Shows
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 146 - Your Baby’s Ugly – Why Business Owners Need a Wake-Up CallOn this episode of The Real Bottom Line, I sit down with Justin Goodbread, serial entrepreneur, value coach, and author of Your Baby’s Ugly. He’s started and sold seven companies and now helps business owners build scalable businesses that buyers actually want.We dig into what makes a business attractive to a buyer, how to mentally prepare for a sale, and why your exit should start long before you want out.We talk about:Why grit isn’t enough – and what you need insteadThe three types of readiness: business, financial, and mentalWhy coasting...2025-05-0730 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 144 - How to Build a Brand Story That SellsYour business has a story—are you telling it in a way that connects, engages, and drives sales?In this episode of The Real Bottom Line, Wendy Brookhouse sits down with Andrea Sampson, storytelling expert and CEO of Talk Boutique, to break down the art and science of storytelling in business. Whether you're pitching investors, marketing to customers, or leading a team, a compelling story can make all the difference.Andrea shares insights from her career in advertising, branding, and coaching TEDx speakers—revealing how entrepreneurs can transform dry facts into powerful narratives that inspire acti...2025-02-0734 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 143 - Maximizing Time, Energy, and Confidence for EntrepreneursWelcome to The Real Bottom Line with Wendy Brookhouse. In this episode, Wendy sits down with April Roberts, a high-performance coach for female entrepreneurs, to explore her incredible journey from practising law to building and selling a successful financial planning business.What You’ll Learn:How April transitioned careers and built her financial planning firm from the ground up.Insights into selling a business while maintaining client and team trust.The power of intentional planning and the "CEO Calendar" for scaling success.Why rest, energy management, and personal growth are critical for entrepreneurs.How April helps bu...2025-01-2331 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 139 - Turning Tides in Entrepreneurship: Navigating Post-Pandemic EventsIn this special edition of The Real Bottom Line, we’re diving deep into the world of live events and how they’ve evolved since the pandemic. Wendy sits down with three incredible guests—Menna Riley, founder of Leading Ladies Networking, Tyler Hayden, a renowned keynote speaker and author, and Ravi Tangri, a facilitator and expert in soul engineering—to explore how live events can boost your business, the shifts in event structuring, and why connection remains key in the post-pandemic world.Our guests share their personal stories of how they had to pivot during COVID, from taking i...2024-10-0729 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 134 - Practical advice on choosing secure AI toolsIn this episode of The Real Bottom Line, Wendy Brookhouse sits down with Darryl Cresswell, a cybersecurity expert and founder of MyDWare. They discuss the critical issues of data privacy and cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Darryl shares valuable insights into why small and medium-sized businesses are targets for cybercriminals, the misconceptions about AI and data security, and practical steps business owners can take to protect their sensitive information. Tune in to learn about the importance of hardware, software, and continuous monitoring in safeguarding your business.Key Takeaways:Misconceptions about the vulnerability of...2024-08-0722 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 131 - The Mental Health of Entrepreneurs: Breaking the Silence with Michael DevenneyIn this episode of The Real Bottom Line, host Wendy Brookhouse welcomes back Michael Devenney for an in-depth discussion on a crucial yet often overlooked topic: the mental health of entrepreneurs. Michael shares insights from his groundbreaking 2017 Mindset Project survey, which revealed that 68.3% of entrepreneurs experience mental health issues, with a depression rate nearly four times higher than the general population.Michael get into his personal journey with depression, which motivated him to conduct the survey, aiming to uncover whether his struggles were unique or shared by others in the entrepreneurial community. The conversation highlights the deep...2024-07-0930 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 128 - From Franchise to Finance Minister: Cathy Bennett's Entrepreneurial JourneyIn this inspiring episode of "The Real Bottom Line," host Wendy Brookhouse is joined by serial entrepreneur Cathy Bennett, whose extensive career ranges from successfully running the largest female joint venture in Canada within the McDonald's franchise system to serving as the Finance Minister of Newfoundland. Cathy shares invaluable insights into the lessons learned from her time in the fast-food industry and how these experiences propelled her into a diverse array of business ventures, including construction, real estate, and even venture capital through Sandpiper Ventures, focusing on empowering female entrepreneurs. Throughout the conversation, Cathy emphasizes the critical importance of...2024-03-1333 min
Content Amplification PodcastHow To Increase The Value Of Your BusinessJoin us for an insightful conversation on the podcast episode “How to Increase the Value of Your Business,” where our guest, Wendy Brookhouse, shares her expertise as the creator of the Business Value Amplifier program. Whether you have plans to sell your business within the next 10 years or simply want to maximize its worth, this episode is a must-listen.
Wendy dives deep into strategies and actionable tips that can help you enhance your business value. From identifying key factors that could be holding you back to implementing effective growth strategies, Wendy’s insights are invaluable for any busine...2023-06-2948 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 107: Transitioning from Rainmaker to Architect for Wealth Creation with Wendy BrookhouseIn this thought-provoking episode of "The Real Bottom Line", we delve deep into the critical role of a CEO and how transitioning into this role can help you amass wealth. Our discussion begins by defining wealth not just in terms of money but also time, freedom, and resources.
We illuminate how your growing business becomes your primary asset and how its increasing value directly impacts your wealth. Drawing references from Michael Gerber's book "The E-Myth", we explore the different hats a business owner wears and emphasize the significance of the "entrepreneur hat", akin to the CEO hat.2023-06-1307 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 92: Up your Promotional Product game with Justin LeeHave you ever gotten a key chain or some other branded product and wondered – what are they trying to tell me? Justin Lee is trying to change things.
