MEET
ALLISON GRAHAM
Author,
Married My Mom, Birthed A Dog
How To Be Resilient When Life Sucks,
Owner of Elevate Biz.
Elevate Your Life | Double Your Business
To connect with Allison:
Rania Walker,
PR & Media Relations
Front Door PR
[email protected]
(416) 258-8953
ResiliencyNinja.com
ALLISON’S STORY
At 25 Allison was working as a receptionist by day, and a bartender by night. She lacked confidence
and connections; was frustrated and longed for a more fulfilling life. Her networking journey
began. Despite making mistakes, she got very connected, very quickly.
At 28 Allison landed the role as the People You Know columnist and won a spot on the provincial
executive of her political party. Her community contributions climbed and so did her confidence.
In 2005, 2 weeks before her 30th birthday, Allison lost her dad, her grandma and just before
that, her uncle. She finished her contract as the founding executive director of an eating disorder
support centre.
In 2006, Allison launched Elevate Biz--to help others who lacked confidence
and connections. Business was booming.
In 2007, Allison went in for a simple surgery and came out with numerous
complications including permanent damage to her two main pelvic nerves.
Frustrated by the health care she received and the life-risking circumstances
around her release from the hospital, she decided to run for political office.
She won the nomination in London West, but lost the general election in the
faith-based funding debacle of 2007. Through it all, the severity of the pain
remained and doctors could not provide answers.
By 2009 doctors told Allison to go on government disability, take pain pills
for the rest of her life and give up on her professional expectations.
Allison said, “Screw defeat.” She set her sights on becoming a Resiliency Ninja.
In 2009 six people close to Allison died suddenly. In the face of grief
and severe chronic pain, she built a successful company serving some
of Canada’s most influential corporations, institutions and associations.
In 2009 her Mom moved to London to take care of her so she could focus
on her business. Mom was her chauffeur, her confidant and her companion.
In 2009 Allison and Winston C, her dog, found each other and it was love
at first sight. She had a fur baby. As the three of them adjusted to a new,
intertwined life, the joke Married My Mom, Birthed A Dog started.
By 2012 Allison’s life became a balance between recovery, doctors’
appointments and keeping up appearances in the community and for clients.
In 2012 a wave of random injuries began including a broken nose with
two surgeries, three broken wrists, a torn knee ligament (MCL), a damaged
pubic bone and an injury to the big toe.
By 2015 the dominos stopped falling and Allison could look back and start
to analyze her life as a Resiliency Ninja – it turns out she was a master.
In 2016 after reaching a huge goal in her consulting and speaking business,
even with her chronic nerve pain, Allison decided it was time to tell her story
and share her Resiliency Ninja formula so others can feel less alone,
less judgmental and more in control during tough times.
In 2017, Allison is launching the culmination of the lessons learned through
her ‘decade of hell’ in the book Married My Mom, Birthed A Dog: How to Be
Resilient When Life Sucks
ResiliencyNinja.com
BIO
Allison Graham has always had a knack for finding and fixing things:
kinks in the sales process, networking woes, marketing fails and
ultimately in her own life, during the ten year period when her life
went awry. At the top of her game, while running for office,
Allison experienced a harrowing series of accidents,
personal losses, and debilitating injuries which
limited her mobility and stamina. Working
through the excruciating pain, she refused to
be broken. Her resolve to overcome the odds,
refusing to accept a prognosis of personal and
professional stagnation, she armed herself for
a fight and created work-arounds to grow her
business and nurture continued growth in her
life. In the process she found out how strong she
really was and created a fix for what her doctors
and councilors warned her would be
a futile ‘recovery’.
Allison’s story has motivated people to look beyond
their current circumstances and challenges, and uses
her own learnings to help people elevate their life options,
rather than accept their plight. Through her incredible
determination, and resilience, Allison Graham has become
a mentor and beacon to those who fall in the face of failure.
Allison has chronicled that journey in her new book Married My
Mother, Birthed A Dog: How To Be Resilient When Life Sucks which has
earned her the moniker, Resiliency Ninja. Allison’s first book,
From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding
and Profitable Networking Made Easy! (Wiley 2012) became a Best-Seller.
Allison’s decision to move into the self-help industry was inspired
after surviving, and thriving through her decade of hell. She had
to use every resiliency strategy she could muster to continue to
succeed in business, while her personal life was being tested
from every angle. She speaks throughout North America and
has been featured in the Financial Post, Globe and Mail, Fast
Company, Investment Executive, Huffington Post and The
Bottom Line as an authority on what it takes to develop
profitable relationships. Each week her segment called
Small Business Lessons from the Big Business Headlines
airs on AM980.
In her professional life, Allison inspires people to
double their business and achieve sales and
networking mastery. She’s celebrating ten years
as a business growth consultant and loves to
share her signature program, the Evolution of
Profitable Relationships.
Allison is proud to have been named to
the inaugural Top 20 Under 40 Economic
Trailblazers list by London Business
Magazine. You can connect with
Allison at www.ElevateBiz.com
or on Twitter @AllisonDGraham
ResiliencyNinja.com
GETTING TO KNOW ALLISON
Q How did you become a Resiliency Ninja ?
