About
Rarely on social media, including LinkedIn, as we are busy building. Best contact is…
Articles by Steve
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The Environment Matters...
The Environment Matters...
We always knew that Ruckify would have a positive impact on the environment because Ruckify’s technology provides…
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A Competitor to Co-Worker
A Competitor to Co-Worker
Hiring a direct competitor to run an entirely new division of your business may seem risky but there was absolutely no…
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Your Brand Is Absolutely Everything....
Your Brand Is Absolutely Everything....
As all entrepreneurs know, the beginning of a new year can be both a time of reflection as well as a time for setting…
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My Passion For Franchise Systems
My Passion For Franchise Systems
What do BPro and the Netfilx movie “The Founder” have in common? In the Netfilx movie “The Founder” Ray meets with the…
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I want to ride my bicycle.
I want to ride my bicycle.
Ok. Let’s be honest, getting a new bike and riding it down the street for the whole neighbourhood to see was one of the…
3 Comments -
As simple as a bucket of water
As simple as a bucket of water
Just recently I got the chance to share more about our story with a group of business leaders and investors. As I stood…
1 Comment -
I'll take a "Cup of Passion"
I'll take a "Cup of Passion"
What gets you going in the morning? Well, let’s be realistic, a cup of coffee can only go so far….right? It seems that…
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Do better business. Have Waffles and Whip Cream!
Do better business. Have Waffles and Whip Cream!
I'll admit that I do like my usual Sunday breakfast special. Recently though, I thought I'd celebrate the beautiful…
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Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Driving in this morning I heard the well-known classic sung by Otis Redding “Sittin’ on the doc of the bay”, the…
5 Comments
Activity
31K followers
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Steve Cody shared thisLessons Learned from Owning the Best Rental Business: My Bobcat Dealership Story At 28, I was navigating the early stages of my entrepreneurial journey, sitting in my office in a newly acquired building, when an unexpected opportunity walked through the door. It came in the form of an older gentleman I knew, who asked a question that would change my life: “Do you want to be partners in owning a Bobcat dealership?” To be honest, I didn’t even know what a Bobcat was at the time. I had certainly never driven one. But as he explained that the local Bobcat dealership was on the verge of bankruptcy and we had a chance to take it over, I realized this was a golden opportunity. This moment taught me my first crucial lesson: Embrace the unknown and be open to new opportunities! However, the path wasn’t straightforward. Bobcat had never approved a 28-year-old as a primary partner. They sent a team from head office to interview me. It was a rigorous process, but it was also a significant lesson in resilience and perseverance. Their eventual approval confirmed another key insight: Persistence and confidence can break down even the toughest barriers. Once we took over, we didn’t just settle for maintaining the status quo. We expanded our Bobcat rental fleet to 35 units and diversified by adding various attachments. This strategic move attracted a broader range of customers and established us as a go-to dealer. This experience underscored the importance of innovation and strategic expansion in business. Our parts department became a cornerstone of our success, thanks to a remarkably knowledgeable manager. His expertise was invaluable and taught me the significance of having a skilled and dedicated team. The right people can really elevate your business. One of the most astonishing aspects of our Bobcat business was the machines’ resale value. Customers often returned with Bobcats they had owned for decades, needing minimal repairs or even getting higher trade-in values than their original purchase prices. This reinforced the lesson that investing in quality products in the rental business can yield long-term benefits. Our success did not go unnoticed, and eventually, we sold the dealership to Hertz. Watching the Bobcats we sold still operating in our neighbourhood is a constant reminder of the lasting impact of our work. Owning a Bobcat dealership was a transformative experience that imparted invaluable lessons. From embracing new opportunities and breaking down barriers, to innovating strategically and building a strong team, the journey was a masterclass in entrepreneurship. It showed me the power of quality and the art of timing in business. If you ever get the chance to dive into a new venture, hopefully theses lessons can help along the way. They can turn uncertainty into success and transform opportunities into lifelong achievements. Embrace the journey, and you might just find yourself owning the best rental business of your life.
