Summary

Arlene Dickinson on her new book All In by Amanda Lang and Kevin O’Leary from the Lang and O’Leary Exchange on CBC on December 17, 2013.  At the start of the interview, Arlene Dickinson zooms in on the mental and emotional skills needed to succeed in business in her new book All In, which is a follow up to her first novel Persuasion that tells of her personal story.  She states that there is very little literature for established small – medium sized business that are struggling to succeed. It is important for future and present entrepreneurs to talk to other people in the business so you can have a better understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur and what to expect.  Ms. Dickinson believes that her book can help you decide if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, that you either have the desire to be an entrepreneur or you don’t! In her book All In, she focuses on the 3 R’s of being an entrepreneur—resilience, roadblocks and rejection. Her message to potential entrepreneurs is that entrepreneurialism takes over your life, it is emotionally and physically hard and that your life and your business are all one thing.

Opinion

In business, you do have to be a very strong person to overcome the roadblocks that do come your way. We agree, that there is very little support for small to medium sized established businesses that are struggling to succeed and that the focus is on the start – up of business. If you are a potential or existing entrepreneur it is always important to get another entrepreneurs perspective on business. Ms. Dickinson’s book, All In, may be a good place to go if you are looking for a place to start as an entrepreneur because it focuses on the 3R’s of being an entrepreneur – resilience, roadblocks and rejection which are definitely key components of being an entrepreneur. Her message to potential entrepreneurs that entrepreneurialism takes over your life, it is emotionally and physically hard and that your life and your business are all one thing is very good advice to anyone considering becoming an entrepreneur because it warns them of the sacrifices and commitment essential to be a successful entrepreneur.

Questions/Feedback

1. After reading our blog of Arlene Dickinson/ Arlene Dickinson Enterprises Ltd would you be interested in reading her books, Persuasion or All In?

2.  Has our blog been helpful in encouraging any of you to consider becoming a future entrepreneur? If yes, please briefly explain how?

References

A. Lang and K. O’Leary. (2012, October 26). Arlene Dickinson on her new book All In. The Lang and O’Leary Exchange, CBC.

Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/.../arlene-dickinson-on-her-new-book-all-in-1.246727...

Photo retrieved from:  www.cbc.ca/news/.../arlene-dickinson-on-her-new-book-all-in-1.246727

Video retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/.../arlene-dickinson-on-her-new-book-all-in-1.246727...

Arlene Dickinson on her new book All In
http://www.cbc.ca/1.246727

 

 

 

 

Arlene Dickinson - Profile of a Successful Canadian Entrepreneur. Entry 4

Summary

Arlene Dickinson- Profile of a Successful Canadian Entrepreneur by the Financial Post on February 9, 2014.  Arlene Dickinson came to Canada from South Africa with her family because of her father's hopes of a better future.  She is very passionate about Canada and all that it has to offer.  She credits her success to the teachings of her father as a role model and Canada for being a great country to do business in. She acquired a good understanding of people's need when she bought Venture Communications and understanding people, understanding that business is all about people, that is what the consumer and marketing is all about.  While she does not credit herself for her success, she believes that it was the support and the sacrifices of her family that built her business. The entrepreneur is to bring the vision and leadership into a business and then stand out of the way and allow your associates to do what you asked them to do. Ms. Dickinson advises new entrepreneurs to invest in your vision, to recruit people that have more experience than you in your field, make sure the business people you are dealing with clearly understand your business ideas and that you believe you can make this business a reality!  Marketing is the key to making your business a success and to make sure that you have a solid marketing strategy for your business plan.

 Opinion

 Many successful business people have descended from other countries that have contributed to the economic growth of Canada. Her passion for Canada is understandable and we agree Canada does have a lot to offer. Many of us, can attribute our successes to our parents. From our own experience in the business world, it is very important to understand the needs of the people, for they are the ones who contribute to its success or failure.  Families of entrepreneurs make many sacrifices throughout the journey of a business making its success, especially in the start- up phase.  Businesses that are successful have entrepreneurs who can lead, provide the knowledge and skills, delegate task and the confidence in their employees to do what is necessary to achieve the results that are required. We agree, that in order for your business to succeed you have to hire people who have more knowledge and experience than you do, to make sure your business ideas are clear to other business people and to believe in yourself.  Every business needs a marketing plan and if you do not market your business properly there is no business - it is the door to how people are going to learn about your business.

