Boiling Point Podcast

Reinvesting in Triple Bottom Line   Introducing Phil Graves, Patagonia, and $20 Million & Change For over four decades, Patagonia has been a leader in high-end outdoor wear. The worldwide clothing brand not only makes clothes to wear outside, but also is known for its commitment to the environment. Since 1993 it has been making its fleece from recycled beverage bottles and it has used organic cotton since 1996. This commitment to a triple bottom line was further continued when Patagonia became a B corp in 2011. Patagonia has now continued to double-down on its commitment to planet, people, and profit by creating its own venture capital firm $20 Million and Change, which invests in environmentally and socially responsible start-ups. Phil Graves heads corporate development at Patagonia and oversees $20 Million & Change. Phil came from the corporate consulting world, but was looking for a change. His first choice was to work for Patagonia and as luck would have it this was right near the initiation of $20 Mi

Sharing the Stories of Business   Introducing Lise Hansen and Allan Gates and Huddle What do you do when you are journalistic and business minded, but you live in a place that doesn’t employ a single fulltime business reporter? You follow the path of Lise Hansen and Allan Gates when they decided to open something like Huddle. Huddle is an online news source that tells the stories of creative, innovative, and interesting entrepreneurs from New Brunswick and the Maritimes. Huddle is not a business cheerleader, but too often Atlantic Canadian business is cast with an ominous tone. The truth is, there is a lot of positive stories out there (as the Boiling Point can attest) if you just take the time to listen.   In this episode   Greg, Dave, Lise, and Allan discuss a MacLean’s Magazine article (in which Greg was quoted) that asked, “Can anything save New Brunswick?” Allan and Lise discuss their reasoning for starting Huddle and why expressing the full business picture in New Brunswick is important. We d

Your Time toRise   Introducing Craig Ballantyne andEarlytoRise.com There is truth to the power of attraction exposed by the movie,“The Secret” and previous Boiling Point guest Michael Losier. However, this week’s Boiling Point guest saysyou need to go one step further than just knowing what you want andattracting those who can help you achieve your goal. You must alsotake action. Craig Ballantyne started his career as a personal trainer andfound success selling fitness information products through the web.Along the way, Craig started following a website called Early to Rise, which helpedpeople achieve their goals for health, wealth, and wisdom. Once hisbusiness was starting to take off, Craig decided that he would takethe plunge with a business coach. During their first session, thecoach asked what type of business would you like to have. Craig’sanswer was he wanted something like Early to Rise. After fiveyears, not only did Craig find a business “like” Early to Rise, he actually boughtthe company. Check out

Making it Big in a Smaller Market   Introducing James Mullinger There is truth to the idiom of the big fish in a small pond as this week’s Boiling Point guest can attest. James Mullinger was on of the UK’s hardest working stand up comedians before moving to Saint John, New Brunswick to pursue a greater quality of life. James conceded at the time that the move could probably call an end to his stand up career, as New Brunswick wasn’t a known Mecca for people in the funny business. However, with a passion for his craft and massive determination, James has been able to become one of the hottest comedians on the Canadian scene. In fact, now he has the opportunity that seemed so distant on the other side of the pond, headlining a stadium show. James credits his Canadian success to a few of different factors. First was his choice of city. Saint John has had an emergence in the last number of years. Unlike New York or London where many would believe life was better 10 years ago, most Saint Johners say that thing

Beginning Your Triple Bottom Line Journey   Introducing Mike Rowlands and Junxion Strategy How can your company become a leader in the future of business? How can you take my established company and make it better for the world? The Boiling Point has featured a number of triple bottom line companies in the last number of months leaving a number of our listeners wondering how they can take the first steps toward becoming a company seeking to promote planet, people, and profit. One way is to contact someone like Mike Rowlands from Junxion Strategy. Mike has been assisting mission-driven entrepreneurs and organizations for over a decade by crafting unique strategies. Check out this week’s episode to see how your new or established company can start making measurable social and environmental impact.   In this episode   Kristy O’Leary sets us up with Mike, calling it a bro-mance in the making. We hear about the work that Junxion has been doing for clients for 20 years. Mike discusses the type of people

