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Editor-In-Chief Editor

Art & DesignAccounting Manager

AdvertismentMarketing

DistributionPrinting

Contributors

Lennox JamesJoanne MarcanoAndrew JamesNatasha JamesSelwyn Dwayne Byron

Indigo Books

Nauman FarooqD.C. DolabailleNatalie McFarlaneTchaka AdofoUchechi EzurikeMaria Weekes

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Black Ink Magazine44 Tiago Ave.

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Trey AnThonyHealth & Harmony, Balance in Business

The new 911Porsche releases a new car and BIM is there to capture it

business Tool kiT10 Steps to Marketing on a Budget

Music businessT-minus... You may not know the name, but he making big moves

MoneyGetting out of the Recession with Multi-Millionaiore Michael Lee-Chin

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tool kit

Talk to any small to medium sized company and one of the key areas of concerns is how to grow their business in these economic times. Many believe that in order to properly market their business, they need to allocate a large sum of their revenues to their marketing initiatives. While having a large sum to spend on marketing is advantageous, these small businesses would be happy to know that there are many low cost as well as no cost ways of marketing their products and services to generate quality leads and prospects. It is now more important than ever for companies to do their research and think outside the box in order to market their products or services effectively and still maintain their bottom line.

Below are some examples of what S-M-E companies can do to market their products and services creatively.

Customer Referral One of the biggest opportunities is to utilize customers that are already buying from you. As they already know your business and know what you have to offer, and can provide a personal referral approach to prospective clients and customers. This is especially important to do when they comment on the great service they received or how your product has been invaluable to them. Use these opportunities to ask for more business from them. Ask them the following question “Do you know of anyone that can use my services”? If you truly provide them with value, they would be more than willing to recommend you, without having to spend a dime doing it.

On a more formal basis, businesses may opt to set up a referral program. An inexpensive way to do this is by making “referral cards” that they hand out to their customers. These cards can have the customers name pre-printed on the back and then be given to friends and family. The respective card are then

collected back from the new client and it would entitle them “referral customer” to a freebie or dollar-off on their next visit.

The only expense to this program would be the paper bought from your local office supply store and the discount provided to your customer. However, when you factor in the value of the new client and their potential future revenue, it seems pennies in comparison.

website link from Partner BusinessesWebsite links play a huge role in increasing visibility. More and more people are on-line and they are now visiting websites regularly. Partnering with a complimentary business and having links on each other’s website is a great way to increase visibility of your business and brand. It is important to choose reputable businesses that can add value to your own business. It would not hurt to have them include your logo to their website and maybe a few hyperlinks which would simplify the transition to your own website.If you are a new business it would be wise to partner with a company that has already been established for quite some time so that you may leverage the traffic they already generate.

Charity/SponsorshipCharity and sponsorship opportunities are a great way gain potential prospects. This includes offering door prizes at trade or fundraising events. You can create raffle tickets that ask for the participants contact info and e-mail addresses. Once collected, enter this information in your database. The database would be used to send electronic promotions, flyers, coupons you might be using at any given time. It is important to ask for permission before sending them the information on your business in order not to alienate your prospects, you may do so on a section of the ballot that they complete.

Sponsorship is also a great way to bring visibility to your brand. It is important to leverage this opportunity by adding your company’s brochure and business card in the donation basket or gift certificate being given. Again, adding to the visibility of your brand.

Strategic AllianceThis is another great opportunity for many small businesses. The trick to this is finding a business that provides complimentary services for your customers. For example, website developer and a web hosting company, fitness facility and spas, wedding gown retailer and a flower shop, the list goes on.

Strategic alliance allows you to pool resources and offer extra value to your respective customers. Each business should have a database, and each should treat the partner business as an extension to their own company. There should be brochures, business cards, newsletter etc of the partner business in your establishment. They should be known as your “preferred vendor” and there should be a partner discount applied. For example, if I buy flowers on a weekly basis from the local flower shop and I consistently see brochures, and business cards about a local wedding gown shop, my first instinct would be to refer to that particular establishment. A very nice perk and special bonus would be knowing that I know that I will be receiving up to 10-15% off their everyday price, as a customer of the florist.

10-sTeps: MArkeTingon A budgeT

Author: Uchechi Ezurike


This goes hand in hand to having the partner link on your website and visa versa as mentioned above.

networkingThe power of networking should never be underestimated. Connections formed in meetings or gatherings play an important role in future business relations. This is especially critical for business to businesses companies. These events not only open your company to many future prospects but it also helps you learn from other businesses that may be facing the same challenges. These events can give you critical information on best practice to implement in your business. Again, it is important to socialize, meet people, and by all means make sure you have your business card and company information handy. Not having this would be a total waste of your time and you might as well have stayed home. It is key to talk about your business, features and benefits as well as focusing on the distinct value you provide.

Follow-up is another important key. Keep in touch with your contacts on a regular basis in order to ensure you are foremost on their mind in the event that an opportunity arises in which they will need your product or services. The out of pocket expense would be limited to the cost of the event of which you have attended.

Social MediasUnless you have been living under a rock in the past few years, you have no doubt heard of Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, YouTube, you name it. These social medias are a great way to expand your network and can have a major impact on your business. Many businesses are forming facebook groups which are free and inviting customers and colleagues to join. These on-line communities expose your business to different opportunities that might have not existed before. An idea is to invite your customers to join the group to get access to exclusive savings. Reward them for their loyalty and “friendship”.

I am sure that there is a book out there that talks to this phenomenon at a greater and deeper level, but the key thing here is to give you an overview and to plant the seed of what this great marketing vehicle can do for you.

websiteIf you’re in business, then you need a website. This is a no-brainer. Your website is your 24/7 sales and marketing “employee” for which only you pay a one-time fee, or maybe some nominal maintenance fee. Of course, just having a website is not the end all and be all, because some websites may actually turn off potential buyers. It is critical that you use a qualified, professional designer that has experience building sites. There are many low cost companies out there. It is important to do your research and check their previous work. You will get a better idea of how your site may turn out. In addition, once you decide on a potential designer, it may be good to visit different sites that you like so they get a better idea of your taste and the functionality of your site.

When spending the money on building your site, it is critical that your website “tells your story”. Potential customers should be able to know what products and services you offer. Use this important vehicle as your # seller, because it is something that

they will be visiting along with your competitors. Customers do their research on the web, and then decide where to buy. It is important to ensure that your site is selling effectively. Lastly, don’t forget to update the site once in a while, more pictures, different offerings etc. A new look can often attract a customer that has already visited the website before.

