FAITH IS A RISK
FINDING BALANCE IN UNBALANCED TIMES
COVER #PERMISSIONTOSHINE PAGE A CREATIVE HOUSE OF MANY
ROLE MODELS AND LEADERSHIP
NOTICE & TERMS OF USE
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SHARPWOMEN
RANCHELLE VAN BRYCE co-founder
DANIELLE KLOOSTER co-founder
TEAM
CARLA HOWATT editor in chief
KELSEY EVANS administrative coordinator
RACHELLE SCRASE director of photography
THIS MONTH’S
GUEST CONTRIBUTORS
SHANNON ADAMS business column
WANDA ROGERS finance column
DANIELLE KLOOSTER spirituality column
BARB CROSS relationships column
KIM BERUBE EMMA NEUFELD health & wellness column personal growth column
GABRIELLE BATISTE professional development column
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letter from the editor
September 2021
The summer is behind us and for many it is a time of fresh beginnings or a second new year. Schools and universities are back in, and teachers are greeting little ones at the door of freshly decorated classrooms. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m looking forward to some cooler weather. As a born and raised Alberta girl, I don’t handle the heatwaves very well – and there were an unusually large number of them this summer. By the beginning of August – when I am writing this - the Edmonton area had already broken the record for most 30-degree days in a year. A Federal election was called, and we will be heading to the polls on Sept. 20, 2021. As if that wasn’t enough excitement on the democracy front, the municipal elections in Alberta begin the day after the polls close for the federal one. Make sure you turn out to vote in both elections and participate in democracy as we are blessed to live in Canada and have that option. If you don’t know who to vote for, take a couple minutes and google the candidates; technology has made becoming informed straightforward. But enough of my public service announcement! In this, the September issue, we have some amazing articles for you. Whether it is about social media fueling your imposter syndrome or trying to figure out where to draw the line and set up boundaries in our relationships, finding ways to find balance in business or take care of ourselves, there is an article for everyone! So pour yourself your favourite cup of coffee or tea, and pull up a chair beside a window where you can read this issue. Take the time to feed your soul, because you deserve it. You really, really do.
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This Month’s Articles 6 BUSINESS FINDING BALANCE IN UNBALANCED TIMES 8 FEATURE A CREATIVE HOUSE OF MANY 12 FINANCE WHY SAVING ON YOUR TAXES MAY COST YOU YOUR DREAM HOUSE 14 HEALTH & WELLNESS THE LINK BETWEEN COVID AND METABOLIC SYNDROME 16 PERSONAL GROWTH FEELING LIKE A FRAUD 18 PROFFESIONAL DEVELOPMENT ROLE MODELS AND LEADERSHIP 20 RELATIONSHIPS NEVER HAVE I EVER - UNTIL I DID 22 SPIRITUALITY FAITH IS A RISK 24 YOUNG ENTREPENUER SHERI MACLEOD 28 A DATE WITH DANIELLE HOW TO HUSTLE WITHOUT BEING A HUSTLER 30 PRINTABLES 32 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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business
FINDING BALANCE IN UNBALANCED TIMES by Shannon Adams
Like many of you, I began working as soon as I could. You know, that exciting first job as we enter the workforce at 14 or even before that if we cut the neighborhood grass or babysit for our parents’ friends. Remember those jobs…those days? The ones where we magically managed to balance out school, homework, friends, sports teams and a part time job? Maybe we could find the balance because it was only part time? Now as we are older and wiser with only perhaps one full time job, we find it increasingly difficult to strike that balance. When did it all change?
when we forgot a menial task or perhaps do not want to do something. It’s the reason we all strive to find that magical work-life balance. Well let me let you in on a secret, there is no such thing as work-life balance. You may be thinking No! I have it! That’s great! Chances are that you have days though where life is a little more weighted than work and vice versa? There Is nothing wrong with that. We need to be able to accept where we are on our journey for equilibrium and move forward without striving for the perfect 9-5, 5-9 balance from outdated advertisements.
For me it changed when I got my first real job, the one where there was a dress code and punch cards to be monitored, the standard 9-5. My desire to be good at my job, to impress, to get noticed and get that promotion, the need to make more and more money. Before I knew it, I was caught up in an 84-hour workweek when I only ever signed up for 40! How did I become disillusioned to the reality of life passing by? Since when did being busy become a badge of honor worn with pride – like a shiny gold star for doing a good job?
Here are the three steps you need to take to achieve that balance for yourself.
Being ‘busy’ becomes our default answer when someone asks us how we are, it’s the fallback excuse
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Do everything with 1. Intention 2. Prioritization 3. Boundaries By everything, I mean EVERYTHING, even something as simple as folding laundry or listening to your office voicemail. Tasks go by faster and are more enjoyable (as much as they can be) when we focus on them.
Intention: Put your all into the task at hand. It’s been scientifically proven we cannot multi-task. Do one thing well instead of 20 things poorly. Try to genuinely enjoy the moment no matter how much you wish you were elsewhere. Prioritize: What is the ONE thing you need to complete on this day, the one thing that will make all other things a bit easier- do that first. Create yourself a “to complete” list and cross them off once you achieve it- it will feel SO good! What is important to you to not neglect. Write your list! Boundaries: Are you accessible all the time on social media, chat platforms, email or your phone? All of the different platforms we are available on can be overwhelming and frankly exhausting. Set time limits for yourself on social media platforms. Close your email when completing your one task. I recently deleted my company team chat app from my computer and I could not be happier. Train your clients, family, friends on your work hours. If you respect those hours yourself then others will too. In your search for balance, remember it is only what we define for ourselves. Set your expectations high, practice and don’t give up-balance is yours for the taking!
