Business Beat: Three Days Could Change Your Business

Having worked with a variety of business owners in southeastern Alberta for more than a decade now, I feel very fortunate to have met many who are the best at what they do. From an engineer who sold one of her first sports technologies to Nike, to others who made a name for themselves selling deer in cattle country, I have been absolutely inspired by the numerous success stories in this region.

No matter what the industry, one thing I find these entrepreneurs have in common is a winning mindset. At the Entrepreneur Development Centre at Medicine Hat College, we have had many successful business owners come in to speak to our aspiring student entrepreneurs, and most mention how important it is to spend some time working “on the business” not “in the business.” Taking time to not only reflect about your business, but also to think about where you want to go, and what trends or threats you can’t take advantage of to get there.

It’s true that technology is changing faster than ever before. What once took 10 years now takes five, what took six months, now takes three, etc. A business owner may not be able to keep up with always implementing the newest technologies into their business, but they can start with an innovative mindset.

Strategizing and business scale up may not come naturally for all, but they are skill sets that can be learned. Medicine Hat College is hosting a 3 Day Business Accelerator Program from May 27-29, for those that are looking for some techniques to take their business to the next level.

The facilitator, Deborah Peters, has worked with a variety of internationally known organizations such as Ferrari and even the FBI. She will cover broad based topics such as how to re-think your business model to capitalize on the rapid speed of innovation, to more specific detailed topics such as how to choose the right sales system for your organization.

Three days may seem like a large time commitment for some business owners, but taking this time to work on the business will provide you with new insight and new tools. Investing in yourself could lead to success for years to come, and it’s hard to argue with that kind of return.

For more information on this event or to register, contact Wes Paterson, corporate training officer at Medicine Hat College at 403-504-2248 or WPaterson@mhc.ab.ca.

The MHC Entrepreneur Development Centre helps student and alumni bring their entrepreneurship dreams to life. We offer one-to-one coaching, training, mentorship and access to a diverse network of start up funding. To connect into our network email edc@mhc.ab.ca or call 403-502-8433.

Tracy Stroud is manager of business development at Medicine Hat College.