Team TRU has been taking the lead in almost every race update, so what makes them more successful in Race to a Million? What are their strategy’s and what do they have planned for the future? Watch these race updates and you’ll find out!!! For episode 6 we caught up with team TRU at the Kamloops Fall Homshow. Brendan Shaw and Jordan Hirschmiller talk to us about some of the products team TRU were selling. Jumping up one week to episode 7 we went to Wholesale Furniture Brokers to visit Matt Muzzillo. Finally for episode 8 we run up to the classrooms of TRU to speak with Bernie Warren and Usman Vahidy!!

Episode 8 at TRU

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Episode 7 with Matt Muzzillo at Wholesale Furniture Brokers

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Episode 6 Kamloops Fall Homeshow

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If you haven’t been following team Nexus you can catch up on a few of their updates in the video’s below, the first is a race update from episode 6 where the mystery of www.dealsvm.com is unveiled. Jumping up to episode 8 Professor Investor takes us through the top five products of the week and ways to promote healing!

Episode 8 Top Five Products

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Episode 6 www.dealsvm.com Unveiled

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Here are a couple of videos you may not have yet seen from Team Matrix. In Episode 8 Gregg Murray from Venture Kamloops came into the studio to give us an update on Team Matrix! In Episode 7 we head over to Qforia to visit John Woolner from Team Matrix to get an update on their new team members, as well as what they have planned in terms of business strategy!

Race Update Team Matrix Ep. 8

Race Update Team Matrix Ep. 7 -

Terra Scheer the communications officer for the BC Childrens’ Hospital (Team Matrix’s Charity) joins us on the show in an effort to raise the profile of the BC Childrens’ Hospital. Technology, improvements in medicines, medical research and advancements in medical techniques have all gone a long way to improving the lives of BC’s Children over the last few decades but we have a long way to go. While we are saving lives that 30 years ago we wouldn’t have been able to it does mean that we are now seeing new issues we have never seen before. New maladies such as childhood diabetes are reaching what some may call epidemic proportions as well as heart conditions in children that were unheard of in years passed. This is a big reason why the work that BC Childrens’ Hospital is doing is so important.

It takes extraordinary people to deal with such extraordinary circumstances. Hearing the stories you would think that it would be a very sad place to work… but, Terra says it’s not like that, the caregivers are wonderful and great at making it a fun place that can be full of joyous occasions.

Please support their noble work and Team Matrix in their efforts to make a difference.

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Since you’ve been inviting us into your home for the last few months we thought we’d invite you into one of ours.  Join us at Peter’s home, decorated for the holidays, as we talk review what has happened with the teams so far in the Race To A Million.

It’s been quite an adventure so far in the race and since we are switching the calendar over to 2011 we thought we’d share some of our candid thoughts on some of the strategies employed by the teams so far and what we think, straight shooting from the hip.

Where did the idea of the Race to a Million come from? Who is watching? Where are the teams at? What are they doing? Do they have a chance of getting there?

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When Dean and I started the Race to a Million we did a little research. We wanted to know what the average person thought about business and entrepreneurs. We knew that people, including ourselves, have a tendency to socialize and interact with like minded individuals who think like they do.  We needed to know what other people thought about business that were not necessarily like us, others who were not part of our sphere of influence.

Boy, did we get a shock! We managed to find a lot of people who were neither business people nor entrepreneurs, but we thought they should be. These people, like us, love to be creative. They care about their friends, family and community. They are enthusiastic. They like to have fun. These people work tirelessly on school PACs, cadets groups, card making and scrap-booking groups, and fund-raising committees for children’s sports groups. What we learned from many of them contained some surprises for us.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was that many of these enthusiastic, creative, and caring people truly believe that you can not succeed in business without being ruthless, cutthroat and self-centered. They had stereotyped business people according to the negative and sensational examples of the heartless, cold and calculating millionaire celebrities we all love to hate. I heard time and again that these people wouldn’t want to enter into business because they wouldn’t like the person they would have to become.

95% of our economy is driven by small business entrepreneurs.  What would our economy look like if these people didn’t feel like this about the prospects of starting a business? They’re the creative backbone of our society! They care about people! They’re the business owners that every potential customer and every potential employee is looking for! If we could find a way to show these people that nice people don’t have to finish last – it could be a game changer.

