MicroTech Systems - November 2019
(208) 345-0054 MicroTech Pages
November 2019
On Everyone’s Radar The Good and Bad of Boise’s Boom
For years, Boise residents have rejoiced and cringed when our city was listed among some of the greatest places to live in the U.S. We see it everywhere, but there’s this strange phenomenon of mixing city pride with wanting to keep the best the Treasure Valley has to offer a secret.
the dad of a sophomore in college and a junior and senior in high school, I can’t help but wonder if they will be able to afford to live in the Treasure Valley someday. And then I wonder about my employees. I want to ensure I’m paying them a livable wage, and I believe I do. The influx of people moving into Boise makes jobs readily available, but I often wonder if wages will be able to grow with housing costs. Yet, dispersed among the longer commute times, rising home prices, and uncertainty is some good. There are elements to our city that certainly didn’t exist when I was growing up. Boise is vibrant, and there are more things to do than ever before. It’s amazing to see the next crazy thing that moves into Boise each week. You can’t deny how much more fun the city has become! With that growth, there’s a more diverse working landscape in our city today. Start-ups and new businesses feel more confident in their ability to thrive in a city that’s booming the way Boise has. In fact, that was the main reason why so many business owners at the EO conference were asking me about Boise. The prospect of moving a business out here is popular. Boise’s growth is a delicate balance of good and bad, and I’m not sure we will know what this rapid expansion means for the Treasure Valley until sometime in the future. Sure, traffic could always improve, but I’m happy to see Boise developing a presence that people across the country want to experience.
But I didn’t realize just how widespread the word of Boise’s growth had gotten until I attended a conference a few months ago.
I was at an Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) conference this past September, and whenever business owners from California, Colorado, Arizona, and elsewhere discovered I was from Boise, Idaho, I had to field numerous questions from them about where I live. Among other queries, I heard, “What’s the development out there like? What are commercial and residential properties like? What’s going on over there?” I was in disbelief each time I was grilled by a fellow entrepreneur. Part of me was proud, of course, to experience this kind of recognition. Finally, the city I have called home all my life is getting the attention it deserves after all the growth it has gone through to get here. (Those who grew up here know just how much this city has grown in the past few decades!) Yet, my attitude about this hasn’t always been positive. The first boom I remember Boise experiencing was in the early 1990s when I was in college. I was in the camp that opposed the boom, only noticing the increased traffic and rent spikes.
Above all else, I’m proud to say Boise has always been my home.
Today, I still feel those pinches. Roadways in Boise are more clogged than ever, and home prices continue to shock me. As
–Randy Amorebieta
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POINT BY POINT Revolutionize Your Business With Bullet Journaling
When you’re an entrepreneur or a business leader, your to-do list can feel more like a novel than a manageable list. But what if you could order your thoughts, track your accomplishments, and maintain organization all on your own terms? It may sound too good to be true, but bullet journaling does just that.
its subtasks. A bullet journal can include every aspect of your business down to the smallest logistical details, or it can break down a single, complicated aspect, such as vendor tracking, into one journal. The look and function of your bullet journal is completely up to you and your process. How Do I Do It? Despite the versatility, every bullet journal shares a couple key components. First, you need a legend or key to identify what symbols mean throughout your journal. For example, a square next to a task may indicate it is a high priority, or a star may mean a task has been completed. Any group of symbols will work, but consistency keeps you organized. Second, you need a calendar in your bullet journal. That way, you can organize your goals by year, month, week, or day and keep track of smaller goals along the way. Throughout your journal, create separate sections for as many breakdowns as you want, but the key is to keep it all connected. No longer do you need to carry around a to-do list, a planner, and a calendar. Turn to bullet journaling to revolutionize the way you organize. For more tips, inspiration, and information on how bullet journaling can help you and your business, visit BulletJournal.com.
What Is It? Despite what the name may suggest, bullet journaling has little to do with writing out your feelings — unless you want to
do that! Instead, it’s a log of all your to-do lists, reminders, and
tracking systems in one convenient place. The goal is to complete tasks and update your journal each day. You can even download a companion app to digitally stay on top of your tracking.
The beauty of bullet journaling is customization. If you’re a visual person, create drawings or tape down pictures to represent your tasks. If you prefer precise outlines, use ruled pages to order each goal and
See What Our Customers Are Saying
CELEBRATE!
At MicroTech Systems, our mission to provide 5-star IT service wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated employees. Whether they have been with us for years or weeks, we appreciate their commitment. This November, we would like to honor Robert Bissonnette during his birthday month. Have a great birthday, Robert! Thank you for all you do.
