Business Risk

toy bride and groom characters

“In Sickness and Financial Health…”

    If you’re an entrepreneur or thinking about marrying one, this is no joking matter. Sure, lots of engaged couples participate in “marriage prep” courses or programs, but none of them are designed for you to really vet the partner for “fit” if you’re an entrepreneur.Even if your “head” knows you should be having these conversations, your “heart” gets in the way and they rarely, if ever happen prior to tying the knot. Ensure you’re not getting into a relationship without fulling understanding the financial health and circumstances of your future partner. My mother-in-law gave me this sound piece of advice, “Have you checked his wallet?” No one needs the surprises that come along with undisclosed credit card or student debt. Tip: Respect the JOINT finances. Treat your marriage like a business project – dedicate time to it, get on the same page, shared vision and values. Treat your…

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Hallowe'en scene business fears

When You’re Scared Sh*tless

  Hallowe’en is just around the corner and a time when zombies roam the streets along side Pokemon, princesses and favourite characters. Entrepreneurs encounter scary situations – and not just when the calendar shows October 31st! Own It! Ignoring your fears don’t make them go away. Remember when you used to hide under the bed or in the closet, thinking that if you couldn’t “see” the bogey man, then you wouldn’t be scared of it either. “Out of sight, out of mind” is a human response to fear. How many of us still hide our eyes when a scary scene arrives on the movie screen? Embrace being Human When we are scared, our brain goes into fight or flight mode. This happens automatically – our nervous system is programmed to protect us from perceived danger. The brain reacts the same way when we are afraid of taking actions, being visible,…

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farm, field, tree, trees, foliage, equipment, tractor, combine, beans, soy, thrash, thrasher, harvest

It’s GO Time

In my June post, “Get your Motor Runnin’” I talked about the importance of routines in our crop production business during seeding. Guess what? It’s harvest time! Woot woot! More routines… Wait a minute…Maybe I am celebrating a bit prematurely. I think in many of our life and business experiences, we remember the good parts and our brains help us dismiss or downplay some of the more negative elements. Seasonal businesses know all too well the equity stake Mother Nature holds in their business. Crop producers put all their eggs into the basket in May and wait for Mother Nature to disburse the right mix of sunshine, rain, pests, and temperature to produce the cereal, oilseed or pulse crops that make their way into the food chain each fall. As a business owner, you understand the importance of cash flow to your business. That’s the added stress at this time…

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