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35 | Thursday October 19, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insidehalton.com Three success tips for small business owners (NC) Being an entrepreneur means that you'll often figure things out as you go along, without guidance or an established structure to help you navigate. Though it is one of the most exhilarating aspects of the job, it can also be daunting, especially when you're first starting out. Dan Kelly, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, offers his top three tips for small business owners. 1. Make mistakes and pivot often. Regularly ask yourself: "Did I meet my business goals today?" and identify some key performance indicators. This will allow you to continue doing what works, or troubleshoot problems quickly by pivoting your strategy with minimal repercussions. 2. Know your customers. Building strong relationships with your customers takes time, but if you treat them right and do what's best for them in the long-term, you'll have a better chance at winning and retaining their business. It's also a good idea to find out where your customers are spending time online or on social media and to communicate with them there. 3. Build a support network. Set yourself How to turn your passion into a small business (NC) Do you dream of starting your own business one day, but don't know where to begin? Making a living out of your passions can be more possible than you think, and lots of entrepreneurs have been able to create successful businesses out of theirs. Trisha Bower turned her dream into reality when she opened Eat My Shortbread, a bakery café. She began by operating her shortbread business out of her home and eventually launched the full café and bakery a few years ago. Here, are her tips for turning your passion into a small business reality: 1. Fill a void with your passion. In order for your customers to buy into the product or service you are selling, you have to offer a solution to a problem. Look for the gaps or things that could be done better within the industry. 2. Become an expert on the subject. It's not enough to say you'll open a bakery because you love baking -- you need to know how to operate in the business. This means doing lots of research to learn all about suppliers, maintenance, insurance, real estate, marketing and more. Do not underestimate how much time is required for the research phase. 3. Join a community of small business owners. Joining the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) can be key to increasing the odds of your business success. Don't be afraid to ask for help. up for success by joining a community of other small businesses where you can gain access to invaluable industry resources. CFIB provides specialized business resources and makes sure the voice of independent businesses is heard on government issues that are important to your business. www.newscanada.com Kevin Flynn, MPP Oakville Small Business is the Please support our small businesses. engine of our economy. Small Business Week 2017. Do you have a question or concern relating to the provincial government? Please don't hesitate to contact me at my we're here to help. 2318 Lakeshore Rd. W., Unit 2 Oakville, ON L6L 1H3 Tel 905.827.5141 | Fax 905.827.3786 @MPPKevinFlynn | @MPPKevinFlynn kflynn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org www.kevinflynn.onmpp.ca