Leif Jason

I provide strategic marketing, website architecture, and production services for clients ranging from SOHO to enterprise companies, in industries as diverse as renewable energy, steam punk clothing, recruiting, real estate and adventure travel.

I am passionate and dedicated, with a focus on achieving specific measurable goals. I am friendly and no-nonsense, and enjoy what I do.

Connect on LinkedIn

The LIFT Podcast interview with Sharon Marshall of Cree8iv Collaboration

November 11, 2018 by Leif Jason

Sharon Marshall is an inspiring force for change in our BC economy! She is founder and CEO of Cree8iv Collaboration – and Virtual eAdmin. In this podcast interview Sharon talks about her passion and her vision for creating employment and economic development opportunities for Canada’s remote indigenous communities. She also tells us about hard lessons, and amazing results. You’ll also hear about her favourite novel and her favourite business book.

Find out more about what Sharon does at virtualeadmin.com and (coming soon) Cree8ivCollaboration.com.

And, Sharon Marshall is putting Cree8iv Collaboration “on deck” at our February 4, 2019 BizOnDeck Focus Group workshop. Be there and be inspired about making a difference to our rural indigenous economies.
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BE FEATURED ON LIFT PODCAST SERIES

To be featured in a LIFT Podcast please apply to join our Vancouver Island entrepreneur community at applyandgetlifted.ca. Once you’re a member you’ll be invited to benefit from our approach to networking and our award-winning promotions, including being part of our LIFT Podcast series.

LISTEN TO MORE LIFT PODCASTS

Find more LIFT Podcast episodes at liftpodcast.ca
Subscribe to the LIFT Podcast series on iTunes at iTunesLIFTPodcasts

FMI ABOUT THE LIFT COMMUNITY

We are a community of Vancouver Island entrepreneurs and creatives, working together to grow the Island’s grassroots, entrepreneur-driven economy. In 2018 LIFT was awarded Best in BC, Entrepreneur Promotion, at Startup Canada Awards in Vancouver, for its innovative work as a marketing and business development network.

LIFT offers:

Innovative networking and business development workshops
Award-winning social media marketing solutions (starting at about $1/day)
A “hustle the help” community – our members are helping each grow
Access to $4000+ in member-to-member discounts and offers, and
Great pricing – that gets even better with our current 25% off “first 300” discount.

Get started by applying at applyandgetlifted.ca

Bob Wells talks about My Tech Guys – and Bob Wells. A LIFT Podcast.

September 23, 2018 by Leif Jason

In this LIFT Podcast I interview Bob Wells, owner of My Tech Guys.

Bob is an entrepreneur and has been since the age of 10. Today he’s the very busy owner of My Tech Guys, servicing clients from Nanaimo to the mid-Coast.

Bob is also known as a community leader with a passion for service – and a passion for supporting entrepreneurs. That’s one of the reasons My Tech Guys is a LIFT Community Partner: they’re helping us connect and promote entrepreneurs across the Island.

In this episode of LIFT Podcasts I ask Bob about his business, the smartest thing he’s ever done, his favourite books – as a kid and as an adult (some surprises here!). I also ask him about his commitment to community service, his involvement with Startup Canada, and how these connect to his business.

Enjoy!

~ hpm,
Founder of LIFT Startups and the Vancouver Island Local Business Network
Winner, Best in BC, Entrepreneur Promotion, Startup Canada Awards, Vancouver 2018

Contact Bob and My Tech Guys

Website: mytechguys.ca

More LIFT Podcasts

Find more LIFT Podcast interviews here.
Subscribe to LIFT Podcast via iTunes here.

Keith Ippel keynotes PitchFest3 and #WeAreYQQ Party on Sept 27

September 13, 2018 by Leif Jason

What is PitchFest3?

Throughout the year Vancouver Island entrepreneurs and creatives pitch for help to grow their businesses at 12+ LIFT business development workshops. Every year LIFT invites up to six of these entrepreneurs to pitch at the annual PitchFest event. This is the only annual pitch event that showcases the Islands local, grassroots businesses.

This year’s event features a keynote by Keith Ippel, founder and CEO of global startup school Spring Activator. Spring has a mission to help entrepreneurs change the world through their businesses. That’s a great fit with the LIFT ethos of Island businesses helping each other grow businesses and sustainable local economies.

Who’s pitching?

So much of the startup focus is on “tech.” But while technology is sexy, most Island entrepreneurs are actually working on building businesses in almost every imaginable sector. This year’s PitchFest3 lineup is reflective of this diversity:
Yarrow Willard of Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, Kyrle Symons of Prisym Renewable Developments, Jessica Dorzinsky of Fully Alive, Amie Webster of Motif Music, Sean Elliott of Tap Bike Solutions, and Ryks Davies of Ryks Davies Music.