Justin’s journey to entrepreneurship was a bit winding and a big learning process for him. His focus now is on Promotional Products done differently. Some key subjects we discussed were
How a repeatable process can unleash creativityHow it is important to be intentional with your promotional productsHow promotional products can impact your brand and reputationHow his Entrepreneurial Wife is key to the success of his business2023-02-2839 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 90: Valentine's Day Replay: Get Inspired with Tareq HadhadValentine’s Day is all about love, friendship, and showing others that you care. Last year, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Tareq Hadhad, CEO of Peace by Chocolate, who exemplifies all these qualities and more. A native of Syria, Tareq knows all too well how important it is to share peace and hope, especially during difficult times. The messages he shared in this episode are timeless and really worth a listen.
The recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey was devastating, and the aftermath of the disaster is nothing less than heartbreaking. The death toll is...2023-02-1447 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 91: Your Future LifeIn this episode, we are going to talk about the next most important book for your reading list and how building a vision of your future life will change everything.2023-02-0810 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 88: Visions Statements: What Are They Really? with Anthea MumbyIn this episode, Anthea Mumby and I talk about the importance of having a vision statement for your company and your life. And the extra importance this takes if you are an Entrepreneurial Couple.
When Anthea first made a vision statement and howHow it affected her mental healthWhat is in a vision statementHow often to review your vision statementHow to turn your vision into a tool for recruiting staff, ideal clients, and measuring your progressWhy you also need a personal vision statement2023-01-3126 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 89: Building Wealth With Your BusinessIn this episode we talk about building wealth as a business owner
Discussed in this episode:
Is investing all your money in your business a good move?Are you building a business to sell or for personal income or both?Start with the end in mindWhat is your big purpose and how do you balance that with growing your wealth?How wealth helps you fulfill your big purpose in lifeProfit is good, wealth is goodWe may not have a choice about when we stop working in our businessBuild your wealth in...2023-01-2521 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 88: Using Crypto & Blockchain In Your Business with Keegan FrancisOur first business couple interview!!
Before we got there we talked about some of the ways they have structured their business operations so that they can work well together. Some key points:
Saying Yes to Opportunity – even if you aren’t quite readyBalancing perfectionism and getting something out the doorRole fluidity
And we talk about Crypto and Blockchain – not as an investment, but rather as a tool in business.
Some of the topics we dug into were
The different types of wallets and when to use themWhat is an exchange and why do we need...2023-01-1735 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 87: Pots of MoneyIn this episode, we talk about profit and available money in your business and what to do with it.
Discussed in this episode:
Your profit isn’t all available for you to spend1st pot is for shock proofing - how much is enough?2nd pot is for investing in your businessWe do a deep dive into the 3 areas for investment in your businessHow to measure ROI 3rd pot is for fun, to make life better4th pot is for futureHow to balance debt repayment with filling your pots
Replay Link: 3 Key Decisions You N...2023-01-1019 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 86: Building Irresistible Programs with Diana LidstoneMy guest this week is Diana Lidstone. Diana has been building businesses for over 4 decades. She started with her own and then transitioned into helping women in service based industries as a Strategic Marketing and Growth Catalyst. Her engaging style is captivating – as are the subjects we cover:
The advantages of technology and mentorsThe components of an irresistible programWhat is an upsell and down sellWhy it is important to simplify the number of offers you haveThe importance of differentiationWhy you may not need social media in your marketing.
www.dianalidstone.com2023-01-0329 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 85: The Inside Scoop On Paying Yourself, Investing, Retirement & InsuranceIn this episode you’ll get a technical, yet approachable, lesson in paying yourself, investing, retirement and insurance.
Discussed in this episode:
Start with the end in mind
Think of putting your money into buckets
RRSPs and TSFAs explained
Best places to keep your money
How to pay yourself
Corporations and liability
We break down life insurance as a strategy for wealth building
Protecting and growing your wealth: risk and liquidity
This is a ve...2022-12-2822 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 84: Helping musicians get paid for their worth and providing a platform with Laura SimpsonLaura Simpson is co-founder of the start-up Side Door. And a deal maker on Dragon’s Den! She is powered by the purpose of helping musicians get paid for their worth and providing a platform.
We talk about her journey from journalist to CEOHow creative brains workHow to embrace innovative waysThe Covid PivotCreating a corporate culture where asking tough questions is the normDifferent types of investment fundraising2022-12-2034 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 83: The Importance of Project ManagementIn this episode, you’ll learn how to choose which projects to execute on and the role of project management in getting them done.
Discussed in this episode:
The challenge is that we have many more ideas than we can ever get done
The hard part is to decide and curate which are the best for us
One screen or filter we can use is our values to see which projects match most or all of our values
Another tool is to create an x,y chart an...2022-12-1315 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 82: Hiring, Failure & Recession with Donna AlteenDonna Alteen, CEO of Time Space Media will be celebrating 35 years in business in 2023. This interview is just full of great lessons and perspectives from the wisdom she has garnered along the way. Lessons like
How to hire for curiosityA new Definition of failureHow to prepare for a recessionThe value of a business coach and communityHow to ensure your products and services always have a marketEnergy managementGiving yourself space to think.2022-12-0637 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 81: Get Your Numbers Up to DateIn this episode you’ll learn what numbers are important as you think back over the last year.
Discussed in this episode:
Get your numbers up to dateHow to keep your values in mind while looking at your numbersThinking about funding the life you chooseEvaluating your sales to know what to focus on next yearHow to audit your costs Costs of acquiring customers and lifetime valueQuantitative and qualitative decision making2022-11-2920 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 80: An Accounting Discussion With Adam KnithilaAdam Knithila owned a thriving accounting practice doing taxes for entrepreneurs – but it wasn’t what he loved doing. Here is how he sold his accounting practice and became a fraction CEO.
