Gerry Visca | Canada's Creative Coach

10 Creative Laws to Uncover Your Natural Ability 01/27 by heidicowie | Blog Talk Radio

2012-01-22T13:37:00.000-05:00

10 Creative Laws to Uncover Your Natural Ability 01/27 by heidicowie | Blog Talk Radio

THURSDAY TANK - The Power to Engage

2012-01-03T17:34:00.002-05:00

Kick start the New Year with focus and powerful intention.

Please join Canada’s Creative Coach™, Gerry Visca at THiNKSPOT Burlington – 492 Locust Street on Thursday, January 19th from 7:00 – 9:00pm for an evening of inspired conversation and cocktails. This month’s theme –

The Power to ENGAGE

Bring a friend and RSVP gerry@redchairbranding.com by January 5th.
This exclusive event is limited to 20 individuals.

What is your Super Power?

2011-12-28T10:02:00.001-05:00

Red TIP Article – Harness your Super Power
‘When you play small it does not serve the world’

I recently finished reading two very cool books - Deepak Choprah’s book – ‘The Law of Super Heroes’ co-written with his son Gotham Choprah and Business Superhero by Sean Wise. It was interesting to hear of how we as humans create super heroes as symbols of all that we wish to aspire to. I recently asked an audience the question – What is your Super Power? Perhaps you are known for your super human strength like that of Superman? A greater lesson with this super hero is the understanding of your weakness or ‘kryptonite’ – and the ability to recognize and overcome your limiting beliefs. Others are known for their ability to be resourceful and prepared like Batman, also referred to as ‘The Dark Knight’ who epitomizes what one man can become with unlimited resources, motivation and focus. The Green Lantern, one of 7,200 space patrolmen guarding the universe against evil and injustice is known for having the ‘will and the way’ teaching us the valuable lesson of being fearless and moving ourselves to a new level of inner magnificence. Let us not forget one of my favorite Super Heroes, born to the queen of the Amazons on Paradise Island, the warrior princess - Wonder Woman with her invisible jet and cool bracelets teaching us to ‘always have a mission and remain focused.’
Deep inside all of us is an incredible and innate ability to play bigger that we really are. What is that one power that you have that you are known for in this world? Some of you may have dual super powers for instance many call me ‘Mr. Creative’ for my innate ability to boldly build power brands within individuals. I also get the term ‘The Inspirator’ for my ability to inspire individuals to action. Tapping into those two super powers has severed me well. Understanding your super power is another way of uncovering your unique ability and living a life of purpose. It drives you to form a new awareness for what it is possible for you. Uncovering your super power helps you cultivate your personal brand and gets you focused on communicating your intentions to the world. Successful sales people understand their super power well. Successful entrepreneurs like Richard Branson use their super power with confidence and influence others to expand their vision. The famous American hip hop artist, ‘Jay Z’, a musician, entrepreneur and actor clearly understands the power of personal branding. He has a net worth of over $450 million, has sold over 50 million albums world-wide and received 13 Grammy Awards. I love how ‘Jay Z’ summarizes his super power in one simple statement: ‘I’m not a business man…I’m a Business. Man.’

My next [THURSDAY TANK] Event will be held on Thursday Jan.19, 2012 at ThinkSPOT – 492 Locust Street in Burlington. This event will is focused on [The Power to Engage] – invite is attached.
This exclusive event is limited to 20 individuals.

The Launch of the Priya Ali Brand - a new altitude for living

2011-12-23T10:59:00.002-05:00

Red TIP Article – Living your Best Life Now

I recently gave a series of global talks with a focus on creating a ‘culture of initiation’. As an inspirational speaker that strives to inspire people to action - this principle resonates to my core. When you look at successful entrepreneurs ask yourself – what is it that makes them different than me? The answer – they took action, they failed, then failed again and finally learned how to fail better. Building a culture of initiation means leaning forward and making mistakes. It means raising your hand, stepping forward and standing out. It means getting off the sidelines and being a participator. Companies that strive to build a culture of initiation understand this concept. They stand out and do what ever it takes to differentiate themselves within the marketplace. Companies like Google, Apple, Starbucks, Walt Disney and Virgin are good examples of building a culture of initiation. They act on ‘gut instinct’ and intuition to move their ideas forward with purpose. They don’t expect to have all the answers yet clearly understand the power of inspired action versus no action. Individuals that strive to build cultures of initiation are masters at influencing and motivating others. They cultivate a community of brand ambassadors dedicated to helping their vision succeed. This month we celebrate the launch of the Priya Ali Brand, a recent entrepreneur that I ignited. Priya has a fantastic focus for helping people experience greater joy in their lives and helping them create their BEST life now. Priya Ali has launched a new attitude and altitude for living your best life quite simply branded as 365. I encourage you to listen to our one-on-one interview and let Priya’s words fill your heart as you fixate on creating your desired life and reaching new levels of magnificence in 2012. Priya’s interview can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I76COtPR1II&feature=g-upl&context=G241782cAUAAAAAAAAAA

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the entrepreneurs that I’ve ignited in 2011 - it has been an honor being a part of your creative journey and the best is yet to come. I wish all of you a memorable holiday season and a thriving New Year.

Please note - my next [THURSDAY TANK] Event has been moved to Thursday Jan.19, 2012 at ThinkSPOT – 492 Locust Street in Burlington. This event will be focused on ‘The Art of Communication by Engaging Others’. Please note – this exclusive event is limited to 20 individuals.

Inspiring Canada's Divine Healer - Priya Ali

2011-12-21T22:51:00.003-05:00

Check out my latest interview with client - Priya Ali
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I76COtPR1II&feature=youtu.be

Feeling [ALiVE] in the Eye of the Storm…

2011-12-19T12:10:00.000-05:00

Feeling [ALiVE] in the Eye of the Storm…

Gerry Visca's BIG THINK Georgina - Jan.25.26,2012

2011-12-16T12:14:00.003-05:00

I'm Looking for 15 People in Georgina to Help Me Change the World ... Are YOU Ready?

I invite you to start Thinking BIG.
I'll Teach You Everything I Know About Improving People's Lives –
Including Yours!

Two evenings of Creative Inspiration, Motivation and Entertainment that will ignite you to take action in your life! For the first time ever - Gerry Visca together with Jo McKay, – a Brand Ambassador, and the Georgina Chamber of Commerce will teach you everything about improving people’s lives. Some of you have tasted Gerry Visca’s, Branding BootCamps®, now you have an opportunity to transform yourself and your business by learning trade secrets from a world-class expert in a stimulating environment that empowers you to take action immediately and transform your life forever.

Are you a professional speaker, trainer, consultant or coach? Are you someone who loves to support others in reaching their full potential? Within my BIG THINK Event – I will spend 1 day in with 100 individuals in the afternoon and 15 select individuals in the evening - helping them uncover their magnificence and applying their unique skills in transforming people’s lives.

Why attend?
Register now with gerry@redchairbranding.com
Registration is limited to 100 individuals & 15 for Gerry’s Inner-Circle.“To creatively reinvent yourself for 2012 so you can thrive on challenge and change. In 2012 we all need to raise the value we bring to others to a whole new level, without burning ourselves out. That means we have to find a system that will motivate and mobilize us – not just today, but every day”. – Gerry Visca

A Day and Evening with Canada’s Creative Coach – Gerry Visca
up close and personal

Your Evening with Gerry Visca – Jan.25.2012
6:00 – 10:00pm Cost $40/person Stephen Leacock Theatre, Keswick
BIG THINK Event – Limited to 100 individuals
- 4 hours of inspiration with Gerry Visca
- Access to select sponsors
- Break out session with key facilitators
- Workshop Booklet
- Refreshments – will be served

An Inner-Circle with Gerry Visca – Jan.26.2012
6:00 – 9:00pm Cost $100/person
Georgina Chamber of Commerce Boardroom, 430 The Queensway S., Keswick
The Inner Circle – Limited to 15 individuals
- 3 hours of exclusive coaching in a round circle with Gerry Visca and
15 other individuals
- Get clear on defining the BIGGER picture of your life.
- Get clear on your Personal Brand and your overall life goals.
- Training and development on Gerry Visca’s key coaching principles.
- Workshop Booklet no.2
- A FREE copy of Gerry Visca’s new book – The Innovation Gap®
- Refreshments – will be served

“Gerry, working with you was like experiencing a rare delicacy! The uniqueness of your talent, process and mind is extraordinary. You enabled me to bring life to projects and ideas that I had stored in my mind for nearly a decade. Your ability to tap in and extract your client's passion and strengths is remarkable. What a pleasure to have had this experience with you. With blessings and infinite gratitude”

Priya Ali, Author and Coach

The Art of Creating Yourself

2011-12-13T12:29:00.003-05:00

In this article we focus on the power of differentiating your personal brand with creativity and the need to position yourself creatively in the market place. There needs to be an emphasis on the ‘feeling and emotional’ aspects of your personal brand. This means that you need to understand the power of developing an ‘engaging brand experience’.
Engaging clients in this manner is the underlying fuel to successful marketing and branding initiatives. How you position yourself is essential to attracting and winning an ideal client. Creative positioning is like a game of chess in that you need to carefully and strategically visualize all your moves. Think of creative positioning as the way in which you want to be perceived in the marketplace.

Understanding the power of your personal brand to motivate, engage and inspire is how some of the top global entrepreneurs are standing out and getting their message heard, and ultimately building a stronger brand loyalty. Differentiating your personal brand in this manner works to create a new personal brand experience. By applying creativity, you can weave your personal brand into many facets of an organization including:
· Brand Building
· Innovation
· Communications
· Sales and Marketing
· New Customer Presentations
· Customer Relationships

Strive to compete for emotions
Today’s top entrepreneurs are competing to connect with the emotions of the clients they serve. If you continue to market solely based on features and benefits, you are simply connecting with your customers’ heads and you risk being perceived as a commodity with no meaningful point of differentiation. Rather, use creativity and focus on connecting with your clients’ hearts and you will win them for a lifetime. The shift in marketing today takes into account two significant principles that I would like to highlight here. In the past, many entrepreneurs focused solely on features and benefits. Today, you need to introduce two vital ingredients into your marketing mix, ‘identification and experience’. By integrating these into your marketing you are communicating to your clients that ‘we know what you feel and what you are going through’.

So why is this essential today? Remember, your personal brand is what ‘they” say it is. This is where creativity can help you differentiate your personal brand in the marketplace. Creativity can be defined as:
Talking action and building momentum
Creating unique market opportunities
Standing out and differentiating your personal brand
Becoming a master presenter and communicating like a champion
Re-thinking and challenging convention
Striving for a higher level of magnificence
ZIG when others ZAG
Playing bigger and living life on purpose

And what is an innovative entrepreneur? A problem- solver that uses creativity and intuition. Look for ways to infuse creativity in all aspects of your personal brand. Strive to cultivate an innovative culture in your brand community by continually and consistently drawing on ideas from your network. Creativity can be an inspirational thrust that helps you build momentum. It allows you to cultivate more meaningful relationships with everyone around you. It defines a higher level of innovation within your personal brand and distinguishes your brand with greater impact. Creativity is passion and at the core of exceptional entrepreneurs.
Get Creative with everything you do.
Think of some of the top brands and the emotional attachment that you feel when you experience them. Some of my favorite brands that are great at invoking emotion include Apple and Starbucks. Think about the feeling that you get when you look at an IPOD:

Sleek, Leading Edge, High-Tech, Quality and Ahead of its time

Companies like these clearly understand brand engagement and brand loyalty. Over the next several months, look for innovative ways to strengthen relationships with your customers by engaging the intuitive and sensing side of your brain. This is where creativity and innovation play a vital role. Creative differentiation can weave itself into many facets of your personal brand. Use creativity as a means to ZIG your marketing touch points and focus on connecting with your customers’ hearts and you will win them for a lifetime. The shift in marketing today takes into account two significant principles: Today, you need to introduce two vital ingredients into your marketing mix known as ‘identification and experience’. By zigging you are communicating to your customers a message that ‘we know what you feel and what you are going through and, here’s how we can help’. I prefer to define the art of differentiation as:

‘ZIGGING’. So why is this essential today?

Remember, your brand is what ‘they’ say it is. This is where creativity can help you differentiate your brand in the marketplace. To differentiate means that you need to adopt unconventional systems and marketing strategies to reach your customer. Look for ‘fresh’ ways to engage your customers from creative events and workshops to thought provoking discovery sessions - strive to cultivate an innovative culture in your organization by continually drawing on fresh ideas from your team.
Use Thematic Experience to Differentiate your Personal Brand
[Themes] are effective tools in strengthening your message and displaying consistency in the eyes of your customer. Roll out themes over a 3-6 month period focused on igniting various hot points. Creative differentiation through themes can be the inspirational thrust that helps you cultivate more meaningful relationships and ‘BUZZ’ with your customers. It defines a higher level of innovation in the marketplace and separates you from the competition. Most importantly, it clearly helps you ZIG when your competition ZAGS.

‘Picture it: you overhear a great conversation among your top customers praising you and describing you exactly the way you want to be perceived.’

Too often I see top-level sales people with no ‘defined brand’. All of us have the potential to influence the perception of others. Think about it, a brand is only given life by what we all think, feel and say about it. Branding is about developing an experience or soliciting an emotional response.

We all have a personal brand. It can also be referred to as our image.
From the clothes we wear to the foods we eat to the skill sets we display at our place of work every day. We are sending out signals to people all around us. Others are forming opinions of us based on these signals and the perception of our brand. So what are you doing to create, express and project your brand?
For me it can be defined this way:
Canada’s Creative Coach® with a mission to creatively inspire 1 million people to action.
Here is a tip: approach those people closest to you and write down some words that they use to describe your brand. For instance, you may receive comments like:
Dependable, inspiring, engaging, supportive, positive, passionate, educational and highly motivational
It is crucial that you solicit feedback on a continual basis in order to gauge the effects of the signals that you are sending out. Let’s face it - an organization is only as strong as the sum of its parts. In the marketplace, the organization will communicate a certain culture and we as consumers will define what the brand is to us. As users of the brand we will further define what this brand means to us by the way in which people feel. However, once our customers start to look beyond the face of the organization they will get to know the people within and form immediate impressions that can last a lifetime.

Your personal brand is always in motion, from the clothes you wear, the foods you eat to the words and expressions that you choose in meetings. So remember your brand is the ultimate reflection of who you are.

Gerry Visca, Canada’s Creative Coach™
International Speaker Author Coach
Gerryvisca.com

The Power to realize your [Little Dream]

2011-11-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

Red TIP Article – The Power to realize your [Little Dream]

I published a tip last week titled the Power of Persistence and spoke of select individuals taking action. I received incredible feedback that resonated with readers. As an extension to that tip I wanted to share with you the power to move your dreams forward. So many great ideas start off with a ‘little dream’…and gain momentum through inspired action and the Power of Persistence. Every great idea started off with a little dream by individuals that were told their idea was impossible to realize. The first night FEDEX was in business they only moved 15 packages…The Beatles were turned down by the DECA recording studio…Michael Jordon was cut from his high-school basketball team. Thomas Edison was told by his teachers that he was to stupid to learn anything…Walt Disney was fired from his newspaper job because he lacked imagination…Richard Branson was laughed at by his colleagues when he started his newspaper job.
Inspired action is a powerful force that helps you build momentum. Every dream starts off small and like a snow ball, it builds incredible momentum and increases with size. Inch by inch move yourself closer to your dream. It starts with you and it continues with you day by day. When others are laughing at you and criticizing your dreams – stay focused and move yourself forward inch by inch. But you need to start NOW to move your dream forward and realize its full potential. There is something so magnificent – so wonderful within the power of creating your life and sticking to your dream even when others around you feel you don’t have the right to manifest that dream. As I continue to live my little dream of creatively inspiring the world to action – I listen and speak from the heart. If I listened to all the external voices around me I would have continued on ‘simply existing’ and working in an architectural office that was not my passion or my life purpose. I would not be living the magical life that I feel each and every day.
Living your life purpose and realizing your little dream means that you need to take action every day, week, month and year. By living it each and every day you are moving yourself closer to realizing your dream. The journey becomes the destination as a result of living your life purpose. Before you know it – 5 years have faded away into the wind and where will you be? What will you have accomplished? What will you have created for yourself? Since time does not stand still and we are all living this daily thing called life…why not live each day on purpose knowing that you are moving yourself closer to realizing that little dream.

What one thing could you start doing today that if you started it would generate the incredible momentum that would soon change your life?

Cool in Cornwall

2011-10-21T09:48:00.005-04:00

As I enjoy my train ride back to Toronto, I am contemplating on the incredible week I just spent in Cornwall Ontario igniting a stellar cast of entrepreneurs as part of BIZFEST. Kudos to The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce for taking action in creating an outstanding week of inspiration for their membership. I love spending time with inspired entrepreneurs - individuals that defy gravity and [focus] not on lack but simply on what they wish to receive. BIZFEST was well branded and superbly executed thanks to the amazing efforts of Amy, Lezlie, Joey and TEAM Cornwall. This is how an event series should be run. I would like to highlight the details that truly resonated with me:

- The THEME: Two of my Creative Laws - Differentiate and Build the Brand Experience - this is exactly what The Cornwall Chamber set out to do. Instead of just putting on a one day business breakfast, they decided to establish a new branding experience. The BIZFEST look and feel was superb not to mention the slogan - Ignite your Passion. It was showcased as a week long festival with world-class speakers and facilitators. It was the right balance of inspiration and education. The theme was focused and the venue was superb. The development of a dedicated website site was extremely impressive, it built up momentum and integrated numerous social media tools.

- CROSS POLLINATION: The BIZFEST organizers did a marvelous job at capturing the energy of each day. Quotes, testimonials, idea boards and videos were uploaded daily to various social media networks. This was great to see and allowed external groups to get a taste and feel of the day's energy.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BizFest-Ignite-your-Passion/176977462371135

- EVENING NETWORKING: In addition to the action-packed Boot Camps that I delivered, I was impressed with various evening activities that allowed everyone to interact with one another in a friendly and casual atmosphere. There is an incredible energy and spirit among the people that attended BIZFEST. They all have a common goal to collaborate and lift one another up and is that not what community is all about?

