Sharp Women Central Alberta | November 2021

Public Speaking Tips to Rock Your Presentation

How overthinking is hurting you in your business

Guatemalan Guacamole

Kendra Numan: Hebe, Goddess of Eternal Youth, Embodied

The SHARP Woman’s Seven Superpowers Manifesto

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SHARP WOMEN team Ranchelle Van Bryce Co-Founder

Danielle Klooster Co-Founder

Kelsey Evans Administrative Assistant

Rachel Braun Assistant Editor

Ruby Cole-Ellis Editor-in-Chief Central Alberta

Luci Morales Executive Assistant

Sissy Bustamante Lead Designer

Carla Howatt Editor-in-Chief Heartland

Rachelle Scrase Director of Photography

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS THIS MONTH’S

Brenda Kolasa Business Column

Deanna Bailey Great Resources Column

Kim Berube Personal Growth Column

Emma Lyle Social Media Column

Shiel McClure Profesional Development Colum

Glenda Sheard Leadership Column

Tammy Bauer Finance Column

letter from the editor

Super SHARP Woman We have all suffered losses since the onset of the

As we grieve, it is okay to take baby steps. If anything

pandemic: smiles, touch, in-person relationships, a

COVID-19 has taught us to reevaluate what truly is

career, a job, a "normal life." It's natural and desirable to

important and take pleasure in the little things in life.

grieve in the wake of so much death and deprivation.

Maybe it is catching up via video-call with a friend, or soaking a warm bath, or maybe it is cooking some

Sadness is an emotion —and like all emotions— we

good ol’ comfort food. (Which reminds me, you

feel it in brief episodes. Grief, however, contains

HAVE to try my home-made recipe of my famous

many emotions and moods. It is a complex and

Guatemalan guacamole!)

lengthy process that moves us from a place of loss to a new place where we can find some equilibrium without what we lost. While sadness is about fully acknowledging the loss, the grieving process is about getting beyond it. The bigger the loss, the bigger the hole in our life, the longer we grieve. In grief, we can experience a range of emotions, from shock to anger

Finally, it’s a good time to stock up on compassion.

Everyone will have different levels of fear and grief and it manifests in different ways. So be patient.

Wearing a mask? Smile anyways, that cashier at the grocery store can totally tell you are! Feeling stressed... take a deep breath of that nice cool crisp Fall air.

to fear, in addition to sadness. The crazy thing is that we are all suffering from grief, in one way or another, all at the same time.

As we work through our grief, mindful self-awareness can help us identify our emotions and see them as part of the grieving process. You will know what I

You can get through this. You are so strong. You are so powerful. You are so resilient.

Remember, you are a super SHARP woman!

Rooting for you, always.

mean, when you read Kim Berube’s powerful "The SHARP Woman’s Seven Superpowers Manifesto " In the midst of grieving it can seem hard to believe, but most bereavement is met with resilience. Need an example of stellar resiliency? Get inspired by Shiel McClure’s personal essay "A Leap of Faith", where she reflects on her journey of a full career change in her 40s.

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Ruby Cole-Ellis

Editor-in-Chief Instagram: @rubycoleellis Photo by Amy Cheng Photography

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November 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS

08

RANCHELLE IN THE RAW

By Ranchelle Van Bryce

10

BUSINESS

By Brenda Kolasa

PROFESIONAL DEVELOPMENT

By Shiel McClure

42

26

28

FINANCE

By Tammy Bauer

SOCIAL MEDIA

By Emma Lyle

46

18

PERSONAL GROWTH

By Kim Berube

14

GREAT RESOURCES

22

By Deanna Bailey

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

By Carla Howatt

34

SHARP WOMEN FEATURE:

MONICA NIEDERLE

By Rachel Braun

38 YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FEATURE:

50

KENDRA NUMAN

FOOD RECIPE

By Rachel Braun

By Ruby Cole-Ellis

LEADERSHIP

By Glenda Sheard

54

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Central Alberta

from the ceo

Ranchelle

in the Raw

By Ranchelle Van Bryce

Hey SHARP Women!

This month I decided to do something a bit different.

I created a video last week for one of my private coaching groups. Afterwards.

I realized that the message is powerful and so I thought I would share it here with you in an audio or video format. The quality of the video is "okay"; there was a bit of delay in the footage that day.

The subject of the video is to Stop Trying To Solve Your Problems.

When we are experiencing conflict or problems, it is your higher power, your Divine, Source, God... providing you a message. When you focus on what you don’t want, you get more of what you don't want.

Listen to explore what that means and a different approach.

Stay real and raw ladies, it is bliss!

Hugs,

Ranchelle PS. In the video, I mentioned a retreat in Europe that I wanted to manifest... and how Rob, my life partner, added his practical side and what we manifested last week.

PPS. The property that was ‘supposed’ to be sold; isn’t... ▼

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CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL VIDEO SHARP WOMEN

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business

How overthinking is hurting you in your business

By Brenda Kolasa

Do you constantly catch yourself overthinking?

The only thing I’ve learned from being in that headspace is that it’s really easy to spiral out of control.

“Should I do this"... or "should I do that",“what if I do

When I get like this, I can’t make a decision. I start to

that and this happens..." or “what if I do this and that

question myself with everything... I lose trust in myself,

happens...", “what if they both fail"... what if, what if,

I no longer feel confident to make ANY decision, and I

what if?

stay stuck in this vicious cycle.

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So often we tend to confuse overthinking as a way of problem-solving. We justify our overthinking because

do when you catch yourself in analysis paralysis.

Try to implement 5 seconds of courage

we think that our answers will gradually become clearer. Often, it is the opposite. Our answers become

Now, normally I coach on the 20-seconds of courage

muddled and unfocused.

tool, but in this case, I think 20 seconds is just long enough to change your mind again. All it takes is 5

Often, people get caught up in overthinking from a

seconds to make a micro-snap decision and make

lack of:

it so.

- self-trust and worth,

- confidence,

- time management skills,

- knowing what their core values are,

- boundaries.

Most often, past experiences or learned experiences influence these thought patterns. When you overthink, you start to create problems that aren’t even there.

They build up in your head and start to morph into this bigger-than-life worry that creates so much anxiety.

Make a ‘thinking’ date with yourself Thinking and re-thinking take a lot of energy away from other things. Sometimes when I am stuck on something that requires more of my focus, I dedicate time afterward to think about the decision I need to make. I don’t allow myself time to worry, or stress, or sabotage my other work right now.

Instead, I decide to take about 10 minutes at a later time to come back to it and make a decision. That gets it out of my head because I now know that I will have more focus later, which lets me focus on my priorities right now.

