We are at the midpoint of the year 2020, and what a dizzying six months it has been. The end of every business quarter always seems like a logical time to take a breath and evaluate. Halfway through a year, like now, seems an even more important checkpoint. Yes, the year is half-gone, but there is also another half starting now. As I talk to people in our region about “how things are” I am hearing two different philosophies. One is an outline for surviving, the other is a manifest for thriving.
Thrive or Survive—Active or Passive?
After three months of shutdown and isolation, every business has run its numbers. Some industries hardest hit and with no great movement in sight are Travel, Hospitality, and Entertainment. When can we really be relaxed in an airplane, a hotel room, or at a concert? When can we again meet our families and friends in a restaurant and laugh over dinner, then hug goodbye? My heart goes out to these industry providers. Their success is based on volumes of people.
But if your business does not need to turn all tables at least twice a night, or sell all seats, or pack an arena, then how can you turn this year around? We need to take a deep breath and reflect. I confess that for myself, I want to double down and get after it. I have learned that I don’t wait well. I want to take the smallest glimmer of activity and see if my focus on it can grow the spark. I “survived” the last quarter, but that methodology does not work for me in the long run. We hunkered down. We worked remotely. We had company meetings via video conferencing—for about as long as I could stand it. For me, the question now is: on December 31, what do you need to feel you have accomplished? I have six months. That is a lot of work hours.
I have friends in business who will be happy in their survival program, and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing or a wrong attitude. I admire them for having A Plan. Just like me, they kind of know what their day-to-day needs to be. And that is the point. Know what your parameters are and work your plan.
Make Every Day You Are Open Count
At Aptica, we already know how our IT management helps our clients on a day-to-day basis. Employees come to work, boot up their computers, and start processing that day’s assignments. Emails are sent and received. Plans and schedules are met and shared. Revenues are tallied and expenses are tracked. Inventory is ordered, shipped, and adjusted. Charts and graphs are tweaked and presented. There are no slow-downs or crashes. No one must tell a customer, “our computers are down, can I get back to you later?” Our normal daily lives now depend upon faultless networks. I wonder if there is any business that can get through a day without technology? With so many unknowns in global business right now, at least you can know if your networks are working at capacity.
If you’d like to find out how your IT measures up, Aptica offers free assessments. Give us a call. It starts with a conversation.
Jason Newburg, 260.243.5100, ext 2101, is the founder and owner of Aptica LLC. This IT management and support company has been serving small to medium-sized businesses for 19 years in the region that includes Angola, South Bend, and Fort Wayne, IN, Battle Creek, MI, and Toledo OH.