I had the pleasure of inspiring an evening crowd of politicians and board members at a local hot spot known as Schnitzels. The venue was superb - the food amazing and the staff/owner stellar. I found myself craving the tastes of Schnitzels later the next day. There is no doubt that I will be returning to this fantastic venue - hungry for more. Spending a week in Cornwall allowed me to ignite a series of individuals one-on-one. As Canada's Creative Coach it is always an honor for me to stimulate one's journey. There is no doubt that theses entrepreneurs will help stimulate new growth for Cornwall.

As I looked out into the audiences I always feel key individuals that will go onto start something great. For many, they will continue doing the sames thing over and over expecting new results. As you approach the end of 2011 - what will make this the biggest and the best year ever? Make these next few months an opportunity to stretch into your greatness. Inspire all those around you, smile more, establish 3 new success habits that will prepare you for the ultimate ride in 2012. It's not enough to just be good - others around you are rising to a new level of magnificence. For some of you it requires focus and discipline and inspired action. Where does your energy need to flow? What two things do you need to balance? How will you maintain the creative momentum?

This is your time - you have been given the greatest gift of all - [awareness] you are now aware that you are aware. You know what you are starting to really hunger. You see/hear and feel the end goal clearly in your mind. You are taking action by laying out the preliminary steps and getting out of the starting blocks with inspiration, perspiration, determination and fascination....

Thank you Cornwall for an incredible week and for allowing me to be a part of your journey.

[Think] Cornwall

Together we're better

Rise [above] it all

2011-09-26T11:17:00.003-04:00

This weeks tip is focused on helping you rise above the challenges in your life and pursuing only that which you wish to create.
My message to all of you is when you tap into your life purpose and your unique ability, nothing-and I mean nothing-should stop you from driving yourself forward and achieving your goals. /so don't let anyone tell you that you can't live your life dream. Find a way to align all of your daily actions in pursuing your goals. Figure out what it is that you are most passionate about and go for it. Dream bigger, take daily actions and do it all with enthusiasm and passion. This is what I tell entrepreneurs, friends and colleagues; to uncover your unique ability; your 'inner Picasso' and live in total alignment with your life purpose. We all have those those challenges in life, they're called defining moments. I believe these moments are thrust upon us to challenge our determination and resiliency. It is the universe questioning you one more time as you continue to reach your new level of magnificence. As I fixate on my end goals I continually hear the words inside my head; 'Do you really want to achieve this Goal Gerry? Well let's see what you got. Here are a whole bunch of obstacles that I am going to throw in your way'. I love Sir Winston Churchill's quote, "If you are going through hell, keep going, because if you stop you're in hell". I have not stopped! As I embark on new and exciting creative challenges I embrace them with sheer enthusiasm and inspiration. I look towards the many achievements I have made, the thousands of people that I have inspired to action. Look, you are the only one that can decide what it is that you want from life and the only one that can take action and receive it. It all starts with you, continues with you and it ends with you. We are all on a creative journey in this big-but brief-thing called life. You never stop living it, it is always changing and evolving and that is why is is referred to as a 'present'. What if find with a vast majority of people is that they have a fear in reflecting on what it is that they want most, for fear that they won't know how to achieve it or that perhaps they don't deserve it. My message to my readers is to decide on what you want most and start aligning your actions towards achieving it. Going forward I have learned how to simplify my life, enjoy the moments and the present. Equally, important is the journey that you need to appreciate and celebrate. I continue to remain positive and live a life on inspiration. I seek out new ways to collaborate with others and continually strive to stretch my mind as to what it possible for me. But I also recognize that, if I'm not also failing sometimes, I am not growing. If I am not taking chances or aligning daily actions with my life purpose then I am not stretching myself towards greatness.

Some [BIG] Questions

2011-08-06T15:45:00.003-04:00

As I continue on my journey of creatively inspiring people and ideas to [ACTION] - I am amazed as to the power of meaningful questions to drive individuals forward. Many of my clients are at different stages:

Some are aware of their unique ability and what they want to create most - they are ready to take action and require my assistance to igniting the flame - and pointing them into the right direction.

Some feel a sense of [discomfort] in their lives and innately know that they need to uncover their unique ability - they are ready for my assistance in pulling that out of them.

Some are so aware of their creative genius that they need a compelling brand and positioning of themselves to this new way of being. This is a highly creative process where we align your life purpose with your overall sense of being to create a dynamic and engaging brand and plan that will thrust your purpose into action.

No matter what stage you at - the following [BIG] questions are designed to help you become aware and to take action in creating your desired life. Take the time to contemplate each one and the feeling of what you want to create in this life:

What is the bigger part of your life that you're are stalling on?

What are you waiting for?

What needs to be faced head on?

What does the bigger picture look, sound and feel like?

What do you need to let go of?

What do you need to embrace?

What scares you?

What excites and inspires you?

What will make this the biggest and best year ever?

What will help you channel your energy to where it needs to go?

What will help you clear the path?

What would you regret not accomplishing?

Congratulations on reading these questions - you are now aware.

Be one of 10

2011-06-20T15:13:00.006-04:00

For the past 2 years I have been travelling the globe inspiring people to action and collaborating with some of the top world-class speakers and coaches including Jack Canfield and John Assaraf of the hit book - The Secret. Now in collaboration with THiNKSPOT Burlington - The Hottest THiNKSPACE in town - I am pleased to launch 3 of my top inspirational Boot Camps to 10 individuals.

I have had the honour of living a life inspiring thousands of entrepreneurs to action helping them STAND OUT and create their desired lives, build their personal brands and communicate like magic. This has been a very rewarding year and i love being a part of their creative journey. Now together with 9 other individuals - you get to spend 3 intense hours with me at THiNKSPOT and learn how to [SHIFT] your thinking. Starting on July 14, 2011, I will be delivering the following 3 exclusive Boot Camps:

1. July 14, 2011 from 9:00am - 12:00pm - Presentation Boot Camp:

In this exciting Boot Camp - I will help you present like a wizard and teach you how to engage your audience and cultivate more meaningful relationships with customers. This Boot Camp is for anyone that wants to present more effectively. I will even review the tools and process of becoming a world-class speaker. This Boot Camp will help ignite the master presenter in you and take you to a whole new level. Imagine winning a room, commanding an audience, delivering more effective presentations, and winning the hearts of your customers. I am only taking 10 individuals for this exclusive Boot Camp - as a bonus you will receive a copy of my book - What Have You Got To Win? The Success Principles to Winning Presentations.

2 August 9th, 2011 from 9:00am - 12:00pm - Branding Boot Camp:

My infamous Branding Boot Camp has helped thousands across the globe develop their own personal brand - stand out and differentiate from the marketplace. Now more than ever - it is essential to have a compelling brand that radiates confidence and attracts great people into your life. During these three hours - I will help you harness your unique ability and tap into your passions so you can start to create a brand that projects your magnificence. I will highlight some of the top brands and their approach at building a brand culture. I am only taking 10 individuals for this exclusive Boot Camp. As a bonus you will receive a copy of my book GET CREATIVE - Unleash your Creativity.

3. August 30th, 2011 from 9:00 am - 12:00pm - Innovation Boot Camp:

The final Boot Camp in this inspirational trio is focused on my 10 Laws of Creativity. In this exciting Boot Camp I will help you get more creative with all aspects of your life - both personal and business. I will show you proven tips used by world-class experts on how to re-condition your mind, fixate on the end prize, set measurable goals and form new success habits. I will articulate how successful companies create innovative cultures. I will show you how to harness your inner creativity and create the things you want most in your life. I will show you how to take control and become the architect of your life. I am only taking 10 individuals for this exclusive Boot Camp - as a bonus you will receive a copy of latest book, The Innovation Gap, Cultivating Creativity in Life and Business.

I am so excited about spending this quality time with 10 individuals and being a part of your exciting journey. These Boot Camps have been developed by some of the leading facilitators and are designed to help empower you to take action. My Boot Camps are designed to make you a part of the action. Typically my Boot Camps consist of 100 individuals, however, with this exciting collaboration with THINKSPOT you and 9 other individuals will work closely with me for three hours per Boot Camp. Since we are only taking a total of 10 individuals per Boot Camp I highly recommend that you reserve your seat today.

In addition to receiving three hours of inspiration and a free copy of my 3 books, you will also receive worksheets for each Boot Camp designed to help you chart your progress. I want to share with you some feedback from past Boot Camp attendees:

"I enjoyed your presentation last week. You were able to get a lot out of our group and the level of interactivity with the group was outstanding. The best presenters are those who can tap into the audience's energy" Amy Terrill, Former VP - Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

"I have seen Gerry share centre stage with Jack Canfield and also received one-on-one coaching with Gerry. Recently he has collaborated with John Assaraf. He is absolutely inspiring. I recommend Gerry to anyone that wants to feel further inspiration and accomplish amazing results." Derek Flint, Kelly Services.

"Gerry delivered innovative concepts and skills into a bundle of raw energy that's waiting to be unleashed in my personal and professional life. The Boot Camp was practical - thought provoking and life changing." Karen Audet, Operations Manager, Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce.

Debra Pickfield owner of THiNKSPOT is standing by to take your call or your email. 905.639.1314 debra@thinkspot.ca. Make sure you tell her to book your [HOT SEAT] for one, two or all three Boot Camps. There is a special discount for individuals wanting to sign up for all three.

Let's make this summer the best one ever and start igniting the areas in your life that matter most:

Launch your first book

Become a world-class speaker

Get a promotion at work

Create your own consulting firm

Attract a new life partner

Grow your customer base

What have you got to Win? Everything!

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Increase Sales by Wearing Your Brand

2011-05-02T11:20:00.003-04:00

[Picture it] - you overhear a great conversation among your top customers praising you and describing you exactly the way you want to be perceived.

Too often I see top level sales people with no 'defined brand'. All of us have the potential to influence the perception of others. Think about it, a brand is only given life by what we all think, feel and say about it. Branding is about developing an experience or soliciting an emotional response. We all have an image that we put out there, from the clothes we wear to the foods we eat to the skill sets we display at our place of work everyday. We are sending out signals to people all around us. Others are forming opinions on us based on these signals and the perception of our brand. So what are you doing to create, express and project your brand?
For me it can be defined this way:

Canada's Creative Coach with a mission to creatively inspire people and ideas to action.

HERE IS A PERSONAL BRANDING TIP: Approach those people closest to you and write down some works that they use to describe your brand. For instance, you may receive comments like: Dependable, inspiring, engaging, supportive, positive, passionate, educational and highly motivational. It is crucial that you solicit feedback on a continual basis in order to gauge the effects of the signals that you are sending out. Let's face it - an organization will communicate a certain culture and we as consumers will define what the brand is to us. As users of the brand we will further define what this brand means to us by the way in which people feel. However, once our customers start to look beyond the face of the organization they will get to know the people within and form immediate impressions that can last a lifetime.

Your personal brand is always in motion, from the clothes you wear to the words you use, your body language to the actions you take or don't take! So remember your brand is the ultimate reflection of who you are.

GET [NAKED]

2011-04-18T17:32:00.004-04:00

I noticed lately people referring to me as the NAKED speaker. Perhaps as a result of my passion for cooking and fascination with Jamie Oliver. Many people are fascinated as to how I started out in the field of Architecture to end up living a life inspiring people world-wide. Anyone who has been in my kitchen knows my passion for Italian simple cooking. I love it - and the tastes of my creations are outstanding. My creative journey certainly started in the field of architecture - as an amazing grounding to my creative abilities. As a child I have always had a creative soul. I would find myself always drawing or inventing things. I started out with a career in architecture. I graduated from one of the toughest programs in Canada - The RAIC Syllabus. A very long way to becoming an architect. That creative journey certainly formed the foundation of my entrepreneurial career. After being in the architectural field for numerous years I decided to leave and create my own agency. I wanted to do more with my presentation and creativity I just did not know what that was. One of the principles that I coach now is to Follow your passions and eventually the path will become clear. In 1999 I started my first agency - Network ISG - we were quickly regarded as marketing and presentation experts. Working closely with many companies helping them stand out in competitive situations and win. My first book was called What Have You Got To Win? and formed the basis for my principles of standing out and communicating like a champion. Several years later I went onto create a second company - constructIT Group - a web-based software that allowed companies to collaborate on projects through a secure web-based environment. We did quite well with this company despite the challenges of not having financing in place - rather we boot strapped the creation of this product through our agency. In 2008 I renamed our company to Redchair Branding to better reflect the new direction that I was taking my agency. We focused more and more on branding and I eventually launched my speaking career through my Branding Boot Camps. At this time I launched my second and third book, Kick Starters and Get Creative. At this point I had delivered well over 100 talks and I was fascinated with my ability to creatively inspire people and ideas to action. I became registered with the National Speakers Bureau and started to align more of my actions into inspiring people for a living. You noticed I just said what I focused on more so than the actual title. that is the thing - focus on what it is that you want to create for yourself and how you want to live your life. For me is was to creatively inspire people and ideas to action. The vehicle that I employ to achieve the end result is a combination of: Writing - Coaching - Speaking - Creative Direction. There is where you truly have to GET NAKED. Let go of your past and what is holding you back- embrace the new and your passion and let your dreams and goals guide you. I was a virgin if you will in all of the fields and companies I created. Remember, I was trained and educated in architecture but I have gone on within the past 11 years to create even more successful careers for myself. I am continually reinventing and improving myself. I continually believe that I can do anything I put my mind to. I feel more connected to the universe than ever. I can ignite an entrepreneur to action within 1-2 days and clearly map out their entire plan. I can reach any audience with impact and inspire them to create their desired life. I can creatively direct any campaign with laser precision and award-winning creativity. I am now focused on developing a TV show and magazine where I can truly expand my reach inspiring millions to action. This is what I was put on this earth to do. I see it and I believe in it. I am focused only on what I want to create and continually attract the people and the resources that I need to make it a reality. I encourage all of you to GET NAKED and let go of what is holding you back - get of your own way so you can allow your true self to step in and create. Want to learn more - email me at gerry@redchairbranding.com and let's get you NAKED.

Creative LawNo. 2 - Condition your Mind

2011-04-11T10:21:00.004-04:00

In my latest book - The Innovation Gap - Cultivating Creativity in Life and Business, I focused on 10 Creative Laws to help people and businesses transform themselves with creativity. Sadly, many of us have forgotten how to apply creativity in our daily lives. The art of creativity can be applied to so many areas of your business and personal life. Creativity is the root of innovation - problem solving through intuition. When you are getting creative you are demonstrating to the people around you that you stand for a bigger cause. Anything that I strive to do either a workshop, key note, book or branding campaign - I always ensure that the highest level of creativity is injected into all the details. For example - I renamed my workshops to Branding Boot Camps. They are filled with creative enthusiasm, high energy, cool graphics, outstanding presentations that engage the audience. When we launched our creative events - we call them BIG THINK events. Every detail of the BIG THINK events are designed to connect with the audience. From the moment they walk in to the partner suppliers and sponsors that line the corridor. The main ball room is filled with white table cloths, large projection screens, gifts and creative work booklets for each delegate. The BIG THINK events are designed to help people THINK BIGGER.

This Creative law is focused on helping you Condition your mind for excellence. The following summarizes my formula:
- Decide what it is that you want to create.
- Map out with visuals, words and phrases the final result of this big picture.
- Draft up some written affirmations that reaffirm that you have already received it - for instance...I am enjoying living my life creatively inspiring thousands of people to action. These affirmations are key at unlocking your mind and your potential for reaching your goals. It is essential that you read these affirmations every day - morning and evening so just before you drift off to bed and as soon as you wake up. The goal here is to flood your subconscious mind with positive reinforcement for what you want. The key is to trick your mind in believing that you already have it. This art of transformation is referred to by scientists as structural tension. The mind wants to bridge the gap between reality and your realized goals deep rooted into your subconscious. The mind then works hard at bridging this gap by sending out positive signals and attracts people and resources into your life that will help make this dream a reality.
- Rethink your approach to rational thinking. Many times when you feel the need to approach or go after a new idea - your left side of your mind instantly kicks in and wants to hold you back. Recognize this very normal habit and then tell yourself that's the left side of my mind lying to me. I love the origin of words - RATIONALIZE refers to Rational [lies] or in other words the left side of your mind lying to the right side of your mind telling you that you can't do it simply because you have never done it before.
- Build new success habits. So to reinforce the above-noted principle you simply need to replace old habits with new ones. How long does it take to form a new success habit so the mind accepts it as new behavior? In my experience it is 30 consecutive days. So let's say it's waking up 1 hour earlier everyday to work out and get in better physical shape. You simply need to practice this new success habit for 30 days in a row. If you manage to get to day 28 without deviation and decide to take a break - you then need to start all over again -yea sorry but trust me it will be worth it. See the mind will process this new success habit as a new form of behavior and it has been re-conditioned to accept it. It wants to maintain this new form of behavior. You will find that you feel better and look forward to getting up earlier everyday. Imagine all of the new success habits you can create? That is the key foundation for so many successful people - to replace old habits with really great ones. I have seen many of my clients create the following success habits:
- Writing new books
- Attracting a new life partner
- Getting into better physical and mental shape
- Learning a new language or skill
- Networking more
- Watching less TV - Avoiding TV watching all together
- Reading new books
- Improving life skills
- Whatever it is that you want to do - just do it and do it now. It's a brand new day and no matter what stage you are at - you can start now. Don't look back only forward and enjoy the new life you are creating. Remember you are the only one that will get in your way - so get out of your own way. You are the architect of your own life - no one else.
- Practice the art of meditation and visualization every day. Fixate only on the end goal of the thing that you want to create. Learn how to still your mind and not let emotion derail you from your purpose and your journey. Every morning after working out sit in a quiet spot and close your eyes - feel your heart beat - your breath and lungs fill up with air. Fixate on an object in your mind - like a flower. Remove all other obstacles from your mind by pushing them aside mentally. Study every detail of your object in your mind and after about 10 minutes or so of doing this - start to visualize how great you feel about everything that you are creating. This is a very powerful tool that many successful people use on a daily basis. No matter where I am travelling to I am always meditating and visualizing every morning.
- Convert your fear and your emotions by expressing thanks every night before drifting off to sleep. This will also start to shift your energy from what you don't want to what you do want. Remember - Energy flows when your attention goes and the key is to point all arrows towards only the things that you want to create. As you start to feel emotional waves of fear coming about - get back to meditating and focusing on what you want most. Successful people take charge of their lives and do not let emotion creep in. They recognize the origin of the emotion and then channel it away or displace it with new positive thoughts. They counter balance these emotions with its opposite by getting creative.