In this episode we will talk about:
Carrying a knapsack of rocksTactics for managing a recessionThe importance of cash reservesKnowing when to say knowHaving a growth mindsetCreating partnership.2022-11-2231 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 78: Preparing Your Business For Sale or Succession with Anthea MumbyThis week on The Real Bottom Line I interview Business Consultant Anthea Mumby – Founder of Dream Team Consulting
We cover a lot of ground including
What it is like to work in a business as the daughter of the ownerThe importance of using an expert when doing complex transactionsPreparing for business succession andHow to decide when it is time to sell and transition out of the businessThe importance of working with a coachThe importance of having a customized business visionHow to deal with business squirrels.2022-11-0829 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 77: Why you should be your own chief financial officerIn this episode you’ll learn what role to never completely delegate and how it makes all your other roles easier
Discussed in this episode:
The 4 main business outcomes the CFO makes happen
The skills you develop as you learn how to do this
How mastering those skills makes your job easier
Taking on this role sets up a level of formality in your business
The real danger of not doing this
What a bookkeeper, an accountant and a financial planner do for yo...2022-10-3114 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 76: Public Relations and All Points In Between with Paul FritzgeraldWe are going to talk about all things PR with Paul Fitzgerald, President of Salt and Pepper Media. We dig into some meaty topics like:
Re-inventing vs. PivotingOops vs What ifWho needs PRThe difference between earned and paid mediaWhat is Crisis PR and why do you need it.2022-10-2534 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 75: Raising Your PricesIn this episode, you’ll learn why people hesitate to raise their prices and the reasons they should anyway
Discussed in this episode:
The 4 reasons people use to keep their prices low
Who to talk to change your thinking
What people really expect based on your price
How a higher price makes it easier to make people happier
How a higher price helps people more
What’s high to some people is low to others
The best way to help people is t...2022-10-1812 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 74: How To Simplify Finding & Applying For Grants with Dr. Aria HahnIf you have ever wondered if there was free money – grants or funding for different projects or initiatives – this episode is for you. This week on the real bottom line we talked to Dr. Aria Hahn – the Chief Technology Officer of www.hellopocketed.io a company dedicated to making finding and applying for grants easier than ever before. Think of them as your Grant GPS. We also talk about
Macro vs. Micro managingBecoming comfortable with being uncomfortableThe language of science.How to get lots of free money
It is a great episode that you don’t want to miss.2022-10-1139 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 73: Are You Charging Enough MoneyIn this episode you’ll find out why not charging enough can mean you are losing customers and the secret ingredient of choosing the right price.
Discussed in this episode:
Your price tells your customers if they are for youPeople who like your lower price may not be your best customersValue-based or hourly-based pricing, which is best.Your price is too low if you have plenty of customers, but you aren’t making enoughFixed costs and variable costsCost of Goods Sold (CoGS)The difference between revenue and incomeThree legs of price - the 3rd will...2022-10-0415 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 73: The Best of Episode with Eleanor Beaton - How To Screen Your Opportunities with Eleanor BeatonEvery now and then we have a guest that brings a very impactful message to our audience that we feel it's important to bring it to the forefront again.
Eleanor Beaton is one of those guests and I wanted to replay her March 22nd episode here in the best of series.
Episode Description:
How about this boundary? Only pursuing opportunities that offer the potential of adding 7 figures to the top line.
Eleanor Beaton is the Founder and CEO of Safi Media. She is on a mission to double the number of 7...2022-09-2741 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 71: What Kind Of Entrepreneur Are YouIn this episode you’ll learn about the 3 kinds of entrepreneurs and how to approach your business as each one.
Discussed in this episode:
What it means to have a business that replaces your job and the challenges with that
What a lifestyle entrepreneur is
Talking about growing a business to scale it
Moving from one to another
The importance of growing your team
Who should you hire first
Who should you not hire at the beginning
...2022-09-2018 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 70: Innovation As A Service with Suvojit GhoshHave you ever had a grand idea for a product or a software? This episode is for you.\
Suvojit Ghosh is the Founder/CEO of FYE Labs, a product development lab in Hamilton Ontario. Our conversation covers a lot ground including
The three levels of product development (and they apply to products and software)The importance of understanding the pain point you are solvingShould you get a technical co-founder on boardThe different ways you can develop your product and the pros and cons of each.2022-09-1333 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 69: CollaborationIn this episode, you’ll learn why collaborations are critical to success, what makes good collaborations and what makes bad ones.
Discussed in this episode:
One form is to have the same audience but come from different directionsWomen are natural collaboratorsThe myth of the lone entrepreneur is just that - a mythBehind every success is a teamThe many different forms of collaborationsFinancial Besties are an example of great collaborationThe most important things that have to be in alignment for it to be a successIt’s decision-making that leads to the downfallLeave spac...2022-09-0612 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 68: Data Collection Debunked...The Surprises That It Brings with Jodi DanielsJoin me as I sit down with Jodi Daniels of Red Clover Advisors to discuss the differences between data privacy and data security.
In this episode, we talk about all the things that make up your data. You may be as surprised as I was at all the data we collect - some of it inadvertently.
There's a lot of interesting information surround data privacy and security, and Jodi breaks it down so well! She discusses the standards you need to consider if you sell internationally, especially in the US where different states have different...2022-08-2332 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 67: Where To Find Opportunity In Business with G. Scott PattersonOn this episode, I interview Scott Patterson - a proper business mogul and entrepreneur in the world of tech and entertainment.
Scott discusses opportunities and where to find them, what drives him personally, the kinds of fears he has, and the important lessons learned from his grandmother. This is a true 'rags to riches' story, and I have a feeling you're going to want to listen to this one!2022-08-1634 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 66: The value of curiosity and using an agile methodologyWhether you are thinking about a technology start-up or using more technology in your business, this episode is for you! Maxim Cramer, a technology coach based in the UK with a special focus on female founders, joins me today for an exciting discussion about the value of curiosity and using an agile methodology.
