After the so called “dumpster fire” that was last year, 2021 has naturally shouldered a lot of expectations — and following a year of pandemic, murder hornets, wildfires, crashes and conflicts — we get it.
Now that we are more than a month into 2021 and have been able to breathe in the hope of a new year, we want to help you make this year even better!
We’re sharing a few easy ways for small business owners to connect, learn and be inspired this year.
Stay connected
We’re lucky to have an amazing business community in Alberta and there are still plenty of ways to network, even during a lockdown.
Join your local Chamber of Commerce for virtual professional events and networking, plus access to educational resources and programs. (Calgary Chamber is 50% off until March 31, 2021!)
Tap into thought-leaders, change-makers and exciting new ideas! Offering live streaming events, digital coffees, and virtual pitch nights, the Calgary and Edmonton startup communities are a great place for entrepreneurs to find like-minded people.
Register your business and stay engaged with your local Business Improvement Area (BIA). BIAs help businesses work together to enhance the economic development of their area. You’ll be able to keep up with community-specific business news, meet other business owners, or even step up for a volunteer gig.
We know there are many more organizations doing inspiring work to bring business owners together — because together we all succeed!
Find inspiration
Lay the groundwork for new opportunities by keeping an open mind and staying curious.
Podcasts like How I Built This and Startup are entertaining and inspiring, plus many others titles are available that provide helpful business advice and perspectives.
30 of the Best Business Podcasts You Should Listen to in 2020
Sometimes inspiration just needs a different perspective. Sites like Quora or Reddit can be great resources to get input from experienced entrepreneurs.
Or go analog and thumb through a good business read — whether it is a new must-read or an essential worth revisiting, stay sharp and escape the Netflix trap!
11 Business Books Entrepreneurs Must Reread in 2021
30 Must-Read Business Books For Upping Your Game In 2021
Be part of the buzz
Capitalize on the small business spotlight during key movements that happen throughout the year. These movements can include new events and resources or they may offer an opportunity for you to give back. Most importantly, they are a great time to be part of the conversation.
- Inventors Day – February 11 #InventorsDay
- North American Occupational Safety & Health week – May 2-8 #SafetyandHealthWeek #NAOSH21
- Neighbour Day (Calgary) – June #neighbourdayyyc
- World Entrepreneurs’ Day – August 21 #WorldEntrepreneursDay
- Women in Entrepreneurship week (Alberta) – September 21-25
- Small Business Week – October 17-23 #smallbusinessweek
- Startup week (Edmonton) – October #yegsw21
- Global Entrepreneurship Day – November #GEW2021
- National Entrepreneurs’ Day (US and Canada) – November 16 #NationalEntrepreneursDay
- Women’s Entrepreneurship Day – November 19 #WEDO2021
- Giving Tuesday – November 30 #GivingTuesday
There are plenty of resources for small businesses out there, these are just a few that have helped us. What are some of your tips for staying connected and inspired as a business owner?