 

Questions/Feedback

1. What opportunities does Canada have to offer immigrants?
2. What message did you take from this entry?

References

( February 9. 2014)  Arlene Dickinson - Profile of A Successful Entrepreneur. The Canadian Business Journal .
Retrieved from:
http://www.cbj.ca/features/feb_09_features/arlene_dickinson_profile_of_a_successful_canadian

 Photo retrieved from:  www.yrbizseries.ca

 

Arlene Dickinson -- The rhythm of me Entry #3

Summary

Arlene Dickinson – The Rhythm of Me by Carolyn Lawrence of Women of Influence on May 13, 2013.  During the interview with Carolyn Lawrence, Ms. Dickinson addresses a number of questions put forth by the interviewer.  She tells Ms. Lawrence that her greatest obstacle is herself and after all these years in business she still struggles with believing, “I can.”  As she aged she began to worry less about what others thought about her and started to feel more confident about the decisions she was making. She believes her biggest failure is not understanding the value of time and her lack of confidence in herself.  When asked about how her divorce changed her, she answers by saying, that necessity is a funny thing, it drives you to do things that you never imagine yourself doing and because she was taught by her parents that society owes you nothing, that if she wanted her life to change she was the one in charge of making those changes and people are always changing. She explains that this, “the rhythm of me,” came to her through business, how she would advise people to do different things and then do the opposite when it came to herself, this is when she realized she was not listening to, “ the rhythm of me.”  She believes that her biggest investment risk was herself because she put all of her time, energy and money into her business- herself.  She is excited about Arlene Dickinson Enterprises and YouInc. because this is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to embrace the messiness that comes along with being an entrepreneur, that it is a lifestyle choice; it is not a career, it is who you are and she is proud of the fact that she is providing entrepreneurs the opportunity to talk about this aspect of being in business for yourself.  She advises other entrepreneurs not to use the media to just put yourself out there but, to use the media to talk publicly about the things that matter to you, to use your access to the media to benefit others.  She would like to see women not compare themselves to other men in the business world because women have not been in business as long as men but have contributed to the business world in a faster and more profound pace than men. She discourages woman from looking for recognition and rewards for their achievements and encourages them that if something is not working for you don’t be afraid to make the changes that put you where you want to be.

Opinion

We find it surprising that Arlene Dickinson struggles with issue of self-confidence when she comes across as a confidence Dragon in the business world.  In our own experiences, we also believe that as we age we focus less on what other people’s opinions are of us, we are more confident in many aspects of our lives and that we do have a better understanding of the value of time.  Sometimes life does throw us curve balls when we least expect them and society do not owe us anything but it is truly up to us how we deal with these unexpected changes that are put before us, it is up to us to realize we are always changing and these changes are who make us the people that we presently are.  With respect to her concept of “the rhythm of me” this is quite common, another saying which relates to this one is “do as I say not as I do,” people often can give advice but, rarely follow the advice that they give to others.  She claims her biggest risk investment was herself and for the majority of people their biggest investment throughout their lives is in themselves.  We agree that she should be excited and proud of launching Arlene Dickinson Enterprises and YouInc. , because it is going to be a great way for her and other entrepreneurs to share their lifestyles and help other potential entrepreneurs get their start in the business world.  As entrepreneurs featured in the media, we agree that it is more important to focus on how your experiences can inspire others to follow their aspirations whether it be entrepreneurial or other life choices.  We concur, that women should not base their accomplishment in the business world with comparisons to men because women have a different approach to looking at and resolving issue than men do. Women should not look for recognition and rewards for their accomplishment nor be discouraged when failures arise, it is a learning experience – know what you want, find out what you are doing, change what you are doing to get the results that you want! (KFC)

 

Questions/Feedback

1. Do agree with Arlene Dickinson’s concept of, “the rhythm of me?” Why or why not?

2. What do you believe KFC means?

References

Lawrence, C. (2013, May 13). Arlene Dickinson – The Rhythm of Me. Women of Influence. Retrieved from: http://womenofinfluence.ca/2013/05/23/rhythm-of-me-arlene-dickinson.