Who’s judging?

Joining Keith Ippel as PitchFest3 judges are Ramon Ramirez of BDC and Sue Finneron (top Hyundai dealership in Canada in 2016). As well as giving feedback to the pitchers, Keith, Ramon, and Sue’s knowledge of business will inspire participants to up their own business game.

What’s a #WeAreYQQ Party?

LIFT is famous for its parties. Founder Hans Peter Meyer (aka HPM) is no fan of traditional business networking and mixer events. That’s why he asks the #WeAreYQQPartyCrew to make LIFT events more inviting, more useful, and way more fun than your Dad’s business networking event. The result: #WeAreYQQ Parties are considered by some to be the best business mixers on the Island, perhaps anywhere. A big claim. Here’s how that shakes out for September 27.

Music with DJ em.ash. Professional dance instructor Jennifer Walsh, helping participants get their groove on. Social media games with prizes from LIFT member businesses.

Get 50% off tickets when you buy now

Typically over 100 Island entrepreneurs show up for LIFT special events. Often they’re sold out. Use the READERS code to get 50% off.

It’s fun. And your business deserves to connect with the liveliest entrepreneur community on the Island.

I repeat: Do not miss out. Get your tickets now.

[picatic-sell-tickets event=203740 title=no description=no theme_options=ptw-light][/picatic-sell-tickets]

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Hans Peter Meyer
Founder and CEO, LIFT and the Vancouver Island Local Business Directory
250-792-1408 / hpm@liftstartups.ca

What is Spring? Keith Ippel talks about helping Island entrepreneurs grow

August 30, 2018 by Leif Jason

Keith Ippel and the folks at Spring Activator are a huge resource for LIFT entrepreneurs and we’re excited to be working with them on helping Island entrepreneurs grow their business. And yes, we’re super excited to have Keith as our keynote for PitchFest3 on Sept 27, 2018.

Buy Your PitchFest3 Tickets Now! (free for LIFT members)

Thanks to Jabin Postal Films for putting this video together. Watch for more in the LIFT video series, featuring LIFT VIPs like Leif Jason / Mastermynde Strategy, Nazaneen Dizai / 50th Parallel Public Relations Inc, and more, with tips and insights on how to grow your business!

Because #WeAreVanIsl ͏͏????

Apply now and get 2 free tickets to PitchFest3 + #WeAreYQQ After Party!

August 9, 2018 by Leif Jason

PitchFest3 is our annual showcase of Island startups and fundraiser for our local Startup Canada chapters. After a year of BizOnDeck workshops we invite up to seven entrepreneurs to pitch their business to a panel of three judges. You’re invited to join us for the Island’s only grassroots entrepreneur pitch event. Tickets are available online here – but first, here’s how you can get two tickets for free!

APPLY TODAY TO GET TWO FREE PITCHFEST TICKETS

LIFT won Best in BC for Entrepreneur Promotion at the Startup Canada Awards on May 30, 2018 in Vancouver. Then we launched what we think is the best tool for promoting grassroots entrepreneurs on the Vancouver Island: the Island’s first and only social media powered business directory. Our goal: to connect 1000 of the best community-minded, unique and innovative, local businesses on the Island. We’re inviting you to apply today for up to 60 days of award-winning promotion. Plus, when you get listed (and get LIFTed!) you get two free tickets to PitchFest3 and #WeAreYQQ After Party on September 27, 2018.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT PITCHFEST3?

5pm Optional “community throwback” fundraiser dinner for our local Startup Canada community. Just show up and order from the “communty throwback” menu and $5 of your meal goes to support Startup Comox Valley.

6:30pm PitchFest3. Show up early to meet some of the region’s most welcoming entrepreneurs – and to get an early start on winning prizes with our #BCBuyLocal #LIFTVIP social media game. Prizes supplied by these LIFT members: Atlas Café, Bosley’s by Pet Valu Courtenay, BodyNetix, Coastal Coworking, Derm Essentials Medi-Spa, Hornby Island Soap & Skincare, Inner Strength Acupuncture and Health, Panther Workwear, Pure Audio Centre Ltd., Sure Copy Courtenay, Toscano’s, My Tech Guys, The Waverley Hotel – and more (add your business to this social media promotion opportunity here).

