Stories from the Firecircle

On this episode I talk with Meagan Bruneski. Meagan recently married and moved to a ranch in rural BC where she is able to spend time working with - and introducing others to - the healing power of horses through equine learning and therapy. She and her family are building MeadowView Reins, a place where people can come to stay, ride, eat and connect, free from the distractions of the digital world. While Meagan’s property and business are serene, her story is anything but. Meagan found Firecircle as the result of a really bad accident. Her journey is not for the faint of heart. A heads-up: if, like me, you’re squeamish about graphic descriptions of accidents and injuries you may want to skip ahead about 90 seconds when Meagan starts to talk about “being stuck on the couch”. Here’s a link to Meagan's website: www.meadowviewreins.ca If you, like Megan, have a passion you’d like to turn into a business, Firecircle can help with our proven, comprehensive and easy to use digital business planning programs, live one to one expert mentorship and the support of an incredible community of entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships

In this episode I talk with Jonathan Gillingham. Jonathan is a professional photographer who also works full-time for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Jonathan is originally from Newfoundland but packed up his life and drove across the country to follow his dream of becoming a wildlife biologist. On the road, he discovered that, not only did he enjoy photography, but he was really good at photography. Now an established wildlife photographer, he is excited to offer workshops to tourists and locals alike, sharing his expertise. Jonathan was kind enough to talk about his journey, his love of the North, and the importance of listening to those who have come before him to learn from their experience. Do yourself a favour and check out Jonathan’s website: https://jgphotography.ca/ and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jg_photography23/?hl=en He really does extraordinary work, showcasing the landscapes and wildlife of the Northwest Territories.  If, like Jonathan, you or someone you know has a business that you’d like to expand into the tourism industry, Firecircle can help you strategically expand your business for both profitability and sustainability. Visit www.thefirecircle.ca

In this episode I speak with Lowanda Knox who has been a Firecircle member for the past nine months. In that time, she has made significant progress on her business planning while juggling a very busy life. Lowanda is a mother of 5, who works a full-time job, and somehow has made the time to turn her passion for food, and her training as a red seal chef, into her lifelong dream of professional cooking. Lowanda was kind enough to share her personal story with us including the twists and turns that led her to where she is today, on the cusp of opening her first food truck Sima7qa7 (Come and Eat). Lowanda talks about the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship and why running a food truck, rather than a bricks and mortar restaurant is the right move for her. Lowanda has also planned her meals with a deeper purpose in mind; to make quick and health 'to go' meals available in her community. If you, have a passion that you’d like to turn into a business to share with the world, we are here to help. Come visit us at www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships to learn more. 

On this episode I speak with Gina VandenDool who is Firecircle’s beloved Member Experience Coordinator. Gina puts in a ton of time and energy into making sure that Firecircle members have everything they need to be successful. Gina makes a big impact on a lot of people’s lives and I asked Gina to tell us a bit more about her path to working with Firecircle and why she does what she does with so much passion. Gina is also uniquely qualified to share some of the larger trends that she sees in Firecircle members, what common challenges they face, and what characteristics and strategies bring people the most success. Gina is part of an amazing team at Firecircle who are dedicated to helping entrepreneur make their business dreams come true. If you or someone you know would thrive in a community of passionate entrepreneurs and supportive and caring experts, all working to help you take your business to the next level, consider joining us and getting the Firecircle Experience for yourself. Find out more at www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships.

In this episode I speak with Denise Miller who has recently started Experience Saghalie in Kamloops, British Columbia. Through her business, Denise provides both a beautiful and restful place for visitors to unwind, as well as catered and personalized tours, experiences and itineraries. In our conversation, Denise and I talk about the twists and turns, peaks and valleys that she has encountered on her journey as a long-time entrepreneur. We also talk about the great privilege and the amazing opportunity we have in the Tourism industry to create unique and memorable experiences for people, and the joy and satisfaction that comes from giving guests that 'wow' feeling. To learn more about Experience Saghalie or to book a stay, please visit. https://www.experiencesaghalie.com Firecircle is a Tourism Accelerator that uses our proven 5x5 method, one to one personalized business mentorship, and many other tools and resources to help new and existing entrepreneurs plan, launch, grow and maximize successful and sustainable tourism businesses. If you have a dream that you’d like to make a reality, or you’ve started a business and are feeling overwhelmed, please visit us a https://www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships to find out how we can help.

