LIFT Startups

A new way to market and network your local Vancouver Island business!

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LIFT Podcast: Liz Wootton talks about Human Nature Development – and Liz Wootton

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Liz Wootton is an entrepreneur and former Director of Organizational Development. She owned and ran an award-winning bridal retail business in the UK for many years before moving to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. Her business, Human Nature Development, helps businesses on Vancouver Island and around the world. Find her on the Vancouver Island business directory here.

Liz has a passion for getting the best out of people, which led her towards a career in business and personal coaching. She has worked in industries as diverse as optoelectronics, theatre, and automotive, and coached business leaders across the globe. She has been described as being “the perfect mix of genuine, encouraging and giving a kick up the behind when need be.” She’s also one of the “sharp pencils” in the LIFT community, and contributes significantly to business growth in our region.

In this episode of LIFT Podcasts I ask her about her business, the scariest things she’s ever done and how she’s made it through, her favourite reading as a child, and her favourite places to eat in the whole world – among other things. Her advice for young entrepreneurs on Vancouver Island is worth listening to.

Enjoy!

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

Contact Liz

Find Liz Wootton and Human Nature Development on the Vancouver Island business directory here.

More LIFT Podcasts

Terry O’Reilly talks about advertising, radio, and more – and Terry O’Reilly.

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In this episode HPM talks with Terry O’Reilly. Terry was co-founder and Creative Directory at Pirate Radio & TV, he’s the host of the Under the Influence radio show on CBC Radio, and author of, most recently, This I Know: Marketing Lessons From Under the Influence.

FMI see terryoreilly.ca or follow Terry on Twitter at @terryoinfluence

In Part 1, Terry talks about how he got into advertising, why he’s passionate about radio as an advertising medium, and why copywriters are the highest paid people in advertising – among other things.

In Part 2, the focus is on Terry as an individual and as an entrepreneur. Listen to find out about his favourite book as a child, what he’s reading today, and his favourite place to eat in the whole world.

 

The LIFT Podcast series

Our goal with the LIFT Podcast series is to promote your business – and provide leadership, inspiration, and fuel for Vancouver Island entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

To listen to more LIFT Podcast see liftpodcast.ca

Or, subscribe via iTunes

Are you ready to be featured on a LIFT Podcast? Check out the details here.

 

The new Vancouver Island business directory

Don’t forget to list your business on the new Vancouver Island business directory – and be LIFTed via our award-winning promotions for up to 60 days free!

Old House Law & Notary: A LIFT BizOnDeck Case Study

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Old House Law & Notary is a partnership between Lyle Carlstrom Professional Law Corporation and T. Dale Roberts Notary Corporation. Lawyers and Notaries both practice law (with Notaries restricted to real estate, wills, contracts etc.). Having them work together in the same office creates new efficiencies and legal solutions for clients. Old House Law & Notary one of the first practices in BC providing lawyer and a notary public services.
You can find out more at ohlp.ca

LIFT: What inspired you to start Old House Law & Notary?
Lyle: I wanted to live in the Comox Valley, and from a professional level I wanted to be in business with like-minded individuals and create something new and dynamic. Working with Dale Roberts has led to a multidisciplinary practice that has a lawyer working with – instead of competing with – a notary. Our type of law is non-contentious. We focus on helping people – buying and selling real estate, estate planning. These services are in high demand in the region, and an office that includes both law and notary services, it makes us very competitive.

LIFT: What was your “ask” at your BizOnDeck workshop?
Lyle: We had several asks. We wanted: feedback on what would make us more relevant to the general public, help in branding our business, advice on keeping existing clients loyal to our new brand, suggestions on acquiring new customers who will appreciate the new brand, help on determining the best ways to give back to our clients and community, and direction on spreading the word about the results of the above.

LIFT: What were the three biggest takeaways (and subsequent actions) from your BizOnDeck?
Lyle: We heard that we are generally on the right track with our marketing efforts, but that we need to spend additional time on social media marketing. We also heard that we need to clarify our company vision and mission. As follow up activities we’ve re-engaged our webmaster digital marketer, and we’re planning a management retreat in mid-June

LIFT: Has putting your business “on deck” helped grow your business?
Lyle: The short answer is yes. We found the BizOnDeck process to be very helpful, and vibrant. We got lots of great feedback. We experienced lots of synergies. Since the workshop, we’ve made positive changes to some of what we do, especially with regard to marketing.

 

Last word

Lyle: For a company like ours, the BizOnDeck was a very unique and valuable exercise. Where else would we get this kind of feedback from a room full of entrepreneurs?