You think that if you don’t make the RIGHT decision, there is no other and there is no turning back.

Reframe your words

You start to think that it’s do-or-die, which can really

By changing a “what if" worry to an “even if" solution,

limit the way you think about… everything.

you allow yourself to see all sides... Your “What if’s" keep you in a fixed state of mind whereas "even if’s"

You stop being creative.

put you into a growth state of mind.

You stop taking risks and you stop trying to reach higher out of sheer fear and lack of trust. In walks

Trust in your decisions

procrastination, and nothing gets done. Nothing gets

on the past or worry about the future. Both will lead

Commit to not worrying about them afterward.

When we still allow ourselves to worry after making decisions, it becomes detrimental to who we are as business leaders. Be good with the decisions you make, even if they aren’t perfect, and move ahead full steam knowing that if you need to make allowances, or tweaks, or even change course halfway through,

you to a place of misery, so let’s dive into what you can

that’s ok.

decided and you’re left feeling overwhelmed, stressed and doubtful. This creates an unfulfilled and unhappy life and business people!

Trish Blackwell says that we either tend to ruminate

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Identify what’s getting in the way Is it something that’s happened in your past that you are trying to stay clear of, or is it something you want to prevent from happening in the future? By knowing where the indecision is coming from, you have a better scope in how to deal with it. I always say to my clients: If you want to grow and learn and become better than you were yesterday, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

See the full video version of this post here!

When we only recognize a black and white world, we don’t see all the beautiful greys and colors in between.

You need to take leaps of faith sometimes and commit to the decision that is even 1% stronger than the other.

Take that leap and make that decision to stick by. Give yourself a pat on the back, celebrate and move on.

You’re ok, and the house didn’t burn down.

If you’d like to talk about how overthinking affects you and your business, book a free call with me – I’d love to chat with you more about that. Until next time, I am rooting for your success and am your biggest cheerleader. ▼

Brenda Kolasa is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and leader in personal development and peak performance strategies for business. Her passion is teaching entrepreneurs and corporate leaders how to create the life they desire within a clearly focused and thriving business. Brenda teaches her unique Kaizen-based system to those looking for more clarity in their goals, and ways to become more positive, focused, productive, and purposeful in their business.

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great resources sponsored

By Deanna Bailey

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You’ve probably heard of “buyers regret" or “buyer’s

There are a few things you can do and the first one

remorse". It refers to purchasing a pricey item, like

is to get your finances in order. If you are selling a

a designer handbag or a new car, and afterwards

home and using the proceeds of that sale to purchase

feeling a sense of regret. Sometimes it’s quick - as soon as you get home you are wanting to return said purchase - or it can take some time, like that time I bought myself a fancy new winter coat that turned

your new home, then you will need the help of a good real estate agent to help you determine what your current home will sell for and us experienced agents will provide you with a net sheet so you’ll know how much you will have left over after the sale.

out to be more fashionable than it was warm.Oops!

You should also talk to a lender or mortgage broker to The fear of buyer’s regret can dissuade people from

find out how much of a mortgage you could qualify

making a purchase even when the price is right, and

for, which will give you an idea of what you can

they really want the product. I have experienced this

afford. I say "idea" only because ultimately you do

a time or two in my life, the line usually goes “Oh darn, I should have bought that!" Is there something you wish you had bought but didn’t for this reason?

not have to spend the full amount and you should be comfortable with whatever amount you choose; this will help alleviate some of that fear. You may also want to go ahead and get pre-qualified depending on your situation and timeline because there is a

In the real estate world, buyers can sometimes

difference between being pre-qualified and being

hesitate to make an offer for the same reason. They

told how much you could qualify for; you can ask

worry about paying too much, so they take a pass on

your mortgage professional about that.

the property. That’s unfortunate because they may miss out on a great home at a good price!

Next, make sure you adjust your monthly budget or create a new one because you will need to consider

So how do you conquer this fear?

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affordability, not just your mortgage amount. You could be looking for a larger home which may cost more in utilities, or perhaps you’re looking at a home in a highly desirable neighborhood which could mean your property taxes will be higher than they currently are or if you are a first-time home buyer property tax may be an added expense. You could be looking at a rural property in which case you will want to consider the water and sewage systems as well because there will be different expenses associated with different types of systems. You may even be looking at a home that is a fixer upper or a handyman special, however even if that isn’t the case

one of the most common complaint of buyers when

you will want to add room in the budget for those

they see properties after having looked online first is

unexpected expenses and those larger ticket items

that “it looked better in the pictures". Have you ever

like new shingles when it’s time. As I said make sure

bought something online and been disappointed

to include all your monthly expenses, something as

when it arrived looking nothing like it did online?

forgetting to add travel if you have moved further

I know I have! So don’t go setting yourself up for

away from work or relatives you regularly visit could

disappointment by looking over your budget.

potentially steer you off course, have you seen the prices of gas lately?

After all, when it comes down to it, a new home is as much an investment in your lifestyle as it is a

Lastly but certainly not least, when you are shopping

financial one. You are making an investment in you

for a home, do not look over your pre-qualified

and your family's happiness. That might make it

mortgage amount. This is worth repeating so I will

worth spending a little more or a bit less depending

say it again: DO NOT look over your pre-qualified

on the lifestyle you have or want.

mortgage amount. I know, I know, you probably just want to see what’s out there, after all there’s no harm

Once you have gotten all your proverbial ducks in a

in just looking online, some might say. Well, let me

row as I’ve outlined here you are well on your way to

just tell you that that is a slippery slope, for many

conquering the fear of paying too much. ▼

reasons, however, the one that applies most here is that it can lead to a variety of disappointments. When you start heading out from behind your computer screen and view the properties in your pre-qualified price range you may unknowingly expect them to measure up or have the same features as the ones you were looking at online above your price range and you won’t need any help in that area because

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Deanna Bailey is a licensed professional providing an exceptional real estate experience for all her clients. She provides MLS® services to rural Alberta residents, focusing on acreages, farms, and small town residential. You can find more information by following her on her Facebook Page

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SHARP Woman’s

Superpowers Manifesto

By Kim Berube

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It’s been a long few weeks online. I can’t be the

Creativity

only one whose soul has been bruised by the posts and responses, verbal assaults, threats, shame and

Women need to know that they and only they,

judgement I’ve witnessed in social media in the last

carry the machinery necessary to call the soul from

several weeks. Blame, anger, hatred, separation…

another dimension in the world of physics. (Dr.

where do we go from here?

