Posts Tagged ‘Donna Marrin’

Is your workplace as safe as it should be?

By Donna Marrin

John’s desk has an annoying network of device cables hanging loose beneath it, and he’s been meaning to address the issue… As John prepares to leave the office one day, his foot gets caught in a printer cable. He trips and falls hard, injuring his shoulder, while the printing unit that sits at the edge of his desk topples onto his arm, fracturing it near the elbow.

It’s hard to think about this sort of thing happening to you, but an incredible number of workplace accidents occur every day, with slips, trips and falls being the leading cause of office injuries. Most workplace accidents are completely preventable. Awareness is the first step in creating a safe environment. And a little common sense always goes a long way.

• Sure, stubbing a toe can be funny. Breaking a limb is not. Disabling falls can be prevented by making sure that all open spaces are clear of electrical, telephone and computer cables, boxes, and other clutter.

• Eat your pancakes—don’t be one. File cabinets frequently topple forward when drawer weight is unevenly distributed. Always close one drawer before opening another.

• Unless you’re setting up for a Saturday Night Live skit, close all desk and cabinet doors and drawers before you walk away to prevent “walk into” accidents.

• You can wear a helmet around the office… or you can make sure supplies are stored inside cabinets, not on top of them, and heavy items placed in lower drawers or on the lowest shelves.

• Unless your workspace is an ice rink, be aware of any slippery surfaces. Drinks spilled on floors or even a dripping umbrella can be hazardous and should be cleaned up or identified immediately.

• Pay attention when you’re on the move. Don’t carry loads that block your view ahead. Not only can you trip and fall, you also become a human battering ram to the distracted coworker who walks head on into you. With that said, don’t read while walking, either. I know someone who slammed into a concrete post and knocked himself out cold while reading and walking.

• Not a fan of concussions? Then don’t climb on chairs, desks or boxes when you want to access something that’s out of reach. Use a secure stepladder instead, and have a spotter nearby.

• Handrails are in stairwells for a reason. Hold onto them when you’re descending OR ascending a staircase.

• No butts about it—millions of dollars in damages are caused each year by carelessly discarded cigarette butts. Here’s where that common sense comes into play: don’t throw matches, ashes or cigarette butts into wastebaskets.

• Hilarious in Christmas Vacation, but not so hilarious if overloaded wall sockets and extension cords turn you into a hill of ash at work. And you’ll get more than a full head of corkscrew curls if you mix wet hands and electrical switches, sockets, plugs.

• Keep an eye open for unsafe conditions caused by defective equipment, loose stairs or floorboards, torn carpet, slippery doormats, burned-out lightbulbs, etc., and report them to your manager immediately.

• No matter how much they’ve dared you to do it, do not lean back as far as you can in your chair!

Here’s to a safe 2012.

Posted by Ashley in Getting Organized on January 20th, 2012

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I Must be Back in the Saddle… My Butt’s on Fire

By Donna Marrin

Are you back in the swing of things now that the holiday season is over? I know I am. I can feel the burn in my shoulders…and my back…my posterior and my wrists. I tend to lose track of all time while I’m in the saddle, only tearing myself away from my monitor and keyboard if my midsection begins to gurgle and groan. At this point, my stomach is waving its white flag quite frantically—helllooooo! I NEED lunch…LUNCH!…you remember what THAT is, don’t you? Or I suspect the gurgling may be part of an alarm system set off by all the collective parts of my body—we’re not gonna take it anymore!— after conferring and deciding to force my #@%! out of the chair so they can enjoy a well-deserved break.

I’m a logical person. I know that I should be taking periodic breaks. As a matter of fact, every single night before I go to sleep, I make the same pact with myself: OK Donna. Tomorrow’s a new day. You’re going to move your eyes away from your computer screen every hour. And you’re going to take a five-minute walk around the hallways to stretch your legs. And while you’re at it—you’re going to drop beside your desk and do ten push-ups every 90 minutes. Oh—and you’ll be taking the stairs from now on instead of the elevator. And… enough with hiding the snack-size Crispy Crunch bars in your file cabinet. And that mug of cream ‘with a spot of coffee’… Oops. I’m off track here.

The fact is, the experts are absolutely right. No matter the volume of deadlines and the scarcity of hours in a day, our bodies crave periodical rests. Nagging little aches and pains are your body’s way of sending “urgent” memos to you. Just as if you were to ignore urgent memos from your boss or client, ignoring your body’s memos can lead to more serious issues down the road.

