The October Launch!

Hi and welcome to the updated blog...picked a new look and design...with some new colours...

We did this to coincide with the launch of the new 5th season of the Small Business Big Ideas Show.

I started the show part time 5 years ago on August 17th and at that time if you had asked me if I would last this long, I probably would have replied, "I don't know if I would last one week"!!!

But here we are...5 years later...going into our 5th full season and our 6th year!

We are also doing things a little differently this year. This year we are bringing on a co-host. Garth Riley from Chex TV 12 in Durham joins the team. Also...Jennifer Hough will soon be a contributor on the show...with a "Live your best life" commentary.

The goal is to keep the show fresh, fun, informative and exciting as we go into the new season. You deserve it.

We will be a little more controversial at times, with Garth coming on board and we will definitely be more fun too!

Our guests will be top notch and the flavour of the show will still focus on Durham region...it's where you live, work and do business.

I hope you enjoy the October line-up of shows and guests...it's an exciting month and it's SMALL BUSINESS MONTH in Canada, as well.

It's a time to celebrate us! And you can do this at several events....

One is on October 9th at the Toronto Marriott Hotel... log onto http://www.torontobusinessforum.ca/ to learn about this Small Business event.

Then, on the 16th of October it's the SOHO event at the Metro Convention Centre with keynote speaker Loretta Laroche. She was on the show on the 23rd of September and I guarantee she is a great speaker! Log onto http://www.soho.ca/ to learn more about that event...and then lastly, the Business Advisory Centre Durham is hosting Bridges to Better Business on October 24th - log onto http://www.bacd.ca/ to learn more about that event.

So get out and celebrate yourselves. It takes a lot to be in business and sometimes you just have to jump up and say..."I rock"! Because you do!

Here is our unbelievable show line-up for October...it's amazing...

October 7th :

Kick back on the long Thanksgiving weekend with author and Small Business expert... Michael Gerber.

We will have author of the small business bible the E-myth, on air with us as we get into discussion about the idea of why Most Small Businesses fail and what we can do about it. Are you poised for growth...are you building a business that can last? It should be a spirited discussion with one of North America's small business guru's. We'll also connect with Sandra Cousins about Toastmasters

Plus we'll give thanks for the good things we have in our lives.

October 14th: Murray Smith of One Coach.

Murray Smith has built more than a dozen of his own businesses and helped hundreds of other business owners increase revenues, profits and value. He has succeeded at corporate turnaround work and launched start-ups in the hospitality, retail, media, consumer products, technology, training, energy, e-commerce, software and entertainment industries. Smith bought the Indian Motorcycle trademark from bankruptcy and built the second-largest motorcycle company in the United States, with sales exceeding $75 million in the first year and a value of $300 million. He lives in Toronto and spearheads the ONE COACH company with John Assaraf from the "SECRET". It should be a fascinating conversation as we celebrate SMALL BUSINESS MONTH IN STYLE. Log onto http://www.onecoach.com/ to learn more about how this organization is powering up small business owners in a whole new way.

Plus Carol Ann Walker will be by to preview the Bridges to Better Business event the 24th of October. Log onto http://www.bacd.ca/ to register for this Durham business event.

Also Wenda Abel will preview http://www.brilliantonline.ca/ - a new online magazine for women in business across Canada!

October 21st: Catch two of Canada's rising small business stars. Duncan MacPherson and David Miller - authors of the book Breakthrough Business Development, are our guests this week.

Garth and I are going to go head to head with David and Duncan and we will preview some award winning ways to develop and grow your account base and business. Get set to take your business to the next level...are you ready?

Plus our good friend Karla Idems of Meridian Credit Union's mortgage department is putting together a new networking group in Durham that you might want to tap into.

October 28th: It doesn't get better than this...on October 28th, we have 2 powerhouse guests in their own right. Sean Wise and Jack Mitchell...

Our first guest is Jack Mitchell. Jack built the reputation of 3 of North America's top clothing stores on the "Hug your customer philosophy". When was the last time your retail or customer service experience felt like you just got a hug? Jack will let you in on the last area that small business can not only compete, but trump the big boys/girls in big business...and that's in offering stupendous customer service...you and I can do this and Jack will show us how...

ALSO...we have a word from the Wise too...

Then in the back half of the show...Sean Wise...Canada's own Dragon slayer...and aide to CBC TV's The Dragon Den and Canada's top expert when it comes to finding Venture Capital will preview the secrets to finding capital and his new book WISE WORDS-Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital.

I wasn't kidding was I? October is a massive month...great guests each week with some really great ways to take your business to the next level.

October is a big month...I hope you can tune it in...we are just thrilled with the show and jazzed up about launching a new season!

All the best!

David Cohen and Garth Riley