Win $10,000

2 Responses to Win $10,000

1. Leah Layden says:

   November 9, 2012 at 1:41 pm

   I own and operate a small bakery in Calgary, Alberta. I started out with nothing and all of the odds against me.

   I am a 36-year-old female and am at a point in my life where I want to do something for me. I have always wanted to run my own business, so I enrolled in the Self Employment Program with Momentum, a non-profit organization here in Calgary. It was the best thing I have ever done.

   When I first launched my business, I faced numerous financial obstacles. My credit was in the toilet as a result of previous years of bad financial habits. Even though I had turned my life around (another side story that would take pages to tell), no one wanted to help me. I finally managed to scrape up a bit of money through family so that I could buy some equipment. I also qualified for a small loan through Momentum, who gives micro loans to participants.

   I opened my very tiny business alongside another business in December 2011. I had a tiny corner to display my baking and I used very basic equipment. I forgot to mention that I also worked full time as a legal assistant to pay for help and other expenses. I was burning the candle at both ends. My days started at 3 a.m. and ended late at night. In February 2012, the owners of the other business retired and offered the property to me and my life partner. We jumped at the opportunity.

   We now live behind the bakery in the residential part of the property. My son is now 14 and helps out in the bakery frequently. He is my best helper. The thing that got me to this point was strong support from my family, perseverance and my refusal to roll over and give up.

   I am almost at a year of being open and I do not intend on stopping!

2. karthika says:

   November 10, 2012 at 2:29 pm

   sooooo neat