There are a few cool things going on in Vancouver and a few cool places to check out while our September Summer is still in full swing – we hope you enjoy AND explore!

To keep up on whats going on around Vancouver On Twitter we follow:

Local Up & Comings that we think already made it! like https://twitter.com/#!/@kimkuzma Award winning singer / songwriter!

https://twitter.com/#!/@dgbars / https://twitter.com/#!/@tapandbarrel ( they are hiring by the way!) https://twitter.com/#!/@millbistro and https://twitter.com/#!/@PiratePub GREAT local watering holes and eateries – Pub atmosphere with upscale environment and casual experiences, you can easily find me lounging at one of these great venues on any given day, so stop by and join me!

https://twitter.com/#!/@ChefAlexTung from @TapenadeBistro in Vancouver
https://twitter.com/#!/@DianeChow This woman seems to know everything going on in Vancouver! REALLY!
https://twitter.com/#!/@VanCourierNews for Vancouver local happenings and events
https://twitter.com/#!/@JazzerciseVan – FREE ALL NEXT WEEK!
https://twitter.com/#!/@MahonyAndSons – One of my favorite new Irish Pubs in the city ( Awesome Potato Soup!!)
https://twitter.com/#!/@604homesguy False Creek Neighborhood fan and father to 3, definitely a “hood” lover!
https://twitter.com/#!/@eventsmexvan Dedicated to making sure we get some GOOD Mexican culture here in Vancouver!
https://twitter.com/#!/@DennisPang Founder/CEO of @GoPopcorn & @Motive8Media – Getting married this month! Congratulations!
https://twitter.com/#!/@vancouver125 Our fair city sending out events that celebrate our Vancouver 125 BIRTHDAY!! WOOT!
https://twitter.com/#!/@BurnabyDealSaver – Daily deals on things to do in and around Burnaby
https://twitter.com/#!/@AdamDeals - Money savers daily on everything you can image plus events!

Some Vancouver Small Business that we think deserve a little twitter love!

https://twitter.com/#!/@RipplesKitchenB – 44 years in business in Vancouver, Give them a follow or stop in and say hi!
https://twitter.com/#!/@MonMorong – If your small business wants a little extra social love she’d the woman to give you some!
https://twitter.com/#!/@LooveandSweet – For moms and daughters in Vancouver!
https://twitter.com/#!/@Packing_in_van – if you need some packing done, this is a great small local Vancouver business to do it for you!

If you know a small business in Vancouver that can use a little love from us – send them over to our twitter account at https://twitter.com/#!/donnathecoach and we will give them a little social boost!

Ever been on a walking tour – Check this out! Thanks to Matt Collinge https://twitter.com/#!/@sefalsecreek These guys have lots of great stuff on Facebook too!

Southeast False Creek and the Olympic Village (Public Realm/Urban Lighting)

* Scot Hein, Senior Urban Designer, City of Vancouver Urban Design Studio

This night walkshop will leave at 6:30 p.m. from the Wosk Center for Dialogue front entrance. This walkshop, with the focus on urban lighting, is also being held Sunday, October 2; the walkshop with the focus on the Public Realm will take place Tuesday, October 4.)

The Southeast False Creek and Olympic Village walkshop(s) will focus on Vancouver’s most recent, and innovative, public realm achievement including sustainable best practices for waterfront design, open spaces, urban wetland and the conveyance of water, sustainable streets and the city’s first true waterfront plaza. This newest Vancouver neighborhood sought to achieve the very best in urban design practices. The result is a combination of authentic placemaking in a low-mid rise context as well as great attention to detail with respect to landscape elements, public art and especially lighting. Both walkshops will start at North America’s first sewer heat recovery plant at the south Cambie bridgehead. Following an external overview of last year’s Architectural Institute of BC’s gold medalist, the tour will proceed through the soon to be developed “Worksyard Neighbourhood”, the urban wetland, the waterfront and related new habitat island, the innovative streets culminating at the central plaza. A special focus on innovative best practices in urban lighting will highlight the same walkshop route after hours. Southeast False Creek and the Olympic Village neighbourhood was named the world’s most livable community last year when it competed against 27 other countries at the prestigious United Nations sponsored LivCom Awards held in Chicago.

Michelle Tillis Lederman, in her new book “The 11 Laws of Likability” has summarized these nicely:
#lawsoflikability @mtlederman

1.      Be your authentic self. Don’t try to be someone that you are not. Other people quickly see through this façade, and lose respect. Find the good in difficult situations or personalities. Work on improving the real you, rather than building a better façade.
2.