I’d like to suggest (to you and me both!) some good habits to form this year, which will give your body the break it needs to work more productively without the aches and pains.

1. Give your eyes a rest. Look away from your computer monitor for a couple of minutes, every hour or so. Look out the window at the sky. Make eyes at your plant. Seek out coffee-stain patterns in the industrial carpeting. Whatever. Just allow your eyes to focus on something other than your computer monitor.

2. Pretend you’re back in Kindergarten. Stand tall, lift your arms and reach for the sky—strrretchhhh those arms (If it helps, speak this dialogue in your head in a gleeful, sing-song voice). Hold the stretch for a few seconds. Release and repeat a few times. Do some head rolls next. They’re good for your poor, cramped neck muscles. Flex your keyboard-weary fingers and squeeze your hands into balls, then repeat a few times.

3. Give your stems a little lovin’. Stand on your tiptoes and feel the stretch in your legs, then make like a hall monitor and take a little stroll through the hallways, just to get the blood circulating again.

Turning these suggestions into regular habits will take no more than about five minutes of your time, and will help you ride a lot higher once you’re back in the saddle.

See you in the hallway tomorrow!

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on January 24th, 2011

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From whirlwind to gentle breeze

By Donna Marrin

Hmmmmm—why do stress levels skyrocket during the month of December?

Over four whirlwind weeks, we pressure ourselves to: find ‘the perfect gifts’ for family and friends, manage one or two big family celebrations, juggle kids who are out of school for at least a couple of those weeks, compete with Martha Stewart in the kitchen and around the rest of the house, AND… be at six cocktail parties, five formal dinners, four festive lunches, three Sunday brunches, two desserts and punches—and we wonder why we’re going out of our tree!

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can rediscover the true joys of the season again by replacing your old habits with newer, more disciplined ones:

1. Remember that there are a limited number of hours in each day, and plan accordingly. Every night before you go to bed, set a couple of goals for the next day and don’t allow yourself to get sidetracked. Try setting your alarm 15 or 20 minutes earlier each morning. A bit of extra time used wisely can make all the difference. Delegate as many duties as you can to others, while keeping in mind that ‘perfect’ is almost always an unrealistic expectation.

2. Kids love to feel needed. Allow the older ones to do most of the gift-wrapping and decorating. So what if things turn out a bit crooked? They’ll feel proud to have contributed and you’ll eliminate more tasks from your list.

3. When shopping for gifts and other holiday items, don’t leave home without a specific list of items. Visit only one or two stores that offer what you’re looking for and don’t deviate. Consider doing some of your shopping online or by catalogue and having your purchases delivered to your door.

4. Set a budget and stick to it. Spending beyond your means is not what the season is all about. It’s the thought that counts, not the amount.

5. Learn how to say “No thank you.” You don’t have to attend every party on the planet. Choose a couple of events that you would most enjoy attending and come up with creative excuses for all the rest.

6. Inviting the entire clan over for dinner? Who says you have to shoulder the entire burden? Plan a potluck meal and assign each person a different dish to bring. Or if you can afford to have the meal catered, go for it! Sometimes, the cost of ordering a nice take-out meal is not only reasonable, it’s worth all the hours you would have spent in the kitchen.

7. Speaking of food, we are all guilty of going overboard at this time of year (thus, the need for New Year’s resolutions!). It’s difficult to resist the smorgasbord of baked goods, hors d’oeuvres and other rich nibbles that lie in wait to ambush us around every corner. But no matter how good it all tastes, you know and I know there’s a penalty to be paid later for overindulging. You don’t have to deprive yourself—it’s as simple as cutting your portions in half and committing to a bit of exercise every day.

8. When you leave the office, leave the work behind too. Set aside time to celebrate traditions with your family, catch up with friends, play with your kids and relax. Bundle everyone up and go play together in the snow. Make cocoa and play board games. Share a family hug under the mistletoe. Cuddle up together and watch some hokey holiday movies.

Make your holiday season a safe, restful and joyous one.

Tell us how you create balance for yourself during the holiday season?

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com


Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on December 20th, 2010

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Online shopping, anyone?

By Donna Marrin

Round and round the parking lot
An hour just to find a space.
The gun’s been fired and I’m off!
In the local mall shopping race.