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Steve Cody shared thisIt's That Time of Year Again: Every time I see the Cody window cleaning crew working on our building, I’m filled with a profound sense of pride and nostalgia. It takes me back to a pivotal moment over 40 years ago when the seeds of Cody Window Cleaning were first planted. I was just a teenager when I borrowed $1,200 to buy a bucket, a squeegee, and a ladder from my grandfather, setting out on an entrepreneurial adventure with no prior knowledge of window cleaning or entrepreneurship. I quickly discovered that I had a fear of heights, a serious obstacle for someone in the window cleaning business. But instead of letting this fear derail my ambitions, it forced me to hire others who were more comfortable with heights. This challenge turned into an invaluable learning experience, teaching me how to hire, manage, and lead a team effectively. Most of the people I hired were much older than me, adding another layer of complexity and growth to the process. Despite these early hurdles, the company kept growing and before long, Cody Window Cleaning had become the largest window cleaning company in Ottawa. We had around 40 window washers on our team, cleaning high-rise buildings all over the city. The business did really well, and it was incredibly rewarding to see our hard work and perseverance pay off. However, as the company grew, so did our aspirations. We saw a promising opportunity in the scaffolding rental business. Unlike window cleaning, scaffolding was a more stable investment—scaffolding equipment doesn’t depreciate; in fact, it often appreciates in value. This realization led us to sell Cody Window Cleaning and focus our efforts on growing Highrise, the scaffolding rental business. When we decided to sell, two of our biggest competitors expressed interest. Pierre, one of them, ended up acquiring the company. Pierre was an exceptional operator, possibly one of the best I’ve ever known. He and his team adopted our head-and-shoulders strategy, which aimed to avoid high sales peaks and maintain stable revenue throughout the year. This strategy allowed us to keep our window washers employed consistently, avoiding the typical seasonal layoffs that plague the industry. Pierre and his team continued to build on the strong foundation we had established, and they achieved remarkable success. Eventually, Pierre decided to retire to Florida, where he could indulge his passion for golf. He sold Cody Window Cleaning to another entrepreneur, whom I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet. However, I believe they are still the largest window cleaning company in Ottawa. I frequently see their vehicles and signs around the city, a constant reminder of the journey we started all those years ago. Seeing Cody Window Cleaning still thriving fills me with immense pride.
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Steve Cody shared thisExcited to be in beautiful Vancouver meeting with potential regional partners for Rent Anything Store! With a population of over 2.6 million in the Greater Vancouver area, this city is perfect for peer-to-peer rentals. The diverse community and high demand for flexible, cost-effective solutions that have a positive impact on the environment make Vancouver an ideal market for connecting people with the items they need. #Vancouver #PeerToPeerRentals #RentAnythingStore #Opportunity #Entrepreneurship
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Steve Cody shared thisWhat a fantastic Raw Entrepreneurship event we had last night! We connected with some incredible entrepreneurs and delved deep into the world of AI, exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly. A huge shoutout to Mark, our co-host, who did a phenomenal job explaining complex concepts in a way everyone could understand. The evening was made even better by a delicious meal from Johnny Farinas. It was a perfect blend of networking, insightful conversations, and great food. Our format of starting with a reception at 6:30 PM, followed by dinner, introductions, and topic discussions until 9:00 PM, really facilitated meaningful connections and learning. We're excited to announce our next event will focus on social media! We're looking for a strong co-host to join us in this endeavor. Thank you to everyone who came out—I always learn so much from each of you. Looking forward to the next Raw Entrepreneurship event! #Entrepreneurship #Networking #AI #SocialMedia #Learning #RawEntrepreneurship
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Steve Cody shared thisAnother great week… January is typically our toughest month of the year and we ended up building some nice momentum going into 2024. - Marketplace Studio had a record number of leads, we delivered a few great marketplaces and brought on some really cool ones. - Bunking had found product market fit, so our next job was to reduce burn as we get ready to scale and we are almost there. Some nice opportunities in the pipeline. - Rent Anything Store beta launch was in December. We now have over 1300 items listed for rent and organic user signup is starting to build nicely. Once we reach our supply goal, we will start our go-to market. - Cody Party Rentals was up over 20% from last January and out team is more efficient than its ever been with new systems and tools. Ready for 2024. - Helping Companions is getting ready to launch its beta. We have received some heartwarming feedback and Natalie is excited to start helping seniors. Never a dull moment and we are definitely excited for 2024.