Time to SRED Introducing Ron Dorombozi and RD3 Inc. Ron Dorombozi is a thought leader in the ever-developing landscape of Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED). This program is the Canada Revenue Agencies (CRA) premier tool to foster innovation in businesses of all sizes for work preformed in Canada. This successful SR&ED consultant has pieced together an all-star team within his company (RD3 INC) that are highly successful in developing unique solutions meeting the individual needs of companies. RD3 INC and Mr. Dorombozi’s related companies provide project management, SR&ED and product development services capitalizing on the breadth of knowledge from the multi-disciplinary backgrounds of the front line staff.  The RD3 philosophy is to develop a sustainable, specialized documentation solution for each company that they work with. The information collected should not be onerous and should provide other value to the company. RD3 staff provides fresh ideas in some cases, ported from othe

The Importance of Choosing Your Words   Introducing Deb Hatcher and A to Z Wineworks and REX HILL The English language is a beautiful thing, full of flexibility and choice.  However, often we don’t truly think about the words we choose in everyday conversation and the result can often send a message or convey a tone we didn’t intend.  Many of our words have been turned into “double-speak” meaning language that disguises or distorts our true meanings.  A great example is the word “downsizing” instead of using a word like layoffs.  Then you consider militaristic, mechanical, or sporting terms that have been corrupted and put into regular language, including a B Corp favorite, “impact”. Deb has a beautiful worldview on the language of business and she suggests we should be more thoughtful with our choice of words.  Deb is the founder of A to Z Wineworks, the largest producer of high quality pinot noir in the Pacific Northwest.  Deb's sense of wonder and humor bring playfulness to A to Z but her expectation o

All Hail the Czar Introducing Michelle Reid and Mills Office Productivity When you have a problem that needs to be solved you call in a czar. For the past 5 years, Michelle Reid has served as the czar of sustainability for Mills Office Productivity, a local and sustainable business supplier located in East Vancouver. Many years ago, Mill’s owner was approached to help tackle the homeless problem in Vancouver. They didn’t do so through handouts but rather by offering jobs to those in need and give people an opportunity to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. There were only so many jobs available in the Mill’s warehouse, so around seven years ago they expanded their program into the restaurant industry. Mills now offers an eight week culinary training program and job placement out of their Have Cafe which has helped out 800 individuals and with job retention of 50% seven years later. Michelle oversees all of Mills’ social and environmental initiatives to ensure the B Corp is amongst best for the world.   M

Out with the Dinosaurs, In with Evolution   Reintroducing Kristy O'Leary - Scout & Burrow This week’s guest for the second time is Kristy O’Leary from Scout & Burrow. Kristy is an artist, entrepreneur, and social change provocateur. Through Scout & Burrow, Kristy makes a living out of spurring organizations to imagine a world made better and then pushing them to act. This is not an easy task, as Atlantic Canada is full of old school, conservative businesses people and practices that are resistant to change. Kristy cannot help but see the opportunities that could arise from our challenges and seeks to change the mind of the dinosaurs in our midst.   In this episode We get reacquainted with Kristy and Scout & Burrow Kristy lets us in on the evolution of her business since the last time she was on the Boiling Point. She highlights the importance of those working within a value-based perspective to tell their stories so that others can learn what is possible. We hear about the current lack of an innovat

From Consuming to Sharing Introducing Kelly Lawson and ELLA We have all heard the comment from the closest, “I have nothing to wear.” In fact, the average American woman spends approximately $300 per month on fashion items. In less than a month, 51% of these items go unworn or unused. This means that women are making a fashion investment of $250,000 in their lifetime without any type of return of investment.   This week’s boiling point guest, Kelly Lawson, is seeking to change the trend and connect like-minded women by way of their closets. A short time ago, Kelly took an idea that she had been toying with for some time and developed the iPhone app, ELLA. With ELLA, women can sell their unused or slightly used clothing for cash. With $50 billion in nearly new items sitting in US closets every year there is a lot to choose from. Not only are you helping out a fellow woman by purchasing from them, but you also help the environment so that all of these items don’t end up in a landfill. Check out this week’s B