The electronic doors don’t work today—
I crash face first into the glass.
A heap of elbows jab my ribs,
Folks behind me pushing past.

I clutch my ergo shopping bag,
INHALE before this shopping-fest,
Scan my list, clutched tight in fist,
Ready to begin my quest.

Buzzing about like compost flies,
A mass of human bumper cars,
I’m banged and bumped so frequently,
My eyes are seeing twinkle stars.

Warriors rampage through the aisles,
Eyes ablaze with manic glaze,
Were I buck naked on a pogo stick,
I know they’d flit right by, unfazed.

I search in vain for “Perfect Gifts.”
Up and down. Around and round.
Hours later, a gourmet cheese grater
And argyle socks are all I’ve found.

I wad my list into a ball,
And fling it down the gadzoozles aisle.
Away I go to home sweet home
To shop online. And now, I smile.

Try taking it EASY by shopping for your holiday gifts online at www.staples.ca

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Book of the Month on December 13th, 2010

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6 Ways to Mix Business with Pleasure

By Donna Marrin

Meetings around the boardroom table are a necessary part of doing business, as well as a tedious one (who doesn’t sigh at the thought of yet another meeting?). Once in a while, mix it up by planning a different, more casual style of meeting.

1. On the links: Invite your client to a ‘nine hole’ meeting. There’s nothing like fresh air, lush green expanses, and some friendly competition to get the conversation started. (Just try not to whip the cleats off your client!)

2. On the water: Are you fortunate enough to own a cruiser at a nearby marina? Or do you have access to a rental? During nice weather, pack a basket with sandwiches and drinks and have a lunch meeting on the water. Are your clients fishing enthusiasts? Invite them to join you for a day of angling. (But don’t forget to hide the photos of the five-pound pickerel you caught last week, just in case they aren’t as skilled lucky as you!)

3. Over a hearty breakfast: Is there a local diner near your home/office with a reputation for serving scrumptious breakfasts? It’s a great way to start the day. (And keep this in mind: A well-fed client is a happy client. And when the client’s happy, everybody’s happy!)

4. In a serene setting: Take a walk with your client at a nearby park and have your discussion as you relax on seating that overlooks a pond or fountain. A tranquil environment loosens everyone up by boosting the mood. Are you the proud owner of a beautiful garden at your home? Invite your client to join you there for a cup of coffee in pleasant surroundings. (Please note: If your client suffers from an allergy to pollen, your meeting may not go so well.)

5. Do like the Brits: Is there a specialty tea shop in your area? If you know your client is a tea lover, extend an invitation to join you for high tea one afternoon. (But don’t try being fancy by sticking your pinkie out while you sip. That’s just grounds for losing the account.)

6. A unique setting that complements your business: Are you a florist? Meet your client for a stroll through a public garden. A book editor? Meet at a book shop coffee bar. You’re a portable toilet distributor? …Just stick with the boardroom.

Depending on the type of business you operate and the type your client operates, there are countless unique meeting spot ideas. Spice up your meetings every once in a while by mixing business with pleasure!

Do you ever hold meetings off the beaten track? Let us know what you do to make your meetings more interesting.

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on September 27th, 2010

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Identity Theft Hurts: Part 2

By Donna Marrin

Prevention is your best revenge

1. At Home

Lock personal information in a secure place at all times so nobody entering your home, invited or not, can gain access to it.

  • Purchase a personal shredder and shred all documents before you trash them: charge receipts, insurance forms, cheques, bank statements, expired charge cards, etc.
  • Keep a current photocopy (also in a locked, secure place) of every piece of information that you carry with you: your driver’s license, social security card, etc., for immediate referral if your purse or wallet is stolen.

2. Your Mail

It’s a fact of life that our mailboxes sit in isolation for most of each day; therefore, a locking mailbox is your wisest security measure. The more difficult it is to access, the less chance your mail will be targeted.

  • Remove mail as promptly as possible from your mailbox.
  • Be familiar with your billing cycles and follow up immediately if you notice any missing bills. Thieves will use stolen information to submit a “change of address” while paying the minimum charge on a bill, later requesting a new card with a new address. Before long, the thief is using your credit card without your knowledge.
  • Report immediately discrepancies on monthly statements.
  • Thieves have no access to your outgoing mail as long as you drop it directly into designated Canada Post collection boxes.
  • Before you go on vacation, call Canada Post to arrange a vacation hold.

