Outlooks on Business and Technology

Microsoft PALs

Microsoft Partner Area Leaders  or PALS are new resources that are available to partners representing Microsoft products. Given that the program is newer many people are not totally aware of the concept.

Take a look at https://partner.microsoft.com/global/PALS

Of note this program is designed to support the Microsoft Small Business Specialist credential holders while also empowering the entire SMB market with more resources and knowledge.

Quote of the Day

"

Opportunity

is missed by most people, because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)
American inventor, salesman
frequently worked more than 40 hours straight

Traveling and Mobile Mail

I am in Seattle and the sun is breaking through the rain clouds. What an incredible January Day!

I have taken a couple of days to fly my daughter up to the Northwest  as she will be attending Evergreen College in Olympia, WA starting in a few days.

Which brings me around to my post. In my travels yesterday I depended on my i760 Samsung mobile 6 phone and it was great for informing me of all that was buzzing outside, but I have to admit it is not that great for long e-mails and long required responses. I circled back today and found I had to re-read and re-respond to e-mail.

Wonder if others find this to be the case?   

Comments from the Field on Autotask Professional Automation Software

From: Gina De La Cerda Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 10:17 AM To: Michael J Pennell Subject: RE: Autotask Hi Mike, We began using Autotask in July and it has honestly transformed our business. The setup time on our end was minimal and we went with a straight cutover as opposed to a phased transition. The Dispatcher's Workshop has streamlined our Support Operations to the point that we can schedule technicians days as customers call in. We use the AutotaskConnect for QuickBooks and Autotask transfers our invoices over to QuickBooks instantly. The training Autotask offers is amazing. The AT Trainers explain all pieces of the product and are willing to stay online after the training sessions for questions you may have specific to your company. There are many online sessions available through AT and I recommend taking them prior to implementing the product; I did and it really helped me understand what I needed to do to get AMC up and running in AT. Our main reason for choosing Autotask was the customer service. When we informed John about our decision he was so excited. The folks at [competitor name deleted] had no emotion and we didn't feel they really cared if we chose their product. If the person selling the product doesn't really care, then how is the rest of their support? I have not had an issue with Autotask so our conversations are rather short as a result and the few questions I do have are answered on the spot. Another reason why we chose Autotask is because it is hosted and there is nothing that needed to take place on our side other than setting up our company information and customer database. All in all, we have had a great experience with Autotask and I can honestly recommend the product to companies that are looking for that all in one system that handles everything from inputting a ticket to billing to financial reporting.  Autotask has made our lives much easier! I hope this helps! Sincerely, Gina De La Cerda Operations Manager Advanced Microcomputing Concepts, Inc.

Leveraging Technology

Over the weekend I had about 10 different blog posts float through my head. These are items that pop into my mental space and ring that "now that would be good to blog about bell" unfortunately I didn't get them posted and just as opportunity can be gone in the blink of an eye so can information..

So as the world moves to an always on environment (solving the dilemna of the above for the future), where we do not need to be sitting in front of our machines to update information, what will be the impact? 

In our current model, leveraging the true power of technology can be limited by the human factor. In general those who can type quickly, and those that can speed read have an advantage at staying up with all that is going on around them AND yet this does not have to be the case..

Technology exists today to have all incoming information broadcast in voice and all dictation translated quickly and accurately to text. Consider that Dragon Naturally Speaking now has the processing power behind it to eliminate almost all translation errors and this application is easily acquired for a reasonable price.

Or consider that the free version of Adobe Acrobat will read any PDF file out loud to you (yes, the voice is horrible but there are also other third party solutions).

If we all apply thought to solving real inefficiencies with creative solutions including those that embrace technologies that we might not be familiar with can you imagine where the world would be today?

Electronic Navigation

I have a totally new appreciation for auto navigation systems! Given that I have been mastering a new city and visiting a whole set of new addresses I can't tell you how many times I have been thankful that I can depend on a variety of handy electronic GPS systems.

Take for instance last night. I put in a nice robust day at the office and then was scheduled to fly from Houston to Dallas at 8:30. My GPS helped me fight my way through traffic creatively (given that of course I did not get out of the office when I  wanted to) and then assisted in finding parking.

As per most "busiests travel week in the year" flight environments, when I self checked in my flight had been cancelled (now that was a totally first for Southwest) but no worries, immediate help (man I love SW) managed to get me on an earlier flight. Yes earlier - it was 7:30 and so they put me on the 8pm flight given that my 8:30 flight was the one cancelled. A quick stroll through the airport, with no stopping for the basics, found me spirited off to my destination.

BUT alas despite it being a quick flight my hectic schedule cut into one of those core human needs "food".

I wanted to get out of the airport and as such once again I could depend on the GPS which I had in my rental car. Choice of food and a mentally easy 20 minute trip to the hotel.

The next step?

"Others may see the world as it is and ask why, but you imagine the world as it could be and ask why not." A nice little snippet from my horoscope tonight. It seemed to be so appropriate.

Are you really an Expert?

