http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Crawford EzineArticles.com is Trusted By Millions as The Source For Quality Original Articles http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ Where do you see this world in the next five to ten years? How did the last five or ten years play out for you? Like you expected? The world as we know it is constantly changing, new economic factors are affecting the way we do business, the price of energy is creating second thoughts in the minds of a lot of people, demand on an individual's time combined with many other factors are shaping the way we look at our lives and our business. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:11:52 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Living-in-a-Virtual-World?-The-Virtual-Advantage&id=1322419 http://ezinearticles.com/?Living-in-a-Virtual-World?-The-Virtual-Advantage&id=1322419 Twenty minutes, that is all it takes to become "a knight in shining armor" in your client's eyes, adding stickiness in all of your business relationships. What do I mean by the twenty minute miracle? The twenty minute miracle is something that all successful IT Professionals perform automatically by habit and often without even thinking about it becoming key differentiator between the really successful IT firms and those that struggle to find success in our market. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:20:53 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-20-Minute-Miracle-to-Improve-Your-Client-Service&id=1286406 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-20-Minute-Miracle-to-Improve-Your-Client-Service&id=1286406 Just like in Baseball, the number of strikes that the pitcher can throw in the strike zone is very critical the overall success of the baseball team on the field. The pitcher has the ultimate responsibility to ensure that strikes outnumber the balls thrown. In business, the pitcher is us, the business owner, the entrepreneur, the Business Development person or even an IT Professional. Thu, 29 May 2008 11:28:18 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Many-Strikes-Do-You-Throw?&id=1201977 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Many-Strikes-Do-You-Throw?&id=1201977 In business we are often taught in school and from peers to focus on profits and revenues as the key indicators to success in Small Business consulting (or at least that is how we are measured against others in our industry). I am going too respectfully argue this point simply because if you are completely focused on having the highest revenues and in turn driving more profit to your bottom line you are losing sight of what I believe is the most vital and critical key performance indicator for any business large or small and new or old. Wed, 28 May 2008 10:18:26 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Client-Satisfaction-Is-The-Key-To-Success&id=1199609 http://ezinearticles.com/?Client-Satisfaction-Is-The-Key-To-Success&id=1199609 How many blogs do you read over the course of the business day? There are many blogs on the Internet today. Businesses are adopting blogging as a way to keep in touch with their client base more frequently, they are using internal blogs to share information throughout a corporation, and many IT professionals use blogging as a tool to share their expertise where other small business IT professionals where we can turn for information. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:42:53 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Blogging-is-Big-Businesses,-Can-You-Make-it-Work-for-You?&id=1107815 http://ezinearticles.com/?Blogging-is-Big-Businesses,-Can-You-Make-it-Work-for-You?&id=1107815 IT Professionals are a strange and unusual bunch. I know I have been one for a number of years, almost 12 years working as an IT Professional in many different lines of work across many different industries. I started working with Banyan Vines based networks in the 1990's to Windows 2003 Servers a few years ago, prior to hanging up my screw driver. Now I primarily focus on working with Small Businesses so they can understand how technology works to benefit their business. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:23:16 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Obsessions-Of-The-Small-Business-IT-Professional&id=1097635 http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Obsessions-Of-The-Small-Business-IT-Professional&id=1097635 We have all heard the saying that we must have the right employees on our business bus, have you ever thought that you need to have the right clients on the bus as well. Just like have the wrong employees on your team, the wrong clients can hurt your business and create a lifestyle that you do not enjoy. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:34:03 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-The-Customers-Always-Right?&id=1081252 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-The-Customers-Always-Right?&id=1081252 Many small business professionals toss and turn in the middle of the night, losing valuable hours of much needed sleep worrying about making a difficult or in reality it may just be a not so difficult decision. We lose thousands of hours of sleep throughout our lifetime, thinking about even deciding to make a decision. More often than not, your loss of quality sleep on making decisions turns out nine times out of ten to be a non-event. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:02:35 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Decisions,-Decisions,-Decisions-Just-Make-Them!