Shannon Adams is a 14-year veteran in the promotional products industry, having worked with all aspects of the business she is a senior account manager working with a trusted team to bring branding solutions to corporate companies. Shannon resides in Sherwood Park with her family.
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feature
A CREATIVE HOUSE OF MANY by Carla Howatt
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There are people who fall apart amid chaos. When things go bad, they rant, shake their fists at the skies, scream and then crawl into a fetal position. And then there is April Wiens. To be near April is to be at the centre of a calm oasis. Nothing seems to rattle her and get her upset. Certainly nothing seems to surprise her. It isn’t as though nothing exciting or chaotic happens in her life. Quite to the contrary. To understand April, you need to know a bit about her childhood and her life today. A Bio Child in a Foster Family Her fathers upbringing included some tough times which resulted with him being cared for outside of his home. That care was quite often worse than what was going on at home which was very confusing and scary. These experiences later inspired him and his wife to become foster parents with the hope of helping kids avoid a lot of the hurt and pain that Bruce had experienced growing up. So, from the time she was twelve years old, April’s parents fostered children. She looks back on that time fondly and remembers her father trying to make a difference not only in the foster children’s lives, but in hers as well. Waking up in the morning to the sound of Zig Ziglars Born to Win soundtrack blasting throughout the home was not an uncommon occurrence as he was forever trying to impress upon them numerous lessons in life. One time while on a family picnic, their father took them to a large hill near the river. He instructed the kids to find the largest rock they could carry and made them climb to the top of the hill with it. Once there, he handed them a marker and asked them to write the words “I Can’t” on their rock. He then led them over to the bridge above the river and told them to throw the rock in. From then on, they were no longer allowed to use the words “I can’t” in their home. They could say “I don’t want to” or ‘I won’t’ but they could never say I can’t. Of course, life was not all hauling rocks and self-help gurus, there were also water fights inside their home, lots of singing and plenty of laughter. April’s mother was the calming influence and balance to her father, an unflappable and serene woman. The greatest influence in April’s life. A Life of Her Own When April was 20, she met Kevin Wiens. Towering over her at six feet tall and a lot of muscles, Kevin was very quiet and calm. They married a year later and within a few years had their first baby. When their daughter was about two years old, the couple decided to look into
“… our foster child who aged out of the system and chose to take our last name makes me happy because it means that he has a place he feels he belongs”
fostering. Kevin had worked at youth ranches and group homes for troubled teens, so he knew there were plenty that needed their help. At the age of 26 years, April became a foster mother to a sixteen-year-old. April explains there was never a question of whether they would foster young children or teens. “I have a very sarcastic and blasé way about me that works well with teenagers,” she says. “Young kids need lots of hugs, and they have lots of hands-on needs. We prefer conversations about all the big stuff and coming up with ways to connect and heal and quite frankly, sleeping in”. She also liked that when they had a breakthrough with teenagers, you could visibly see the change and know that they got it and they were beginning to heal.
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What is her goal for her foster kids? For them to see a new normal. April wants them to know that welfare, abusive relationships, as well as alcohol and drug abuse are not things they have to accept as normal or expected in their lives. She wants them to see a different way of living, while still honouring where they came from.
to the family and t-shirts that say “Yes, they’re all mine and no, I don’t know who their fathers are”, as well as some practical items such as six and nine multi-cup holders or a “chat box” that encourages teenagers to express themselves.
More on Her Plate
Whether it is dealing with school suspensions, running kids to counselling or working on safety plans with kids that are really struggling, April keeps a cool head and a calm attitude as she lives out her calling and impacts children’s lives.
In addition to raising multiple teenage foster children, April has three children of her own that are now adults. She lives with fibromyalgia and other health stuff, but that hasn’t stopped her from living her life to the fullest. And busiest. She is the co-founder of What She Said Creatives a gift company that prides itself on being ‘funny without the f-word’. From the beginning, the biggest problem with their company was that they were successful much, much quicker than they had planned. They weren’t prepared for the high demand and worked hard just to stay caught up. Now the sole owner, April is considering expanding into some new product lines and growing even more. As if that isn’t keeping her busy enough, she also started a business with her husband to teach their foster kids a variety of different life skills. The House of Many Design creates items that are designed with foster and adoptive families in mind. There are cards that welcome children
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finance
WHY SAVING MONEY ON TAXES MAY COST YOU YOUR DREAM HOUSE b y Ly n n G a g n e
A common dream of many entrepreneurs is one day buying their dream home. A status symbol for some, it’s the manifestation of years of hard work, determination and success.
And then you hear the last thing you expected: “I’m sorry, but you don’t qualify.”
Others just want a little corner of the world to call their own.
How did that happen? Whether it’s a dream home, new home, or little starter-upper, the path to attainment is generally the same for business owners, whether you’re a sole proprietor or you own and incorporated company.
Your little business is up and running and you are making a little extra money.