 

Contact information

Telephone: 250-871-7737
Website: ohlp.ca
Vancouver Island business directory: old-house-law-and-notary
Alignable: old-house-law-notary-public-t-dale-roberts-notary-public

 

FMI about LIFT & BizOnDeck

LIFT is an award-winning organization* that helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and non-profits grow on Vancouver Island. We’ve just launched the Vancouver Island business directory to connect and promote entrepreneurs across the Island. To put your business or project “on deck” please fill in the blanks on this form and we’ll start “hustling the help” to grow your business! Or call HPM at 250-792-1408 to get started.

*Awards include:
• Best in BC, Entrepreneur Promotion, Startup Canada Awards, Vancouver May 2018
• Best Social Media Organization, Comox Valley Record Readers’ Choice Awards, 2015 and 2016.

LIFT Podcast: Luke Aulin talks about RTOWN – and Luke Aulin

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Luke Aulin is the CEO and Founder of RTOWN, an innovative way for small and medium-sized businesses to excel in the digital and social marketing space. Luke talked to LIFT’s Hans Peter Meyer about RTOWN, about their commitment to “local,” how and why they’ve created a marketing solution that helps local create online presence, and about himself.

Check out the podcast to find out about what Luke’s reading now, the smartest thing he’s ever done, his favourite place to eat – and more.

Note: Luke is a mentor to LIFT and HPM.

FMI about RTOWN see RTOWN.ca

Follow Luke on Twitter @LukeAulin

For more LIFT Podcast click here or subscribe on iTunes.

 

LIFT Startups wins Entrepreneur Promotion Award (BC Region)!

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Comox Valley networking group receives top recognition at Startup Canada Awards, Vancouver, May 30, 2018

LIFT Startups has been recognized as the ‘Best Entrepreneur Promoter’ in British Columbia. The organization received recognition at the Startup Canada Awards ceremony held in Vancouver on Wednesday, May 30th.

This award comes at a time of exciting growth and innovation for the Vancouver Island networking community of 150 members. The Comox Valley-based organization is attracting local entrepreneurs and creatives from Victoria to Quadra Island. Founder and CEO Hans Peter Meyer says it’s because “LIFT is dedicated to providing dynamic and collaborative business and marketing solutions. These are appealing to Island entrepreneurs – especially those who are interested in growth.”

This week the team is adding another benefit to help Island businesses: a map-based directory that will support LIFT’s business and community economic development mission. “There’s a lot of support for ‘local’ in our communities,” Meyer says, “We’re inviting our members to make this directory the go-to place for Vancouver Islanders looking for the best businesses the region has to offer.”

This new website showcases one of the ways that LIFT supports local talent, by giving them a new way to feature new products and services and grow new markets. “Our BizOnDeck workshops give us an ear to the ground on what businesses are needing to grow,” Meyer says. “Our team has honed in on the bottom line: Island entrepreneurs are ready for change— they are looking for connections, they’re open to support from their peers and from mentors. They’re looking for organic business opportunities to grow.”

LIFT invites you to join them at their next event, the First Annual LIFT Summer Social on June 14. “We’re looking forward to celebrating our ‘first 150’ members – and inviting them to tell us how we can make LIFT even better as a way to help grow their businesses!” Meyer invites any Vancouver Island entrepreneur to use this code to get a 50% discount on up to two Summer Social tickets.

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ABOUT LIFT STARTUPS

Based in the Comox Valley, LIFT Startups is a business and community economic development network that is leading, inspiring, and fuelling entrepreneurial talent to create Vancouver Island’s “next economy.” Nominated business leadership (2016), for networking excellence (2017), LIFT has won “Best Social Media Organization” in 2016 and 2017.

For more information, contact:

Hans Peter Meyer, Founder and CEO, LIFT Startups

Leif Jason talks about Mastermynde Strategy – and Leif Jason

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In this episode of LIFT Podcasts we feature one of our LIFT Solution Sponsors: Leif Jason, owner of Mastermynde Strategy. Leif operates a digital marketing business in the Comox Valley, serving customers locally and far beyond. Leif is very active in enhancing the “interestingness” of the Comox Valley – from helping clients be more interesting online, to helping individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses create a more interesting community.

Contact Mastermynde Strategy

More information about LIFT Podcasts

More LIFT Podcasts are available here on our blog or subscribe via iTunes and get the latest podcasts delivered to your favourite listening device.
If you’ve been a member of LIFT Startups for over 18 months, please put yourself in line for a LIFT Podcast interview. Details here.