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Steve Cody shared thisTiming is everything… When I started talking to people about building an online peer to peer rental marketplace 6 years ago, everyone thought that I had lost my mind. Who would ever rent someone else’s canoe etc, etc. Insurance companies wouldn’t even talk to us and the technology was barely far enough along. Fast forward 6 years and we quietly launch the Rent Anything Store, and what a difference. In just over a week, close to 50 organic signups and a few hundred items listed. The best part is that we have 11 people interested in buying territories and we haven’t even started promoting them. Timing is everything! #rentanything #ultimatesidehustle #timingiseverything
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Steve Cody shared thisThinking about the Halloween Hustle today. A great story about how two guys who knew absolutely nothing about Halloween, but everything about hustle became the #1 Halloween Store in Canada. Even thought they were in the most densely populated Halloween market and opened later than any other competitor. An important lesson for myself about the difference that pure hustle came make. #halloweenvibes #hustlehard #entrepreneurship
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Steve Cody shared thisJust thinking about hunting elephants or chasing mice. This is something that I learned the hard way while we were building our scaffold rental business. We hunted elephants when we should have focused on chasing mice. We made the decision from day one that we would chance mice at Cody Party, and 25 years later, we are still chasing mice. As we build out Bunking, Rent Anything Store and Helping Companions, we will definitely be starting out with mice. #entrepreneurship #chasingmice
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Steve Cody shared thisFinally… It's been 2 years and 6 months and we finally have product market fit at Bunking.com It's been a great journey. The first year and a half were all about design thinking, user research and developing the product. The last year and a bit, we have have been doing 5 go to market tests, looking for the most efficient product market fit. Proud to say that we have found a way to scale Bunking in an efficient way on the 4th or 5 test. #bunking #findyourpeople #productmarketfit
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisAfter all the nice weather, it rains during an Ultraboom course. Still had a great 3 Days training on the JLG 1250AJP. Makes it much nicer when you have a good group of trainees. Thanks to the guys from Nationwide Platforms and HireSafe Solutions.
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisI’ve spent a lot of time around equipment rental, and one thing that has always stood out to me is how often rates stay the same even when demand, utilization, and availability are changing every day. I believe rental rates should follow simple supply-and-demand principles. When an asset is scarce and in demand, the rate should reflect that. When demand slows, your team should have the insight to price competitively and keep equipment moving. I’m currently working on something designed to help rental companies use their own data to make smarter pricing decisions, protect margin, and give their teams more confidence on every quote. If this is something you are thinking about at your company, message me—I’d be happy to share more about what I’m working on.
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked this🚀 Trots op ons team bij Boels Rental Large Equipment! De afgelopen week zijn wij druk bezig geweest voor monteurs binnen onze binnen- en buitendienst. Recruitment in de techniek blijft uitdagend, dus daarom ben ik extra trots op wat we samen momenteel bereiken. 💪 Op dit moment hebben we maar liefst 9 monteurs in procedure voor verschillende functies binnen Boels Large Equipment! Dat is geen toeval. Het is het resultaat van een sterk team, betrokken hiring managers, snelle opvolging en een duidelijk verhaal richting kandidaten over wat werken bij Boels zo mooi maakt! 🔧 Werken aan indrukwekkend materieel 🔧 Technische uitdagingen die er echt toe doen 🔧 Veel vrijheid en verantwoordelijkheid 🔧 Collega's die passie hebben voor techniek Natuurlijk zijn we er nog niet. Procedures moeten succesvol worden afgerond en we blijven altijd op zoek naar technisch talent. Maar het geeft veel energie om te zien dat steeds meer monteurs hun weg naar Boels weten te vinden. Dank aan alle collega's die hierbij betrokken zijn én aan iedereen uit mijn netwerk die onze vacatures heeft gedeeld of kandidaten heeft aangedragen. Op naar de volgende succesvolle plaatsingen! 👊 Fijn weekend 😉 #Trots #Recruitment #Techniek #Monteurs #Boels #LargeEquipment #Servicemonteur #MonteurBuitendienst #Arbeidsmarkt #Teamwork #Hiring #Techniektalent #BoelsRental
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisNext Thursday, Sept 3, the world is going to see physcial AI, Robotics and Autonomous mobility merged into a transportation product. It will be the First true mass-produced, ground-up Robotaxi with no federal production limit • First vehicle produced with the Revolutionary Unboxed Manufacturing Process. • First high-volume vehicle targeting a ~10-second cycle time (long-term goal ~5 seconds vs 34 seconds for Model Y). • First vehicle with Starlink Integration. • First production EV with a record-breaking 165 Wh/mi efficiency. • First autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals that you will be able to buy at a cost of ~$30,000. We believe the streets will never be the same again. At the The Ride Platform Platform, our fleet managmeent software Wheelbase and our autonomous insurance, Roamly FSD, help power the Pros who want to make this revolution into a business.