&id=1055036 http://ezinearticles.com/?Decisions,-Decisions,-Decisions-Just-Make-Them!&id=1055036 Are you excited about what the future has in store for us? Or are you one of those types that chose to run and hide when the hiccups occur? There is a tremendous amount f change occurring in today's flat, global economy. Where does the average IT professional turn who wants to flourish in business today? What can we do to take our businesses to the next level when the market is a little foggy? Is there a magic pill that will make it all come together? Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:48:11 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Success-Tips-To-Guide-You-Through-Uncertain-Economic-Times&id=1028486 http://ezinearticles.com/?Success-Tips-To-Guide-You-Through-Uncertain-Economic-Times&id=1028486 How many times have you heard this at a seminar or trade show? You must be present to win. Has this ever happened to you? You bow out of a seminar earlier because you have an emergency at the office only to find out the next day from your peers that your name was drawn for some great prize and you weren't there to claim it. How do you feel knowing that you were chosen for this great prize only not to be there to collect? Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:52:59 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Must-Be-Present-To-Win&id=1013884 http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Must-Be-Present-To-Win&id=1013884 Determination, one big word that says a lot and is rarely something that happens during the course of business or life in general. Why is this? What stops the average person from getting the important things in their business done? One word, determination, sometimes it is easier to pick the low hanging fruit than working on the items that will move you ahead in life. Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:00:49 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Determined-To-Get-Stuff-Done?&id=994934 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Determined-To-Get-Stuff-Done?&id=994934 When was the last time you looked at your business in the mirror? What did you see? Did you see a bargain basement type of consulting service or was the reflection back at your show the cream of the crop consulting business? Over the past few months I have been studying many small business and purchasing services and goods on the cheap against paying top dollar for the best quality goods and services. Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:43:55 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Empowering-A-First-Class-Business-With-First-Class-Clients&id=963553 http://ezinearticles.com/?Empowering-A-First-Class-Business-With-First-Class-Clients&id=963553 The small business communities in any city across the world are normally very small, tight and communicate with each other frequently. So when I hear of competition bad mouthing other small business IT professionals or consulting firms it is not a big surprise and not uncommon. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:01:35 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-Bad-Mouthing-Your-Competition-Get-You-Ahead?&id=957705 http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-Bad-Mouthing-Your-Competition-Get-You-Ahead?&id=957705 Let's face it excellent client service is at an all time low? You just need to look around in today's high paced, low loyalty and skilled labour shortage economy to see that the levels of client service are hitting all time lows. Gone are the days of someone investing the time to service your needs and creating the WOW factor. It doesn't have to be this way, just if people slowed down and had the ability to focus on your needs. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:58:01 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Your-Client-Worth?&id=938506 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Your-Client-Worth?&id=938506 What do you mean by Butterfly catching? Can you picture it in your mind, as the owners of your own small business consulting business, are you running around from idea to idea, just like a young child runs around catching butterflies in the garden? We all do it; it is very natural for entrepreneurs and owners of small business to have ideas flying at them just like butterflies in the garden. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:10:15 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-A-Butterfly-Catcher?&id=916872 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-A-Butterfly-Catcher?&id=916872 In today's world of instant gratification, short attention spans and lack of patience, the one-strike approach to dealing with business is becoming a main stream concern for many small business consulting firms. Add this onto the ongoing challenges associated with employee shortages and an ever increasing demand for services is stretching many Small Business Specialists to the breaking point. We are definitely in a one-strike society! Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:55:17 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-Your-Business-Survive-A-One-Strike-Society?&id=879147 http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-Your-Business-Survive-A-One-Strike-Society?