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A Conversation About What Is A Power Couple With The Atkinson’s

#PowerCouple

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What Is A Power Couple? The Atkinson’s Tell It Like It Is!

We often have this Hollywoodish idea of what is a power couple. A friendly version Mr & Mrs Smith where the goal is empowerment rather than killing each other. In reality, it’s a little bit of both.

Read More: Enima Is Making History Again With The Migos On A Track

I’m far from married and although I should’ve changed my relationship status a while ago, I must admit that I’m happily ”In A Relationship” with my work for the moment. I’m not closedminded to the idea of finding my significant other but it’s basically like finding Nemo:

You Won’t Find It Until It Finds You!

As an entrepreneur and a man that runs around the world,  I often wonder if there’s really a woman that can keep up with this lifestyle. A woman that’ll understand the ups and downs, the broke days like the ”Let’s Go To Jamaica” days and the rollercoaster that comes with entrepreneurship.

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Curious and eager to get out the tinder dates cycle, I’ve turned to a power couple that literally lives, breathes & eats entrepreneurship while enjoying every second of their marriage.

Stephanie & Ruben Atkinson are both running clothing lines, an annual fundraiser called Fashion In The City, traveling for business and raising kids. We wanted to find out the secret game plan to make a power couple work, here are the answers!

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MGSWhat’s Your Secret For A Perfect Work/Life Balance?

Ruben: 

My wife is a crazy planner, I think she actually has 3 planners, you know those Calendars people write everything in! Yea, she is obsessed with those, so she plans, I edit and finalize the plan and we just work together.

Stephanie: 

That is sweet babe! But honestly we plan and plan and things can go as planned or a whole other route. We just try to have an open mind, because most of the time like 99% of the time things will never go as planned. But you have to roll with it

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Cc via Stephanie’s Facebook

MGS: How Did You Start Your Own Clothing Line?

Stephanie: 

Ruben came home one night and I remember we were watching a movie (before Netflix, we actually had no cable and was watching it on a DVD player) and I could not pay attention

Ruben:

Babe you never pay attention in movies, you always fall asleep, I actually knew something was up that night cause you did not fall asleep!

power-couple-2

Stephanie:

Well there was, my mind was racing. It was racing for numerous reasons

  1. Because I was about to ask my boyfriend if I can quit my job to start a Fashion Company (and I had no idea where to begin). 

      2.I had just got promoted so I was a manager like himself and was finally able to contribute to our new condo we had just got.

      3. I was worried that my childhood ambitions of being in the Fashion Industry was going to be brushed away like it had been in the past by others

      4. I was just his girlfriend not his wife, but I was about to ask him if I could take his Bank of America card and invest in my dream.

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Stephanie:

Well in the middle of the movie I blurted out: ”I hate my job, I just hate it. I was not made to do this, I want to design clothes again and I want to have our own online store”. 

Ruben:

Do you remember what I said?

Stephanie:

Of course I do! You said ”Of course babe if that is what you want to do we can do it!”. And like that, Zipped Boutique was born- which later grew across borders and expanded to ZB The Label.

power couple, montreal designer, montreal entrepreneur

MGS: As A Designer, What Inspires You?

Stephanie:

EVERYTHING. I definitely have one of those creative brains that never turns off. From people, to places to city lights to Instagram. I am such a people lover, I love to see how they interact, what different cultures do, what they eat, how they dress. I really take it all in and then start a collection.

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Ruben:

The struggle, it not only inspires me but motivates me to create a line that means something to someone.

MGS: If You Could Describe Your Journey As An Entrepreneur In One Word, What Would It Be?

Ruben:

I would have to say REWARDING. It is a great feeling working for yourself.

Stephanie:

I agree but I would also use the word HECTIC. We work really hard, so our days are usually very long and usually hectic. But a good type of hectic.

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power couple

Cc: via The Atkinson’s

 

MGS: Is It Challenging To Be A Couple When Both Partners Are Entrepreneurs?

Ruben:

Finding balance. Many times my lovely wife will be patiently waiting for me to finish talking about whatever I’m saying to get in a word about a project she’s working on. But I actually enjoy it. I am so proud of my wife, and to see her in motion inspires me! As long as you aren’t so caught up in yourself I think overlapping projects should not be a problem.

Stephanie: 

Having projects and things that are pressing can be difficult especially if one partner feels as if what they are doing is more important than the other. But I think we are a bit different cause we actually like a bit of chaos. And some good old friendly competition never hurt anybody.

MGS: Do You Think An Entrepreneur Can Only Match With Another Entrepreneur?

Ruben:

Absolutely NOT! We understand each other cause we have the same passion and goals. But honestly, we met in high school and reconnected years later at a Chinese Food Restaurant.

