Lazy Faire November 2010 Issue

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS BY BUSINESS STUDENTS

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NOVEMBER 2010 Issue IV Volume II

zy-Faire MAGAZINE

To Shine!

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Message from our Sponsor

Our primary goal is helping others achieve theirs.

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Editor’s Note I remember talking to a mother of one of my peers a couple years ago. She seemed very upset that stores had set up their Christmas decorations and merchandise before Remembrance Day. Her family had suffered casualties in both WWI and WWII and she was outraged that even large Canadian department stores like The Bay didn’t seem to respect that.

Letter From the Editors

So that begs the question: Is Remembrance Day anything more than just another holiday? Sure, we’re all excited to have a four-day weekend. Bars and clubs are advertising specials all weekend long. Should we be ashamed?

Countless men and women died for their country but a few generations later, everything seems to be forgotten.

In grade school, we would always pause for a moment of silence and afterwards there would be a reading of the famous WWI poem, “In Flanders Fields.” If you would like to pay your respects, there will be a service conducted in the Butterdome at 10:30am on November 11.

And for god’s sake, wear a poppy.

Jyoti Lamba Editor

November’s arrival brings an influx of inevitable activity: from the emergence of snow, the on-set midterms, to the initial holiday arrangements. Another foreseeable activity in November is classroom presentations. If you listen closely in the hallways, you might be able to hear a harmonized squeal from first-years diligently preparing for the BIG day: Business 201 Business Plan presentations. Throughout this month, questions of what to wear, what to do, where to be, and how to act consistently arise. Friends, parents, professors and TA’s may bombard you with an overabundance of advice – but what direction should you embark on and what recommendation should you take to heart?

Consider this Lazy-Faire issue a brilliant beckon in these days of darkness. If you are looking for fashion tips on how to dress on the big day, presentation hints (without needing to imagine your audience naked), or ideas to make your business plan sparkle, you definitely need to flip these pages. Make sure your presentation becomes your moment to shine!

Breanne Fisher Editor

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Table of Contents

05

CONTRIBUTERS

06

CALENDER

07

TIME KILLERS

26

COFFEE BREAK

SMALL BUSINESS IDEAS

14

CONFERENCE CORNER

15

JEFF BONE’S ONE LINERS

24

REASONS TO NEVER IMAGINE YOUR AUDIENCE NAKED

24

THE BUSINESS OF YOGA

4

17

YOUR SECRET WEAPON FOR A PERFECT PROJECT

18

COAT’S OFF: CHILLIN’S ON jdc’s chilling for charity

19

RMBS

rocky mountain business seminar

HOCKEY POOL FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

08

LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS: theatre preview

22

entertainment

10

health and wellness

20

WHAT NOT TO WEAR: business style

student life

business

EDITOR’S NOTE

in every issue

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Calendar

November Sunday

7

14

21

28

Monday

Tuesday

1

2

8

9

15

16

22

29

23

30

6

Wednesday

3

BSA Anti-Burnout

10

Last day to drop classes and receive a grade of W

17

JDC West Chillin’ for Charity

24

Thursday

4

11

Rememberance Day

18

25

5

Saturday

Friday

6

AIESEC Professional Development Seminar

BFA Mock Market Prizes and Party

12

No School

13

AIESEC Exchange Review Board

19

JDC West Ice Breaker Shaker BEA Bon Voyage BSA Lunch & Learn 2

26

Lest We Forget...

20

BSA Cohort Event: Traffic Light Party

27

Time Killers

Anna Kravchinsky

Each month, Lazy-Faire features one student from the School of Business and asks them about their “Time Killers”: where they hang out between classes, what they do during their downtime, and other things that interest them.

How did you get involved in modelling?

I’m involved with marketing promotions companies such as Mosaic, Inventa, and TrojanOne. When they need help promoting their clients, I am called in. In the past, I have performed surveys, handed out samples, and been involved in their promotional materials.

I’ve worked with clients ranging from Nintendo Wii, Smokeless Tobacco, to Nescafe and I have even had the opportunity to work at different concerts.

A couple years back, I began to be more interested in the modeling aspect rather than doing promotions and thus began to create a portfolio of my modelling work. I am now hired by photographers to do shoots which helps me expand my experience and lets me do the fun part of being someone else behind camera.

Has modelling added to your knowledge of the business world?

How? Modelling is a lot of marketing – it’s about selling yourself and the product.

Many people don’t know that anyone can be a model. It’s about intrigue - about how you are able to connect with the camera and show your personality in the pictures.

What do you hope to do after your Commerce degree?

I hope to travel a lot and get involved in the fashion industry - particularly in England and Italy, or perhaps move back to Paris where I lived for 7 years before moving to Canada. I also eventually hope to get my MBA.

Photography by Bryan Tran

How do you balance school, work and volunteering?

I schedule a lot with my iPhone and try my best to keep things in balance.

