Interviewee Name: Janice McDonald
Company Name: iStyle Originals
Website: http://www.istyleoriginals.com
Avil Beckford: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Janice McDonald: On twitter, I describe myself as a serial entrepreneur with mild
superpowers. On LinkedIn, I also include that I am a volunteer, as I am involved in several different organizations, including Canadian Women in Communications (CWC), as a volunteer.
Avil Beckford: How do you integrate your personal and professional life?
Janice McDonald: My personal and professional life have always been integrated. My business partner is also my spouse. We have always worked together. It works very well for us!
Avil Beckford: What’s a major regret that you’ve had in life?
Janice McDonald: Don't have any regrets…is not how I approach life. Always want to learn from my mistakes and then, move on, let it go.
Avil Beckford: What are five life lessons that you have learned so far?
Janice McDonald: Lessons I have learned so far… Enjoy the journey! Take time to both re-group and recharge as well as stop and celebrate the successes. Reflect and think about what you could do differently. Always have goals you are working toward. Help others.
Avil Beckford: When you have some down time, how do you spend it?
Janice McDonald: I love to walk my dogs in my neighbourhood. I have two cute bichon frise dogs and wandering through my neighbourhood with them, is always a pleasure. I am an avid reader so I always have a bunch of books on the go. Also, I love to listen to music and see live music.
Avil Beckford: What process do you use to generate great ideas?
Janice McDonald: I don't have a specific process that I use. I love to talk to people and share ideas and as I mentioned, I read widely and I find that that also generates great ideas. I research all kinds of topics too and see where it leads me.
Avil Beckford: What’s your favourite quotation and why?
Janice McDonald: From The LIttle Engine That Could…”I think I can, I think I can…”
You have to believe in yourself. We all face challenges everyday and belief in yourself is critical.
Avil Beckford: How do you define success?
Janice McDonald: For me, it’s living the life that I want to, with enough time for my different pursuits and with passion and energy for it all.
Avil Beckford: In your opinion what’s the formula for success?
Janice McDonald: The formula for success is to follow your own unique path. Stay open to opportunities and welcome challenges to grow and change. Do things that excite you.
Avil Beckford: What are the steps you took to succeed in your field?
Janice McDonald: Steps that I have taken to succeed include getting out of my comfort zone by accepting new challenges and welcoming them even when it is scary.
Avil Beckford: What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
Janice McDonald: Volunteer and get involved…in your industry or in something that you are passionate about. It offers wonderful opportunities to expand your network, increase your skills and for me personally, I have found it to be very rewarding.
Avil Beckford: If trusted friends could introduce you to five people that you’ve always wanted to meet, who would you choose? And what would you say to them?
Janice McDonald: Would love to meet my now deceased grandparents again because I would like the chance to get to know them from an adult perspective and hear their advice, lessons learned and unique perspectives. I think that Steve Jobs would be very interesting to talk to. Bill and Melinda Gates for their foundation work which is transforming the world and Belinda Stronach who I think is a very dynamic Canadian.
Avil Beckford: Which one book had a profound impact on your life? What was it about this book that impacted you so deeply?
Janice McDonald: Right now I am reading a very interesting book called: The Next 100 Years…A Forecast for the 21St Century and it has me captivated. The author is a well-regarded futurist and I find his predictions fascinating and eye-opening. What he is saying about what lies ahead for the USA and the rest of the world are ideas that I am not seeing anywhere else.
Avil Beckford: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are five books that you would like to have with you and why? Summarize the book in two sentences.
Janice McDonald: Since I always have a ton of books on the go at any given time, I would likely have 5 different books with me: a biography of a historical figure, a great fiction, Rumi love poems, a book on current affairs and The Magic of Believing.
Avil Beckford: What one music CD and movie would you like to have with you (on the deserted island) and why?
Janice McDonald: Having been in the music industry for 20 years, am not sure I could pick just one CD to have with me… but if I had to, I would probably pick 3Eb's (Third Eye Blind) first album for nostalgic reasons. Instead of a movie, think I would like to have a limitless amount of paper and pens so I could write and write and write!
Avil Beckford: What excites you about life?
Janice McDonald: Everything about life excites me! The future, new possibilities, change, new ideas!
Avil Beckford: How do you nurture your soul?
Janice McDonald: I love yoga, time alone, time with friends and family, nature, meditation, reading, exercise, live music and good stand-up comedy.
Avil Beckford: If you had a personal genie and she gave you one wish, what would you wish for? Or, if I gave you a magic wand, what would you use it for?
Janice McDonald: I would wish for summer vacation with my family to last longer and for time to slow down so we could savour it even more.
Avil Beckford: Complete the following, I am happy when…..
Janice McDonald: I am spending time with my family.
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