“Getting her feet wet” / “I don’t have enough to do. Should I say anything?”

Dec. 20 “Getting her feet wet”: I cut out this National Post article by W. Brett Wilson on Dec. 5, 2011.   Here it is about entrepreneurship:

One of the first questions I ask entrepreneurs looking for an equity investor is: How much time and money have you invested? The answer usually reflects their commitment.

Corla Rokochy, founder of Corla’s Kids Creations Inc., may go down in history as the most successful entrepreneur to go on Dragons’ Den with the lowest initial cash investment. She auditioned with a simple $5 prototype — a pair of purchased socks attached by a couple of snaps. 

The mother of five had a simple but smart idea: making socks that snap together before washing and drying to make sorting, well, a snap.

After the audition, Rokochy spent a lot of time registering and trademarking Snappy Socks, and creating an online presence. She pitched the dragons’ with no sales and only a dozen or so sample socks. But because her idea made perfect sense, she got two offers — a low-ball from Kevin O’Leary (which she graciously and intelligently declined) and a joint offer from Arlene Dickinson and I, which Rokochy accepted.

The deal: The deal accepted on air was $50,000 for 50%. During due diligence, Dickinson decided not to proceed, so I took my 25% for $25,000. Rokochy invested some more of her own funds.

To get the manufacturing underway, my first priority was to get Rokochy connected with a China-based sourcing company — a group of Canadians living in China and acting as sourcing agents for Canadian entrepreneurs. One of the biggest issues was finding a snap that wouldn’t rust in the wash or irritate the wearer.

Rokochy spent the entire $25,000 on inventory. It took six months before she had the first shipment and she’s been actively selling since August. Her appearance on Dragons’ Den helped her establish sales relationships with 55 retailers, representing every province across Canada and she is adding two to three stores each week. To date she has racked up more than $20,000 in retail sales.

Rokochy’s challenges Corla’s Kids Creations isn’t Rokochy’s first business, but importing and manufacturing presented a whole new learning curve. She has hired a sales rep to help with shipping and receiving and invoicing.

“Everything takes way more time and money than I imagined,” she said. After three months, she is halfway through her stock, and is planning the timing and amount of the next shipment. It will take three months for the shipment to arrive and she doesn’t want to miss any potential upswing in sales, or sit on a big shipment if sales are slow.

The founder’s take on things: Of my investment, Rokochy says: “Brett didn’t just invest money, he invested in me as a person and entrepreneur. We feel like we’re part of his family.” Recently, Rokochy joined a group of family, friends and staff to build homes for the homeless in Mexico. 
She’s become inspired by the opportunities for giving back, and is asking herself what more she can do to make her community a better place. “It’s not just about making money,” she says.

Rokochy is also philosophical about the entrepreneurial process. “When people see the socks, they say, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ If I’ve learned anything through this process, it’s that if you’ve got an idea, go for it. You’ll never regret action, but you might well regret not following your dream.”

What’s next: Rokochy will attend a huge trade show in Las Vegas in February where 80 countries will be represented. She is also in conversation with a major distribution company whose network includes 1,700 retailers — an opportunity that came from a Dragons’ Den update show. As she enters the U.S. market, she will be looking for guidance on financing and managing inventory. If the distributor relationship develops, Rokochy could be looking at upward of $250,000 in sales next year.

She says the last year or so has been a ton of hard work, but also a lot of fun. With children ranging between three and 15 years old, she’s focused on potty training and driver training all at the same time. She admits that family activities and other life choices have been put on the back burner. But, with five children to put through school, the success of her business is critical.

“Snappy Socks is one way for me to be home with kids and generate a good income,” Rokochy says. “I’m in it for the long-term potential.”

http://business.financialpost.com/2011/12/05/getting-her-feet-wet/

Jan. 13 Job advice column: 

“I don’t have enough to do.  Should I say anything?”:

I cut out this Globe and Mail article in Mar. 4, 2013.  The job advice column is called “Nine to Five” and there are always 2 answers.  Here’s the whole article:

THE QUESTION

I started a new job late last summer. My six-month probation is almost over and I think I’ve done well; I get along with everyone and the work gets done well. But I’m not convinced there is enough work to sustain the position I’m in. I have nothing to do for at least a couple of hours each day! I have been politely asking for more tasks to fill the time but those are usually one-day filing chores. I’m about to have my review and come off probation. What do I say, if anything?

What do I do? If I am honest and say there is not enough work for all of us in my work team, I risk losing my job, no? Or do I just keep my mouth shut and try to find my own non-obvious projects to keep myself occupied? I really don’t know what to do.

THE FIRST ANSWER: Colleen Clarke, Corporate trainer and career specialist, Toronto

A review is not the place to tell an employer you aren’t busy in your job. If the managers haven’t figured it out, it is not your place to tell them, unless you want to be let go.

If you like where you work then look for projects and tasks that will improve your skills and add to your tool kit.

Scrutinize processes and procedures to see if you can come up with efficiency strategies; build a data base of resources you can call on when equipment fails or glitches occur.

Offer to sit on committees, initiate a fundraiser and volunteer for any task that has you meeting decision makers in other parts of the company.

Work on raising your visibility to promote your professional wonderment – in other words, get out from behind your desk and look for ways to make a difference. Make phone calls instead of sending e-mails when appropriate.

Is it possible to step outside your immediate department to see if you can be of use to a busier work unit?
Probably the last thing you want to do is conduct another job search after only six months, but that is an option. If you aren’t growing and learning then you will eventually suffer “rust out.”

This starts an unpleasant cycle of mistakes, resentment, regret and eventually being let go. Make a real effort for the next six months.

If nothing changes by then, re-evaluate your situation and decide what course of action to take.

THE SECOND ANSWER: Heather L. MacKenzie, The Integrity Group, Vancouver

“I don’t have enough to do at work” is not the kind of complaint one usually hears from an employee.
I am going to have to assume your concerns are around job security, and to some extent, job fulfilment.

Are your team members/colleagues having a similar experience with their workload? Perhaps you are more efficient than the rest. Maybe you are being given less work because you are junior.

Or maybe the business has a distinct “busy season,” which you have not experienced yet.

You are obviously a conscientious employee, so before your review, take some time to have conversations with your co-workers. Talking with your teammates (especially those who have been with the company for some time) may give you some valuable input and a better perspective on the situation.

During your evaluation, there is no harm in saying that you feel ready for more responsibility. There is also no harm in asking about the direction of the business or your department/division as a whole.

After all, it is a two-way street: You are investing in a career path as much as they are investing in you as an employee.

It is fair to know what the future looks like. If things don’t sound like they will work out, at least you have a couple of free hours a day to start looking for a new job!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/experts/i-dont-have-enough-to-do-should-i-say-anything/article9230298/