Program: Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce Major: Marketing Year: 4 Minor: International Business

Time Killers: CNN | cnn.com I don’t watch the news very often, so I visit this site to keep updated. It is also a way that I connect to people around the world.

Cosmopolitan cosmopolitian.com This site offers funny stories and a look into the fashion-world. It’s a fun release from everyday stressors.

Competitive Dancing Workshops I used to dance competitively, so sometimes I register in dance classes purely for fun. It keeps me active and takes my mind off school.

Would you like to be featured in the next Time Killers piece and participate in your own photo shoot?

Drop us a line telling us why at submissions@bsaonline.ca

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Entertainment

New Additions to the Lazy-Faire Pamelina Chang Although I’m not actually a student at the University, I’m excited to be part of the Lazy-Faire team this year. I have a Journalism diploma from Grant MacEwan University and I’ve worked as a journalist in Shanghai, China.

I’ve recently moved back to Edmonton after spending a year in Victoria, BC, studying at Royal Roads University where I graduated with a BA in Communications. I love all aspects of journalism so I’m ready to help out however and whenever I can.

Matthew Crowley Matthew Crowley is a third year student at the University of Alberta currently majoring in Strategic Management and Organization. More than anything, he enjoys working with others and inspiring them to go after their goals. Matthew enjoys travelling and spent the last year in a broad six-month tour of Western, Southern, and Eastern Europe. He hopes to study abroad next year at Polytechnic University in Hong Kong.

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Advertisement

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Business

Dress. To. Impress.

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Business

What NOT To Wear: BUS 201 Style

By Brittanee Tomkow It takes just 3 seconds for someone to form their first impression of you and although we hate to admit it, we are judging you on your appearance.

A large part of this is how you are dressed, which is especially important in the business world. From presentations to interviews to the workplace, the appropriate outfit will make or break the situation.

Even though most of you already know this, let’s go over the basic definition of business casual to start.

For Women • Dress pants, skirts, or dresses that are to the knee or longer • Tops such as collared shirts, blouses, sweaters or blazers • Shoes should be simple (not strappy) and preferably a closed toe • Avoid too much cleavage, bra straps showing, mini skirts, denim, flip flops, athletic shoes and anything you would wear to a night club For Men • Dress pants or khakis • Shirts should be wrinkle free and always have a collar and sleeves • Leather dress shoes • Suit jacket and/or tie, if a more conservative environment • Avoid Bermuda shorts, t-shirts, denim, athletic shoes, sandals and anything stained, wrinkled, or damaged There we have it; the traditional definition of business casual. However, unless you are 55, or want to look like a software designer, the above should just be used as a guideline. You can have fun with your business casual wardrobe, so you can still feel young, modern, and more like yourself!

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Business

Fit: The way your clothes fit is the single most important thing about your wardrobe. You may have some great pieces, but if they don’t fit correctly, it could leave you looking like a stuffed sausage, or frumpy and dumpy. Fit can also help you to look more modern. Guys look for slimmer fitting pants, suits, and shirts. The slimmer look is more ‘hip’ and won’t leave you looking like you’re dressing in your Grandpa’s clothes. Ladies follow that hourglass silhouette. Keep skirts close to the body (like a pencil skirt) and keep shirts and jackets cinched in the waist. Try trendier pieces such as skinny ties for guys and boyfriend blazers for the ladies. If it doesn’t fit off the rack, make your tailor your best friend!

Color: When we think business casual we think neutral. Suiting is often found in the bland, neutral colors of black, grey, brown/beige, and white. All this dullness needs to be counteracted by infusing color into your other pieces, unless it’s your goal to blend in with the wall. Guys try playing with colors in your shirt and tie. Using complementary or contrasting colors can add interest to your outfit.

Ladies try a colourful top and shoes, or to keep it simple, a small pop of color in your accessories.

Mix and Match: By mixing and matching your suiting pieces, you’ll feel more modern and less ‘stuffy’.

Don’t be afraid to wear top and bottom suiting that have different colors, textures, or a subtle and neutral pattern. Guys try playing with mixing and matching your tie and shirt with different colors and patterns. To avoid clashing, make sure you have a smaller or neutral pattern to pair with a bold pattern. Ladies try mix and matching the textures in your outfit like tweed, silk and patent leather.

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Business

Accessorize: Accessories are the best way to add some personality into your wardrobe. The traditional business casual wardrobe can be bland and boring; accessories will help you stand out amongst the blah business clones. Ladies try adding a statement necklace to that little black dress, or cinch your waist with a colourful belt. Guys you can accessorize too! Patterned ties and bow ties can immediately add flair to your outfit, while unique cufflinks show your attention to detail. Be careful not to over accessorize. Try sticking to a max of two items, or follow the rule that you remove one accessory before you leave the house. Let’s have some taste too, shall we. Massive hoops earrings belong on the dance floor, not the boardroom.

Now you are on your way to look

fabulous.

