The Karmali Exchange

Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Either way, there's still a glass you need to deal with. I recently presented at the Canadian Association of Movers Conference in Edmonton. It was a great opportunity to discuss the biggest challenges facing business owners including inflation, government regulation, and labour shortages. But it's not just about what's going wrong. If entrepreneurs...

Quiet quitting. So... we all have thoughts about quiet quitting. Want the TLDR? We as business owners expect our employees to do more work than us. If they are... they should start their own business. They don't own the business. They don't have equity. Why do we treat them like they do? I loved this conversation with Zak from Canadian Podcast because I had the opportunity to get some things off m...

"Build your brand." But what the heck does that mean? I talk about this with Zak Hussein, host of the Canadian Podcast. Some people don't know but Zak is actually a brand and marketing genius. That's his job beyond just being a terrific host. We talk about navigating social media, Gary Vaynerchuk's model for posting, leadership and so much more. On top of that, we react to some of the best advice...

Just two podcasters podcasting. It was so much fun having Zak Hussein, host of Canadian Podcast, in our studio to react to some of the best advice I've gotten from guests over the year of 2022. We talk about influencers, market research, brand and so much more. Actually... we talked about so much stuff, we had to break this into 2 parts. Stay tuned for part 2 which will be released on December 9th...

How is the best soccer player in the world?  Popularity versus skill can be an interesting discussion and it's something you can use to your business advantage. Most CEOs or higher ups are brought on board for their vision but the thing is, not everyone executes. How do you ensure your vision is executed? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who's never made a bad decision as an entrepreneur? *crickets* Ya we all have. It's a part of the gig. The secret is you have to make mistakes in order to be successful. This isn't new information. But the reminder is crucial. On social media, we often only see the best everyone has to offer. Then you see someone like David Wallach, who is wildly successful, telling you mistakes are a part of the...

How are you paying yourself from your company? Paying yourself 100% dividends may land you in court. Getting the advice you need from a tax professional can help you avoid a run in with the CRA. Also, spending is on its way down this holiday season. What impact will that have on your business? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to be successful in your industry for over two decades? That's the questions every business owner and entrepreneur wants to know the answer to. You know who has the answer? David Wallach, Broker/Owner of Barclay Street Real Estate Ltd. His answer may surprise you. David is a wealth of knowledge. He has so much experience in every role his business has and it gives him incredible...

How do you beat the competition? Look internally. Work on the culture.  How your business operates internally will make ultimately improve work productivity and empower your team. David Wallach has been in the commercial real estate industry for over two decades and he is still striving. But here's the thing, he doesn't compete with others, he wants them to compete with him.  We have a FULL interv...

Do you feel like you’re faking it until you make it as a business owner? Are you struggling to promote yourself or your business because you’re questioning your worth? Let’s talk about it. We'll be talking about imposter syndrome, worth and the 5Ps or what Shashi likes to call the 5 Pillars: process, people, passion/plan, profit/financials and product.  Our upcoming event with founder of Joydrop,...

Let the advertising begin! It looks like Uber will start advertising in its cars while you ride. It's an interesting move to generate more revenue. If it works for Uber, it could work for you. Also, retailers are heading into the holiday shopping season and consumers are feeling the pinch of inflation. How is your business encouraging customers to spend the few dollars they have left? See omnystud...

Have you ever run a half marathon? Marathon? It's one of those things where you know it will be work. You need to train and have discipline but sometimes you think, well it's running. One foot in front of the other.  That's a lot like running a business.  Shashi Behl and I talked about this on her episode of the Karmali Exchange but it didn't make it into the episode.  We face obstacles as busines...

Finances, acquisitions, growth... OH MY! I know what you're thinking, "acquisitions are not what my business is about." I think you're wrong. Acquisitions are not just something for large companies to be considering. The mentality and approach to them is something you should actually apply to your business. Who better to talk about that than the CFO of Parkland, Marcel Teunissen? Marcel discusses...

Tax tips! Look, no one likes taxes but we have to talk about it.  Also on this episode, why do businesses fail when they enter new markets? I got to talk to Marcel Teunissen, CFO of Parkland, and I asked him this question. He is so knowledgeable and I know what you're thinking... I want to hear more. Well, we have a full episode of the Karmali Exchange releasing this Friday with Marcel. Stay tuned...

It's getting ridiculous... stop spying on your employees. If you don't trust them, that's a different issue. But if you trust them, let them get the work done! Also, everyone's favourite topic: taxes. It's so important to make sure you're keeping on top of this so the tax man doesn't come for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we've all heard, Apple has launched a new iPhone AND watch (series 8). Are you interested in the new devices? What about the updates to iOS that were announced? Also, I talk about the 5Ps with Erin Creegan-Dougherty, founder and owner of Maskwa Backcountry Foods. She's an inspiring new business owner and I'm excited to see how her business grows.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

There's a right and wrong way to start your business. Erin Creegan- Dougherty, owner of Maskwa Backcountry Foods is doing it right. I love talking to young entrepreneurs because there is so much passion behind what they do. They are eager to learn and grow and it reminds me of why we all started our businesses. Erin saw a gap in the market: backcountry food that was friendly for people with dietar...

Bed Bath and Beyond just took off on their price per share. Why? Because a lot of retail investors shot up the stock price. Zellers coming back from the dead with Hudson Bay stores. They're starting with e-commerce then slowly releasing more bricks and mortar locations over time. What it means to value your employees as a business owner. We get great insight from Kevin Wilhelm, Co-Founder and Pres...

Some very important topics that have gained a lot of traction in the business community.  Do you know if your business is making a profit? Let's say you're getting a lot of complaints about an employee. What do you do? What is your strategy when your talent starts to retire? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you've started a business (or multiple), sold a business, and started another one with even more success than the first, it's safe to say you know your shit. Shashi Behl, CEO/Founder of Joydrop has refined the art of building businesses to sell. Why though? Why build a business and put your heart and soul into it with the intention of selling to someone else? Because passion isn't embedded in...

Weekly roundup!  Online returns are a huge... so how do you prevent returns? How do you ensure your customer buys your product and incorporates it into their everyday life? Elon Musk made headlines again for saying those who work from home aren't actually working, they're pretending. Well Elon, I think many would disagree. What is the most important thing to think about as a business owner? It's n...

"They're not revolting against 'I don't want to work anymore'. They're revolting against, 'I don't want to work for you.'" Let's talk about the employee renaissance. Your employees make your business. So you better be treating them well. You better be selecting people that align with your values. It is your job to ensure that it is a mutually beneficial relationship. How are you ensuring your empl...

We have so many amazing moments on the Karmali Exchange that don’t make it into the full episodes. In this bonus moment Robert Price, founder and CEO of Bōde Canada, shares his thoughts on growing an exciting business with a purpose that employees can get behind. We discuss growth versus profitability, finding the right talent in a competitive market, and creating a culture of connection. See omny...

Business owners are taking on a million roles and I often get asked "how do you balance it all?" That word... balance. It does not exist in this career path. You won't have "balance" as an entrepreneur. Deal with it. You have to prioritize. You have to know where you have to let go so you can give your full energy into whatever is the most important in that moment. Every business owner I've spoken...

How do you feel about user fees? I personally would rather it just be buried in the price of the product or service.  Also, as a business owner, do you care about how many vacation days your employees take off? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.