By: Jeremy Welik

Why choose College Pro. The Basic Life Skills – Finance

School is not the real world.  It is most certainly a crucial component to one’s growth from adolescence to adulthood; however, theory can only take you so far. What we learn in school can often be associated with real life, but, unless you experience it first hand, the understanding won’t be complete. College Pro Painters allows you the opportunity to get a first hand outlook on the world. From dealing with customers, to organizing your schedule, to hiring employees, College Pro Painters gives you a chance to learn and do. Furthermore, through your experience you will learn basic life skills that are for some reason not covered in school.  Things like, personal accounting and finance, or priority management.  These are key components of the College Pro process and will continue to be important in whatever you decide to pursue moving forward.

By: Graham Kennelly – College Pro Entrepreneur in Calgary, Alberta

 

The Skills I Learned as an Entrepreneur with College Pro Painters

I graduated high school in 2008, the year of the worst economic downturn in history. Post-secondary education seemed like the only way to secure a future career, in order to achieve the financial goals that I’ve always dreamed about. I had no idea what I wanted to study, but decided to jump right in like the rest of my friends.

By: Patrick Whynot – College Pro Entrepreneur in Calgary, Alberta

Tips from College Pro Painters

The most important thing in any service is trust. We are dealing with the customer’s most valuable asset, and it is imperative they feel confident that they will receive results they are proud of. College Pro Painters emphasizes the importance of this through the use of the ‘trust triangle’. This triangle has 3 components which are the basis for my sales and business.

 

In demonstrating paint product and application knowledge I am able to show the client my Competence which gives peace of mind.

By:  Jennifer Panek-Christie, College Pro Franchisee in Calgary, Alberta

 

What to look for when choosing a paint contractor. Tips from College Pro Painters.Painting your home can cost thousands of dollars; a good paint job can save you thousands in the long run, but a poor paint job can cost you needless headaches and premature repaint needs. With such a large and competitive market out there, homeowners can find it difficult to make the right choice. College Pro Painters outlines 3 key things you should look for in a paint contractor so that you can feel at ease that your needs will be taken care of.

 

Being a university student, I needed to find a summer job to help pay for my tuition the following year. I started looking for work on the university bulletin where I saw an ad for College Pro Painters. I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy so I thought I’d apply for the College Pro position. I got a call from them a few days later inviting me in for an info session. After talking about the position in more detail, I was excited to continue in the interview process. I had never worked with College Pro Painters before, but had heard positive things from a couple friends on campus.

College ProCollege Pro sat down with one of College Pro Painters most successful entrepreneurs Leighton Healey to find out what has made him flourish into a great entrepreneur.
 
Name: Leighton
Current Position: Business Manager Alberta
Location: Alberta, Canada
 
When did you start working for College Pro and in what role?
I started with College Pro in 2006 as a Franchisee, recommended by my brother’s friend Ryan who was a Franchisee at the time.
 
What were your prior job experiences?
Prior to College Pro, my previous Job experiences included working as a mentor for young men struggling with drug and sexual addictions, as a consultant with several Campus groups (building sponsorship networks, by-laws, board governance, effective meetings), tree planting in the nether-reaches of Northern AB and BC, working as a farm Laborer, camp counselor, construction worker, musician and running the gas station behind my house in Saskatchewan.
 
What is the most important lesson you have learned with College Pro?
I have learned to dedicate myself to life-long learning, and that investing in people is always your best investment.
 
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
The constant growth and challenge. The autonomy. The task and responsibility of impacting the future of leadership. The variety — wearing multiple hats throughout the day, so to speak.
 
What is a typical job day like for you?
It varies. I am up early reading and exercising, then in coaching meetings, doing administrative work, dealing with conflict or legal items, brainstorming for conference calls with entrepreneurs, submitting scripts for radio ads, helping an entrepreneur build a plan to keep his business going while in Nigeria for a month, interviewing two potential candidates, responding to 40–60 emails per day, confirming the 11 upcoming Trade Shows, drafting a monthly newsletter, drafting the outline of a weekend Training session in 4 weeks, working with a partnership business with serious financial problems, and finishing building an 8-month operations trend, planning four events with our sister company to spark close ties before our five-day house boating trip with 70 People.
 
Honestly, that was today.
 
What skills are most necessary to succeed in your position?
The most important skills are passion, tenacity, the desire to see something grow, resourcefulness, adaptability, high fundamental, high capacity, openness, fast learning, creativity, vision, a deep desire to make a difference, good ol’ fashioned work ethic, and just being an Entrepreneur at heart.
 
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by my desire to do my very best with the life, body and skills that God has entrusted me with. I am inspired by those I lead, and to be the type of leader that I would want to follow. I am inspired by great leaders that have come before me — I read extensively, from literature about generals and rebels to corporate greats. I prefer to seek wisdom from their examples.
 
