Sbcn Small Biz Podcast

SBCN Co-Founder and host of the Small Biz Podcast Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews Janet Benedict about her new "Diaries" project, which empowers seniors to share their life stories and wisdom. Alongside her 'Diaries' partner Will, Janet uses Substack to publish free, short stories from the senior community. The initiative preserves valuable memories and nostalgia. Janet plans to compile these stories into a future anthology, offering royalties to participating writers to ensure these unique perspectives are never lost. Small Business owners are very interested in this resource.

Linda Ockwell-Jenner hosts Chris May, who discusses Service IQ, his consulting firm for small trades businesses. Chris helps owner-operators map their workflow and information flow to identify inefficiencies, risks, and opportunities. The pair discuss how implementing small process changes saves massive time and boosts profit. Chris emphasizes that networking and authenticity drive his success, advising business owners to recognize which tasks they can automate or offload to manage stress and improve capacity.

Joining Linda Ockwell-Jenner this week... Ian Inglis, a RE/MAX agent and SBCN Member Expert discusses the current state of the real estate market, primarily focusing on the impact of the unusually prolonged winter on the spring market. He notes that the typical spring surge hasn’t materialized due to severe weather conditions and broader global events impacting buyer confidence. While entry-level homes (under $750,000) remain active with significant buyer demand and multiple offer situations, the overall market has slowed. He observes a trend of sellers strategically pricing homes low to attract multiple offers, a practice he finds less appealing. Despite this, sales are still occurring, particularly in the lower price range, and he highlights a concerning situation where appraised values are lower than sale prices, potentially creating challenges for buyers renewing their mortgages. Finally, he promotes an upcoming informational event, “When Life Happens,” hosted by his office, designed to assist individuals

Glenn Poulos, the president of ProgUSA, joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner on the SBCN Small Biz Podcast to share tips for growing small businesses. He emphasizes four key areas: showing up creates opportunity, building relationships over transactions, protecting margins, and consistently bringing value to the conversation. Glenn stresses the importance of understanding a client’s needs, advocating for speed, and avoiding generic sales pitches. He highlights the “Punch Perfect Pitch and Close” guide available on his website (glennpoulos.com) which uses a three-point structure for presentations. Glenn also offered a valuable piece of advice – thoroughly research potential clients before engaging, as a lack of preparation can immediately derail the process.

Peter Piluk, from Creative Minds Accounting, discusses his networking journey over 30 years, emphasizing its crucial role in his business success. He highlights two key networking types: connecting with potential clients and building relationships with industry peers. Peter shares anecdotes, like securing a major software development contract through a referral from a network administrator, demonstrating the value of diverse connections. He stresses that networking isn’t just about immediate sales, but about building lasting relationships and fostering a supportive “piranha” environment where referrals flow. Ultimately, Peter underscores the importance of consistent networking, even with occasional anxieties, to unlock business opportunities.

Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews SBCN member expert: Peter Piluk, Creative Minds Accounting's founder, on small business tax tips. Peter emphasizes the correct tax order: current payroll taxes first, followed by HST, then income taxes. He warns against common mistakes like claiming non-eligible expenses (e.g., clothing) and stresses the importance of keeping digital and physical receipts. Peter shares that business owners can claim 61-62 cents per kilometre for mileage. He advises against DIY tax preparation if behind by more than two years and reassures that the CRA is manageable, not intimidating.

Ashley Griffin, our Member Expert, and a network specialist operating under the company Griffcomm Inc. in Canada, discusses Voice over IP (VoIP) with SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. VoIP, essentially a technology replacing traditional phone systems, allows for internet-based calls. Initially developed in the late 1990s, it faced challenges due to slow network speeds – around 10 megabits per second – making it difficult to handle multiple voice conversations. As networks improved in the mid-2000s, VoIP became viable, allowing businesses to connect hundreds of users. Ashley explains that while many larger organizations utilize VoIP today, smaller businesses often rely on traditional phone lines and PBX systems. He highlights the potential risks of using cloud-based VoIP solutions, emphasizing the importance of owning the phone number to avoid losing it if service is discontinued. Ashley also showcases a mobile Wi-Fi phone that connects to Wi-Fi networks, providing a remote access point to a business’s VoI

One of our podcast experts, Peter Piluk and SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner discuss the increasing use of AI in accounting, particularly for small firms like theirs. Peter explains how he and his wife use AI for research, refining financial tasks, and even proofreading his LinkedIn posts – which are surprisingly successful. He highlights AI’s strength in following rules, like accurately posting transactions based on established accounting guidelines. Peter demonstrates how AI can automate tasks like monitoring client numbers and alert him to potential issues, freeing up his time. He emphasizes that while AI isn’t a complete replacement for accountants, those who embrace it will thrive, particularly as AI’s costs are expected to decrease over time, potentially shifting to a subscription model.