Go out there and strut your stuff!

BE YOU!: You will look better in your clothes in you are comfortable in them.

Confidence does wonder for an outfit. Make sure your ensemble suits your personality.

Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, or choose an outfit you don’t feel comfortable.

You’ll be so concerned with fixing and fussing with your clothes that it will be harder to focus on the task at hand.

Nail that presentation or interview, and leave everyone gawking.

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Business

Small Business Ideas

By Sally Au

Choosing to run your own business is a big step that few people take lightly. Need an idea to you can use for starting a business or business plan? This is the article for you.

Home based, Small businesses

Internet

Common Traits for Small Businesse

These are businesses that you can start on a small budget. If you can do something better than others and want to market it, you could start a consulting home based company, . All you need is talent and several ads or word of mouth advertising. Usually, home based service businesses offer quick returns with low costs.

• Consulting • Professional organizer • Baby sitter/ Daycare • Arts and crafts maker/seller • Photographer • Tutor • Caterer, Retail

As mentioned, small businesses often start with the existing skills of the founder. If you already have the skills for design, research, and connecting people with each other, or if you are willing to learn the basics of html, online marketing and sales, you could take your business idea online as an Internet business. Some ideas for businesses online are: • Website designer • eBay retailer • Internet researcher • Recruiting

Although profit is not always guaranteed (otherwise we would all be rich entrepreneurs), there are several common traits for small businesses.

Japa Dog On an ordinary day, if you’re walking along Burrard near Robson or Smithe in Vancouver, you will smell the sensational aroma of Japadog before you see it. And once you see it, you will not be able resist the big line up for it. Japadog was started by Noriki Tamura when he moved to Canada five years ago. He initially wanted to open a crepe stand but was denied by the City and found that hot dogs were the only option available to him. Thus, he offered hot dogs similar to his competitors but with some inspiration from his homeland, Japan. A lot of Tamura’s successes is due to his clever cart locations. When a food cart is surrounded by hotels, office towers, shopping, and transit hubs, you are guaranteed to make a profit.

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Facebook

Cater to a niche market There is no way that a small grocery store can compete with a Wal-Mart so small businesses have to cater to a particular niche market. It can sell items or offer services that are specific to a particular population or that are not readily accessible through major retailers. These are all good ways to attract an initial customer base.

Get to know your customers It is important to maintain a good relationship The most well known internet business that with your customers once you have your cusstarted as a small business is of course Face- tomer base as small business usually relies on book. A big part of its success was being in word of mouth advertising. the right place at the right time. At the time it started in 2004, social networking services such Focus on your skills as MySpace and Friendster had largely been Large businesses have the ability to expand their targeted and adopted by an older population initial services by hiring experts whereas small but there was a large youth market segment that businesses do not have the same capital to do hadn’t had that experience, and Facebook cap- so. Therefore, successful small businesses usutured it. Furthermore, the experience was de- ally focus on what they know. signed for college students, by college students. Successful small business entrepreneurs seek It has a lot of applications that are geared to- out where an unfulfilled demand in their comward students in school such as schedule view- munity exists and cater to fulfill that gap. Howing apps, poke, and groups. As the profile page ever, there are certain fundamental differences is the same for everyone, it is simple to operate between the operations of a large corporation and easy to learn. Lastly, the privacy settings and a small shop. Successful business owners will Facebook enforced allowed students to control capitalize on these differences to implement a who had access to their information. strategy that works in their favor.

Business

r e n r o C e c n e r e f n o C

By Anna Leyva

Queen’s Conference on the Business Environment of Today (Q’BET) Where: Kingston, ON Date: Nov. 4-7 www.qbet.ca build Q’BET 2010 will focus on helping students . unity comm ess busin the in y legac their own explons, latio Through interactive consulting simu listenand tives initia ility ration of social responsib T 2010 Q’BE kers, spea ote keyn shed ing to distingui d and crow the will inspire delegates to stand out in and ents stud as time make a difference during their rs. in their future caree

)

John Molson Sports Marketing (JMSM

Where: Montreal, QC Date: Nov. 11-14 www.jmsm.ca/JMSM/Home.html Gaining a Competitive Advantage in a Market. Speakers will include:

Saturated

Reebok – - Len Rhodes (VP & General Manager of CCM Hocke) Mon- Larry Smith (President and CEO of the ) treal Alouettes ete Repre- Kris Mychasiw (COO and Senior Athl ent) sentative at Top Elite Managem

er : wha t c a .c nt Co online bsa

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mo smy

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ney

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For more upcoming national and international conferences, go to the “Conf. & Comp.” tab on www.bsaonline. ca. There is a maximum number of students that we will reimburse for each conference, so be sure to apply early!

Message from our Sponsor

8 Tips for Effective Public Speaking Sharpen your competitive edge The number one fear of most people is public speaking...Yes even before dying.