The Intersection of Passion and Innovation   Introducing Shawn Leger and FORCE 3 Innovations When passion and innovation merge the results can be powerful. Someone who knows all about this situation is Shawn Leger. Shawn has worked in the rehab field for 16 years and he also has a passion for finding solutions to his customers needs. One day he was fitting a wheelchair for an elderly man when he noticed he kept leaning to one side. Shawn found out that this man was a career truck driver and his lean was a result of his many years sitting on the road. This got Shawn thinking about the posture of those who have to drive for a living and resulted in him forming FORCE 3 Innovations to help solve the problem. The product he has now patented and tested can lower back pain, increase tolerance, and provide enhanced health outcomes. The product could also be the only one of its kind that would keep drivers awake longer. Not to mention, that it comes integrated with technology to remember your preferred seat configu

Time to THNK   Introducing Sarah Dickinson and The THNK School of Creative Leadership We live in an era of new challenges where antiquated leadership and business models will not produce the solutions we all seek. The leaders of the next generation still need to be smart and thoughtful, but they also need to pull back on their ego and be creative solution finders. Sarah Dickinson is one of these new creative leaders. Sarah spent most of her working career in the digital communication and marketing world. The job left her wanting more as often the fruits of her labour were often months after she completed her work and she often felt removed from their human impacts. Her life was forever changed when she was offered the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam and partake in a new program called The THNK school of Creative Leadership. The experience changed her life and prompted her to bring THNK across the ocean to Vancouver where she is now the co-founder and executive director of THNK’s Vancouver location. To h

The More you Hear   Introducing Mark Wood and Ocean Sonics It is amazing what you can hear when you make the effort to listen… especially under the water. One person that knows all about this is Mark Wood from Ocean Sonics. Mark’s company develops highly specialized underwater microphones (called hydrophones), which are used by scientist, researchers, sea construction companies, and others to record exactly what is being heard below the ocean surface. What makes Ocean Sonics hydrophones unique to others in the market is not only do they record sound, but they also process data and can be used as a webserver to trigger alerts. This technology would enhance the ability for researchers to study animal behavior, protect wildlife from things such as oil spills, and help with compliance issues as it relates to underwater noise pollution. To hear all about Mark and Ocean Sonics tune into this weeks Boiling Point.   In this episode   Mark tells all about Ocean Sonics and the hydrophones they make. We hear ab

Empathy for the Digital Age   Introducing Kevan Gilbert Kevan Gilbert is a man who believes that collaboration is the best way to complete any task. This award winning digital story teller and strategist realized very early in his work in agencies that teamwork and listening accomplishes a lot more than driving a singular framework down a team’s throat. After many attempts at mastering persuasion, Kevan realized that he needed to stop trying to persuade and start listening. This is a message he expands on in his future book, “Empathy for the Digital Age”. Check out this week’s Boiling Point to see how a collaborative approach to your next task may have your team working better and faster.   In this episode Kevan expands on his bio including being an award-winning poet at the age of eight years old. We learn why he decided to start listening and stop persuading. Kevan lets us know the power of empathy in completing any important task. Greg tells us why he believes he is more of a story “amplifier” th

True Masculinity through Responsibility   Introducing Andrew Park and Urbane & Gallant Andrew Park is a man who likes to ponder the true meaning of masculinity. If you look at most representations of masculinity in pop culture three themes seem to arise: beer, sex, and sports. There is more to a man isn’t there? Andrew definitely believes so. He sees the defining characteristic of masculinity being responsibility. Andrew expands on this theory with his B Corp menswear company Urbane & Gallant, which not only makes clothes to make you feel like a man but also inspire you to be a better person. Check out this week’s Boiling Point to see how your next suit could help tackle the issue of human trafficking.   In this episode Andrew tells us how soul searching the essence of masculinity while attending USC helped him develop an idea for Urbane & Gallant. Andrew goes on to tell us why he believes responsibility is main component of manhood. He explains that when you have a great brand your customer’s “stick