Courtney Hunt)

Women are the original culture builders. When

You are the Ultimate Creator, building humans and

men were hunting and warring, women were

birthing ideas and developing solutions that serve

building fires, telling stories, and feeding each

and save. We see creativity as art, and say I’m not

other. The world is unsettled, but I see it as a call to quiet leadership; an opportunity to remember our person-to-person skills, the art of listening, good communication and tolerance.

In our disconnection and isolation, we forget true community. Our greatest impact comes in our faceto-face interaction with others. We are being called to be brave and tender and compassionate and strong.

This manifesto is a reminder of the Seven Superpowers of women - a gift from our ancestors though blood line and time - and it is at home in you, too.

Intuition Intuition is the Wild Woman’s primary instinctual power. When we were young, we were taught to be NICE when we should have been knowing. We try to make our deeper feelings invisible in order to keep the peace, while our inner fire goes out. We say it all

the time, “I knew I should have listened to my gut. I knew that wasn’t the right move. I sensed that about this thing or that person... and I didn’t listen."

Intuition is like a muscle, if you don’t use it, it withers.

But it’s IN you. It’s YOURS to tap into, to practice, to guide you, to keep you safe, to teach to others. Your intuitive function is receptivity to the Highest Good.

artistic, but creativity is in the ability to make something from nothing and that is to be a woman.

To pull energy from the ethereal and make it real… to give it life. To build meals that nourish and sustain from an array of unrelated ingredients. To make gifts that touch the heart and are treasured. To come up with solutions that serve the good of many in our family, our workplace and our community. Women have always gathered to be creative - to cook, to sew, to quilt, to harvest, to plan, to build, to laugh and to heal.

Steadfast Women are the most constant, faithful, loyal, resolute, and stubborn of hearts. We show up as back up in even the hardest of times. Our steadfastness is only second to devotion and it is strongest with our closest circle. We are unwavering in our support and belief of the dreams and capabilities of others.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with friends leaving relationships, jonesing for the new career, burying a sibling or parent. We are dependable, reliable, and constant.

The superpower of being STEADFAST is that others rest easy in your unwavering presence. It is handwritten notes in the lunch box, waiting up until the date is over, yelling from the stands, sharing tears with the heartbreak, nursing fevers

Listen for that small voice inside that says, No, not

in the dark and standing with arms folded within

that one, not right now, or Yes, and then act.

earshot and sightline.

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As we head into the next 6 months of long darkwinter,

and watchful presence. This world brainwashes us

practice steadfastness with those who feel unsettled

into being fearful and panicky, but your nature is

and lost on endless waves. Steadfast is certainty. It’s

Fierce. Inner fire IS YOUR birthright. The Equinox

knowing that no matter what happens, you are there

calls you to balance the worry with centeredness.

for them, immovable and fearless, and that is deeply

To balance your wildness with softness. To balance

comforting.

your feminine energy with the power, strength and self-respect of the masculine.

Belonging "There is no force equal to a woman determined to Women know exactly how to bring others into the

rise." - W.E.B. DuBois

fold. We are the ones who nourish others with a hot meal, coffee and friendship. There is no greater poverty than loneliness and isolation and our current

Healing

model of connection has us too busy, too restricted and too scared to be of service to others.

Women have been healing since the dawn of man.

Ancient goddesses and healers, priestesses and

When we were bossy little girls, we were alienated

witches, saints and nurses all came before you -

or criticized for big opinions or we were pushed from

weaving spells and elixirs, poultices and tinctures,

the group. As grownups, we are the ones that reach

birthing babies and bathing the dead. But the healing

hands down to pull others up. It is that clarity and

goes deeper – it is open hearted, non-judgemental

conviction, determination and inner fire that stands

listening, and the willingness to hold the hands of

firm and creates safe spaces for all to find a tribe.

the suffering and be immovable by sickness - of the mind or the body.

Finding one’s pack is a blessing. Building a pack is one of your Wild Woman superpowers. It’s feeding

Healing power has historically been viewed as dark

lost souls, listening to heartbreaks, serving others,

art, sorcery or witchcraft, but the ability to heal is an

creating safe spaces for all to breathe easily... it’s

energetic wisdom we all possess - it has just been

giving others a sense that they too BELONG in this

tamped down over time. You are gifted with your

world, no matter how hard it feels, no matter how

own healing capability - to heal yourself and others.

mean it is, no matter what they face.

Healing is magical. It happens miraculously. Cut deep, your body stitches itself back together. It is in

Fierceness

each of us.

Fierceness is not an attitude as much as it is a

At the time in our collective evolution, we need to

quality. It is an aura of that oozes untameable. Fierce

reconnect with our innate healing power in order

is confident capability - it is wild on command, but

to support the world, the earth, each other, our

disciplined to calm. It is the animal strength you

neighbours. Your touch is healing. Your hugs are

forget you possess - the ancestral gift of years of

healing. Your food is healing. Your time is healing.

survival, instinct and courage passed through to you.

Your words are healing.

Fierceness is under the surface, with stealthy eyes

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Sky, Fire and Water, as we stand to face another long

Home

dark winter in the months ahead, may we remember It’s where the heart is. You are the Lighthouse in this

that we are made from the stuff of stars. The same

storm. You are home. You are the barometer for your

wisdom that guides the earth in the effortless

life. It is how you know your true influence. This is

transition of the seasons and the shifting of the sun

why when you are falling apart, everyone is falling

guides you, too. ▼

apart.

Stay strong, sister.

When momma ain’t good. No one is good.

When momma is good, everyone is good.

Without you in a position of Intuition, Creativity, Steadfastness, Fierceness, Belonging and Healing the people around you are lost at sea.

Kim Berube is owner of Train for Life Wellness and is a strength and health coach who has created “Inspired to the Core: A Masterclass in Taking Control of Your Food, Strengthening Your Body, Mood and Habits" for powerful women who are ready to change their relationship with food and booze.

Yes, it is a huge responsibility. ACCEPT it with GRACE. You called all those souls together to share this life with. Lead them. Be the centre point. Take care of yourself so you can remain the point they can connect to re-orient and gain stability.

You will always be home to someone. You will be synonymous with a feeling. A favourite food.

A healing touch. Something you made once. The smell of your perfume or your pot-roast. The music of your laughter. The fierceness of your spirit. Home is your true influence

and it will live on for others, long after you are gone.

It is time to embrace these Superpowers with ownership: Let the Matriarchy begin.

This

month

with

the

balance of Light and Dark, Life and Death, Masculine and Feminine, Earth and SHARP WOMEN

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health & wellness

Stress

is a Choice

By Carla Howatt

Breaking News: stress levels among women are 50% higher than men Okay, so while many of us may be at the breaking

ideas. Especially those who know you well, as they

point, this is not exactly news to women.

are most apt to have ideas that will work well for you specifically. While going shopping may alleviate stress

We all know we are juggling careers, home, children,

for some women, those close to you may realize you

relationships, finances, pets, and maybe even parents.

would rather eat nails than hit the mall.