Yet there are few skills that have a greater impact on your success in landing a job, gaining a promotion, or winning against your opposing team in a case competition. Great public speaking is really the sum of its parts. Our tips will help you leverage your strengths and start to make improvements in areas where your delivery needs help. First impressions are lasting ones. “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” and the folks at Xerox know all about impressions.

1. Prepare to succeed The single most important thing you can do to make your next presentation successful is to be prepared. That means make time for some serious practice.

2. Overcome your anxiety Almost every single presenter experiences some anxiety before speaking.

Know that audiences seldom detect it. Audiences want speakers to succeed. They came to see what you can do for them. Put your energy into giving them the best presentation you can.

3. Make first impressions count Before you even begin to present, your audience will base their first impressions on your appearance. Make it count. Dress appropriate: leave your sunglasses in the car: no gum or candy: turn off phone/do not hold: No change in your pocket and if you need to hold onto something make it a pencil…so there is no chance of clicking.

4. Stand for attention Stand up straight, with your legs shoulder width apart and your weight evenly distributed. Good posture reflects confidence and engagement with your presentation and you audience.

6. Make eye contact A great way to help calm your nerves is to make eye contact with one person in the audience.Speak only to them. When you have looked at them long enough to feel you’ve made a connection, move on to another person, and then another. One of the best ways to keep your audience engaged in your presentation is to maintain good eye contact.

7. Avoid reading from your notes although it is quite acceptable to glance at your notes infrequently. Speak loudly and clearly. Sound confident. Do not mumble. If you made an error, correct it, and continue. No need to make excuses or apologize profusely.

8. Audio-visual aids When using to enhance your presentation, be sure all necessary equipment is set up and in good working order prior to the presentation. If possible, have an emergency backup system readily available. Handouts. Check out the location ahead of time to ensure seating arrangements for audience, whiteboard, blackboard, lighting, location of projection screen, sound system, etc. are suitable for your presentation.

5. Free PowerPoint templates Xerox offers a complete library of free PowerPoint templates that are ready to download. Choose from over 50 professionally designed templates.

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Diana Wyley – Recruiter and Talent Management Western Canada, Xerox Canada Diana’s professional sales career began in 1999 with a position with Xerox Canada based in Edmonton. She spent 5 years in various sales roles and 6 years as a Field Sales Training Manager aiding her students in areas such as sales strategies, personal growth, career transition, confidence building, every day life challenges and goal setting. In her current role as a recruiter Diana is always on the look out for great sales talent. You can contact her directly at Diana.Wyley@xerox.com

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Student Life

Winspear Library YOUR

SECRET WEAPON

By Breanne Pisani

for

A PERFECT PROJECT As November rolls around and the semester slowly begins to wind down, it seems as though the life of a business student gets as busy

as ever. Although most midterms are wrapping up, we now all have that long list of group project, reports, and presentations to look forward to. If you’re in your first year of business, perhaps the biggest thing on your to-do list is your BUS 201 Business Plan Presentation.

The Lazy-Faire is here to help you ace your business plan and rock your presentation!

For most people, the biggest issue with creating your very own business plan is finding a place to start. With the excess of information available from millions of sources , it can be very easy to find yourself overloaded with information. The Lazy-Faire has checked in Kathy West from the Winspear Library to get some tips on gathering research, writing out business plans, and giving a successful presentation.

First, book a consultation with a librarian. How do you do this? Click on “ASK US” in the yellow bubble at the top left corner of the Winspear Library web page. Once your meeting is booked, do some prep work before meeting a librarian. This includes: making sure you have some sense of the product, service or idea you are researching, as well as brainstorming with your group questions or thoughts you would like to present to the librarian. Also, when booking an appointment, be sure to provide the librarian with as much information as you can. This ensures the librarian will have enough time to research as well before your meeting. If a librarian has been to your class to do a presentation, there will be a Library course guide on the Win yspear Library webpage. Use this as a starting point in finding information that is important and relevant to our ideas. The Winspear Library has a lot of databases with great information for business plans. These databases will provide industry overviews, market studies, consumer demographics and more. Check out the Business 201 Resource Guide on the Winspear Library web page under the Recommended Resources column - Business Course Guides.

Research is the most time consuming and difficult part of creating a business plan. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, book consultations, and explore everything the Winspear Library has to offer. The more relevant research you have, the easier the rest of your project will be.

Once you have mastered the research portion, it’s time to put your ideas formally on paper and create an effective Powerpoint to enhance your presentation. If you need some guidance, look for the Winspear Library Guide for Presentations and Business Reports - all the recommended resources are in this guide. You can find the guide on the Winspear Library web page above the Twitter box.

The Winspear librarians are available to partner with you as you engage in research for any project, not just for BUS 201. No matter what you need to find research on, the librarians are available to help and guide you to find the best information that will help create a project that makes you shine.

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Student Life

Coats Off: Chillin’s On! What brings us goosebumps diving into in a chilling pool in the middle of November, and allows United Way to extend a helping hand to those who need it most?

