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The "FastChicks" ...

Two moms met when their kids went to school, and began a friendship that would lead to a second career at age 40, with a little help from computers.

One Mother's Day weekend Jackie Raymond and Donna Bilodeau headed to Texas to bring home a whole new career in a male-dominated industry. Two years later they're known as the "FastChicks" by the other "Fast Signs" business owners that they share ideas, designs and even online classes with around the world.

When they're not hauling custom signs around town in sneakers and their "Austin Power's" van, you might find them in evening gowns leading a gala for the "We Care for Kids" Campaign.

Today these two innovative ladies joined us in the studio to tell us how computers changed their lives, and a bit about how they might change your's too!


Reinventing Yourself at 40

	Links from Today's Show
	Jackie and Donna - Open Forum JackieAndDonna.html
	FastSigns http://www.fastsigns.ca
	Jackie & Donna's FastSigns' Profile http://www.fastsigns.ca/locations/index.html?id=658
	Digital Divas Dialogue DigitalDivas.html
	Kids Junior Adventure Contest contest01.html
	Listener's Picks - What Do YOU Want? ListenersPicks.html
	Edible Computer Forums talk.html
	NEW - Virus Resource Centre viruses.html
	NEW - Studio Tour ... Inside the Booth studio.html

Donna Bilodeau and Jackie Raymond are doing what many of us only talk about -- they're their own bosses, and they're doing it successfully in a male-dominated industry.

Ask them how they got started, and Jackie laughs as she tells you it happened at Donna's kitchen table over coffee and "the complaint". You know the one -- "if only we were our own boss".

It wasn't long before serendipity played the hand: Donna's husband told them about a business that his accountant had suggested, and they knew it was the opportunity they'd been waiting for. A company called "FastSigns" had a franchise available in Windsor.

At age 40, and after 20 years of marriage, the two friends got on a plane and headed for Dallas. Jackie had come from a newspaper and print background, so the idea of embracing a graphics-based business made sense. Donna had been with Scotia Bank for a number of years, and had a good background in customer service. Their partnership seemed balanced from a business point of view, and their 6-year friendship offered a solid foundation of trust.


Mother's Day Without Kids

"Can you believe we're in Dallas, Texas?!?"

The remark underscored the significance of the journey the two women were about to begin. Their kids were grown up, and they could finally choose a path that seemed daring and larger than life.

Cocooned in a hotel room in Dallas for the weekend, they wrote their business plan, and dove in. Gruelling interviews and personality tests marked the start of the yellow brick road. (There's a reason that the global FastSigns phenomenon only has a 2% failure rate. They're serious about ensuring the right fit).

Getting the green light from FastSigns head office, the women returned to Dallas for three weeks of intensive training, and opened the door to a new career where computers played a defining role in everything from sales to production.

True to the spirit of "Thelma and Louise" (and you really do get this sense of kindred, adventure-bound glory when chatting with them), the two jumped into Jackie's new van and drove it straight down to Dallas. They decided the van was a good way to learn, wanting to "detail" it as part of their training. Computers came to the rescue again when the two found themselves lost somewhere in Kentucky, and called home for directions. Jackie's son jumped on his computer to track down their locale through the internet, and proudly announced they were in the parking lot of the "Kentucky Derby" at a "Metallica concert", giving them directions to put them back on their path. The irony of the moment was only magnified when they arrived home three weeks later in a bright red van bedecked with a life-size "Austin Powers" from top to bottom, complete with flower-power accents. It's a trademark that's hard to miss as they drive around town, and a nice segue into the partners' new path of collaboration with folks from the 440 other FastSigns franchises worldwide.


Connecting through Electrons

Jackie and Donna's van became rather infamous. A franchisee in England was so inspired by the picture posted on the company's "intranet" that they asked Jackie and Donna to share the design for the signature wheels. They bundled up their designs electronically and sent them on their way, where at least one more shag-a-delic van is now gracing the streets of Britain.

Jackie and Donna are passionate about the role that computers play in their new business. Their enthusiasm is infectious as they hover over the screen, sharing the huge "idea bank" of designs and knowledge collateral that they can tap into from the U.S., Britain, Mexico and Austrailia.

"This is our best resource. We can come here for advice, production tips, and even designs when we are tackling something new."

Jackie's face is glowing as she talks about one opportunity that this corporate online community allowed them to capture. Having a chance to court industry monolith, Siemens, the women reached out to their network of colleagues for ideas to help them shine. Within hours they were swamped with emails and ammunition from allies around the globe, including a custom PowerPoint presentation compliments of their head office. They were able to access a tremendous pool of graphics, tradeshow banners and other collateral and customize them with the Siemens name and logo. In the end, this tiny little novice team of 2 landed the prized account, and they're not shy about telling you how the computer connection made it possible.

Collaboration is one of the most valuable things gained in an automated office. The ability to connect through emails and online forums can be the functional difference between a small, mom-and-pop style operation, and an industrial-strength presence in the market. The girls point to the screen again and say "See, we even have a 'Dear Gary' section where we can send questions directly to the CEO and ask for feedback".

And feedback is often one of the most critical elements of competitive edge. It's especially handy when, for instance, someone asks you to create "alligator proof" signs. The girls chuckle as they relay this story and how franchisees were able to help each other meet this request through shared experiences and access to resources.

While alligators aren't exactly a common problem in Windsor, other types of challenges are. When Jackie and Donna wanted to win the contract to do the hospital signage, they knew they had to do their homework. Trying to find a Canadian equivalent to the "American Disabilities Act" was not an easy chore. The act is very specific in the guidelines that signage must meet, and once again with the help of their online community of colleagues the partners were able to tap into the resources they needed, including a list of vendors that supplied the proper materials at a competitive price.