So to close off - creativity is about seeing the world in a different light - its about the art of creation. We are all born as incredible creators - this is our common thread. Some of us have just learned how to tap into this power more than others. This is your turn and your time to condition your mind and your body for excellence.

Hamilton InspiRED

2011-04-04T08:51:00.009-04:00

As Canada's Creative Coach - my goal is to creatively inspire people and ideas to action. During my key notes I often talk about the importance of inspiring our youth in creating their own opportunities. Many of us as you know, were not taught in school the power of creating market opportunities or cultivating our inner creativity. This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending quality time with some really great friends, The Rangers in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. My 10th Creative Law as you know is to live life with passion and spending great time with friends like the Rangers is exactly what that's all about. Great food, great wine and inspiring conversation is always at the centre of our visits.

I was inspired by two young people this weekend, one was my 10 year old daughter Sophie and the second was a nine year old boy named Solly Ranger. I was invited on Saturday April 2, 2011 as a guest on the CHML radio station (900am) by Judy Marsales of Judy Marsales Real estate to speak about my inspirational approach. I was so pleased that I was able to bring my 10 year old daughter Sophie with me to be a part of the show. Everyone in the radio booth made Sophie feel like a part of the experience. Sophie has managed to start a band with two of her best friends called [NOTESTRUCK]. Sophie has invested hours in building her own website that is attracting a ton of buzz. This is what inspired action is all about - tapping in to your creative side and taking action with enthusiasm and passion and building momentum. I have no doubt that Sophie and her friends will make NOTESTRUCK a big success. We can all learn a great lesson from Sophie and her friends - the power of inspired action and going after the things that you want most. When I was in grade two (not that long ago-right!) I used to day dream a lot about new ideas and inventions. Let's just say that form of past-time was not well accepted from my teachers who would frequently slap me in the side of the head. When my two daughters are in that state of creativity- I simply tell them to close their eyes and have fun. One of my new quotes is [The world needs more DREAMERS so create what it is that you want most in life]. Keep up the great work Sophie - Dad is so proud of you. To learn more about the band NOTESTRUCK please visit http://www.notestruck.webs.com/

The next dose of inspiration this weekend came to me in a massive wave while I was spending the afternoon with my good friends - The Rangers. Their son, Solly Ranger only nine years old presented me with a line of 100% duct tape based products. I could not believe my eyes when he first presented me with a bouquet of flowers in different colours totally made out of duct tape. Next was a man's wallet that he created for his dad - complete with photo insert and multiple compartments. The last item was a pair of slippers. I was so inspired with Solly's creative imagination to conceive the idea and also in his efforts to flawlessly execute on the products. Solly is a true inspiration to us all and as a 9 year old entrepreneur the future is one that he will [STICK] to quite nicely. I have included a photo of Solly's famous duct tape tulip bouquet. I look forward to promoting Solly where I can and helping cultivate his creativity.

Keep up the great work Solly - this is just the start for you.

Photo Credits - Above left - Solly Ranger - Duct Tape bouquet.

Above right - Sophie Visca - Singer - NOTESTRUCK

The Power of a [FOCUSED] marketing plan

2011-03-20T15:40:00.004-04:00

For the past 12 months I have been touring the world inspiring thousands of people to action. Many of my clients ask me the key principles that I coach to help companies STAND OUT. I am a big fan of the 12 month marketing plan. Over 90% of the companies that I interview do not have a documented sales and marketing plan. They prefer taking an AD-HOC approach and fire at all cylinders. Don't get me wrong, I love the whole [BUILDING MOMENTUM] thing as you know, its one of my 10 Creative Lawys. The idea of the 12 month marketing plan is to help you and your team do the RIGHT things consistently over time. It's not enough to just be busy doing, rather, you want to align your actions towards doing the right things over and over again in order to create better results.

Tips for creating an effective 12 month marketing plan:
1. Schedule a 2 hour THiNK TANK with your team and place 12 large sheets of paper on the wall.
2. Add a seperate month at the top of the page for each full sheet of paper.
3. Add in known activities and events within the specific month as a start.
4. Brainstorm on 5 consistent monthly activities for each month - NOTE: these activities should focus on building awareness and or educating your marketplace. For instance, I like sending out weekly inspirational tips and monthly articles that are designed to educate and inspire.
5. Ensure each month is filled up with a min. of 5 and a max. of 10 activities that are doable. Avoid just throwing a ton of activities on a sheet. You want to ensure that you and your team can handle what you have proposed.

Once all activities have been added to the 12 sheets, REVIEW and REFINE. Then have someone type each one of these months on a separate page using either Word or PowerPoint. (I prefer PowerPoint since you can also use it to present to other team members and also print the sheets). Add the 12 pages to a 3 ring binder.

Take it a step further and add a cool - creative cover sheet for the binder with a MISSION for the year that captures the essence of your goals for that year. For example - MISSION POSSIBLE. By giving a theme to the plan you are simultaneously focusing your teams efforts going forward.

Everyone on the team should receive a copy of the plan. Now, its not enough to just develop the plan, you also need to work the plan every month. I like to recommend a monthly meeting at the start of every month to review the activities that need to be completed as per the marketing plan. Any activities that were not completed in the previous month need to be carried over to the present month.

Ideally, you will start to create stronger success habits and discipline for your team. The key to success is replacing older and poorer habits with new success habits applied consistently over time. This is a disciplined approach that will help sharpen your marketing efforts while conditioning your mind to achieve the goals that you are pursuing.

Article credits - Vittoria Wikston - Developing a Marketing Plan

Take Action and Realize your Success

2011-03-02T09:37:00.004-05:00

I met a wonderful entrepreneur 2 years ago at an event I was speaking at in Toronto. A few days later this person - Liliana Segal approached me and shared with me her vision of creating a new Green Event Company with an amazing global purpose. Within a few weeks of coaching with me, Liliana took action and got out of her comfort zone. Her dream is now a reality - www.greenchairevents.com It is amazing to me when I see an individual take action and create the life they want. So many of us have a sense of what we want to do or create, yet we hold ourselves back for fear of not getting it. Let Liliana be an inspiration to all of you, this amazing women with a vision to change the world one event at a time took action and now is living her dream.

I encourage all of my clients and audience members to figure out what it is that you want for all areas of your life:

Personal - Career - Finances - Community and make a list of the goals that you want to achieve. Post these goals in prominent places throughout your home so you see them on a regular basis. Visualize your goals as already complete and most importantly - TAKE [ACTION] now in pursuing your goals.

In my new book, The Innovation Gap, I encourage readers and corporations to apply my 10 Creative Laws designed to help them cultivate creativity in life and business. When you are getting creative, you are sending out powerful signals that defines you and your brand. You are creating an experience that people want to connect with. You are going beyond just connecting with their minds - rather you connect meaningfully with their hearts and win them for a life time. One of my first Creative Laws is to focus on uncovering your unique potential and ability. This ties into Lilian's story. She was a great event planner, however, she wanted more and got laser focused on what she wanted to create. Once an entrepreneur shares their vision with me it becomes real to me and to them. I then stick on that and do everything I can to ignite them to action. When Liliana felt my passion and my enthusiam she knew this vision was no longer in the future but NOW. All she had to do was to then take action and see her goals maninfest.

Inspire with your Words

2011-02-05T16:12:00.005-05:00

Just finished giving a key note in Mt. Tremblant - Quebec to an inspired crowd. I was looking forward to this key note as a challenge to inspire a conservative crowd. For the past couple of years I have had the pleasure of reaching over 100,000 people world-wide, typically entrepreneurs to large businesses. This specific key note was delivered to the medical community so you can just imagine the challenge in lifting their spirits? Prior to the key note the sponsor that retained me wanted to exert a bit of control by pre-viewing my presentation slides prior to the key-note. They actually attempted to intervene 45 minutes prior to my key note. When I asked them what their concern was they had difficulty communicating it. They are not used to having a high-energy speaker like me deliver this kind of key note. As one of Canada's top speakers I reassured them that this presentation like all others would go very well and that the crowd would be inspired. I reinforced that my slides would provide little to no context for them since I feed off the energy of the crowd and that my slides and visuals are totally points of reference only. This is a very conservative group and I was confident that I would inspire them to new heights as I have successfully done with all other groups in the past. I further advised my client that they should focus their energy on other areas and not worry about me or my slides. I recommended that they invest their energy by directing and greeting guests to the conference room.

My message here is always believe in yourself and in your abilities. People around you will continually challenge you and test you, but that does not mean that you can't stand up to the challenge with confidence. Many corporate players feel the need to 'control' the situation. They are unaware why they are even doing it so recognize where the concern or act comes from. This client had nothing to worry about, they had seen me perform before and simply needed to be reassured that I was in complete control and that I was there to make them look good.

I delivered a new talk focused on the power to communicate like a champion. One of my creative laws as published in my new book, The Innovation Gap focuses on the power of communication and raising the level of all of your conversations. As I continue helping people develop and communicate their personal brand, I am often asked to help them raise the level of their presentations. So I want to take this time to summarize some of my creative principles pertaining to this topic of communication:

1. What are you putting out there? What kind of message are you continually sending out? Are you inspiring all those around you with your level of conversation or are you bringing the conversation down? The art of conversation stems from the honour of keeping company with the next person. In many cultures, a conversation is a huge sign of respect so make every conversation count.

2. What do you want to be remembered for? When I deliver a key note I always state to the audience at the start that they will forget everything I am telling them over the next 24 hours. That comment always invites a good laugh. I encourage them to write down the important principles that connect with them and to take action on some of these principles over the next few days in order to extend their memory capacity. When I deliver a key note I want to be remembered as one that lifted their spirit and inspired them to action.

3. Be A Catcher. So many of us are always selling, also known as 'pitching'. My recommendation is to become an incredible listener or 'catcher'. This applies to business and personal relationships. Becoming a world-class listener demonstrates interest and a sense of humility. It allows you to make more [meaningful connections]. That is one of my major goals with every key note, to make a connection with the audience. I do this in several ways. I always start off that I need their energy so ?I can give it back. I stress that we are going to have a meaningful conversation as opposed to me speaking to them. This automatically invites them to come closer to me. Next, I immerse myself into the audience, I don't hide behind a podium, I am there with them to give them my energy and engage them. I table questions to the audience at the start and throughout my presentation to get their insights. When someone responds, I congratulate them and shout out their name. I strive to make the audience feel connected and when I ask the audience later on why they prefer this approach they all respond that we love to be heard. With every presentation or conversation, try to rivet your audience, engage your audience, collaborate and connect with your audience. This will allow you to identify with your audience and more importantly will help them identify with you. The end result is an audience that feels connected to something even bigger than them. We are all connected, we are all one and if we let our guards down we can feel one another's energy in the room.

My goal with this recent key note was to demonstrate that this approach works successfully with even the most conservative industries in the world. The reaction from the audience was outstanding and many of the participants thanked me the next day and told me how they used many of my principles in their following talks. Good for you.

I summarized for them what I believe are the new personality types in business today:
1. The INSANE Approach: These are the folks that continue to do the same thing over and over again expecting new results.
2. The CRACK BERRIES: These are the folks that are married to their Blackberries, sleeping with it, having a relationship with it, unable to put it down hoping that the little red light alert will come on providing a sense of hope that someone wants to speak to them.
3. The KNOW-IT-ALLS: These are the folks that want to answer you before you are even finished speaking. They feel compelled to interrupt you and attempt to solve every problem when all you want to do is be heard. These people do not listen with the intent to understand. Rather they are listening to prepare their reply.
4. The PARACHUTES: These are my favorite kinds of people, I love them and can spend all day with them. Their mind is so open like a parachute which is why it works so well. Think of it, a mind like a parachute only works when it is open. These people love to learn and understand how to lower their guards and ego.
5. The INSPIRATORS: I tell my audience at the start of every presentation that I am humbled by the opportunity to inspire them. Why? Well there are over 50,000 speakers world-wide and anytime I am selected I am always very thankful. There are only a few inspirators among these speakers and I like to consider myself as one of them. I live with a purpose to inspire people to action. I want my words and my approach to ignite people to action.

A few weeks ago, a beautiful French women approached me and told me how much she enjoys watching me speak. She noted that she has seen me several times and every time she hears me speak she feels so connected to me. The next few words that came out of her mouth really blew me., she asked me 'Who is inspiring you Gerry? You inspire so many and always put us first". I was honoured to hear these words and it reaffirmed to me what I was put on this earth to do, to creatively inspire people to action. I love it and I love aligning all of my actions towards doing it.

Thank you.

Increase Sales by Asking Questions

2010-12-07T14:44:00.003-05:00

[Each customer pitch is unique and the target audience expects to hear a very specific message. The challenge is to keep the presentation focused and relevant to the immediate needs of your customer.]

In this article we focus on the power of asking questions as a means to differentiate yourself and outplay your competition. The key to any successful business relationship stems from a strong connection with your customer. Relationships are key components and time must be invested to build these relationships before you attempt to pitch a new contract or product. This is especially important in situations where you do not know the customer. These 'prospects' have no idea what it is like to work with you and your company. More importantly, they may have already have a different perception of your brand, based on outside feedback. I recommend you meet with your future customer and invest the time and energy needed to completely understand their organization, culture, success, pains and goals. This is their business and they are passionate about it. You want their business to be yours. At this point, it is what you should be concentrating on, fully. Advise them that your whole business revolves around the customer relationship and that you want to uncover their specific needs. Customers love to talk about themselves and will appreciate that you are there to help them solve problems.

Like I said, it's their business and they want it to succeed. You're there to facilitate their success. Your client will see the genuine nature in you, and your company.
Demonstrate a strong sense of empathy for your customer's current situation. Show flexibility and that you are a problem solver.
Remember, you are not there to simply sell yourself rather your intention is focused on cultivating a relationship. The last thing your customer needs, or wants for that matter, is another one-sided sales pitch. Take on the role of 'catcher' instead of 'pitcher'. Here you'll find out as much of their pain as possible and begin to understand that their needs really are.

Here are some helpful tips:

Schedule regular discovery meetings with your customer on a quarterly basis. Here are some questions:

Q. What are your current needs and goals over the next 60 days?
Q. What type of resources are you lacking?
Q. What research or relevant articles are you in need of?

Send information of interest at regular intervals.
Offer your technical assistance in developing the RFP specifications.
Offer your assistance in developing feasibility studies.
Provide a list of customer references.
Take great notes. Try to avoid recording the session.
Write down the important facts. It shows more trust and integrity.
Uncover important needs or 'pain points'.
Every fifteen minutes, repeat the main points you have heard. This demonstrates active listening.
At the end of the meeting, summarize and review a list of tasks and ask how you can be of further assistance.
Send a 'thank you' note or card, two days following the meeting and make sure you follow up on the items that may require immediate action.

This approach will help build trust, articulate your integrity, and engender a strong sense of confidence with your client. It goes a long way in demonstrating that you and your company are solution providers and this will help you make a lasting impression on your customer. A lasting impression can evolve into a permanent relationship.

Release of The Innovation Gap

2010-11-12T15:05:00.004-05:00

I set out at the start of 2010 to publish my fourth book, The Innovation Gap. I am pleased to announce that this new book is complete and is available for purchase from my website or by emailing me at gerry@redchairbranding.com

The Innovation Gap is a creative message to anyone wanting to get more out of life and business. It is designed to help you thrive no matter what your position is or what stage of life you are at. The Innovation Gap digs deep into my 10 Creative Laws....For Example: 1. Uncover your Unique Ability 2.Recondition your mind...5.Build the Brand Experience....10.Live life with Passion. The Innovation Gap is also a celebration of my creative journey focused on igniting people and ideas to action. Using creativity to differentiate yourself from the competition. Cultivating an innovative culture that breeds creative collaboration at multiple levels where people work together for a common purpose. Having reached over 100,000 people as a speaker, author, coach and creative consultant, my journey has just begun.

For the past 12 months, I have immersed myself in a variety of contexts designed to induce a level of discomfort as a means for growth. I have challenged myself to achieve new levels of greatness while helping others stretch into their greatness.

I have conditioned my mind and my body, formed a series of new success habits that continue to help me thrive in a all areas of my life. The people and relationships that I have formed in this past year have been rewarding and have contributed to my personal and professional growth. I continue to be thankful for all of the success I have achieved and continue to achieve. I look forward to a successful 2011 filled with extensive travel, inspirational key notes, book signings and highly creative projects. I look forward to all that life continues to bring me.

Gerry Visca | Canada's Creative Coach: Become a Master Presenter

2010-11-12T15:01:00.000-05:00

Gerry Visca Canada's Creative Coach: Become a Master Presenter: "I just returned from an exciting key note presentation and an inspired crowd. As I near the final editing stage of my latest book, The Inno..."