AJust as I got my business rolling, I went for what should
have been a simple surgery and woke up in excruciating
pain that turned out to be permanent. My personal life
was blowing up behind my curtain with the pain, the
death of several family and friends, random injuries, and
the emotional, mental and financial challenges that go
with all of that. I didn’t have the option to quit my business
so I had to find a way to power through, keep a smile on
my face and serve clients. I became a Resiliency Ninja!
Q How did you become an expert in this space?
AI had no choice. The proverbial fan was blowing boulders
at me personally and I had to protect my livelihood. There
was a collision between my personal and professional
worlds, but adversity didn’t stop me from wanting to help
people through my business. There is no one-sized-fits
all solution to power-through adversity, so I tried many
approaches until I found the best options.
QYou are a sales and networking expert,
how did that come to be?
ABy making a lot of mistakes, going to hundreds of
events and meeting thousands of people. Learning how
to network with confidence changed my professional
trajectory and level of fulfillment in life. I wanted others to
realize the same opportunity, so I distilled my experiences
and extensive observations into easy-to-apply formulas.
Q What are the biggest mistakes business owners make?
AFocusing their sales communication on what they do
instead of focusing on the solutions they provide. Not
making time to nurture future business while they’re
serving today’s clients.
Q Why did you call the book Married My Mom, Birthed A Dog?
AIt started as a joke when Mom moved to town to help me.
We spent a lot of time together, she even drove me to my
speaking events. She filled the companionship void that
was created by trying to hide the severity of my pain when
I was in public. Given my circumstances, having children
was not in the cards at that time and Winston satisfied my
mothering instinct.
Q. What is the biggest lesson you learned writing this book?
AI’m still trying to learn it. I believe there are a series of
defining moments that determine if adversity will make
you a victim or a Resiliency Ninja. I know the moments
along my journey when I chose my path, but I want to
identify the reasons why so many people allow their
struggles to hijack their identity. That knowledge will help
people bounce back faster in tough times. It could even
change the health care system, which I believe is designed
to make you a victim.
QWhat is the biggest take-away you hope people get
from your book?
AThat there is always a solution no matter what obstacles
life throws at you; it’s up to you to choose to find it.
Q What is your favourite place to be in the world?
AProfessionally: Either in front of my laptop creating
or in front of an audience speaking. Very little in
between.Personally: Anywhere that reminds me of
the limitlessness of the universe: the ocean, the forest,
under the stars. Failing that, on my couch snuggling with
Winston C.
Q Who were your greatest teachers?
AThere are so many. I am a sponge and believe that we
learn a little something from every person who crosses
our path. Dr. T, who I mention throughout my new book,
has been instrumental in developing my self-awareness
and approach to building a joyful life with chronic pain.
From the roster of superstars in the self-help industry,
Tony Robbins has made the greatest impact on my
thinking.
Q What is your favorite quote?
A“If you’re going through hell, don’t stop.” That could be the
Resiliency Ninja’s motto. I find Winston Churchill’s wisdom
insightful and entertaining. I could pick any of his quotes
too.
Q What is your favorite book?
AYou mean aside from my latest labor of love? I’ve read
hundreds. If I’m challenged to look at any area of my life
from a different perspective, then a book is worth the read.
Q What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned?
ABeing resilient does not mean that every day is a power
day, many are not. Taking time to recover, without guilt,
allows you to bounce back faster and stronger.
ResiliencyNinja.com
SPEAKER TOPICS:
HOW TO BE A RESILIENCY NINJA
Stress, obstacles and adversity are facts of life. It’s as if we’re all playing an
invisible game of Whack-A-Mole behind our backs, swatting down one problem
just in time for another to erupt. How do you bounce back and succeed
no matter what challenges get thrown at you? In this highly relatable and
entertaining keynote presentation, Allison Graham will share her signature
formula to help you take the steps to overcome the obstacles and mindset
that might be holding you back while giving you the tools to become
a Resiliency Ninja!
THE INFINITE SALES SEQUENCE: DISCOVER THE TRAP DOORS
THROUGH WHICH SALES ARE ESCAPING
In this keynote presentation, Allison shares her exclusive sales process:
The Infinite Sales Sequence. Using this model, the audience will learn
how to discover and highlight all the sales opportunities which may
be escaping them. Discover how to close those trap doors
permanently to create loyal clients and referrals
sources, and fill your pipeline. Come prepared
with your sales and marketing related questions!
SKYROCKET SALES, INFLUENCE AND
YOUR CAREER BY UNDERSTANDING
THE EVOLUTION OF A PROFITABLE
RELATIONSHIPS
This presentation will show you how to open doors
to prime prospects and industry influencers in an
ever-changing, high-paced marketplace that is full
of distractions. Allison will illustrate her key teachings,
revealing the secrets the best sales professionals know
about how relationships evolve and solidify.
You will learn the most important information you need
to know to create relationship momentum, inspire loyal
clients and increase referrals.
TOPICS:
Resiliency - Confidence - Getting Connected - Sales
BOOKS:
ResiliencyNinja.com
MEDIA COVERAGE
FEATURED MEDIA
ResiliencyNinja.com