Had to tap into my Sonicwall expert yesterday and this is what I learned. Some I knew some was new so I am sharing.

1)    The Sonicwall TZ 170’s with older firmware are much more difficult to manage and do not handle licensing well.

2)    Upgrading the Firmware on the Sonicwall TZ170s is worth it. Is this part of your patch process?

3)    The bottom of the Sonicwall TZ 170 has a license number (10, 25, Unlimited), but that does not necessarily define the license.

4)    A 25 license Sonicwall TZ 170 can be upgraded to unlimited.

5)    The older Sonicwall TZ 170 firmware counts connections as opposed to IP addresses or nodes. Needless to say you can max out your connections and all of a sudden machines can’t get to the internet.

6)    You want to pool and exclude devices that connect to the Sonicwall that do not need internet access, such as printers.

7)    You want to make sure NOT to exclude the IP address of the Sonicwall, because it does need Internet access for updates.

8)    To change the Vendor License on a sonic wall from one servicing technology company to another takes a turn-around time of 48 business hours, so solving this in crisis mode is not fun. Remember the client has no internet access on some machines so it is a crisis to them.

9)    The new SonicWall TZ 170 firmware will list for you connections/nodes/IP addresses/LICENSES used and the ones available.

10) Being a generalist IT Professional does not mean you are a master of the Sonicwall firmware or it’s idiosyncrasies or anything else for that matter.

11) ASK your generalist what they love and make notes in your CRM system what they are really, really good at.. For instance my Sonicwall expert has gone to every Sonicwall conference for the last umpteen years, has been recognized as a Sonicwall gold partner, has installed thousands of the dang devices… etc. etc.

12) Know what you are an expert in. We are ALL generalist and must figure things out, but what do we know inside out and backwards without thinking too hard? Always good to share that…

Are People You Know in There 50's?

One of the firms that I affiliate The Norwich Group with is Hardy Hasenfuss's company Life-ActIII. You see over the course of my life I have taken umpteen "assessments" and leadership courses and as such when I first met Hardy I had a big "Been There, Done That" chip on my shoulder. Boy, was I ever surprised. Hardy takes human resource assessment to a level I never knew was possible and as such I made a space in this firm to offer it to others who might want that extra edge. Hardy has also focused this skill on a cultural issue that when flipped can be oh so awesome.

You see retirement is not always wonderful. In fact for many powerful male CEO's it can be quite terrible. Hardy is working with those passionate CEOs, the ones running the huge and small corporations around the country to transition into a new phase in life. A phase that should be the FRUIT of all the hard work that the younger years allow us to tolerate.

First, for those local, a new class as part of the ILEAD: Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth (ILEAD), program at Dartmouth College. The class starts March 22, 2005 and runs for 8 weeks. For more information Call 603-653-0154

The course is designed to explore and somewhat rewrite Act III of a person's life. Retirement! It can be a new beginning, the start of a new life journey of vastly expanded proportion. It can be a time of living life fully, with joy, meaning, harmony and sparkle.

The course examines topics such as society’s perspective of retirement versus an individuals, and how finding new purpose and meaning affects life satisfaction, leisure activities and change and how retirement affects family and relationships; learning and growing; post-retirement work/career; health; crafting/revising vision and purpose. The goal! A mission for the later years.

Hardy actually has quite an interesting Bio... Fifteen years ago, after a successful career as a senior financial executive in corporate America and a few entrepreneurial ventures of his own, Hardy Hasenfuss began to explore the question “Why am I here?” and “What am I yet to do on this earth?” Introspective studies and additional formal training led him to his current calling as a teacher and coach. He holds numerous certifications in the coaching field and earned a B.S. and M.B.A degree from the University of California at Berkeley. 

He now offers this to his fellow peers, associate and the corporate world.

Hardy also offers individual assessments and works with a number of HR departments and management teams at Fortunte 500 companies. In addition he offers The Norwich Group Higher Pairings offering. The ability for two partners to be assessed and then compared for a literal road map around where corporate partnership communication could and quite possibly will break down. If you are tying your future business in with another CEO, you might want to invest in TNG Higher Pairings utilizing Hardy's extensive experience in assessment and analysis. Why learn the hard way where the bumps in the road are going to be. Be prepared in advance for more profit and more efficiency. To learn more about Hardy check out his web page at www.life-actIII.com and New London Management Associates.

Feedback from the Field

From: Ted Kleinman [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 10:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Connected

Anne,

Thanks for the invitation to join your LinkedIn network. I’ve just completed the connection and would be pleased to refer opportunities to you, too. I always enjoy your postings and recommendations…some of which I use and have application in my practice. Take care…and please stay in touch.

Ted

Tax Planning & Preparation Theodore Kleinman CPA Theodore Kleinman 2045 Cinnamon Teal Dr Redmond OR 97756-8478 [email protected] www.ustaxhelp.com tel: tel2: fax: mobile: (541) 923-0903 (888) 297-6001 (503) 296-2603 (541) 350-4922