Press ReleasePress releases are a great way to get your company’s name out in the public. They have little to no cost to you and capture an audience that is looking for information. Press releases are used when you have something new to announce and communicate, and you look to the media to print and communicate your news release for you. You need to have an angle and story to tell in order to capture the writer’s attention and make them believe your press release is newsworthy.

An area to investigate is trade magazines and newspapers or your local community press. Many of these local and specialized media may have more space to allocate to your press, plus it is localized to your trading area.

Educational Electronic newsletterNewsletters are a great way to market to your customers while giving them some educational value. Depending on what industry you are in you can publish newsletters to your database on a monthly or quarterly basis. It is important to make sure the newsletter is contains some valuable information for your customers and not just a sales pitch. Obviously some marketing and promotional information should be in your newsletter, in addition to the educational content.

Businesses can custom create their electronic newsletters to match the look and feel of their website, logo, company letter heads etc. The key is consistency and brand identity.

Events/SeminarsCreating excitement through events and educational seminars are great ways to market your products and services to your clients. You can invite your clients, plus extend the seminars to their family and friends. This will expose your business to more prospects than you currently have.

These seminars should also be opened to the general public. An example would be for a Chiropractor to put on a seminar on neck and back pain. The Chiropractor can have a sign up sheet. There should be some hand-outs provided to the attendees with company info (phone #, website, address etc). This Chiropractor could also send out notices to different neighbouring businesses and have them post it somewhere visible (i.e. public bathroom, water fountain, bulletin boards etc). People experiencing neck and back pain would then be more inclined to attending these seminars. This is a great way for the Chiropractor to capture his/her target client.

As you can see, small businesses have a lot of different options to choose from in looking for low cost ways to market their businesses. Each option could be developed and researched further in order for them to find and harness the techniques effectively. The key point is to remember that there are plenty of options and tools out there that make it easier to market on a budget.


leisure

By Nauman Farooq Car companies usually throw parties for the launch of their new models, but over the last few months, Porsche has been throwing parties and events for the launch, of their new gearbox!Yes, there is more to the 2009 Porsche 911 than just its new transmission, but it is its new gearbox that everyone is talking about. What is so special about it you ask?

Well, it is the first time Porsche is offering a dual-clutch gearbox on a production car. Dual-clutch, or as Porsche calls it “Doppelkupplung” (a mouthful I know) or PDK in short, is a manual gearbox that changes gears using this cars electronic brain to give you faster, cleaner shifts.

How it works is, that its two clutches work in conjunction with each other. One clutch is given the task to engage first, third, fifth and seventh gear (yes, this car has seven speeds), and the second clutch works with second, fourth and sixth gear.

So as you accelerate, the transmission control unit can see you will be going up a gear, and it prepares its engagement even before you select the gear. When you do ask it for another gear, it engages it right away. This instantaneous gear change is also very smooth, so it has none of that shift-shock you would get from a Ferrari F1 gearbox.

2009 Porsche 911Yes I know you must be wondering, what if you wanted to downshift instead of upshift, how would it know? Well that is the clever bit, because the transmission control unit can sense if you are decelerating and prepares for a lower gear for you. All this happens very fast, in fact 60% faster than it did with the old Tiptronic gearbox, and very smoothly too. So while the transmission is working very hard, you don’t have to.

Your left leg certainly doesn’t have to do any work because it has no clutch pedal, in fact the only time you really need to use your left foot is to work the launch control feature, more of which I’ll talk about later.

What I will tell you about now is that this gearbox can work like an automatic gearbox, when you just leave it in “D”, but when you want to take control, you can shift gears by either using the transmission lever in “M” mode, or by using the pedals on either side of the steering wheel.So the technology is very good and impressive, but what is it like to actually use. To find out, Porsche had invited a few journalists to the scenic Niagara-on-the-Lake, to allow us to see what this gearbox can actually do.

First up on the agenda was a drive on local roads to see how it works on the road. This PDK gearbox quickly showed that it works very well, in fact too well. Playing the

images by Nauman Farooq


leisure

which was to show how smoothly the car changes gear under soft acceleration. While it is impressive to see that, this isn’t what I had in mind when it comes to having fun on a runway.

The next bit was a lot more fun, acceleration and braking test. We were encouraged to accelerate as hard as possible and then jam on the brakes as hard as possible. The braking test was simple, get the car to 100km/h and

then stand on the brakes. My best test figure was pulling 1.073g under hard braking, which is very impressive for a production car with steel brakes. The acceleration test was even more fun and required engaging this cars new party piece,

yes I am talking about launch control.

To set it up, you activate the “Sport Plus” feature, and disengage “PSM”. Then you push the brake pedal all the way in with your left foot (see, I told you the left foot does eventually come handy) and then mash the accelerator with your right foot, when you hear the beep, it means launch control is ready and then you jump off the brake pedal and hang on. The car works out the level of allowed wheel-spin and just rockets you down the road as quickly as it can. What launch control allows you to do is get performance numbers suggested by the manufacturer every time. I managed the quickest journalist time of the day, 0-100km/h in 4.62 seconds, in a Carrera 4S, with a passenger on-board.

Unlike in other cars, Porsche lets you play with launch control as many times as you want. If you start abusing the system, the car will simply refuse to let you punish it more and will cut down on engine power until things cool down again.

Next was the handling test around a little course set out by cones. While it was fun to toss the car around, this course was a bit too restrictive for a car like the 911, but more fun was yet to come. At the end of the day, we were given passenger rides around the open sections of the airfield, driven by the professional drivers from the Porsche driving school. These guys then showed us what this new 911 is capable of in the hands of a professional, and trust me, this car has abilities far beyond what an average driver will ever wring out of it.However, all this controlled testing on an open airfield does not represent how most of these cars will spend

game of guessing what gear the car is in was very tricky, because under smooth acceleration, you cannot tell when the car is shifting gears, and it works it way up the gearbox very quickly, to give you optimal fuel economy!

Yes folks, one of the most hairy-chested, real sports cars of all time, is now also a very responsible car. While it wants its owners to have fun, it doesn’t want that to come at the expense of the environment. As a result, this new 911 can achieve 7.3-liters/100km on the highway, that is better than what I managed with a Mazda MX-5.

