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Kris Schantz – Happy Worker

Kris Schantz - Happy Worker
 

“The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a cross between a league of entrepreneurial superheroes and a no-nonsense support group. My own strengths and weaknesses are checked by my group mates, who actively support and motivate me to meet my targets, be a better entrepreneur and a better person. Before I joined the group I was a 150-pound business weakling… now look at me! Beefcake. Beefcake!!”

Fun for Big Kids & Tailor-made Toys and Gifts

As co-creator and co-owner of Happy Worker and The Toy Agency, Kris Schantz creates fun for working stiffs and develops original marketing promotions. With Happy Worker, Kris designs toys and other diversions for big kids. Through The Toy Agency he creates custom toys and gifts for clients' corporate promotions and marketing campaigns.

Happy Worker's journeys began with two geeks and a crazy idea: a mini plastic geek superhero. Through some persistence and an abundance of nerdy love, a little napkin drawing turned into a real live toy – the GeekMan Action Figure. Since their firstborn toy Happy Worker has added other original action figures, including BossMan – mighty manager, SuperMom – mini mommy heroine, and MoneyMan – your friendly neighborhood financial hero. Happy Worker's toys are available in 6 countries and have made over 250 media appearances including the New York Times, Washington Post, Business Week, and Los Angeles Times. Happy Worker also runs a web site dedicated to turning working stiffs into happy workers. For more about Happy Worker drop by http://www.happyworker.com .

Through The Toy Agency, Happy Worker creates attention grabbing custom toys and gifts. Their tailor-made products have resulted in wildly successful marketing campaigns for their corporate clients. For more about The Toy Agency please visit http://www.thetoyagency.com .

Kris Schantz loves creating things out of thin air and helping them grow. He's also a lifelong entrepreneur… his past “enterprises” have included lemonade stands, odd jobs, a paper route and t-shirt and web development firms. After receiving a degree in biochemistry from McGill University , Kris cut his teeth in the corporate realm with early stage Internet businesses, where he learned the ropes of designing and managing new products and making the impossible happen. He also learned what it was like to be a worker, and continues to draw upon this inspiration for Happy Worker.

Meet the Happy Workers at:
Website: www.happyworker.com
Email: info@happyworker.com

 
 
 

Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group
Mark Arteaga - RedBit Development
"One of my biggest challenges with running a business is who do you turn to when facing a business challenge? Who do you turn to when you want advice? The best source is other entrepreneurs who are willing to share their past experiences and challenges. That's what you get at the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group. The group always has feedback on business issues and has given me the opportunity to critically think on strategies to grow my business, set goals and be accountable for those goals."
Kris Schantz - Happy Worker
“The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a cross between a league of entrepreneurial superheroes and a no-nonsense support group. My own strengths and weaknesses are checked by my group mates, who actively support and motivate me to meet my targets, be a better entrepreneur and a better person. Before I joined the group I was a 150-pound business weakling… now look at me! Beefcake. Beefcake!!”
Steven Albiani - The Haunn Group
"TheToronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has to date has been a positive experience for me and my business to be a part of. It is rare to have the opportunity to meet on a regular basis with individuals that share the same passion for building something beyond themselves. The group has given me a network to critically think about opportunities and issues providing a proactive approach to my business strategy. I appreciate being held accountable for the goals that I set in my business by the group because the end result is seeing those come to fruition quicker."
Mark Drager - Phanta Media
“As an Entrepreneur, who do you turn to for advice? Family members? Friends? Ex Co-workers? In most cases they don't understand the challenges I'm facing because they haven't been there. The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is made up of Entrepreneurs who HAVE been there – they've faced the challenges that lay ahead of me and through shared camaraderie will help me overcome them.”
Dr. Anna B. Baranowsky - Traumatology Institute
"As a Clinical Psychologist, my background did not provide me with any business training. In the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group I have found a tremendous resource of people who are willing to discuss all aspects of running a business. There is such diversity among the members who range in their professions as well in the development of their businesses. So we all learn about every stage of business development and the idea generation for complex problems is an enjoyable and worthwhile exercise every time. Bravo Evan for putting together such an terrific program."
Mark Ellwood - Pace Productivity
"I have always believed that the people I know contribute to my success. The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has allowed me to expand my network and meet some very successful entrepreneurs."
Raye Ackerman - ITS Dispatch
"Since becoming involved with the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group, it has truly been an eye opening experience to see that other business owners like myself, are struggling with the same daily challenges. Our group is quite balanced and we have some members that have already dealt with many of my current issues and offer great input and advice on how to work through them. Ultimately, the group acts as a great motivator to keep me on track and accountable for financial targets and to ensure that issues that I plan on dealing with are dealt with... (No later than the next meeting!)"
Max Kalles - Orange Digital Marketing Inc
“The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group gives me the ability to interact, share, and learn from fellow business owners who have the same problems and challenges that I face as an entrepreneur on a daily basis. The group helps me to set goals and an action plan for my business, and then holds me accountable for achieving those goals.”
Gary Shouldis - The Little Gym
"Being a part of theToronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is like having my own private council of great business minds ready to help me work through any business challenge I face.  Each month I leave the meetings feeling refreshed and excited to tackle the challenges and opportunities that wait for me.  I never would have met such a wonderful group of business minds on my own, great work organizing it Evan!"
Karim Ismail - Keep Any Promise
"My fellow entrepreneurs at the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group have provided me with great insight with a new business venture I am launching, providing much more clarity regarding my vision and how best to execute a launch plan. They have also provided invaluable CEO level contacts through their networks that I would have never been able to reach. At VERY meeting, the learning on the part of all members is staggering, with very helpful suggestions around difficult issues faced by entrepreneurs."
Michael Nguyen - Sprezzatura
"The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a place where successful entrepreneurs in different industries can leverage their different knowledge set. It is a place where I go to discuss and formulate ideas."
Alfredo Arias - Flash Fog Security
"My experience with the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has been wonderful. Our business has evolved in important ways from insights discussed at a meeting. The members really complement each other, and at the end you get refined ideas that you can put to use immediately"
Kim Gans - Sweet Flour
"The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group has been a tremendous asset in helping me turn my entrepreneurial goals into reality. The group has helped me think through business issues and has been a great sounding board for new ideas. I appreciate the group’s openness and diversity of thinking, as they are not afraid to challenge me. It is these rich discussions that help me become a better entrepreneur."
John Carter - Real Estate Entrepreneur
"Ever feel like you’re nuts being an Entrepreneur? Like you have no-one who understandings the challenges you face, and to share in your successes? The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group is a group of like-minded, equally successful entrepreneurs that are equally open to share feedback and ideas on my businesses as they are open to my input. I wouldn’t be an entrepreneur without a group like this."
Suky Sodhi - Professional Selection, Inc
"Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group provides a unique personal forum to gain a broad range of unbiased, independent, very high quality perspectives on issues you face and ideas on how to overcome challenges. The Group idea is special and valuable as you contribute and grow as a group."
Simon Payn - Ready to Go Newsletters
"I have made thousands of dollars by being part of the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group. Why? Because when I go there I get great ideas followed by a swift kick to the butt to put those ideas into action. I added a major product line to my business at the start of the year after the group reinforced and prompted me to implement an idea that had been knocking around my head for months. That product will probably become 50% of my revenue in the next year. This is the great thing about meeting regularly with a group of smart business people: the members bring street-savvy advice to your business that comes from a perspective that is outside your business. To anyone walking the lonely road of entrepreneurship, that kind of input is extraordinarily valuable."
Louis Trahan - Last Minute Training
"Being part of the Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group connects me to advice and expertise of other professionals who really CARE about my success. Mentorship groups like these are an indispensable part of starting a business today."
 
