We keep hearing that a recession is imminent. I know business owners who await this as if a tsunami is about to hit. But just like ocean science, there is also the science of money. Economists go straight to the history books to help us common folks get some depth of understanding about recessions. We […]
Tomorrow Is The Start Of Planning Season
It is the start of Q4—already—so for me it is the beginning of my planning season. From October 1, I can see the start of a new year. I will spend some time reviewing what we have done here at Aptica so far, but I will also start my list of new goals for 2022. […]
Making Peace With Change And Permanence
All the change and upheaval in the last seven months has challenged my preferred even-keel tendencies. I know that if I’m going to be in the water, I have to expect some waves—but it seems like I’ve been paddling unusually hard for a long time. For me, it is time to make peace with change […]
Tough Conversations About Business Recovery
We are in a recession and we need to have some tough conversations about business recovery. Economists are saying it is the most significant recession since World War II, and this recession is different from anything the US has experienced before. Unlike previous downturns, this recession was not brought on by monetary policies, or oil […]
The Comfort Of The March Business Rut
By this time in early March, all the “I-told-you-so” articles of lapsed gym memberships and forgotten New Year resolutions are already over. We enter every year with fresh hope that those aspects of our daily lives that are not our favorites can and will be changed this year. I like that about humanity. I like […]
Your Cybersecurity Risk In A New Perspective
How, as a layperson, can you assess your cybersecurity risk so you know how to budget for IT protection? I am often challenged to put this into perspective. This time, I’ll start with recent news ripped from the headlines. Jeff Bezos’ net worth in real-time today is $117 billion. Billion, with a “B”. His personal […]
New Year + New Decade = Great Time To Regroup
Wouldn’t it be great if all small business owners had a big red button that would re-set at the touch of a finger, everything that needed our attention? It’s a nice fantasy, but I’ve never found restructuring my work strategy to be that easy. Ever. But with a new year and a new decade, it […]
Is Your Business Winning Or Losing With Technology?
As business owners, what can we do better in 2020? One of my own personal steps for review is a careful (often painful) review of my budget. I try to be brutally honest with myself about what worked and what didn’t and be honest about how well I understand everything I spend operating money on. […]
4 Tips To Help You Plan For 2020 Business Goals
I’m already planning goals for my business in 2020 and I suspect almost all small business owners are doing the same. Before I think about product improvement or personnel upgrades, though, I think about whether my infrastructure can or cannot support those initiatives. Maybe the best plan for growth starts with an assessment of what […]
Aptica Is Hiring—Finding The Fit Is Hard
Aptica is hiring. We are busy, and we need more help. It’s a common situation for small business owners, and mine is no different. I have been interviewing and I’m reminded daily: finding that fit for my office is hard. Aptica has an opening for an outstanding, experienced Reactive Operations Center (ROC) tech & Service […]