So it won’t break your bank account when you take it for a drive, nor will it break your back, as this new model rides alot better than I was expecting.

The roads around Niagara-on-the-Lake are not the smoothest on the planet, but thanks to its electronic dampers, in the comfort setting, this car rides very well.

So, it rides well, gives you great fuel economy, and the gearbox is pretty clever, but a 911 has never really been about those things, it has been the flagship model in Porsche’s line-up for 47 years because of performance, so how does the new model perform?

Compared to the out-going model, the only word is “better.”

For 2009, the 911 has more power. Both the Carrera and Carrera S model get their power gains thanks to direct fuel-injection, producing 345hp and 385hp respectively.

You still have the choice of feeding that power to either all-wheels or just rear-wheels. The model I spent most of my time in was a Carrera S, which is the more powerful version with power going to just the rear-wheels. This set-up in the past could have been a recipe for impending doom, but now thanks to the latest incarnation of PSM (Porsche Stability Management), you need not worry about the car getting away from you, unless you are being really stupid and also being really talentless at the same time.

After spending an hour and a half on the road between me and my co-driver, we got back to the base, which was the Niagara District Airport for some lunch, and then for some afternoon activities.On closed down sections of the runway, we put the car through some exercises. There was the smoothness test,


their lives. It is in the city, among traffic on and off the highways where these cars will spend almost all their lives. The drive around the Niagara region was fine, but a bit too short.

To see how it is to actually live with one of these, Downtown Porsche lent me a Carrera S for the weekend. This allowed me to better understand this cars strengths and weaknesses.

For instance, spending the weekend with it allowed me to check out its new touch-screen entertainment system, its ride quality, its real-world fuel-economy and how the gearbox adapts to different traffic situations.

First of all, the updated interior is a great place to spend time in. The quality of the fit and finish is getting better every year, however the age old problem of the dashboard reflecting on the windshield still exists. If the dash color is tan, as it was in my test car, the reflections do become much more apparent, the solution, order a black dashboard.

The new entertainment system looks great, but I am not a fan of touch-screen systems because after a few days the screen is full of oily finger marks and they are hard to clean off. Also, the stereo is best left off or played almost silently, because this cabin is not the quietest place to be in. I found it has more road noise than I was expecting, due to the 295/30 ZR19 tires, and even more wind noise at high-speeds than I was expecting. Playing the stereo louder only made things worse as the music sounded boomy, trying to fight against other noises. The solution, turn the stereo off, engage a lower gear and open up the throttle, the noise the engine makes is worth listening to, just don’t get carried away, the Police will take your car away if you are caught doing 150km/h on the highway these days, a speed that is all to easy to exceed in the 911.

The PDK gearbox works well in daily commutes; however since it likes working up the gears very quickly to maximize fuel efficiency, I found this creates a lag if you suddenly demand instant acceleration. I also didn’t like the way Porsche worked out the steering wheel mounted pedal shifters for the PDK gearbox. First, they have given the up and down feature on both ends of the steering wheel, which I think

is confusing, I prefer having up on the right and down on the left, as it is in Ferrari’s, Aston Martin’s and Jaguars. Also, they got the working wrong, because it asks you to push the pedal with your thumb for gearing up, and pulling it from your fingers to gear down. This is wrong and I’ll tell you why, because when you are doing performance driving, as you approach a corner, you are hard on the brakes, and your hand inadvertently presses the up-shift pedal when you actually needed to shift down so you can power out of the corner. The guy from Porsche said that they did this to keep in tradition with the old Tiptronic feature. Tradition is one thing, but when it’s wrong it is better to admit it and adopt what’s right. I am absolutely sure, if Porsche was to make this change, it will improve this cars driving experience and I am sure none of the old Porsche clientele will be upset.

On a positive note, the fuel economy is actually very impressive. Driven reasonably, it can easily achieve 10-liters/100km on an urban cycle, which is amazing for a car that has 385hp.

Also impressive are the looks. Some say that Porsche has lazy designers and that all newer models look very similar to the one it replaced. The way I see it is that a 911 is a very human car, it ages like we do, we change a bit year after year, but we are essentially the same person. The 911 is like that, only it seems to be aging far better than I am.

To spot the differences between the 2008 and the 2009 model, look for the LED lights in the front, and the rear lights have also been reshaped. Subtle touches I know, but they work.

The pricing has also been reworked and the 911 is more affordable now than I can ever remember, with prices starting at $94,800. The Carrera S model like the one I tested starts at $107,600. That is a bargain compared to offerings from Audi, Aston Martin and Maserati.

Yes the new 911 isn’t perfect, but neither are

humans, perhaps that is why it is still very much loved by sportscar enthusiasts. For 2009, there are now a few extra things to be enthusiastic for. Long live Porsche, long live the 911.

Experience Class

the new 2009 Porsche 911


health

by sankofa

Human life is our highest value; the concept of health is fundamental to life and leads to the creation of wealth, whether spiritual or material. Inversely, people with the wealth and the means to acquiring long term health, tend not to pay the same attention to it as they do to the purchase and maintenance of a new car, stereo system or even the trendy clothes they wear. Annual spending of black families in North America is projected to break the $1 trillion mark by 2012, yet black business men and women are even more susceptible to debilitating health issues than others, due to the extra stress involved in running, working for or heading a successful business. Often times their busy schedule forces them to put off simple health precautions for another day. Something they would never with an important portfolio or business decision. In 1950, the death rate for blacks was 1.6 times higher than the rate for whites -- identical to what it was in 1995. This data came from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Although the overall death rates have declined for both blacks and whites, the racial gap is wider today than in 1950 for several leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and cirrhosis of the liver. The gap is smaller for the flu and pneumonia, and for homicide, while it remains unchanged for stroke and unintentional injuries. At every level of income, black tend to have higher death rate than whites. Blacks have higher death rates than whites for 8 of the 10 leading causes of death -- heart disease, cancer, stroke, unintentional injuries, flu and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and cirrhosis of the liver. This is why attention to health is so important especially if you have the means and knowledge to achieve it.

Here are some simple tips to attaining and maintaining long term health that can create wealth in your day-to-day existence.

1. Move it oftenMake it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it’s a stress buster. Think ‘move’ in small increments of time. It doesn’t have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class. But that’s great when you’re up to it. Walking is said to be the best activity for heart health and is also beneficial for good circulation and over all muscle tone. Meanwhile, move more.

