| FRANKLY
SPEAKING |
 |
| Reprinted from the Fall 2011 issue of Connected For Business
magazine. Photo credit Phillip Chin. |
| Paramount's founder and President, Peggy Aulenback, was asked
what makes her business successful and the tools she uses to keep it
running. |
How did you start your business?
I had
young children and was working for CRA. I saw an opportunity to consult and
make my own hours. It seemed like a good alternative; make my own hours instead
of putting in eight hours for someone else, plus a two-hour commute, each
day. |
How do you measure success?
Success in
SR&ED claims is an application that is well prepared and stands the test of
a government review. Success for me is in helping our clients get much needed
capital for their growing businesses, and in developing employees who truly
enjoy what they do - so that they do their best for our clients. |
What technological device can you not live
without?
My BlackBerry keeps me from being inundated with
emails, questions, etc., when I get back to my desk. It is connected to my
office Outlook calendar and everyone in the office shares calendars, so we are
all aware of where people are on a given day. We use BlackBerry Enterprise and
if an employee wants their office emails to come to their BlackBerry, we pay
the Enterprise fees. It makes us all more efficient and less
stressed. |
What is the biggest challenge you have faced running your
business?
The biggest challenge for a small business owner,
especially a service business, is in passing on the knowledge of the owner to
the staff, so that the work reflects the standards and knowledge I have
acquired doing this work for 20 years. Also, how to maintain the high standard
of work when there is much more going on. I am lucky that my staff loves
checklists! |
| |
|
What is the greatest success you have
enjoyed running your own business?
We are experiencing great
feedback from our clients and they are referring us to other companies and
their advisors for their clients. This is such a compliment to the great job my
staff is doing.
Do you have a favourite
business app?
It has to be the Outlook calendar/BlackBerry
Enterprise service. I wouldn't get anywhere if I had to rely on my memory
alone. We use it for client appointments, personal appointments, scheduled
calls, reserving time for the boardroom, etc. It is central to our
day.
What keeps you up at
night?
After more than 20 years in business...not too much!
It is a great place to be and I am going to enjoy the rest of the
ride.
Do you have any advice for other
entrepreneurs?
Focus on the service and the money will
follow. Make a plan and follow it.
|
|