Maximize with your Most Profitable Customers   Introducing Aaron Vidas and Strategy Box Aaron Vidas is an advisor who works with tech companies, professional service firms, social enterprises, and B2B companies. In his former career as a marketing manager and sales person, he was often wondering what type of customer should he target to be the most profitable. He answers this question with his new B Corp Company, Strategy Box, which clarifies which customers and opportunities are of most value. Check out this week’s Boiling Point to see how you could be making more profit off of fewer customers.   In this episode We hear about how Greg met Aaron at a B Corp Champions retreat in Portland, Oregon. Aaron explains how his system helps companies find higher value opportunities. Aaron tells us 80% of results come from 20% of your actions in brick and mortar businesses, and even higher ratios for Internet based companies. Aaron tells us about an experience in his past where he thrived after he fired two cl

Keep your Investment in your Community   Introducing Andy MacCallum Investors are always out looking for the ability to make more money from their current money. However, more often then not the money is being invested into multi-national companies or in far away places. What if you could make money AND impact locally? You might be able to do just that. Andy MacCallum is the vice president of development for Natural Forces Wind Inc., a company that develops, constructs, and operates wind farms in the Maritimes and BC. Through the use of a community economic development investment fund (CEDIF) called Wind4All, his company allows for investment to in local wind farms. The program allows for a 14% return on investment through dividends and tax credits while aiding the government to reach better renewable energy rates. This means you don’t only help out your own pocket book, but also the environment. Natural Forces Wind Inc. sets up the investment so that it is minimal risk, as the majority of money is not sp

Sharing your Most Powerful Tools… your Stories   Introducing Dan Martell The ability to connect with others by expressing your experiences and lessons learned are often the most powerful gift you can give to someone else. Learning from others experiences can rocket you past your current issues and help you avoid other “pot holes”. Dan Martell is a man who has built a reputation and businesses through his ability to be vulnerable and honest. Dan didn’t have the easiest childhood. He was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager and dealt with anger issues as well.   He was taken out of his home as a young person, moved back and forth between foster and group homes, and spent two trips to jail. At one point, he was involved in a high-speed chase with police and crashed a stolen car into a house and attempted to take his own life. After sobering up, Dan knew he had to take a different approach to his life and promised himself that he would never waste another day of his life. Since that time, Dan discovered compute

Get your Message Out There   Introducing Kim Houlahhan   Entrepreneurs who own small or medium sized businesses work hard everyday in order to gain or maintain success. There is a lot of hard work and many hours put forth toward their business. Often these businesspeople need to spend so much work on the “day-to-day” work of their business that the important job of building relationships with current and potential customers and spreading their stories and message get pushed to the backburner. However, the marketing efforts of any business are an important part of what keeps the entire machine running.  So how do you find the extra time to connect with your community? By finding someone like Kim Houlahan from the Houlahan Group. The Houlahan Group is a communication and marketing company that acts as a virtual marketing department for small to medium sized businesses. These days everyone has the tools to market their business right on their desk, however it is a matter of what you do, how often you do it,

Financial Monitoring = More Sleep   Introducing Owen Green  Passionate, driven entrepreneurs often need to focus on what they are good at. This could mean being visionaries, or taking part in the grind of everyday business. For many though, the evening can be filled with worry when they realize that their books are a mess, or they don’t know if they can afford to make payroll AND invest into that new opportunity. That is where people like Owen Green come into your life and allows you to have sweet dreams. Owen is an accountant and co-owner of Adams Green, as well as the Hemmings House CFO. After years of experience in “big business” accounting, Owen was looking for a change of pace. He began to realize that many small and medium sized businesses didn’t have the resources to afford designated accounting divisions, but was often in the position of needing someone to manage their financial situation. Many of the leaders of these businesses needed to spend the majority of their focus on the day-to-day and cou