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She worked as a dental assistant and me at U Haul. I honestly couldn’t imagine things to turn out the way they did, entrepreneurship was not even in the near future when we met and we worked out just great!                                                                 

Stephanie:

I agree! We had no idea we would even be here right now, so no. Love is love and you can find a life partner in any job.

MGS: Do You Have Any Advice Or Tips For A Young Couple Starting Their Relationship?

BOTH:

Transparency.  As long as the couple has an open relationship in the sense that both partners are open and clear on both of their expectations everything will be good. We know people with boyfriends or girlfriends that are absolutely clueless to the other partner’s agenda, and it is so dangerous. Our advice would be just to stay open and honest, and that if they feel like they cannot be truthful with their partner, that might not be the person for them.

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Follow The Atkinson’s Aka Our Favorite Power Couple

 

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Fashion & Lifestyle

Sports Experts Might Be Your Go To For Your Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts

A Different Kind Of Valentine’s Day

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Sports Experts’ Valentine’s Day Guide Is Your Life Saver This Year

Whether you believe in it or not, Valentine’s Day is your occasion to show appreciation for your significant other. Perhaps, when you’ve went through tons of flowers and chocolate; looking at Sports Experts as a potential place for a nice gift is not that farfetched.

Read More: Tomas Tatar Teams Up With A Local Restaurant To Launch His Own Tartare And You Have To Try It

To make it easy for you to navigate through their wide selection. They’ve put together a guide that brings together some of ideas for him and her.

To make it even easier for our readers, we’ve handpicked our favorite items that should make it to whatever you have planned on February 14th.

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#1 Fitbit Versa

sports experts, fitbit versa, valentine's day gifts

Cc: Sports Experts

Price : 199,99$

If I’m with you, I want you be happy, fulfilled and most of all H-E-A-L-T-H-Y . That’s exactly what you get with the Fitbit versa, a slick design and all the functionalities to take your fitness to the next level. It doesn’t hurt that the watch is currently on discount either.

#2 Skates

sports experts

cC: Sports Experts

Price Range: 41,99$- 159,99$

There’s something about outdoor activities during the winter time. You won’t miss by getting yourself his/hers pairs of skates. There are plenty skate rinks sprinkled around the city just waiting for you.

 

#3  Adidas Matching Outfits

sports experts, montreal boutique

Cc: Sports Experts

Price Range: 54,99$- 104,99$

It’s a ”To Each His Own” moment but if that’s what you’re into or if you just want to spice things up your way to your date, this might be a good surprise.

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#4  A Gopro

gopro, sports experts, valentine's day gifts

Cc: Sports Experts

Price: 529,99 $

First off, it was a shocker to me that Sports Experts actually has Gopros but if you want to capture moments with your significant other and let him or her explore their creativity, this is the one!

#5 A Yoga Matte

yoga matte, sports experts

Cc: Sports Experts

Price: 69,99$

Let’s try something different for 2021, how about trading your usual dinner at home with candles for a nice and serene yoga session. You have to switch things up sometimes ladies and gents.

For more ideas and suggestions, go check their guide on the Sports Experts website.

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Fashion & Lifestyle

The End Of An Era And A New Start: Dress To Kill Magazine Goes Digital

A New World Order

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I hate to break it down to you so abruptly but the world is changing, the world as we knew it, the way we consume, the way we think and even that good old Dress To Kill magazine is going through it.

Read More: Learn About The Black History In Montreal With This New City Tour

As a young and inexperienced blogger back in 2016, I felt deep in my earth that paper was a dying medium and that the internet was about to carry the torch.

a hundreds of blog posts later, multiple attempts at building an online presence and literally trying to digitize the aesthetics & creativity I saw in magazines growing up.

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I must admit 2 things: 1. what it takes to make fashion or information enjoyable is very hard to put together and 2 building an audience on or offline is a GREAT feat.

I grew to admire and respect my peers in traditional media because they made the most out of nothing at a time where Facebook and all those outlets were not a thing.

In case you didn’t know, Dress To Kill magazine is not your average magazine by any shape or form.

Promoting Canadian art and fashion from province to province was something seemingly unthinkable but they got it done.

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From iconic covers with Lenny Kravitz and more iconic nights at le Mount Stephen to bring the whole industry under the same roof, DTK got it done.

Don’t take what I’m saying as a farewell note because today actually mark a rebirth for the publication.

Indeed, while the world was going all over the place, they went on a well thought out rebrand.

As you might have guessed, the biggest take away from this is the stoppage of the paper version of the magazine.

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The focus is now digital but as I told you earlier, DTK doesn’t go halfway.