If a home purchase is a future goal in your mind, then this is a must-know.
At last, you feel you’re there.
You don’t qualify for the purchase tomorrow. You qualify two years ago.
How to get here? Make the hard decisions. Grieve them. Work on yourself every day. Ask for help. Take steps to become selfsufficient and proud of yourself. It is always an equation, make more money or reduce expenses. If you cannot get the expenses off, you will need to use whatever method there is even if it is hard, ie. bankruptcy. It will not magically get any better, unfortunately. I heard this somewhere once “Embrace the suck.” It will not always suck. But it will at the start. Dream up that magical new life and what it will be like. Then make it happen. Off you go to your financial institution about that home loan.
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The formula is simple: money you made, minus the write-offs, equals what you pay taxes on. That number is called “net income”. Net income is important! It is what the bank looks for when they see if you qualify for your dream home. Claiming too many write-offs and setting your income too low will affect your credit for two years. Let’s say you make twenty thousand a year. On paper, at least. You could be taking a lot more money out of your business, but if that twenty thousand is a year is all you’re paying taxes on – which is really no tax at all – then you’re not going to qualify to purchase that home. The “net income” or the money you declared as your income, is just simply too low.
Or almost any other major purchase, for that matter. What about if you made $100,000 this year and $20,000 last year? Most lenders will average out the last 2 years. In this scenario, you will only have a net income of $60,000. Likely not enough to qualify for a house. Start looking ahead two years now and decide what you’re buying then. Two years from now it may be too late. There’s no going back in time to change what’s on the books. How can you know ahead of time how much money you need to be making to seal the deal? If you’re going to make money in the next couple of years, figure out a price range for that future home. Contact a mortgage broker and ask what you would have to make to qualify for a home in your chosen price range to get your golden number. $80,000 for example. For the next two years, you’ll need to ensure you’ve not only made, but been taxed on, that $80,000 each year. Many new entrepreneurs underestimate the planning. Some assume that because business has picked up and the profits are much better now, getting that home loan
won’t be a problem. In fact, a history of reliable income is the real deciding factor. When you are planning on making a major purchase in the next 2 years and you are self-employed, it (literally) pays for you to plan ahead.
Lynn of BWize Consulting & Training is a certified professional bookkeeper who spent more than 30 years running businesses, including owning a professional bookkeeping firm with more than 300 clients over ten years. She built her company around providing tools to small business owners so they can keep more money in their pocket.
health & wellness
THE LINK BETWEEN COVID- 19 AND METABOLIC SYNDROME A Sharp Woman’s Health Paradox by Kim Berube
Amidst the noise of the last 18 months, and despite personal opinion, facts have emerged about the state of our overall health in relation to the pandemic. One of those facts is that poor health outcomes, including an increased risk of dying with Covid-19, is directly linked to age, obesity, being immunocompromised and people who have ‘metabolic syndrome’. Metabolic Syndrome (1) is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing one’s risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It is a direct result of our current state of health – what we eat, how much we move, how stressed we are, etc. Metabolic syndrome is a lifestyle disease. It is as real as Covid-19 itself and subsequent variants, yet what is not being discussed along with immunization and infection management strategies is the desperate need to move the needle on the scale in order to support better health outcomes, globally. One of the key factors driving metabolic syndrome is insulin resistance. (2) Insulin resistance is closely associated with pre-diabetes. Symptoms can include weight gain, however, metabolic syndrome can and does exist in ‘skinny’ people, too. Carrying excess bodyweight is no longer just about diet culture and striving for unreasonable body ideals. Losing weight and becoming
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metabolically healthy is about staying alive and experiencing a level of health that adds vitality to our ability to reach any goal. It is truly a challenging paradox. You can be winning at business and feeling exhausted and sore when you roll out of bed every morning. You can be an exceptional mentor and friend and dislike the way your pants cut into your belly or be out of breath putting on your shoes. You can still be a leader and champion of people and be blind-sided by high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or autoimmune disease. As professionals, we understand the laws of success. We know about goals and action and results. Many of us are high performers. We’ve hit metrics and met quotas, built power teams and felt the high of financial wins. We aren’t scared of hard work, and are willing to dig in to lengthy projects. So why, when it comes to our body and our health, do many of us live with the blinders on, minimizing the need to attend to ourselves?
1. CDC People with Certain Medical Conditions click here 2. Insulin Resistance and Diabetes click here 3. Sarcopenic obesity - definition, etiology and consequences click here
We understand that professional success is not guaranteed, but we fight for it anyhow. We make peace with the fact that striving for success takes planning, work, strategy, and time. Why won’t we fight the same way for our health? The answer to that question comes back to understanding our thoughts, beliefs and values. If thoughts drive our feelings, and feelings inform our actions and our actions bring about results, what thoughts would you need to think to motivate you to value the health of your body the way you value the health of your family, relationships or career? What’s missing in the current paradigm of health is that without a strong body you don’t have true health. We are ruled by our schedules, commitments and the screens that lead us around on an invisible leash. We insist, offended, “I can be overweight and healthy”, yet with every argument against lifestyle change, we march toward a failing state of health in real time, and the proof is in the studies.
Kim Berube is owner of Train for Life Wellness Coaching 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.