Mastermind Group Resources
Mastermind Meeting
Mastermind Resources Blog
Networking Groups Toronto
Small Business Coaching
Successful Entrepreneurs
Toronto Business Coach
Toronto Business Memberships
Toronto Business Networking
Toronto Business Women
Young Presidents' Organization

 
Other Toronto Resources
 


Mastermind Extras
Phillip Brown
Phillip Brown
Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki
Google Event
Members go to Google's Toronto HQ to learn about online marketing and get their questions answered directly by Google's staff.
Fresh Books
FreshBooks Event
Members meet FreshBooks founder Mike McDerment who explains how he went from 0 to over 1,000,000 users through SEO, social media, and referrals.
Fresh Books
Cosmic Bowling Night
Members join together for a night of cosmic bowling at O'Connor Bowl.
Cosmic Bowling
Brett Wilson Event
Members meet with Brett Wilson from CBC's the Dragon's Den. Brett shares his personal success story and answers questions in an insightful session with the members.
Brett Wilson - Dragon's De
Mastermind Pool Night
Members get together at the Charlotte Room in downtown Toronto for a few rounds of pool and fun.
Jeffrey Dennis - PROFIT Magazine
Jeffrey Dennis Event
Members meet with Jeffrey Dennis who is Canada`s advisor to CEOs of fast growth companies. Jeff is a columnist with PROFIT Magazine and has advised four of Canada`s fastest growing companies.
Jeffrey Dennis - PROFIT Magazine
Razor Suleman Event
Members meet with I Love Rewards Razor Suleman who was BDC Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2007, #12 on the PROFIT 100, and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers and the GTA's Top 50 employers.
Razor Suleman - I Love Rewards
Lakehouse Trip
Mastermind members relax and get to know each other's families at a Peterborough lakehouse. Activities included dinner, canoeing, Wii, puzzles, and trivia games.
Mastermind Lakehouse Trip
Harry Rosen Event
Toronto members have intimate meeting with Harry Rosen who shared his wisdom on how to achieve entrepreneurial success and answered questions from our group.
Harry Rosen
PROFIT Magazine Event
Toronto members meet with PROFIT Magazine editor Ian Portsmouth who shared strategies on how to get media attention for your business.
Ian Portsmouth - PROFIT Magazine
Frank Cianciulli Event
Members meet Enunciate's Frank Cianciulli who grew sales 17,298% in 5 years, took 2 firms to the PROFIT lists, won the E&Y Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, and is one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40.