Maxim describes how Hollywood has done the tech industry a disservice, and how developers are like musicians in a band. She also answers questions that you may be asking, like... "what does a CTO do?" and "when do I need one?" - we cover...2022-08-1536 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 64: The difference between technical and social sales with Gillian SelbyAre you part of the 11% of people who know they are in sales, or are you one of the 89% of people who are, but don't know it?
Join me as I sit down with Gillian Selby, a professional sales coach of Gunn + McQueen, as we discuss the difference between technical and social sales, and how to decide when to hire a professional sales person. She also summarizes what she believes makes phenomenal sales people, and whether or not those people are introverts or extroverts.2022-07-2638 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 63: Family and Business with Francisco LombardoFamily and business, and the business of getting the next generation involved is Francisco Lombardo’s business. This discussion ranges from parenting, to getting the next generation ready. Is your business the resented sibling? Are you setting your kids up for success, and when should they start working in the business? Francisco answers these questions and more on this episode of The Real Bottom Line!2022-07-1934 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 62: Breaking Down Common Myths Surrounding Entrepreneurship with Afton BrazzoniAs a new business owner, Afton has been busting through some of the common myths surrounding entrepreneurship. She has now niched down to teach about brand messaging and content strategy. The way she breaks down how to find your voice and cut through the noise is a must-listen!2022-07-1230 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 61: The Power Of An Advisory TeamAs your business grows, the need for building a strong advisory team becomes more and more critical.
In this episode, we speak about the benefits of building the right team for your business.
Find out your diagnostic score of your business at https://www.totalwealthscore.com2022-07-0508 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 60: The Evolution Of Ourselves, Our Business & Our Roles with Vasavi KumarThis is one of those interviews that were both a joy to record, and a joy to listen to. Recorded the day before Vasavi turned 40, we head down fascinating roads including who you should look up to, and why talking to yourself out loud can be game-changing. Her confidence and energy are so compelling – enjoy!2022-06-2834 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 59: How To Build Or Buy A Franchise with Lance GraulichEver been curious about buying or building a franchise? This episode is for you!
Lance Graulich is an expert in franchises. Having owned multiple franchises himself, and then becoming a broker, he has seen it all. In this episode, we talk about who should and shouldn't buy a franchises, and what to consider when buying or turning your business into a franchise.
Free Assessment: https://www.zorakle.net/assessment/welcome/ionfranchising2022-06-2136 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 58: Real Estate Investing 101Investing in real estate does not come without cost or risk. Abiel Ballesteros is a professional Real Estate Investor in Miami, with properties across multiple states. Join us today as we discuss who real estate investing is for, and how to decide on a segment of real estate to focus on. Abiel will also share his thoughts on syndicate investing and why multi-unit/family buildings can reduce your risks and costs. If you've ever been interested in learning more about real estate investment, here's your chance!2022-06-1424 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 57: Delegation, Allocation & How To Grow With Content with Ross SimmondsOnce I got over my fangirling, I settled in to talk to Ross about his aspirations and his goal of a 150-million-dollar company. I love the ambition, and he is doing it all virtually! We dig into the business and distribution of content, and how content distribution as an investment can produce revenue for years to come. Ross breaks down his KPIs and the lessons he learned from his grandmother, as well as the importance of curiosity, and communication trust when it comes to remote work. You’ll leave this episode knowing what to delegate and what not to del...2022-06-0738 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 56: Expectations, Age, Hustle, Grind, and StingLet’s talk about expectations, age, hustle, grind, and what are the numbers that we really need to know.
I want to talk a bit about the fact I went to see Sting in concert, he was so full of life and vibrant, he delivered an amazing performance. He was a master, and he held the audience in the palm of his hands. And yet, he was so chill, he was just so zen-like he was living his best life.
Now, if we were to dig into the numbers around Sting we will find the foll...2022-05-3106 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 55: Cybersecurity - Why You Should Have Started 6 Months Ago with Gay HamiltonIT and technology are becoming more and more important to the efficient separation and scaling of business. In this episode, Gay Hamilton of 'Go Innovation' and I talk about when and how to hire IT personnel vs. contractors. We'll outline the IT resources required as you add staff, as well as the reality of cyber crimes and how it has been whitewashed.2022-05-2429 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 54: How To Monetize Your Knowledge with Samantha DeanSamantha Dean is a former accountant from Australia who now helps other experts monetize their knowledge. In this episode, Sam provides invaluable advice on how to work through your 'shoulds' and the importance of setting up boundaries. She'll also share her thoughts on how to set up good collaborations, and what she believes are the most important key performance indicators. There's lots to learn in this episode!2022-05-1739 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 53: Navigating ADHD & Business with Andre BrissonAndré Brisson has ADHD. He has also built two successful companies, and is now working on his third! When he received his ADHD diagnosis a few years ago, it explained EVERYTHING. Since then, he's learned all he can about ADHD and used his knowledge and first-hand experience to build a coaching program to help high-achieving entrepreneurs.
On this episode, we'll define what exactly ADHD means, the reason why so many entrepreneurs have ADHD, and the differences between ADHD and other mental health/neurodivergent conditions. André will also explain the common symptoms of ADHD, and how you can tu...2022-05-1029 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 52: The Powers Of Personal BrandingPersonal Branding expert Monique Bryan has a massive background in global business, fashion, and marketing. She brings the energy and strategies around
What is personal brandingWho needs itOnline presenceHow authentic to be onlineRetreats as a business strategy.How to put yourself into a high energy state
You will love this advice delivered with panache.2022-05-0341 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 51: How does the carbon market work with Megan McCarthyWhat do you get when you marry energy efficiency, net zero, and block chain? You get Megan McCarthy's Rocarbon Labs! A start-up that helps business owners and their facilities reach net zero, with a faster return of investment thanks to the improvement in carbon offsets sold on the carbon market.