If anything positive could be gleaned from these months in and out of lockdown, one would hope it would be to remember that humans were designed for strength, resilience, creativity and living fearlessly. Losing weight is a benefit, not the goal. The goal is to use food to rebuild a resilient body. (You are what you eat. Literally.) The goal is to use movement to assist with blood sugar management and insulin sensitivity. (Muscle is metabolic money. You need it to live.3) A robust and efficient immune system is a benefit; more LIFE in our years is the goal.
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personal growth
FEELING LIKE A FRAUD? Social Media Might B e G i v i n g Yo u Imposter Syndrome By Emma Neufeld
We’ve all been there… it’s 9:00pm, you’re winding down from a busy day, you grab your phone and open Instagram. You start scrolling through your feed, looking at the photos and your brain starts doing something like this:
“Wow, Sarah is in Mexico with her family again. It looks beautiful.” “Oh my, Cathy is back at the gym, she’s looking amazing!” “Holy smokes, Julia secured another client this month. She’s really killing it.” After a while, you close your phone and crawl into bed for the night. Now, your brain starts to do this:
“Mexico looked nice, I wish I was there.” “I need to adjust my schedule and make more time to go to the gym.” “Why am I not as successful as her? Maybe I’m not good at what I do.” There’s no better way to make yourself feel small than by comparing yourself to others. It’s a habit that makes you doubt your own talents and abilities. These feelings certainly affect our personal lives and usually spill over
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into our professional lives. Often, even when you receive recognition for things, you may feel phony like you don’t belong where you are and you only got there through dumb luck.You feel like a fraud. These feelings are called imposter syndrome (a.k.a. IS) and it’s very common for people to experience it no matter their social status, work history or degree of expertise. Fun fact, the term is not as modern as you may think. It was first used by psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in the 1970s. It was originally thought to apply mostly to high-achieving women. Since then, it has been recognized as more widely experienced. IS has a variety of negative effects on our everyday life. It can lead to increased anxiety or depression, loss of sleep, low self-esteem, stress and loneliness. As someone who spends the majority of their time on social media for work, I am guilty of falling victim to IS and letting it take control of my emotions and life - sometimes for days at a time. However, there are ways to overcome those feelings and it’s important to recognize when you’re having them and use healthy tools to move forward. Here are 4 tips to help you battle IS and be your most authentic self:
1. Limit Social Media Usage Giving up social media entirely can be difficult and not always possible, but taking breaks and recognizing when you need them is important. Create a time-limit for your usage that works for you and ensure you take breaks to focus on the people/activities that are most important to you. 2. Practice Gratitude Take a moment at least once a week to write down things that you are grateful for, proud of and make you happy. You’ll be surprised how that can flip the negative narrative that’s been running through your mind. 3. Practice Quality Over Quantity When posting, post those things that make you feel good about yourself, not because you’re competing with someone else. Share your achievements and emotions you’ll be surprised how many people share those same feelings and are rooting for you. Don’t post because you feel you have to or because someone else did. But remember, quality in this situation does not translate to perfection. Share those big moments, but don’t forget to share the little ones too. Just be you.
4. Tell Your Story You have worked hard, you have overcome challenges and you got yourself where you are today - no one else did that for you. So please, tell the world! You are not an imposter if you are telling everyone about yourself. You know you best. Share the wins and the losses. Turn that 2 dimensional profile pic into a 3 dimensional story. It will humanize you in a positive way and others will see that. The best part of sharing your story? No one else has it. Staying grounded and sharing material you’re comfortable with that only you can share gives you a fighting chance to not only mitigate the voice of IS, but also to be heard within your community. Go ahead, share your story. We can’t wait to watch you grow. 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.
professional development
ROLE MODELS AND LEADERSHIP by Gabrielle Battiste
My dad is a great leader. He cares deeply about the people with whom he works. He started out as an English teacher. He leveraged that into ever-increasing roles of responsibility and public scrutiny within governments. He was a CEO, a COO, a Deputy Minister of Economic Development, a Founding President of Nova Scotia Innovation Corporation and so much more. When things got tough, he created his own companies and became a consultant. Above all, he is the most honest person I’ve ever met and has always acted with integrity. That’s a lot to live up to. When I was young, he was away a lot. All I really remember is the smell of cigarettes and chewing gum. It’s amazing how smells can stick with you when other memories fade. What I knew, was that dad always had important jobs. He travelled a lot. He wore suits. He made a difference. He was my hero. When I got older, I understood that it wasn’t all sunshine and roses – corporate dinners and jets. I was able to see the toll it took on him and how much constant stress he experienced. He always seemed on edge. As a teenager, I didn’t internalize that well. It made me angry – and defensive - but that was par for the course. Despite how angry I was that dad seemed angry – he was my idol. I looked up to him as the most brilliant person I knew. He was witty, bright and knowledgeable about everything. I wanted more than anything to be like my dad – but would rather have died than admit that. I had no idea I was exactly like my dad.