&id=879147 Does your small business practice understand the importance of sales? What sales strategies have you developed in your business for sales success? Many of us in the small business consulting business usually have a strategy built on word of mouth referrals that allows us to have a quick selling cycle, limited competition and provides us with an abnormally high closing ratio. Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:11:20 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Strategies-for-Small-Business-Sales-Success&id=861544 http://ezinearticles.com/?Strategies-for-Small-Business-Sales-Success&id=861544 2008 will be here before you know it, are you ready with what the market will throw at you in a couple of months. With 2008 just around the corner, now is a good time to start the discussion of what needs to be the focus areas in 2008 for the small business IT professional and small business specialist. Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:05:26 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-The-Focus-Areas-in-Small-Business-IT-For-2008?&id=839762 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-The-Focus-Areas-in-Small-Business-IT-For-2008?&id=839762 Is your credit card information at risk when you visit your local retailer? We all would like to believe that our local retailer or favorite restaurant is keeping your personal and credit/debit card information secure and out of the hands of those who want to commit fraud against many honest people doing business today. This is what I thought once I received my Visa bill one month to see $1,500.00 of liquor purchases and pizzas on my monthly statement. I was a victim of Credit Card fraud. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:10:44 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Your-Credit-Card-Information-at-Risk-With-Small-Business-and-Retailers&id=769587 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Your-Credit-Card-Information-at-Risk-With-Small-Business-and-Retailers&id=769587 Are you in the habit of putting things off? Saying to yourself that you will eventually get around to completing a task or are you the type to just get things done no matter what the task that needs to be done is. Unfortunately an alarming number of small business owners are not the type to get things done without coming up with some excuse why they need to procrastinate on critical items in their business or simply taking care of a client. Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:34:27 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Procrastination-Killing-Your-Business?&id=757738 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Procrastination-Killing-Your-Business?&id=757738 Has this ever happened to you? You had a great weekend, maybe you worked a little on an important deadline. Monday comes along; you make your way to the office to finish working on the largest contract in your company's history, only to find your computer network down. Nothing is working. Your business and perhaps your future are dead in the water. No email, no Internet access and most importantly, that contract you have been working on for weeks is stored on your non-functional server. How vulnerable do you feel at that moment? Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:45:31 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Is-Watching-Your-Business-Network?&id=754635 http://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Is-Watching-Your-Business-Network?&id=754635 Focus! How many times have we been told this in our life? Sometimes it is our own minds reminding ourselves of this "Focus on this deal, turn off the cell phone" or others that played an important role in our life, perhaps a little league coaches reminding you to "focus on the ball when at the plate"! Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:31:31 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Your-Lack-Of-Focus-Hurting-Your-Small-Business-Practice?&id=741628 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Your-Lack-Of-Focus-Hurting-Your-Small-Business-Practice?&id=741628 How many recipe books do you have in your kitchen? I have quite a few and it doesn't make me a better cook, the reason why, normally I do not follow the directions as laid out in the recipe. Are you doing this in your small business IT business? Many small business owners struggle simply because they do not follow the recipe. Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:56:47 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-you-Have-the-Recipe-for-Success?&id=734011 http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-you-Have-the-Recipe-for-Success?&id=734011 In the small business computer consulting business there are no sole survivors or lone wolves! You simply cannot survive in today fast paced, ever changing and global economy if you decide to attack it alone. No one person has a monopoly on ideas, vision or the magic bullets. This includes the services you provide to your own client base right threw to building your business. You need to have the support of like-minded individuals who are open to sharing and committed to success, growth or learning to assist you along the way. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:34:19 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Is-Your-Master?-How-A-Mastermind-Group-Can-Help-You-Grow-Your-Business&id=685242 http://ezinearticles.com/?Who-Is-Your-Master?-How-A-Mastermind-Group-Can-Help-You-Grow-Your-Business&id=685242 Clients! Without them there would be no headaches, no demands, no issues, and no revenue coming into the business! How many times do I hear it in the halls of small business during my travels in the market today? "Those clients seem to get in the way of our running our business" stated one business owner that I spoke with recently. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:26:52 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Our-Clients-Must-Come-First!&id=681126 http://ezinearticles.com/?Our-Clients-Must-Come-First!&id=681126 We live in a crazy, high demanding lifestyle and overly connected world, during our day to day rat race that we call our lives, we may step on a few toes, anger a few associates, upset a friend and maybe do something that makes most men sleep in the dog house that evening. Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:57:39 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Power-of-Forgiveness&id=680754 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Power-of-Forgiveness&id=680754 A year ago if you would have asked me, "Is faith important in your life and does it play an important role in your business life and how you do things?" I would have told you to go fly a kite. It was all about me back then, no real need to call upon any spiritual. How things have changed in one short year. Faith is now a centerpiece of my life, much more work needs to be done and I grow a little bit every day, but I am on the road to determining the rest of my life and growth in accordance to my faith, with the thanks of some great role models in the business. Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:00:34 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Faith-Important-To-Your-Business?&id=679701 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Faith-Important-To-Your-Business?&id=679701 We all have habits. Habits are something you do day in and day out without thinking, they just come naturally. What type of habits do you exhibit in your life? Are you a smoker? Are you a gambler? Are you a mentor? Are you a leader? These are all habits that we have in our life, some are good and some are not so good. Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:08:35 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Your-Habits-Limiting-Your-Growth?&id=671327 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Your-Habits-Limiting-Your-Growth?&id=671327 In sales meetings all across the globe, many businesses discuss how to win more business. How do they have their hunters get in front of more prospective clients and have their farmers work on ensuring that everyone receives the products and solutions they require. In reality, today's sales teams need more help when it comes to closing deals with prospective clients or even in your existing client base, so what about having a scout role in their company? Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:18:13 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-All-Your-Sales-People-Have-The-Information-They-Need-To-Close-Business-Successfully?&id=665860 http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-All-Your-Sales-People-Have-The-Information-They-Need-To-Close-Business-Successfully?&id=665860 The Small Business Specialist Community is a competitive landscape! It is true that many of us are leaders in what we do, and openly share our achievements, thoughts, aspirations and best practices, however at the end of the day, we are business people and we all have mortgages to pay, pay for the food we eat, clothes we wear and perhaps have families to take care of. Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:26:55 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Marketing-Your-Small-Business-Specialist-Practice-Without-Breaking-the-Bank!&id=656158 http://ezinearticles.com/?Marketing-Your-Small-Business-Specialist-Practice-Without-Breaking-the-Bank!&id=656158 What is your purpose in life? Is it to write a book? Inspire people? Help others? Leave a lasting legacy? Whatever it turns out to be, you must have a purpose in your life for whatever you are striving for, a direction, a meaning or anything else you would like to call it. What is your purpose? Do you have one? Can you clearly tell others? Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:27:57 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Have-You-Found-Your-Purpose?&id=652708 http://ezinearticles.com/?Have-You-Found-Your-Purpose?&id=652708 Sharing of business data in small business used to be a nice thing to have - however in today's business environment it is rapidly becoming a necessity in order to compete in the marketplace. Never has the demand for collaboration inside your small business, across multiple locations, geographic regions or with partners and clients been needed as it is today. Many small businesses continue to struggle with the concept of collaboration and how to do it effectively. Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:03:28 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Sharing-Couldnt-Be-Easier-How-Windows-Sharepoint-Services-Will-Benefit-Your-Small-Business&id=632618 http://ezinearticles.com/?Sharing-Couldnt-Be-Easier-How-Windows-Sharepoint-Services-Will-Benefit-Your-Small-Business&id=632618 It happens every day, in every Canadian city big or small, laptop computers vanish from small business and larger corporation at alarming rates. Of course, these notebook computers are not vanishing - they are being stolen at all hours of the day from office towers, small retail shops and many other locations where our mobility work environments take us. Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:46:12 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Its-11-Oclock-Do-You-Know-Where-Your-Laptop-Is?