Every year, my brother-in-law Josh Fraser,  participates in the Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-Thon.

What is THAT you ask?

Well, Josh would be able to explain it better, but after my own research this is what I found:

The Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-Thon is an energetic fundraising event for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada.  You can choose to rollerblade, bike, or walk and you can join the thousands of Canadians in over 80 communities across the country who will be using their “heels” or “wheels” to raise money to find a cure for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The Crohns and Colitis Foundation means a lot to Josh. Take a few moments to read Josh’s Personal Story .

This year, Josh’s personal goal is $125.00 - If you would like to donate to support him, and everyone else who experiences the effects of Crohns, click here to help him reach his goal! Every penny counts!

Here is a photo of Josh with his wife Stacey.

Thank you!

My grandfather sent me a link to a movie about the Story of Stuff.

This movie is about 20 minutes but is very fast-paced and is very interactive. The narrator goes through basically ‘the story of stuff’ by explaining its extraction through sale, use and disposal, and how all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. 

This short video exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever!!

This video is also great for kids/students!

To watch this video click here or go to www.storyofstuff.com !

 Let me know what you think!

On a personal note: Since January I have been focusing more on my health. Needless to say this is extremely important - what is the point of life if you are not healthy?!

I decided to commit to my goal of fitting in a nutritional cleansing program and a workout program tailored to my needs. I started cleansing with a company called Isagenix and it has been amazing. It has really helped me with my cravings (salty and especially chocolate) and has helped me with more energy.  Even my sleep time has improved :). So far I have released 20lbs and many inches (I don’t know exaclty how many, but my clothes are SO MUCH looser). It’s unbelievable! If anyone would like more information on these products feel free to email me and I can connect you with someone who can help you.

I have also seeked help from my personal trainer - Tom Irvine. I asked him to create a program where I don’t have to go to the gym because sometimes I don’t have time. He created a workout program where I can workout at home or even at the office! In such a short time I already see results! I have added his link “Quest Personal Training Studio” to the right as I feel his contribution to my health plan was very helpful.

I want to spread health and wellness to everyone

It’s been a while since my last post!

I thought I’d post my new business card. Dundee Wealth Managment has come out with a new design and advertising strategy.  The new logo has grown on me.

HEALTH AND DENTAL COVERAGE 

Do you and your family need Health and Dental Coverage?

-Do you avoid going to the dentist because of the unexpected charges?

-Are you unsatisfied with your current work coverage?

-Do you worry about your kids not having the proper health/dental care coverage?

We have several companies who offer affordable packages that would help alleviate the above concerns you may have.

Coverage Options Available:

• vision care
• coverage for medication
• variety of dental coverage options
• chiropractor, osteopath, naturopath, registered massage therapist,
• psychologist
• physiotherapist
• homecare nursing, prosthetic appliances
• speech pathologist
• lifeline personal response service
• accidental dental
• ambulance
• travel insurance
• semi-private/private hospital room
• hospital cash
• catastrophic coverage -  ( unlimited 100% coverage for  prescription drugs over $4500.00 per year should you get into an unforseen serious accident/medical emergency )
• BEST DOCTORS

What is BEST DOCTORS?

• BEST DOCTORS allows you to get access to the TOP 3 Doctors in the WORLD to look at your medical needs.
• http://www.bestdoctors.com/canada/howWeDoIt.php

*** REMEMBER  if you are self employed or a small business owner you can deduct the premiums as a business expense (and the plan could possibly end up free for you)

If you want more information feel free to call or email. I will gladly answer your questions!

Canadian Business provided a sector report - determining what the ‘next big things’ will be. In otherwords - what is the next big thing that we the consumers will start demanding.

For the full sector report Click HERE or read the summary below.

Retail Industry:

• Any products that are tailored to Baby Boomers - making technologies easier to use for older people: cellphones with larger buttons, lighter gym equipment etc.

Health Care Industry:

• Personal Health Coach or Health Care Providers - if you had to have surgery, health care providers would do the research for you and provide you options.

Construction Industry:

• Anything to do with Green Building and Sustainable Building that will offer more environmental-friendly for people and leave less of a an environmental footprint.

Manufacturing Industry:

• Manufacturers will need to be more specialized and customized in their product lines in a cost-competitive way. 

Business Services:

• Outsourcing - from IT departments, Finance and Accounting, and Third Party Logistic Providers

Technology:

• Applications that can help reduce medical costs. As the population ages there will be increasing pressure to do more with the same amount of money. The need for tracking records better, therapies for patients etc will become prevalent.