We are almost always the one who bears the most responsibility for chores within the home, we often

Two Things You Must Do

work full time and don’t even get us started on the worrying - itself almost a full time job!

It’s important that you not only come up with some tools to manage your life when you are in the midst

There are plenty of articles online and in magazines

of stress, but it is also important that you spend some

about why women are so stressed, but deep down, we

time looking at the root causes. You can do all the deep

all know what in our situation is creating stress. We

breathing exercises you can and go for walks in the

don’t need to read about why. But maybe we need help

forest until the cows come home and it won’t help if

trying to figure out how to alleviate some of it.

you don’t deal with the underlying causes of the stress that keeps popping up in your life.

No One Answer Most women can tell you quite easily what is causing First of all, if you are looking for ‘the’ answer, don’t

them stress, but knowing how to alleviate it and deal

bother. While there may be an answer for your

with it is often much more difficult. Often the stress

neighbour or your sister, that doesn’t mean what helps them will help you. It is often a case of trial and error.

Of course, listen to those you trust and admire for their

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comes from simply feeling like there is nothing that can be done. You can’t control things if you parent is sick, if your teenager is making bad decisions or your ex-husband has done a disappearing act.

“Stress is being in a situation you don’t like but seeing no way out."

is because there is no solution. But what if you are just looking at things from the wrong angle? If you absolutely can’t see a way to fix things, get some help.

Do Some Research

a. Ask your family and friends for ideas.

Dealing with stress is a bit counter-intuitive for those

b. Involve your significant other by asking for

who like to do strategic planning or business planning.

In this case, we want to start with the tools first. Before

their input. c. See a therapist to help you work through it.

you deal with the root issues - or the goals you have for getting rid of stress - you must give yourself some

One of the biggest lessons that we as women need to

breathing room.

learn is that when we choose to overload ourselves doing things for others, we do it because we choose to

Come up with a list of things you enjoy doing and that

do it. Right now you are almost coming out of your seat

you feel you can fit into your day. If you can, find a way

because you are ready to explain how you don’t choose

to clear your schedule for even a few hours and indulge

to have ill parents, troubled teens or a horrible boss.

yourself.

And that is true, you can’t control what is happening in other people’s lives, but you can 100% control what is

Here are some ideas to get you started: 16 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress and Anxiety Quick Stress Relief 25 Quick Ways to Reduce Stress

Take a Deeper Look Now that you have the easy stuff out of the way, it’s time to do some hard work.

1. Write down exactly what is stressing you out. Make a list and be as specific as possible

a. I am doing all the housework and no one

else in my house is chipping in, no matter how

many times I ask. Vs. My spouse doesn’t

help me.

2. Write down possible solutions. This can seem insurmountable. Oftentimes, you feel like the stress

happening in yours.

Let’s look at a couple examples.

Lisa is a single mother of three children. One of her children has special needs and another child is struggling with their mental health. Lisa is feeling overwhelmed because her ex-husband shows up once every two weeks to be “Disney Dad" and show the kids a fun time. The rest of the time, she has to navigate things herself; homework, meals, tantrums and parent-teacher meetings. She can’t control what her ex-husband does or doesn’t do, but does that mean she is at the mercy of circumstances?

Here is a radical idea. She has a choice. What else could she do? Let’s list some ideas:

1. She could pack her kids up and drop them off at their Dad’s house when she knows he is there and drive away. Don’t laugh, this is a valid choice. If she chooses to stick around and raise her children, that is a choice she makes. It might not feel like there is any other option but the fact is there is. She may not like the other choice, but she does have a choice.

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2. She could try to negotiate their child custody agreement so he has the kids more.

3. She could look at her budget to see if she has some extra money to hire a housecleaner once a month for a deep cleaning (or weekly if she can afford it).

4. She could ask her other single parents if they want to set up a parenting co-op where they help each other clean their homes, chauffer kids to sporting events, or watch someone else’s kids for a weekend so a mom can get away (or stay home and have a bubble bath).

Jane’s parents are sick. She spends most of her time when she isn’t at work over at their house. She cleans the house for them, pays their bills, drives them to doctors appointments and listens to their complaints.

What choices does Jane have?

1. If she has siblings, give them some of the duties.

They may not do it as well as Jane would, but it would still get done. They don’t live nearby? Then have them chip in to pay for a house cleaner or they can pay the bills online, make a daily phone call to their parents to let them vent and talk about their latest ache or pain.

2. Hire someone to help.

3. Find different living arrangements for her parents.

Set aside one day a week when all appointments are made so it isn’t a constant thing.

These are just two situations and just a few ideas for alleviating some of the stress. There are many other options but the main thing is to realize that you always have a choice. ▼

Chapter lead for SHARP Women Heartland, Carla Howatt is a communications professional with more than 20 years experience.

Currently she owns a publishing company and she is also an author and a recovering politician.

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professional development

A Leap of Faith

By Shiel McClure

So, here I am... Now what?

You would think that switching careers would be simple. Decide what to do, then go do it - simple!

I have always been the type of person that gets bored

So if it’s so simple, then why is it so scary? I am

easily. If you were to judge my resume you would

currently at that scary stage. It's not a case of

see the only thing constant is change; “every two

believing I can, it’s the leap of faith... it’s needing

years" is the standing joke in my world. My method

to quit my full-time job so I can start my business.

has always been to find a job that is a step above

That’s what scares me! I have laid the groundwork,

what I am currently doing,to get in and to learn all

taken courses, received certification, and stepped

the aspects I can. Typically, I absorb more tasks and

up and planned events, weddings and travel, all

duties until I reach a saturation point, like a sponge,

part-time in order to supplement my guaranteed

and then it is time to move to the next challenge.

income, but that’s not enough for me. I thrive in the

Some changes have been worth it, other changes

fast pace of planning, organizing, and watching

were a mistake, but I always learned something.

dreams become reality.