This is one of the reasons why we started the Race to a Million and also the reason why we chose our slogan, “Nice People Can Finish First”.

Yesterday, I was a little disturbed with a related sentiment posted by a reader on our website. It was in reference to Team Genie’s project which they have apply named the Kids Coffee and Tea Company. Here’s what the comment says:

• “Are they using sympathy for children to cash in? Boo. What a sick program all together. Shame on all of you sick people. Money is your god.”

Here was my response:  (click here if you want to see the full dialogue – it’s at the bottom of the page when you follow the link)

• In my opinion I believe Team Genie has chosen a good avenue to align and promote their brand of coffee. They have chosen to support causes for children in three different ways: 1) in support of children from farming families where the coffee comes from … 2) in support of Make-A-Wish foundation (Team Genie’s primary charity of choice) in order to grant wishes for children with a terminal illness and 3) as a fund raising opportunity for kids school, sports and recreational groups. Are they using sympathy to cash in? I don’t think so. Rather I believe they are giving consumers a choice to support a coffee brand that does more than just line its shareholders pockets with money. Money is not their God. They are making a difference and I for one am proud to be associated with what they are attempting to do.

I think this is another example of people assuming that making a profit and running a business is dirty. We should not be shying away from realizing our dreams of supporting our families and making a difference in the world. We should be embracing it! While the concepts of socialism and communism have the greater good in mind; it’s a proven fact that they just don’t work! Communism has been a cause of oppression and hardship for millions of people generation after generation.  I think where people go wrong with capitalism is the idea behind what a business is and is not.

Look at Natalie Peace in the business tips interview we recently did. She started Booster Juice because she wanted to make a difference in the world! Who says you have to wait to become a successful millionaire before you can become a philanthropist? Why can’t we find smaller but consistent ways of making a difference as we progress in our businesses and give back to social and environmental causes as we’re on the journey? Why do some individuals assume that our motives aren’t noble?

The good news is not everyone feels this way. The face of business is changing in the world… it’s becoming social… it’d becoming about more than the bottom line… as Natalie says… it’s about multiple bottom lines. I invite everyone to join us! As Shaw TV’s campaign recently said “Together is Amazing!” … Together we can make a difference… contact us if you’d like to find out how you can help. We’d love to hear from you.

Dean catches up with Bernie Warren for this Team TRU participant spotlight on the third floor of the International Building at TRU World on the Thompson Rivers University campus.

From welding to the forestry sector to Earnst and Young’s Accounting Computer Consulting Group to cutting his teeth on Bay Street in Toronto Bernie has definitely earned the right to teach the business leaders of tomorrow at TRU’s School of Business. Bernie loves the Kamloops area and jumped at the chance to teach business here over 20 years ago. Today there are not many people who can boast about still being in the same job after 20 years but Kamloops should be proud that Bernie can. Bernie teaches operations management and computer related courses in the business degree program at Thompson Rivers University.

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Bernie shares a little about the whole Race To A Million contest and how it’s working for the students. He says social media and connections play a significant roll.

Bernie also talks about the International Business Plan competitions in memory of Tony Brower held last year with participation from all over North America… first place went to TRU students and second place went to a lady for starting a special daycare in New York City… Bernie says that Race To A Million has helped garner some tremendous interest and support from the Kauffman Foundation for the TRU school of business and the International Business Plan competition.

Bernie thinks it’s going to take something BIG and QUICK that leverages technology somehow to succeed in the Race but beyond the race he sees a lot of future success and new challenges coming out of this exciting show.

Privacy, secrecy and protecting intellectual property is a very big challenge with entrepreneurs but Bernie thinks this “Old School” way of thinking is on the way out. Instead, he says the new economy is about sharing ideas and global participation. Don’t hold on to your ideas too tightly; ideas have to be shared so that we can all build on them.

Please Note:

Don’t forget if you’ve missed the full half hour shows of the Race To A Million on Shaw TV or if you don’t get them in your area you can watch them in high definition from the full-shows page of the Race To A Million website: to watch the full shows click here.