You have to like yourself first. Don’t expect others to like you if you have a bad self-image. Practice positive self-talk using genuine accomplishments to pave the way for authentic productivity and success. Absorb the new approach and make it real.
3.

Perception is reality. How you perceive others is your reality about them, and the same is true for them of you. It is far easier to make a good first impression than to change a bad one. Likability is leaving people with positive perceptions.
4.

Exude energy in all your actions. What you give off is what you get back, and your own output can energize other people or deflate them. Channel your authentic energy to be genuine and likable, even when faced with difficulties and challenges.
5.

Curiosity never killed a conversation. Showing genuine curiosity about a person’s job, life, interests, opinions, or needs is the best way to start a conversation, keep it going, and make you likable. Check for matching needs for help rather than demanding help.
6.

Practice listening to understand. If you want others to understand and like you, you have to understand them by truly listening to what they are communicating. Don’t forget that good listening is done with you eyes and other body language, as well as your ears.
7.

Show people how you are like them. Look for common interests and backgrounds, shared experiences and beliefs, to find similarities that can help you build connections with other people. People like people who are like them.
8.

Create positive mood memories for other people. People are more apt to remember how you made them feel than what you said. It’s hard to be likeable when you intimidate people, practice insensitivity, or otherwise make them feel uncomfortable.
9.

Stay in touch and remember connections. Showing genuine curiosity about a person’s job, life, interests, opinions, or needs is the best way to start a conversation, keep it going, and make you likable. Stay in someone’s mind to make them comfortable.
10.

Give something without expecting a return. There are countless ways to give freely to others, including making introductions, sharing resources, doing favors, and giving advice. What goes around comes around.
11.

Have patience, don’t expect benefits from every contact. Likeable people don’t demand value from every interaction. Stay open to the possibility that results may take time, and come in ways not obvious today.

An old Harvard Business Review article, “Competent Jerks, Lovable Fools, and the Formation of Social Networks,” looks at how people choose those they work with. It shows that people choose who they partner with at the office according to two criteria. One is job competence (Does Joe know what he’s doing?). The other is likability (Is Joe enjoyable to work with?).

In many cases, likability actually trumps competence. So unless you already have the money and position of one of the lions mentioned earlier, it’s worth your time to focus on both likability and relevant business skills, as well as relationships. Likeability is everyone’s business, and people do business with people they like. How high would you score on the likability scale?

Tweets Today:

See a sneak peek @KevinEubanks live at Indigo/Chapters Robson TODAY at 2pm, #Vancouver http://ht.ly/6i4yP

Deal: $19 for $40 Worth of Sushi, Sashimi, Bento Box, Japanese Curry and Drinks at Paper Rock http://bit.ly/bFnZqc

Round-the-World Wedding Tour Hits #Vancouver Airport http://ow.ly/6j0Tt

A festival for all u Halfers! Hapa-Palooza! http://bit.ly/qVQnVi #Vancouver there will be lots of pretty people there!

Around Vancouver Activities Tweets:

Labourday wknd fun: Mountain Top BBQ  Winemakers’ Apres http://ow.ly/6h0ds

Behold an amazing photo of BC Place almost done and lit up! http://bit.ly/p3A32N Soon to be Telus place???

Port Mann Bridge half finished http://bit.ly/qFMkFv

@OysterVancouver Buck a shuck on 4 till 7 tonight. Longest oyster happy hour in the city!

Twitter buzz for Queen Elizabeth Park: http://sch.mp/0tnyZ - from @VancouverPlaces

Round-the-World Wedding Tour Hits #Vancouver Airport http://ow.ly/6j0Tt

A festival for all u Halfers! Hapa-Palooza! http://bit.ly/qVQnVi #Vancouver there will be lots of pretty people there!

WestJet Blue Tag Thursday: Flights to International Sun Destinations from $99 http://t.co/oNr5iEb

Funny Tweets:

Now this is GOOD news @TorontoStar RT: A cow that was on the run for three months in Germany has been found: http://bit.ly/oZ9VxF

Here’s what’s on tap from our friend Harry Joiner’s eCommerce Jobs:

PennySaverUSA – Brea, CA. The hiring manager on this one is So Young Park. ‘Nuff said. Call me.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2010/12/consumer-marketing-director-web-brea-ca.html

Aflac – Scenic Columbus, GA. James Wisdom is the hiring manager on this role, and this is a really interesting deal. $80K, plus or minus. Great opportunity to flex your marketing muscle while working for one of the brightest guys in the business.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/senior-web-producer-ecommerce-columbus-ga.html