Become a Master Presenter

2010-09-22T10:51:00.004-04:00

I just returned from an exciting key note presentation and an inspired crowd. As I near the final editing stage of my latest book, The Innovation Gap, I want to share with you my thoughts on one of my creative principles, Becoming a Master Presenter. The power to communicate is a very effective tool when engaging people around you. As a professional speaker, it does not start and end on stage with me, it continues through one-on-one conversations. So often when I arrive at an event for which I am the key note speaker, I am amazed as to how the delegates avoid approaching me or one another for that matter. To often we enter a room and head directly to our seats instead of engaging in some meaningful conversation. What is even more interesting for me is upon completion of a key note presentation, members of the audience then approach me wanting to give them personal advice? We as a soceity put to much emphasis on roles and validation. I personally love when members of an audience approach me ahead of time and we get into a deeper and engaging conversation as opposed to waiting to hear me speak.

Having said that, my recommendation is to ask great questions when connecting with someone. Put aside the ego and avoid talking about your success, rather get to know the person that you are speaking with by asking them questions. This demonstrates that you are genuinely interested in them and what they have to say. It also allows you to [frame] your response more accordingly. You never know who you are going to meet and what this person could do for you in the immediate future. These are just a samples of the types of questions that I like to use at events:

- What is your name? (Then repeat their name back to them, it helps you remember it).

- What are you excited about most this evening?

- What was the best thing that happened to you this week?

- What are you hoping to get out of this evening?

- What are you most excited about in your present career?

As the answers start flowing in, really focus on what the person is saying to you. Try and avoid thinking of your response as they are speaking, we all do that. Rather, look them in the eye, keep the BB in your pocket and respond with what you heard them say. What you will find is that the conversation is much more gratifying and the outcomes might just surprise you.

My final recommendation for anyone introducing a speaker, take the time to meet with the speaker and review their profile/bio that they furnish you with. Many speakers have a wealth of experience and successes which are briefly high-lighted in their introduction. Introduce your speaker slowly and with enthusiasm, it helps build momentum with the audience and also is a sign of respect for the speaker. It also provides the audience with a great overview that they typically would not hear from the speaker since we typically don't like to talk about ourselves! Remember, as a speaker, I am here for you, to inspire the audience and give you as much as I can so you can walk away feeling inspired and lifted to whole new level.

Sadly for the audience, several key note presentations that I recently delivered including last night, the presenter decided NOT to formally introduce me to their audience.

STAY FOCUSED

2010-08-31T10:26:00.003-04:00

Many of my past clients, colleagues and friends have undergone a significant transformation over the past couple of years. Some for personal reasons, others for business (some for both). Whatever the story life has a funny way at throwing things our way. This is the time to remain focused and clear on your life goals. What you may see as negative change is actually a positive move forward and just the universe re-alligning itself to clear a path for you. Recognize these feelings of uncertainty and accept this change as a postive transformation of yourself. You are starting to become the person that you want to be. This is the time to re-examine your life goals:

Career:
What is it that you want to do with your life? What is your passion and your purpose. What do you exist? What brings you the most joy that you can see yourself doing it every single day?

Relationships + Family:
What do you want in a partner? How do you want to feel when you are with this person? Describe your ideal relationship in every way. What are your expectations from your current partner? How can you both strengthen the relationship? Perhaps you need to move yourself forward?

Personal Goals:
What is it that you want to acheive for yourself? Perhaps it is transforming your body? Running a marathon? Visiting a third world country? Writing a book or learning how to cook? This is your time and your opportunity to nurture your soul and yourself.

I set a personal goal over 2 years ago to transform myself: I wanted to become a writer, a top inspirational speaker, loose weight, have a healthier diet and inspire others for a living. I wanted to creatively transform myself. I took action and I am well on the way, my journey has just begun. I continue to live my life being thankful for everything in my life and everyone in it. Many of us get swept up in the daily routine of life and loose ourselves to it. We try and be everything that our partner wants us to be and in the process we start to loose sight of friends, people and the things that mean the most to us. One of my biggest challenges is trying to find a way to integrate all of my past experiences and friendships with my present. Sadly I have a tendency to shut the world out when I am in a relationship.

Recognize what it is that holds you back and develop innovative strategies for moving yourself forward. No one expects you to give more than you already do. No one will judge you for looking inward and focusing on your needs, desires and personal goals. You are the only one that can take care of you, this is your life and your responsibility to nuture your career and your relationships in order to experience the results that you are looking for. This is your opportunity to uncover your passion and do what you love. This is your time to drive change for yourself and take the first step in creating your life.

As you approach the next few months of 2010 my wish for you is to develop a plan for who you want to become in 2011 and the change that you want most for yourself.

I wish you all the best.

Release of Kickstarters Second Edition

2010-08-10T14:56:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of releasing my second publication titled, Kickstarters mini books back in 2008 as part of my goal to help kickstart conversations. These mini books were approx. 3 x 4 inches in size and were comprised of 4 editions, Business, Family, Home and Golf. Each edition contained 50 tips to help stimulate engaging conversations. I since have combined all of these previous 4 editions into one larger 8 x 9 coffee table book. All of the 200 tips are contained in this new larger edition. To get your copy send gerry@redchairbranding.com an email.

I also set a goal to release my fourth book at the end of 2010, I am about to release my newest book titles, The Innovation Gap, cultivating creativity in life and business. Throughout 2009 and 2010 I have delivered close to 100 presentations and I have now officially documented my creative laws in this new book. Look for it around October of 2010.

I continue to live my life creatively inspiring people to action. So what does your end prize look like? For many of us, we have simply not taken the time to focus on what it is that we want most for ourselves. Well today, as my reader you are getting a 'free pass' to focus on you and start creating what it is that you want most for yourself.

Wishing you a great August.

Communicate like a Champion

2010-05-19T10:05:00.004-04:00

I just returned from an inspirational talk that I gave to the Insurance Institute of Canada last week in Toronto. What a fantastic and inspired crowd. As a speaker I can attest to the power to communicate like a master. Words and a personal committment to collaborate with all those around you is outstanding. For me, it's not just about getting up on stage and hiding behind a podium and flipping slides. For me, its about exciting and engaging my audience into action. I emerse myself into the crowd and strive to get the best out of them and out of me. I approach the audience at the start of all presentations with a promise that I will give them 110%. All that I ask in return is that they engage with me for the next 60 minutes so I can deliver with even greater impact. I absorb their creative energy and transfer it back to them ten times as stong. I want my audience to feel my passion deep into their sub-conscious. I don't want them to just 'hear my words' - I want them to open the right side of their brain and experience a rush of inspiration.

Several days following my key-note last week, I received a fantastic testimonial via email from one of the delegates. Her words inspired me and she noted that my message was exactly what she needed to hear and I came to her at the exact time in her life that she needed me most. This individual was outstanding and I am very grateful for her kind words.

To communicate like a master requires a personal committment that starts way before the words come out of your mouth. For me it starts days in advancve of the event. I visualize the outcomes that I expect to receive. I fixate on the end prize which in this case is an inspired and excited audience. I get physically and mentally prepared before a key note so I can summon the creative energy that I will require. I approach my events as an entertainer and performer helping the audience get the most from the experience. Its not just an event, its about putting on the ultimate show.

I recently attended an evening dinner in Denver with some potential customers from Atlantic Canada. The energy in the Brazillian restaurant was outstanding. Great venue, great food, laughter and fascinating conversation filled the space. Through the meal, I focused on cultivating a relationship with my future customers. As we dined, drank and laughed, my customer felt inspired. I demonstrated a genuine interest in their personal lives, passions and hobbies. That evening I was successful in cultivating the start of a strong future relationship with our new customer. They even commented on the depth and layers of the people in our organization and how impressed they were with our approach.

My message within this BLOG is to seek new and innovative ways to reach the people around you. Strive to reach them at new levels and demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for what you do. We are all connected and the more we attempt to reach people in this manner, the more successful we will all be in cultivating relationships with those around us.

Thank you for reading.

Cheers to an inspired day.

Caught up in Costa Rica

2010-04-12T13:50:00.006-04:00

It has been quite an exciting ride over the past couple of months, so exciting that I have not had as much time to devote to my BLOG. I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about my amazing experience in Costa Rica and the CR Luxury Brand (http://www.crluxury.com/). My relationship with the President of CR Luxury, Marcela Laborde all started as a result of my interview with John Assaraf of OneCoach. Marcela is in the process of building the CR Luxury brand and asked if I would be interested in spending a full day with her stellar team. To my surprise and absolute delight, I found paradise in Costa Rica. As a professional international speaker, it is one event after another which is a total rush, however, in Costa Rica I have the unique opportunity to hit the pause button and truly enjoy all that life has to offer. I spent the whole Monday inspiring the CR luxury team to action. They have a unique and exclusive niche or shall I say hidden gem that I highly recommend you explore. The location is called Los Suenos and it is true heaven on earth. One of the primary attributes of great brand building is how a company truly connects with the hearts of their customers. Well, many organizations can learn a thing or two from spending a week in Los Suenos with the CR Luxury team. They truly appreciate the understanding in the meaning of relationship building. They go out of their way to create the experience of a lifetime. From a business/conference point of view, I was very impressed with the collaboration between CR Luxury and the Marriott hotel on site. The conference facilities are truly first class.

We had the unique opportunity (Emily and I) of staying in the luxury villas available for rent and purchase via CR Luxury and I all I can say is when can we come back! This was a huge treat for us, a fully equipped kitchen, private pool, world-class marina and exceptional restaurants on site. I loved every minute of this experience and find myself wanting more.

The CR Luxury brand is an experience to discover. You truly need to SEE (C) their luxury by experiencing the team, the attention to detail and the many hidden gems that this brand has to offer. I expect to see many more exciting things coming from CR Luxury in the next few months and look forward to booking my next trip to this exotic piece of the world.

Caledon Chamber of Commerce

Some other exciting March/April events that I wanted to point out include the Caledon Chamber of Commerce Awards night where I had the opportunity to MC. The venue that hosted the event, Caesars Palace was truly outstanding, the food was exceptional!

Domino's Pizza - Canada

I just returned from inspiring the Domino's Canada team in Windsor, Ontario. Together with my partner, Vittoria Wikston, we travelled to Caesar's Windsor to a packed house of 150 senior managers and franchise owners of Domino's Pizza. A special thanks to Werner and Allan for bringing Vittoria and out to be a part of your idea sharing day. This is an exciting time for Domino's and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the afternoon with the team in helping build the Canadian brand.

Next week I will be heading out to Berlin then off to Denver, Colorado followed by Paris in May.

I am extremely excited about my upcoming talk to the Insurance Institute of Canada in Toronto followed by my branding talk in June to CAA in Whistler. Until then, keep focused on building your personal and corporate brand by connecting with the hearts of your customers. Branding is about feeling and emotion so continue to seek out new and innovative ways to win their hearts. At the end of the day, it is what they say that matters.

All the best.

Gerry D. Visca, Canada's Creative Speaker

Contemplating Innovation

2010-01-12T12:12:00.006-05:00

Its a sunny Tuesday, just helped a new entrepreneur launch a new national company. It always gives me great pride when I can be a part of kick starting an entrepreneur. To witness their confidence and willingness to move forward and take action. The only thing that holds us back from doing what it is that we want to do is us, so get out of your way and allow the things that you want most to happen. I am currently preparing for an innovation talk to an inspired group of 88 of Hamilton and Burlington's elite business executives. There is certainly a great deal of discussion and buzz around this topic innovation. Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of working with one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world helping their senior Canadian team get more innovative. I found the more and more I focused on each individual helping them realize their full potential the more innovative and creative they became. Here is thing, you can't commit to becoming an outstanding company until you commit to becoming an outstanding individual.

A interesting series of events this week, I was asked by a $25 million construction company (relatively small considering I am used to working with $500 million dollar companies) to help build their business development approach and team. As a Creative Coach, nothing gives me more pride than being a part of a team's growth strategy. As I spent more time with the senior executives of this company I realized that they were lacking a dedicated focus on cultivating new client relationships. They approach new business simply as a means to 'get more money' versus establishing value with their clients. The more I attempted to educate this group as to how successful companies innovate and grow with this philosophy guiding their actions, the more resistance I seemed to receive from this team. There is no question that they are pretty good builders, however, their new goal focused on growth is one that they have never experienced to date. The need for a more strategic way of approaching Business Development as a means of cultivating value within the eyes of their clients is foreign to them. I was quite surprised to learn that the owners felt I may be to over qualified as their head of business development. Why would you not want to have the best team leading your new business development activities? Why would you not want your marketing and presentation collateral be the best it can be? Why would you settle for lower quality simply because you don't understand it? A true sign of leadership is focused on collaboration and surrounding yourself with outstanding people.

The CEO of IBM quotes, "the way you will thrive in this new environment is by innovating in technologies and business approaches". You may have been successful up to this point in your way of marking and winning new clients, however, you must understand that the markets have changed so to have the buying habits of consumers and your customers. It is even more crucial than ever to demonstrate the value to offer to your customers.

I'm not sure the direction that this construction company will take? They have been handed a 'jewel' that can help them navigate through this sea of change and help chart new paths towards opening new client relationships. Will they embrace this approach even in the presence of fear and the unknown? Or will they simply continue doing business the same way over and over again expecting to receive new results? Sadly I think it will be the latter as they have conditioned their minds at this level. To become truly innovative you must challenge convention and approach business in a profoundly different way.

Leadership is about standing for a cause. Its about being Best in the World at what you do. The cream always rises to the top, the best ones always come to light and the great ones can never be held back!

As I continue to finalize my innovation presentation this afternoon I will visualize an inspired audience fully engaged and their minds open to fresh principles. They will be inspired to take action and form a series of really good habits that will help them stand out and achieve greatness. I will see the light bulb going off in the audience on top of several minds and witness their smile as they feverishly write down action statements.

Finsh what you started

2009-12-18T09:56:00.005-05:00

On Nov 12 we launched our second BIG THINK event this year. Our first being in March at King City at a time when everyone said we could not launch an event of this calibre. Well, we did and our second BIG THINK in Niagara was just as outstanding. A special thanks to our sponsors, delegates and partners, The Business Link. Once again my strategic partner Vittoria Wikston did a stellar job at organizing the event details.

The message in this December BLOG is: 'Complete what you started and finish like a champion'. The key word is to finish. I know how creative and innovative you are so that's not the issue, the key is to get out there and make it happen. I have been working with several entrepreneurs over the past few weeks in helping them launch their new business idea and ignite them to action. My goal with every entrepreneur that I interface with is to ignite their passion and help them realize their idea and their potential. To many of us have these glorious ideas and ambitions on how they are going to improve their own lives and the lives of others. From the thousands of people that I interact with every year only a small percentage takes action and applies effort in moving themselves forward. It's not about how great you are, its about how great you want to be.

I find that 50% of the battle is just getting started and building momentum. In addition to launching our second BIG THINK event, I delivered several Branding Boot Camps and Key notes throughout Ontario. I had the pleasure of working with one of the world's top pharmaceutical companies in getting more innovative. My new workshop titled GET INNOVATIVE is designed to help teams extract their full creative potential. This was a great team full of inspired energy and enthusiasm. Part one of my presentation focused on their inner creativity and opened up the right side of their brain. As we headed in the remaining parts of the workshop, they were inspired to take action. The core areas of my GET INNOVATIVE message centred around the need to cultivate an innovate culture. It all starts with each individual making a commitment to becoming an outstanding person. Innovation is inspired by ambition and is fueled by optimism.

I published a recent article on the need for simplicity in relaunching your brand to the market place, I call it Flash Back to Basics:
As we approach 2010 there is a need to simplify and clarify your brand message as a means of cutting through the noise. Recent consumer polls are indicating a need for nostalgia and simplicity. So as a master in your field, this is a great time to streamline and re-introduce your brand to your customers with ultimate clarity. The following steps are designed to help guide you in crystallizing your brand:

A: Think like a consumer
B: Use a connector
C: Less is more

A: Think like a consumer:
You may think you know what you sell or what your brand stands for. However, it is what your customers think that it is that matters! Do a quick survey with your top 10 clients and ask them what they think your brand stands for and how they perceive you. It is essential that you have a clear understanding of that it is that you sell. That may sound strange however, too many businesses get too caught up in marketing hype that the message they send out have little relevance with the core service product offering. What you must convey is; your product or service; what it does and more importantly, what consumers experience with it.

B: Use a connector
An effective way to connect your customer to your brand is with the use of a connector, or theme. Think of the PC-MAC commercials that have aired for the past 5 years. The use of people to represent their respective brands is genius. Add to that the use of humour and it engages the emotional and intuitive aspects of our brain and that's a powerful combination! The message and strategy is crystal clear; MACs are cool and easy; PCs are not, and if you buy a MAC you will be just as cool. Try using a connector that engages people while connecting the essence of your brand. Ensure you don't get too abstract with the theme selection. The whole point of the connector is to bridge your brand with your customers' needs.

C: Less is more
The previous example of the PC-MAC commercials is valid in this last principle, that less is more. Try and avoid over stating your promise. It is too easy to get lost in long-winded mission statements and marketing copy when all you need is a simple and straight forward statement. Some of my favorites are:

[NIKE] The 'JUST DO IT' campaign invokes a strong sense of action.
[CARNIVAL] Their new 'FUN FOR ALL' campaign captures the experience really well.

If you attempt to connect your marketing with just your customer's minds, you may be viewed as a commodity. As you re-introduce your brand use simplicity to connect your customers hearts and you will win them for a lifetime.

The Laws of Innovation

2009-11-10T14:41:00.007-05:00

For the past year I have delivered well over 50 talks on Creativity and Branding with a focus on helping people harness their inner creativity. There is no question that I have helped thousands of people ignite new ideas. Creativity is a key ingredient to innovation and Innovation can be defined as problem solving through insight and creativity. My high energy approach during key notes and Boot Camps is designed to spark inspiration, imagination and inspired action. I don't just talk to to audience, I roll up my sleeves and engage the audience as an active participant helping each and everyone get the best out of themselves. You will typically leave a talk never remembering any of the content that a speaker says so I want you to remember the way you felt! I want to get your mojo going and ignite your imagination to action.