On a chilly November day, 100 students and members of the business community will be diving into an ice-cold pool in the middle of Quad. Sounds

crazy? Exactly! Chillin’ for Charity is the event that will shake up the entire University.

The Alberta JDC West team, sponsored by CMA Alberta, is making its way to the largest student-run business competition in Saskatoon, but before that is possible, we need to give back to the community. The 5th annual Chillin’ for Charity Polar Bear Swim will take place on November 17th at noon, with all proceeds going to the United Way. Chillin’ for Charity has been very successful in the last 5 years, donating over $80,000 to the United Way. This year, with your support, we are aiming to break the $100,000 mark.

The 5th annual Chillin’ for Charity Polar Bear Swim

Jeux du Commerce West, more commonly known as JDC West, is an annual business competition featuring top business schools and students from across Western Canada. The first competition, hosted by UBC, occurred January 20-23, 2006, and attracted over 400 students. Since 2006, JDC West has adopted a structure that allows for the competition to move from one city to the next, with the next upcoming competition being held in Saskatoon in January of 2011. In particular, Alberta JDC West has been a dominant competitor for the past 6 years, taking the title “School of the Year” in 2009 when the competition was held in Edmonton. Last year, University of Alberta remained a fair rival in the competition, placing 3rd among 12 universities. This winter, we are preparing to win the competition again and continue representing the U of A as a leading school in Western Canada. However, before we can start scoring points in Saskatoon, we need to hit our $20,000 goal for Chillin’ in support of the United Way. Although JDC West is a business competition, it does not mean there is not a way to show off our big hearts for the community. JDC West encourages volunteering and events such as Chillin’ by allowing the schools to gain points towards their overall total through charity initiatives.

So what will Chillin’ for Charity look like? Let me paint you a picture: At noon, on a snowy day with ice floating in the pool, over 50 high-spirited Alberta JDC West members, members of the community, and many other student groups begin jumping into an inflatable pool. There will be a vast mixture of media, door prizes, wacky costumes, hot tubs, lots of fun-loving

November 17th at noon United Way

18

Student Life

spirit, and more! The public is welcome to watch and cheer on all of the brave participants and courageous special guests. To name a few, Dean Percy of the School of Business will lead the way by taking a plunge into the pool. His perfect attendance and full participation in the event in the last 5 years of Chillin’ for Charity have him wanting to come back and support the United Way by jumping and donating. Another special guest is the Assistant Dean Mike House. He will be taking a dive without any hesitation, hoping for November 17th to be one of the few warm days in November.

This year we are making the event bigger and better, looking for more participants to jump and more funds raised. We welcome any student groups across campus, fraternities, sororities, or any groups not directly affiliated with the university to raise money and jump into the pool. Lastly, we will be selling 50/50 tickets one week before the event and the day of the event, so keep your ears and eyes out to purchase your tickets with a chance to win some instant cash!

Although an inflatable pool outdoors in the middle of November may sound outrageous, we are prepared to do it and we need individuals who can sponsor the participants for their bravery and initiative to participate. Let me remind you that the money raised will go directly to the United Way and every contribution counts, be it monetary or in-kind. We are very lucky to have Arctic Spas donating two hot tubs to keep us all warm after the dive. With that said, we need support from community members like you! All contributions greater than $10 are tax deductible.

If you or anyone you know would like to donate, please contact VP Internal for Alberta JDC West Nataliya Kovalenko by phone at (780) 964-5071 or by e-mail at kovalenk@ualberta.ca.

Thank you for your support!

RMBS: The Best Reading Week

of Your Undergrad!

The Rocky Mountain Business Seminar (RMBS) takes place on February 21 – 25, 2011 at the beauti-

ful Jasper Park Lodge. You receive an amazing value for $500: transportation to and from Jasper, four nights at a five-star resort, delicious meals, networking opportunities with business professionals and students from across Canada, engaging seminars, and interactive keynote speakers. There are also opportunities to participate in a mini-case competition, play in the CMA hockey tournament, and enjoy incredible nightly entertainment – including a graffiti night and a casino night!

Sign up for RMBS on November 26! Sign-up will be a mad dash to a secret location on campus. The location will be released via our email list, Facebook status, and on www.rmbs.ca at 6:00a.m. The first people in line that morning are guaranteed a spot at RMBS 2011! Be sure to bring a deposit of $250 to secure your spot. A tasty breakfast will be provided at 8:00a.m. for all those who have come out prior to the official sign up. For more information check out our information session on November 16, visit us in Bus 2-02, or email us at rmbs@ualberta.ca

RMBS 2011 – Where Business Meets Awesome! See you there!

19

Health and Wellness

Interview: Laeonie Ferguson of Lotus Soul Gym The Business of Yoga

How did you become involved with yoga?