3. Out and About

  • Never supply your Social Insurance Number unless it’s absolutely necessary. Ask if you can use a different form of ID instead.
  • When going out, plan to carry only the identification and credit or debit card that you know you will need to use and secure any extra cards in your locked area at home.
  • Never sign the back of a credit card. Instead, print “Photo ID Required” in the signature area.

4. Security Measures

  • When you create a password, don’t use obvious, locatable information: maiden name, birth dates, consecutive numbers, or parts of your SIN or phone number. And never keep written records of passwords.
  • Never divulge personal information over the phone, Internet or by mail, unless you’re certain you’re dealing with a legitimate organization and you were first to initiate contact. Exercise extreme caution when responding to sales promotions. Identity thieves will create phony promotional offers designed to glean personal information. They pose as bank representatives, lottery administrators, Internet service providers and other official-sounding business personnel. They will do whatever it takes to persuade you to reveal your personal information to them. Do you handle financial transactions over the Internet? If so, ask about their privacy/security policies: Is your personal information shared with other agencies? How secure is their server? How do they store personal information? If you are wary of their policies, discontinue your business with them.
  • Question security policies in your workplace, doctor’s office or any other organizations using your personal information, and know exactly who has access to it. Find out if your information will be shared with mailing list companies, marketing and survey companies or anyone else. Request that your information be kept confidential. Keep your purse or wallet locked in a secure place at work, and do the same with any administrative forms displaying your personal information.

5. Cheques

  • When you reorder cheques, pick them up at the bank instead of having them sent to your mailbox.
  • Have only your first initial and last name printed on your cheques. Not knowing how you sign your cheques will make it a lot more difficult for a thief to forge your full name, since banks keep your signature on file for comparison. It’s also a good idea to have your business address and phone number printed on cheques instead of your home information. Without access to your home address and phone number, a thief who steals your cheques will have difficulty infiltrating other accounts.
  • Never print your SIN or driver’s license numbers on your cheques. You can supply this information later, if absolutely necessary.
  • When paying your credit card account by cheque, do not write your entire account number on the “For” line. Many people view your cheque as it works its way through the payment process. If you supply only the last four digits of your account number, the credit card company can still identify your account.
    Be extremely protective of your personal information. Ask questions, no matter who requests access. Demand to know why they need your information, what they plan to do with it, how long they intend to keep it, who they plan to share it with and how you can feel confident with their security measures. Identity theft is a debilitating crime, and these simple precautions can save you months, if not years, of grief and damage to your financial status.

Fighting Back

If your credit cards or cheques have disappeared, acting fast is the best form of damage control. Identity thieves work against the clock and will abandon efforts the moment they sense detection. Your diligence is key.

  1. Contact your bank and/or credit card company the instant you notice that your cheques and/or credit cards are missing.
  2. File a police report immediately. You should also visit PhoneBusters, Canada’s anti-fraud call centre, to learn more about protecting yourself against fraud.
  3. Call in a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting the following Canadian credit bureaus: Equifax Canada and Trans Union Canada. To read more, visit Public Safety Canada.

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. Visit her at www.markhamvillagewriters.com.

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Organized, Technology on May 25th, 2010

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An interview with Sally Hogshead, Speaker, Author and Brand Innovation Consultant

By Donna Marrin

Sally Hogshead

Sally Hogshead

My company, Fascinate, helps companies become more fascinating. For instance, we help brands develop messages that fascinate consumers. We teach leaders how to persuade employees. We show marketers how to create more influential messages.

How did you start out?

I began as a copywriter in advertising and rose to a creative director. When I was 27, I opened my first advertising agency. I’ve always loved writing—passionately, wildly love it. I love when a brand needs to figure out who it is, what it stands for, why people should care. Nothing gets me more revved up than developing thoughts that leave the world an ever-so-slightly more interesting place than before those thoughts were thought.

Was there a time when you reached a ‘fork in the road’ where you chose the path that took you to where you are today? 

In 2003, during a pregnancy, doctors ordered me to quit my job and stay in bed until the baby was born. Let me tell you, bed rest is less fun than it sounds. I went from being at the top of my field to being unemployed, unable to even walk out the front door. It humbled me. It crushed me. To get through that time, I propped my laptop on my growing belly and began to write. Months passed. The pregnancy progressed well, and so did I. The baby grew big enough to jiggle my laptop when she kicked. Two things came out of this process. One was my first book, named RADICAL CAREERING. It was published in 2005, and you can download it free at. The other thing that came out of this process? My amazing and hilarious daughter, Azalea. (Oh, and for the record: delivering a baby requires less pain medication than birthing a book.)