IBM CEO recently quoted that anyone in business needs to innovate even more so to thrive in this new market. Businesses must innovate in their approach, their technologies and in their processes.

For the past several months I have been diligently working on a new presentation that I unveiled last week to the Ontario Chambers of Commerce heads titled GET INNOVATIVE, the laws of Innovation designed to to build innovative cultures. For the past 10 years, my partners and I have promoted ourselves as The World's Creative Think Tank with a mission of helping our clients innovate and create new ideas. I am so pleased to officially release my new world-class presentation GET INNOVATIVE. The talk is designed as a key note and/or a full day Innovation Boot Camp complete with worksheets. The focus is strategic and inspiring targeting innovative potential in organizations. It is essential that teams come together now even more than ever and continually collaborate on creatively inspiring one another.

Innovation is inspired by ambition and it begins with optimism. So as I continue to excite new audiences to action I will focus on cultivating possibilities and belief in progress as a new form of leadership. If you are a leader now is your time to lead with innovation. Your team awaits your call and your fighting spirit. Your mood is the outlook! Innovation begins with optimism and it starts with you.

My Ten Laws of Innovation can be summarized as follows:

- Define innovation within your organization

- Never quite the Big Idea

- Create Market Opportunities - Drive the Change

- Apply BIG THINK Concepts

- Communicate like a Champion

- Cultivate a Culture of Innovation

- Engage Others

- Build the Brand Experience

- Back to Basics

- Get Thin on Innovation

Boot Camps and Key notes are booking up for 2010, so contact the NSB at http://www.nsb.com/ and let me know what works best for you. I look forward to helping you GET INNOVATIVE.

Thank you for reading.

Gerry Visca

Canada's Creative Coach

Exceptional in Elliot Lake

2009-10-23T09:40:00.007-04:00

I just returned from a 3 day trek to Elliot Lake in Ontario. I was asked to speak at the Elliot Lake & District Chamber of Commerce awards night. I want to take this opportunity to share with you my experience with this outstanding community. As a professional speaker you get to meet a lot of people and visit a lot of destinations. Elliot Lake was by far one of the best experiences for me. Although the drive was quite long (around 7 hours) the scenery was remarkable. The trees, the fall colours and the serenity was fabulous. I was not quite sure what awaited me in Elliot Lake and when I arrived on Tuesday evening, I was personally greeted by Todd Stencill, Manager of the Chamber at a quaint Inn known as Fireside. Todd displayed a heartfelt welcome and I really appreciated him taking the time to check me in at the Inn. We then met up with the Chamber of Commerce President, William Elliott over a cold pint of beer. The staff and servers at the Fireside were truly outstanding! After a great night sleep in my king size bed, I took in some sights, worked out and met up with William and headed over to the Elliot Lake Secondary School where I was asked to give a brief talk to approximately 400 kids. What an absolutely incredible high school. I was engaged with the many framed photo's of students that lined the hallways. You really got a sense of the excitement and energy that this high school offers to it's students. I was greeted in the gymnasium by a roaring sound of applause from the students and faculty, it was truly outstanding. I gave a brief a talk on the significance of uncovering your unique ability...my message to the students was to figure out your passion now and start to go after your dream. Keep dreaming and create the life you want. Don't wait until years later for someone to tell you what you should do, start to focus on yourself now.

That same evening I was to deliver an inspirational key note address to the delegates at the Awards night. I was thoroughly impressed with the level of detail and commitment by Todd, Diane and their team in making the venue a great experience. The overall decor and energy that resonated from the venue was engaging. This had to be one of the most well organized Awards night that I have ever attended. As I listened to the many speeches delivered I was touched by the sense of community that exists in Elliot Lake. Even through adversity, this community continues to thrive and is one that other communities should emulate. There are great businesses and a high level of entrepreneurial spirit that resonates throughout this amazing community. You can't help but feel apart of it.

I had the pleasure of sitting with radio sensation Bobby Alexander and the opportunity to meet his News Director Natasha Collett who was unfortunately suffering from a serious ear infection. At may table were William Elliott and his partner, Bobby and his lovely wife Erica and the Deputy Mayor Dawn Morissette and her husband. Dawn is magnificent and I enjoyed our conversation immensely. Bobby was a masterful MC for the evening and kept the crowd rolling all night long. Following the event I met the Board of Directors, local newspaper and television. Several of the delegates approached me with kinds words about my presentation. Everyone I interacted with was truly outstanding and added to the magic that exists in this community. My introduction by Bobby was stellar and I delivered an inspirational key note to the delegates. My approach is always to engage the audience and extract their energy which fuels mine. Unfortunately I was a bit constrained by the hand held microphone and cord. Anyone that has seen me speak knows I emulate the Energizer Bunny on 3 Red Bulls. I love to move quickly and interact with as many people as possible so you can understand why it is essential that I have a wireless mic at these events. My message to the audience was focused on harnessing their creative energy and collaborating as a team. There is no doubt that the businesses in this community are great, I want to help make them outstanding! I presented my 10 laws of creativity (you can listen to audio casts of all ten laws at www.redchairbranding.com/radio.asp )

I emphasized the significance of personal branding and developing a meaningful experience with your customers.

The next morning I was interviewed by Bobby and Natasha at the Moose FM, 94.1, a fantastic talk with the both of them. As I headed back to my studio in Burlington I was enjoyed listening to Bobby and Natasha and was saddened when I no longer could receive the transmission.

I was made to feel like a part of the community at every level. It is truly an experience I will never forget. It was the first time that I felt a level of sadness leaving a community.

Again, kudos to the entire community at Elliot Lake and a special thank you to the Elliot Lake District Chamber of Commerce.

Thinking BIG is the key to thrival

2009-10-16T09:22:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of delivering a full day branding boot camp last week to the Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce. I was absolutely thrilled with the venue, the professional set up, the organization and the inspired delegates. Stephen Passero and Karen Audet did an exceptional job with this event. Also, a special thank you to all of the sponsors and Mike Webb of Niagara AV (niagaraAV@sympatico.ca). To check out highlights of the day, please preview the following video. This group collaborated so well with one another. They were engaged and participated in all workshop exercises. They truly defined the Boot Camp Experience, well done. The goal is to continue taking action, this is my personal message to all of you that attended. Many of you spent time in defining and uncovering your unique ability while others spent more time developing your personal brand.

What do you want people to feel about you and your brand? What do you want most in life and for your business? What is it that you want to create? Now is the time, focus most on your end result, what do you want to create? Don't wait for the change, be the change now, take action and go for it.

You are the architect of your life so you and only you can create the conditions to allow the change to manifest. Many of you have taken action by signing up to attend the BIG THINK Niagara with me on Nov.12. This is a great start, sign up at http://www.redchairbigthink.com/ and become a part of our network. Listen to 5 world-class speakers including Mike Lipkin as we help you become the change you want to see in the world. Let us focus on you all day, from morning to evening, we will immerse you into incredible dialogue, education, motivation and inspiration. I am so impressed with the level of sponsors that have joined in with us, thank you to all. We recently brought on GIANTFM as a key sponsor who will be broadcasting some BIG announcements in the coming week. We also signed up world-class gallery owner and art connoisseur Alison Goodwin of Art Beyond Walls who will be featuring her infamous 'Pop up Gallery' a collection of some of the finest Canadian artists. This will be an exciting day to remember and life changing for some many of you. I look forward to seeing you all on Nov.12 and a special congratulations to the Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce, a group that other chambers should emulate.

Visca in Victoria

2009-10-06T11:22:00.002-04:00

I just returned from a great talk in Victoria BC on Oct.3.09. The delegates were from Chambers of Commerce all across Ontario as part of the CCEC event. I was the closing key-note and had the opportunity to spend 90 minutes helping the delegates harness their creative energy. My message was focused, I opened with, Let's make this all about you! To often, we don't take the time to focus on ourselves and what we want most in life. We are so busy taking care of business and everyone else that we forget about ours. What do you want most? What is the path that you want to take? What do you want people to feel about you and your brand? Take a few moments and contemplate these questions. Opportunities are all around us, every minute of every day, we make certain choices based on habits. Start to break those habits and make better choices. Start to align your unique ability with what you want most in life. You know, I am a big believer of What you think about, and thank about, you eventually bring about. For me the past 2 years was to learn how to align my life and my daily actions so I can creatively inspire people to action. The vehicle would be speaking full time to audiences all over the world 50 - 100 days a year. In 2009, I reached 50 days so in essence went from zero to fifty. With the use of creativity and creative energy, you really do have the power to manifest what you want most in life!

Victoria is a beautiful destination, I want to thank Shelley of CCEC again for allowing me to be a part of this event. It was so great seeing over 30 Chambers from Ontario at this event and connecting with many new Chambers across Canada. I look forward to extending my Boot Camp tour across Canada in partnership with the Canadian Chambers of Commerce.

I enjoyed having my partner Emily join me at this event and experiencing Victoria together with her. Some of our hot spots included, a morning run across the bridge, bike rides along the coast, lunch at the Noodle Box and dinners at the Bard and Banker, an outstanding Scottish Pub. I was very pleased with the Fairmont Empress, a 101 year old Hotel overlooking the pier, a wonderful charm and a great lounge called the Bengal Lounge.

I am looking forward to preparing for my upcoming talk in Fort Erie on Oct.7, a full day branding Boot Camp with approx. 100 delegates. I will give them my all, and help raise the roof with my creative energy. There is no better feeling than reaching someone and igniting them to action. I love hearing from them as to how they took action following my talk to create new and exciting opportunities for themselves. How they used the power of collaboration and attracted the resources they need. These are the success stories and if I can continue to be a conduit and enabler for them, I love it.

Until next time, be the change you want to see.

Sexy in Sudbury

2009-09-25T07:56:00.005-04:00

I gave a great series of talks in September to an outstanding cast of people. My month included Branding Discovery Sessions AKA RedENERGY with two outstanding brands, Car * Nation (a new and rising power brand in the automotive industry) followed by Schleese, an global player in the equestrian market space. Both companies shared an equal frustration around defining who they really are, what their message is and the need to come together as a unified group. It doesn't matter how good you are in the new market, it only matters how your customers respond to you, your brand and your commitment to a new level of service. It is not enough to deliver the same level of service you delivered years ago, this is a new time, and we all have to rise above the challenge. Just getting by, being mediocre no longer pays the bills. We have to connect with the hearts of our customer, just connecting with their heads no longer cuts it. So how are you rising to this new challenge? How are you exceeding expectations? How are you continually innovating and getting the best out of your team? What new strategies are you employing that truly make the difference between winning and loosing your client? These two clients have world-class products and services, however, is that enough? Will they be able to truly connect to the hearts of their customers and make their brands the only choice? There are no over night successes these days. The businesses that we suddenly notice are not over night sensations, we notice them now as a result of the years of effort and dedication to baking their brand. They persevered and continually stayed focused to their mission and to true to their brand.

I had an opportunity to speak to a cast of exciting people in Sudbury this past week. The event was hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commence. Some delegates drove over 3 hours to hear me speak. I applaud the efforts of Debbi and Erin of the Chamber of Commerce in putting on this event. Sure, their expectations I'm sure were for larger numbers, they even contemplated cancelling the event several times, and actually cancelled a week before only to put it back on after I encouraged them to do so. What a sad time it would have been for the 30 - 40 delegates that did attend. These individuals are committed to their success, to learning new tools that will help them thrive in this new market place. These delegates were inspired to action, many of them stated this was the best seminar they ever attended. For some, it is life altering, the ignition they needed to thrust them into creative action. It makes no difference to me if there are 40 or 400 people attending my Branding Boot Camp. What matters most is that they are present and ready to inspire to action. I give them my all and they give it right back to me. It is a truly outstanding experience. The feedback that I have received from several delegates is outstanding and I hope to remain a part of their success and their creative journey.

At the start of the month, I had the pleasure of spending 2 hours with Judy Marsales Real estate. Over 40 of their top sales team attended my talk. My focus, help them uncover their inner creative genius, do things differently, stand out and create their opportunities. This sales team was on fire, inspired to action and ready to rise to the challenge. Judy Marsales is an outstanding leader and has created a significant brand within the real-estate market. She has had to reinvent herself several times and clearly understands you need to drive the change and not wait for the change. This is a true sign of a leader and one that takes action.

I am preparing for numerous talks and Boot Camps coming up this fall. I am very pleased to have been secured to speak to the Black River Matheson Chamber of Commerce at a Boot Camp and awards night in October. They are located just 40 minutes from Timmins and I have been collaborating closely with their leader, Diane and thanks to the funding by KDCDC.

I have been diligently preparing a new fresh presentation on the Laws of Innovation. The focus is to help entrepreneurs and companies remain innovative even in these tough times. It is essential that you remain innovative and continue to explore new and exciting ways to get the best out of your team. They need to stay inspired and think creatively. This presentation will be revealed in November at a talk in Toronto. I will introduce portions of this presentation next week in Victoria BC to the Canadian Chambers of Commerce. I look forward to the excitement and the amazing opportunities that await me and my audiences.

Until then, make today and everyday likes it your last day. Inspire to Action.

From the heart

2009-08-27T13:46:00.006-04:00

It's a sunny afternoon, the time is 1:46, I just finished launching my new newsletter using constant contact to stay in touch with my close friends and followers. I set out over a year ago to creatively inspire people to action. This has become my goal, my life purpose, my mission. When I untapped my unique ability, everything had to change, my current career, my lifestyle, my family, my focus and my daily actions. Since I declare this new focus, I have delivered close to 100 talks and presentations and continue to climb the ranks as one of the top speakers. Everyday presents new challenges and new opportunities. Is it easy, never! How do I do it? I maintain a strong sense of focus, creativity and a positive attitude. I continually look for more innovative ways to reach my goal. I know that the universe is sending me new people, new collaborations and new ideas every day. I take action with inspired thought. One of the key areas to focus on as you move through your creative journey is to uncover what it is that makes you happy, what you want most, what you love to do. What are you brilliant at? What is your passion? Who are the people that you can connect and collaborate with?

What actions do you have to take? Are you aligning your daily actions with your goals? Are you moving yourself closer everyday? Are you looking for new ways to stand out and differentiate yourself and your approach? Are you being diligent with your time or are you still in a rut and doing the same routine over and over expecting new results to emerge? If you are, don't feel bad, just do something about it. Take action. To often I am confronted by people that want to get together, chat, about what? They don't even know, they just want me to make it happen for them somehow. When you are in this situation, try and put together an agenda, make the most of your meeting with this person, do what ever it takes to make show them your gratitude for their time. Stay on track with your agenda.

So what is new and exciting in my life?

- Anwar Knigth, CTV personality and I have laid out a new TV show focused on entrepreneurs, excited about getting this off the ground.

- I am delivering several talks/key note presentation and Boot Camps this fall.

Continuing my Ontario wide tour I will at the Elliot Lake Chamber of Commerce as their key note speaker in October, Judy Marsales Real-Estate in September, Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce, Goderich Chamber of Commerce in October. I have been invited to speak at the Canadian Chambers of Commerce in October in BC.

-We have 2 major BIG THINK events on the go this fall, one in Newmarket in partnership with the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce and the ERA-BANNER followed by Niagara in November with The Business Link so an exciting fall line up.

- I have been asked to speak to a major NHL brand in January also to The Canadian Club of Golf Resorts. I will be speaking at a major Insurance AGM in 2010 as well.

-My current initiatives and focus are to secure 5 corporate brands that will book me for a national/international speaking tour.

-We are currently exploring a collaboration with international organizations like John Assaraf of OneCoach in California.

I also officially issued a media release noting my intention and interest in joining a national or international brand as their Chief Creative Officer where I could lead major teams and initiatives on a global basis.

Aug 7.09 Presentation Boot Camp

2009-08-09T11:41:00.004-04:00

We had a great cast of delegates attend our Aug 7 Presentation Boot Camp in my Burlington Studio. I felt a great connection with this group. Several of the delegates travelled as far as New market, Niagara and Barrie, thank you all for attending. We focused on how to become a RED HOT Speaker through the creative process of presentation. These principles must weave into your business development approach and your marketing style. Be recognized as a giver, a motivator and connector and a collaboration. As you start to raise the level of your approach to presentations, you will raise the level of your brand. We discussed what it takes to become a RED HOT speaker and hit the speakers circuit. With 50,000 plus speakers you must create a style that is unique to you and strive to differentiate yourself from the competition. Many of you recall that I was turned down several times by my speaking bureau, however, that did not stop me from creating my own opportunities as I continually raised the bar, my approach and my goal in becoming on of Canada's top inspirational speakers. I live to creatively inspire people to action.

The following are my top tips for those of you interested in becoming a top speaker:

- Develop your style, that is unique to you and that can bring out the best in you.

- Build your Brand Image. Help people remember you and your approach.

- Use Social Media tools to build your brand image.

- Collaborate with others. You will need a stellar network to become a top speaker.

- Prepare to approach speaking bureaus.

- Develop strong content unique to your style. Develop at least 3 - 5 presentations that last 60 - 90 minutes.

- Differentiate yourself from the competition.

- Create your own opportunities by putting on workshops, events and seminars.

- Practice your craft daily.

- Enhance everything noted above about 10 times. Practice makes perfect.

Visit http://www.redchairbranding.com/ and click on our event schedule for upcoming Boot Camps, presentations and events.

July 29 SOLD OUT Social Media Boot Camp

2009-07-29T16:45:00.004-04:00

We hosted a great event to a sold out crowd of 25 plus delegates at our exclusive Social Media Boot Camp in Burlington, ON. For a bit of a preview of our raw and live video feed, please preview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Nu9yaCOt4

Trevor Rudd and I will be posting links to files and notes over the next few days so stay tuned for access to these files. In the meantime, please feel free to add comments to this BLOG as a means of connecting with one another. We focused today on the power of BLOGGING, using Blogger.com, as well as creating your YOUTUBE channel, using Twitter to connect the social media elements. We spent time on LinkedIN and how to dig deeper into this amazing business tool.