How does the carbon market work? How can you develop more income streams for your facilities? What is data collection and the block chain? Listen and find out!2022-04-2641 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 50: Big, Game Changing Ideas with Andrea InvankaBig ideas, game changers and transformative focus. Real life and business can get in the way of developing and implementing big ideas, but Andrea Ivanka and I talk about how to get them and stay focused! Listen to this episode to learn where big ideas can come from, how to re-engage with ideas you had in the past, the difference between alignment and systems and why they are both SO important.2022-04-1929 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 49: Jobs to be Done with Katelyn BourgoinKatelyn Bourgoin is a trailblazer in the area of customer-focused research. Steeped in the experience of closing down her tech start-up, she is on a mission to teach effective customer research to entrepreneurs and other marketers.
Katelyn is engaging, practical, and super knowledgeable on so many things. Join us as Katelyn shares that knowledge, explaining 'Jobs to be Done' and how McDonald's used it to increase their milkshake sales, beach head content, and where true customer clarity comes from.
Clay Christensen video we talk about:
Understanding the Job
Sign up for B...2022-04-1236 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 48: I'm Profitable, now what with Wendy BrookhouseProfit is a beautiful thing, and opens the door to all sorts of new questions: Where do I stash it? What do I do with it? Should I spend it or save it? Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial journey, it’s time to plan now what to do with that profit.2022-04-0508 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 47: Leadership with Lisa HaydonIn this episode we are going to really define that super nebulous term - leadership. How to get work done through others and the different hats of managing, leading, and coaching.
Lisa Haydon has just passed the 5-year anniversary mark of her business, Pivotal Growth. Prior to her own pivotal growth, Lisa worked in finance and banking for large enterprise companies. She helps companies assess and diagnose their people performance with diagnostic, consulting, and implementation services.
Join us as we discuss the turning point that launched Lisa into the world of entrepreneurship and how to...2022-03-2936 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 46: How to Screen Your Opportunities with Eleanor BeatonHow about this boundary? Only pursuing opportunities that offer the potential of adding 7 figures to the top line.
Eleanor Beaton is the Founder and CEO of Safi Media. She is on a mission to double the number of 7-figure women business owners by 2030 through business coaching, entrepreneurship education and story telling. We talk about the filters that Eleanor uses when evaluating opportunities, and dig down into niching – how to know when it is time to narrow your focus, and the bliss and pain of executing on this strategy.
We'll discuss CEO time and what it is...2022-03-2241 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 45: How to Turn Leads into Buyers with Tamika AuwaiA communication expert and Founder/CEO of Orisha Creative, Tamika is a specialist at turning leads into buyers. Join us for this fascinating conversation where you will learn the difference between a launch and an active enrolment campaign, and how Lead Generation is just another vanity metric. We'll break down the buyer's journey vs. the customer journey vs. funnels, redefine personal development, and share a unique definition of community.2022-03-1542 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 44: How to Scale a Company to 50 with Saeed El-DarahaliDid you ever wonder what it takes to scale a company to 50 employees? What you have to do in the business as a Founder in the beginning and how that role evolves over time. Saeed El Darahali is the CEO of SimplyCast and has been an entrepreneur since his teens and he has many lessons to share.
In this episode we discuss
How to avoid micromanagingThe two tasks he always wants to participate inThe second question he always asks in an interviewThe evolution of communicationThe triangle of Calculated Risk decisionsHow serving multiple markets and...2022-03-0835 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 43: Get Inspired with Tareq HadhadThis is a must-listen episode for all Entrepreneurs who want inspiration. Tareq came to Canada in 2015 with nothing. He is now a sought-after speaker, running a major chocolate factory and a couple of retail stores. The story of Peace By Chocolate is now available in a book and a soon-to-be-released feature film. This interview is an inspiration and reminds us that we can overcome almost everything and that hope is important.
In this episode, we talk about
The importance of Building a family outside of your familyThe interplay between profit and purposeHow Peace is the most import...2022-03-0147 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 42: The Different Types of Phone Calls with Mary Jane CoppsMary Jane Copps aka The Phone Lady is on a mission to make people less anxious and more masterful in their use of the telephone. In an era of texts, DMs, emails and a bijillion social platforms, a lot of people have lost their love of the phone or maybe didn’t ever love it.
As an expert in all things phone, Mary Jane shares some great insights into:
Why Customer Service calls are totally different nowHow to make Sales calls more effectiveHow often to follow up and what to do to get ma...2022-02-2232 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 41: Is Your Brain Making You Richer or Poorer?On this episode, we dig into this question. The brain is a powerful tool that may not always lead us in the right direction. If we think of our brain like a computer, our subconscious is the operating system. And there are programs running and influencing our decisions all the time.
Join us as we talk about
Bringing these programs to the conscious level
Reprogramming our mind to
The shortcuts your brain takes when making decisions2022-02-1508 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 40: How to Be Authentic Online with Monique BryanPersonal Branding expert Monique Bryan has a massive background in global business, fashion, and marketing. She brings the energy and strategies around
What is personal brandingWho needs itOnline presenceHow authentic to be onlineRetreats as a business strategy.How to put yourself into a high energy state
You will love this advice delivered with panache.2022-02-0841 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 39: How to Network Your Way to Success with Justin BreenJustin Breen was an entrepreneur trapped in a job until 5 years ago. A journalist by trade, he started BREpic as his salaried work was going away.