Indochino (VANCOUVER / NYC) – The word of the day is “disruptive.” I could tell you one ripping yarn about why these guys are going to make a TON of money, and why YOU could get in the ground floor of this company. They just raised $4 million. Stock options galore. And oh yeah: It’s in Vancouver BC or New York City.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/vp-director-of-marketing-vancouver-bc.html

Simplexity – Reston, VA. I just placed a CMO with these guys, and he’s a total star. This role reports to him.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/05/vice-president-of-marketing-reston-va.html

BareNecessities.com – Edison, NJ. I just placed a CMO with these guys, and he’s a total star. (Is there an echo in here?) Read on …
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/internet-marketing-manager-edison-nj.html

Petsmart – Phoenix, AZ. Incredibly high visibility. How often does one get a chance to ramp a $25 million online business to $75 million and then some? Call 404-281-2025
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/06/director-of-ecommerce-phoenix.html

Marriott – Washington, DC. Andy Kauffman leads a world class ecom team with its best days ahead of it. Urbane. Cosmopolitan. International. Yeah, baby!
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/05/ecommerce-marketing-and-merchandising-bethesda-md.html

YLighting – You … Would … Not … Believe … The … AOV. These guys are revolutionizing the lighting industry. Get on board. Based very near SF.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/director-of-ppc-walnut-creek-ca.html

Electronics-Expo.com – They started in 2004. Today they’re clicking along at $150 million, multichannel style. Comp is $80K based in Wayne, NJ
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/job-of-the-day-ecommerce-marketing-manager-wayne-nj-07470.html

KGB – Here’s your chance to work with Dan Smith, whom I’ve known for years. “Bright” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Killer comp. Based in NYC.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/global-crm-manager-new-york-ny.html

KGB – Great base and a VERY nice bonus oppty. Another role for Dan, who can be seen here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/smithdanw
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/senior-marketing-manager-global-customer-acquisition-new-york-ny.html

SharperImage.com – $90K base. Venerable brand, VC involvement, and houses are selling two for the price of one in Detroit (where this gig is based).
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/ecommerce-marketing-manager-farmington-hills-michigan.html

IVGstores – A $30 million IR-500 company seeking a succession plan. MASSIVE upside. Call for details. Based in SF.
http://www.ecommercejobs.com/2011/08/director-of-ecommerce-marketing-san-francisco-ca.html

Thanks in advance for sending this to your friends!

Harry Joiner → (404) 281-2025
http://www.EcommerceJoboftheDay.com
As seen in “Internet Retailer” magazine

Mario Felicella a local Vancouver Blogger Broke this in his Blog and its well worth Sharing! Thanks Mario!

The defeat of the Harmonized Sales Tax will not affect British Columbia’s AAA rating, the credit-ratings agency Standard & Poor’s confirmed Sunday.

B.C. Minister of Finance Kevin Falcon said in a press release he was pleased with the decision. “I believe this is a reflection of the fiscally conservative approach we have taken over the past decade.”

The AAA rating reflects an “extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments,” according to S&P’s website.

Explaining its decision to leave B.C.’s top rating unchanged, S&P said the province has the solid revenue and expenditure flexibility necessary to meet its deficit targets and a moderate tax-supported debt burden.

At the same time, the agency noted, the province must address its new challenges, including the loss in revenue, the initial administrative costs of transitioning back to a PST/GST tax system, in addition to the likelihood that B.C. will be required to repay $1.6 billion in HST transitional funding provided by the federal government.

“During this time of global economic uncertainty, our credit rating is more important than ever and we will continue to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly while we focus on strengthening our economy and creating jobs,” said Falcon.

Source: Medha, Vancouver Sun

I was on Twitter and got myself into a couple of interesting debates over badmouthing British Colombians for voting to repeal the HST… OOPS! Now let me be clear, I am not saying HST is good or bad, I do think that the introduction of it lacked something and that the way the repeal was managed lacked something too… that said, HEY HEY HEY!!!! I am still PROUD of my fellow British Colombians for a few reasons!

I felt compelled to say that I feel proud of the fact that British Colombians voted for something! In fact 54% of us voted for something and 45% of us either didn’t vote or voted against something… That is more voting that has gone on to elect premiers for the province and in some cases Prime Ministers for the country so HEY!  How do you like them cranberries BC! Nice!

Our voting history in British Columbia, well it kinda sucks and its got a direct impact on business, being a business strategist this matters to me so I thought HEY lets share a little data with our Blog followers:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gsthst/ This is the Governments explanation of HST Take it or Leave it, its detailed to the ying yang and its accurate if boring and hard to stay with long enough to figure out what it says OR means! No one I have ever met in small business has the time or inclination to dig through this pile of endless data!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_Sales_Tax Better… but not so much!