Did you have any doubts, and if so, how did you overcome them?

I have doubts every single day! How do I overcome them? Big goals, strong caffeine, and a sharp kick in the ass.

In advertising, how much emphasis do you put on following instincts over going with the formula?

Formulas are intellectual, rational and predictable. Ads that follow formulas are easy to create and easy for a committee to approve, because they don’t require any original thought. The problem? Formulas lead to ads that are forgotten— or worse, ignored. Luckily, formulas can be tweaked. By understanding universal human behaviors, you can create messages that captivate consumers. In my book, FASCINATE, I explain how people and companies can influence behavior by applying the seven fascination triggers, which include mystique, lust, power, and trust.

What has your biggest learning curve been in terms of marketing your business?

Paperwork. (Fortunately, I have excellent delegation skills.)

Describe a day in the life…

Coffee at 6 am. Wake up at 6:15. Craziness ensues for the next twelve hours, during which time I’ll probably write a blog post, respond to emails, plan a speech, connect with my team on our latest project, have a call with my agent, reheat something in the fridge and scrounge for cookies or something sugary. Then dinnertime, after which my brain hits “off” whether I want it to or not. Around 11 pm, I make coffee to get me up the next morning.

You’re also a mom—how do you balance business and family?

I don’t have this one figured out yet. Every day is a work in progress. I find that it’s hard to be great at anything when you’re 50/50. I pick times to unplug, then I focus totally and blissfully on my kids.

Do you have a favorite business tool or resource?

Yes: social media, especially Twitter. (My Twitter username is @SallyHogshead, by the way, if you’d like to connect.) By following a wide range of authors and marketers and journalists and pop culture junkies, I can peek inside their minds, and learn how they think and work.

What is the one piece of advice you would like to give to others thinking about starting a business?

Aspire to be the dumbest person in the room.

By that I mean, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you—people who can challenge you and inspire you and push you to the next level. Working with smart people is the mack daddy. The be-all and end-all. It’s the single most important criteria for evaluating your current or potential job.

What is the key to your success?

Sheer refusal of mediocrity.

What inspires you?

My kids. Daily.

sally_hogshead_logo ABOUT SALLY HOGSHEAD Growing up with the last name Hogshead would give anyone an unconventional point of view. Today, Sally is a speaker, author, and nationally-acclaimed marketing expert.
During her second year in advertising, Sally won more awards than any other writer in the U.S., and was called “the most successful junior copywriter of all time.” She went on to guide world-class brands such as Aflac, Target, Godiva, and Coca-Cola. She’s frequently interviewed by media such as the New York Times and NBC’s Today Show, and the Globe and Mail described her as “The marketing mistress of captivation.”
Sally’s new book is titled, FASCINATE: YOUR 7 TRIGGERS TO PERSUASION AND CAPTIVATION. Curious to know how you persuade others? Find out in Sally’s “F Score” personality test, based on research of over 1,000 people, available for free here. Sally’s website is http://www.SallyHogshead.com, and she can be reached at Fascinate@SallyHogshead.com.

Posted by Lynnette in Small Business Spotlight on May 20th, 2010

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An interview with Christine Ross, Partner/Managing Director of Spider Marketing Solutions in Toronto

By Donna Marrin

Tell me about your company.

Chirsine Ross

Christine Ross

Spider Marketing was an idea born years ago while working for other marketing services agencies and realizing the need for more discipline around the ideation piece within our industry. We’ve been in business for five years now and employ roughly 15-20 people. Our point of difference is the consistent delivery of BIG ideas through our unique innovation process called KiC™ (Knowledge inspired Creativity), which combines a series of proprietary ideation and information gathering tools with diverse creative talent and extensive marketing expertise that delivers measurable solutions. Working with such clients as Mattel, OLG, Energizer, Genzyme and Coca-Cola, Spider helps build their businesses by introducing unique marketing solutions to connect with and engage their

What were you doing before you decided to take the entrepreneurial leap and what inspired you to go for it?