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As a leader, you need to do and say the hard things. You need to be a voice for the people who depend on you and for the principles that demand transparency, honesty and respect for all
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from examining my relationship with my dad – the first leader I knew – and the leadership role model that had the most impact on my personal style. I learned that no matter what is happening at work, family comes first. That is one of the most important things I learned from dad as I got older. I think all the travelling and stress helped him to prioritize family later on. I would hear him telling that to others and, as I got more involved in leadership positions, he would re-iterate that to me. The second thing I learned is that being a leader is stressful. It’s a lonely job determining who gets fired or demoted or what resources are cut in order to realize efficiencies. At the end of the day, there’s a separation that needs to happen, no matter how much you care about the people who depend on you. If you don’t have
that separation, and you are a very caring person, you will internalize every decision and bring that stress home with you. That’s not a good thing. I also learned integrity and honesty from dad. As a leader, you need to do and say the hard things. You need to be a voice for the people who depend on you and for the principles that demand transparency, honesty and respect for all. I learned by watching my dad struggle with the repercussions of decisions he made with integrity and honesty – when those qualities and decisions did not win any friends. I learned that, as a leader, it’s important to be an example of speaking out, standing up and doing the right thing – even when that might get you fired. I’ve been there and done that.
And at the end of the day, I have come to the realization that I am a leader just like my dad. The good and the not so good (work-in-progress). Leadership is a learning process, and role models make a difference. My dad is still my hero – and he is still my role model. I will always be learning from the decisions he makes, and I am grateful for the lessons he’s taught me. Gabrielle Battiste has her own law firm and a consulting firm with her husband. She is an executive, leader and serial volunteer, currently running for City Council in Edmonton’s O-day’min Ward. Gabrielle is mom to the funniest 27-year-old, cutest puppy and prettiest kitten and loves to laugh and stay silly.
I’ve also had the benefit of other role models in my life – both good and bad. I’ve made many mistakes along the way as I worked through all the different messages from those different individuals. I’ve learned something from every supervisor, manager, CEO and peer. You may not even recognize how many role models you’ve had and how many lessons you’ve learned. No matter what your experience, it teaches you something valuable.
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relationships
NEVER HAVE I EVER UNTIL I DID! by Barb Cross
Where do we draw the line in relationships? When do we finally accept defeat and walk away? Have you ever asked yourself these questions? Do you think you’re alone in thinking them? I’ve embarked on a journey of self discovery the past few years. It’s a journey without an expected destination. My quest seems as elusive as the Ogopogo yet here I am. I’m seeking answers to the age-old question, why do we get involved in relationships that are clearly not in our best interest? The following are my discoveries to date:
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1. I am a fixer. From an early age I found it impossible to not try to fix all that was broken around me. No bird, fallen from a nest, would die on my watch. Premature calf born into the snow, we can bring it to the barn and fix it. Later on, I was the one sitting in the corner, everyone would come and tell me their latest problems. I would sit there, all night, listening. As I grew older and started seriously dating, I still looked for the broken. By this time, I didn’t recognize it as the same thing I did as a child, I could justify it. By the time I got married (the first time) I thought I’d figured it out; I hadn’t.
2. I am tolerant. I’ve also discovered I applied one set of expectations for myself and a completely different set on others. I was to aim for perfection in myself but could hardly expect others to aim so high. I needed to be tolerant of much lower expectations. It gave me a steady crop of those I could help fix. 3. I am delusional. This was the transition I needed to take very seriously. I was married to an alcoholic for 16 years and we had three children together. It was not my role or duty to make him change. Change can only come from within, from the person affected by the issue. When we finally ended the marriage, I needed to make the changes necessary to ensure I never let history repeat itself, I sought counselling.
Are you suffering through something in your life? Is it time to assess, reassess, take another look. Sometimes we do all three, sometimes we do them multiple times; I know I did. Take a deep breath, then another. Take time to visualize who you want to be. Make a plan, move forward toward the realization of that plan. It may take more than one attempt, be patient with yourself. Life is a series of small steps, get ready to set off on your journey!
4. I am a better person than I believed I was. This is the change I needed to make in myself to change my life. When I could believe in myself and my value, I could change who I was perceived to be. I could also change who was attracted to my energy. The transformation was remarkable, not only for me, but for my children as well. Time to take Another Look My journey has allowed me to experience an entirely different world than I lived until I was 40. My new world has brought a change of career, change of home, change to a wonderful new marriage (we just celebrated our 18th anniversary in August). It has allowed me to model the life I want my children to experience, the life I want available to them. It’s a life I’m incredibly thankful for.
Barb Cross has spent her life holding on to stories she has been fortunate enough to receive. Now she shares these stories, hoping to inspire those who have also struggled. As her retirement starts she has just published her first book Secrets my mother never told me.
This new life has provided me the wisdom to share a different perspective, a relatable experience for those seeking change. I choose to share the darkness only to show the ability to turn darkness into light. We all have the capability of change, sometimes it takes time to realize this. In my earlier days of the darkness, I had a friend tell me, “You’re a single mom with a drunk roommate. I’ll still be there to support you, every step of the way, but you need to see what I see.” Still, I made no changes, for eight more years. I know we each need to find our own path to meaningful change. Mine was a long path, many are shorter yet many are longer. We each find a breaking point and, at that moment, everything becomes clear.