I love hearing about people’s journeys to Entrepreneurship – they are all so different and inspiring in different ways – and Justin’s is one of perseverance. His conversion rate was pretty low at the beginning – 1 in 1000. To get his first 5 clients he talked to 5000. I think most of us would have called it way before that!
Join us to hear that story and our discussions around:
The importance of family...2022-02-0152 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 38: Goodbye To 2021 - What Did We Learn?For our last recorded episode of 2021, we wanted to go out with a bang, so we have not one, but THREE guests! Neil Stephen, Shelagh Cummins, and John Swain join us to share their expertise in Marketing, Coaching, and Accounting and they serve up some amazing insights and tips! We discuss the changes we’ve seen in business throughout the pandemic, and which of those changes we believe to be permanent. We will also break down our top 3 pointers for business owners in 2022, and what our biggest goals are for the upcoming year.2022-01-2547 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 37: My Favourite Business BooksOn this episode of The Real Bottom Line, we share and discuss our favourite business books that we’ve read over the past year. A few of the books we discuss include Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s Who Not How, which lays out a blueprint of changing your thinking around your work; Fotini Iconomopoulos’ Say Less, Get More, which teaches an inclusive approach to negotiating, and Tarek Hadad’s Peace by Chocolate story shows us how community and perseverance can let you build success from scratch.2022-01-1822 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 36: What You Can’t Delegate with Your Accounting with Frances SchagenSerial entrepreneur, published author, and CEO of ClearToYou, Frances Shagen, sits down to discuss what you can and can’t delegate when it comes to your accounting, how Mastermind changed her business, and the 3 most important questions you should be asking before hiring your bookkeeper. With a background in accounting and finance, Frances focuses on helping women, especially Indigenous women, start and grow their own enterprises. Learn more about Frances’ journey and how you can be your own CFO in this episode of The Real Bottom Line.2022-01-1145 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 35: How to Productize Your Services with Laural CarrLaural Carr, owner of Impagination, a marketing firm in Toronto focusing on sevice-based businesses, is about to celebrate her 35th year in business. We talk about productizing your services - the Why and the How? We talk about pricing and when you should value based price versus charge by the hour. You will want to tune into this episode to learn about what elephants, meatloaf and GPS have to do with marketing. It’s a great one!2022-01-0445 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 34: Evaluating Business Opportunities with Roxanne TateRoxanne Tate is the owner of Tate Engineering Inc. and Airtight Spaces. She is about to hit the ten-year mark and is sharing a lot of the lessons she has learned along the way.
Join us on this episode as we discuss...
- The importance of values
- How to evaluate business opportunities
- Being deliberate about your growth
- The pros and cons of real estate investing2021-12-2829 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 33: How to Approach Strategy with Andrea IvankaThe first two-time guest - this episode is less interview and more conversation. Business coach extraordinaire, Andrea Ivanka and I discuss the importance of strategic planning, how we approach it, the elements to consider and some surprising tactical implementation suggestions.2021-12-2142 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 32: Mental Health & Entrepreneurship with Michael DeVenneyMichael Devenney, the Founder of WorkInsights and The Mindset Project, is a trailblazer in the leadership field. He researches, consults and builds tools so that teams can build stronger, more profitable and longer lasting companies. Michael is very forthcoming about his PTSD and depressive periods – his weekly LinkedIn posts let so many entrepreneurs know that they aren’t alone. We talk about mental health and entrepreneurs (67% of business owners will have an occurrence of mental health issues during their working life) and the stigma that is still prevalent that prevents many of them from reaching out for help. Michael outl...2021-12-1449 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 31: Perseverance & Charging Your Work with Teresa EaslerI have known Teresa Easler for almost a decade. In that time, I have learned soooo much from her – and now you can too! We talk about perseverance, dealing with debt, and shifting your mindset. Teresa measures everything and delivers some amazing truths around pricing and when to charge for things you may be doing for free.Want to find out if you’re a presentation rockstar? Click here! (https://www.connecttothecore.com/presentation-rockstar-scorecard)2021-12-0753 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 30: Measuring Your Trust with Natalie Doyle OldfieldTRUST. It affects your topline, your bottom line, and everything in between. It seems like a nebulous concept, but my guest, Natalie Oldfield has developed The Client Trust Index™. This tool gives you proven, objective data that helps you make decisions, improve your customer experience, increase retention, and deepen relationships. We talk about how she transitioned from CMO, and her journey to becoming a world-renowned Trust Expert.2021-11-3042 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 29: The Importance of Anchor Content with Susan DiazSusan Diaz is a messaging maven who has gone all in on podcasts as anchor content. Her company, c+p digital, takes on the task of developing a great concept all the way through to publishing, and repurposing podcasts into compelling content. Starting as a chocolatier in India, we discuss how she came to Toronto and her journey to business ownership.2021-11-2350 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 28: Growing a Retail Chocolate Empire with Nathalie MorinNathalie Morin and Julien Rousseau-Dumarcet met and fell in love in Wakefield, QC. He; a Frenchmen with a passion for chocolate; she, a young hospitality professional who had itchy feet!
Together they travelled to Europe and began their adventures. They worked for a handful of award-winning hotels and independent chocolatiers in France, England, and Scotland.
They had envisioned setting up shop in Halifax 2 years prior to arriving in Canada. But why Halifax? Because it offered a great quality of life, had many European influences, and was conveniently located between Ottawa and Roquebrune-sur-Argens - the couples...2021-11-1641 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 27: The Importance of Building Relationships with Tanya MatthewsA graduate from Acadia University in 1986 with a BA in Health and Physical Education, Tanya was a physical education teacher in HRM for 10 years and as a co-owner was instrumental in the success of the Nubody’s chain of Fitness Centres.