2. Cut Fat

Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Keep in mind dairy products are also more a matter of “want” than “need”. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts, guard against allergies. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. 3. Quit Smoking

Ever since 1960 when it was announced that smoking was harmful to your health; Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we’ve seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Cigarettes kill five million people each year, more than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs and fires combined. As we get older and more busy, we pick up bad habits that

heAlThweAlThis

He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.”

-Arabian Proverb


have long term deleterious effect on our over all health. This is perhaps the most dangerous. Substituting cigarettes for marijuana is erroneously believed to be less addictive and harmful. Based on the toxic contents, that is so, however, inhaling smoke into the lungs is never a good thing for the blood, organs and cells and getting constantly high (some call it mellow) is the opposite of long term psychological and physical health. 4. Reduce Stress

Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e., Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. 5. Protect Yourself from Pollution

If you can’t live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Make sure your home is dust free and if possible carpet free or failing that, be thorough in cleaning the carpet. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard, they are good pollution deterrent and they also cut down on dirt stirred up from the street. 6. Floss Your TeethRecent studies make a direct connection between longevity

and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it’s because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don’t? 7. keep a Positive Mental outlook There’s a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. 8. Choose Your Parents well The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn’t mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you.

9. Educate yourself on Healthy choices and alternative Consider making a healthy choice to live a healthy lifestyle. We do not have to be a prisoner to sickness, diseases, pain & suffering, weight-issues, depression and low to no energy. We can choose to live a healthy lifestyle....IF WE TRULY WANT IT! This requires educating yourself! After you make a choice to live a healthy lifestyle, simply take some time everyday (10, 15, 20 minutes a day) or as your schedule permits to learn about health & nutrition. You can transform your life when you renew your mindset. Empower your mind by thinking positive and healthy thoughts on a daily basis. Also, take a trip to new and/or used bookstore and purchase a few simple books/audio from the health/nutrition section. If you’re trying to cut down on spending, visit your local library and check out books and/or audio on health. In addition, attend health seminars, workshops, join a support group and consult with a health/nutrition expert for guidance. Practice proper meal planning by setting up a weekly meal plan. By preparing your meals ahead of time, you won’t be spending unnecessarily on fast foods restaurants or on take outs. When you lack knowledge...you will lack understanding and lack of understanding creates a clear path to unnecessary and easily avoidable medical treatment! Comedian Chris Rock said this about medical treatment, “The money is not made in cures, but in keeping people sick.”

Finally, there are people who believe that living a healthy lifestyle means all work and no play. That’s not so! It’s vitally important to have harmony in your life. Take care of important matters and have fun too! Living healthy includes enjoyment as well. Think for a moment.... when you’re having fun naturally you feel great! When you’re engaged in fun activities, such as exercising, dancing, and laughing, you feel better. When you feel better... you often think clearly which can lead to you making healthier choices. You can live healthy and have fun too! Educating yourself on ways to get and maintain proper health lessens the chance of you spending an enormous amount of money going to the dr. for minor to easily avoidable pains.


green ink

by Maria Weekes

theGreen Scene

With the urge to be green on full twitter, it’s not news to hear that many of us are on orange alert when it comes to saving the planet. However, most of this goodwill happens

around the home. A trademark example of someone being green is dimming or turning off the lights when not in use. A 2003 Statistics Canada survey on energy consumption in households nationally demonstrated that Canadians have developed a greater consciousness of energy conservation through the use of halogen blubs, florescent tubes and compact florescent lights (CFL). The same study showed a more conscious attitude towards energy consumption with respects to heating, water and appliance purchases.


Even in public spaces, the incentive to recycle is present. The Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) has installed recycle bins for tabloid dailies, such as Metro and other newspapers. Often in Montreal, one reader will recycle the free daily by passing it along to another passenger.

But, slower to get on the BE-GREEN bandwagon are businesses. Whatever the reluctance to get green, here are some practical ways to become socially responsible and help your bottom line.

Brick-and-mortar SMEs can begin by Waste Watch’s (a London-based not-for-profit) suggested 4-Cs approach, Communication, Consulting, Cooperating, and Coordinating. Waste Watch recommends communicating with your work team about the intention to go green. As such, the relay of bodies involved will most likely be management and office members, company and service providers, your Go-Green coordinating team and the maintenance staff. In order to find the right waste management and office supplies providers, consulting various merchants around the city is essential. Ranked third in Econsciousmarket’s top-five eco-cities, Toronto has a network of office-directed green vendors to help you and your team transition.

In its online publication, Waste Watch also underlines the importance of cooperating as a team in order for your reduce-reuse-recycle campaign to run smoothly. Lastly, a coordinating team to implement and sustain the development of a green workplace is crucial.

Once you’ve gotten or given the green light, be certain to implement the easy steps first.

One area that’s simple to convert is the bathroom. If your SME toilet facilities are your responsibility, transitioning to green-friendly toilet paper is seamless.

Majesta is an eco-friendly brand. This locally-made label contains no chlorine, no dyes nor fragrance; nevertheless, it is comparable in quality and color to other longstanding brands. Irving, the manufacturer of Majesta, is well known for its tree-planting efforts, spanning five decades. The Corporation also touts its goods as Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified.

According to its website, SFI is a symbol that constitutes “wood from well-managed forests across North America”. It is a charitable organization that serves to ensure measures to preserve wildlife, water quality, protected species and biodiversity are put in place.

The practical use of paper is definitely a key tenet in this age of conservation. Unlike toilet paper, which can be conveniently integrated into your new green office life, rewiring how your team members become more g-conscious about their paper use takes more effort.

Since office life surrounds communication and recordkeeping, paper is undoubtedly a vital commodity that is, at times, used unwisely. According to one Xerox Corporation research, “office workers throw away 45 per cent of documents within 24 hours of printing them.” Certainly, discerning which job-related documents can be distributed via softcopy versus which require to be printed is an important point to discuss in your initial recycling-scheme meeting.

Even with becoming prudent about paper waste, inevitably, some printed documents will meet their end in the recycle bin—preferably a reused cardboard box. And, even though your SME may be set up for green waste removal, turning some of this paper into message or note-taking pads will cut costs on your supplies expense budget.

With the help of a paper cutter and eco staples, your employees can have much needed message-recording devices at no extra cost to the company.

