Burlington's women entrepreneurs know a good business opportunity when they see one.

Many of them headed to the local Staples Business Depot parking lot last week, climbed aboard an RV and took advantage of a free coaching seminar with Women in Business mentor Mandie Crawford, because the Coaching Coach was in town.

Mandie Crawford, who's been called Canada's guru of women entrepreneurs, launched her Coaching Coach campaign -- sponsored by Staples -- on March 8, International Working Women's Day.

Since then, the cross-Canada tour has taken her to Staples parking lots from Kelowna and Fort McMurray to Calgary and Edmonton.

Following her recent Burlington stop, Crawford was off to seminars in nearby Mississauga and Brampton -- offering free group coaching sessions to all women in business.

Crawford held three energetic two-hour seminars last week, giving sound business advice and inspirational mentoring to women whose Burlington businesses varied from professional stagers and real estate brokers to women running counselling services and selling specialized sportswear. She invited all participants to bring one burning business question to the table.

Crawford, who is the founder of the Roaring Women's Club and author of the books Seven Simple Principles and When Every Second Counts, is a certified behavioural expert and former Hamilton Spectator columnist who has interviewed more than 500 women entrepreneurs since 2004.

During her local stop, she gave tips on ways each woman could better organize their business and take it to the next level.

Crawford told the women to spend their marketing dollars wisely and offered suggestions for designing good copy for advertisement, but challenged the women to think outside the box when it came to advertising their business. She also brought up lots of innovative ways the women could draw attention to their Burlington businesses.

She talked about the power of networking, offered advice on how the Burlington women could get the most out of trade shows, and gave strategies for running successful seminars and workshops.

She challenged the women to get out there and talk about their businesses.

"Speaking in public will establish you as an expert more than anything else," said Crawford.

PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS OFFERED

She also offered tips on public speaking, from what to say to how to calm those nerves, and also suggested ways the women could put their knowledge on paper in the form of pamphlets, brochures and manuals. Crawford gave pointers on ways the women could get the most out of their business websites.

The Coaching Coach also showed the women a quick and easy way to draw up a detailed business plan but told them to always keep the passion for their business as the focal point of that plan.

Crawford's seminar balanced savvy business advice with inspirational motivation. She told the women to get in the right frame of mind if they wanted to run a successful business.

"Decide that you can have an impact on other's lives," said Crawford.

"Learn to brag a little, because the success of your business depends on it."

She also told the group, "As a women entrepreneur, your success is your responsibility."

When the two-hour session was over the women exited the RV with Staples business coupons, a handful of exchanged business cards, lots of useful business information and much appreciated mentoring. Time well spent for these busy entrepreneurs.

Further information on the Coaching Coach can be found at www.thecoachingcoach.com.