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisWhen you rent from Cooper Equipment Rentals Limited, you are renting from a proudly Canadian owned and operated company, and I’m proud every day when I put on my work shirt that I’m apart of it
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisGeorgia: 12 Metros, One Growth Engine. $711M in Annual Equipment Opportunity. BiltData.ai analysis of 100M+ transactions keeps construction equipment OEMs, dealers and rental companies in the path of growth. The Merlo America Geo-forecast highlights Georgia construction is projected to reach $80B by 2031 across 12 MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas). That is more than 3% of U.S. MSA construction spend, and Atlanta alone ranks #9 in the nation. The demand is not evenly spread. Atlanta carries the load, holding roughly 80% of the state's construction spend. Eleven other metros split the rest. That growth converts to a measurable equipment opportunity. Across the heavy and compact earthmoving fleet (all construction SICs, excluding residential), BiltData sees a $1.8B active fleet and $711M in annual opportunity: $390M in sales, $163M in product support and $158M in rental. The concentration holds at the account level too. The Best buyers make up 14.5% of the market but hold 31.6% of the fleet value. Add the Future Best tier and 29.9% of buyers account for 77.2% of fleet value. The status quo buyer signal misses them. UCC filings capture roughly one third of the real buyer market. The missing two thirds concentrate among the mid-size and larger operators, who finance through mechanisms that leave no matchable public lien. BiltData.ai identifies prospective buyers before they transact, down to the market, the account, and the channel, across sales, rental, and product support. BiltData.ai is a predictive buyer intel platform that unlocks opportunity. Powered by AI, for construction equipment OEMs, dealers and rental companies. In God We Trust. All Others Must Bring Data. *Sources in the first comment.
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisTL;DR Professional kit typically earns on about twelve days a year and depreciates on all 365. Owners do not rent it out for three reasons: they cannot verify who is taking it, they have no recourse if it does not return, and renting commercially touches their trade licence. Those are rational objections, not laziness. Each one has to be answered structurally. Identity checks before booking, per-unit scanned returns, and platform-held payment answer all three. Free to list, pay only when you get booked. https://lnkd.in/erU-bAsEYour Camera Gear Is Idle 300 Days a Year. Here Is What to Do | LighRentYour Camera Gear Is Idle 300 Days a Year. Here Is What to Do | LighRent
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisIt was a strong second quarter with a lot of demand for aerial equipment for Genie: https://lnkd.in/gGsyzwn7
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Steve Cody liked thisSteve Cody liked thisATTENTION ALL CONTRACTORS!! 25% off your first rental. Sign up free on Derental, book from a local supplier, take the discount. Signup takes minutes and looking costs nothing. derentalequipment.com
Experience
Education
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School of Entrepreneurship
Volunteer Experience
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Founder
Say No For Nick
- Present 13 years 3 months
Social Services
Raising awareness for drug use. My son Nick passed away from using MDMA. Nick was adopted into our family of 5. Nick's father also passed away from a drug overdose. We don't judge, we just feel that it's important for people to always remember that they can say NO and make that a habit.
https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/saying-no-for-nick/ -
Chairman
Drug Testing Technology Challenge
- Present 7 years 8 months
Social Services
I was honored to be selected as the Chairman of the selection committee that awarded $1 million to the winner of the drug testing challenge on behalf of the Canadian Government.