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spirituality
FAITH IS A RISK by Danielle Klooster
Some people think of faith as a passive activity, a giving up of one’s personal power and responsibility to some mystical force that is supposed to magically make everything turn out okay. That’s not how my faith works. Faith is not an abdication of power or responsibility, but rather, a form of partnership in my life with source, who has knowledge and information I don’t have, but who also, like me, has my best interests at heart
my life, too. But I have come to realize that if I’m going to be disappointed, I’ll be disappointed whether or not I have gotten my hopes up – so why not hope? We go in the direction of our thoughts and we create the reality we believe in and for, so I choose hope. I choose faith. Risky Faith If faith is not a passive abdication, but rather an active, powerful partnership that offers tangible results in my life and real experience, then how do I walk that out? What does that look like? I’m glad you asked. I’ve been in business full-time for eight years. In that time, I’ve found that whenever I let fear “drive the bus”, and, in a panic, I start grabbing at projects, more often than not, they aren’t what’s best for me. I might get the work, sure, but it can be tough slogging. Not the ideal client, not the ideal work. But, when I sit in surrender, in faith, and ask my Partner to show me the way and bring me what I need, He always delivers. The phone rings; the email comes in; an inspired thought comes through and it’s fulfilling, meets my need and offers me opportunities to learn and grow.
I’m learning I must step out in faith and take a risk before I see things come into reality.
Don’t Make the Past a Roadblock
Go Fly a Kite
For some, a conversation about faith might make them break out in hives, if they have had negative religious experiences in the past. I, too, have had my share of unhappy and unhealthy religious encounters. In many ways, my misconceptions became roadblocks, leading me to cut off avenues of faith and spiritual relationship. Relearning to trust and be open spiritually, to make faith mine and not someone else’s version, has been a journey.
Running my business this way may seem counterintuitive, and it’s certainly counter-cultural. I mean, aren’t we supposed to sit with sharp pencils and plan everything down to minutiae? I believe in good planning. I just don’t believe in hustle and grind.
Another way that the past can be a roadblock is when we are disappointed by an apparent lack of answer, or undesired outcome, when we do have faith. For me, this leads to the old “I don’t want to get my hopes up, so I won’t be disappointed” line of thought. Don’t get me wrong: I have thought that way a time or two in
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Let’s think of it like flying a kite. You build a good kite. Then you find the right spot, on the right day, with the right amount of wind, and you employ the kite-flying skills you have developed to get that kite up in the air. But once you’ve launched, is it you flying the kite, or the wind? It’s both. You need the wind, and the wind is helping you, but you have to take action, using your skill and experience, with the right tools.
Faith is like that. I need to do my part, but I need the wind. I could try and fly against the wind, but that would be exhausting and completely unsuccessful. Setting myself up for success means gathering the tools and resources, sharpening my skills, and then trusting Spirit to be the wind. When I lean into trusting Source, things move in the right direction. Taking the Risk I’m learning I must step out in faith and take a risk before I see things come into reality. Perhaps it’s me testifying to myself with my act of faith, and that’s the magic. Or perhaps it’s because faith is the essence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And that requires risk.
young entrepreneur
SHERI MACLEOD: Stepping into Her Truth by Rachel Braun 24
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When I think about “doing it all” – career, health, relationships, hobbies – I confess I never think about the errands that keep “it all” running. I think about how I’ll feel when I do good work, achieve that goal, or finish that project, not that I’ll need to eat every day, that life is (literally) messy, or that things will come up. Some weeks, planning my meals, vacuuming my apartment, and delivering a care package feel like overwhelming add-ons to an already overflowing to-do list. When I met with Sheri MacLeod over Zoom, I was struck with a sense of relief that I am not alone. I was also inspired by Sheri’s savvy small business, Urban Errands Inc., created to support others in harmonizing the parts that make up the whole of daily life. School of life Sheri was born in Grande Prairie and moved to Central Alberta at age 2. Growing up, as a friendly ear and confidante to many she was intrigued by anything to do with psychology. “When I went to college, my vision was to get my degree in Psychology and practice as a clinical psychologist”, Sheri remembers. But life offered a different vision. As Sheri broadened her academic interests, she decided to switch to International Relations. However, as her high school and college years fell during a major shift in the Alberta curriculum, she was short a required math class. Sheri recalls, “I didn’t give up on my dream. I took extra classes to make up the course, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around the materials. One day, I applied for a temporary position at the Government of Alberta while continuing to take classes in the evening. By the time it was evident that this one class was preventing me from continuing my (preferred) degree, I had been promoted (multiple times) in my government job. I felt I was achieving a level of success with possibility for growth. There was no comparison between my student lifestyle and my new one. I was enjoying what I was doing and decided not to pursue my degree”. Sheri thinks back to that decision to this day. With strength and vulnerability, Sheri states, “I truly believe that your experiences in life make you who you are. They build character and give perspective and strength, but I have to say, the decision to not pursue my degree at that point in time, has probably been the one thing that has haunted me for the rest of my adult life… This week, I’m celebrating 15 years at my corporate job. I am so fortunate, and I’ve worked hard to get where I am… but I wish I would have stuck it out and got my degree. It’s always been in the back of my mind.” Everyone can think of a decision we wish we could revisit with our younger selves. For those in Sheri’s shoes, she shares the following wisdom: “I think it’s important to know what’s driving that desire. A postsecondary
education can embody a sense of accomplishment and open doors, but if that credential isn’t going to further your career, it’s important to ask who you are doing it for and why. In the end, you have to decide for yourself”. Today, one of the many places Sheri achieves a sense of accomplishment and engages in continuous learning is through her business, Urban Errands Inc. “Friends, no one has time to do it all, so let us help!” The inspiration for Urban Errands Inc. came from an unexpected time and place. On a Christmas trip to Cabo following a very hectic year, Sheri and a fellow vacationer, turned friend shared stories of overwhelm. Hearing about her new friend’s au pair and household management background sparked her interest and led her to explore how what she had learned could be adapted to their own lives. “Our parents love being involved in the raising of our children. I could not have had the career I’ve had without their support. However, I could see that my mom had her own juggling to do.
