Dylan Downie Rising Entrepreneur At College Pro
24 Mar 2011 Author: Erin In: Working At College Pro
College Pro sat down with one of College Pro rising entrepreneurs Dylan Downie to find out what has made him shine into a great entrepreneur.
Name: Dylan Downie
Current Position: General Manager
Location: British Columbia
When did you start working for College Pro and in what role?
I started with College Pro in 2007 as a franchisee.
What were your prior job experiences?
Prior to College Pro, I worked on a farm, at a farm dealership and in construction.
Tips for successful Freelancing
7 Jan 2011 Author: Renee In: Small Business Advice
Many people choose to take their employment into their own hands and go into freelancing. Freelancing is a form of entrepreneurship, because you are your own boss, as well as your own business. You are your brand, and you spend time developing that, as well as your network and client base.
Freelancing is a great option for those who have experience or talent in a certain field and want the freedom to choose and develop their own work. It also means you call pretty much all of the shots, from where you work to how long your day is. Still, it can be challenging to work as a freelancer, especially at the beginning when the frequency of projects and jobs is less certain. If you are considering launching a career as a freelancer, review the following tips for successful freelancing and get your business off the ground. 1. Build your website. We live in a digital world, and the first and last place someone will go to research your work or learn more about you is online. Make sure you have a professional, functioning website that reflects your talents and skills. Including portfolio work or descriptions of past projects is ideal, and make sure — and this is a big one — your contact information is clear, accessible and visible. 2. Research your competition. Find out what other people in your field are charging for their work, and what kind of work they are doing. Compare your experience and work to theirs to determine your own fees and specializations. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to established freelancers and seek their advice and guidance. You probably will find a supportive community and perhaps a mentor. 3. Get the word out. Tap into your network and let everyone know you are starting to freelance. A Facebook friend or neighbor might turn out to have a very valuable connection. Carry around business cards, as well, in case you come across a networking opportunity while out and about. The more people who know about you and your services, the better, even if they cannot provide an immediate job lead. You want people to be able to think of you immediately when they hear about an opportunity. 4. Develop a schedule. It’s equally as easy to work way too hard or slack off as a freelancer, and you want to avoid both. Devise a schedule that works for you, and stick to it. 5. Mind your money. Make sure you get paid! Create a formal system to keep track of what you are owed, as well as your expenses. Formalize a payment system for clients you can inform them about up-front so as to avoid uncomfortable conversations and inadvertently doing free work. Paper invoices or PayPal; just make sure you have records. Also, keep in mind you will have to pay taxes — even freelancers can’t avoid them.
10 Useful LinkedIn Features to Grow Your Business
27 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Small Business AdviceLinkedIn is a social networking site design with business professionals in mind. Here are a few ways in which some of LinkedIn’s many features can help you grow your business:
1] Answers: This is a forum where you can post questions about your business and get fast, accurate responses from users in your network as well as worldwide experts. You can also showcase your knowledge by answering other’s questions.
2] Groups: With LinkedIn Groups you can stay up-to-date on what is going on in your industry. It also allows you to follow the activity of successful, influential members whom you can emulate to help grow your own business.
Hiring for your small business
22 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Working At College ProWhen contemplating your approach to the hiring process, it is essential to emphasize the attributes and qualities that accompany successful individuals in the business world. Nearly all managers would agree that ideal employees display exceptional work ethic, strong organizational and communication skills, and a consistent tendency to exceed goals. Qualities such as these can often be superficially determined by a brief look at a resume, however a piece of paper (or .doc file) does not provide a detailed perspective of a candidate’s complete skill set.
What is entrepreneurship to you?
20 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Home Improvements
Entrepreneurship to me is freedom
Entrepreneurship to me is freedom. Freedom is challenging and can be challenged by others who are not of the same beliefs. Some people work hard for freedom and will fight to gain it, and will inspire others to follow them on their quest for success. The Entrepreneur is a special type of person who is not afraid to blaze their own trail and go against conformity.
Kris Gabriele
Senior General Manager
College Pro’s top links of the week
17 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Working At College ProThe World’s Facebook Relationships Visualized [PIC]
According to a Facebook social graph, the world is lit up with Facebook relationships. See for yourself how Facebook makes the world a much smaller place…
3 Lessons I Learned From Launching a Product
Sean Coleman discusses the trials and tribulations of starting a product based company. From first design to product launch to talking to your customers for feedback…
You’re Not an Entrepreneur
A prominent online blogger discusses what/who really IS an entrepreneur. It may not be who you think …
Startup financing – A tricky step
16 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Working At College ProWhat Business School forgets to teach us – Financing
I just graduated business school at the Monfort College of Business in Northern Colorado and to graduate I had to write a thesis paper on why Entrepreneurship fails in the market. The top three reasons I found for failure in Entrepreneurs was:
1. Lack of a business coach
2. Lack of financial knowledge
3. Not knowing your target market (or pushing the wrong product).
How are small businesses taking advantage of the Green Movement
15 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Working At College Pro
Is it feasible for small businesses to go “Green”?
After the blockbuster hit “An Inconvenient Truth” hit the big screen, we all got a bit of a shock as to the current state of our environment. With extensive media coverage and current advancements in technology covering issues around environmentalism, we are now more environmentally conscious. Many if not most companies have begun to capitalize on this Green Movement and guess what? Consumers love it. Consumers like buying “Green” because it makes them feel good about helping the environment in some way however small it may be. Businesses are continually trying to find new ways of doing their part in the fight for a better planet. When a company is looking to become “Green” they must first understand what being “Green” mean; to actively strive for the improvement of humanity, the environment and the world as a whole. This may seem like an impossible task, but it is not, as long as everyone does as much as they can to help.
College Pro Links of Week
10 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Working At College Pro1. Entrepreneur Gift Guide
Not sure what to get that special entrepreneur in your life? Check out this gift guide from Inc.com for some great ideas!
2. Twitter Crushes Facebook for Marketing
Social Media Marketing is everywhere these days. Trying to figure out a strategy for your business can be tricky, but Entrepreneur Magazine suggests that Twitter is a better resource than Facebook. In fact, they say Twitter crushes Facebook!
3. Best Movies for Entrepreneurs
The Wall Street Journal picks the best scenes from films to inspire entrepreneurial startups; from Jerry Maguire to Dead Poet’s Society.
Social Media Basics for Small Business
8 Dec 2010 Author: Renee In: Working At College ProSocial Media is everywhere. It seems like every business out there is on Twitter, and asking you to join their Facebook page. It’s become a valuable tool to reach, and interact with, your customers. Check out this video for some mind blowing social media numbers.
There are new articles every day about how to make the most of this medium, but many of them boil down to the same few things.
College Pro Painters Vancouver
This blog is about College Pro Painters in Vancouver, British Columbia. College Pro Vancouver will include news, painting tips, and regional information about College Pro.
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