- Are You Getting Sucked Back Out To Sea?
What is stopping you from really getting what you want from your business? This is a question I ask small business computer consulting company owners on a regular basis. Many times business owners are like waves crashing onto a beach. They approach a project much like a wave does, starting out many miles away from the coast or, in this case, project or idea. - Celebrate Your Achievements! No Matter How Small
Do you ever stop to think how successful a hockey team would be if they did not celebrate each and every goal they score? Or any sports team every time they put a point up on the board? You would sit in the stands and wonder what was up if they didn't. Hockey teams celebrate all goals. It doesn't matter if they are losing- they still celebrate each and every time they put the puck in the back of the net. - Climb to the Vista. Is Windows Vista for You?
Is Windows Vista for your company? Many small businesses will be asking their IT people this question over the next few days, weeks, and months to find out if Vista is the best fit for their business. Most IT consultants will be advising their client base to wait for Service Pack 1 which seems to be a standard response to any new software package or operating system release from most information technology consultants. Is it the right answer? Only you the business owner really knows if your business will benefit from upgrading to Vista or hanging tight with XP. - Daylight Savings Time - It's New Effect on Canadian IT systems
This Sunday, March 11th, Canada and the other parts of the world will prepare not to spring ahead but take a leap forward. Daylight Savings Time will hit us four weeks earlier that what we have been used to in the past due to a change passed in the United States to extend the period of the time that daylight savings time is in effect. Daylight Savings Time will now be in effect from the second Sunday in March to the First Sunday in November. - Does the Technology Really Matter?
Does the technology really matter in today’s world? Basically computer systems just work today, cell phones work almost anywhere now and with our mobile devices we are getting all of our office communications now while we are out and about. So does the technology matter? All the information flowing through cyberspace, through the airwaves, down the copper, does it matter how it gets to its destination? - Drowning in the Sea of Email! - Tips on Dealing with the Clutter Factor
Many executives, in corporations of all sizes, are wrestling with the abundance of communication coming in via E-Mail, and now with the unified communications in play, - Drowning in the Sea of Email! - Tips on Dealing with the Clutter Factor
Many executives, in corporations of all sizes, are wrestling with the abundance of communication coming in via E-Mail, and now with the unified communications in play, we are starting to receive our voice messages, faxes and other communications into our email applications. - Experience the Fun Factor
Are you the type to sing in your car? Play air guitar or air drums? I am, mostly to lost classic hair bands on my satellite radio. Having fun in what you do is critically important to the overall success of your business. If you are not having fun doing what you are currently doing, why are you doing it? - Have You Ever Stopped to Measure - Your IMPACT Factor
I am consistently challenged throughout the day by the type of impact am I having on those around me. Is a positive impact or having a negative effect? I have to admit that my behavior is different with people that I have the time of day for and it shifts to the other end of the spectrum for those I do want to be around. - How Clear Are Your Goals?
It was a foggy mid-October day as I made my way into the office to commence my work day. I was stuck in our normal morning commute and not able to see the buildings in Calgary's downtown core. I began thinking to myself - do I know where my end destination is? Absolutely, I could not see the building that holds my office however I still knew where to go. - How My Blackberry Set Me Free!
In today's world of instant connectivity and access from almost any spot in the world, mobile technologies have set the executive free. Free to travel on business, take time away from the office, and yet still remain in contact wherever you need to be. Take a look around next time you are in the airport, at a restaurant for lunch or even on the city bus. You see business people connected via Blackberry (or some other version) technology everywhere. - Image, What Image?! - The Image Factor
What image are you projecting when you visit your clients? How do you look when dealing with your clients? What type of car do you drive? - Is Perfection Slowing You Down?
Perfection is what everyone is striving to achieve! Well, perhaps the ones still wanting, but not achieving, success. Perfection is a killer in the business world. Perfection is one of the main reasons companies today have declining numbers, high turnover in staff and no growth overall. Perfection is not possible! - Persist to Achieve Pay Off In Your Business
Do you give up easily? Do you decide to take the easy way out? When the others run off to the bar for early refreshments on a Friday afternoon, are you with them? Or, are you the type that makes phone calls right up to the end of the day just before the weekend, hoping to catch a decision maker sitting at their desk. If you are the type that leaves work early, takes the easy way out or gives up then perhaps you need a lesson in persistence. - Push or Pulling Too Hard? Don't Use Up All Your Energy Trying to Have Employees Follow Your Rules!