There is no denying that any product/service that is tailored to

a) BabyBoomers  OR  b) improving the environment

is going to continue to grow.  I wonder if Guidance Councellors suggest the above when helping high school students determine what they want to do in post secondary school. 

There is a lot of potential to become an entrepreneur and focus on any one of the above sectors and would most likely be successful - of course with hard work and determination!

There is one worry  - if everyone focuses on Baby Boomers - what happens to everyone else?

I have started to add some books that I have read within the past 5 years.  I’ve only listed the books that I found were easy to read and that kept my interest for entire the book.

For any of you who would like to learn more - and who are the self-taught type - click on the link. This will bring you directly to chapters.indigo.ca where you can read more about it.  If any of you would like more information on Bob Proctors book - email me and I will send you the book via email.

I attended a networking seminar Wednesday morning that was being held by the government. It was  about business finance and was focused on women, but a man could have learned from this as well.

 The guest speaker was a man named Andrew Patricio - who is an international small business and franchise expert, trainer, coach, conference speaker and seminar presenter.

I’m in the financial industry, so I think this stuff is interesting anyway, but who would have thought Andrew would have made ‘normal’ people enjoy finance! It was amazing. 

He has started 6 businesses of his own, published a small business seller “Up & Running - a guide to running your own business.

Small business generate much more profit then large business so the government is really trying to encourage people to open up their own business.  Especially in this area — and Cornwall  needs it to attract people to stay here and visit here. 

There are so many resources out there if you want to open up your own business.  Check this government site - you can get all sorts of information by just calling Canada Business

If you want some tips and tricks from Andrew: check out www.bizlaunch.ca , he has a blog on there with lots of information.  He also has some articles that may be of interest to you: articles .

I just read an article that was a little bit surprising to me. It stated that:

Many Canadian women are disinterested and unprepared when it comes to planning their financial futures.

First of all, had this statement been 20 years ago, I’d say - okay that makes sense. Men used to be the spouse who makes all the financial decisions, controls spending, budgets, and invests – or so I thought.

The TD Waterhouse Female Investor Poll found that 70% of women surveyed aren’t interested in how to invest their money and pay little attention to the financial markets EVEN though they are worried about the state of their investments.  They also found that Women seemed overwhelmed and confused and felt a little bit of anxiety about the topic.

Many of those who are uninterested are between the ages of 25-34, a segment that may not have thought seriously about retirement.

The survey also found only one in four women have a financial plan.  Even though women tend to be able to save - Most women don’t have a “financial back-up plan” for unexpected events in their lives such as divorce, death of a spouse, serious illness or disability. 

Women (and men) it is time to get involved in your future - there are lots of resources out there.  Make sure you have a financial back-up plan to meet your needs. Be prepared. This should be a priority and an even greater priority if you have children, just got married or divorced, just purchased a home, just started a business, and started a new job. 

Get your consultation - it is FREE - so no excuses!

At the conference I attended last week, one of the speakers mentioned this at the end of their presentation:

If we could reduce the world’s population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look something like this:

• 60 Asians, 12 Europeans, 5 US Americans & Canadians, 8 Latin Americans and 14 Africans
• 49 would be female and 51 would be male
• 82 would be non-white and 18 white
• 89 would be heterosexual and 11 homosexual
• 33 would be christian and 67 would be non-christian
• 5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth, and all of them would be US citizens
• 80 would live in substandard housing
• 24 would not have any electricity
  (And of the 76% that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night.)
• 67 would be unable to read
• 1 (only one) would have a college education
• 50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
• 33 would be without access to a safe water supply
• 1 would have HIV
• 1 near death
• 2 would be near birth
• 7 people would have access to the Internet
• If you woke up this morning with more health than sickness, you are luckier than the million that will not survive this week.
• If you have never experienced a war, a loneliness of an imprisonment, an agony of tortures , or a famine then You are happier, than 500 million persons in this world.
• If you are able to go to church, mosque or synagogue without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death,
  you are happier, than 3 billion persons in this world
• If there is a meal in your refrigerator, if you are dressed and have got shoes, if you have a bed and a roof above your head you are better off, than 75% of people in this world
• If your parents are still alive and still married,
  then you are a rarity.
• If you have a bank account, money in your purse,and there is some trifle in your coin box,  you belong to 8% of well-provided people in this world
• If you read this text, you are blessed three times as much, because Someone has thought of you, You do not belong to those 2 billion people which cannot read, and you have had your computer.

It really made me realize how lucky we have it in Canada - and reminded me not to take anything for granted.  And as some would say live every day to the fullest!