Their new platform will include an online boutique which once again is going to focus on shedding light on Canadian creators for men and women.

dress to kill magazine

Cc: DTK MEN

 

Do you think more magazines are going to make a full transition to digital?

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We Ask A Personal Development Coach How To Overcome The Ins and Outs Of The Crisis

It’s all about your point of view

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marc dumaine, personal development coach, covid-19

Everything You Need to Know Through The Lens Of A Personal Development Coach

I’m always amazed at how people like to stigmatize the role or relevance of a personal development coach. They’re quick to label it a scam, a fad, something based on nothing but little they did know, they’re coaches around the world who impacts millions and millions of people in a life changing way. I was looking for the equivalent of a Tony Robbins in Quebec, my research undoubtedly came back to the same name: Marc Dumaine.

Read More: Here’s What I’ve Learned About Myself Since The Coronavirus Crisis Started

Mr Dumaine is more than a personal development coach, he’s a man with a story.

Not your average story either. From overcoming alcohol and drug abuse to obtaining a MBA to running campaigns for some of the biggest corporations in this province. Here’s a man of many battles.

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Honorable mention too, these days Marc is focused on creating an international platform to impact as many people he possibly can.

marc dumaine, personal development coach

The bottom line is this. This personal development coach is not unfamiliar with trials and tribulations, changes and transitions.

That’s why to me, in a time like this where everything is doing a 180 degree, I had to pick his brain and ask him how can you and I get over.

In this Q&A, we indeed ask Marc Dumaine about several things such as how to bounce back from the crisis, his keys to success and much more.

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QUESTIONS FOR MARC DUMAINE

 

#1 How did you figure yourself out as a future entrepreneur and what was the key factor that made you take that route?

I was always an artist at heart and found that I didn’t it in any mole.  After completing my MBA, I realized that my biggest assets were my differences.  I decided at that moment to stop following what people expected from me and launched my own business.  To me being an entrepreneur is an art form in itself. I have never regretted that choice since I launched Asana Coaching 10 years ago.

#2 How can someone go from being self-employed to an entrepreneur making money without physically being there?

The internet is booming with opportunities right now ! Even with the COVID-19, there is a redefinition of the way people consume products and services ! It is a TIME for being creative and look into endless opportunities ! Get out of our comfort zone and start being inspired by people who are already doing it ! Then, build yourself a right game plan with an amazing branding, and you are all set for the best adventure of your life. 

marc dumaine
#3 What are the pros and cons of being a consultant?

The pros are definitely the freedom it gives you in terms of choosing your schedule, the services you want to offer, the different partnerships you can build and finally, having a real impact in your client’s lives !

The biggest con I think is the loneliness that comes from working on your own and often alone ! You also have the insecurity of never having a stable income.  This life is not made for everybody ! 

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#4 What would be the achievement you’re most proud of and why?

The biggest achievement for me is to have never given up ! In my 10 years as an entrepreneur, I could have gone bankrupt a few times, I could have been discouraged for so many reasons… but my faith in what I was doing kept me going ! It is a hard industry where you are competing against so many people and you have to realize that you have never made it ! You have to renew yourself every day, offer the top of the top and always evolve as a human being and expert ! I am very proud to still be there today, stronger than ever.

#5 What entrepreneurs should learn from the Coronavirus crisis?

I think we have to realize that we can’t just keep running all the time ! The anxiety, the stress and the adrenaline are very dangerous ! We talk a lot of profitability, performance but we tend to forget to talk about happiness and well-being ! I hope this time brings more humanity into entrepreneurs’ lives ! 

#6 Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

Without wanting to sound over the top, I truly believe that I will have built my brand into an international platform that will include wellness retreats worldwide, TV shows, a one-man show, a few books and real estate projects ! No pressure ! LOL Seriously, I am a kid at heart and developing my business is the best adventure that life has given me ! Watch out world, I am coming. 🙂

#7 What would be the main thing entrepreneurs around the world should learn from you?

That I almost died three times from drugs and alcohol ! That I was the mos unhappy and insecure person for the two thirds of my life ! That i was bullied and rejected for being different ! And in the end, I am the living proof that anything is possible when you don’t give up on yourself and your life ! 

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#8 What would be your 3 keys to success ?

1- You are 100% responsible for your choices, attitude, perceptions and mindset

2- There are no mistakes, only feedback !

3- Only accept what’s 10/10 for you ! That is a sign that you are treating yourself life the most important person on your life.

If you’re interested in seeing him in action, he’s doing a Facebook live tonight at 7:30 pm and if you’re looking for some light in these dark times, that’s the place to be.

To know more about Marc Dumaine and his journey as a personal developement coach follow him here

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