I was home on maternity leave when I decided to go for it! I had been in the marketing services industry for 20 years at that point, working for various large multinational firms and it was an ideal time to rethink my future. I realized there wasn’t an agency in Canada that could provide me with the creative environment I needed to pursue my passion for real innovation! Fortunately, I was also in a personal position that allowed me to take such a risk. The more I spoke with respected friends and colleagues about my idea, the more inspired I became that my unique agency concept had legs. At that point, there was no stopping me; we officially launched in the fall of 2004.

How long was the process between concept and launch?

It probably took less than six months to make it happen. Truthfully, it isn’t difficult to set up a company in this country. The hardest part was coming up with a name that would work regardless of our life stage and/or size… much like naming a child. I’m fortunate to have great friends and contacts in the business, all very supportive in helping me get launched. I would highly recommend leveraging all your contacts once you decide to set up a business. You’ve probably helped a lot of people throughout your career—time for some reciprocity?

What was your biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your business?

You can’t slow down! You can’t take your foot off the accelerator. Celebrate your wins then get right back onto the new business bandwagon. Another lesson—you have to truly understand the notion of cash flow. It’s scary (in a good way), but it keeps you honest knowing you’re only as good as the money you have coming in! And you’re only as good as your next big idea. Running a business was harder than I had anticipated. The responsibility is overwhelming some days, but the rewards are so much richer. I could never go back now!

Describe a day in the life…

They’re all different and they’re all hectic and double-booked. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Up at about 6:00 a.m. to work out/run; get three kids up, organized and dropped off at school. At my desk for 9:30 a.m. and work through the day until about 5:15 p.m. before racing home to start my ‘real job!’ (smile) I often describe my job as working ‘on the business’ rather than ‘in the business.’ Clients always come first—I specifically oversee the Mattel and OLG accounts, so I check in on those first. My secondary priorities are corporate issues as well as working on specific projects such as business planning, KiC development and other corporate initiatives. My partner (and husband) and I divide the work priorities as much as possible, and it all works for the most part. Most evenings include some work; reviewing presentations, checking emails. It’s definitely a balancing act.

What is your secret to balancing business and family?

A wise woman once told me that, as working moms, ‘we’re only as happy as our least happy child.’ So this is the real secret to my balancing act. My days are infinitely better when I know the kids are sorted and settled, so I make it a priority to keep them organized and check in as often as possible. Thanks to technology, the balancing act is much easier. I can be ‘working’ at home and ‘parenting’ at work. It’s VERY seamless. And in this day and age, everyone appreciates the need for a balancing act—you no longer have to hide your family while you’re at work or risk being perceived as taking your job ‘less seriously’ because you have kids. You also need to be patient and learn to let yourself off the hook! I also make sure I surround myself with great people who are supportive when I need it most. I do NOT try to do it all. I know what I’m good at and what I’m capable of getting done, so I do not agree to do anything that I know I can’t deliver (or die trying). I delegate a lot to a great team of supportive people, both at work and home. And I have an awesome, supportive husband—having him as my partner means we can check in regularly on all issues related to kids, home or work. It’s the perfect life! (A nice bottle of wine always helps too.)

Do you have a favorite business tool or resource?  

I always enjoy my time with the creative team and innovation resources. My favourite part of the day is coming up with ideas for our clients. I have many different KiC tools and resources for customizing these ideas by client and by business problem.  

What are some of the challenges of running your own business?

Always needing to come up with the answers, always needing to be ‘on’ for the team or for the clients, regardless of what might really be going on behind the scenes. Being a business owner means no longer having the luxury of spending someone else’s money, so we’re constantly aware of the business implications of every decision we make and how our decisions affect the team. This can be an innovation ‘crusher’ at times, so we constantly need to find ways to stay upbeat and positive no matter what!

What do you love most about running your own business?  

The flexibility and control of making decisions that we know are right for the business and not just for an anonymous stakeholder in another country! I personally love the thrill of generating new ideas for clients and seeing the excitement in their eyes when we’ve ‘nailed’ the concept! There is a direct correlation in your efforts and imagination to the results of the business, and that is a thrill and a joy as a business owner.

What would you say is the key to your success?

The key to our continued success is that we constantly push ourselves to re-invent, re-imagine and re-invest in new growth areas for the business. Overlay that with GREAT people and you have a winning formula. Our mantra is Great Ideas and Great People = Great Profits! Put your product and your people first and the profits will follow.
 
Do you have a source of inspiration?  

