Ah, the first of a New Year. Fresh start. Clean slate. What business owner does not love the first day of the first quarter of a new year? I do, and I was just thinking on Sunday afternoon about all the things I wanted to change, or to see happen, or to see stop happening, […]
My Second-Favorite Redemption Story For Christmas
I re-read or listen to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol every year. I understand this year more than ever how easy it is for any of us to become an Ebenezer Scrooge, as he is seen at the beginning of his story. After a somewhat unhappy childhood and after losing his sweetheart, he has closed […]
From My Common Sense Notebook: Cut Down on Reactive IT Calls
Reactive IT is when something unforeseen happens and you must call your computer guys to fix it. Quick reaction time is a must for IT management. Like in a medical office, there usually is an amount of time built into each day to handle emergencies. When these occasions arise, however, it brings some level of […]
Fun Things To Think About For Your Small Business
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.
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 […]
Waiting For The Pandemic To End? Stop. And Take The Election Off The Table Also
This year has been so painful, and no one can really guess when things will turn around, am I right? Yes? Then stop using all this pain and uncertainty as a delaying tactic to not focus on your business. I’ve seen quite a bit of that. Some companies that were thriving before the national shutdown […]
I Have Changed My Mind: You Only Need Plan A
Two weeks ago I wrote a blog about how much we can still get done before the end of this year. I said, “we find ways to keep moving forward” and I confidently put in a checklist for business owners. Right behind having a solid business plan, I listed having a Plan B. Well—today I […]
Everyone Hates Uncertainty
Every day has its little snippets of happiness, of connection, and if we look hard enough, even a positive accomplishment. It does sort of comfort me to know that if I narrow my focus from the big picture to my immediate present, I can still find pockets of normal. Other than that observation, it feels […]
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 […]
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 […]