Andrew Leith, an SBCN Member expert, joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. He emphasizes the crucial connection between company culture and revenue, comparing it to personal well-being – a negative mindset hinders performance. Andrew highlights the importance of fostering a positive environment through focusing on people, processes, and products, ensuring employees feel valued and have a voice. He further stresses authenticity and challenging assumptions about culture, advocating for leaders to prioritize genuine connection and employee well-being for sustainable success and ultimately, a thriving business.

The SBCN’s Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Ashley Griffin from Griffcom discussed VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), explaining their importance for small businesses, particularly those with remote workers. A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between a device and an office, protecting data when accessing it remotely. While VPNs have been around for decades, mobile VPN technology has become more prevalent and efficient. Essentially, a VPN allows businesses to securely access their data, regardless of location, and Ashley highlights the irony that smaller businesses often need this security more than larger ones. Finally, Ashley emphasizes the importance of owning your data, advising against relying solely on cloud services like Google Docs.

In this episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast, host Linda Ockwell-Jenner interviews entrepreneur Glenn Poulos, who shares his experience transitioning from a 15-year Canadian business to a new venture, Prog USA, in Florida. Glenn emphasizes the mindset of an entrepreneur – prioritizing ideas and ownership over rigid processes – and offers practical advice like focusing on a minimum viable product, building a strong team, and taking calculated risks. He highlights the importance of customer relationships and acknowledges the unique challenges and rewards of operating a business, particularly concerning financial risk and the need to constantly adapt.https://www.progusa.net/

In this Small Biz Podcast episode, realtor Ian Inglis joins Linda Ockwell-Jenner to provide an update on the Canadian housing market as of January 2026. He notes a 6% price decline in 2025, driven by increased inventory and explains that condo prices saw a sharper drop. Ian forecasts a relatively stable market in 2026 with potential price increases in the second half of the year, influenced by anticipated interest rate reductions. He advises prospective homebuyers, particularly first-timers, to contact a realtor early, emphasizing the importance of valuation, staging, and considering factors like roof condition and electrical systems to make informed decisions about purchasing or selling a home.www.theinglisteam.com

Andrew Leith, the founder of Octant Executive Advisory Group, discusses his business focusing on revenue strategy and leadership development, stemming from his corporate experience in rapid scaling software companies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse thinking styles, particularly neurodivergent individuals, and encouraging leaders to truly empower their employees by allowing them to utilize their unique strengths. Andrew’s advice centers on recognizing the value in everyone’s perspective and creating safe spaces for growth, ultimately fostering a more effective and fulfilling work environment.

This episode underscores the critical need for proactive communication between small business owners and their accountants, moving beyond just tax season preparations. It emphasizes thorough vetting of potential advisors, particularly in the age of AI, and highlights the value of a trusted, ongoing advisory relationship. The conversation stresses regular check-ins, practical advice like scheduling December calls, and acknowledges the evolving accounting landscape. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that a strong business-accountant partnership is built on open dialogue and mutual understanding.

In this episode, Ashley from Griffcom highlights the critical need for small business owners to understand their IT infrastructure, specifically emphasizing the importance of robust firewalls and smart technology investments. He strongly advises against purchasing inexpensive retail laptops, recommending instead durable, higher-quality models like Lenovo corporate, which offer a better long-term return on investment. Ashley stresses the importance of strategic, long-term IT budgeting that accounts for equipment lifespan and the value of seeking expert advice from experienced IT professionals to ensure a secure and efficient technology setup for the business.

This episode of the Small Biz Podcast introduces Ian Inglis, a realtor with Remax, providing the first in a series of ongoing updates on the housing market in Waterloo Region, Ontario. He discusses current affordability challenges, noting factors like interest rates, prices, and consumer confidence impacting the market. He highlights a buyer’s market with 70% of sales below $750,000, and addresses the challenges faced by first-time buyers. Ian advises listeners to seek professional financial advice and emphasizes the importance of patience and saving for a down payment. He plans to continue providing monthly updates.

Linda Ockwell-Jenner is joined by Wendy Rovers of Redefining Relationships, who helps people understand what is important in their relationships and how the mind works.

Get ready for a partner-ific conversation! Linda and Dave Ockwell-Jenner, the dynamic duo behind SBCN, spill the tea on what makes a successful partnership. With over two decades of experience watching partnerships come together (and sometimes fall apart), they're sharing their top tips for making it work!Join our hosts as they dish out the secrets to building a strong, lasting partnership - whether that's in your personal or professional life. From navigating conflicting personalities to finding common ground and working together towards a shared goal, Linda and Dave are dishing out all their favorite strategies for success.So grab your favorite coffee mug (or glass of champagne), get comfy, and get ready to learn from the experts!

Linda Ockwell-Jenner welcomes back Tom Reilly on today’s episode of the SBCN Small Biz Podcast. Tom and Linda discuss the difference between Influence and Persuasion.

Andrew Leith, President & Founder of Octant Executive Advisory Group joins SBCN Co-Founder Linda Ockwell-Jenner. Andrew has had a distinguished career in sales roles and his journey brought him to realize the differences in leadership for neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. His work now helps leaders enhance their impact through better understanding the individuals in their teams.