I re-read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol every year. This timeless classic novella was first published in 1843, and the message has echoed every holiday season for the last 178 years. Especially after two difficult business cycles, I have enjoyed Dickens’ reminder of what should be important as the days and months roll by in […]
Out Loud And On Purpose Responses To Things People Say
When I sit down with potential clients and sometimes with current clients, I am prepared to deliver straight talk even if it is bad news. It’s business. But sometimes what I get from clients is so contorted that I remind myself to count to ten and take deep breaths. I’ve learned to try to listen […]
Was Your Apple iPhone Hacked In The Recent Breach?
Recently it was discovered that an Apple iPhone can be hacked without any direct user assistance. Normally malware can be inserted into a device if the user has been tricked into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. This fresh new hell, called a zero-click hack, takes advantage of flaws in your device. Since […]
Aren’t We All In This For Positive Results?
From the minute you open your doors as a small business, you as the owner have your expectations. You also know that there are certain basics that are necessary for you to succeed. The right space in the right location? Check. Like-minded people with skill sets to support your vision? Check. Business plan? Check. The […]
A Last Run At 2021
What is it about September? Kids go back to school and families settle into a routine that usually lasts at least 9 months. With or without the reminder of Halloween merchandise already on display, we start to look ahead to major traditional holidays. For me, it always also feels like a second chance, a last […]
The Comedy Of Thinking We Must Understand Computers
Every so often I get on these odd thought tangents. I usually just let the thoughts run; it reminds me not to take myself too seriously and to stay humble about what I do and don’t know. It is a big part of my job to help business owners understand how technology can incrementally increase […]
Cyber Warfare? We Are In The Thick Of It Right Now—
Consider this recent headline from The Epoch Times: Hackers Stole Nearly 26 Million User Login Credentials For Sites Like Amazon, Google, Facebook. The article details that the thefts went on for two years. Folks, this is cyber warfare and we are in the thick of it right now. “I Am Your Enemy, The First One […]
40 Business Days Left In 2020: A Little Time Or A Lot Of Time?
We have about 40 business days left before the end of the year. Sounds Biblical. Moses spent 40-year periods on Mt. Sinai. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. It seems that 40-day periods appear in the histories of all world religions. My question is not about “glass half empty or half full”; I […]
Pivot To Offense—You Have to Score To Win
Business is a lot like football. To stay in the game, you need to be able to play both defense and offense. And while having a great defense might keep you in the running for the playoffs, I don’t believe a great defense ever wins the Super Bowl. So here we are with our businesses […]
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 […]