Curated Resources

September 2024

This month we’re featuring three, 3-minute videos with practical lessons from business experts. Enjoy!

Bookmark this link: ☑Running out of ideas for your social posts? Calendarr Canada is a great prompt with a prompt a full list of celebrations and holidays in Canada.
Watch this valuable video: Do you want to do more business with LinkedIn? This 7-minute video by Mandy McEwen shows you how to grow and engage with your LinkedIn network. A step-by-step strategy to cut through the noise and build a goal-driven strategy for connection.
Get in the flow: Over 1,000 curated music channels for at-work listening. Accuradio – Easy to use, incredible variety, personalized, and absolutely FREE!

Google is a verb! To be Googled is an action Watch this 2-minute video from MB Communications for tips to ensure your digital presence is up to date when you get Googled.
Unwieldy links and social media character limitations are a really good reason to use shortened URLs. Bitly.com is a reliable and easy source to keep things neater with shortened URLs.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software helps business owners increase sales, drive growth, and provide exceptional customer experiences. Save hours of research – check out Forbes Advisor rating of the best CRMs for Small Business in Canada.

What’s your LinkedIn Social Selling Score? Did you know there was such a thing? Watch this 5- minute video, then check out your score. FYI – I scored 72.
Ever forget to circle back to a prospect, or pay HST, or follow-up on an email? Google Tasks is a super, lightweight, free, and simple task management app for individual task management. This 10 minute video explains it all and you’ll be up and running.
If you’re a “learner for life” check out Udemy. One of my favourite courses : ‘A Complete Guide to Building Your Network’ by Keith Ferrazzi. There is something for everyone all at a reasonable price. Everything from Excel Spreadsheets, Parenting Skills to Raise Responsible Children, How to Play Piano, How to Create a Udemy Course in 5 Days or Less, and on and on. So much to learn, so little time. ⌚

A little self-assessment is always a good thing. Complete our Strategic Focus Scorecard ™ to find-out how well you’re positioned for business growth this year. Submit it to me and I’ll help you set some immediate actions to increase your score.
The “One Word Movement” is a simple tool to help guide your focus for the year ahead. My word for 2024 … SIMPLIFY!
This year “Mine the Diamonds in Your Backyard”. Listen to this 3 minute audio to identify who your diamonds could be and how to mine them for greater value.

The Speaker Lab: Is ultimately about selling programs to help you build a speaking business. As a means of introducing you to their programs, they have a number of really good resources, fee calculator, guide for booking gigs, free training and a really good podcast.?
HARO: Help a Reporter Out is an online platform that connects journalists looking for information with sources who can provide relevant answers. There are free and paid options to sign-up as a source. HARO can be a simple and fast way to position yourself as a thought leader.?
Free Spreadsheets for Small Business: Brilliant spreadsheet templates for small business. The freemium subscription allows up to 5 workbooks chosen from over 200 templates. So far, my favourites are the ‘Simple CRM’ and the ‘Content Calendar.’ Here is a link to one of the many introduction videos.

Guidelines to start your BAT for 2024! To quote Bob Proctor “Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the results.” In that spirit, Business Accountability Teams (BATS) have proven to be effective accountability tools for business owners who are working alone. Use this article as a guideline to start your BAT for 2024
Free 10-Day Training! Jack Canfield’s principles are simple and his training is exceptional. Take advantage of his free-value 10-Day Training based on his book The Success Principles.
Free Music Accuradio is a free music streaming service with great music for work and play. The free account allows you to build your channel and music playlists. There are ads but they aren’t annoying.

Zoom Learning Center – free educational platform with on-demand courses and short videos to raise your bar on Zoom.
LinkedIn Prospecting – A New Social Contract? – insightful ways to use LinkedIn for prospecting from Randall Craig
Six Easy to Remember Planning & Management Models – Models to help bring focus to your business growth.

Make it your responsibility to take full advantage of your leisure time. Take 2 minutes and listen to these tips.
Make a break in your day and take in a bit of Toronto’s nature and wildlife. Beauty of the Don (Toronto Valley)
Plan one of these secret weekend trips from Toronto. Go to some awesome places.

Schedule up to 5 social media posts per month for FREE – later.com is a social media management platform with tons of features for business owners. Check it out!
Up your networking game with Digital Business Cards – create and customize stylish digital business cards with Hihello.me. Thank you Claudine Pereira for sharing.
It’s often easier to “speak” a blog than to “write” a blog – download the Fathom video app on Zoom, book a meeting with yourself and “speak” your blog – Fathom will transcribe and summarize it for you.

The BEST days to send an email – Download this calendar from Subjectline.com for best/worst days to send mail campaigns.
Continuing Ed for Business Owners – Rotman School of Business hosts in-person and virtual events with business thought leaders addressing relevant and current business issues. It’s worth being on their mailing list.
A guide for reflection and learning to help you show up as the best version of you – 26 Pathways to a Life my Way provides a fun way to clear existing pathways obstructing you from moving forward in your life.

Are you giving your time away? Some clients are benefiting from Timebro a fully automated time tracking system that will provide information for sound decisions and doesn’t take more time.
Timeboxingis a simple time management technique to help get better control of your schedule.
If you just can’t get to all those good books – Soundview Executive Book Summaries for audio and text summaries. You can build your personal library and take notes for future reference.