Photo by Miguel Jacobs. Retrieved from: http://womenofinfluence.ca/2013/05/23/rhythm-of-me-arlene-dickinson.

Lessons from a Dragon Entry # 2

 

 

Summary

Lessons from a Dragon: a profile of Arlene Dickinson by Charlotte Herrold of Postcity in May, 2013.  The only female remaining on the panel of Dragon’s Den since the second season in 2002 is the sharp, confident and keen eyed Arlene Dickinson, six seasons later which is reflective of the amount of female senior executives in Canada- a mere 17 per cent.  Arlene Dickinson believes that it is crucial for women to be member on boards as our workplace becomes more than fifty per cent women because women think differently, it is crucial to have a different perspective to diversify these boards.  Many businesses that she has invested in while on Dragon’s Den are quite successful mainly because the business owners have the drive, interesting products and created a niche market.  In the late 1980’s, in Canada’s Western economic hub (Calgary)  is where Arlene Dickinson grew up and got her start in the business world, back then there were not the same challenges starting a business because it was still in the developmental stages.  One of her main concerns is putting food on the table for the rest of Canada’s children because she knows the struggles of trying to provide food for her own four children when she was a single parent and just starting out as an entrepreneur.  As the national spokesperson for the Breakfast Clubs of Canada, her most recent fundraiser pulled in more than $ 3 million dollars, she believes it is a wise investment to make sure our children are not going to school hungry because they are our country’s economic future.  Dickinson advises other female entrepreneurs to stop judging themselves by other people’s standards, to include your family in daily activities and not to feel guilty about not always being there for them- you have to forge your own path.
Opinion

It is very disappointing that a democratic society such as Canada would gender discriminate in senior executive positions in the 21^st century.  We agree with Arlene Dickinson’s opinion that women making up more than fifty per cent of the work force should be given senior executive positions and that their input is crucial for today’s economic growth.  Arlene Dickinson has a keen sense of who will be successful and who will not be successful therefore she has a high success rate in investing in entrepreneurs.  We believe, one of the reasons that Ms. Dickinson became such a successful female entrepreneur is because of her experiences in the 1980’s.  It is not surprising that she is the national spokesperson for the Breakfast Club of Canada because as a single parent she personally knows the struggles of trying to feed your children on a daily basis. It is inspirational that she raised over $ 3 million dollars in just one fundraiser for the foundation.  As entrepreneurs, we know first- hand the sacrifices that must be made regarding family life and how important it is not to let the judgement of others influence your family and business decision- you have to forge your own path.

Questions/Feedback

1. What can employers do to help increase the number of women in senior executive positions?

2.  Why do you think that there are more men than women in senior executive position?

Poll question do you agree or disagree that women should be senior executives?

References

Herrold, C. (2013, May). Lessons from a Dragon: a profile of Arlene Dickinson. The Postcity.

Retrieved from http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/May-2013/Lessons-from-a-Dragon.
Photo Retrieved from  http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/May-2013/Lessons-from-a-Dragon.

