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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-01, Page 19Page A18 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Celtic Cash Huron -Bruce Ben Lobb Presents a cheque for $30,000 to Linda Wiebe and Warren and Eleanor Robinson, organizers of the Celtic Roots Festival and Celtic College. Photo by Denny Scott Morrison pulls no punches with business consultations Denny Soot! signal -star staff Goderich businesses have a new ally in the fight against a sagging economy in business consultant Kevin Morrison. Morrison, who has owned, operated, and consulted on businesses for de- cades, is a quadruple threat, being an author, a motivational speaker, a stage hypnotist, and a business consultant/ analyst. Having moved here eight months ago, Morrison was introduced to the busi- ness sector by being invited to speak at • ate tf �IMKOH$C 1, Tent opens 12 noon r Goderich Kinette Food Booth ay Fair ✓ Goodfellas D.J. Service y • Refreshment Tent opens 12 noon ■ Goderich Kinette Food Booth - available for lunch and dinner • Children's Play Pair ✓ Goodfellas DJ. Service LivE $5.00 Cover after 8 pm V Gateway Children's Village ChiIdren' 11.y fir Obstacle Course, Inflatable Bouncy Tent, Inflatable Giant Slide, Inflatable Sea Serpent, • Fish pond game, Cotton Candy and more! MCMC Poker Rally • Registration 10 am to 11 am ■ 1:30 4 Pipe Bands Playing 5 3041isa Plps Band IS Children's Play Fair • Live Band 8-10pm "The Tasty Jams" CMC Poker Rum! (Canadian Motorcycle Cruisers) Registration 10 am - 11 am in Suncoast Mall parking lot. Rally leaves at 12 noon. Contact Robyn Ross at 519-524-4234 or Judy Martens at upstairs@httontel.on.ca for more details. Cash Prlass! 14, s • Ooodfellae O.J. and Dancing to follow with prizes and giveaways, ■ '5.00 Cover after 8 pm ..i:. ii.//...Y:+.//L..:d:..R../b:.Y..,:../.:."i..//...::.,//...//..,C4..%/. U.. //...' ..! . /�.:':.�.%;-•i/ '..:% iA';..'/.../.%..1:.%:_i.. / / . //i. the Goderich Chamber of Commerce's annual general meeting. He said that his speech has brought businesses to him. "There's lots of businesses in town that want to grow," he said. "A lot just don't know how, and the best way I can say it is it's like that stone in the back yard. You keep tripping over it until you do something about it. In business, if you take the same steps, you're get the same results, or worse. Your cus- tomers are going to grow, you need to grow with them." Morrison has taken that desire and turned it into a business venture, finding time from transforming Habitat's Re - Store plans into an actuality, to help lo- cal businesses figure out how to grow. As far as business practices go, Mor- rison says that his approach can be hit or miss. "I'm brutally honest," he explains, adding that being so up -front doesn't al- ways work with his clients. "But if they take my advice, they probably will suc- ceed." In helping a business become more successful, there are two fears to over- come. "The first thing we have to do is over- come the fear of failure. We're all pro- grammed to think success is hard; it's difficult to succeed. Once people get past that, it becomes a lot easier," he said. "The second fear is a fear of suc- ceeding. We're programmed to believe what we have is what we deserve, but it isn't. You can move forward. It's a big barrier." Morrison loves to help people and be- lieves small business entrepreneurs are the heart and soul of the economy. "When big conglomerates are in pow- er, and setting prices, look what happens when the economy falls out, everything falls with it," he said. "Big conglomer- ates focus on sales, but successful com- panies focus on what is important, like customer service." Morrison came to Goderich to be the executive director of Habitat for Hu- manity, and he has shown that he can make ventures successful, as he helped the not-for-profit group move into their ReStore with his own brand of can -do attitude. His philanthropic experiences made him a natural choice for his position. After owning several businesses, Mor- rison decided in October of 2001 to sell his assets to focus on a new passion; helping people. "1 had four businesses until 2001," he said. "1 decided to sell the businesses to the managers for $2 a piece, to go to work for [The Sunshine Dream for Kids Char- ity]. That's when I realized I had knack for helping people move forward." Breaking his approach down to a single statement was easy for Morrison, who said all you have to do is ask yourself a single question when doing anything. "With every action, [ask yourself] how is this helping me move forward':"