Author: Amy

2010 Featured Entrepreneurs:

Congratulations to all the winners!

January: Melanie Machado

February: Andrea Ross

March: Fred Munn

April: Kelli Harker

May: Neelam Gurm

June: Jon Lord

July: Pete Swales

August: Karen Rowe

September: Jay Fiset

October: Scott Walker

November: Karen Adams

December: Stacey Deering

You can find their stories on my Entrepreneurs of Alberta Fan Page under the Notes section.

Entrepreneurs of Alberta

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from the ESSENE BOOK OF DAYS by Danaan Perry

Sometimes I feel that my life is a series of trapeze swings. I’m either hanging on to a trapeze bar swinging along, or for a few moments in my life, I’m hurtling across space in between trapeze bars.

Most of the time, I spend my life hanging on for dear life to my trapeze-bar-of-the-moment. It carries me along at a certain steady rate of swing, and I have the feeling that I’m in control of my life. I know most of the right questions and some of the right answers.

But once in a while, as I’m merrily (or not-so-merrily) swinging along, I look out ahead of me into the distance and what do I see? I see another trapeze bar swinging towards me. It’s empty, and I know in that place in me that knows, that this “new trapeze bar” has my name on it. It is my next step, my growth, my aliveness coming to get me. In my heart-of-hearts I know that for me to grow, I must release my grip on the present well-known bar to move to the new one.

Each time it happens to me, I hope (no pray) that I won’t have to grab the new one. But in my knowing place I know that I must totally release my grasp on my old bar, and for some moment in time I must hurtle across space before I can grab onto the new bar. Each time I am filled with terror. It doesn’t matter that in all previous hurtles across the void knowing I have always made it. Each time I am afraid that I will miss, that I will be crushed on the unseen rocks in the bottomless chasm between the bars.

But I do it anyway. Perhaps this is the essence of what the mystics call the faith experience. No guarantees, no net, no insurance policy, but you do it anyway because somehow to keep hanging on to that old bar is no longer on the list of alternatives.

And so, for an eternity that can last a microsecond or a thousand lifetimes, I soar across the dark void of “the past is gone, the future is not yet here”. It is called transition. I have come to believe that is the only place where real change occurs. I mean real change, not the pseudo-change that only lasts until the next time my old buttons get punched.

I have noticed that, in our culture, this transition zone is looked upon as a “nothing”, a no-place between places. Sure, the old trapeze-bar was real, and that new one coming towards me, I hope that’s real, too. But the void between? That’s just a scary, confusing, disorienting “nowhere” that must be gotten through as fast as possible. What a waste!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the transition zone is the only real thing, and the bars are illusions we dream up to avoid the void, where real change, the real growth occurs for us. Whether or not my hunch is true, it remains that the transition zones in our lives are incredibly rich places. They should be honoured, even savoured. Yes, with all the pain and fear and feelings of being out-of-control that can (but not necessarily) accompany transitions, they are still the most alive, most growth-filled, passionate, expansive moments in our lives.

And so transformation of fear may have nothing to do with making fear go away but rather with giving ourselves permission to “hangout” in the transition between trapeze bars.

Transforming our need to grab that new bar is allowing ourselves to dwell in the only place where change really happens. It can be terrifying. It can also be enlightening in the true sense of the word.

Hurtling through the void, we just may learn how to fly.

A friend Yasmin Dean sent this to me recently, and I couldn’t help but share it! Thanks Yas 🙂

We all have power, even if we have zero authority. Every single person alive today has the power to inspire. The power to innovate. The power to influence. The power to act. The power to serve. And the power to Lead. Use it. Please. (The world demands no less of you!).

credit: Robin Sharma

Being an Entrepreneur is all about trusting yourself. As humans, we have this very useful built-in tool called instinct, and when we trust this, it can be a very powerful tool. Best of all – it’s FREE!

So, if you think something is a good idea – GO FOR IT! Of course use common sense but don’t listen to naysayers – and that especially means YOU! The same goes for a bad idea. If you get the feeling that something is not right, the flags are going up, sirens are going off, or whatever that looks like to you – listen up! That’s your instinct trying to tell you something.

It’s easy to be blinded by the need for success, so we tend to overlook what our instinct is telling us. But trust me, when your trusting your instinct, your trusting yourself, so don’t fall prey to the mob mentality. Let your instincts lead you to success!

Personal Best’s Jay Fiset, Amy Lafleche, and 2010 Mayor Candidate Jon Lord discuss “Getting Involved” on New Energy Biz Radio hosted by Michelle Gabriel.

Listen to the full episode here:

Optimum Performance Training Entrepreneurial Community Spirit Award 2010 Recipient

1. Demonstrates outstanding commitment to social responsibility.
2. Provides strong support of local and/or global not-for-profit organizations.
3. Devotes personal time and energy to the community.
4. Incorporates not-for-profit causes into their business.
5. Exemplifies high business ethics.
6. Demonstrates a passion for betterment of the community.

Rae-Ann Wood-Schatz!

Congratulations Rae-Ann!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out last night to support a GREAT CAUSE.

We started momentum toward a movement of entrepreneurship and have set a really solid foundation for a community built around entrepreneurship and philanthropy and I can’t wait to see what we do next as a group of POWERFUL Entrepreneurs!! And, I REALLY mean that, I’m already planning the next events and projects and I encourage you to start making BIG plans yourself – whether on your own or as a group! Let’s END POVERTY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP!!