My father has been a yoga teacher for over 25 years. So it was something that was around my life from a relatively young age. I think it’s something that evolved really naturally. One of my most beloved teachers is Sandra Sammartino and I was about 18 when I did a workshop with her and it was just transformational for me. I was really surprised at how affected I was by doing the yoga practice.

My middle sister, my father and I started having a conversation of trying to think of how we could create a studio and put into place so many of our ideals. At the same time, we knew [the business] had to make money. That’s where there’s a real dichotomy.

My dad found this space (Whyte Avenue location) and they needed someone to take over the lease. When I looked at it, it was not even 2,000 sq ft. and it didn’t even look like what “Just because you’re a tualizing. But we were concepwe took it any- good yoga teacher doesn’t ways because the rent was really necessarily make you a good. And we didn’t take any figood business person. nancing, we put together our own money and that was probably the smartest business decision we ever made because the location gave us visibility that we wouldn’t have gotten at the other location. And it was manageable. We were able to finance it without extending ourselves whatsoever. And in the process we got to know about the business of doing yoga.

So in three years we grew to having three locations. We were able to build the second from the profits of our first without, again, having to extend ourselves too much. For our last location (St. Albert) we were able to recover all the costs we had put into it within about 4 months ($100,000). We have no debt, we’re doing very well. And now we’re looking at a much larger, fourth location and taking out a loan to do that.

Because now, we know what works, what sells or doesn’t sell. Just because you’re a good yoga teacher doesn’t necessarily make you a good business person. I think some of those skills can be taught but some of them evolve through experience. It’s a process of figuring out what doesn’t work, where we’re losing money and what we should do more of.

What is the philosophy here at Lotus Soul Gym? When we were in the very early stages of developing the concept in our mind, the first thing we decided was that we wanted it to be a multi-disciplinary studio with many styles of yoga. There are many studios that are dedicated to only one style; however, it’s not for every body. Every body is different in terms of what works for them. So we wanted to open up a studio that was going to be available to everybody. I think that everybody needs yoga. I think the world would be a much better place if everybody did a little yoga.

There’s a misnomer that it comes from India. But it’s all religions, all people, important for us to get out available to you, whoever paign that’s coming out is too.” And I really believe

yoga is related to religion because not a religion. In fact, it embraces all cultures, all bodies. That was there in our philosophy that this is you are. Our new marketing cam“Yoga is for everybody. Your body that.

It’s easy, with the birth of all these hot studios, Lulu Lemon and all this pop culture associated with yoga for people to look at it and think, “That’s not for me, I could never wear that outfit, I could never bend like that.”

And really, there are more people like that than the beautiful, lithe and fantastically limber people with whom yoga is often associated. The bigger part of the population is the average-bodied people. So it’s important, I think, to provide a space for people who want to participate in a way that feels non-threatening and approachable. Because the whole premise of the practice of yoga is to be completely content with the person you are and with the body you have.

When you started this business, what were the prospects for the development of your company in comparison to what you have achieved up until now?

When we initially started the studio, I don’t even know that it was motivated by money. I think now I’m a little bit motivated in that direction and I think that money is energy. It’s a trade and there needs to be a healthy respect for that.

When we initially started, we really didn’t have accurate projections for what we were going to do. We had assumptions rather than projections. But, to be honest with you, the prospects for being a lucrative business in the yoga industry are very good.

Exam tips: - By simply breathing, you can tremendously change your heart rate and suppress cortisol (stress hormone) in your body.

- Always arrive early to allow your body to adjust to the environment. Even if it’s the room you have class in. When we change environments, our bodies need time to adapt.

- Do not study right before an exam. It’s the worst thing you can do. Instead, close your eyes and focus on breathing. Take deep breaths and exhale slowly.

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Health and Wellness

Business Advice: - Keep your ego in check. You may have to do a lot of unrelated things – to open a successful restaurant, you’ve got to wait on tables for a while.

Hot yoga is a growing trend among young people today and it’s not cheap $17-$20 per session. So when you look at numbers like that, you know people are making money.

Attending yoga classes could be classified as “luxury expenditure.” How has the downturn in the economy affected your business?

I think more and more people see it as a necessity and not a luxury. In terms of our population, I think people are realizing that all the money they have means nothing if they don’t have their health. Our industry is primed to meet those needs.

What makes you stand apart from competitors?

Primarily, we’re multi-disciplinary. We’re going after the huge market in the middle. We have a big culture that needs yoga and there is room for everyone.

“We have a recessionproof business.”

My hope is that the people who are making money are doing ethical things with it and that at some level, the integrity of this practice doesn’t get lost. Do I want to make money? Absolutely. But, I believe there has to be a correct karmic way to do that and in fact I think you can set a model for how business can be done. We’ve entered a different era with yoga.

-Don’t lose faith -Be flexible and available. You have to have tough skin. There are a lot of things that might not pan out and you will definitely have trial and error periods. When you’re executing your business plan, it’s always good to underestimate your profits. If you can live with the under-projected amount, then everything else is icing.

