| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
How
far do you travel to speak?
Do you speak French
or other languages?
What kind of humour
do you use?
How can you speak to
such a variety of audiences and
deliver information pertinent to
their unique organization?
Why do you speak to
young entrepreneurs?
Do you mentor people?
Are your books being
published in other countries?
How long do you spend
at a client's event?
How do you keep your
audiences' interest and really
drive home your messages?
Why
did you sell your accounting and
tax public practice?
Q. How far do you travel
to speak?
A. I've had invitations to
speak in Bermuda, New Orleans, Texas,
North West Territories and Toronto,
to name a few. As long as it is
logistically viable, I will make
every effort to accommodate long-distance
requests. I believe the message
of succeeding in business talks
a universal language. I enjoy meeting
people from all walks of life, and
being one- quarter French-Arabic-Hungarian
circus gypsy, traveling is in my
genes.
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Q. Do you speak French or other
languages?
A. Non, I don't speak French,
but I am multilingual. I speak English,
Canadian and Australian.
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Q. What kind of humour do you use?
A. I am not a stand-up comic nor
do I try to be. I have learned that
in every audience there is someone
of every minority, and I would hate
to offend anyone. Therefore I prefer
to laugh at myself or real-life
situations that I have experienced,
not at other people. I do believe
that life is too short to be serious,
and that a sense of humour -
even if a little warped -
is both a lifesaver and a necessity.
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Q. How can you speak to such a variety
of audiences and deliver information
pertinent to their unique organization?
A. Business is business the world
over, and I've had over thirty
year's diversified business
experience. However, I spend a great
deal of time researching my clients'
needs, talking to people within
their industry and researching and
reading pertinent information. Each
keynote or workshop is carefully
customized.
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Q. Why do you speak to young entrepreneurs?
A. Our youth is the future of our
nation, and young people have so
much to offer. They are creative,
eager, full of vitality, often unfettered
by society's rules and regulations
and refreshingly honest. It is our
duty as adults to help them however
we can. They inspire me.
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Q. Do you mentor people?
A. I believe that we should all
mentor others and share our experiences
and information. Therefore it is
not often that I turn down a request
for help. That is why I offer free
on-line help and information and
the many resources on this Web site.
I've helped many people, from
business to encouraging fitness
to publishing and writing. The inner
rewards of doing this are immeasurable.
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Q. Are your books being published
in other countries?
A. Now that the new edition of Business
for Beginners is available,
I am looking to have both books
published in other countries and
North America. Any offers? Business
for Beginners is currently
being published in Russia, but it
is taking time. It is also available
through the U.S. in the Globalstar
Software business plan software
programs and through Amazon.com.
I do hope to publish U.S. editions
of both books. I've had some great
feedback from people in the United
States who have read the book, including
a university self-employment program,
a college professor, an international
company's sales manager for Europe,
a German writer and columnist, and
a Hollywood movie producer!
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Q. How long do you spend at a client's
event?
A. I don't just fly in and
out. Where possible, I arrive at
least the day before the event to
familiarize myself with the venue
and the attendees and to meet the
conference organizers. I will attend
conference events, be available
to answer questions both before
and after my presentations and by
phone and e-mail when I return.
I always follow up and send evaluation
summaries and any other relevant
feedback to clients.
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Q. How do you keep your audiences'
interest and really drive home your
messages?
A. I carefully structure each presentation
- whether a keynote or an
all-day workshop - so that
it is a combination of techniques.
Some people are visual learners,
others are audio learners, and some
have to learn by experience. Therefore
I vary the presentation by using
techniques such as props, audience
participation, detailed handouts,
true-life stories, audience brainstorming
and sharing, and book and prize
giveaways. The variety, motivation
and participation builds group rapport
and a positive learning environment.
And I hope we have some fun too.
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Q. Why did you sell
your accounting and tax public practice?
A. Because I preach doing what you
love best and what you are passionate
about, and I lost my passion because
so many people failed in business
or were not willing to change. I
saw too many broken marriages through
business failure, and children being
used as the pawns. Why should they
suffer? By focusing on doing what
I love the most - speaking,
and writing - the audiences
for both books and speaking are
usually positive and receptive to
learning and change.
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