&id=619125 http://ezinearticles.com/?Its-11-Oclock-Do-You-Know-Where-Your-Laptop-Is?&id=619125 Workplace disappointment is a growing problem in today's small business IT marketplace, the inability for technicians to deliver quality and timely services to clients due to increasing demands and lack of quality talent in the available talent pool right through to vendors not coming through on promises in the channel is causing the level of disappointment to rise right through the ceiling. Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:17:57 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Dealing-with-Workplace-Disappointment&id=609248 http://ezinearticles.com/?Dealing-with-Workplace-Disappointment&id=609248 For the longest time I was led to believe that you had to be better than the next guy to get ahead in life, well, this is not the case in the business world. True, better a sports team can win championships, however, look deeper and you will find that they do things differently. They may be playing defense differently or offering their players a different practice routine, the point is that the successful teams and companies find a unique niche will win. Thu, 10 May 2007 09:01:28 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?When-Better-Is-No-Longer-Good-Enough&id=557801 http://ezinearticles.com/?When-Better-Is-No-Longer-Good-Enough&id=557801 For some reason today the hit song from Queen "I Want to Break Free" rang throughout my mind as I went about my normal day. Not sure why, but in true writer's fashion there is some meaning behind this that I needed to put onto paper. Tue, 08 May 2007 08:45:48 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?I-Want-to-Break-Free!&id=555649 http://ezinearticles.com/?I-Want-to-Break-Free!&id=555649 Managed Services - what does that mean? If I am a small business owner, what do managed computer services do for my business? Sun, 06 May 2007 12:39:40 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-the-Term-Managed-Services-Over-Used?&id=553756 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-the-Term-Managed-Services-Over-Used?&id=553756 Small Businesses in Canada are continuously running out to their local retail office store to purchase their computer supplies and accessories for their business. This practice is great for those businesses that need an ink cartridge or some DVD's to backup their data, however, it is not the best practice for them to run out to purchase their next notebook computer or computer system. Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:43:59 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Small-Business-Still-Running-Out-to-Retail-Stores&id=545463 http://ezinearticles.com/?Small-Business-Still-Running-Out-to-Retail-Stores&id=545463 Do you stop and wonder why you did something and then worry about it for hours or days afterwards, resulting in loss of sleep, anxious behavior or a serious hit to your productivity. Human behavior defaults to that of worry when events to do not turn out the way they were planned, or we are doing something that we regret afterwards. Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:07:51 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Would-It-Matter-in-One-Year?&id=534705 http://ezinearticles.com/?Would-It-Matter-in-One-Year?&id=534705 I recently attended a Microsoft event at their corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This event was a fantastic opportunity to meet with fellow leaders in the Microsoft partner community from around the world and spend quality time with each one of them. The event was held over four days and we had a very tight schedule and the importance of timeliness was critical to its overall success. Thu, 19 Apr 2007 05:39:16 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Successful-People-Are-On-Time!&id=531944 http://ezinearticles.com/?Successful-People-Are-On-Time!&id=531944 What is one thing you love about networking? Is it getting out and meeting others with the possibility of walking away with a pocketful of great leads? What are some of the things about networking that you do not like? Is it constantly being sold to or that no one really takes the time to understand what you really do and do not take the time to understand your business? Mon, 09 Apr 2007 06:10:53 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-you-a-NetWeaver-or-a-Networker?&id=519523 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-you-a-NetWeaver-or-a-Networker?&id=519523 When was the last time you took a good hard long look at your overall health? Was it days, weeks, months or even years ago? Do you think that you are an iron man and can persevere through anything? I was once in that state of mind, nothing could knock me down, maybe just pushed back a bit which allowed me to recover well. Not anymore! Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:32:45 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Are-No-Good-To-Anyone-Dead-Health-Tips-For-The-IT-Professional&id=516304 http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Are-No-Good-To-Anyone-Dead-Health-Tips-For-The-IT-Professional&id=516304 Traveling is a fact of life for any executive in the computer consulting business! It doesn't matter if you are going down the street or across the country, traveling is just a fact of life. The correct lifestyle decisions on the road will ensure you remain healthy, maintain your stamina, and are ready for any challenge. Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:03:44 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-is-Your-Lifestyle-on-the-Road?&id=509792 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-is-Your-Lifestyle-on-the-Road?&id=509792 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? Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:32:56 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Experience-the-Fun-Factor&id=507258 http://ezinearticles.com/?Experience-the-Fun-Factor&id=507258 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. Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:56:31 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Getting-Sucked-Back-Out-To-Sea?&id=506694 http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-You-Getting-Sucked-Back-Out-To-Sea?&id=506694 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! Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:46:51 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Perfection-Slowing-You-Down?&id=504691 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Perfection-Slowing-You-Down?&id=504691 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? Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:50:39 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-You-Willing-To-Risk-By-Getting-Out-Of-Line?&id=504128 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-You-Willing-To-Risk-By-Getting-Out-Of-Line?&id=504128 "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." Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:04:10 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Sometimes-You-Just-Get-A-Headache&id=489391 http://ezinearticles.com/?Sometimes-You-Just-Get-A-Headache&id=489391 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. Fri, 09 Mar 2007 06:59:44 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Push-or-Pulling-Too-Hard?-Dont-Use-Up-All-Your-Energy-Trying-to-Have-Employees-Follow-Your-Rules!&id=482218 http://ezinearticles.com/?Push-or-Pulling-Too-Hard?-Dont-Use-Up-All-Your-Energy-Trying-to-Have-Employees-Follow-Your-Rules!&id=482218 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. Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:23:44 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Daylight-Savings-Time-Its-New-Effect-on-Canadian-IT-systems&id=479422 http://ezinearticles.com/?Daylight-Savings-Time-Its-New-Effect-on-Canadian-IT-systems&id=479422 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. Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:51:07 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Businesses-Need-to-Start-Archiving-Email-Now!&id=466243 http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Businesses-Need-to-Start-Archiving-Email-Now!&id=466243 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? Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:56:17 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?When-Employees-Check-Out:-Tips-To-Deal-With-The-I-Am-Outta-Here-Factor&id=464143 http://ezinearticles.com/?When-Employees-Check-Out:-Tips-To-Deal-With-The-I-Am-Outta-Here-Factor&id=464143 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. Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:41:53 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Celebrate-Your-Achievements!-No-Matter-How-Small&id=459747 http://ezinearticles.com/?Celebrate-Your-Achievements!-No-Matter-How-Small&id=459747 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." Tue, 13 Feb 2007 05:27:09 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Where-are-the-Instructions?&id=452233 http://ezinearticles.com/?Where-are-the-Instructions?&id=452233 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. Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:04:20 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-My-Blackberry-Set-Me-Free!&id=444248 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-My-Blackberry-Set-Me-Free!&id=444248 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. Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:58:12 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Climb-to-the-Vista.-Is-Windows-Vista-for-You?&id=437190 http://ezinearticles.com/?Climb-to-the-Vista.-Is-Windows-Vista-for-You?&id=437190 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. Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:20:06 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Persist-to-Achieve-Pay-Off-In-Your-Business&id=435918 http://ezinearticles.com/?Persist-to-Achieve-Pay-Off-In-Your-Business&id=435918 This past weekend I learned the importance of not flying solo in your business activities. I took a weekend off to spend time with one of my sons, and we traveled to a small British Columbia town called Cranbrook to watch our hockey team from Calgary take on the Kootenay Ice. Hockey is a long time escape from reality for me, especially when it involves getting out of town for an overnight trip. Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:39:16 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Flying-Solo-Good-When-Flying-An-Airplane-Not-So-Good-When-Running-A-Business&id=418730 http://ezinearticles.com/?Flying-Solo-Good-When-Flying-An-Airplane-Not-So-Good-When-Running-A-Business&id=418730 In today's world, data and electronic communications are critical to small business success. If your data was to disappear, what would that do to your business? What would a series of data losses cost your business? What great ideas would be gone, never to come back? Sun, 31 Dec 2006 10:48:00 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-to-Abandon-the-Point-in-Time-Backups&id=399964 http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-to-Abandon-the-Point-in-Time-Backups&id=399964 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. Sat, 30 Dec 2006 05:58:09 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Know-You-Can-Do-It-So-What-Is-Stopping-You?