If there’s such a thing as a ‘sales gene’ I was definitely born with it. From my earliest days I loved persuading people to buy what I had to sell. First it was lemonade. Then, to what was probably the chagrin of my whole neighborhood, when I was about eight it was Girl Guide cookies. My father worked for CIP (Canadian International Paper) and my mother was a traditional stay-at-home mom, raising my two sisters, brother and me. Dad’s company was based out of Montreal, so I’d see him coming and going from trips, suitcase in hand, and I would dream about what kind of adventures he must be having on the road. My father worked hard, and he kept working no matter what hardships he faced.
I like to think I’m similar to my Dad in certain ways – our shared passion for business, drive to succeed, and persistence. I’d like to think that if I ever faced the kind of adversity he did, I’d respond with a real dedication to overcoming it. My father truly was an inspiration to me, in many ways. I’m telling you this because these facts form the roots of whatever success I’ve had, in business and life. When I look back at my childhood, high school and university years, it’s clear how I can trace the interests and inclinations that later shaped my professional life.
Think about it: if you plan on working 40-hour weeks from age 20-65 you’ll be spending about 90,000 hours of your life at your job. For that reason alone, you owe it to yourself to figure out something you really enjoy doing. Besides, if you’re doing something you enjoy, I think you’ll be better at it. I get asked a lot: ‘Don’t you ever just want to get away from the magazine business for a while? When you go on vacation, do you run past magazine stands so you don’t have to think about them?” The question struck me funny, because I absolutely love magazines and I almost never go anywhere without a tote full of them!
As I write this, I think about our community, the place I call home. We are surrounded by a business community that thrives to be the best of the best in their field. In this issue of Seaside Magazine we are celebrating ‘Small Business’ just for that reason. It’s all for you. So, take a minute or two and get to know some of the people in your community, those people that aspire to give you the best. Remember, it’s not about whether you can do it all, it’s about whether you can be happy whatever you’re doing!