In this episode I speak with Brenda Cheveldayoff. Brenda is a busy woman to say the least. She is a full-time grain farmer in Blaine Lake Saskatchewan with a passion for sharing an under told story of the Russian Doukhobors in Canada. If you’ve never heard of the Doukhobors in Canada, you’re not alone. Brenda is working hard to change that and by way of an extremely short history lesson from the doukhobordugouthouse.com , in 1899, Russian Doukhobors fled their homeland and settled in the Blaine Lake area of Saskatchewan, Canada. They adapted to the harshness of their environment by digging into the North Saskatchewan River ravine, where they built a dugout house, in the style of houses in the Caucus. The Caucus is an area spanning eastern Europe and Western Asia mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. Brenda has meticulously restored that original dug out house to preserve and share Doukhobor culture and history. It has since, become an award-winning tourism destination where guests can explore the house, learn about the history of the Doukhobors in Canada from actors in period costumes and even sample some traditionally inspired cuisine. There is so much more to the Doukhobor story that we weren’t able to touch on in this episode. Please visit Brenda’s website www.doukhobordugouthouse.com to learn more. Better yet, take a drive to Blain Lake Saskatchewan to experience Brenda’s passion and hard work firsthand. Brenda is a long time Firecircle member. If you or someone you know is serious about turning your passion into a business but don’t know where to begin, come visit us at thefirecircle.ca/memberships to see how our proven tools, resources and mentorship can get you there.

In this episode I talk with Kim Yeaman, who along with her partner Robert, have built Brennan's Hill Camping and Cabins, a successful and growing business. Kim opened up to me, not only about how her dream business came to be, but also about those low and lonely times that all entrepreneurs face, and how the community she's found at Firecircle has helped pull her through. Kim is an important part of the Firecircle community and she contributes as much as she receives. To learn more about Kim's business and to book a stay, visit: https://brennanshillcampingandcabins.com

If you'd like to join the hundreds of entrepreneurs all across Canada who are working together and using Firecircle's tools and resources to help make everyone's business a success, you can join us today at https://www.thefirecircle.ca/memberships

In this episode I talk with Mariah Battiste. Mariah is someone who seems to have boundless energy. Her business is growing by leaps and bounds. She’s a business award winner, a published author, and has successfully battled with Canada Post for equitable shipping options in her small community. Mariah’s path has not been an easy one. There have been steps forward and steps back, life has intervened, plans have changed obstacles have been faced and overcome. Through all of it, Mariah remains a happy warrior. During our conversation, she shared her ups and downs with a smile on her face, and sense of perseverance that I can only describe as contagious. For all your beading needs and more visit https://sundaylacecreations.com You can read more about Mariah's story in With Grace and Grit Volume 2, available here: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Grit-Indigenous-Women-Business/dp/1738049620

In this episode, I talk with Matthew Cugnet. I reached out to Matthew after hearing from our team that he was “doing something amazing”. With no other information, I reached out to hear more about what this amazing thing was. I was not disappointed. Matthew describes how the profound experiences he’s had while long distance Trekking in countries all around the world, has inspired him to want to make those experiences possible here in Canada. This is a story of transformation, perseverance and a deep sense of Community.

In this episode we have an amazing story of an unlikely, and special partnership that formed between Firecircle members. Lori and Dean Runzer are experienced entrepreneurs who run a luxury resort and Carly Kowalski is a new entrepreneur with a passion for dogs. She is launching, a consultancy to help accommodation businesses become more pet friendly. Lori and Carly first met on a Firecircle live group session. Lori saw a spark inside Carly and invited her out to Firesong to create a pet friendly experience at the resort. Little did Carly know that Lori would not only be her client, but as you’ll hear, she would also be her personal mentor, champion and friend. This is story of Generosity and Bravery. It’s a story of personal development as much as business development.