-The-Confidence-Factor!&id=399403 http://ezinearticles.com/?You-Know-You-Can-Do-It-So-What-Is-Stopping-You?-The-Confidence-Factor!&id=399403 Many consultants and business owners of today's Small Business IT companies understand the importance of growing quality relationships with their client base however it is equally important to create strong relationships with your vendors and other partners. A successful, positive relationship with vendors and partners is just as critical as obtaining quality clients to today's Small Business computer consulting firm. Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:50:00 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-on-Successfully-Mastering-the-Vendor-Factor&id=369535 http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-on-Successfully-Mastering-the-Vendor-Factor&id=369535 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? Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:49:59 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Things-to-Totally-Achieve-the-Service-Factor&id=364894 http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Things-to-Totally-Achieve-the-Service-Factor&id=364894 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! Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:36:41 -0600 http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-to-Get-Up-and-Just-Do-IT!&id=352014 http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-to-Get-Up-and-Just-Do-IT!&id=352014 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. Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:13:51 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Have-You-Ever-Stopped-to-Measure-Your-IMPACT-Factor&id=337823 http://ezinearticles.com/?Have-You-Ever-Stopped-to-Measure-Your-IMPACT-Factor&id=337823 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. Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:58:26 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Clear-Are-Your-Goals?&id=332438 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Clear-Are-Your-Goals?&id=332438 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? Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:40:26 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Image,-What-Image?!-The-Image-Factor&id=329370 http://ezinearticles.com/?Image,-What-Image?!-The-Image-Factor&id=329370 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. Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:37:09 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-True-Value-of-the-Small-Business-Consulting-Community&id=321825 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-True-Value-of-the-Small-Business-Consulting-Community&id=321825 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. Mon, 02 Oct 2006 08:11:32 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Wasnt-I-Awake-Dealing-with-the-Morning-Factor&id=315737 http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Wasnt-I-Awake-Dealing-with-the-Morning-Factor&id=315737 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? Mon, 25 Sep 2006 10:02:21 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-the-Technology-Really-Matter?&id=309460 http://ezinearticles.com/?Does-the-Technology-Really-Matter?&id=309460 Have you ever stopped and thought about why you got into business? What was the driving force behind your decision to lose the security blanket of having a regular paycheck, benefits and regular vacations? Do you lay awake at night, worried about how you are going to feed your family, the unresolved client issues, or just the stress of an employee upsetting one of your best clients? These are some of the questions entrepreneurs ask themselves on a regular basis when trying to figure out why they ever got into business for themselves. Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:07:53 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Did-I-Ever-Get-Into-Business-For-Myself?-Dealing-With-The-Why-Factor!&id=297321 http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Did-I-Ever-Get-Into-Business-For-Myself?-Dealing-With-The-Why-Factor!&id=297321 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. Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:44:01 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Attraction-Factor-Do-you-want-to-Attract-the-Best-Clients?&id=285856 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Attraction-Factor-Do-you-want-to-Attract-the-Best-Clients?&id=285856 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. Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:31:17 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Drowning-in-the-Sea-of-Email!-Tips-on-Dealing-with-the-Clutter-Factor&id=268542 http://ezinearticles.com/?Drowning-in-the-Sea-of-Email!-Tips-on-Dealing-with-the-Clutter-Factor&id=268542 Sure sending out thousands of emails or fax broadcasts in a spray and pray approach may be a practice that your small business leverages as way to attract potential leads and eventually new clients. Sat, 15 Jul 2006 11:26:41 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-your-Message-to-Stick-Tips-on-Creating-the-Stick-Factor&id=243780 http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-your-Message-to-Stick-Tips-on-Creating-the-Stick-Factor&id=243780 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. Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:14:44 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-The-True-Cost-Of-Internet-Surfing-At-Work?&id=215866 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-The-True-Cost-Of-Internet-Surfing-At-Work?&id=215866 Have you ever been sailing on a beautiful summer's day, the wind perfect, the water ideal? But when you look around, you notice there were a number of other sailboats, with their sails as full as yours, but some are much faster, and you feel like you are standing still! Tue, 02 May 2006 09:50:23 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Smooth-is-Your-Business-Sailing-Along?&id=185488 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Smooth-is-Your-Business-Sailing-Along?&id=185488 Sorry, I don't have time for that! I hear this consistently from people in my everyday travels. What does this actually mean? What is time? There is an old saying, "Give it a busy person! They always seem to get things done." Why is this? Do they have more time than the regular person? No. Measurement of time is consistent for everything and every one, there is still only 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, etc. Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:21:27 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-The-True-Measure-Of-Time?&id=183360 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-The-True-Measure-Of-Time?&id=183360 Small Businesses today use technology and rely on the validity of their data just like the big companies do. However, they do not normally have the budgets to have elaborate tape storage or network storage devices to have multiple versions of customer databases, accounting data or any other bits of information that are important to the overall success of their business. Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:23:11 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-A-Full-Night-Sleep,-Knowing-That-Your-Data-Is-Safe&id=178754 http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-A-Full-Night-Sleep,-Knowing-That-Your-Data-Is-Safe&id=178754 Email is quickly becoming (if it hasn't already) the easiest and most convenient method for communication within the small business community. Whether you are dealing with your suppliers, peers, or clients, communicating electronically is the way of doing business for a lot of business owners and entrepreneurs. Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:09:09 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Power-of-E-Mail-in-the-Small-Business&id=178748 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Power-of-E-Mail-in-the-Small-Business&id=178748 In this day and age of computers, most people have some kind of knowledge of how this equipment works. Many workers or owners of small businesses even like to believe that they are technically savvy. Yes, they do possess the skills to setup a small network at home or get their computer working on the Internet, most of the time they just fiddle with it until it works, however small businesses cannot afford to rely on an employee with an interest in computers to setup their corporate network. Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:52:07 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Should-you-Look-for-when-Selecting-an-IT-Service-Provider?&id=178591 http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Should-you-Look-for-when-Selecting-an-IT-Service-Provider?&id=178591 Many small businesses are concerned about managing cash flow; however, they still have a need for "state of the art" computer systems and other IT equipment to ensure that their clients are receiving the benefit of current technology. If the equipment is not up to date, customers may be lost to the competition that may have seen the light. Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:51:04 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Maintain-That-One-Step-Lead-On-Your-Competition,-While-Keeping-Your-Cash-Flow-Healthy&id=178589 http://ezinearticles.com/?Maintain-That-One-Step-Lead-On-Your-Competition,-While-Keeping-Your-Cash-Flow-Healthy&id=178589 In today's fast paced world, many small business computer consultants are wrapped up in their daily fire fighting activities at their client's location and have almost no time to attract new opportunities or build strong strategic alliances. Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:37:48 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-your-Infomercial-Sinking-You?-How-to-Attract-more-Business-using-Great-Networking-Skills&id=174248 http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-your-Infomercial-Sinking-You?-How-to-Attract-more-Business-using-Great-Networking-Skills&id=174248 Many small business owners are concerned about business continuity and ensuring that their staff remains productive during work hours. One of the biggest risks to productivity in the work place is the threat of viruses, worms and other malicious activities that circulate around the Internet and threaten our corporate and home networks daily. Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:36:09 -0500 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Onion-Approach-to-Antivirus&id=174245 http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Onion-Approach-to-Antivirus&id=174245 Copyright 2008 EzineArticles.com - All Rights Reserved.