Canada is in the midst of a crisis. The number of overdoses and deaths caused by opioids, including fentanyl, has risen sharply and continues to rise. In 2016, there were more than 2,800 suspected opioid-related deaths in Canada and in 2017, there were nearly 4,000 Canadian lives lost. Governments…I was honored to be selected as the Chairman of the selection committee that awarded $1 million to the winner of the drug testing challenge on behalf of the Canadian Government.
Canada is in the midst of a crisis. The number of overdoses and deaths caused by opioids, including fentanyl, has risen sharply and continues to rise. In 2016, there were more than 2,800 suspected opioid-related deaths in Canada and in 2017, there were nearly 4,000 Canadian lives lost. Governments, non-government organizations, health and public safety professionals, and Canadians across the country have been responding to this crisis in an effort to save lives.
https://www.obj.ca/article/ottawa-entrepreneur-champions-1m-health-canada-drug-checking-tech-challenge -
Committee Member
Algonquin College Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee
- Present 11 years 8 months
Education
This committee will advise two different programs; Business Management and Entrepreneurship ( 2 year diploma) and the Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (Grad Certificate – 1 year)
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Executive Committee Member
Kaleidoscope of Hope
- Present 9 years 7 months
Social Services
Supporting Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder.
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Steering Committee Member
SAAS NORTH Conference Steering Committee
- 9 months
Economic Empowerment
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Co-Founder
B-Better Foundation
- 3 years 1 month
Education
The Better Software Company will facilitate a registration based program for interested BGC youth to learn foundational business and personal skills. The program curriculum is focused on providing fun and interactive sessions that will include guest speakers who specialize in specific areas of business. This welcoming and safe environment will nurture dreamers, challenge creative's and provide a basic foundation for builders. The two primary goals of the program are to have fun and introduce a…
The Better Software Company will facilitate a registration based program for interested BGC youth to learn foundational business and personal skills. The program curriculum is focused on providing fun and interactive sessions that will include guest speakers who specialize in specific areas of business. This welcoming and safe environment will nurture dreamers, challenge creative's and provide a basic foundation for builders. The two primary goals of the program are to have fun and introduce a pathway into business as a career opportunity. Every 2 weeks youth will be guided step by step via B Better Youth Entrepreneurship Workshops to create their own small business.
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CATA Advisor
CATA Alliance - Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance
- 3 years 1 month
Social Services
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Chairman
WeTheParents.ca
- 1 year
Children
We are a parent organization working hard to protect our children and communities from the destruction of drugs. We are focused on educating our youth, finding gaps within our system and holding public officials accountable.
Message to establish a chapter within your community.
It takes a village!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/high-stakes-parent-group-opiods-ottawa-1.4124806 -
Business Mentor
Founder Institute
- 1 year 5 months
Helping like-minded entrepreneurs by sharing my experiences in starting, building and scaling both traditional and technology companies
Courses
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Ontario Mortgage Agent
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Projects
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"B" Better Entrepreneurship Program
- Present
This project/program is inspired by Steve Cody's entrepreneurial career which he started when he was 17 years old with a bucket, squeegee, and $1200 his grandfather had saved for him. We want to create a program to teach youth about being an entrepreneur, get them thinking differently and following their dreams and passions. This would be the first year we are starting it. We are currently working on a pilot project to have a 8 week long program to teach and help youth get introduced to…
This project/program is inspired by Steve Cody's entrepreneurial career which he started when he was 17 years old with a bucket, squeegee, and $1200 his grandfather had saved for him. We want to create a program to teach youth about being an entrepreneur, get them thinking differently and following their dreams and passions. This would be the first year we are starting it. We are currently working on a pilot project to have a 8 week long program to teach and help youth get introduced to starting their own business and get youth excited about entrepreneurship. The goal is to have the youth work on their business idea or product throughout the program and finally pitch to a board "Dragon's Den" style. One male and one female will be awarded a $1200 bursary to help start their business. A lot of amazing people are helping out with the program as well! We have gotten lots of great feedback and interest already and look forward to starting the program in the New Year!
Other creators
Honors & Awards
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Better Software Certified
The Better Software Company
Languages
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French
Native or bilingual proficiency
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English
Full professional proficiency
Organizations
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Say No For Nick Foundation
Founder
Recommendations received
12 people have recommended Steve
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