Photos from the evening taken by two very talented entrepreneurial photographers, Nicole Browne and Ben Tsui will be posted soon. Video produced by Matt Keay will also be posted in the next little while. Thank you all for capturing the night!

THANK YOU!!

Our Sponsors The Jungle Project, Gurutropolis, GrowOp, and One World Drumming Co.

Live Entertainment was provided by the drummers at One World Drumming and Alberto San Martin of Together for Chile

Opportunity International – Thank you to Doris Olafsen, Adele Madonia, and Paul Wegenast who flew in from across Canada to be part of the evening. Doris and Adele ended off the night with an extremely powerful and inspiring speech. If anyone does NOT want to be part of this movement after hearing these two passionate women, I would be shocked.

Our “tribal chief” Barry Chugg – Rockstar MC who showed great patience as we worked through all of the hiccups of our first event and who brought everything together so nicely.

Our Guest Speakers Andrew Watts, Jay Fiset, Colin Collard, Sheldon Baranec, Bonnie Eckert, and Cliff Alexander. A powerful group of Entrepreneurs who inspired all of the guests (myself included) to incorporate philanthropy into business right from the start. “You don’t have to be a billionaire to do this!”

Gurutropolis – Thank you Jill Fisher, Thuy Vu, Gord Johansen for creating the “Buzz” and a fun way for participants to connect with each other. This exercise reinforced a big lesson for the evening – SUPPORT and COMMUNITY.

Megan Adams of Optimum Performance Training for the award presentation. Congratulations to Rae-Ann Wood Schatz winner of the Optimum Performance Training Community Entrepreneurial Spirit Award 2010!!

Joe Sanford – Thank you for believing in me from the VERY START! This event would not have happened without your support and contribution. I can’t wait to join forces again!!!

Christine Lumgaire – Support came up more than a few times throughout the evening and Christine was a strong part of my support team leading up to the event – through turmoil and creation, thank you for your help, Christine!

Dafne Canales Lees – Behind the scenes, Dafne had a huge role to play in the evening as the event manager. All of the little details were taken care of because of Dafne and her team of volunteers. Thank you Dafne for your hard work leading up to and during the event. You are truly a ROCKSTAR!

The team of Volunteers – This night would not have happened without you! Megan Adams, Tyler Wood , Karen Rowe, Kyla Brockley, Roberta Nickle, Peri Ziprick, Nadia Coates, Laurie Elliot, Sharon Thompson, Michele Solinger,Bronwyn Johanson, and Patricia Canales.

Rockstar Promoters – Joe Sanford, John Sidhu, and Michelle Gabriel for helping promote the Evening. Your help is truly appreciated.

Kelli Harker of Soul Reflections – Kelli is the one who helped me find an outfit for the evening, which was no small feat. Thank you for making sure I didn’t show up in a ponytail and wearing all black! 😉

THANK YOU again, to all who participated in the Evening! Momentum has started – let’s get this MOVEMENT going! Let’s END POVERTY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP together!

I look forward to working with you all again for upcoming projects and events!

“You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…”

Amy Lafleche
The Jungle Project

By now, you’ve heard a lot about Evening for Entrepreneurs. You know where it is, what it is, and how to get your tickets. Now I’d like to share with you the “WHY?”

My name is Amy and the idea for this event started in the deep caverns of my brain. With the help and support of my friends and colleagues it has developed into what we’re now calling, Evening for Entrepreneurs.

A little background on me – I’m an Entrepreneur and my mission is to end poverty.

I believe that it’s time for us to put an end to poverty, and create a world where everyone has, at the very least, their basic human needs met. Ending poverty can, and has to be done, but it means change. It means that we have to have the courage to make a difference. It means shifting the way our world operates. It means opening our eyes. Taking down the borders. Creating a world where EVERYone has the right and the means to create abundance for themselves, their families, and their communities. And, that’s just the start… Are you with me?

Ending poverty might seem impossible. It’s no small feat. So, how can we do this? I believe that entrepreneurship is the answer. Organizations, like Opportunity International, have the right idea. It’s not about giving hand-outs to the poor – that hasn’t worked yet so we need to change our approach. It’s about teaching the poor to create sustainable business’ for themselves, their families, and their communities. Over time, not only will they become more self-reliant, but they’ll do it with their pride and dignity intact.

I believe so strongly in this approach that I will be donating 50% of the proceeds from my event to Opportunity International Canada. The money raised will also be matched by a grant. This money will go directly to business training and micro-financing for the Entrepreneurial Poor around the world.

At the same time as helping Entrepreneurs around the world, you will have the opportunity to explore the world of Entrepreneurship for yourself! Because while on a larger scale, I believe Entrepreneurship will heal the world, I also believe that it will heal our economy here in Canada.

You will learn how to create abundance for yourself, while supporting Opportunity International Canada support the Entrepreneurial poor. It’s a win-win all around.

Evening for Entrepreneurs is NOT just another networking event. It’s not even just another charity event. It is a declaration of CHANGE. It is a MOVEMENT! And, you can be part of it.

Please help me with my mission, by making it yours! We can END POVERTY! We can CHANGE THE WORLD. It starts with you and it starts here. And by here, I mean the Calgary Zoo on Friday.

Tickets and information available online at http://www.albertaentrepreneurs.com.

If you have any questions, comments, ideas, brainwaves, concerns, … you get the point, please feel free to contact me personally at community@albertaentrepreneurs.com.

I look forward to connecting with you!

“You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

Amy Lafleche
The Jungle Project