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November 17, 2008

BIG Monday Post!

Good Morning everyone!!  I have ALOT to fit into today's post, so I'm getting right to it.

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!  I hope Brazil is treating you well and you're not overdosing on all those mangoes and oranges!!

Second, Michelle, Lana and I had such a 014wonderful time on Thursday listening to Jeffery Gitomer speak.  While he talked alot about sales (and I'm SO not a sales person), I was still able to take so many great things away from him.    He has a very common sensical approach to things and I found his talk refreshing and hilarious.  The most powerful thing he said that really hit home with me was this -

Negative is the instinct.  Positive is the self-discipline we must practice everyday.

I've repeated that so many times since hearing it and it just makes so much sense to me.  It's so easy to be negative.  It's our default.  Not so easy to be positive and we have to force ourselves, every day, to look on the positive side, and more importantly, to react in a positive manner, rather than a negative one.  Thanks Jeffery!

Third, Tom and I took the kids to the Santa parade this weekend and really enjoyed ourselves!018 

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The weather was great, the floats were wonderful and the kids had such a good time getting candies and free stuff throughout the parade.

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 We saw the biggest dog we've ever seen (240lbs!!) there - an English Mastiff that was the most beautiful dog.  It was such a gentle giant!

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Lastly, all our Christmas products are on the shelf and everything looks and smells so great, we're having trouble keeping them there!  I just had to take a picture of them - and how quickly they are disappearing!

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Enjoy your week!!

November 14, 2008

Celebrate!

Today we are celebrating Darcie's 1 year Tiber River Anniversary.  Happy Anniversary Darcie!  Darcie's actually been with us a little longer than that, but she came back to us one year ago and we are so grateful.  She is a very talented Nail Technician and her specialty is pedicures (if you've had one, you'll know it's true!).  Darcie - we love you and our clients love you too!   Thank you for your dedication every day, you are so important to our team.

I'd like to announce a very exciting celebration at Tiber River...spread the love and share a cup of cheer at our Holiday Open House and food drive for Winnipeg Harvest.

When:  Monday, November 24

Time: 6-9 pm

Where: 408 Academy Road

What's it all about:  Enjoy our delicious NEW holiday products and bring the kids for a free photo with Santa, compliments of Eve Studios.  Enjoy some goodies courtesy of the Starbucks on Academy Rd.  Meet Ace & Chrissy from Hot 103, they will be live on location!  Please bring food items for Winnipeg Harvest.

Mark your calenders, we hope to see you there!  Enjoy the weekend.

Michelle

November 13, 2008

A really really quick one!

I apologize in advance for the briefness of this one.  We are off to hear Jeffrey Gitomer speak - we are all SO excited but because of the earliness (it starts at 8:30), I've got to shower, find something appropriate that actually fits my ever-expanding belly, get the kids moving, make their lunch, pack their bags and head out, all in the next 15 minutes!

I was in the store yesterday, experiencing my second ever facial (horrible, I know).  I had had my first one years ago and when I left, $100 poorer, I realized that I had just spent ALOT of money to have someone clean my face.  SO, I've never been interested in having another one - until yesterday!  I have to say that the facial I had at Tiber River was heads and tails above what I had before.  My mother-in-law RAVES about Erin's facials and now I know why.  Not only did I feel like my skin was better, but I felt so relaxed and refreshed afterwards.

This holiday season, if you really want to treat someone you love, get them a Tiber River customized facial with Erin.  They will absolutely love you for it (I've already made my list of who's getting one and am going back in 6 weeks for another).  I'm hooked and my skin feels incredible!!

Enjoy your day!

November 12, 2008

Simply the Best!

Good morning!  I got tons of stuff done yesterday and I am feeling much lighter.  I just LOVE days like that! 

I'm super excited to be attending a Customer Service Seminar with Jeffrey Gitomer this morning. He is world renowned for his expertise in customer loyalty, superior service models, and personal development.  The event is put on by the Entrepreneur Organization in Winnipeg and a great BIG THANK YOU goes out to Brad Houghton from Moxies for gifting us tickets.  Very generous.  Learn more about Jeffrey Gitomer here.  

A big oops...I just realized the event is tomorrow morning, I'll have to fill you all in on Friday.  I'm pretty diligent with keeping track of dates, but this one fell through the cracks.  Too much in my little brain I guess. 

We wish Melissa a fun-filled trip to Toronto for the Tina Turner concert.  She emailed me this photo this morning and I just had to post it.  She even made a special t-shirt with Simply the Best on it.  Melissa, we think YOU are simply the best, say hi to Tina for us!

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OK, off to the races...

Michelle

November 11, 2008

Remember.

