Anne Day

The word "networking" can conjure up the picture of the sleazy salesperson trying to get you to buy something you don't want or need.

When I first had my consulting practice, I joined a networking group. At that time, I was often hired by government to work with non-profits, so...

Looking for new customers or clients? One way to showcase your business and expertise is to offer seminars or workshops. Now, public speaking can be a scary thought to many, so here are some tips to get you started.

1. In planning your presentation, you need to think about...

At the recent Oprah session in Toronto, Tony Robbins questioned why we don't talk about failures. He observed that when people are asked why they fail, the common complaint is lack of resources -- not enough time, money, energy or technology. People blame resources as their excuse for failure. But...

In a recent issue of Backbone, it was reported that five million Canadians are on LinkedIn. In fact we make up 3.3 percent of the total global membership. Toronto has the most members in Canada with more than 1.2 million users.

And there are days when it seems...

I don't know about you, but when I am faced with tough, life-changing decisions, I waffle to and fro, weighing up the pros and cons of each option, favouring one direction one day and a completely different one the next.

It drives me nuts that I can be so...

Years ago after a successful article in the Toronto Star, I was approached by a T.V. producer about being interviewed on her show. I thought my moment in the sun had arrived and I had been discovered. Visions of having my own T.V. show flashed before me.

However, when we...

"It's like throwing cooked spaghetti at the wall," explains my friend. "It doesn't always stick, but slowly winds its way to the floor."

Now she is not talking about her cooking abilities, but the effectiveness of her marketing. When you first start out in business there is that tendency to...

When I first started my consulting practice, I didn't have to wait long before I landed my first client. In fact it was my former employer. Over the years I had built up my reputation and was therefore known for my work so finding customers wasn't too difficult. I just...

Have you ever coloured your hair? Mine has been so many shades of blonde and brown that I almost forget what my natural hair colour is, although of late I have decided, as part of my authenticity kick, to go au naturel and frankly it is now decidedly grey.

But...

We weren't at our farm long when my daughters declared that they wanted to start a vegetable garden. Although, in hindsight, it was a bit like the time they wanted to get a rabbit. "Oh yes, Mommy, we will look after it. Oh yes, Mommy, we will clean out the...

The medical report started by stating "This 60-year old woman...." As I read this, I found myself almost looking around... do they mean me? It sounded more like my mother, but I guess I have arrived at this landmark age.

They say that 60 is the new 40, which of...

Truth is I am a bit of a perfectionist. I like things just so and for our events and processes to run smoothly and professionally. And up until now, I think they have.

The trouble is that we're currently short-staffed and I am having to do most of the admin,...

I recently read an interesting article on the difference between the way men network compared to women. The men, the article stated, were direct, to the point, quick to share their accomplishments, and equally quick to close the sale. Whereas women shared experiences, stories and eventually got around to talking...

In a recent survey of women entrepreneurs in which we asked what was their biggest challenge was, consistently the answer was finding customers.

In this tight economy, finding customers is crucial to staying alive, but sometimes it pays to think longer and deeper about who would make the perfect customer....

How well do you get on with members of your family? That good, eh? Can you imagine working together, day in, day out?

These days, running a business is not for the faint of heart, but operating a family-owned business takes even more courage, tenacity and diplomacy.

Lately I have...

What are your New Year's resolutions? I always struggle with this one and for several years have avoided actually making any. I rarely kept it up -- especially the one about losing weight -- as it seemed like a futile exercise.

However, setting goals is important, especially when you run...

There is nothing like being sick to make you focus on what is important and what you want out of life.

After two weeks of hacking away, I just want a set of lungs that don't whistle and wheeze every time I breathe. I want to stop coughing, stop having...

Growing up, Christmas was such a special time in our household. For a start, I was an only child living with both my parents and grandparents and so I got showered with gifts. The rule was that you couldn't go into the room where the tree and gifts were until...

Recently I wrote a blog about what I wanted to have happen at my funeral. It was a bit of a tongue in cheek piece, and I was, to be honest, a little concerned that it might offend some people.

But it didn't. In fact, quite the opposite, I got...

In a word, yes.

As I go through my address book to write my Christmas cards, I realize that there have been many changes this year in my relationships.

Sadly, several good friends have died and as I see their names in the book, I am reminded of happier...