Its REALLY hard to get good readable everyday business person datasheet on the HST – How was anyone supposed to “get” it.What they did was experience a $6 dollar tax hike to a $32 meal which they understood easily and immediately.

Now what I know about people ( don’t get your knickers in a knot over this) is that they are generally lazy if its not an immediate impact for them! It’s human nature and its true and that has proven true on multiple continents to me. What impacts us immediately and directly is our experience and we will react and choose based on THAT. Thus.. HST didn’t go over well!

Did it get a bum wrap, well maybe yes… that said, those who brought the HST into place did not serve their voters well otherwise it never would have been repealed by the voters – FACT.  Results, “often harsh always fair”.

Statistics about British Colombian Voters

1610125 valid votes cast August 26, 2011
4,554,085 Total BC Population April 1, 2011
3,063,170 Total Registered Eligible Voters in BC August 26, 2011 http://bc2013.com/

Now this is more interesting to me than any of the above… WHY, because it tells me a lot about my local market doesn’t it. It tells me that they are more interested in what is happening TO them immediately, IN their day to day life experientialy, where they manage and control things directly… and they are NOT able to care too too much about what is going on with the government that is mandating things that impact their business! They just don’t have the bandwidth to take in in and take it on!

Now if you take into account that 97% ( YES that is a statistic) of all business in North America is small business, and if our electoral experiences tell us anything about how they are behaving and what they are paying attention to… well, you have to agree that this is market research isn’t it – even if I don’t personally like what I am seeing, its what I have to work with and deal with day in and day out with small business.

Did you know that 75% of the small businesses in BC are Service oriented… THOSE FOLKS ARE TIRED and they don’t have the bandwidth left to dig through the mountains of data required to understand laws on government websites, no wonder they don’t respond to things like repealing the HST based on FACTS rather on Experiences they understand they are having… they didn’t get to FEEL the benefits and they don’t KNOW them … so the HST gets repealed… makes sense to me… to them its like survival!

Now if you have an enterprise, guess what, you have the resources to get this information dissected and digested and input into your corporate team, systems, governance and data banks and its not a worry… but if your small business, ughhh tough nut to swallow. The typical small business owner is CEO, CFO, CIO, CTO, Marketing team, Sales Team, Janitor etc… all in 2-10 employee’s.

http://www.localtrifecta.com/2011/01/small-business-statistics-in-british-columbia/ Here is a great little article on small business in BC with good links if you want to explore yourselves.

If the vote results, and the statistics here don’t give you a darn good little snapshot of whats going on with small business decision makers well… stop marketing, stop business advising… cause your not going to “get” it or them! And, for crying out loud don’t be blaming the small business guy cause he didn’t take more on and master the HST data dump of information!

Good Luck Small Business BC… We are one of you and we GET what its like for you, here to help and guide you through those difficult moments when you realize you can’t do it all yourself!

To your Prosperity, warm cookies AND a nap!

Donna

FF – #FF stands for “Follow Friday.” Twitter users often suggest who others should follow on Fridays by tweeting with the hashtag #FF

Aug 26 – 2011 Follow Friday on Twitter Get on our list Follow and show us your tweets!:

Follow Friday #FF Community: @MinervaBC @WhistlerBlckcmb @KidsUpFrontVan @VarietyBC

Follow Friday #FF Business:@sengineland @Office365 @ColderICE @WSJ @TechCrunch

Follow Friday #FF Music: @beverlyshane @HipHopCanada @colinwiebe @adamlevine

Follow Friday #FF Entertainment:@MrsSOsbourne @villagevoice @Joan_Rivers

Follow Friday #FF News: @Mineer980 @cknw @routers @CTVNews @CdnPress

Follow Friday #FF Just because!:@katyperry @ariannahuff @jasonbax @canucks

Follow Friday #FF Cause your Canadian: @WestJet @CdnPress  @strombo @JackLayton @StephenHarper

Follow us on Twitter  or simply click on the tweeter image below!

Syndicate Digital is a Microsoft Partner and we are proud to represent their Business Productivity Suite in the Cloud and to have Donna represent them as one of the two vPTA’s for Vancouver, BC.

If your organization or small business would like to explore the benefits of pay as you go/ pay as you grow Microsoft Cloud Licensing in a hands on Lab Environment with the Customer Immersion Experience or you have questions please call or email us directly:

donna@syndicatedigital.com or bron@syndicatedigital.com

Toll Free:1-866-208-9646

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