AGENDA

Opening remarks by MC and LIFT Solution Sponsor Leif Jason of Mastermynde Strategy

Keynote by Keith Ippel, Founder, Spring Activator global startup school

The pitches:

Yarrow Willard, Wild Rose College of Natural Healing
Kyrle Symons, Prisym Renewable Developments
Jessica Dorzinsky, Fully Alive
Amie Webster, Motif Music Studios
Ryks Davies, Ryks Davies Music
Sean Elliot, Tap Bike Solutions

The judges:

Sue Finneron, Finneron Hyundai and LIFT Solution Sponsor
Adam Speigel, BDC and PitchFest3 Special Event Sponsor
Keith Ippel, Spring Activator and PitchFest3 Special Event Sponsor

Entertainments:

LIFT VIP DJ Em.Ash & the #WeAreYQQPartyCrew! ???? with dance moves instruction by LIFT VIP Jennifer Walsh ????
Signature LIFT social media games with $1000s in prizes

ABOUT OUR PARTIES

Our #WeAreYQQPartyCrew throws the best entrepreneur parties! And that’s important. Business is always better when we’re having fun together.

Thanks to our #WeAreYQQPartyCrew Boss, Leanne Zdebiak-eni of Studio IPF for making our parties special!

Keith Ippel’s top 5 tips for your Island business success

July 29, 2018 by Leif Jason

On September 27, 2018 LIFT is hosting its third PitchFest event. This event features six Vancouver Island entrepreneurs pitching for prizes to a panel of four judges, and kicking off with a keynote by Keith Ippel, founder and CEO of global startup school Spring Activator. Afterwards, our #WeAreYQQPartyCrew will be hosting another signature “definitely NOT your Dad’s networking event” party.

I interviewed our keynote, Keith Ippel in 2017. This is a re-post of that interview with some additional notes at the bottom. FMI about PitchFest3 and to get your early bird tickets click this button…

I’ve asked Keith to keynote because I think his value-focused approach to business will resonate with business owners in our region. He’s a four-time serial entrepreneur, and currently the CEO of Spring Activator, a global startup school based in Vancouver. Over the past 10+ years, he’s been an advisor and a mentor to many startups in tech, non-tech, and non-profit sectors. In three years with Spring Activator he’s helped over 300 aspiring entrepreneurs launch over 150 “impact” (social, environmental) businesses, some of whom have reached $1M in sales in that time.

Top 5 tips for startups success

Keith’s fun to be around. I’ve interviewed him several times over the past few years, and I’m looking forward to working more with him and with Spring in the coming months. LIFT and Spring have put together an agreement where LIFT members (aka LIFT VIPs) get a 30% discount on Spring courses. More on that later. For this interview, I asked Keith about his top five things every entrepreneur needs to do to ensure business success.

1. Speed

That doesn’t mean running around like a chicken with your head cut off. It means having a plan A, plan B, and a plan C – and then moving as fast as possible within the bounds of plan and structure to make sure that you’re ahead of the competition. Every business idea has 16 competitors. Those who execute well will win.

2. Know your strengths, know your weaknesses

As leaders, we need to know where we are strong and passionate. But it’s just as important to know the things that we’re not good at. This enables us to build a team of people who have complementary skills and frees us to focus on the most important things. Sometimes the team is in-house. Sometimes they’re consultants. Sometimes they’re advisors and mentors.

3. Spend as little as possible

Time is money. In our early days, we need to be really tight with our budgets, because we want to maximise the amount of time we have to prove that there’s a market for our product or service. We maximise that time by making our money go further.

4. The five Ms: market, management, money, momentum, magic

We need to know explicitly who our target market is. We need to know how to invest in the team that will grow our business. We need to know how to make and raise money. We need to show traction, both to our customers and to the people we’re working with. And the magic? It’s how we’re unique to customers, how we’re different from everybody around us.

5. Learn about “no”

It’s important to know that “no’s” have different meanings. With customers and partners, we can’t take no for an answer. We’ve got to dig deep, understand why people are saying “no,” so that we can get to a “yes.” On the flip side, we need to learn to say “no” to ourselves. We need to use “no” to protect our time so that we avoid distractions and stay focused.

LIFT Special Events: Free tickets when you’re listed on the Vancouver Island business directory!

If you’re a LIFT member, you get free tickets to most of our Special Events (the exception is our Festive Cheer community fundraiser). To sign up for LIFT membership, list your Vancouver Island business on the Island’s only social media-powered directory at wearevanisl.ca

What are #WeAreYQQ parties all about? Here’s a video sampler from our September 2016 #WeAreYQQ PitchFest & Party by LIFT Community Partner Island Soul Films…

Want more information, ideas, and stories about startup success?

Check out 11 Entrepreneurs Stories – Inspiring People That Found Startup Success.

hpm
@hanspetermeyer on Twitter and Instagram