Creative Grit: How Thinking Unconventionally Unlocked Opportunities For 10 Canadian Entrepreneurs During The Pandemic

In 2020, the world was plunged into a spiralling ball of panic, uncertainty and death as the covid-19 pandemic hit. Not only did the world record a high number of deaths, but there was also worldwide economic disruption to levels last recorded in the time of the Great Depression as many businesses folded under the weight of the constraints the virus imposed; with the stay-at-home orders and limited human interactions, it was difficult for many entrepreneurs to stay in business.
In this book, 10 amazing entrepreneurs collaborated together with their business skills and strategies that helped them navigate the hardship and uncertainty as a result of the pandemic to not only survive but thrive using creative methods.
From the founders of Shameless Buns, Inflectiv, CeeCee’s Gift Baskets and more, what you are about to encounter in the ten chapters of this book are relatable personal stories; from how a new mom started and scaled her business, to the food truck industry and how a few business owners picked themselves up from losing more than half of their revenue streams and launched new models to overcome the hurdles set by the pandemic.
This book will show you elements of creativity and utilizing resources around you that you might not have realized to increase cashflow for your business. You will also learn different systems to effectively market and attract new customers for business growth and develop new income streams from your expertise.
Our experiences have helped our businesses, other businesses and even non-business owners look at things through a different lens to overcome setbacks and create new revenue opportunities.
From The Creative Grit Authors …
Ivan Ho ~ “Focus on what’s strong and not what’s wrong ~ How leveraging your expertise into multiple income streams can protect you during uncertain economic times.”
Cassandre Van Bakel ~ "Dream, try, and persevere ~ Make the space you need for yourself in the world of business, and inhabit it with determination, hard work, flexibility, and passion."
Rob Manne ~ “Don’t allow yourself to be put in a box. Listen to the market, think about what you bring to the table, and take action to re-invent yourself.”
Matt Brennan ~ "The pandemic has changed the landscape of food businesses as we know it and right now is the best time to start your dream food business for next to nothing!"
Elizabeth Hartyoon ~"Seek to change your mindset and not just your address" - How newcomers to Canada settled and transitioned successfully despite obstacles and challenges.”
Dave Jackson ~ “Adapting to change is the spice of life. Expect it, don't fear it. Plan for change. What goes up must come down, but nothing states that it can't come back up again.”
Jim Habbal ~ “Creative thinking could be a great source of joy, and when applied to business, it turns into creativity in action. Ultimately, when pushed against challenging times, it becomes creative grit.”
Li Lu ~ “The Covid pandemic taught me how to turn a crisis into an opportunity. I want other entrepreneurs to learn from my mistakes, try my winning strategies and, most importantly, relate to my emotional journey.”
Aamar Khwaja ~ “There is a difference between the creative that merely produces product or draws lines on a canvas, than the one who actually experiences their creation."
Frances Schagen ~ “When you have a deep understanding of your money, it stops being the reason. You know that you can make a decision based on what you need and want. Then you figure out the money to support you in that decision.”