Another task that requires its fair share paper is photocopying. If your photocopier works well, then ensuring your work team knows how to duplex copies (double-sided) is a great way to save on paper. However, if your main photocopier jams or breaks down more than you like, then it’s a good idea to look into an energy-friendly, multiple function copier. A machine that copies, scans and faxes is more economical in the long run. Finding the right copier for your document processing needs can be achieved through consultation if you’re not sure which new copier to settle on.

In the name of saving money and paper, nothing works like healthy competition.

A Reduce-Paper-Use Contest is fun, good-spirited competition to help transition employees into paper greenies. This challenge requires copy codes, which can be easily set up, and a time period to monitor repeated use. At the end, the competitor, with the least negative impact on your green SME, wins.

Such a contest can run intermittently as a reminder of your green theme. In addition, it is a great way to estimate paper use and be earth-efficient.

As a team, you can enter the David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge. Suzuki’s initiative, although included, transcends green office measures. It gives office teams a soft space to blog about their endeavors.

Whistling while one works has become commonplace in the workplace. Through top-40 hits or personal selection, today’s worker hums along to tunes, often to cut down on the monotony. Whereas this may have an upward effect on your team’s mood, it impacts your energy bill. Depending on your SME layout, colleagues can music-piggyback. Like carpooling, co-workers can assign themselves play days, on which a given team member’s station choice is the theme in his or her section. Those in closed offices can set up their music selection on their online or offline players.

Other energy-saving measures include maintaining thermostats at an optimum temperature, and turning off the computers and lights before heading home for the evening.

In order to customize your office to the right shade of green for you, consult local sites, such as Green Enterprise Toronto and arveecorp.com, to find more tips.


insPirationmusic

T-Minus is a young producer from the GTA who has all kinds of major label, indie label, and no-label artists clamouring to record over his beats. For this

issue of Black Ink, he steps away from his home studio setup long enough to answer a few questions about how he got started, what he’s learned along the way, whether the recession is affecting him, and what his fans can expect to hear next. D C Dolabaille

“Who’s your favourite producer?”A typical fan of hip hop or R&B will probably answer with at least one of the following well-known names: Timbaland, Pharrell of The Neptunes/N.E.R.D., Swizz Beats, Dr. Dre, Kanye West. The common perception is that all the hottest urban producers come from the States (especially New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta), but the industry is slowly starting to recognize the incredible talent that resides on the cold side of the Canada-US border. Case in point: T-Minus (Tyler Williams), an up-and-coming producer from Ajax, Ontario who is represented by Lavish Life Management. At the age of 21, this prodigious talent has already worked with heavy hitters in the world of hip hop and R&B including Ludacris, Plies, Drake, Young Jeezy, Letoya Luckett, Mya, and Chris Brown.

Williams first started experimenting with music as a student at Pickering High School. “I’ve always loved music,” he says. “I used to play the drums, so I’ve always been interested in music in that way.” After sitting at the drum kit for a few years, he decided to try making his own rhythms, so he downloaded a digital audio workstation program called Fruity Loops when he was 15 years old and was soon creating entire songs. His talent spans genres – while most of his placements have been for hard-hitting hip hop artists, he also creates smooth R&B beats for the likes of Letoya Luckett (one of the founding members of Destiny’s Child and now a solo artist), catchy up-tempo tracks for a variety of styles, and even pop rock for a Toronto group called The Stereos.

Williams was already an acquaintance of Brendan Malette, who is now his manager, by the time Malette founded Lavish Life Management in 2007. Lavish Life is a management company for producers and songwriters which shops material to major label artists in order to

get their beats, or songs, out onto airwaves and albums. “Shopping” music is like pitching or proposing an idea to someone in the industry. The process requires having reliable connections, a lot of patience, and high-quality material, since artists and their managers and record label A&R figures are bombarded with music and lyrics on a daily basis. It’s important to prove to a client that your music, your lyrics, or your song are a perfect match for a particular artist’s image, and that one of the dozen or so spots for songs on an album should go to you. Williams sees signing with Malette’s company as the smartest business move he’s made thus far, since “They were able to take my music to places that would be hard to reach if I tried on my own.” Malette also gave Williams the nickname T-Minus. He was previously known as T. Williams, but that name seemed too common, and since the beats he makes are “explosive,” the short form for a countdown to a rocket or missile launch seemed appropriate. Currently enrolled at Centennial College where he is earning a degree in accounting, Williams learned many things in high school which have been valuable to him in the business world, including clear communication skills and knowledge of how to conduct oneself in different environments. He admits that there was a period when he couldn’t see how getting a formal education could be helpful to him in his chosen career, but “I realized that having a backup plan is important.” Why did he choose to study accounting instead of something related to music or entertainment? “Because I’m good with numbers, and I come from a family of accountants. It’s naturally easy for me.”

Williams laughs when asked if he has ever had a business plan. “No. No, I haven’t. I should. My business plan is just ‘shop to labels until they like my music and I can get familiar with others in the industry, and develop my relationships.’ ”

His approach has certainly been working well so far. Barely out of his teens, Williams’ track record would be impressive even for a producer in his thirties. He co-produced the 2007 smash single “Replacement Girl,” by Toronto’s own Drake (featuring Trey Songz) with Boi 1da, and his recent releases include “Co-Defendant” from Plies’ latest album Da Realist; “Look at my Swagg” by

t-Minu

S

Papa Duck (featuring Rick Ross and Ace Hood); “Black Out” by Mya; and “Break You Up” by Tyra B. Being so young has been both an asset and a liability to Williams in the industry. There are times when “artists and labels feel that they can jerk young individuals around, thinking [we] have no knowledge of how the business works,” he explains, “but others see potential in someone starting off young. When I was in the studio with Luda, he introduced me to [producers] 9th Wonder and DJ Premier and he’d brag to them about my age – at the time I was 20.”

Of course, networking and developing relationships is as crucial in music as it is in any other business, but the exchange of payment for services rendered is equally important, and Williams has definitely noticed the current recession’s effect on his business. “Right now,” he summarizes, “some artists aren’t receiving their budgets because some labels are holding onto them, which slows down the process of me getting paid. On top of that, artists’ release dates are being pushed back.” So while there hasn’t been a significant reduction in cash flow, there is now a longer wait time between when he delivers his beats and when he receives payment for them.