Smooth coffee with no bitter after taste … there’s a great reason why one of the brands for Kids Coffee and Tea Company is called the “Time Out”. Team Genie takes you into the Roasting Room and a little further behind the scenes with their custom blending and roasting process. Get acquainted with their Roastmaster as he introduces you to some of the steps. Organically grown Kenya, Guatemala and Sumatra beans are roasted individually and then blended together to create this unique taste. But, according to Team Genie, it’s more than just custom roasting and a wide variety of blends… it’s also more than the environmentally conscious packaging… but it’s nothing without you. With you Team Genie says “together we can provide the support that the Make-A-Wish foundation really deserves”.

Get to know Team Genie and their Kids Coffee and Tea Company by watching these three great videos:

Video: Team Genie Launches Kids Coffee and Tea Company – Race Update – Ep. 7

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Video: Behind The Scenes with the Kids Coffee and Tea Company – Custom Roasting

Video: Rich Coffee With Gold Nuggets? Race Update – Genie Ep. 8

Team TRU has added another $172 in sales commissions to their bottom line through their marketing partnership with Kamloops Night Out. Way to keep up the pressure and keep things moving ahead team TRU!

Team Alpha has just added another $740 in profit to their bottom line with the sale of their Mazda Millennia S. This brings their total to $2,382.78 just $458 behind the leader, Team TRU.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Idea to everyone!

In this BIG Ideas Video Peter and Dean discuss submitting to the BIG IDEAS form on Race To A Million and some feedback (AND IDEAS) from Peter’s daughter Heather Cameron-Inglis. Are there people out there that seem a little reluctant to submit their ideas?  You bet there are! Are they holding onto their ideas? Yes! Why might that be? Heather Cameron-Inglis shed a little light on why this might be for us to share.

Some of the ideas might be from more than one person… can people submit ideas as groups or couples? The answer is yes! Please do! Perhaps you have a team of your own and are following along with the show trying to create some masterminding and entrepreneurial business yourselves. That would be great and we’d love you to submit on behalf of a group or even if you’re doing it with a friend!

Some people might also be thinking … If I submit my idea I might win $10,000 but if I keep my idea to myself then I won’t have to share it with anyone and I could make millions … to that we say … If you don’t submit your idea and you never get around to doing it … you’ll have nothing BUT even if you’re scared of losing it … email Dean and Peter at info@racetoamillion.ca with your thoughts and maybe we can help … that’s what we are here for!

Watch the video to hear a couple of ideas from Peter’s daughter, Heather, which include an iPhone application for “breaking the ice” in a conversation and an expansion of Team Alpha and Team TRU’s mosaic project idea to help with a problem that high school graduates are currently facing.

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The Deals Von Mastermind website from Team Nexus… Team TRU offers several products at the Home Show and online including local artwork and Heat Smart heaters… Team Alpha develops a special mosaic picture program and launches the effort in conjunction with Wolf Pack Hockey… Team Alpha and Team TRU come together with a common cause and partner on a project.

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In Support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

October and the Run For the Cure may be over BUT … don’t forget to check! …

Here’s a Charity Spotlight interview with Elaine Web from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation supported by Team Alpha

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We got out on the streets of Kamloops in this video segment of “Feet in the Street” and asked some fans in Kamloops a few questions.   Is it possible to turn $500 into $1 Million?  How would you do it? Is being a nice person good for business? What’s your big idea?

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Usman Vahidy tells us about the TRU Foundation and all of the good work that this charity does to help support students who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford to obtain their post secondary education.

TRU Foundation is the primary fundraiser on campus.  They raise and collect funds to support students who are having a hard time financially or are less privileged. They provide bursaries, scholarships and awards. They also recognize and acknowledge students who have done well in their academics with merit scholarships.

The student body is growing at a rapid pace and so is the need for funds to help support these students. Every university has a foundation but the success of the Thompson Rivers University Foundation is evident through the numbers they’ve shown over the years and in fact they are one of the best run departments at the University.

TRU services students from not only a local market but also right across Canada and a significant number of international students. Due to the unprecedented growth Thompson Rivers University has many glowing examples of their proven results and track record. The new House Of Learning and library currently in construction is one such example of the phenomenal focus on building for the future at TRU.

for more information please check out http://www.tru.ca/foundation/

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