Lately, I learned something was missing. I didn’t

But am I BRAVE enough? This could be messy and

want to sit at my desk and do the same thing day-

hard. I was a single mother and raised two boys (and

in and day-out anymore. It’s time for a change, and

a handful of others). Now that was hard! If I keep

it’s a big one; leaving a “career" to start my own

focusing on how hard it might be, then I’ll make

company?

choices that will end up in regret. I fully believe

26 SHARP WOMEN

that there is a path for everyone and if I really want

a point to connect with three new people who

to reinvent myself and become the best boss babe

would be able to give me their take on the industry,

event planner I can be, I need to take a leap of faith.

how they got started and what drives them in

Yes, I have responsibilities - more than some and

their business. Then I reflected, some days it was

fewer than others, but they are there. That is why I

a lot of information and felt like I was at the base

have been slowly advancing towards my goals. It is

of a mountain and there was no path but I knew I

not “all or nothing" now. I am able to safely explore

needed to get to the top, but how?! I am still on that

without burning through my savings and making

journey. I know it took me quite awhile to figure out

drastic sacrifices to make ends meet, I am doing

what fulfills me or gives me a sense of purpose, and

it slowly and building confidence in myself and

that is ok. Trust me. There is plenty of time left, and

my brand. I am able to combine my passion and

there is no better day than today to make a decision

strengths and to find purpose in event planning.

to pivot. A year from now, I will be somewhere other than where I am now... Will you? ▼

But still... am I BRAVE enough? I have learned there are so many amazing people out there that are willing to help me succeed, all I had to do was ask.

That is sometimes scarier than anything thus far. I don’t like to ask for help, nevermind the narrative in my head of “what will people think"? I made it

Shiel is a Certified Planner specializing in Destination Weddings, Weddings and Corporate Functions. You can find out more about Champagne and Promises Wedding Planning

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27

finance

Preparing for Taxes

By Tammy Bauer

28 SHARP WOMEN

3. Stress-Free Tax Time!

What can you write off?

There is so much to think about!

Small business owners tell me

Most things that are used in your

Bookkeeping and taxes are a big

they dread tax time because it

business will be a tax write off,

source of stress for small business

means they will have to spend up

meaning you can subtract the cost

owners, and especially so for

to a week going through bank and

of the item from your sales and not

new business owners. But, with

credit card statements, as well as

pay taxes on it. Here is a general list

a little planning and execution,

their wallet, car, or anywhere else

of items that can be written off, but

bookkeeping and taxes for your

they leave receipts to piece together

it is not comprehensive:

small business can be a breeze.

their expenses. Wouldn’t it be nice if

While starting a small business is exciting, it can be overwhelming.

Why worry about preparing for taxes?

all your records were up to date and

- Supplies

ready to send to your accountant?

- Raw Materials - Office Supplies

4. Government Subsidies It can be tempting to put off getting a system in place to keep your financial records, but there are good reasons to start now.

1. Save money Taxes can be expensive, and no one wants to pay a big bill at the end of the year. If you save all of your business receipts through the

- Subcontractors This is a new one in the last year

- Business insurance

or so, but having good records

- Business related travel

and being registered with the government can make all the difference

between

qualifying

for government help, and not qualifying. Considering some of the COVID-19 loans and subsidies were tens of thousands of dollars, it’s a

year, you can take a big chunk off

compelling reason to get your ducks

of your tax bill. The longer it takes

in a row as quickly as possible.

to establish a system, the more receipts will go missing. But the

5. Good Business Decisions

system can be simple and free.

If you know where you are in your

2. Stress-Free Audits It’s a fact of life that the CRA may come knocking for receipts to back up your tax return. Make it easy on yourself by having a simple system in place so you can find what you need when you need it.

- Advertising

business, it will be easier to make good decisions. Some questions that need good records to answer: Can I afford to hire an employee?

Should I buy a new piece of equipment? Am I charging enough for my services?

- Rent - Accounting and legal fees - Business start up costs - Interest and bank charges - Software - Employee wages - Business use of phone and internet - Home office - The percentage of your home that is business use, only if you don’t have a business office outside the home.

- Vehicle expenses - The percentage of your vehicle expenses that you use for business.

Keep all of your car related expense receipts and keep a mileage log. Pen and paper will do if you’re diligent, or get an app like TripLog or MileIQ. - Meals and Entertainment - only 50% is a write off, and only when you are with a client. There are exceptions to this rule for out-oftown work.

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29

- Assets - Assets are generally

paperless, Google Drive is free and

month for your personal bills, set

items that you will use for more

there is an app available on your

aside an additional $1200 in a tax

than one year in your business

phone so you can snap a picture

savings account.

and that cost more than $500.

of the receipt. Be sure to assign a

Examples are computers, office

descriptive name to the photo like

- Set aside 30% of whatever you

furniture, equipment used in the

yy/mm/dd vendor name.

spend on assets for your business in a tax savings account.

running of your business, and many other items. These can be

If you are busy with sales to start

written off over multiple years.

out or if you know you will be soon,

Setting yourself up for success with

Quickbooks Online paired with Dext

your business expenses doesn’t

is a simple but powerful system. Dext

have to be hard or expensive. You

has optical character recognition

can have a positive experience with

technology

automatically

a little planning and about an hour

bank

read receipts, and it connects

a month. A folder for each month’s

account and credit card. It can be

seamlessly to Quickbooks Online,

expenses and a spreadsheet are all

challenging to remember which

making bookkeeping a breeze. The

you need to get started.▼

expenses are business and which

set up can be a learning curve, so

are

when

reach out for some advice before

you’re looking back more than a

getting started (and a bookkeeper

month later. Keeping your business

or accountant may be able to hook

and personal expenses separate is a

you up with a software discount.)

What do you need to get started?

-

A

dedicated

personal,

business

especially

to

great way to keep accurate records for your business.

Once you are busy with clients and

growing

your

business,

- A business number. Register with

bookkeeping will not be the best

the CRA to get a business number.

use of your time, so that is the time

It’s free and easy and it can be done

to hire a bookkeeper!

online. You don’t have to register for GST right away unless you’re

How to avoid a surprise tax bill

making more than $30,000 per year.

It can be demoralizing to get a big

What kind of system do you need?

tax bill after your first successful year in business. Avoid that pain by planning. Open a bank account

When you’re starting out, the best

dedicated for your tax savings and

system is a simple, free system

make deposits every month. You

that you can easily keep up to date.

will thank yourself at tax time.

A spreadsheet with a list of your expenses and sales and a folder for

- Set aside 30% of whatever you take

each month to store your receipts is

out for personal use in a tax savings

a great start. If you are looking to go

account. So if you need $3000 per

30 SHARP WOMEN

Tammy lives in Sherwood Park with her partner and four dogs. They like to walk, bike, and float down the river during the summer. She started her business Because789 Bookkeeping in 2015 and has been helping small business owners destress their bookkeeping process ever since.

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printables

DAILY NON-NEGOTIABLE

Vision Board BUSINESS / CAREER

LIFE BUCKET LIST

PERSONAL & FAMILY

FINANCIAL

32 SHARP WOMEN

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Whenever we gain nuggest of revelation we typically think, “Ooooh! I am going to start doing those things!” Usually, though, within a few days, we’ve forgotten what we heard, read or watched, and life goes on.