This may be the case until after the economy is back in full swing – in the meantime, however, rather than worrying about such technicalities, Williams is focusing his energy on making music and finishing school. He has no regrets so far, and while there may eventually come a time when he branches out from producing music into something else since “we all need to grow and evolve,” he is happy to be pursuing his passion and making a name for himself, for Lavish Life, and for Toronto talent. His current and upcoming projects include collaborations with Chris Brown, Birdman from the Cash Money Millionaires, Yung Joc, and Chamillionaire. He also remains dedicated to working with lesser-known artists, including Toronto rappers and singers; current collaborators include Jhevon Paris, D’Brown (aka Captain-Hooks), Untitled, A-Game, Chattrisse, and a pop rock group called The Stereos. Lavish Life may eventually look into expanding its business to the Southern United States since many of their clientele reside in Florida and Georgia, but for now they remain based in Toronto.

When asked what advice he would offer to anyone who is trying to become an entrepreneur like himself, Williams keeps it short and snappy. “Network. Work hard. The best advice I could give is if you don’t love it, don’t do it.” Apparently he’s not only talented beyond his years, but unusually wise as well; his tips for success apply to anyone chasing their dreams, regardless of their age or interest.

For more on T-Minus, check out www.myspace.com/producertminus. For more information about Lavish Life Management, go to www.myspace.com/lavishlifemanagement.


music

Billed as “The Ultimate Music Industry Conference,” the Stylus Group’s “It Starts with the DJ” took place on May 30th 2009 at Home nightclub.

The event began with a Business Fundamentals section featuring various industry entrepreneurs, managers, and disc jockeys as panellists. Hosts Ty Harper and rez DigitaL, from OTA Live on FLOW 93.5, began by introducing themselves and the panellists: industry experts Neil Forester, Abby Tobias, Adrian Strong, Stephane Lecuyer, and Tony Sal, and DJs Baba Khan and Wristpect. Next, they presented and explained the event’s acronym, FAMLIE, which served as their organization method for the panel’s themes of discussion: Financing, Accounting, Marketing, Legal, Industry, and Execution.

Attendees who had pre-registered were given the opportunity to spend a few minutes with their mentor of choice, talking to them and learning from them in what looked like a cross between a speed-dating event and a job interview; the day concluded with special guest DJ Drama (the Official DJ for recording artist TI and a renowned mixtape DJ) being interviewed by Harper and DigitaL. For those of you who were unable to attend this year’s conference, here are a few sound bytes. -- D C Dolabaille

“You always go find [money], it’s never going to come find you.” -- Tony Sal, CEO of CP Records

“The hurdle of money is not just a music thing . . . but artists seem to cry about it the most.” -- Abby Tobias, emcee, DJ and President of Sole Power Productions

BY D.C. DOLABAILLE


“Why depend on somebody when it’s not that difficult to figure out some basic bookkeeping yourself? Just keep track of your money, it’s not that complicated.” -- Stephane Lecuyer, CEO of Full Capacity Concerts

“You’re a brand, not a DJ.” -- DJ Wristpect’s marketing advice for young DJs (he suggests taking 30%-40% of your earnings and investing that amount back into reinforcing your brand)

“Anything that builds community is always good. . . . I think these conferences in general are inspirational.” -- Adrian Strong, President of DMD Entertainment“Your word is your bond.” -- DJ Wristpect“Hip hop is still organic.” -- DJ Drama on the public’s support of actor-turned-rapper Drake as an unsigned artist

“You can’t put a value on networking.” -- Joe Bartok, Entertainment Accountant and owner of This is the Deal Accounting & Consulting Specialists, on the importance of events like Spinfest

“It’s important for us to have a strong sense of self.” -- Ty Harper, cohost of OTA Live, on Torontonians having pride in our city and our music scene.

“Don’t sleep, don’t take no for an answer.” -- Tony Sal

“Everybody pays dues, and everybody walks the ladder.” -- DJ Drama

//www.stylusgroup.ca

BY D.C. DOLABAILLE

This Page// Hosts and panellists of the Business Fundamentals section. Left to right: Ty Harper, Abby Tobias, Neil Forester, DJ Baba Khan, rez DigitaL, AdrianStrong, Stephane Lecuyer, Dj Wristpect, and Tony Sal.

left Page// Ty Harper, rez DigitaL and DJ Drama sharing a laugh during their interview.


not-for-Pr0fit

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and actor Bridget Ogundipe has just stepped off the stage at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto. She and the rest of the cast of the AfriCan Theatre Ensemble production “The Marriage of Anansewa” have completed five shows in the Studio Theatre, and they have nine days to rest and recuperate before hitting the stage again. Ogundipe is grateful to be getting a break, but she won’t be spending her week off sleeping in or going to the spa. She’ll be volunteering in a hospital in Haiti � Cité Soleil, to be exact � nursing residents of the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere with Third World Awareness, the not-for-profit group that she helped to create.

Bridget Olufunke Ogundipe was born to a Nigerian father and a Guyanese mother. The two met in Canada and made their home in Lagos, Nigeria, where Ogundipe was born, then moved back to Toronto when she was two years old. As a student at Brother Edmund Rice High School on Pelham Avenue, Ogundipe joined her drama teacher and basketball coach, John Calaghan, on a humanitarian trip to Trenchtown, in Kingston, Jamaica. Calaghan organized these trips on a yearly basis, going to places like Jamaica and Nicaragua during March break and leading his students in helping others who were born into less fortunate circumstances than themselves.

Calaghan retired when Ogundipe was in the twelfth grade. None of the other teachers at Brother Edmund Rice were planning to continue the trips, but Ogundipe and a number of Calaghan’s other former students were reluctant to stop them – and so, as it turns out, was Calaghan himself. “So we found a way,” says Ogundipe. “We got support, we did it, and after we got to university there was still a small group of us that said ‘Let’s take this further.’ ” The trips were moved from March to mid-May to avoid conflicting with university exam schedules, the group created a name for themselves and became a not-for-profit organization, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Third World Awareness is funded by its Board of Directors, on which Ogundipe has sat ever since its inception, and by private donations. They became a registered charity to encourage these donations, and none of the Board members get paid at all – they pay for their own travel and expenses, and fundraise whatever they can along the way. “It’s a devotion, not a job,” insists Ogundipe, explaining that supporters are appreciative of the dedication they can see

in the organization’s workers. “The people that run our organization actually do the work, we actually go down there . . . and I think that attracts donors to our organization. Our representatives are honest and genuine. Our motto is ‘Through helping others, we help ourselves,’ and that’s basically it. We go down and give people joy and love and we receive even more back. And no one is excluded . . . there’s no requirements, there’s no form to fill out, there’s no background check . . . it’s just ‘You’re willing to do something like this, you’re a good person.’ ” This is a stark contrast to many large faith-based humanitarian NGOs – one former member of TWA now works with World Vision, where she was surprised to learn that no one could be hired unless they were baptized Christians.

