights from this radio show

Branding might not be the answer to your marketing needs.

Big business spends lots of money on branding because they have no other choice.

Small and medium sized buisness can build relationahps instead.

Branding is only a second rate perverted relationship.

The magic words to building relationships are please, thank you and you’re welcome.

Click below to listen to George Torok on small business branding

The Oakes Group provides career advice to executives and professionals. Beth Oakes has worked most if not all her career in the business of human resources and human capital. She previously held the positions of Managing Partner at Millar Dallas – an outplacement firm and Executive Vice President at DHR - an executive search firm.

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Insights from this interview with Beth Oakes

In spite of her corporate experience, Beth has always seen herself as an entreprenuer.

Entrepreneurs can make their own decisions and they can fall by them.

This industry of coaching executives and managers is new within the last 5 to to 10 years and it is growing.  Corporate executives and managers have much less time to mentor and guide their staff.

Coaching can be like being a parent…

As an entrepreneur you worry about the cash flow and you can be lonely.

Advice to an entrepreneur: Write a good business plan and create an advisory board.

Steel on the outside – cotton on the inside.

Buidling a good network is much more than making friends.

Click below to listen to this radio interview

Steve Petrovic is an inspiring man in career motion. He graduated with a degree in science and became a government commercial specialist working on security and import/export issues. He went back to school to earn his MBA specializing in IT. That led to a few years in IT consulting. 

A frank discussion with his dad and uncle encouraged him to start and run his own business in metal fabricating.

Later an interest in exploring opportunities in his family’s homeland of Croatia led him to accept the role as country manager for an international executive recuiting firm. That led to an opportunity to join a modernized 100 year-old steal mill.

Steve Petrovic’s story is inspiring and full of important insights.

Listen to this radio interview below

Pionneer Gas Founder

Interview with Murray Hogarth, Executive Chairman of Pioneer Petroleums, President and CEO of the Pioneer Group

Murray Hogarth launched the first Pioneer gas station in 1956. Today there are more than 150 Pioneer gas stations across Ontario.

Pioneer donates 1% of profits – not revenue to charity.

Murray Hogarth was instrumental in the formation of CAFE – the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises.

Pioneer is the largest independant gas station chain.

Murray Hogarth was voted the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Burlington Economic Development Corporation for 2010.

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Insights from this interview:

“We wanted to beat the major oil companies at their game.”

“In the existing model, the customer was an interruption and the employee approached the customer with a bad attitude.”

“We introduced the first loyalty program – bonus bucks.”

“Where do you get innovative ideas? Listen to what your customer wants.”

“You have to have drive and a vision.”

“Insulate yourself from the risk.”

Click below to listen or download this 30-minute interview.

Space – the final frontier!

COM DEV produces electronics for satellites. A Canadian company and world leader in satellite technology, based in Cambridge, Ontario and employing over 1,000 people.

Mike Pley is an Engineering graduate of McMaster University.

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Insights & exceprts from this interview with Mike Pley.

We have to build something that will be super dependable for 15 years.

You can’t make repair calls in space.

Our equipment is on 80% of the over 650 satellites up there.

We don’t go after the low cost world where price is king.

We want to encourage the next generation to become astronauts and engineers.

The next big project we are working on is the James Webb Telescope which is scheduled to launch in 2014. It will see far more than the Hubble. The James Webb Telescope is seeking to see first light – the beginning of galaxies.

Click below to listen or download this 30-minute interview.

Walter Booth started at Timberland as a young Project Engineer more than 40 years ago. He rose to the rank of President, bought the company, sold the company and is now Chairman. He is an engineering graduate of McMaster University. He has donated at least $3 Million to the Faculty of Engineering. 

The Timberland Group grew signifcantly during those years. Originally a company that manufactured winches for the logging industry, they now provide special winches and hoists for mining, power distribution, underwater exploration and off-shore oil.

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Insights from this 30-minute interview with Walter Booth:

“The business still excites me after 40 years.”

“They hired me because I had experience in the ski lift business.”

“Buying the company – we worked on that deal for at least a year. You want it to move faster but it just took longer.”

“My boss encouraged me to join the Young Presidents Organization. I got to hang around successful business owners.”

“As chairman my chief role is mentoring and developing the new owners.”

 ”You have to bend the rules if you want success.”

Click below to listen or download this 3-minute interview:

CableTest Systems tests the wiring systems of military jets, high speed trains and the Space Shuttle (the exterior fuel tank has 8,000 connenctions). They provide a complex version of an electritian’s multi meter.

Ray Simmons has been the president and owner of CableTest Systems for the past nine years. Previously he was President of CRS Robotics. After a two year “retirement” he got edgy and longed to get back into business so he bought CableTest Systems.

Insights from this interview with Ray Simmons:

“Going public with CRS … was not me. That’s why I retired.”

“Retirement was quite challenging. I felt like I was disconnected.”

“55% of our business last year was in Europe. Asia is our next frontier. We like India.”

“Regrets? Two…”

“I think that in a technologly company a president that is totally focussed on technology is dangerous.”

“We’re on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.”

Click below to listen or download this 30-minute interview.

Howard has worked at Hitachi for over 25 years.

Hitachi globally employs over 300,000 people.

Hitachi is a strong technology company that operates in several markets including: consumer electronics, automotive electronics, computer storage, energy, medical, biotechnology, and high speed trains.

Insights from this interview with Howard Schearer:

 
“We’re in the business of serving customers.”

“There is no Hitachi car, but we are a major component in cars.”

“Business in all about relatioinships adn that’s not done with products.”

“I don’t screen my calls. If it’s good news I want to hear it. If it’s bad news I want to hear it first.”

“I’m happy when it’s Monday.”

Click below to listen to this 30-minute interview with Howard Shearer.

Insights from the interview with Evan Carmichael:

“Donald Trump was our biggest target.”

“Entrepreneurs are arsonists, they like to light fires.”

“If you only had 24 hours to work on your business – don’t spend it all in one day. Instead spend one hour a day for 24 days.”

“If you check email in the morning, it ruins the rest of your day.”

Click below to download or listen to this interview.

This is not your standard funeral home. It’s exciting. It has high ceilings, a waterfall and videos screens.

Insights from this interview:
“The most successful opening of a funeral home in North America. Most are lucky to get 100 people to attend. We had over 800!”

“Rooms are named after waterfalls, plants or ponds instead of being called Salon A and Salon B.”

“People want food at a funeral – but not in the same room as the body or in the basement.”

“Reaching out to non-profit organizations and giving them free access to meeting rooms.”

Click below to listen to this 30 minute interview

Insights from this interview with Peter De Jager:

“The purpose of skiing is not to get to the bottom of the hill. It is falling down the hill with the most grace.”

“Being incompetent is normal – especially when dealing with change.”

“Don’t get into the water until you have learned to swim – is bad advice. How else will you learn to swim?”

Download or listen to the MP3 file below

Host of Business in Motion

George Torok founded the radio show, Business in Motion in September 1995. As the host he has interviewed over 450 business leaders. We will publish selected shows on this podcast.

George Torok is the co-author of the bestseller, Secrets of Power Marketing. As a professional speaker he delivers keynote speeches, executive briefings and training programs on Power Marketing.

Contact George Torok     905-335-1997

George@Torok.com

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