This worksheet is a printable resource for you to use each month, to collect the treasure of insight and wisdom you fin each month in Sharp Women Magazine (or anywhere else!) and create action steps. Written goals are eight times more lokely to be achieved, so this is a great practice! You can make small (or big) changes by writing things down and holding yourself accountable.

Insights I have gained

New ways I will think

New things I will do

New results I will see

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33

feature

Monica Niederle Juggling it All, Connecting with Others

By Rachel Braun

34 SHARP WOMEN

Monica Niederle cares about connection. When we met for her interview, it wasn’t long before she had flipped the interviewer/ interviewee roles and started to interview me. Even in our brief window, connecting with me and hearing my story was important to her. As a mother, wife, lawyer, and so many meaningful roles to those she cares about, Monica’s passion for connection creates a unique philosophy of care that drives her to always go the extra mile.

Juggling it All Monica was born in Edmonton, Alberta, where she spent much of Photography: Shantell White - SlyPhotography

her childhood. After obtaining her business degree at the University of Alberta, she went to law school and set her eyes to new horizons.

Monica shares, “After working at a law firm in Edmonton for some time, I felt like I needed to explore outside of my home city. In 2008, I moved to Calgary and expanded my practice area working at a different law firm. I was on the 50th floor! It was great to be on my own in a new city. A couple years later, I met my (now) husband, but I missed my family, so I wanted to move back to Edmonton. He convinced me to stop in Red Deer for a few months to see where our new (at the time) relationship would go. Next thing we knew, we were married and starting our own family. Now, I leave work and run to the hockey rink, get home, make dinner and school lunches, clean out backpacks [laughs]... Very different from my Calgary life, but I love it".

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35

As so many of us can relate to, Monica calls her

girlfriends out in Canmore, because I haven’t seen

weekly to-do list as a loving wife, mom of two,

them since before COVID-19. I was thrilled when

and dog-mom to a new puppy as “a juggling act".

I found out because I definitely need that kind of

As Monica describes, “You never know what the

support to do all that I want to do and all that I want

world will throw at you. It’s a juggling act, trying to

to be".

establish my career, support my husband’s career, be present when engaging with my kids… Now my

Monica’s Law Practice, in Her Words

kids are 9 and 7 ½. Every year brings new sources of both fun and challenges". As Monica reflects on the

Today, Monica’s law practice is grounded on a

juggling act, she is grateful of her many supports,

strong value of connection. As Monica describes

particularly her husband. “I am so grateful to have

“One of the things I do is provide entrepreneur’s

such a supportive and encouraging spouse," Monica

space to build connections. When we meet, I help

shares. “If I have to suddenly work late or assist with

them understand what they need from the get-go

a friend or family emergency, he always picks up

(an accountant, a financial adviser, etc.) and what

whatever I dropped and tells me to go and not worry

they’ll need in a couple years. The focus is on helping

about it. He is simply the best at also recognizing

them create the network of people they need to be

when I’m juggling too much and in need of a break

successful. I also do wills and estates, as well as

away from it all. Just recently, behind my back,

real estate, both residential and commercial. I love

he booked a weekend getaway for me and my

hearing people’s stories. I love hearing that they just got engaged, or are finally moving out of their parents’ basement, or helping them think about their next chapter after losing a spouse. I also love empowering them to create the plans they need on a legal side to know their loved ones are taken care of, no matter what stage of life they’re in".

Connecting with Others Behind Monica’s passionate drive to connect with others is a heartfelt desire to show up for those she cares about. “When people look back on my life, I hope they say, ‘I could always depend on Monica, but not just to show up but to be present, to listen, and to connect with them and them to others. I value that so much", Monica shares. “I hope it reminds people that there are kind and considerate people out there.

They may be strangers (as I‘m usually a stranger too, to all my new clients), but they care about you.

But above all, I want to lead as the biggest example for my children. I want to show them that it doesn’t matter whether you came first or last in that race or on that spelling test, what’s important is that you

36 SHARP WOMEN

important to me, what I can do, and how I can do it; then I can give them my all. Not one person or thing gets all of me, but I can be fully present in the areas I wish to be".

What does it mean to live your life on point?

“It’s about knowing what I want from the different parts of my life, giving it all I’ve got, but being realistic too", Monica shares. “It’s about reminding myself of the basics sometimes, that I need to sleep, to eat, to exercise, and to keep up with what’s really important. It’s about really giving my all, particularly in the key areas of my life, and showing up in a meaningful and present way, each and every time I can. If it means I have cheese gnocchi for dinner at 10pm, then so be it. I don’t worry that I just added to my carb intake. What’s important are the blessings and joys of today, as they might not be there tomorrow". ▼

tried a little better and worked a little harder today than yesterday to keep growing and shining".

Often, young women in law approach Monica for

Monica is a corporate commercial lawyer at Warren Sinclair LLP with over 16 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, start-ups, and established businesses, whose practice also includes residential and commercial real estate, and wills & estates planning. Monica loves cheering on her 9-year-old daughter, Peyton, and 7½ -year-old-son, Grayson, at the hockey arenas, snuggling her fur baby, Nella, and spending time with her husband, Dave, living life to the fullest.

mentorship on big decisions such as whether to work in a law firm in a small town or a large city, or how to balance home and career aspirations. True to her sense of care and connection, Monica gives consistent advice: “I always tell young women in law that you need to look at what your expectations are for yourself, what the expectations of others of you are, and consider what your own capabilities are. You are the expert of what you are capable of.

Yes, you have friends and family who can push you beyond what you think you can do, but really, you know it best. In the end, it’s a juggling act. If I try to be the perfect lawyer, I struggle to be the perfect mother. If I try to be the perfect mother, I struggle to be the perfect wife. Instead, I need to look at what’s SHARP WOMEN

37

young entrepreneur feature

38 SHARP WOMEN

Kendra Numan:

Hebe, Goddess of Eternal Youth, Embodied

By Rachel Braun Kendra Numan is passionate about beauty, inside and out. As the founder and owner of Hebe’s Beauty Bar Ltd in Red Deer, Kendra has dedicated her nursing practice to supporting her clients in reaching their aesthetic goals while empowering them to be well-educated about their treatments. Quickly into our Zoom interview this month, it was clear that Kendra’s impact on her clients is more than skin-deep.