What advice would you give to someone hoping to work for College Pro?
Ask yourself, am I willing to strive to be remarkable? Am I truly interested in fundamentally changing? Am I interested in having the ceiling torn off what I have previously considered to be hard work? Do my values and passions align with this organization? Do I believe in what they are trying to accomplish? Am I looking for a job or a cause — if the latter, perhaps College Pro. My advice would be to take the plunge, life is short and the most common deathbed regret is not taking enough risks. Entrepreneurs take calculated risks, not aimless gambles. College Pro has a rich history of holding people up to the flame of their weaknesses and walking with them hand in hand as they refine their skills and their character. Then I would call a dozen College Pro people and get a feel for the culture because it is unique, and the backbone of what we do.
 
What is your best story related to College Pro? For example, what is your funniest College Pro memory, greatest achievement on the job?
I have taken an incredible wealth of stories from College Pro; a plethora of hilarious stories and some of my most memorable success stories — of those I lead and those of my own. Some of the funniest memories that come to mind include a heroic and surprisingly life rescue, an explosion and a House boating memory.
 
My first year in College Pro wisdom was not among my attributes. We thought it would be fun to try surfing on top of a production van while travelling down a gravel road, me and two other franchisees. As we careened up and down and through the winding back roads, we all nearly fell to our deaths when our driver, who will remain un-named, stopped all of a sudden. Once we collected ourselves we realized the reason we stopped was because the car ahead of us carrying our fearless leader, the General Manager at the time, had nearly slid off an embankment and was teetering like in a movie over the edge of a cliff with several Franchisees inside! (This might get censored!). As good resourceful entrepreneurs we sprung into action and within the matter of an hour we had constructed a small bridge from the rocks and logs in the area under the freely hanging portion of the car, levelling out and rolling it back to safety.
 
The greatest successes I have had have been in leading and coaching entrepreneurs. Too many to name but I would say that the most rewarding are when you see problems and challenges thought to be impossible to resolve, resolved and success achieved. It is so rewarding to sit back and see the people you lead raise their hands in victory.
 
In your opinion, why is College Pro a great place to work?
College Pro is a great place to work because of its people, its purpose and its commitment to constant development. It truly is a unique world to be part of. We are not without our flaws, but we have something very good at College Pro, something of which I am proud to be a part.
 

Many people choose to take their employment into their own hands and go into freelancing. Freelancing is a form of entrepreneurship, because you are your own boss, as well as your own business. You are your brand, and you spend time developing that, as well as your network and client base.

Freelancing is a great option for those who have experience or talent in a certain field and want the freedom to choose and develop their own work. It also means you call pretty much all of the shots, from where you work to how long your day is. Still, it can be challenging to work as a freelancer, especially at the beginning when the frequency of projects and jobs is less certain.

LinkedIn is a social networking site design with business professionals in mind.  Here are a few ways in which some of LinkedIn’s many features can help you grow your business:

1] Answers: This is a forum where you can post questions about your business and get fast, accurate responses from users in your network as well as worldwide experts.  You can also showcase your knowledge by answering other’s questions.

2] Groups:  With LinkedIn Groups you can stay up-to-date on what is going on in your industry.  It also allows you to follow the activity of successful, influential members whom you can emulate to help grow your own business.

When contemplating your approach to the hiring process, it is essential to emphasize the attributes and qualities that accompany successful individuals in the business world.  Nearly all managers would agree that ideal employees display exceptional work ethic, strong organizational and communication skills, and a consistent tendency to exceed goals.  Qualities such as these can often be superficially determined by a brief look at a resume, however a piece of paper (or .doc file) does not provide a detailed perspective of a candidate’s complete skill set.

Entrepreneurship to me is freedom

Entrepreneurship to me is freedom. Freedom is challenging and can be challenged by others who are not of the same beliefs. Some people work hard for freedom and will fight to gain it, and will inspire others to follow them on their quest for success. The Entrepreneur is a special type of person who is not afraid to blaze their own trail and go against conformity.

Kris Gabriele
Senior General Manager

By: Patrick Whynot – College Pro Entrepreneur in Calgary, Alberta

Tips from College Pro Painters

The most important thing in any service is trust. We are dealing with the customer’s most valuable asset, and it is imperative they feel confident that they will receive results they are proud of. College Pro Painters emphasizes the importance of this through the use of the ‘trust triangle’. This triangle has 3 components which are the basis for my sales and business.

 

In demonstrating paint product and application knowledge I am able to show the client my Competence which gives peace of mind.

By:  Jennifer Panek-Christie, College Pro Franchisee in Calgary, Alberta

 

What to look for when choosing a paint contractor. Tips from College Pro Painters.Painting your home can cost thousands of dollars; a good paint job can save you thousands in the long run, but a poor paint job can cost you needless headaches and premature repaint needs. With such a large and competitive market out there, homeowners can find it difficult to make the right choice. College Pro Painters outlines 3 key things you should look for in a paint contractor so that you can feel at ease that your needs will be taken care of.