We presented a series of tips and principles: Some of our top tips are:
1. Get Started and don't wait.
2. Select just a couple of tools, for now, create your Twitter Account, this will only take you 2 minutes. Then spend more time creating your LinkedIN account. Start inviting people to join your network and ask for recommendations so you can start building a solid brand on line.
3. Take breaks and schedule your social media time, ie. 20 minutes a day.
4. Start joining some groups, go where the conversation is and get involved.
5. Be a giver and send tips on a regular basis for your area of expertise.
6. Encourage your membership to use only Social Media sites that you have designated for publishing news and events. Encourage these users to use these tools instead of emailing, this will increase collaboration.
7. Look at connecting all of your social media sites, this is referred to as convergence. For example, if you create a Google Account, you can then connect your Twitter and YouTube accounts. So if you upload a video on YouTube like the one you see here, it automatically updates your Twitter status, very cool.

For more information and notes from Trevor Rudd, please visit www.jobquirk.com to access Trevors notes.

Keep the conversation going, find Trevor and I on LinkedIN, YouTUBE and Twitter and join our conversation, we love chatting with you all.
Cheers.

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS | July 29 Boot Camp

2009-06-23T13:50:00.011-04:00

I was recently interviewed on http://www.vividliferadio.com/ following my amazing Boot Camp in Whitby Ontario. I get this a lot, "You look like that guy Danny from American Idol!"

Due to popular demand, I am hosting a 'Hands on' Social Media Boot Camp on July 29 in my Burlington Studio. This is an expert session so make sure you contact my assistant sara@redchairbranding.com 905.528.6032 to register your hot seat. We are only working with 25 people at this workshop so be a part of the social media craze and learn how to harness the power of these tools. Social Media is helping me become one of the top speakers in Canada and i want you to learn how to make these tools a part of your marketing mix.

I just returned from being WIRED in WHITBY. I love this crowd, I love the intersection with Whitby, every time I leave this venue, I get more inspired to reach a new level. This was a diverse crowd, fully engaged, wide awake with new ideas and new possibilities for their brand. So to recap, we focused on the creative laws to help you build your brand, now that you have that in the works, you will be able to start focusing on building your new brand image on the web. I recommended the use of 3-4 social media tools:

1. FaceBook for business

Facebook actually started at Harvard as a means of sharing photos in prep schools. It is a great and user-friendly tool to connect with old friends and associates who share a common interest. It provides your viewers with an inside look at your personal interest. I like to think of it as a way to humanize your profile in business.
2. LinkedIN

Where Facebook is more personal, Linkedin is for business. It is a great tool to connect with the business community on business matters. One of the great features of LinkedIN is that you can endorse/recommend other people. Many job recruiters use this tool to cyber-surf great candidates. Many of them will only go by the recommendations that you have in your LinkedIN account.
3. YouTUBE for video uploads

Is referred to as a video sharing site which is now owned by Google. You can upload unlimited videos, create a channel, add comments and response to other videos that you review. It has revolutionized how we view, upload and download videos on the net. Even media channels are now broadcasting TV shows and movie trailers on YouTUBE. It is a great way to get your message across especially if you tie it into your BLOG. I like YouTUBE as a search engine enabler, it really helps optimize how your website is found, especially if you link your videos into your website and BLOG, cross pollination.
4. TWITTER

Twitter is the new kid in town and a micro BLOG that allows you to share what you are doing in 140 characters or less. Twitter is designed to help quickly start building a larger social network. For instance, with Twitter, you may be following a user that has over 10,000 followers, that user is connected with you and decides to post a comment about you to their 10,000 person network, that is awesome. I recommended that you connect with Trevor Rudd, CEO of JobQuirk.com, follow him on Twitter, he is a social media king and helped me get started a while back. More importantly, I was able to offer him great value and in turn he broadcast a series of messages on my behalf to his large social media network.

So the following are some of the major tips that I wanted to leave you with today:
1. Use the right tools for you.
2. Take breaks, set a schedule for updating your social media tools, ie. 3 times a week.
3. Allocate 20 minutes to do this, schedule it in.
4. Form Alliances and Look for ways to collaborate on line. ie. Groups that you should join.
5. Help others by spreading the word. For example, at the Whitby Boot Camp, I spent some time with Ken, 'The Real estate Research Guru' New, AKA Ken the New Guru! Ken is with Re max and he can be reached at ken@teamnew.com he is outstanding as a result of his unique approach to research.
6. Cross Pollinate
7. Provide Value
8. Use a daily BLOG to enter information that is valuable to your audience.
9. Do a weekly video tip and upload that to your YOUTUBE channel.
10. Look for innovative ways to connect with the masses online.
11. Integrate areas on your website dedicated to allowing people to share opinions and insights.
12. Discover where your target audience is hanging out online and join them.
13. Build a business profile on your Facebook and link your suppliers, friends and associates.
14. Build in a social media mix into your marketing plan by stepping back and strategically assigning resources to this initiative.

Most importantly, Web 2.0 is about a 2 way communication. So Sheppard your brand online by actively listening to and participating in the conversation.

PORT HOPE and WHITBY BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

2009-06-16T22:16:00.003-04:00

I just returned from Port Hope after delivering 2 successful personal branding boot camps. A special thank you to Wendy and Darlene from the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event and for the hospitality of Jeannie and Dave from the Hill and Bay B+B.

Even though this was a smaller crowd than I am typically used to, I was impressed with the level of enthusiasm and interest in the delegates. These were exciting people focused on building their personal brand. They all interacted so well with me and took 3 hours out of their hectic schedule to invest in themselves. Regardless if my audience consists of 1,000, 100 or 10 delegates, I will still give them 190% of my creative energy and insight in helping them inspire to action. As I prepare for my Whitby Boot Camp on June 23.09, I will be emphasizing the power of social media in developing your personal brand. I especially get energized when I hit the Whitby crowd, they typically set me up in their local dinner theatres, a great venue with awesome music and acoustics. So on June 23, we will focus on creative principles for extending your brand into the market place, focusing on what social media tools are the best and why you can't avoid them.

We will look at unconventional strategies to getting noticed, and review some key principles that help make the top CEO's the most innovative. As always, it's going to be a great ride when the Red Bus rolls into town. So break open the Red Bulls and let the creative energy flow.

I am ready, are you? Creativity + Innovation will help you thrive.

Inspired in Istanbul

2009-06-08T15:21:00.004-04:00

I just returned from a week stay in Istanbul where I delivered a full day workshop on Innovation and Creativity to an inspired group on companies. What an exciting trip. My first trip to Istanbul and hopefully not my last. I was inspired by the country, the host, Meltem and her amazing hospitality and professionalism. This is an amazing country and I would encourage anyone to visit this magical place. We arrived on Sunday May 31 after a 11 hour long flight with a connection in Amsterdam. The jet lag was pretty intense and we were wiped on the Monday. After sleeping for several hours, we enjoyed an evening of Turkish food at a local cafe. We spent all day Tuesday at the famous Blue Mosque and the infamous Grand Bizarre in Istanbul. This ancient land is full of incredible surprises not to mention Star Bucks! Instead of my usual double espresso, I went with a jolt of Turkish Coffee. Wednesday consisted of a full day workshop on the power of Innovation and Creativity to Thrive in today's marketplace. The session was framed around my 10 laws of creativity with amazing and focused content on Innovation and key principles and case studies from the top innovation companies.

- Innovation is inspired by ambition

- Innovation begins with optimism

If you are a business leader, wake up! Innovation begins with you. We await your call, your fighting spirit, and your belief in progress and possibility. The best ideas for innovation come from innovating outside of the box by challenging convention, the very place that you now stand.

My message and take-away for the delegates can be summarized as follows:

What are you recognized for? What makes you Innovative?

What is your largest barrier to Innovation?

What is unique that you need to cultivate within your organization?

What is your passion and your purpose?

What are your top expected outcomes?

What one thing could you do that would bring you to your next level of greatness?

Gerry and Jack Canfield

2009-05-27T08:15:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of sharing centre stage for a second time with Jack Canfield this past weekend, May 23.09. The audience consisted of over 500 plus people at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event was hosted by Universal Energies and they did a spectacular job. My goal as Master of Ceremonies was to get the audience all fired up, inspired with enthusiasm and ready them for action. Jack and I spent some time throughout the day chatting once again about how his Success Principles program kick started my speaking career. Jack is an outstanding human being and I can't wait to spend more time with him. As I continue to coach hundreds of entrepreneurs, (when I am not speaking 100 days across the globe) I will always share Jack's inspiring message to my clients.

- Build Momentum and don't get hung up on the how or why.

- Focus on your end goals and fixate on the end prize.

- Take incremental steps every day to getting to your destination.

- Take the Ready, Fire, Aim mentality. This means you need to take action.

Many of the delegates have already reached out to me wanting to partner with me in promoting my new book, GET CREATIVE, others want to move into action and have signed up to coach with me, while others want to kick start their speaking career and are ready to coach through my speaker training program.

I love seeing people take action and go for what they want. This is the type of people I want to give me all to. This is why amazing speakers like Mike Lipkin and I have come together to offer a speaker training program designed to raise the level of individuals that want to become master presenters. I am getting ready for my week tour of Istanbul next week where I will be presenting on Creativity and Innovation. I am very excited about this international presentation focused on inspiring global companies to action, standing out and developing a stronger brand culture that engages their clients. Companies like like Virgin who use the power of branding and creativity to differentiate themselves from the competition and who take every day services and make them sexy with the power of their brand.

I have uploaded some new video posts to my YouTube channel, Gerry Visca so check some of these tips out. Have an outstanding week.

Burlington Branding Boot Camp

2009-05-21T16:00:00.007-04:00

What a way to start my morning, a 6:00am jog around the block, a quick work out followed by an energizing smoothie! Why do I do this? To get into the zone, to creatively inspire a cast of entrepreneurs in Burlington today. I need to give them my all, and that requires creativity and inspiration. I was so impressed with this group today, thank you all for attending, I hope you got as much out of this session as I did!

I admire these entrepreneurs that take the time to invest in themseleves. You all worked well as a team and collaborated with a common goal in helping one another. I want to leave you with some tips for moving your personal brand and marketing plan development further:

Focus on getting clear with your personal brand. What and how do yor>u want others to preceive you?

What images best reflect your brand?

What 3 words differentiate you from the competition.

Get going on using social media based tools. Set up your twitter, Linked In and YOUTUBE accounts.

Be a rookie and be fascinated all of the time with everything around you.

Start collaborating with others that will help you acheive your goals.

Complete what you have started and finish like a champion.

A great interview with Panorama Magazine

2009-05-20T15:38:00.005-04:00

I had a great interview yesterday with Pete Mitchell of Panorama Magazine in Burlington. The topic was on Social Media, Web 2.0. I focused on the branding of social media and how it can positively contribute your marketing mix and in building your personal brand. I am huge fan and advocate of Social media when used in a positive context. It is a great way to connect with the world in a very efficient and streamlined manner. It cuts through the noise and helps you get your message out with impact. Some of the tips that I discussed in my media interview include:

- Consider reaching a new and larger/organic audience with the use of social media.

- Unlike Web 1.0, which focused on lectures, Web 2.0 focuses on collaboration and opinion. So start improving the conversation. With Web 2.0, you don't control the message, anyone can shape it.

- Web 2.0 is an online platform that allows users to share insights, experiences and perspectives.

- The new communication model is about allowing your audience to provide feedback and insights.

- Web 2.0 is shaping brands, it is allowing users to define the experience about your brand so stop trying to control the message but rather focus on improving the message.

- One of the best ways to shepherd your brand online is to actively listen and participate to the conversation.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this post, please share your insight with others.

WIRED IN WHITBY ON JUNE 23

2009-05-15T09:48:00.003-04:00

WIRED = INSPIRED

One of my favorite Branding Boot Camps would have been in Whitby Ontario last year. The event was very well run in their Dinner theatre and the vibe/energy in the room was absolutely outstanding. All of the details including the registration and the organization was outstanding. So, on June 23, 2009, I am returning to Whitby to deliver a morning High Energy style Branding Boot Camp. In this high-energy session, I will be:

Concentrating on how to develop a vision for your brand
How to brand yourself with the use of social media tools like YouTube
How to use unconventional marketing strategies to differentiate yourself from the competition
How to ZIG when everyone else ZAGS

In addition, I will be focusing on how to apply my creative laws to engage and excite your clients and your prospects. So, don't miss out on a chance to get inspired to action on June 23. Connect with your Whitby Chamber of Commerce and tell them to reserve your HOT SEAT.

See you soon.

New Market is a New Market

2009-05-15T09:34:00.004-04:00

I had the esteemed pleasure of inspiring over 45 individuals this week from the New Market Chamber of Commerce. I was impressed with this group in their abilities to embrace my creative laws in helping them thrive in 2009. There was little fear in this group but rather excitement, inspired energy and enthusiasm in collaborating with the delegates. Laughter continually filled the room and several champions within the audience inspired others with encouragement and participation. New Market is fortunate to have Debra Scott as one of their leaders and a group of ambassadors that can now go onto creatively inspire others. I have received several calls and emails from some of the delegates expressing their appreciation and their inspired state that has kick started creative action. The message really connected with this group, ZIG when everyone else ZAGS. New Market, you inspired me to continually raise the level of my performance and my message. I thank you for that and I look forward to spending more time with you all in the near future. Until then, have an outstanding summer and don't look back, only forward. Continue to spread the kudos, collaborate and build momentum. You are all champions in my book.

WIRED = INSPIRED | Ontario Career Colleges get ROCKED

2009-05-03T21:20:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of spending this past Thursday and Friday with The Ontario Association of Career Colleges in Niagara Falls. This was an amazing group of 130 delegates from all across Ontario, the elite of career colleges. The organization of the event was spot on, kudos to Lorna and the OACC team. This was a terrific group ready for inspiration. I kicked off the event with a 1 hour key note focused on the significance of creativity in the career college space. The group was dynamic and full of energy. Laughter filled the Hilton conference room as I made my way through the spaces between the tables. A technique that I like to use at all of my presentations, it helps me engage each and everyone in the audience. Following the key note I reconnected with a cousin of mine, Sam Visca, who owns a local electrical contracting company, it was great spending this quality time with him. I look forward to spending more time with the delegates from the various career colleges and to inspiring their group in the near future.

Gerry Visca to open for Jack Canfield in Toronto May 23, 2009

2009-04-29T16:37:00.003-04:00

I am really excited to have been selected as the Master of Ceremonies for the May 23, Jack Canfield event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. I had the pleasure of sharing centre stage with Jack a year ago this month in Caledon Ontario at the Phenomenal View event. It was Jack Canfield that initially ignited me in 2007 to transform my life and become a speaker on a quest to creatively inspire 1 million people.

Several things attracted me to volunteer my services as MC for this unique event:

The opening performer to sing the national anthem, a seventeen year old girl Samantha Mutus who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at age 4. Despite her disorder, Samanatha has gone on to perform at major events and made it through the first round of Canadian Idol.

The tremendous efforts on the part of Universal Energies President and event organizer, Ginny.

The opportunity to help spread Jack's inspiring message to the attendees and be a part of this exciting and inspiring day.

If you want to be a part of this event, please feel free to visit: http://www.universalenergieseventplanning.com/

Inspiring 175 people at the Buffalo Canoe Club

2009-04-17T13:26:00.005-04:00

I just returned from an exciting evening talk to the Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce AGM last night. The event was held at the Buffalo Canoe Club, a fantastic venue with great food and hospitality. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the event organizers, especially Steve Passero and Kim, the President of the Fort Erie Chamber. The organizers had me promote the upcoming October 2009 Branding Boot Camp. I touched on my 10 laws of creativity and had a bit of fun with the crowd. Considering we all had a bit of wine before my talk make for an engaging key note. Aside from a bit of noise from the bar from the folks that decided not to participate in the talk, overall the night was a success. I focused heavily on the significance of tapping into your Unique Ability and the power of Creativity when applied to all aspects of your personal and business life. The 10 laws of creativity that speak on relate to these different aspects in their own way. Let's take a look at that:

Your Unique Ability is the really the driving force behind it all. It impacts so many areas of your life, your happiness, your career and your relationships with those around you. Differentiate; Stand Out; Become a Master Presenter; Collaborate and Attract directly impact your business and your organizations ability to move their business forward and thrive.
Conditioning Your Mind, Building Momentum and Living Life with Passion are directly connected to the personal aspects of your life. To get from where you are to where you want to be, you must integrate these Creative Laws on a daily basis, only then can you start to creatively transform your life for positive change.

Especially now, this time, we are being forced to adapt and change, we have no choice, the world has changed so if we do not bend with it, adapt to it, we will not survive in it. We are going through hell so just keep moving, don't stop or you will be in hell. (according to Sir Winston Church hill).

Your Personal Brand, one of my favorite laws, what you do you want to be recognized for? How do you want to be perceived? You need to take the time and focus on you, what you are, why you exist and what is your life purpose.

I look forward to returning to Fort Erie in October for a full day Branding Boot Camp and working closely with the 100 attendees over this exciting high-energy packed day.

I will also be holding a full day Branding Boot Camp in my studio in Burlington on May 21, 2009 with 25 entrepreneurs so if this is something you would like to be a part of, please book your seat today by contacting my associate wendy@networkisg.com or by phone at (905) 528-6032.