I am personally inspired by the team I work with. I need the energy of others to inspire my day, so being able to work with my husband, who is unbelievable smart and creative, and to be surrounded by a group of young, bright, creative and energetic people is a huge inspiration to me every day.

If you could give one piece of advice to others thinking about starting a business, what would it be?  

BE UNIQUE! Be VERY diligent in understanding and articulating your key point of difference within your market. Too many people sound too much the same and potential clients have trouble perceiving a difference. Find your unique angle/offering and articulate it clearly and concisely to the right group of people who can use this offering to help them in some way. Additional advice: you absolutely have to be passionate and tireless or you won’t succeed. You will often be rejected ten times out of eleven. You have to truly convey a passion for your product and never, ever give up.

Christine Ross founded Spider Marketing Solutions Inc., a Toronto-based, privately held full-service marketing communications agency, in 2004. A passionate and innovative leader in the promotional marketing industry, she brings close to twenty-five years of experience in marketing and sales promotion with several of Canada’s leading marketing and advertising agencies. During her career, Ross gained extensive experience as director, customer marketing and promotions with the CTV Television Network, where she launched the promotional marketing group. She was a senior vice president at Marketing Drive for five years, where she partnered with Rico DiGiovanni to build the agency’s reputation into one of the country’s best. In addition, her agency experience includes stints as general manager at the Takamatsu Group, Promotion Solutions Group, and Glavin and Associates. Christine also has a broad spectrum of related expertise in the packaged goods, beverage, retail and fashion industries. As a committed supporter of her industry, Christine was a founding member of the PMA (Promotion Marketing Association) Toronto Chapter and is currently the executive director of CAPMA (Canadian Association of Promotional Marketing Agencies), dedicated to elevating the awareness and professional standards of promotional marketing agencies in Canada. She is a frequent speaker at industry and related events. Ross currently lives in Toronto with her husband and business partner, Rico DiGiovanni, and their five children. To learn more about Spider Marketing Solutions Inc., visit www.spidermarketingsolutions.com. For additional information or to arrange an interview with Christine Ross, please contact Susan Willemsen at The Siren Group Inc. Tel: (416) 481-2889/Fax: (416) 481-6061/Email: thesirengroupinc@sympatico.ca.

Posted by Lynnette in Small Business Spotlight on May 3rd, 2010

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Spring cleaning for stragglers – Part Two, Day 2

By Donna Marrin

Still have your Nurse Ratched shoes on? Good. Finish your coffee and let’s get at it.

Day 2, Step 1

1. Turn your attention toward the piles of “bonfire kindling” on the floor. (You might need another coffee at this point, but gulp fast. We have work to do.) Let’s start with the pile that was on your shelving. 

2. See all those old magazines, catalogues, newspapers, etc., that you forgot you had until now? Drop them all into your recycling bin. All of them. Victoria’s Secret included. The same goes for everything else in the pile that you know deep down in your gullet you’ll never look at again in this lifetime, since you barely have enough time to read your own advertising, much less everyone else’s. 

3. Knickknacks are dust collectors. Unless you’re certain that the pawn shop around the corner would give you lots of fast cash for them (in the event that you needed lots of fast cash) or little Johnny or Judy made them for you at school (priceless), they’re history. Get rid of them.

 4. Put all reference books and important manuals back up on your shelves—but not your J.R.R. Tolkien boxed set. Take that home, please. All loose-leaf reference materials may also be returned to your shelves, only after you have hole-punched and sorted the whole shebang into neatly labeled binders. 

Brief Pause

Expresso BeansYou might want to chew a big handful of those gourmet, chocolate-covered espresso beans right about now. Maybe even two handfuls.

 

Step 2

1. Face the pile of desk-drawer stuff on your floor. Sit down in front of it and get comfortable because you have to sort through all of it. (Might as well pull the garbage can over now too.) 

Desk Organizer2. Set aside your stapler, staple remover, box of staples, elastic bands, paper clips, scissors, box of pens/pencils/markers, letter opener, pushpins, highlighters, tape, post-it notes/notepad, correction tape and glue. If you don’t already have one of those divided trays that fit in your drawer, go to Staples2 and get one. (You’ve got exactly fifteen minutes—I’m timing you.)  

3. That was fast! Set the tray into your top drawer and sort all those supplies you set aside earlier into the little compartments. Now, doesn’t that look fab? You can find your scissors now without having to paw through old tissues and newspaper clippings and crushed packs of old soda crackers. 