"Working on the Floor" Kendra graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 2015, then moved to Red Deer where she met her husband. Around this time, Kendra was “working on the floor" as a Neurology/Stroke nurse in a local hospital. While she gained much personal satisfaction from the work, she felt a call to keep searching for more options. Kendra recalls, “I love floor nursing, but I knew deep down that it wasn’t my forever. I was searching for my niche. I had Botox a few times but didn’t realize how much nurses could do in the beauty industry. I looked into it a little more and said to myself, ‘just take a course and see what happens’. After just one, I was hooked!"

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39

ago, I rented a room in a lash lounge in Red Deer to see if I could build a great clientele prior to building my own medispa. I wanted to see if Red Deer is a place for this kind of industry, and it really was.

When I found out I was pregnant with my now 15-month-old daughter, I decided to go all-in on my business and have never looked back. I was able to open my own medispa in August 2021".

Today, Hebe Beauty Bar Ltd offers clients an immersive treatment experience. Decorated with floral bohemian flair, clients enter this boutique clinic greeted, comfortable, and pampered. Once inside, the most important part of the experience takes place in the form of individualized education on treatments and products. “I make sure all our clients are educated on their treatment, what they should expect, etc. Sometimes they say to me, ‘I can’t believe I never knew this!’ Even if they’re just there for a consultation, I want them to leave feeling confident and knowledgeable about the treatments they are interested in".

The Birth of Hebe

Beauty Industry Innovator

Like many innovators, Kendra thought beyond

Kendra’s commitment to client knowledge and

mainstream

applied

empowerment goes to the heart of her practice.

everywhere; I knocked on so many doors. No one

As Kendra reflects: “It’s very important to me that

would take me because I was a Nurse Injector. Back

clients feel that Hebe Beauty Bar is a comfortable,

then, there were hardly any of us, but now it seems

no pressure environment. I want my clients to know

like there’s a lot". Eventually, Kendra found work

what they are getting and why, empowering them

at Eagles Medi Spa before moving to Frida Beauty

in the treatment decisions. As a nurse, education

Bar in Calgary, which still operates today under a

is always part of our practice. We are always

registered nurse. “I worked at Frida for about two

training ourselves to be the best and be the most

years," Kendra shares, “My hashtag was #hebe, and

knowledgeable, so we know we are doing things

it became my nickname. Hebe is the Greek goddess

correctly and making sure people are having the

of Eternal Youth. I love Greek gods and have always

best outcomes".

ideas

and

practice.

“I

been interested in them. Then literally two years

40 SHARP WOMEN

With such attention and care to each of her clients, it’s no wonder that Kendra’s impact goes beyond the cosmetic. “In cosmetics, you can change someone’s whole outlook," Kendra shares. “Maybe they’ve always had an insecurity about not having a top lip.

After a treatment, they’ll share, ‘I’ve never smiled so much in my entire life!’ Making people feel bettera and more confident with what you can do with your hands is an art and it just feels so good to get those messages daily about how you have changed people’s lives".

What does it mean to live your life on point?

“For me, it’s about work and family balance," Kendra shares. “I think it’s important that when you’re at home, you’re home with your family, and when you are at work, you are doing the hustle and being a boss. That way, you are feeding your life from both angles. I love what I do, but I also love my family.

Wherever I am at, I give them 110%". ▼

Kendra Numan is an Advanced Aesthetic Nurse Injector. For the past three years, she has been perfecting her passion in Calgary at Eagles Medispa and Frida Beauty Bar. She has had the privilege to work alongside some of the most well known injectors in the business. She completed courses at Pacific Training Institute for Facial Aesthetics & Therapeutics as well as 1:1 training with Juvederm, Galderma and Clarion trainers. Some of her favourite completed courses include Julie Horne and other European training courses. After spending three years in the city, she returned to Red Deer and opened her own business; Hebe Beauty Bar Ltd. Kendra is dedicated to helping each and every client achieve their aesthetic goals by providing exceptional results that are natural, balanced, and easy to maintain. She is devoted to my craft and thrives to make sure all of my clients feel and look their best.

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social media

Be in the Know with the Social Media Lingo

By Emma Lyle

If your business is active on social media, pat yourself

But we know social media has a language of its own

on the back! You’ve already conquered a huge step

and understanding the terms and acronyms can be

towards greater brand presence. Whether you’re taking

overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this

care of it yourself or you have a dedicated professional

helpful guide!

handling things, we are so glad you understand the importance of being active online. However, do you

Audience

understand what the results of your posts and ads actually mean and how you can use those results to

Your audience is pretty simple. It is the group of

measure the performance? If you don’t, well, you’ve

people that may see your content. Audiences are a

come to the right place.

combination of people who like and follow your page and anyone else who has seen or interacted with

Tracking and understanding how well your posts and

content on your page. Your audience is key to growing

advertisements are performing is crucial to creating

and maintaining brand awareness!

and executing a successful digital marketing strategy.

42 SHARP WOMEN

Engagement Did someone like your post, share it, comment or click a link? Anytime someone interacts with your post, it’s recorded as an engagement. Often, the higher the engagement on a post, the more likely it will be seen by more people.

Reach There are 2 different types of reach that social media analytics report:

Post Reach: This shows how many people

viewed a single particular post.

Page Reach: This reflects how many people

viewed all the content on your page.

Don’t forget: Reach can also be organic or paid.

Organic shows how many people saw your post on their own (likely because they already like your page).

Paid reach means you used paid advertisements to show your post to a wider audience and it showed up in their newsfeed regardless of whether they like your page or not.

Impressions This is the number of times your content shows up on the feed. It’s important to note that reach and impressions are not the same. If one person sees your post four times, it will be reported as one reach and four impressions.

Tip: when running paid ads, you want to strive for your impressions result to be 3 times higher than your

Clicks This is counted when someone clicks on content on your post or page.. Clicks can come from photos, links, hashtags and more.

Cost Per Click (CPC) This is the average cost for each click on your ad.

This means that if your ad has a budget of $300.00 and people clicked on it 485 times, your cost per click would be $0.62. You can also view your CPR (cost per result). This is similar, but it places emphasis on the type of ad you were running. If you optimized your ad for link clicks. Your CPR would be the cost of the clicks on the link on your ad.

However, don’t fret about seeing the word ‘cost’! This doesn’t mean extra when someone clicks your ad.

The cost is part of the overall budget you set when creating the ad and you can optimize for a bid cap

reach. This means that on average, each person who

(meaning you won’t be charged more than the set

saw your ad, saw it 3 times. This helps your audience

amount). But remember, if your CPC or CPR is high,

retain your information.

you need to reevaluate the advertisement to try and SHARP WOMEN

43

lower the CPC cost and make your dollar go further.

Afterall, you want to achieve the best ROI possible, don’t you?