Testimonial:

Gerry Visca offered a multi dimensional key note address to our Chamber of Commerce membership at our annual general meeting. Layered with charisma, humour, and insight into the creativity that lies within all of us, he ignited the passion within our members to capitalize on their personal and business branding potential. We look forward to having him back in the fall for a full day workshop. Stephen Passero, Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce

The 10 Laws of Creativity

2009-03-31T14:53:00.007-04:00

I had the pleasure of being a part of a great event, The BIG THINK. Our team really pulled it off, kudos to the Redchair team and our sponsors. The planning, the execution and the key note speaking was spot on! March 27 and 28 will go down in history as a pivotal point in many of the attendees lives. Our goal was to inspire them to action and educate them on thriving in 2009. I arrived at King Bridge Centre exhausted and exhilarated from my previous key note in Toronto on March 26 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. I was mentally and physically prepared to creatively inspire over the next 2 days. My team was focused and did a masterful job at setting up for the event the Thursday evening. Friday morning arrived at 5:00am, Emily and I started the day with a jog around their indoor running track. My blood was pumping and visions of an excited and inspired audience danced around my mind as I completed my 5th lap. The guests started arriving at 8:30 and I was on at 10:00am after being introduced my Adam Shields of the Business Link. From 10:00 - 12:00 I focused on creatively inspiring my audience with my ten laws of creative excellence. I will take a moment to summarize my laws here:

Uncover your natural ability, we all have a core genius inside of us, put on this earth for a reason, uncover your inner genius and align all of your actions into doing what you should be doing.
Condition your mind, once you start to understand that what you know has greater impact than what you have been taught in the past, you will start to attract the things you want most. The brain processes over 4 billion thoughts a day, your mind can only process 2,000 of them, so start to recondition your subconscious mind to focus on what you want most.
Create your own opportunities, don't wait for the opportunities to find you, go after them, align your actions with the things you want to create and start creating them now. This is your time, get excited and inspire others around you, focus on creating your life rather than defining your past life. Today is a whole new day, so start now.
Employ visualization and affirmations, a great way to shift your creative energy is to start focusing on what you are most grateful for. As you start to manifest the things you are focused on, be grateful for receiving it. Use the power of affirmations on a daily basis and focus on the end result.
Develop your personal brand, focus on developing your own personal brand, what do you want people to feel about you? What are the characteristics and emotions that you want to leave people with?
Build momentum, the key to kick start anything is to kick start it! Don't get caught up in over analyzing everything. Avoid letting yourself get in the way. Declare your intention and go after it, build momentum and get others around you engaged.
Collaborate and attract, you don't have to do it all on your own, use the power of collaboration to become even better than you currently are. Surround yourself with positive, creative and inspiring people.
Differentiate, when everyone else ZIGS this is the time for you to ZAG. Do whatever it takes to stand out, don't conform, re think everything, challenge opportunities. Be remembered as an individual or business that stands out. Focus on standing out and building awareness.
Become a master presenter, you have the power to engage and motivate your audience. Be present and focus on inspiring them to action. Your words have the power to transform so make every conversation meaningful and make it matter.
Live life with passion, you have one life to live, so start living it with passion and enthusiasm. Achieve balance in all aspects of your life, focus on you and what you want most.

Recent client testimonials:
“Gerry Visca is well known as an emerging creative speaker that helps people and businesses raise their level of creativity. We are so pleased to have had him as our key note speaker.”
Sheldon Leiba, President/CEO, Mississauga Board of Trade

“Anyone in Gerry’s session is going to walk away with a higher level of confidence in their own capabilities. Gerry get’s people to think about what their raw talents are. Gerry get you to ‘actionize’ on our unique talents and untapped opportunities”
Ellen McGregor, 2009 Chair Mississauga Board of Trade

“Energy is the corner stone of every presenter and the Mississauga audience got their money’s worth with Gerry Visca”
David Wojcik, TV Producer, Business in Motion

“Gerry Visca is so full of energy and great at waking and energizing his audience. I’ve never seen a speaker inspire an audience like Gerry Visca”
Soniya Ojha, Mississauga Board of Trade

“Gerry doesn’t worry about thinking inside or outside a box, there is no box with this guy! He knows how to awaken your inner passion”
Marie Fitzpatrick-Hall, City of Mississauga

Gerry Visca is an incredible motivator and genuine leader. He has the ability to inspire others and is an amazing networker. He strives on bringing others together and does very well at establishing connections. At the Big Think Event Gerry spoke to his audience with great ease and kept us all on our toes. I will definitely attend more of his events in the future!

Miranda McKenna, Real Estate Sales Representative Royal LePage Estate Realty Brokerage 2

Next STOP | ISTANBUL

2009-03-23T13:38:00.006-04:00

An exciting week, as all around us the world continues to be shocked, events collapse yet my team and I along with Mike Lipkin continued on with our pursuit to creatively inspire 1 million people. For the past 3 months, I have worked 11 hour days to ensure our BIG THINK event is on. I am so pleased to announce that it is! For 2 days, Mar 27 and 28, along with my partners, stellar sponsors and Mike Lipkin, we will be focusing all of our energy over 2 days by inspiring between 75 and 100 BIG THINKERS. I am personally delivering 2 key notes at the BIG THINK, one focused on the Power of being a Master Presenter and a second focused on the magnificence of Getting Creative and unleashing your core genius.
Check out the program for Istanbul at: http://www.imiconferences.com.tr/innovation/index.php?content=overview

This is a busy week, prior to the BIG THINK on Friday, I will be delivering a luncheon key note in Toronto on Thursday March 26 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to the Canadian Special Events Magazine. I will be creatively inspiring 150 delegates from the tourism and hospitality industry to GET CREATIVE.

I recently received exciting news on 2 major key note presentations, thanks to my agency, The National Speakers Bureau. One is at the end of April to the Ontario Career Colleges, I have the esteem pleasure of working with this group in helping Ontario Career Colleges stand out and differentiate themselves. In June, I will be speaking internationally in Istanbul, Turkey on the Power of Innovation. This international group is looking for ways to be more innovative during these economic times. I look forward to all of these upcoming presentations and key notes, Emily and I will be sure to include thoughts on our trek through Istanbul later in June. Some other events that you can catch me at include:

March 26, Metro Toronto Convention Centre

March 27 and 28, The BIG THINK, KingBridge Centre, King City

April 1, The City of Hamilton Public Works Department

April 16, Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce AGM

April 30 and May 1, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Career Colleges of Ontario

Gerry Rocks Mississauga

2009-03-06T16:32:00.003-05:00

I had the extreme pleasure of presenting to a team of 80 entrepreneurs and business owners on March 5 in Mississauga. A special thanks to Sheldon, Sonia and the whole Mississauga Chamber of Commerce. This was an outstanding crowd. The 4 Points Hotel did an outstanding job. My close colleague David of Business in Motion was there filming the morning session for his local TV show. Following the event, I packed up and as I headed out, I was thrilled to see a full page article on the front cover of The Business Times featuring Mike Lipkin and I. A special thanks to Rick Drennan.

Here are some of the comments from the crowd:

"It was my pleasure meeting you this morning, you are outstanding Gerry"

"THANKS SO MUCH FOR WAKING ME UP FROM A LONG NAP IN MY LIFE!!!!!
You are amazing and thank you once again."

"Thanks you for your nonspiritual boot camp this morning, by far the best I have seen! It really had me thinking about branding myself and my company."

"Gerry’s Branding Boot Camp should be a requisite at a local college or a university"

"Gerry is a fantastic speaker... held my attention, got audience participation, and inspired people to network"

TV Casting Call for our new Show

2009-02-26T13:22:00.003-05:00

I was interviewed today, Mar.4 by CFRB at 12:30. Great interview with Dave Trafford, to listen to the interview, please visit the CFRB website link at:
http://www.cfrb.com/media/887006/The+Big+Think+inspires+entrepreneurs+to+action

Exciting news, I just received a call from our TV producer pitching our new TV show that you can be considered as one of our featured entrepreneurs:

TV SHOW CASTING CALL at The BIG THINK March 27 and 28
Prominent and award-winning television producer Kevin Dunn of DunnMedia has joined forces with THE BIG THINK to seek out potential entrepreneurs, individuals or business owners
too be profiled in a new television series now in development.
Working with the senior partners of Redchair™ Branding, Gerry and Jean Visca, the show will follow companies and individuals who are going through the process of re- branding and personal development. Think you've got what it takes? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be considered for this new TV series. Applications for this casting call will ONLY be handed out at The BIG THINK on March 28th.

To receive a copy of your application, please ensure you visit the “Google Me This Batman” concurrent session being presented by Kevin Dunn on Saturday morning, March 28.

Seating is limited for this inspirational event so ensure you register today at http://www.redchairbranding.com/ to be considered for this casting call.

Looking forward to seeing you on March 27.

Upcoming Events to catch me in action

2009-02-25T11:59:00.004-05:00

What an incredible 2 weeks it has been. I am staying focused on my goal to Creatively Inspire 1 million people and more importantly, inspire people to action. All of my actions are now aligned with my main goals. Resources and incredible people are coming my way and I am extremely appreciative of that. My business partner Jean has been outstanding in everyway andn my 2 other senior partners Wendy and Vittoria have done a stellar job. The speaking line up for the next 2 months is outstanding:

March 5th I am conducting a Branding Boot Camp In Mississauga through the Mississauga Chamber of Commerce
March 27th and 28th I am at the BIG THINK in Toronto, KingBridge Centre together with Mike Lipkin and my team. Be a part of this event, you won't want to miss out on a chance to be with a host of amazing BIG THINKERS.
March 26th I am speaking at the Canadian Events Perspective Magazine expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre as their luncheon key note.
April 30th I am the key note speaker in Niagara Falls for the Ontario Association of Colleges. My topic is focused on how to brand a private college.

Stay tuned for more exciting events. Cheers.

Inspiring Guelph Ontario on a Saturday Morning

2009-02-23T14:17:00.004-05:00

A special thank you to the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, Lloyd and Wendy and all of the Branding Boot Camp sponsors who did an outstanding job this past Sat. Feb.21.2009. This was a special Boot Camp for me. Talk about a rush and the need for major caffeine. For starters, I moved into my new house all day and night on Friday evening. No sleep and waking up at 5:30 to drive to Guelph to inspire and motive a large audience wanting everything from me. This is what it is all about. Creatively inspiring 1 million people means I need to be ready at all times, morning, afternoon or evening. Even though my mind was occupied with the day before with movers and walls coming down to make way for over-sized furniture, I had to focus on the task at hand. These entrepreneurs signed up for a 3 hour morning to get inspired and motivated on how to 'Create their life' and brand themselves. After 6 cups of coffee and an energy bar, I was on, full throttle in one of the best venues I have spoken at, the award-winning Rozanski Hall at the University of Guelph. I loved the audience, the energy, the opening lines and the cast of sponsors. What I took away from this event, was that no matter how tough life gets or how fatigued you feel, when you are in alignment with your life purpose, you can accomplish anything.
Thank you to the Guelph Mercury for a great write up:
http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/443846

In the news on NSB

2009-02-12T22:08:00.002-05:00

I am increasingly impressed with The National Speakers Bureau and their ability to re-invent themselves during this creatively challenging time. Their new website and ability to streamline information is excpetional. The full team under the direction of Theresa Beenken is stellar to say the least. I am extremely grateful to be listed as one of their preferred speakers and to be featured in their news area: Check it out at: http://nsb.com/news/page:8

The ART of thinking BIG

2009-02-12T16:43:00.008-05:00

Gerry Visca is focused on helping Mississauga GET CREATIVE, more in the Mississauga News
http://www.mississauganews.com/article/23985 I am looking forward to this upcoming Branding Boot Camp. Having grown up in Mississauga, I had the pleasure of attending TL Kennedy High School ans playing tennis at Cobblestone Courts and ORC. This is an incredible city with great growth potential. I look forward to March 5, 2009.

I am so pleased to be a part of more and more speaking opportunities across the country. I was interviewed on The Hamilton Spectator this week both in print and also on video. There are 50,000 speakers world-wide and my goal is to be an inspiration to action. This is my message to help people, businesses, entrepreneurs GET CREATIVE. This is an art, an action that must be taken by businesses today more than ever. During my talks, I focus on my 10 laws of Creativity:

1. Uncover Your Natural Ability
2. Condition Your Mind
3. Developing Your Personal Brand
4. Build Momentum
5. Collaborate and Attract
6. The Art of Differentiation
7. Become a Master Presenter
8. Create Your Own Opportunities
9. Visualization Affirmations Gratitude
10. Live Life with Passion

This week was extremely thought provoking and full of creative energy. We have all of our BIG THINK sponsors in place and on track for bringing 200 BIG THINKERS together on Mar 27 and 28 at our BIG THINK in Toronto. These are people, entrepreneurs and businesses that want more then ever to learn the tools to thrive in this new market place. They are arriving in bus loads, car pools full of excitement and energy. The big thinkers are not giving in, rather, they are thinking outside the white box, they are getting RED, fired up, inspired to take action and network with their peers. I personally look forward to interacting with each and everyone of them. I have devoted the next 14 days to meeting with over 1,000 people across the GTA illuminating them as to the value of being a part of the BIG THINK.

Gerry on Guelph Radio and Rogers TV

2009-02-02T14:52:00.006-05:00

I had the pleasure of spending the day in Guelph with Lloyd, Wendy and the Guelph Chamber of Commerce team promoting the upcoming Feb.21.09 Young Professionals Boot Camp. What an exciting day! We started at 8:30 with a radio interview on Magic 106.1 with Lisa and Kevin impressed with the professionalism of this radio station and their goal of getting Ellen DeGeneres on their show. Following our 'Magic' morning, we headed down to Kitchener for a 11:50am TV interview with Rogers Television, Susan and Terry. A great interview, made my hair spike up (more than usual). The focus on the interview? How to GET more CREATIVE with your life, your business and your approach. How to present like a master, how to attract what you need and want most in your life. How to take yourself and your team from being good to being OUTSTANDING. Following our TV interview, we haded down to University of Guelph to tour the Rozanski Hall that I will be presenting at on Feb.21.09. This is a very impressive facility and absolutely perfect for a 600 person Boot Camp. The theatre style setting, high-tech jumbo screen and masterful acoustics will allow me to 'supercharge' the audience on Feb.21. A great sunny day, great energy in Guelph, lunch at Turtle Jacks, how can you go wrong on a Monday morning. Looking forward to inspiring you all on Feb 21.2009, for more information on how to sign up for this Boot camp, visit http://www.guelphchamber.com/.

Off to Snowy Timmins

2009-01-27T15:01:00.005-05:00

I was impressed when the community of Timmins asked me to come out and deliver an inspiring Boot Camp to their Business Owners. Like many other travellers, I was held up at the Toronto Airport for over 5 hours pending my trip in a small propeller plane to Timmins on Wednesday, January 27 via Air Canada JAZZ. Once I arrived in Timmins, a surprisingly pleasant flight I might add (after they finally got the propellers to work), I was greeted by Steven, a great guy with the Timmins Chamber of Commerce who shuttled me to my Hotel, The Days Inn (that is a whole story itself, Room 645, beware!) I delivered a high-impact key note to the Timmins Business Community. They were an excellent group, completely transformed and illuminated with my creative energy. In the back of my mind, I was contemplating how much I loved that our TV producer would be pitching our TV show in Washington this weekend. I enjoyed a book signing following my event and an excellent interview with a local reporter.

Now for any of my friends visiting the Days Inn in Timmins, let me warn you now to avoid room 645. I cannot speak for the rest of the rooms only for this one. My experience started with the bathroom, to my surprise, upon lifting the
toilet seat, I was greeted by what seemed to be the past occupants 'last
supper'. I immediately turned on the tap to wash my hands only to be sculled by
the 180 degree water. Unfortunately, it took 20 minutes for the cold water
to finally come on and cool my third degree burns. I decided to contact
the front desk, however, one would need a phone that actually worked! A long day
so I decided to hit the sack only to experience yet my final frontier with Room 645,
yes, the sheets and pillows were covered in hair and full of odours from what I
could only guess were the past 10 guests. I assume it was just easier for the
Chamber maid to make the bed as opposed to actually changing the
sheets. This may have something to do with the major migraine that I
experienced the morning of my presentation.

Aside from room 645, the Days Inn front desk and restaurant staff were superb, unfortunately, I do not think I will be returning to Room 645 anytime soon.

Moving forward, there are several Ontario communities are interested in having us bring our inspirational BIG THINK events to their community. I have personally touched over 55,000 people to date. These people have gone onto inspire thousands of others. I have seen new authors emerge, new business entrepreneurs and existing businesses re-ignited with a new sense of purpose. When we all come together, great things can and will happen.

I will creatively inspire 1 million people who will in turn inspire 1 Billion world-wide. I am dedicated to perfecting my craft and my inner 'Picasso' which is to Creatively Inspire People to Action.

Some exciting things are happening over the next few weeks.
1. Look for the Hamilton Spectator on Sat. Jan.31 for a full page article by Meridith MacLeod, an excellent Business Reporter who interviewed me this past Monday.
2. The BIG THINK on Mar 27 and 28 has attracted a full line up of stellar sponsors, we want you there!
3. Feb 21, 2009, I will be inspiring 600 young professionals at the University of Guelph so be a part of this outstanding event and contact the Guelph Chamber of Commerce for more details.
4. I will be interviewed on Feb.2 in Guelph by the Magic 106.1 radio station also on Rogers TV in Guelph promoting the Guelph event.

Branding Boot Camps Hit Port Hope

2009-01-22T18:42:00.007-05:00

I just returned from my two day creative Boot Camp tour through Port Hope and TrentHills. My journey commenced on Tuesday evening with a peace full drive along the 407 (while listening to a Mike Lipkin CD) to the architecturally historic Port Hope. I was welcomed with open arms by the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce. I had the sincere pleasure of lodging at the historical Dr. Corbett Inn. I was thoroughly impressed with the details and hospitality of this charming Inn. My inspirational Boot Camp in Port Hope was delivered to an intelligent audience of business owners and entrepreneurs in the Capital Theatre on Queen Street. Following the Boot Camp, I was interviewed by a reporter who was intrigued with my goal of creatively inspiring 1 million people. I enjoyed the charm of this wondrous municipality, thank you to Wendy and her Port Hope Chamber team.