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Please take a few minutes this Remembrance Day to think of the many men and women who have served our country in times of war, military conflict, and in times of peace.  Most importantly, the men and women who are away fighting for peace today and the many sacrifices made by their families.  Let's pray for their safe return.  Let us also be thankful for the wonderful country we live in and the many priviledges we enjoy every day.

In honour of Remembrance Day, Tiber River will be closed today.  Our family is walking over to the wreath laying ceremony in Bruce Park.  It begins at 10:30 if anyone would like to join us.  

Michelle

November 10, 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

Well, I don't know about you, but I sure got the feeling that winter is upon us and Christmas is right around the corner.  This year, I'm determined to get my shopping done early!  I say it every year but this year, I mean it!  I love Christmas shopping!!  I enjoy picking out things that I think people might like - new, interesting, different things.  As my kids have gotten older, Christmas time has become so much more fun.  Their excitement is contagious!

The arrival of the white stuff has given my kids new reason to be outside and our front yard now looks like many bodies have spent the weekend rolling around in the snow (which there was).  Lucas is playing hockey again and I look forward to every weekend, when I get to watch these kids, most of whom can barely stand up, chase the puck around the ice, determination and pride a constant expression on their faces.  It is a time of pure innocence and fierce competition and many of them (well, Lucas) act as though the Stanley Cup is on the line each and every time they step out on the ice.  I absolutely LOVE this time and it's with more than a little sadness that I think it will be different next year, when the game becomes more real, with the kids starting to learn their positions and the rules, and their imagination now longer takes center stage out there.

Isabella has agreed to join a swim team (she's my non-competitive one who absolutely loves being part of a team).  Both Tom and I feel sports, especially team sports, are very important to developing ones character and in teaching life lessons and we made the very difficult decision to force Isabella to choose something, anything, and commit to it for one year.  We had a lot of back and forth with her but in the end, we held firm and we're praying we're doing the right thing.  We'll see in a few months!

I've been really been feeling like things are moving in a positive and exciting direction, both personally and professionally.  At home, obviously, next year will bring another member to our household and being a person who loves and needs change, it'll be interesting to see what excitement he or she will bring to our lives.  I am being proactive, have child care set up and am feeling more confident than I probably should (but I am one who lives with my rose-colored glasses on and I wouldn't change that for the world!). 

With Tiber River, Michelle and I have a very clear idea of where we are going and we are definitely working towards that goal.  On the production side, the systems we have been putting in place over the past few months are showing their worth (Michelle wasn't kidding when she said we've outdone ourselves - WE HAVE!!).  We had all the products done early, they all smell so good it's hard to pick a favorite and we have created a system so we all know how we are handling production for the remainder of the holiday season.  It's hard not to burst with pride when I think about it all.

Both Michelle and I are coming into our own as business owners and entrepreneurs and we are learning what we need to do to realize our goals.  We are understanding who we are and what are strengths and weaknesses are and are finding ways to utilize both.  As any of you who know us know, we are very different people with similar beliefs and values and its that combination that sets us apart from other partnerships.  We are learning, now, how to combine our skill sets to build Tiber River into a business that reflects us and is, of course, different than most other businesses in our industry.  We're pretty proud of how much we've accomplished and even more excited about where we are going.  (Sorry for all the horn-tooting but I'm feeling very energized right now - an excess of hormones perhaps??)

Enjoy your week!!

November 07, 2008

Santa's Big Red Pants!

Our team over at Tiber River has been a bunch of busy little elves getting our holiday products made and ready to proudly display.  My favorite so far is Santa's Big Red Pants, the name just gives you a little giggle inside.  My daughter Paige wanted a lip silk because the cold is drying her poor lips so I gave her the Santa's Big Red Pants.  She's been running around yelling "If anyone wants some Santa's Big Red Pants lipstick, put up your hand!"  She's even trying to give it to our cats.  Cute.

Stop by tomorrow and check out our new goodies.  Our production team has outdone themelves this year!

Before we get into regular holidays posts and pictures, I want to share a few more Halloween photos of our team.  Everyone gets into the spirit and that says a lot about our team.

Here's Kayla going back to the 80's (sure wish my body looked like that!)...

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Bev getting our clients into the spirit...

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Jen and Erin (Mother Earth)...by the way Jen did everyone's makeup for their costumes too!

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Enjoy the snow this weekend!

Michelle

November 06, 2008

Trucking Right Along!!

Good morning everyone!  Well, it looks like the nasty weather is finally catching up to us and my kids couldn't be happier.  They have been anxiously awaiting some kind of white precipitation to fall from the skies and it looks like they are getting their wish.  It's weird - it just doesn't feel like November without snow.