User Generated Content (UGC) This is any type of content that has been posted by the public on your social media platforms. UGC can be in the form of photos, video or text. UGC can be incredibly helpful in building a relationship and trust between your brand and your audience.

Call to Action (CTA) If you want your online visitors to make a purchase on your website, message your page, book an appointment or a variety of other actions, you can add CTA buttons to your social media pages and posts. CTA buttons help direct your visitors to a place outside your social media profiles. These clickable buttons are often found on the bottom of posts or the top of the business page/profile. They usually have common phrases such as "shop now", "book now" or "learn more".

A Social Media Manager (SMM) knowledgeable in a variety of analytics, metrics and terms to ensure your digital marketing & advertising efforts are efficient and effective. ▼

Emma is a passionate and experienced individual whose expertise lies in the areas of social media marketing, digital advertising and branding on all digital platforms. She prides herself in helping businesses efficiently and effectively communicate their stories online.

44 SHARP WOMEN

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leadership

Public Speaking

Tips to Rock

Your Presentation

By Glenda Sheard Do you know that some experts estimate that more than 75% of people have some anxiety regarding public speaking? Glossophobia or the fear of public speaking is more common than people know. Nervousness is normal. Thousands upon thousands of people across the globe have joined the Toastmasters program to help them with their anxiety or fear of public speaking. So, if this is you, please know that you are not alone.

With

preparation,

practice,

and

persistence, you CAN overcome your anxiety or nervousness when public speaking. These tips can help you prepare your speech, become a more confident speaker, and enhance your communication skills.

Breathe Plan your talk / Get organized: Make a plan for the information that you want to present. A properly planned speech has an opening, body, and conclusion. Also include any audio, visual aids, or props that you may be using in your talk in your plan. If anything is going to go wrong, it is always the audio or technology. It

46 SHARP WOMEN

can sometimes throw a speaker off, so best to come prepared for anything. By having your PowerPoint presentation on an additional USB, you will always have the message you’ve come to deliver. If you are using a cordless microphone, extra batteries always come in helpful.

Know your topic: Stay focused on your subject and the message you wish to leave with your audience. Stories are very compelling, and members of the audience often can relate to your story. If you use research to support your presentation or quotes, ensure that you always credit your resources.

Know

your

audience:

Practice, practice, and practice some more: Practice your presentation by looking into a

Knowing

your

audience will help you figure out what content and messages people care about. A meeting planner can provide you with valuable information about your audience. Just a few examples: What are the demographics (age, gender)? Why is your topic important to this audience?

Speaking notes: If you use speaking notes for your presentation, small recipe cards work very well. Rather than writing out your entire speech, use bullet points on the recipe cards to keep you focused and on track. People in the audience do not enjoy being read to by a speaker

mirror. If possible, use a full-length mirror because you will know what your audience is seeing. You will be able to watch how your facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language complement your presentation. Also, you may wish to consider making a video to help you with opportunities for further improvement.

Time is everything when presenting a speech: Practice your timing. If you are provided with 30 minutes to give your presentation, 29 minutes is best! Conference planners or meeting Agendas run much smoother when everyone stays on TIME!

unless you are an author doing a reading from

Take a deep breath: Proper breathing before

your own book. The same guidelines apply if you

and during a presentation can be calming and

are using a PowerPoint presentation. Your slides

help you to relax. Also, while you use the power

are like speaking notes. You and your message

of the pause, it will reduce any ahs, ums, or

are most important! The audience can read the

other sentence joiners. Pauses help you collect

information on your PowerPoint presentation;

your thoughts and convey your message more

therefore, your slides are like a guide on the side

effectively, and your audience will be able to

(never meant to be read to your audience, ever).

follow what you are saying. It helps to keep your

Photos/graphics on your slides work very effectively

audience engaged as well.

to complement your well-prepared talk.

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47

No one ever said when attending a meeting or conference, “I hope this speaker is terrible."

Be authentic.

Remind yourself that every audience wants the

Be confident.

speaker to be successful. When you are confident in your message, your audience will benefit from

Be YOU

the information you are giving them.

Visualize your success: Positive thoughts help to reduce anxiety or nervousness. Imagine that your presentation will go well. Visualize your audience applauding for you.

After your presentation, be sure to pat yourself on the back. When you do evaluate your talk, be sure you assess yourself as you would another speaker. We can often be much more critical of ourselves than we are of others. There will be time to review any mistakes and use the opportunity to improve your speaking and presentation skills for your next presentation.

Breathe, again.

Finally - Be authentic. Be confident. Be YOU!

Public speaking resources: Consider joining a Toastmaster Club in your community. Toastmasters has chapters worldwide with programs that focus on training people in speaking and leadership skills.

www.toastmasters.org YouTube is an excellent resource for watching and learning public speaking tips from worldrenowned speakers.

Your public library is another resource for books on public speaking. ▼

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Glenda Sheard is a professional speaker and public speaking coach. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and a Distinguished Toastmaster.

Glenda works with community leaders and workplace teams to become outstanding communicators and to speak with impact.

Located inside Float Wellness at #108-111 Broadway Blvd (Liberty Place) Sherwood Park, AB. 780-905-6003

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food recepies

Guatemalan Style

Guacamole

By Ruby Cole-Ellis

Certainly, nobody really needs a recipe for guacamole. Isn’t it just mashed avocado with some lime and salt mixed in? Oh, but you are so wrong… a delicious guacamole is so much more than that, and each country has a different spin to it. Let me share with you the “Guatemalan style" version and let me know what you think!

Ingredients 3 ripe avocados, pit removed and flesh scooped out 2 tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice 1 tsp. Oregano 1 tbsp. of Greek plain yogurt Salt and pepper to taste (start with about ½ tsp. kosher salt or ¼ tsp. regular salt)

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Directions Roughly chop two of the avocados and place in a bowl. Mash the third one with a fork and scrape into the bowl with the chopped avocados. Add the rest of the ingredients and gently fold together.

Taste, and adjust for more salt or lime if necessary. Serve with corn tortilla chips.

Pro tip: When adding dried herbs (such as oregano) to a dish, I like to put the herbs in the palm of my hand and then rub my hands together, thereby breaking up the herbs into a finer blend. Sprinkle over the bowl.

Ultra pro tip: Sick of guacamole going black? Take the pits of the avocados, wash thoroughly with lukewarm water and try. Drop in the middle of the guacamole and keep them there until the dish is finished. The pits will change the pH of the blend, slowing the oxidation process. ▼

¡Provecho! xoxo,

Ruby

Ruby Cole-Ellis Instagram: @rubycoleellis

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