“We have been using MicroTech Systems for about six months now. They are very responsive and follow through with any open tickets and problems that come up. They are proactive and give good advice without being pushy. I’ve used a few other companies in the valley, and I feel this company is by far superior and has good processes in place.” -Lisa Whitney
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Stronger Together
SIGNS YOUR SMALL BUSINESS SHOULD RELY ON AN MSP
Your business is only as strong as its weakest link, and when that link is your IT service, you have a major issue. If you’re struggling with an IT provider, you may need a managed service provider (MSP) instead. An MSP can offer your business more than just standard IT care. MSPs serve their clients holistically, offering network establishment, management, and security through proactive approaches. With a
have IT personnel, this may be even worse for your entire team. MSPs take care of the basics for your employees so they can focus on their tasks rather than managing technical care for your company. 2. Dollars and Sense Technology is continually changing, and the cost of these upgrades can be staggering for small businesses. MicroTech Systems’ TechCare program
combination of onsite and remote solutions, MSPs are designed to help you forget about your IT while the MSP maintains the efficiency and security of your network. Imagine how much work your employees could complete if they weren’t bogged down by slow-running computers, or imagine how many customers would trust you if they knew your system was monitored and protected from hackers and viruses 24/7. If any of the following clues sound like your business, it may be time to ditch your mediocre IT service for MSP-designed services like the ones offered through MicroTech Systems. 1. Troubles Staying Afloat Many businesses have an IT person who manages many aspects of the company, but more often than not, IT personnel are overworked. If you don’t
offers a robust analysis and monitoring system that does the work for you. No more wasting time and money on services your company does not need.
3. Security Concerns Small businesses are under attack every day, and studies have found that many small businesses will fail within six months of a hack or malware attack. If you store any form of data collection or personal information for clients, you need complete protection. MSP providers offer a second set of eyes on your data with routine check-ins and backups. Discover additional clues that your business could benefit from an MSP by reading MicroTech Systems’ latest blog post at MicroTechBoise.com/ microtech-blog. Call 208-345-0054 today to inquire about upgrading your IT options to five-star service.
Vegan Biscuits With Maple ‘Butter’ Ask any of your vegan friends and they’ll tell you it’s impossible to detect whether bread has dairy simply by looking at it. That can be tricky on Thanksgiving when ingredient labels aren’t always ready at hand. These biscuits solve that problem deliciously.
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
For the Biscuits •
•
1/2 cup nondairy milk, ideally soy, almond, or rice
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
For the “Butter” • 1 cup vegan
• • •
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegan margarine, plus extra for brushing
margarine, room temperature
•
1/4 cup maple syrup
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. 3. Cut in margarine until you achieve a
6. Place on baking sheet, coat with
margarine, and bake for 10–12 minutes.
mealy texture with a few large margarine clumps.
7. For butter, fold
together margarine and maple syrup.
4. Add milk and stir until just barely combined. 5. Spread out on cutting board and cut dough into rings.
8. Serve biscuits alongside butter.
Inspired by The New York Times
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
12592 W. Explorer Dr. #100 Boise, ID 83713
Inside
Do We Know What Boise’s Boom Means for the Future?
Bullet Journaling for Your Business
How MSPs Can Offer Businesses the Best Service
Vegan Biscuits With Maple ‘Butter’
Is Going Green Good Business?
How to Get Rich Without Hurting the Planet ‘Business Lessons from a Radical Industrialist’
As awareness about the global impact of climate change rises, consumers have started to vote with their dollars for companies that offer greener, more sustainable products and practices. Slowly, that groundswell has caused businesses to shift their priorities and take steps to track and reduce their environmental impact. But long before the green movement began in earnest, there was Ray Anderson — one man who decided to flip the script. In 1994, Anderson was 60 years old, the CEO of the modular carpet company Interface, Inc., and no more environmentally aware than his contemporaries. But when his customers started asking about the environmental impact of his carpets, he dropped into the rabbit hole of environmental research and emerged a changed man. He had a new goal for his $1 billion company: It would take nothing from the earth that the planet couldn’t replace. In 2009, Interface created and sold over 83 million square yards of carpet without negatively impacting the planet or losing revenue. Anderson chronicles his journey from point A to point B in his book, “Business Lessons from a Radical Industrialist.”
According to Inc. magazine, Anderson, who passed away in 2011, was considered “the greenest CEO in America.” His company mastered sustainable innovation, and its patents, products, and processes are revealed in his book, which is as much a guide for entrepreneurs of the future as it is for those of the present. One reader on Amazon reviewed the book as “Inspiring,” writing, “If only the world had more Ray Andersons. The fact
that he turned a company reliant on the use of petrochemicals for the production of its core product into [a company] with sustainability as its core ideology and was able to improve his profits is outstanding. Any and every company can learn something from this book.” If you’re trying to lessen your business’s impact on the planet and tap into a market of environmentally conscious consumers, “Business Lessons from a Radical Industrialist” is the place to start.
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