Ask the women what their biggest challenges have been? "Being a small business and keeping up with the technology." It's why the collaboration and resources afforded by the company intranet are so fundamental to their business.

The partners not only have access to forms, policies and designs, they are even able to take their training through an "online campus". In a small business you rarely have the luxury of big travel budgets to go where you need to be to stay current in an ever-changing market. Through the computer, Jackie and Donna are able to constantly access training and support, and stay at the forefront of their field.

They have access to a knowledge base, a logo library, marketing resources such as PowerPoint presentations and trade show graphics, e-learning, a vendor database, STB certification, e-Shop surveys and even events registration.


The "Value Added" for Customers

There's another clear benefit to integrating computers in a business of any size, and that's the ability to embrace customers through a timely and very personal electronic storefront. Customers can come to the site, browse the electronic catalogue, request a quote, and even re-order from their own custom area while sitting in their bedroom slippers drinking coffee at 3 a.m.. Where phone orders tend to be a constant interruption to work flow, the age of email means that customers can access the business at their convenience, and be serviced in a much more timely and efficient manner. Their orders are stored, so any special design specs are immediately accessible, speeding up production and delivery of the product. Customers can even logon to their custom "My Catalogue" area and check on the status of their jobs.

So what happens when a customer emails proofs at midnight, anyway? Chances are the women are logged on through their systems at home, checking emails, and responding so their client has an answer waiting in the morning. While "pervasive access" can have it's downfall -- the temptation to let work become all-consuming -- it also has it's advantages. Whether wanting to attend a school play and working from home before or after, or helping with a daughter's homework long-distance from Dallas on a Sunday night (Dad may indeed be handy downstairs, but you can never underestimate the importance of a mom ;) , the mobile side of technology has allowed the women to remain an active and important part of their families's lives.

And ask for a living definition of working in the "global economy"? Donna Bilodeau and Jackie Raymond have the answer: a gentleman from Montreal was reading an in-flight magazine and came across an ad for FastSigns. Jackie and Donna received a call shortly after, and ended up doing business with a brand-new long-distance customer through email and Visa. It's the power to interact with your customer electronically, at their convenience, that makes your size and geography far less important than your ability to do the job. It's the kind of clichéd but ever-true example of how small businesses can infact be on a level playing field with much larger competitors, and tap into substantial accounts.

A Little Bit of Advice ...

Beyond the technology, these two ladies had some very sage advice to share. For other people who may be thinking of making the entrepreneurial leap, they recommend:

• choose something that you know you're going to love;


• pick something that challenges you; what you don't know often outweighs what you do know ten-fold, and that's part of the appeal;


• do it at a time when you can truly commit, for instance when your kids are more grown up;


• don't be afraid to jump in and experiment;


• learn from your mistakes, because you're going to make them; it's where our best lessons have been learned;


• be true to yourself; go with your gut instinct; and,


• when it comes to a partner, put friendship first, and the rest will take care of itself.

If you'd like to chat with Donna and Jackie about their journey, I invite you to join them in our new Edible Computer" forums. You can post questions or comments for the two "Digital Divas" at your convenience.

If you missed my interview with Jackie and Donna on this morning's show, you can still click here to listen to it in RealAudio

Contest for Kids: Calling All Teachers, Parents ...

Deadline for entries: Friday, May 17th, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Families, classrooms and youth organizations in Canada are invited to participate. There is no age restriction, and I welcome collaboration! The activity is designed to inspire families and educators to work with youth in nurturing their view of technology as a tool for community wellbeing, and recognizing their personal power and value as a community champion.

Click here to find out how your kids can win the "Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon" computer game for PCs and Macs. The game is a fun way for kids aged 3-8 to develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by exploring over 30 lunar locations with one of top-rated Humoungous Entertainment's most endearing cartoon characters.

NOTE: Due to the interest shown by people looking to work on this challenge with older kids, I'll be adding an additional prize relevant to senior youth, in addition to the Junior software. More details to come.

The winner will be announced on my show on Monday, May 20th.



"Digital Divas" With Heart ...

gentle listener :)

Meeting people as bold and witty as Jackie Raymond and Donna Bilodeau is what makes my job so much fun. Coming to know them also as "community champions" is what makes it a blessing. Part of the secret ingredient in this team's success is their absolute passion for people.

They run their business as a family business. Jackie's 18-year-old son Robert is their computer guru. Donna's youngest son helps out with production. Husbands and dads are enlisted to help manage the finances and rally up sales. Donna's husband even taught Jackie how to get up on that latter with a drill and install the signs they make. The women are 5 minutes from home, and their conversations are peppered with the importance of the family-centric approach.

But talk to the two for a few minutes longer and you'll recognize the larger context that family takes on in their world:

"We think being involved in the community is very, very important. While the "We Care for Kids" Campaign is one of the projects we're most involved with, there are many others that we support.

From "Run for the Cure" and "Homes for Habitat" through to the Majorettes, these small business dynamos have very big hearts, extended right on through their business.

After September 11th Jackie made "Friends and Neighbours" decals, and along with Donna visited the Oakland Mall in Michigan for the weekend long radio-thon raising money for relief efforts. They gave the decals to the DJs who handed them out to anyone stopping by, and spoke on the air about the Canadian commitment to our U.S. friends at such a devastating time. Jackie even went to a Backstreet Boys concert with her daughter where they handed out more of the decals.

While some might brush this off as a marketing stunt, you'd only need to sit down with these two ladies once to know what makes a small local business such an important part of any community when it's governed by this much heart.

Have an experience of your own to share? I'm anxious to hear it! Be sure to visit the Listeners Picks forum to tell me about it. I'm always looking for great new stories to share.

Have a terrific Monday morning, and let's keep talking!