Employee background checks are just one thing that TWA chooses not to use; they also don’t have marketing campaigns, or even a business plan. They do have meetings and they do keep records of donations and expenditures, but they rely mainly on word of mouth to attract participants and donors. “We’re very good speakers. We have big mouths,”

Ogundipe laughs, “and we have our website. That’s it. Because we’re so passionate and very connected, people are drawn to us and what we do.” They do have one large TWA fundraiser event every year: “It’s a concert that [Board member] Charity Adams promotes, and we probably raise between $700 and $800 per year.” Aside from that, TWA holds an annual Walkathon to raise money and awareness (their most recent one was on April 26), and some members choose to sell chocolates for $2 a box.

Ogundipe is not bothered by what may appear to some as a loosely structured organization – she says that it adds to their authenticity and grassroots appeal. “We want the work we do to come from an honest place and we don’t want to be motivated by anything else except for ‘This is what I should be doing as a human being.’ We don’t want to lose that essence of what it is, where it’s coming from.”And while other organizations have more specifically mandated fundraising efforts than TWA, the money does come. The same spirit that motivated high school students to spend their March break working with the poor in Kingston continues to motivate individual donors and sponsorship efforts. When asked about whether the recession has made it harder to gain enough funding, Ogundipe concedes that “We’re not doing as well as we were last year, that’s for sure, in terms of donations, but the money’s coming in. I don’t know how much of that has to do with the recession,” she adds, noting that one main reason they have made less this year than last year is that in 2008, an individual who had

Helping HandsBY D.C. Dolabaille


participated in two TWA trips inherited ten thousand dollars when a loved one passed away, and donated it all to help out with TWA’s current work in Haiti. The logistics of each year’s trip are planned out once the Board Members have sat down together in early May and reviewed the funds that are available. Calaghan and Ogundipe are the only two TWA founders who are still actively involved in the outreach aspect of these trips; they have now been doing this work for 20 and 12 years, respectively.

Aside from doing her humanitarian work and furthering her acting career, Ogundipe (who went on from Brother Edmund Rice to earn an Honours degree in theatre from the University of Toronto, along with a minor in biology and one in anthropology, and an acting diploma from Sheridan College within a span of five years), plans to continue writing scripts and songs, and recording her first album. She recently wrote her LSAT exam and hopes to pursue a career in humanitarian law, to “incorporate my experience with TWA into making a different in the legal aspect of things. I’m very spiritual and I do believe in God, and I just want to be used right now. I just want to be used – based on my strengths, not my weaknesses,” she laughs.

Her advice for others is to “Live your life and do you, man. Do you. Don’t let fear get in the way of you living and doing what you want to do in life. . . . Fear can make you do some very regrettable things.” She notes that her family was apprehensive about letting her go to Trenchtown to work with the poor when she was a teenager attending her Catholic high school on Pelham Avenue, but she now sees taking that risk as the smartest thing she’s ever done. “TWA is the greatest gift and the greatest privilege I’ve ever had in my life,” she says earnestly. “We want to provide people with an experience and for them to become aware of the situations beyond our own box . . . to provide basic necessities for people in impoverished situations, and to spread our love and spread our joy in whatever way we can, and also to become better human beings. I think that’s the end goal.” For more information, please go to www.twawareness.org.

what They DoThird World Awareness participates in a variety of projects. Most are based in Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil, a densely populated area whose residents live in shacks, among swamps, fighting with disease � it has been called the

poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere. The Manual Building Project allows volunteers to help build a school from the ground up. TWA has hired a six-man crew from among the unemployed adults in the community, and the volunteers help them out in whatever way they can. Since schooling is not free, TWA is also trying to

provide scholarships for students. They have also tried to set up a meal program, building a kitchen, buying food, and hiring a woman to cook, but Ogundipe notes that this type of work is sometimes hard to continue because once they return home to Canada, it can be difficult to monitor whether the work is still being done.Another site of work is Mother Theresa’s Home for the Dying, which is a hospital for AIDS patients. Volunteers give aid here depending on their skill and training – sometimes nurses join TWA, and they help to administer vaccines to the population; people who don’t have medical training do simpler tasks, or they just spend time with the patients, playing Dominoes and talking to them. There is a hospital right outside Cité Soleil where Ogundipe typically works, doing things like bandaging up the wounds of a nine-year-old boy who had been shot in the stomach. “My daily routine usually would be clipping toenails, giving massages. There’s people with missing limbs, AIDS, TB, whatever. If they get better they get released, and if they don’t they die.”There is also the Mother Theresa Malnutrition Clinic for babies. “They’re all malnourished, so our volunteers hold them, they comfort them, they feed them, they change their diapers. Sometimes the parents come visit them. And there’s another home in the mountains for mentally and physically disabled children where some of our volunteers work. So there are options for our volunteers.”The base cost of flight and accommodation

is approximately $1 200 CDN per person, but any donation effort helps. Please check out www.twawareness.org to see how you can help.Bridget Ogundipe is a multitalented Torontonian whose breadth of talent is matched by her desire to help others. She has been taking humanitarian trips to third-world countries since she was a teenager with Third World Awareness, the not-for-profit organization that she helped to create. Looking at her background and education, it seems that she was meant to travel, to learn about different cultures, and to bring smiles to people’s faces. D C Dolabaille

We want to provide people with an experience and for them to become aware of the situations beyond our own box


trailblazers

The term “the Real McCoy” is more than just a catch phrase. Since it first started being used more than a century ago, it has also been an indication of quality and an affirmation of the

intellect and perseverance of Elijah McCoy, a man whose legacy is a source of pride not only for Black Canadians, but for all descendants of North American chattel slavery. D C Dolabaille

Elijah McCoy was a famous inventor and engineer who was born in Canada, grew up in the United States, studied in Scotland, and made great contributions to m a n u f a c t u r i n g and locomotive industries around the world. The third of twelve children, he was born in the mid-1840s

(historians cannot be certain whether is year of birth was 1843 or 1844) in Colchester, Ontario, to George McCoy and Mildred McCoy (née Goins), two escaped slaves from Kentucky. When Elijah was a young child, the McCoys returned to the United States. They settled in Michigan, and his father found work in the logging industry.