 

Being a university student, I needed to find a summer job to help pay for my tuition the following year. I started looking for work on the university bulletin where I saw an ad for College Pro Painters. I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy so I thought I’d apply for the College Pro position. I got a call from them a few days later inviting me in for an info session. After talking about the position in more detail, I was excited to continue in the interview process. I had never worked with College Pro Painters before, but had heard positive things from a couple friends on campus.

College ProCollege Pro sat down with one of College Pro Painters most successful entrepreneurs Leighton Healey to find out what has made him flourish into a great entrepreneur.
 
Name: Leighton
Current Position: Business Manager Alberta
Location: Alberta, Canada
 
When did you start working for College Pro and in what role?
I started with College Pro in 2006 as a Franchisee, recommended by my brother’s friend Ryan who was a Franchisee at the time.
 
What were your prior job experiences?
Prior to College Pro, my previous Job experiences included working as a mentor for young men struggling with drug and sexual addictions, as a consultant with several Campus groups (building sponsorship networks, by-laws, board governance, effective meetings), tree planting in the nether-reaches of Northern AB and BC, working as a farm Laborer, camp counselor, construction worker, musician and running the gas station behind my house in Saskatchewan.
 
What is the most important lesson you have learned with College Pro?
I have learned to dedicate myself to life-long learning, and that investing in people is always your best investment.
 
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
The constant growth and challenge. The autonomy. The task and responsibility of impacting the future of leadership. The variety — wearing multiple hats throughout the day, so to speak.
 
What is a typical job day like for you?
It varies. I am up early reading and exercising, then in coaching meetings, doing administrative work, dealing with conflict or legal items, brainstorming for conference calls with entrepreneurs, submitting scripts for radio ads, helping an entrepreneur build a plan to keep his business going while in Nigeria for a month, interviewing two potential candidates, responding to 40–60 emails per day, confirming the 11 upcoming Trade Shows, drafting a monthly newsletter, drafting the outline of a weekend Training session in 4 weeks, working with a partnership business with serious financial problems, and finishing building an 8-month operations trend, planning four events with our sister company to spark close ties before our five-day house boating trip with 70 People.
 
Honestly, that was today.
 
What skills are most necessary to succeed in your position?
The most important skills are passion, tenacity, the desire to see something grow, resourcefulness, adaptability, high fundamental, high capacity, openness, fast learning, creativity, vision, a deep desire to make a difference, good ol’ fashioned work ethic, and just being an Entrepreneur at heart.
 
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by my desire to do my very best with the life, body and skills that God has entrusted me with. I am inspired by those I lead, and to be the type of leader that I would want to follow. I am inspired by great leaders that have come before me — I read extensively, from literature about generals and rebels to corporate greats. I prefer to seek wisdom from their examples.
 
What advice would you give to someone hoping to work for College Pro?
Ask yourself, am I willing to strive to be remarkable? Am I truly interested in fundamentally changing? Am I interested in having the ceiling torn off what I have previously considered to be hard work? Do my values and passions align with this organization? Do I believe in what they are trying to accomplish? Am I looking for a job or a cause — if the latter, perhaps College Pro. My advice would be to take the plunge, life is short and the most common deathbed regret is not taking enough risks. Entrepreneurs take calculated risks, not aimless gambles. College Pro has a rich history of holding people up to the flame of their weaknesses and walking with them hand in hand as they refine their skills and their character. Then I would call a dozen College Pro people and get a feel for the culture because it is unique, and the backbone of what we do.
 
What is your best story related to College Pro? For example, what is your funniest College Pro memory, greatest achievement on the job?
I have taken an incredible wealth of stories from College Pro; a plethora of hilarious stories and some of my most memorable success stories — of those I lead and those of my own. Some of the funniest memories that come to mind include a heroic and surprisingly life rescue, an explosion and a House boating memory.
 
My first year in College Pro wisdom was not among my attributes. We thought it would be fun to try surfing on top of a production van while travelling down a gravel road, me and two other franchisees. As we careened up and down and through the winding back roads, we all nearly fell to our deaths when our driver, who will remain un-named, stopped all of a sudden. Once we collected ourselves we realized the reason we stopped was because the car ahead of us carrying our fearless leader, the General Manager at the time, had nearly slid off an embankment and was teetering like in a movie over the edge of a cliff with several Franchisees inside! (This might get censored!). As good resourceful entrepreneurs we sprung into action and within the matter of an hour we had constructed a small bridge from the rocks and logs in the area under the freely hanging portion of the car, levelling out and rolling it back to safety.
 
The greatest successes I have had have been in leading and coaching entrepreneurs. Too many to name but I would say that the most rewarding are when you see problems and challenges thought to be impossible to resolve, resolved and success achieved. It is so rewarding to sit back and see the people you lead raise their hands in victory.
 
In your opinion, why is College Pro a great place to work?
College Pro is a great place to work because of its people, its purpose and its commitment to constant development. It truly is a unique world to be part of. We are not without our flaws, but we have something very good at College Pro, something of which I am proud to be a part.