A customer service advocate, Tanya is a relationship builder and focuses on the special touches. Currently, Tanya is the Director of WORKSPACE Atlantic and President of Mattie Capital. She is an active community volunteer, involved in fundraising with the Canadian Progress Club-Halifax Citadel, Chisholm Services for Children, Family SOS, Phoenix Youth, Oakfield Golf Club, and the Unit...2021-11-0838 min
The Real Bottom LineEpisode 26: Measuring Your Impact with Jenelle SobeyAs a co-founder and CEO at RIDDL, and Partner and former Managing Partner of Code + Mortar, Jenelle Sobey is motivated to build a sustainable, competitive and resilient world. She believes that the tech sector can enable and scale solutions to achieve that. Jenelle has so much experience in starting and building businesses, so she will be sharing with us her start-up secrets. She has been recognized with tons of awards for her work - too many for us to list here!2021-11-0448 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 25: Small Business Lessons with Melanie & BernadetteIn this episode, we decided to shake things up a bit. We interview Melanie Little, founder of startup vLife, about her vision and goals of supporting buying local. Then, Melanie joins me in the host chair, and we turn our attention to one of her clients – Bernadette. A fascinating double interview about building a business and celebrating along the way.2021-11-0349 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 24: How to Break Free of Limiting Beliefs with Megan O'NeillMegan O'Neill is a Mindset Mentor and Certified Core Belief Engineering (CBE) Practitioner who, for over 19 years, has helped clients break-fee of limiting subconscious beliefs, fears and patterns. Her work specializes in the area of money mindset—assisting clients in understanding why they're operating the way they are and then working to clear it at a deep level so they can transform their relationship with money! She lives in Ottawa with her husband Kevin and her teens Sara and Tommy.
www.meganoneill.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-o-neill-36392999/
https://www.facebook.com/gro...2021-10-1550 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 23: Hiring Up & Other Growth Strategies with Shelagh CumminsShelagh's journey began in the classroom as a teacher for 12 years. A decade ago, she traded in her regular paycheck for the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship, starting with a parenting blog and tutoring business. It wasn't until she was the emcee at a business conference that she discovered her true calling, and began facilitating women's business training and coaching entrepreneurs to greater business success. Today, Shelagh is the Founder and CEO of The Road to Seven, helping visionary entrepreneurs take empowered action to achieve their ambitious dreams.2021-10-0853 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 22: LinkedIn Selling with Brent KeoughBrent started his sales career doing door-to-door sales for various charities. This is where he discovered his love for sales, getting to talk to people from all different walks of life, coast to coast across Canada. He then transitioned into a tech start up and got to work with small business owners across North America, helping to connect them with other businesses to solve their pain points. He then partnered with his amazing fiancée, Leslie, to launch The Full Prism Group. One of their core services is showing business owners that sales don't have to be scary and i...2021-10-0154 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 21: The 5 Numbers Every Entrepreneur Should KnowIn this episode we break down the 5 key numbers every entrepreneur should know.2021-09-0322 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 20: The Real Bottom Line with Matt SymesOver the past decade, Matt Symes has worked with over 400 organizations to help them understand the principles, methods, and tools of high performing organizations.
From helping a manufacturing company scale from 20m to over 150m a year, a construction company from 42m to 200m/annualized and countless other organizations from 1m - 10m, Matt has had a front row seat on the trials and tribulations of organizations going through scale.
Symplicity Designs is a B Corp that measures and supports a triple bottom line - People, Planet, and Profit. Over the last decade they have giv...2021-08-2756 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 19: Buying a Family Run Business with Amanda FancyAmanda started working at Home Hardware as a teen and eventually worked her way up to a management position. She learned how to run a business from the ground up and is now an owner of the same store she started out at! Join us as we chat with Amanda about how she managed to keep everything running smoothly throughout a pandemic and major supply shortages, while also continuing to grow the business.2021-08-1041 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 18: Marketing Automation with Shaun WhynachtShaun, is the Founder and CEO of Blue Cow Marketing. He was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug at a young age. He knows firsthand how much love and determination gets poured into running a business after spending more than 10 years touring all over Canada learning from different industries. Not only is Shaun passionate about marketing he also developed some very unique abilities to stay current with changing technology in this ever-progressive world.
Now as a Keap Certified Partner for 10 years, Shaun helps businesses owners implement automation in their business to grow their bottom line and get their...2021-08-0451 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 17: Ask Me AnythingIn this episode, Wendy takes on some of the top questions submitted to her about finance and business.2021-08-0444 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 16: The Importance of Financial Goals with Tracey BissettTracey is an accomplished professional with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry working directly or indirectly with personal, commercial and corporate clients to help them achieve their financial goals. A demonstrated passion for increasing financial fitness coupled with lending and risk management experience led to the establishment of Bissett Financial Fitness Inc.
As Chief Financial Fitness Trainer of Bissett Financial Fitness Inc., Tracey educates and empowers individuals, notably young adults, and entrepreneurs to take control of and live their financial lives with confidence. As a former executive at TD Bank, one of Canada’s Big 5 Ba...2021-08-0430 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 15: Hiring the Right-Fit People with Tim BrennanTim is co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Fit First Technologies. His fascination with why and how people end up in the right or wrong careers started 45 years ago when he was hired for his first job – delivering flyers for the local newspaper. As he progressed up his professional ladder, he saw top performers move up and those who – well – didn’t. Often, it wasn’t because they were incompetent, but rather that their skills and personality didn’t fit that role or company. He realized that personal and professional success happens when the ‘fit’ is right.