- You have to be prepared to work. Not only because there is no one else to do the job but because you have to know your business. You need to understand it. All successful business owners know every aspect of their business. Most small businesses have a finite amount of cash flow and every time you pay someone else to do something, it takes a little bit away from that. It teaches you to be self-sufficient and you get to know your business

In the past few years, what has happened to the yoga industry in Edmonton as a result of the growing trend towards yoga? How have that and the economy affected your business?

In the past few years, I’ve seen a little boom in the yoga industry, despite what was happening with the economy in general. Yoga is on everybody’s radar now. Recently, I saw an advertisement for TD Canada Trust and it was a woman sitting in lotus. So totally unrelated industries are now using yoga as a marketing tool.

I’ll quote my dad for this one: “We have a recession-proof business.” When things were going down, we were going up. And I think that’s largely due to a global wakeup. People are unhappy and they don’t know why. They can’t change their circumstances but they still want to be ok.

Visit lotussoulgym.com to find out more about the locations and classes offered at Lotus Soul Gym. Lazy-Faire is giving away passes to a class of your choice at any Lotus Soul Gym location. To get yours, email submissions@bsaonline.ca 21

Entertainment

Playright: Brad Fraser

H E U M M A A IN N S

R

V N

L A

Gianna Vacirca: (Candy), David’s book reviewing roommate

O D

Ben Dextraze: (David), a former actor and current waiter

E

Cast: Select students from the 2011 BFA Acting graduating class, starring:

Thursday November 4 – Saturday November 13 (all at 7:30pm) No performance Sunday November 7 Studio Theatre, Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta Studio Box Office 1 hour prior to show time, or online at www.tixonthesquare.ca On-sale now, available for $10 - $20 at TIX on the Square (780-420-1757) Grab tickets one hour before any performance at the Studio Box Office (Timms Centre) Buy your tickets online at www.tixonthesquare.ca 22

Entertainment

Love &

Human Remains: Preview

by Matthew Crowley

Put on by select students from the 2011 BFA graduating class, Love and Human Remains toys the precarious extremes of indulgence to the distraught of self-loathing.

The script is dynamically intense and gripping; a vivid emotional range that is described as “brutally dark, sexually explicit, and wickedly razor-sharp” by media contact Selena Kitteringham.

Internationally notarized as a top-10 script by Time Magazine, it is here performed with tantalizing power in spite of its sexually sensitive themes.

Passion.

Skin, lingerie, and red heels– it is Benita (played by Kyla Shinkewski) draped across a silky bed. In fact, she commands the backdrop: a masterful seductress mirroring the story as it explores sexual orientation. And all the while, she claws at the audiences’ imagination of sexual boundaries.

It is the story of “love in the fast lane”, says lead actor Ben Dextraze, who plays David. And the story grips us from the start: a passionate and exploring search for love contrasted severely by the threat of an active serial killer.

Love and Human Remains delivers decadent heaps of lust in a deliciously sensual exploration of the hedonist life. But don’t let the sensualistic listlessness misdirect you, for this story defines “that before you can love others, you have to love yourself” according to lead actress Gianna Vacirca, who plays Candy.

While the story is intense, provocative, striking, spicy and will surely entertain, perhaps the greatest benefit of all is the compelling question of selfidentity: for how do we really want to see ourselves down the road?

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Business Best way to open my 8 am class: Dim the lights, cue laser beams, commence blasting heavy metal music, preferably Slayer, and start rocking out.

Response when students knock at my office door asking to come in: “Actually, I was just about to head out and catch a movie, but maybe not, being office hours and all.”

Finally, what I want to say when I feel I’m done lecturing for the day: “Does the class mind if we end early? I have to go home. I left a comatose Zebra in my house this morning and it’s probably running around by now.”

Professor Jeff Bone’s Classroom One-Liners

I imagine a lot of students wouldn’t admit to it, but they daydream in class. Believe it or not, so do instructors. Here is a sample of what I imagine doing in every day school situations: Response when I am not fully prepared to lecture: “Well it’s hard being a University instructor.

I got class all morning, then office hours, then I have to come home and battle the blank page that is my own research. I mean I barely have time to watch cartoons anymore!”

Response when no one is participating in class discussion and I am trying to get a reaction from someone: “Alright, so I assigned chapter seven to read before class, so which one of you spoiled rich kids has a comment about these readings?”

When a student refers to me as “Professor” Bone: “Oh no, only my friends and family can call me that, we don’t know each other that well yet, you can refer to me as either Jeff, or ‘Teach’”.

Reasons to Never Imagine your Audience Naked

Pamelina Chang You’ve all heard it before.

Anytime anyone mentions their fear of public speaking, you can always count on the proverbial ‘just imagine your audience naked’ comment being made. There are so many things wrong with this perpetual piece of truism yet we continue to pass it around like the flu.