Does anyone have the same feeling as I do - that there is a shift in the air?  I was absolutely spell bound by Mr. Obama's acceptance speech and was in awe of the power and charisma he conveys.  It's amazing that three little words - YES WE CAN - can evoke such emotion.  I was at a seminar given by the Canadian Marketing Association back in early summer and they ended the morning with a video clip from the Obama campaign (at this point, he was still running against Hillary Clinton).  Until that point, I hadn't really paid alot of attention to Mr. Obama because I believed that Hillary should be the one to take the democratic nomination.  However, after watching that video, my perception was changed forever.  The entire room barely breathed through the entire video and even after it had ended, there was silence - such was the power of what we had just watched.  Here was a man who could inspire and more importantly, lead.  He could take a non-supporter, and with three little words, change my opinion.  WOW!  What I also realized that day, however, was the power of leadership and the power of communications. 

I have taken those words and those feelings and have been using them for myself every day.  It's amazing - I have stopped thinking I can't do something.  As soon as there is a problem, those three little words play in my head - YES I CAN!  As Michelle and I plan for our next location and we are scared to death of everything that comes with that, I hear YES YOU CAN!  As we work towards building a business that reflects who Michelle and I are, I hear YES WE CAN! 

We had an absolutely wonderful staff meeting the other night with Michelle Painchaud, of Painchaud Performance Group (PPG) and S.C.O.R.E. Consulting, a division of PPG.  THANK YOU, Michelle, for talking to us about customer service and goal setting.  I have a problem with goal setting.  I know what I want and I go for it, but I cannot get that desire broken down into realistic, measurable and time specific pieces, which of course, is the key to the successful completion of those goals.  After listening to Michelle Painchaud on Tuesday, I was thinking YES I CAN! 

My goal, by the end of this year, is to set realistic, measurable, specific and timed goals for 2009 and after writing these all down, I will add YES I CAN!

November 05, 2008

The Big Exchange!

I'm SUPER excited about an event we're attending this evening.  The Women Business Owners of Manitoba is hosting The Big Exchange at the Cabato Centre from 5-9 this evening.  It's the very first book exchange that allows you to purchase four gently used books for $20.  There will also be the opportunity to exchange knowledge at three informative workshops and learn about other businesses in a tradeshow environment.  

The event is open to everyone and is $15 in advance (via the website) or $20 at the door.  It's complimentary admission for all WBOM members. Here is the agenda for the evening:

5-9 pm - Networking, Trade Show, and Book Exchange

6:20-6:40 - Workshop #1 - RBC: Succession Planning  

7:00-7:20 - Workshop #2 - Carolyne Zimmerman: Networking

7:40-8:00 pm - Workshop #3 - WEC: Growing Your Business

8:20 - Door Prize Draws

We will be there with our delicious lineup of holiday products so stop by for a sneak preview.  They will be on our shelves this Friday and you're in for a real treat!

Make it a great day!

Michelle

November 04, 2008

Change!

I thought this morning would be a perfect time to talk about change - on the day of the historic election in the States and the entire world, waiting with baited breath to see what happens.

Change is something that is not easy for most people.  It's difficult, chaotic and stressful.  HOWEVER, it is also necessary.  Nothing can stay the same.  If it does, it dies.  Period.  End of discussion.  Because of that, every business owner must ensure their business grows and changes - its a living thing, after all and the last thing any business owner wants is for their business to die. 

Both Michelle and I are people who love change.  Personally, I thrive on it.  I change things often and regularly (my hair, my likes and dislikes, what I eat for breakfast and too many other things to mention).  I often think about change and what it means to me.  I believe that essentially, we as human beings, are put on this earth to learn and grow and with that comes change.  We are all born with (or learn) certain behaviours and habits and its up to us to learn about them and change them and become better, more experienced and understanding people. 

For businesses, I believe this to also be the case.  Businesses start off small and grow.  They learn, adapt and change to become better businesses (at least, they should).  For that growth to happen, however, many changes have to be made.  This doesn't mean the business (or its owners) all of a sudden become radically different.  It just means that they've learned a thing or two and are applying that knowledge to ultimately create a stronger entity.

Personally, I've learned alot about trusting myself and my instincts and my knowledge.  I know more than I think I do and its important for me to trust myself in that.  I've always said that if I could start a business, anyone could and while I still believe that, I have also come to realize that I have some pretty great traits that help me as an entrepreneur.  I always tell Michelle that if it were easy, everyone would do it.  And its true.  What I have come to understand and appreciate, however, are the traits that I have that have driven me to start my own business as opposed to being a researcher with a Master's in Economics.

Everyone has their own strengths and their own challenges.  It's what makes us, us.  BUT, we can sharpen our strengths, diminish our weaknesses and ultimately, become better individuals.  As a business owner, this translates into a stronger business.  The business doesn't lose who it is or what it stands for - it becomes a stronger version of what it always has been.

Change is necessary and its exciting.  Think of all the possibilities!