Blacks in the United States had a hard time obtaining mechanical training, so George and Mildred McCoy sent their son Elijah, who exhibited an aptitude in that area, to Scotland to study Mechanical Engineering. When he returned, he was unable to work as a mechanical engineer in either Southwest Ontario or in Michigan despite his qualifications, and so he began working for the Michigan Central Railroad as a fire man and oiler, or oil man. As a fire man, his main job was to fuel the steam engines of trains; his duties as an oiler included lubricating the train’s moving parts, axles and bearings. It was while he was working as an oiler that McCoy noticed a persistent problem with moving machinery, and devised and perfected a solution for it.

Trains back then needed to be lubricated periodically, to prevent the corrosion of metal due to high pressure steam and stop the machinery from overheating. Each time that a train’s engine had to be lubricated, the train had to be stopped completely. McCoy’s knowledge and experience enabled him to devise and create a way of using steam pressure to supply the machinery with drops of oil from a cup as the train continued to run, eliminating the bothersome process of shutting down machinery to lubricate it.

McCoy was issued his first patent on July 12, 1872 (U.S. patent #129,843) for his self-regulating lubricator which used the steam pressure in the train’s cylinders to operate the valve. Railroad and shipping lines quickly began using McCoy’s lubricators. Clearly one to push the envelope and look for improvements wherever possible, McCoy continued to build new inventions while improving upon his own designs, and was awarded more than 50 patents during his lifetime, in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Austria, Germany, and Russia. The Michigan Central Railroad promoted him to an instructor’s position so he could teach others about his inventions

and the proper way to use them, and he later worked as a mechanical consultant to companies like the Detroit Lubricating Company.

Machine buyers began asking for “the Real McCoy,” meaning that they wanted nothing but the best – genuine Elijah McCoy inventions, and not something that a copy-cat had put out on the market. To this day, the name connotes quality and authenticity. With the exception of a folding ironing board and a self-propelled lawn sprinkler, all of his inventions involved automatic lubrication, and they were used on locomotives, steam ships, ocean liners, and in factories around the world.

by D.C. Dolabaille

Ironically, many of those who asked for “the Real McCoy” were not aware that they were calling the name of a black man, and McCoy continued to face racial discrimination after he had become a well-known inventor. There were even times when the scheduled appearances of this innovator, who had proven himself to be a mechanical genius and made significant contributions to the industrial world, were cancelled at the last moment.

By the early 1880s, McCoy and his second wife, Mary Eleanora Delaney (he had married an Ann Elizabeth Stewart in 1868, but she died four years later) had

moved to a non-segregated neighbourhood in Detroit, Michigan. In 1916, he p a t e n t e d his Graphite L u b r i c a t o r . M c C o y described this as his greatest invention; it

used powdered graphite (a substance which could easily withstand high temperatures, but was previously prone to clogging engines) mixed with oil to lubricate superheater locomotive engine cylinders. In 1920, he established his own company: the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company.

Sadly, McCoy suffered in later years. He and his wife were injured in a serious car accident in 1922; she died as a result, and his health was never the same. After spending a year in Michigan’s Eloise Infirmary, Elijah McCoy died of senile dementia caused by hypertension on October 10, 1929 – nineteen days before the stock market crash that sparked the Great Depression. He has been inducted into Ohio’s National Inventors Hall of Fame, and he was also nominated by the International African Inventors Museum for induction into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame. And to this day, when people ask for “the Real McCoy,” it is understood that they want the best and nothing less.


TreyanThonyplayrighT

by D.C. Dolabaille


wHY HEAlTH AnD HARMonY ARE CRuCIAl To SuCCESS In BuSInESS

“I always approach my business as an extension of my-self.”

These words ring true when they are being spoken by a writer who draws from her own experiences to create touching and humourous plays, an actor who always empathizes with her audience, an entrepreneur who fi-nances most of the budget for each show her company produces, and a producer whose motto is “How do I know it’s good? Because my name is on it.”

Trey Anthony’s two Toronto-based companies, Trey An-thony Productions and the Trey Anthony @One Centre (started in 2001 and 2008, respectively) are both thriv-

ing. The former is a production company for theatre, film, and television which brings in six figures annually; the latter is a wellness centre for women on Queen Street West which encourages them to focus on the core principles of Mind, Body, Spirit, Creativity, and Fun. When Anthony wakes up in the morning, “I say to myself, ‘In order to do this I have to be physically and emotionally and spiritually in sync.’ ” She runs on the treadmill, meditates, and does daily affirmations to focus and prepare herself for a day of work.

“You can ask my staff,” she laughs, “the days that I don’t exercise and the days I don’t meditate, they know.

. . . If I’m not well physically or emotionally, my busi-ness isn’t well physically or emotionally. I cannot run on empty, because then my thoughts are running on empty, my creativity is running on empty. So I have to always take time for myself . . . in order to do really great work and do work that inspires others, I have to be at a place, emotionally and spiritually, where I’m tak-ing care of myself.”

Anthony’s track record demonstrates that taking care of herself does equate taking care of her business -- her reputation as an upstanding businesswoman is one she carefully maintains with every creative, executive and financial decision she makes. Sloppiness and missed deadlines are two of her biggest pet peeves, and though she is fair and understanding, she runs a tight ship. “Anything that has my name on it,” she says, “it has to be the best and at the top of its game . . .

TreyanThonyplayrighT

feature

, “the days that i don’t exercise. . . . i’m not well physically or emotionally... my business isn’t well physically or emotionally.

people have to come out of there and say ‘that was a Trey Anthony experience.’ ”

Black Ink will have a more in-depth story on Trey An-thony in our Fall 2009 issue. It will cover her early years, her best and worst business moves, some of her proven methods of ensuring customer loyalty, and a re-view of her latest play, Secrets of a Black Boy, which she describes as “the male response to ‘Da Kink in My Hair.” Tickets for Secrets of a Black Boy are on sale now; the play runs from September 22 - October 3 at The Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, ON). www.secretsofablackboy.com


insPiration

black ink magazine (mock)

Documents

customer referral

referral customer

referral program

referral cards

new client

businessthe new

new car

marketing initiatives