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What does it mean to live your life on point? “Stepping into your truth,” Sheri states without pause. “I feel strongly that when you allow yourself to really embrace the opportunities that are presented, you can step into your truth without fear. I believe that the desires we have are in us, because they are for us, and every step in pursuing those desires are opportunities to grow. I’m a planner; I like to know where I am going and how I am going to get there but I am getting better at accepting that the path isn’t always clear or straight and that I don’t have to have it all figured out. Living your life on point is recognizing that deviations from your planned path aren’t necessarily a bad thing but instead is the universe’s way of enriching the journey. I think when we look at life like that, we can live it more fully”. She supported both my grandparents and us, but where was time for her? I just thought, there must be a better way… This idea continues to evolve. Home Watch is the basis of what we do, but the concierge service of Urban Errands Inc. is what truly connects us to people every day”. “Red Deer is quite a transient city”, Sheri explains. “A lot of people in Red Deer are not necessarily from Red Deer. As a result, they don’t have a support network, which creates stress because they don’t know who to reach out to for help. I’m so excited when I tell people about our business. They’ll say, ‘Really, you’ll come and clean the house and do my laundry? And you’ll pick up groceries on the way?’ For people who have the discretionary income, they are quite happy to have us do it. It allows them to spend time with their family, or go to that spin class, or do whatever that they want to do. And they don’t have to feel guilty, because they come home, those errands are done!” Sheri’s commitment and care to her clients’ needs is palpable. “My ‘permission to shine’ moment happened a few weeks ago”, Sheri shares. “A client called us out of the blue. They started as a Home Watch client and over time, added on services like snow removal and yard care. The last couple times we went in, we noticed their cleaner was not doing a fantastic job; the alarm wasn’t set, the cat was locked in the bedroom… and I mentioned in passing that we offer residential cleaning services as well. After the first time Andrew (my husband) went in, they were so thrilled. Their call was to say, ‘You make our lives easier. If we need anything, we know we can pick up the phone and call you’, and that right there is exactly what we try to achieve for all our clients. We want to establish a relationship and build that trust so that when clients have a need, they don’t even think about who to call, they just call us. I was thrilled!”
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a date with danielle
HOW TO HUSTLE WITHOUT BEING A HUSTLER by Danielle Klooster
About a month ago, I hosted a Clubhouse room with a few other business coaches and business hustlers (said with love) to talk about how to hustle in business without being a hustler. It was such a great conversation that I decided to carry it over into my magazine column. So – here it is!
Do the Hustle
To give you the context, I think we should first talk about the conventional perception of what constitutes a hustler. The negative connotation of ‘hustler’ is the picture of someone who colours outside the lines, is overly aggressive, and always has a (self-serving) agenda. These folks never seem to sleep. They’re always looking for an angle. They believe that in order to win they need to ‘get one over’ on someone else. When I am thinking of hustlers in this context, I always think of the pool hustler. You know the one… they pretend they don’t know much, if anything, about billiards, and then, after the poor, unsuspecting mark is sufficiently bought-in, wham! They take them for everything they’ve got.
You can’t trust others to help or support you and you need to make it all happen yourself
On the positive side, hustlers take action. They travel light and take no prisoners. They make things happen. They have a goal, and they are determined to make it happen. Which kind of hustler are you? Which do you want to be?
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The key difference between hustling and being a hustler is your mindset and energy. If you feel – believe – that: You need to push, push, push to get anywhere
It’s okay to cut corners, blur the ethical lines and tell ‘white lies’ to get what you want or believe you deserve then you might be a hustler. And you’re probably an exhausted wreck. The good news, though, is that if you can believe and invest in showing up that way, you can also choose to believe something else. Something that serves you and moves you forward without hurting others. The key is to let go of the belief that the only way to win is at someone else’s expense or by operating offside from good ethics. You don’t have to be a hustler and live in grind, grind, grind to realize your dreams and goals. Honest. Quite often, we find that hustlers do get ahead – or at least that’s how it appears.
Hustling, in terms of taking action, is a good thing. Being decisive and taking meaningful action is the cornerstone of achievement. But let’s not just make random decisions and take action based on impulse (which is also exhausting!). Setting good goals, “with soul”, as my Sharp Women co-founder Ranchelle teaches, is the place to start. Here’s what I suggest: •
Visualize your end game. This is what we call “setting an objective”. Create a statement that describes what success looks like.
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Then set goals for what you’ll do to achieve that objective.
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Then create action plans (pro tip: having a project management software program is a total lifesaver!) to get you to those goals.