Step 3

Keep the momentum going by turning immediately to the pile of paperwork you removed from your file drawer. (No more coffee beans, though; your foot tapping is really starting to get on my nerves.) 

1. Sort everything into two piles: SHRED and DON’T SHRED. 

2. Let’s work with the DON’T SHRED pile first, just in case you realize later that you put that million-dollar contract you just signed last week into the SHRED pile by mistake. 

file folders3. Crack open the box of crisp, new file folders that you also picked up at Staples when you bought the desk drawer tray. Neatly label each one and file all your paperwork. Well lookee here—your file drawer’s so tidy, you’ve found clients you never knew you had! 

4. Now for the easy part. Pick up the SHRED pile, walk over to your shredder, and go to town. 

Step Five

We’re down to the final lap—the icing on the cupcake: a tidy desk top. 

1. Wipe down your telephone and place it—no, not inside your desk drawer!—within arm’s reach on your desk. 

2. Don’t even think about putting any of the trinkety doodads in the pile back on your desk. You know where to put them. So hop to it. 

3. You are permitted a framed photo or two of someone extra special (preferably, someone you are acquainted with). Better yet, hang them on the wall. The pictures. Hang the pictures on the wall. 

4. Make sure your computer monitor is placed at an eye-to-screen distance of at least 25” and the top of your monitor is slightly farther away from your eyes than the bottom. It’s important to protect yourself against eyestrain; your clients may get the wrong impression if you enter a meeting with your eyes crossed. 

5. Now there’s finally enough room for your daily planner/desk calendar—essential, otherwise, if you’re like me, you would never know which way you were coming or going on any given day. And, of course, the other office essential: your coffee mug (on a coaster, please). 

2The go-to place for the tools you need to keep you organized all 365 days!

 

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Organized on April 29th, 2010

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Spring cleaning for stragglers – Part One, Day 1

By Donna Marrin

Is there anything more invigorating than working in an environment that you’ve clutter-busted? (Well, ok, yes, getting somebody else do the clutter-busting is a lot more invigorating, but that’s not our goal here. You’re on a budget, remember?)

Nurse Ratched

Nurse Ratched

If you’ve been avoiding the big cleanout like it’s an Ebola plague, then I’m your Nurse Ratched and I’m here to give you your booster shot. I challenge you right now to:

  1. Dig your calendar out from under the pile of refuse on your desk.
  2. Choose one afternoon and one morning in the very near future that you know you can commit to.
  3. Write Cleaning Day there in bold, black marker. 

(Keep in mind, you may need more than one afternoon and one morning, depending on your level of hoarding.) 

Got your new goal clear in your mind? Good. 

   4.   Now, get back to work.

***

Cleaning Day has arrived!

Hope you dressed comfortably—that means no seams that are pulling or stiletto heels1. …Ok. Enough stalling. Chug your coffee and let’s get to work.

Day 1

1. Transfer everything on top of your desk onto the floor. 

2. Empty your drawers (your desk drawers) and make another pile on the  floor. 

Office3. Make a third pile on the floor by removing everything that you’ve jammed into your wall or book shelves. (For obvious reasons, you are not permitted to set fire to the massive pile on the floor, even though it would be tempting to

4. Use a good cleaner to scrub down your entire desk and eliminate all the coffee rings, ink splotches and remnants of Bolognese sauce left over from dinner at your desk the other night. Clean your keyboard tray as well. 

5. Next, wipe all the chip and cookie crumbs from inside your desk drawers. While you’re at it, use a can of pressurized air to blow out all the snack bits you’ve dropped into your computer keyboard over the past year.

Clean Sweep6. Finally, sweep away the thick carpet of dust from your shelving (Wow! It’s not matte grey; it’s black acrylic!). No, you’re not done yet… Get a stepladder and do the ones at the top too, even though they’re eye level only to the NBA’s Yao Ming.

Ah, are you starting to smell the freshness? Spring is truly in the air! All right. That was the easy part. Go home and rest, and we’ll tackle the part you’ve been dreading in the morning…

  

Stay tuned for Part Two, Day Two tomorrow!

1Note the shoes Nurse Ratched wore in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s ShoeNest.  They are considered comfortable shoes when you need to clean or manage crazy people.

 

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Organized on April 28th, 2010

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