Many small business computer consulting companies share a familiar headache and frustration-- how do you motivate or have employees follow the rules of your company? Employees can be using your firm as a stepping stone to something bigger, a place to get their feet wet. They are not there for the long run or to win the longest serving employee award. It is time to stop dreaming that you will have employees that will be with you forever. It just isn't going to happen. - Sometimes You Just Get A Headache
"Sometimes you just get a headache" is a phrase that will stick with me for the rest of my life. These words were spoken from a very knowledgeable business leader in the Calgary market. When I sat down with my mentor about life in general, a question was raised about knowing when the time was right to exit out of a business. The answer was, "sometimes you just get a headache." - The Attraction Factor - Do you want to Attract the Best Clients?
Why do people become attracted to your business? Why is it some days, new client opportunities seem to grow on trees and you ask yourself, what did I do to open these floodgates? Is it just a fad or something that will last for a while? I often think this well will dry up one day; however the flow never seems to slow down. - The True Value of the Small Business Consulting Community
The Small Business IT consulting community is a dynamic and exciting community to be active in at this time. Many different opportunities are gaining some serious momentum in this underserved marketplace in Canada. The Small Business marketplace will be the fastest-growing segment in the information technology market. Currently, approximately 97% of the businesses in Canada have five hundred employees or less, which equates to a fantastic market to specialize in. - Three Things to Totally Achieve the Service Factor
There is an alarming trend in the IT service organizations in today’s service world. It is the lack of quality services provided by small business computer service and network organizations. Could it be the shortage of skilled computer technicians? Or is it really the inability for the leaders in these small computer support companies to see what is happening in their market? - Time to Get Up and Just Do IT!
What is stopping you from reaching your goals, your dreams, the successes you deserve in life? All too often it is because the small business IT consultant just doesn’t do IT! Many consultants and owners of small business IT companies talk a great talk, and plan until they are blue face and then fail to execute. They fail to just get up and do IT! - What Are You Willing To Risk By Getting Out Of Line?
Do you like to stand in line? At the local coffee shop or at the bank? You could handle a short wait to get a latte or make a deposit into your bank account - or can you? Next time you are in the local café or bank just look around. How many people get frustrated waiting in a simple line for a coffee and then leave and never get that cup of coffee? - What Is The True Cost Of Internet Surfing At Work?
With the amount of information accessible on the Internet, combined with threats by viruses, worms, malicious code, spyware, and disruptions to service attacks - a threat to business productivity and profitability has always existed. This threat goes unnoticed by many business owners, especially in the small to mid market space. - When Employees Check Out: Tips To Deal With The "I Am Outta Here" Factor
When employees or team members decide it is time to check out and stop focusing on their jobs or their positions within the company, this causes some serious issues within your company. The damage can be disastrous for your livelihood and for the others on your team that are depending on you. What are some of the signs and ways that you can protect your company from the "I am outta here" mindset? - Where are the Instructions?
In life, where are the instructions? Many times we are told we need to "step out of the box" or "out of your comfort zone" to grow. I heard a great line the other day about personal growth, it went something like this, "if you’re green you grow, if you’re ripe you rot." - Why Businesses Need to Start Archiving Email Now!
Electronic communications is the standard for many business transactions in today's small business organization; however, many small businesses still do not have adequate mechanisms for archiving correspondence with vendors, team members and customers. - Why Wasn't I Awake - Dealing with the Morning Factor
Have you ever heard of the old saying “the early bird gets the worm?” This is so true in business today. However, many entrepreneurs and business owners are struggling to find success. They are consistently working late into the evening, spending long hours at the office, using personal time to attempt to become productive, and burning the candle at both ends. With this being said, they continue to struggle with getting their business going. - You Know You Can Do It So What Is Stopping You? The Confidence Factor!
It is not unusual for clients to ask me a question about information technology that I know I do not have the answer for immediately. My personality is such, however, that I respond by saying that I can find it. This means digging in and supporting an application or setup when I have no idea what to do – that doesn’t stop me, I get the information I need and get the work done.
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