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your presentation to the Port Hope Chamber. I have to say that when I heard about it, I thought, what could I possibly learn? I have been in advertising and promotions for over 30 years, but you renewed the zest within me. You gave me the inspiration I needed to go in the direction of what I know and who I am. Thanks so much Jennine Huffman"

Following the Port Hope Boot Camp I made my journey north to the town of CampbellFord in Trent Hills. This community is known for it's award-winning chocolate and cheese factory. I was impressed with the hospitality from Nancy and her amazing Chamber team. My inspirational words were well received by this intimate audience. There was even discussion about bringing our BIG THINK to serve both of these communities. Next week, I am off to sunny (and very cold) Timmins to inspire their community.

Where is Gerry Speaking in 2009?

2009-01-04T19:45:00.006-05:00

Greetings and Happy New Year to all. Wow, what an exciting line up for 2009. This year promises to be filled with inspiring and creative energy. We are already experiencing success stories from Entrepreneurs making it happen and creating their desired life. I wanted to take this opportunity to extend each and everyone of you the very best for 2009. We have some exciting partnerships and events scheduled for Jan and Feb 2009. The Chambers of Commerce across Ontario have scheduled the following Branding Boot Camps:

Jan 21, 2009 Port Hope and Port Hills Chambers of Commerce

Jan 29, 2009 Timmins Chamber of Commerce

Feb. 21, 2009, Guelph Young Professionals Boot Camp

Mar 5, 2009, Mississauga

Mar 27 & 28, King City, THE BIG THINK

May 12, 2009 New Market

Sat, Feb. 21, 2009, I am speaking to 600 young professionals in partnership with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. The event will be hosted at the Rozanski Hall at the University of Guelph. I am extremely excited about the potential of this particular key note. This provides me and the community of Guelph, a unique opportunity to creatively inspire a large group of people who will in turn become inspirational ambassadors.

March 27 & 28, 2009, I am speaking with Mike Lipkin at our first BIG THINK event in King City.

I look forward to Creatively Inspiring you in 2009 and helping you reach your full potential. I am focused at providing you with the tools and the motivation to help you uncover your unique ability and start to create your desired life.

The XMAS Rush

2008-12-22T13:12:00.004-05:00

I set out to defy the current economic times by re-inventing myself and our company. This December has been the most progressive month for our company this year. Not only did we secure a major branding contract in Toronto, we also secured our first BIG THINK event in partnership with The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and world-class speaker, Mike Lipkin. This has been a rewarding December that I will never forget. With the power of the Law of Attraction, I have manifested all of my 2008 personal and business goals. I now have the foundation to grow Redchair Branding into a Fortune 500 company and attract incredible clients and opportunities 2009. I have enbraced these times with confidence and creativity to evolve my approach and my creative service offerings by becoming The Worlds Creative Think Tank. I encourage all of my clients and colleagues to do the same, to take action and adapt to this changing marketplace with enthusiasm. Enbrace these times, get creative, stand out and overcome the odds. In December, I had the pleasure of attending a 3 day mediterian cruise with Emily and took that opportunity to recharge for the upcoming excitement that awaits me. The 50 events planned for 2009 will provide me with the opportunity to creatively reach out and inspired thousands of people to take action and go for their dreams.

I returned fresh and full of creative energy. My first week back I had 3 awesome meetings with The National Speakers Bureau, Mike Lipkin and The Ontario Chamber of Commerce. 2009 is starting out to be the most exciting year ever with major speaking engagements already planned for January, February and March. On February 21 I will be delivering a high-energy Boot Camp in Guelph to 600 young professionals. On March 27 and 28th, I will be partnered with Mike Lipkin and The Ontario Chamber of Commerce in our first ever BIG THINK, a world-class event being held at The Kingbridge Centre in King City in Toronto. Ever since I declared my goal of Creatively Inspiring 1 million people, I have stayed true to this vision, applied the power of visualization, took action and expressed sincere gratitude for all of the events as they manifested. As I sit here on Monday Dec.22, 2008, I am getting ready for an exciting holiday season with my family and friends. I wish you all a successful 2009 and a warm filled holiday season with your family and friends.

An Inspiring Message to my Partners

2008-12-11T17:00:00.001-05:00

Good day partners, associates and colleagues, wanted to take this opportunity and reflect with all of you the amazing success that we have had this year. We are poised and ready for significant growth into a major brand that we can all be proud of. At the start of 2008, together with my partner Jean, I set out to accomplish the following goals (might I add, while still managing our business, our current clients and our personal lives!)

2008 Goals [Manifested]
Re-branding of Network ISG into Redchair™ Branding
The development of new markets and revenue streams from products, coaching and speaking.
The attraction of 2 new exciting business partners
The mapping out and evolution of Redchair Branding beyond just a marketing company into an exciting Creative Think Tank that inspires and motivates individuals and corporations.
The launch of my third book, GET CREATIVE with a goal of becoming a best seller.
The launch of IGNITE Idea Centre and coaching of 50 individuals.
Winning a third international design award.
Speaking side by side with two world-class speakers, Jack Canfield and Mike Lipkin.
Development and launch of a TV pilot and partnering with a TV producer.
Became a registered speaker with The National Speakers Bureau and speaking to over 1,000 people.
Securing a major broker that will help plan 40 events for 2009.
Collaborating with exciting people and partners to take our vision of Creatively Inspiring 1 million people to life.
Putting in place an exciting new vision together with my new partners for 2009.
Redchair™ has evolved from the field of architecture, to presentation, marketing, technology and software to branding and inspirational speaking/coaching over the past 9 years. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty freaking amazing! We just left a 2 hour meeting with Mike Lipkin who now wants to partner with Redchair™ Branding and be a part of our events and Boot Camps. Personally, this is going to be an incredible ride and journey in 2009. I will never forget those who have joined this cause, sat side by side with me in the good times and in the not so good times. This will be an incredible success story that I cannot wait to tell. Redchair is built on a solid platform with solid leadership and a 10 year history of success and entrepreneurialism. I would continue to encourage you all to take a seat, put on those shades, inject the energy that you know you have and enjoy the ride.

I value you all and look forward to an exciting road ahead.
Inspiring you.

A Reflection on 2008

2008-12-08T15:42:00.005-05:00

The year 2009 looks bright! For the past 10-12 months, my goal was to evolve and strengthen all areas of my personal and business life. With the law of attraction and the power of creativity, I have successfully manifested the following areas of my life and my goals as set out at the start of 2008:

The attraction of 2 new exciting business partners, Vittoria Wikston of White Oaks Resort and Spa, and Wendy Murdock of Hurstplace
Evolve Redchair Branding beyond just a marketing company into an exciting Creative Think Tank that inspires and motivates individuals and corporations.
The launch of my new book, GET CREATIVE with a goal of becoming a best seller.
Launch of IGNITE Idea Centre and coaching of 50 individuals.
Winning an international design award.
Speaking side by side with two world-class speakers, Jack Canfield and Mike Lipkin.
Launch of a TV pilot and partnering with a TV producer.
I lost 20lbs and feel and look great.
A stronger and healthier relationship with my family; my former wife Jean and my two beautiful girls Sophie and Emma and my new partner Emily.
Became a registered speaker with The National Speakers Bureau and spoke at 10 events with 40 planned for 2009.
Travelling 6 months of the year.
Purchase of a new home and office.
Collaborating with exciting people and partners to take our vision of Creatively Inspiring 1 million people to life.
Putting in place an exciting new vision together with my new partners for 2009.

I am very grateful for the success, the vision, the friends, the clients, family and support people in my life. All of my success stems from never giving up on my vision, for believing in me, conditioning my mind to attract what matters most, surrounding myself with ONLY positive people in my life and removing any and all negative energy/people from my life.

I am focused on reaching my goal to creatively inspire 1 million people, speaking a min. of 40 days per year.

I wish you all the best and look forward to being a part of your dreams.

Gerry is Speaking With Mike Lipkin

2008-12-04T16:58:00.004-05:00

Wow, what an incredible day. I just got off the phone with Mike Lipkin. Talk about the power of the Law of Attraction. I saw Mike speak at the Phenomenal View Speaker Series (where I was partnered to open for Jack Canfield). I loved watching and meeting Mike and said that day, I will be speaking with Mike Lipkin. Several months later, we are set to speak together at a Redchair Branding/Ontario Chamber of Commerce Event called, The BIG THINK.
The event is scheduled for March 27th and 28th, 2009. This is one event you will not want to miss. This will be a 2 day spectacluar event designed to open your mind and get creative. I could not think of a better world-class speaker to be sharing the stage with than Mike Lipkin. Now just imagine if we can collaborate with Mike on a regular basis and start our own Power Within Speaker Series globally. This would allow us to reach a million people. Thank you Mike for entering my life.

Travelling The Country as a Inspirational Speaker

2008-12-04T12:20:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon all, wow, what an exciting past few months with the Chamber Communities. I have been touring the province and have inspired over 5,000 people; injecting new hope, and creatively inspiring so many entrepreneurs and businesses. As part of my goal to Creatively Inspire 1 million people, I continue to receive more and more requests from individuals who want to get more creative with their business approach, and with their lives.
My ‘Get Creative’ speaking tour with the Chambers of Commerce kicked-off:
o In Hamilton to over 70 participants.
o Whitby welcomed me with open arms to a cast of 100 participants at an amazing dinner theatre.
o OwenSound had close to 80 businesses with a local sponsor.
o In Peterborough, I spoke to an energized crowd of 70 plus attendees.

Looking into 2009, I am scheduled to speak at 4 new Chamber communities during the months of January and February, including a trek to Timmins. We just received exciting news from The Guelph Chamber as a result of Lloyd Longfield taking action and hosting the first ever Youth Boot Camp targeting 600 participants with me as the key-note Inspirator.

In March we will be hosting the first BIG THINK Retreat in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce exclusive to all the Chambers of Commerce (to a cast of 250 attendees). At this event, I will be partnered on stage with World Class Speaker, Mike Lipkin so you won’t want to miss out on this event, trust me. We will be sold out by mid January, so stay tuned about how you can register for this exclusive creative event. The goal is to attract larger crowds of 200 plus to each of your Boot Camps, attract media attention, and showcase the Chambers of Commerce as the creative engine for local businesses.

Audiences are sending us rave reviews, testimonials and amazing case studies about the positive affects of my Boot Camps. Entrepreneurs are launching new ideas, improving their personal lives, and collaborating and growing their network as a result.

In response to local businesses wanting more exposure, we have even developed unique sponsorship opportunities that will allow me to infuse their brand into my actual presentation. As a result, we will be able to donate a portion of the sponsorship back to your community to a charity of your choice.

These Boot Camps go far beyond a business presentation. They are designed to creatively inspire your community to take action; to create their desired personal and business life. I will continue to broadcast my message and my unique ability to your audiences. Within my Boot Camps, I inject creative energy into the audience by being an active participant. I provide them with the tools and the inspiration to help them stand out and get creative. We are all uncertain as to the outcomes of this changing global economy, and what I can do is summon my creative abilities to inspire your audiences to take action, collaborate with others, get more creative with their business strategies, and re-examine their business approach. As many of you know, I have creatively transformed myself from the field of Architecture, to marketing, software, presentation and branding. Now as a registered speaker with the number one speakers bureau, The National Speakers Bureau, I speak to 1,000’s of people every week either as an inspirational key-note speaker or to businesses that require a fresh injection of creative energy.

I personally look forward to meeting with each and every one of you following the event, along with the media, in order to extend the significance of these events within your community. Megan is standing by and I encourage you to contact her at (905) 528-6032 to secure your dates for 2009. Many past attendees are requesting ½ day and full day events and a repeat performance.

Enough said, it’s time for me to go back to work. Inspire others to inspire others. When you can tap into your life’s purpose, it’s a magical feeling.

Gerry and Daniel, Architects at James Bond

2008-11-30T21:56:00.003-05:00

Many of you may know that I was originally trained and educated as an architect. This weekend, my very good friend and architectural colleague, Daniel came over to my loft. Daniel is from Tailand. We went to Architectural school together. Daniel was also in my wedding party so he has seen it all, the good times and the bad. Daniel, Emily and I had the best Tai food on Sat. night prior to hitting the new James Bond flic. I was dissapointed with the film, Casino Royal was much better. Daniel shared some awesome news about his new girl friend Anna, in Switzerland. She owns a Kungfu studio, Daniel will be spending the holidays with her. (This is the first time that Daniel and Anna are meeting, good luck Daniel, I want to know how it all goes!)

Book Signing at The Village Gallery

2008-11-27T08:19:00.002-05:00

My good friend Alison, owner of the Village Gallery in Mississauga's Port Credit , is hosting a Book Signing party for my new book GET CREATIVE. We have about 100 or so people coming. Wine, cheeze, great music, art, ex-girlfriends.....how can you go wrong, right?
Should be a blast. I will keep you posted on how it turns out.
It was a blast, check out the photos at:
http://www.thevgallery.com/picsGetCreative.html

Gerry is Hitting The TV Screen

2008-11-26T17:44:00.001-05:00

I always wanted to be a co-host on a TV show. I appeared on TV several times, the last one being CBC Fortune Hunters this year, coaching a Burlington company called DansceScape. My team and I put together a TV treatment this summer and a producer that has done shows like Canadian Idol picked it up and is in the process putting together and pitching a show called Jean + Gerry BRANDED. The film crew came into our office 2 weeks ago to shoot us in our offices, a typical day in the life of Jean and Gerry. Now for some of you who do not know, Jean Visca is my former wife and still business partner. A great person with a big heart. Jean and I still have a very solid working relationship as we continue to raise our 2 beautiful girls, Sophie and Emma while leading our Branding Company, Redchair Branding. We all get together (that is the our new life partners). How do we do it? What is the secret. Well, keep checking in for new and exciting developments on the Jean + Gerry BRANDED show.
Cheers .

Inspiring 1 Million Youth

2008-11-26T16:00:00.001-05:00

As part of my goal to Creatively Inspire 1 million people, I want to inspire youth as well. I had a great meeting yesterday with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. They have asked me to speak to 600 youth at the new Conference Hall in the UofG. This is an awesome opportunity for me to deliver a high-energy and inspiring message to our Youth. They have the ability to Get Creative and do it now, create their desired life, figure out their unique ability and what they were born to do. Book the date and send your kids to this boot camp, it will be on Sat. Feb.21,2008. To reserve your seat, contact my Creative Assistance megan@redchairbranding.com

One of our OwenSound Boot Camp Attendees drove 3 hours today to engage me in a new branding campaign. I was really impressed that they drove all that way to work with me in a Creative Think Session. Steve, Don and Rod, thank you for coming out and for taking a seat in the Redchair, you guys were awesome!

Gerry and Emily at The National Speakers Bureau Party in Toronto

2008-11-26T08:33:00.001-05:00

My goal is to creatively inspire 1 million people. As part of this quest, I have become an international registered speaker with The National Speakers Bureau. Last night was their 35 year celebration and open house in Toronto. I was featured in their new Directory and as part of their slide show line up. Emily attended with me, it was pretty cool, that made me feel like a celebrity. Great food, full bar, a ton of people. I even met the Astronaut Dave Williams.
Following the event, I was driving with Emily along Yonge Street, and I noticed a place I used to visit quite frequently as a kid, the BIG SLICE. The best pizza you will ever have. We managed to wolf down a huge slice each. Boy, don't get in the way of Emily and her pizza, she will take your whole arm off.

Yesterday was a big day, we met with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, they have asked me to speak to a group of 300 - 600 youth in their first ever Youth Branding Boot Camp. Very exciting, it will be in the new Universty of Guelph Auditorium.

Gerry is coming to the Big Screen

2008-11-24T23:12:00.000-05:00

A producer known for doing big shows like Canadian Idol asked to shoot a pilot of my business partner (AKA The Former Wife) and I at our office. A day in the life of Gerry and Jean Visca in the Redchairs. How do we do it? How do we co-exist? How do the new partners in our lives (one working in the same office by the way!) get together for dinner? The day consisted of cameras, interviews, lots of action, smiles from Emily (aka my GF who works in the office) in the distance....The pilot ended with an interview of Jean and I talking about how much we appreciate our partners, how lucky we feel, what we love most about this whole situation and what still pisses us off. At the end of the day, we are only human. We hope to see this new reality series on air in the New Year either on CBC or The Women's Network.

Gerry in California

2008-11-24T23:05:00.002-05:00

I must say this was one of my favorite trips of all time.
Not only was I with an amazing woman, I had the opportunity to experience California the way it should be explored. Our adventure began in Alamo, a subburb of San Fransisco, staying in a an amazing guest house complete with pool, hot tub, and a TV that rose out of a dresser. We took the BART (a cool train) into San Fran where we walked the pier, saw wild sea lions and Alkatraz. Did a bunch of wine tours in Napa and a trip to Lake Tahoe where we stayed with Family at their lake side lodge. I took to much Dramamine when we went on a boat trip and spent the day pretty much comatose wanting snacks (I felt high). It was a short get-away, loved every part of it, can't wait to go back.

Gerry Hits Peterborough during the first Snow Fall

2008-11-24T22:23:00.001-05:00

According to my editor, Emily Mylks, (who is not just my editor, but also my GF) she wants me to share some insights into my exciting life. Let' start with the past week, my new speaking career is starting to flourish. The Chambers of Commerce have been scheduling me as a key-note speaker for their branding boot camps. Since Oct.2008 I have spoken to over 450 people in Hamilton, Whitby, Owen Sound and most recently Peterborough.
The trek to Peterborough on Nov.20 had to be the most memorable. A 4-hour drive throuh Ontario's first snow fall. Usually this drives takes an hour and a half, 4 hours of stop and go traffic, white outs along the dark highway 115. The only thing that kept me sane was Emily sending me friendly texts every 10 minutes. (I should not be reading as I am driving, so I am told!) I finally arrived at 9:30pm to a warm hospitality at the Holiday Inn. In my room was a plate of snacks and a pitcher full of beer and ice from the local chamber. All I wanted to do was watch a movie, unfortunately, this feature was disabled on the TV so I called down and got them to fix it. And now I could relax with my beer and snacks while watching Step Brothers. Boy, what a laugh.