Before you take this piece of advice out for a spin, ask yourself: Do you really need a mental picture of your entire ECON 101 class naked? Is it necessary to imagine your professor and TA’s in the buff to make it through a presentation? Isn’t it creepy and slightly perverted?

Trick 1: Know Your Points Backwards and Forwards

Make a list of the key points you want to hit. Plan it out. Memorize

it. If you can repeat it backwards and forwards than you are ready to

present it.

Trick 2: Connect with the Audience

Making eye contact with different people in the audience is a great way to

engage them in presentation and it portrays confidence even though you

may be terrified

Trick 3: Move Around Moving around/through the audience makes you the centre of attention, makes you more relatable to the audience and makes you release some pent up nervous energy.

If anyone feels better imagining their audience nude, good for you, I make no judgments.

However, for those of you whose answer is yes to one or all of the questions above, here are three basic tricks of the trade to get you started.

My best advice – remember that 90 per cent of the audiences you will present to want you to do well, so if you screw up, it’s not a big deal, take a breath and move on. (Unless you are a politician. In that case, the number is more like 10 per cent.)

24

ANTI-

BURNOUT Wed. Dec. 1st

Advertisement

LIFE CAN BE THIS GOOD.

EVEN IN DECEMBER. JOIN US FOR ANTI-BURNOUT (AKA FREE FOOD GIVEAWAYS) ON DEC. 1ST, 2ND FLOOR BUSINESS IN FRONT OF THE BSA OFFICE

BCOM. BE COOL. BE THERE. 25

Coffee Break

instructions

kakuro

Kakuro puzzles are similar to crossword puzzles but use numbers rather than words. The aim of the puzzle is to fill in all the blank squares with the numbers 1-9 (without repeating) so that they add up to the corresponding clues.

Hint: Some numbers have unique combinations (i.e. 4=3+1, 7=1+2+4 etc.) while others have multiple combinations (i.e. 10=1+9,2+8,3+7,4+6).

The more you play kakuro, the sooner you will begin to master all the combinations. Good luck!

Scorpio (October 23 - November 22) Be spontaneous and break out of your shell! Who needs conformity, normalcy, and sanity when you’ve got a brand new replica tattoo of Snooki’s poof and “GTL” sprawled across your back? Win.

Capricorn (December 23 - January 19) Drama, Drama, Drama. Lots of drama coming your way! But don’t worry, it’s the good kind. That is, the kind that doesn’t involve you! So grab that bowl of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the fireworks!

It’s going to be a goo-oood show!

Sagittarius (November 23 - December 22) Your BS meter is well-tuned and highly functional.

Today is a good day to practice your elevator eyes and cast judgment on others. You know you enjoy doing it anyway.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) So, you thought no one knew, huh? Thought no one would find out, eh? Sneaky sneaky! Now would probably be a good time to initiate Operation Uh-Oh-Where’s-My-Back-Up-Plan. You did make one, right?

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) You often find yourself under criticism from people who resent you for flaunting your power and awesomeness. Well, you know what? FLAUNT IT! WORK. IT! Because nothing says classy more than a fabulous hallway strut and overinflated superiority complex!

Aries (March 21 - April 20) This month is a month to set your inhibitions free.

Follow your heart and do what feels right. If you want that 8th helping of cake, who’s to tell you no??? Not Jenny! EAT.THAT.CAKE!

Happy Birthday Scorpios and Sagittarians!

Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Today is the day of new beginnings! Start off with that pair of jeans. Yes, you know exactly which pair we’re talking about, those ones... They are doing you NO favors! Throw them out. Just throw them out.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) What’s the deal? Do you not know how to save money? Yeah sure, sure, instant gratification is sublime, but continue on your present course and things won’t be so sparkly and pretty. In fact, the stars have a little surprise in store for you in just a few weeks, so you might want to start saving up!

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) It’s time to start paying more attention to your health! Yes, you may be young now, but just know, everything will migrate south during the permanent winter that is post-graduation! Start hitting the treadmill so you can get “toight loike a toiga”.

Your body can only withstand so many Twinkies, Red Bulls, and KFC Double Downs.

Leo (July 23 - August 22) Someone needs to get out a little more. Crawl out of that cave, take a shower (Lord knows you need it), and adjust your eyes to some sunlight.

No matter how much you will it, Edward Cullen is NOT “right on his way”, nor would he be when you smell like that.

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Virgo (August 23 - September 22) Now is the time to start preparing for a grand adventure! Compile that packing list, write down your itinerary, and save your money! (Unless it goes towards a new Marc Jacobs bag…for...your trip…….yeeeah….justifiiiied).

Libra (September 23 - October 22) Despite your current situation, don’t forget that life is bigger than any one moment! Remember Mr. Midterm? Yeah, the one that annihilated your brain? He would like you to know that it’s not THAT big of a deal. Chin up! *Events are purely coincidental and the Lazy Faire is not liable for any occurences.

Looking Back

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