By Mario Toneguzzi
Manjit Minhas, one of the most successful and most recognized entrepreneurs in
Canada, has a key message for business owners across the country during these tough
economic times brought on by the pandemic.
Innovation and collaboration are extremely important in navigating the choppy waters
that came through the storm.
“Understand we will get out of it but it’s important you try to get out of this stronger with
understanding your finances, becoming more efficient, maybe understanding your own
business better, what’s working and what’s not. And whether there’s some other
potential – whether that be short term or long term,” says the co-founder and co-owner
of Minhas Breweries, Distillery and Wineries and a Dragon on the popular Dragons’ Den
CBC television show.
“But I do think it is a great time to also get rid of the distractions. We were all running on
a hamster wheel before so I think it’s a great time to evaluate everything and everyone
in your life. Where are your time commitments? What are your passions? What are your
values? I’m an optimist through and through. This time can be a positive if looked at it
that way.
“I know there’s lots of businesses that are struggling but I think it’s always important to
look at the glass as half full.”
Minhas says one of the most important things for entrepreneurial success is continuous
learning – you don’t think that you know it all.
“I truly believe in that. I’m always learning and I make a point of it every day. I read a lot.
I listen to podcasts. I talk to different people. I talk to not only people that think like me
but I take opportunities that scare me, that challenge me. I do think that continuous
learning is really, really important,” she says.
“And I think it’s also important not to worry about what the rest of the world thinks about
you, especially with women. You do what is true to you and what you really enjoy and
love and that often will come out with success in one form or another. It’s important to
define your own success. Everybody’s success is not equal.
“Every individual who has been successful understands that it’s the small habits that really make a big difference.”