In 1995 Tim f...2021-08-0459 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 14: Pricing & Sales with Andrea IvankaOn this episode of the Real Bottom Line we go surprisingly deep on pricing, sales and lifelong learning with Andrea Ivanka. Andrea coaches Entrepreneurs in building and scaling their business in an authentic way. 2021-06-2655 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 13: Building a Franchise & Surviving a Partner Death with Colleen ColeA fountain of knowledge bombs, Colleen Cole of PERMA-DRY® has so many lessons to share. She found herself in Africa and has been growing into her true abilities ever since. Tenacity, a willingness to do what had to be done, and going full speed ahead once a decision has been made is key to her success. 2021-06-2646 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 12: Overcoming Learned Helplessness with Debbie AdamsOvercoming mindset and bias, Debbie Adams is a reluctant entrepreneur. Join our conversation as we discuss her journey and the work she does to help blue collar entrepreneurs start and grow their business. Curiosity, learning and developing self-confidence are key tools she has used to build her successful enterprise. 2021-06-2643 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 11: Investing in HR to Grow Your Business with Sarah MullinsSarah Mullins is a HR professional and accidental Entrepreneur. She tried it for a year and it stuck. Join us as we talk about the world of HR and how as business owners we can turn HR into an investment to fuel the growth of our companies.2021-06-0439 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 10: Entrepreneurship & ADHD with André BrissonBy day, Andre is the owner of a Engineering Company. But his secret super power is learning, thinking, and simplifying complexities. He fearlessly tackle complex problems, anticipates roadblocks, and decisively uncovers unique solutions while under pressure in order to solve the impossible. We are going to talk about the pros and cons of being an impulsive thinker and how to harness that power to do great work. 2021-06-0247 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 9: Building an Online Legal Template with Corinne BoudreauCorinne is the daughter of a teacher and a lawyer - which probably explains a lot about her desire to share and explain the legal stuff.
After escaping many years of the big law firm life (aka the "soul-sucking situation"), Corinne started her entrepreneurial legal journey in 2012.
What started as a 40-hour in-person legal course developed for small business owners has now also turned into guided legal templates for Canadians doing business online.
Corinne has a knack for making things practical and easy to implement. Being a lawyer since 2002 has given her perspective and e...2021-05-3150 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 8: Accounting Measure You Need to (Utilize? Implement?) with John SwainJohn Swain is no ordinary accountant. Full of passion and purpose, we got so many truth bombs in this interview it was tough to pick out just one! Revenue is a vanity stat, labour efficiency should be 3:1, you should be monitoring your return on revenue, make numbers part of your weekly or monthly habits. And my all-time favorite – Busy is the new stupid. You don’t want to miss this episode. 2021-05-1953 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 7: Money Mindset with Martha AdamsA thought leader in the financial planning space, Martha is leading the change on advisors integrating behavioural finance and money mindset into their practices. Her recent book, Cleopatra's Riches, is now an international best seller.
Martha’s passion for changing the conversation around money and finances has become the focus of her life’s work. She believes in everyone’s ability to create positive and impactful change in their lives by taking back control through their own understanding and self-development. She invests her whole heart as she tries to bring out the best in the people she works wi...2021-05-1253 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 6: Event Planning Goes Digital with Kim KingPrior to much of 2020, Kim ran a thriving speaker's bureau. Overnight, business evaporated. Kim got curious and listened. It led to her getting the PCMA Digital Event Strategist. Our conversation covers a lot of ground around planning virtual events and what is happening next.
Kimberley King is a passionate leader in the Canadian meetings and events industry. A proud founding board member of the Atlantic Canada Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and a Past President, Kim has lead the industry from the inside out. As a member of IASB (International Association of Speakers Bureaus) she offer...2021-05-1244 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 5: How to Achieve Your Highest Potential with Aria RaphaelJoin us as Aria talks about manifestation in your personal and business life, and how to identify and achieve your highest potential
Aria Raphael is Self-Actualization and Manifestation Coach, Channeler, Healer, Business and Leadership Consultant, and Public Speaker. She has been leading transformational programs for 14 years and has training in coaching, transformational practices, energy and healing work, leadership, and organizational and management consulting. Her newest program, “The Alchemy of Living,” teaches manifestation, deep healing of emotion and consciousness, grounded living, boundaries, and alignment with one’s highest path and outcomes. It is her calling and passion to help i...2021-05-1251 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 4: How to Prepare for Negotiation with Fotini IconomopoulosFotini Iconomopoulos is a master negotiator, and in this episode of The Real Bottom Line she gives us some great tips on preparing for and conducting negotiations. Bonus, she also tells you how to make your kids do what you ask!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fotiniiconomopoulos2021-04-1356 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 3: Do You Need a Trademark? with Cynthia MasonCynthia Mason is a Canadian lawyer and trademark agent with a passion for helping businesses arm themselves with the information and tools necessary to protect their brands from copycats. Over the span of her near 20-year legal career, she has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies to protect their names, logos and taglines from theft and misuse.
Cynthia is also a legal innovator and has developed an online platform for registering trademarks, making professional brand protection accessible for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/masonpc/
IG/FB - @masonpctrademarks2021-04-0144 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 2: Setting Your Kids Up for Educational Success with Christina ForgeronThis episode we speak with Christina Forgeron
Christina understands the power of identity. Using over twenty-five years of international experience as an educator, administrator, performer, award-winning musician and community leader, Christina helps students, families and schools to clarify their values and vision, identify obstacles and create meaningful solutions to maximize success and self- realization.
Bolster Family Educational Support is an online business located in Halifax, Nova Scotia that works with children, families and schools around the world. Bolster strives to turn students
into learners. Bolster strives to bring value, meaning and cohesion to...2021-03-2246 minThe Real Bottom LineEpisode 1: How to Align Handling, Objectives & Values with Neil StephenThis episode we spoke with Neil Stephen from This Is Marketing.
Helping clients first articulate and then achieve communications objectives through strategic branding while aligning their everyday business practices to reflect that brand.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilstephen2021-03-2256 min