Fear vs. Faith To hustle without being a hustler, you’ll want to take action from a place of confidence and faith. Here at Sharp Women, we talk a lot about having a personal development practice, and I can’t stress enough how pivotal it is to your success in life and business. Challenge
your limiting beliefs and the stories you tell yourself about how to win. Reframe those limiting beliefs into beliefs that serve you and move you forward. You can hustle from a place of peace. It is both possible and effective.
Danielle Klooster is a business trainer, strategist and coach who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs go and grow in their businesses. She is also the cofounder of Sharp Women with Ranchelle Van Bryce.
great resources Crisis Contact Information Strathcona County - Are you stressed out by life? COVID? Your relationship? Unsure where to start? City of Fort Saskatchewan – Mental health and well-being are an important part of overall health. Mental health affects how we feel, think, and interact with the world around us. Everyone has mental health! FCSS offers short term, preventative mental health services that help to support individuals build resiliency and connect to community services. Crisis Association of Vegreville – Provides crisis intervention through 24 hour help line. Provides short term, safe and supportive environment for abused women and their children, women in crisis or other women needing accommodation. Provides clients with information about services available.
Taxes Strathcona County - Looking for some help with your taxes this year? You may qualify if you are a resident of Strathcona County.
COVID Business Supports Fort Saskatchewan – Resources such as how to calculate maximum occupancy, links to supports etc. Strathcona County – Links to grants, resources and COVID status Vegreville – download a business sign, find the latest updates and information. If you know of any resources available in your community that you think would benefit others, please drop us a line at carla@sharpwomen.ca.
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business directory
Carla Howatt carla@sharpwomen.ca
BLINDS & DRAPERY Custom Blinds by Design Lisette Brule (780) 998 - 4646 www.customblindsbydesign.ca
COMPUTER & MOBILE REPAIR Apex Computer & Mobile Repairs Grace Wong (780) 885 - 2333 https://apexrepairs.ca
BUSINESS COACH Katalyst Coaching Katherine Loranger (780) 720 - 4679 www.katalystcoaching.com
FINANCIAL ADVISOR Sun Life Financial Glenda Smith (780) 884-5203 www.sunlife.ca/glenda.smith
BUSINESS & PERSONAL SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE Jebez Assurance https://jabezassurance.com/ Angel Paton (780) 416-4662 Angel@jebezassurance.com
FUNERAL DIRECTOR Pine Box Funerals Inc. Bonnie Hoffman (780) 910-6432 www.pineboxfunerals.ca
CHANGE LEADERSHIP Melnyk Consultancy LTD. Pauline Melnyk (780) 417 - 2915 https://melnykconsultancy.com
HEALTH & WELLNESS COACH Mind & Body by Temple https://mindbodybytemple.com Taylor Temple (403) 708 - 9880
CHIROPRACTOR Chiropractic Wellness Studio Dr. Megan Harris (587) 760 - 2552 www.feelbetteredmonton.com reception@feelbetteredmonton.com
HOME INSPECTOR – RESIDENTIAL A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections Judy Schueler (780) 220-3798 Website
COMMERCIAL CLEANING Angel’s Unique Assistance Inc (AUA Canada) Angel Paton 780-691-6563 https://auacanada.com manager@auacanada.com
HOME ORGANIZING PRODUCTS Lynsay’s Totes and Bags Lynsay Atchison (780) 719-0554 Website
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MNP Angela Sparshu 780-667-2644 www.mnp.ca
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER Glenda Sheard Glenda Sheard (780) 907 - 9424 www.glendasheard.com
LIFE, HEALTH & DISABILITY ABC Life and Living Benefits Consulting Devi McDonald (780) 803-3384 devi72@telus.net
PSYCHOLOGIST Evolution Psychology Brandi Gruninger (780) 570-5709 www.evolutionpsychology.ca
MAKEUP ARTIST Seint Beauty Laura Pryatel (780) 910 - 4535 Website
PUBLISHING By The Book Publishing Carla Howatt (780) 729 - 3935 www.bythebookpublishing.com
NON PROFIT Volunteer Strathcona programs@volunteerstrathcona.ca Mary McGuire 780.464-4242 www.volunteerstrathcona.ca
SENIOR’S RETIREMENT RESIDENCE Chartwell Emerald Hills Therese Sheen (587) 599-4623 Jennifer Hillmer (780) 819-3833 www.chartwell.com
PERSONAL COACH Katalyst Coaching Katherine Loranger (780) 720-4679 www.katalystcoaching.com
SKIN CARE Tracey’s Beautycounter Tracey Hansen (780) 266 - 5336 https://linktr.ee/TraceyHansen
PHARMACIST Aspen Pharmacy Janet Truong 780-400-9802 aspenpharmacy@pharmachoice.ca
VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS Mannatech Tanya Mullakady 403-350-6276 http://transformwithtanya.com
POTTERY Engaged in the Arts Deborrah Hughes Gahr (780) 410 - 9522 Find us on Facebook
WELLNESS SPA Namaste Wellness & Day Spa Inc. (780) 467 - 9809 www.namastespa.ca info@namastespa.ca
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER The Art of Declutter Fiona Beland-Quest 780-940-9366 theartofdeclutter@gmail.com
WOMENS CLOTHING Bee Fabulous Fashions by Fashion Fushion 780-887-5592 www.beefabulousfashions.com beefabulousfashions@gmail.com
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