Arlene Dickinson Enterprises Entry 1

Arlene Dickinson Enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

Summary

Arlene Dickinson launches enterprise to fund, promote entrepreneurs by Hollie Shaw of the Financial Post published on October 26, 2012.  This week, Arlene Dickinson, the head of Ventures Communication has announced her latest endeavour to fund and target Canada’s entrepreneurs, Arlene Dickinson Enterprises (ADE), through a new social network called
YouInc.Com as well as an upcoming magazine and television shows.  Even though, Ms. Dickinson had no marketing experience and only a high school diploma, the 31 year old divorced mother of four began a career at Venture Communications and within a decade she became the owner and CEO of Venture Communications.  Arlene Dickinson’s success and net-worth of $80 million has driven her to inspire other self-starting entrepreneurs, because she can attest to how entrepreneurs have changed the marketplace where it has never been easier to start your own business or easier to sell products globally through the internet and to manufacture offshore than it is now.  Arlene Dickinson Enterprises has partnered with Kirchner Private Captital Group to provide seed capital to entrepreneurial companies and has made a deal with Metroland Media Group to commercialize and distribute ADE products globally.  Ms. Dickinson tells Hollie Shaw how she is fascinated by the dismissal of small to mid-size businesses in our economy and how the main focus is on the big companies when  about 80-90 % of all companies in Canada are small-medium sized businesses with less than 500 employees.  Arlene Dickinson does not measure the success of a business by the amount of money it has made, for it to be considered a successful business it does not have to be a $ 200 million company; that it can be a company that she has taken from a zero to $10-25 million dollars.  YouInc.com, the new social component of ADE gives a peek into the type of content that Ms. Dickinson visions as fertile territory for the upcoming YouInc.com Magazine which will differ from other business magazines and TV shows which tend to talk about the business side of entrepreneurship; it will explore lifestyles of entrepreneurs creating a lifestyle brand around lifestyles.  YouInc.com will act as a support link for potential entrepreneurs as well as existing entrepreneurs through a number of sources such as blog postings on related business topics by Ms. Dickinson and other business owners, an open discussion page for its members, its own videos, relevant TED talks and business how-to videos.  YouInc.com will feature entrepreneurs who have deals with ADE by showing how they are helping them gain credibility, media attention, brand recognition and build a platform in the marketplace as well as offering tips and advice.  Ms. Dickinson has the support of Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business who believes that Ms. Dickinson’s timing is opportune and that by blending entrepreneurial lifestyles with a social media aspect has some serious potential because that is where there is a trend towards; the entrepreneurial economy- social media.

Opinions

Exciting news happened in the media this week with the launch of Arlene Dickinson Enterprises (ADE) as a new social network YouInc.com, with an upcoming magazine and TV shows for entrepreneurs.  Ms. Dickinson is an inspiring role model for women and for all people in general as she is a great example of how you can start at the bottom in the business world and work your way to the top, regardless of your level of education or circumstances as long as you have the desire to succeed. The fact that Ms. Dickinson started at Venture Communications with no education or experience in the business world and within just 10 years she worked her way to the top to become owner and CEO of the company is a fine example of self-determination.  Arlene Dickinson’s success and knowledge in the business world has motivated her to assist other entrepreneurs to succeed in the business world. Ms. Dickinson has made a wise business decision by partnering with Kirchner Private Capital Group and striking a deal with Metroland Media Group as it will give her the support base she needs to succeed.  It is disappointing, that the main focus in Canada is on big businesses when small and medium sized businesses with less than 500 employees make up 80-90% of Canada’s economy. We believe, that any business that turns a profit year after year is a successful business especially during the first few years, as the business tries to establish itself in Canada’s marketplace. YouInc.com appears to be a unique and intriguing new way of inquiring and becoming educated about the lifestyles of the entrepreneurial lifestyle through discussion boards, blog postings and the magazine itself as well as through the other resources it has to offer.  We feel that YouInc.com is going to be a great support link for entrepreneurs and for those exploring the option of becoming an entrepreneur.  We think ,it is going to be very beneficial for entrepreneurs to become members of Arlene Dickinson Enterprises because of all of the resources and supports it has to offer; it is a great way to gain publicity, recognition and credibility in the business world just by being associate with such a powerful icon in the business world in itself has to be beneficial. We agree with Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for backing Arlene Dickinson Enterprises as he believes that Ms. Dickinson’s timing is opportune and that by blending entrepreneurial lifestyles with the social media aspect has serious potential because that is where the trend is, in the entrepreneurial economy- social media. Surely,  most of us have witnessed in recent years how products are being marketed and sold through social media. Each day, we receive emails from online companies trying to introduce us to their new product lines or services, and advertising their existing products and services in hopes we will buy or use their products and services.

Questions/ Feedback

1. What are your thoughts about the increasing entrepreneurial economy in Canada as a result of social media companies such as Arlene Dickinson Enterprises (ADE)?

2. Should Canadians be focusing on big business or small to medium sized businesses? Why?

References

Shaw, H. (2012). Arlene Dickinson Launches Enterprise to Fund, Promote Entrepreneurs. The National Post. Retrieved from: http://thefinancialpost.com
Photograph and Logo retrieved from the National Post.
Video link retrieved from:

http://globalnews.ca/video/1035096/arlene-dickinson