(208) 345-0054 www.microtechboise.com MicroTech Pages
JAN 2021
At Least You Tried
A Tour of My Failed Hobbies and What I Do Instead to Escape
I t’s that time of the year when we’re all making promises. Whether you want to get in shape, learn a new skill, or change your habits, we’re all venturing into the unknown and trying something new. Statistics show that this will only work for about 20% of us, as New Year’s resolutions often fail by February. But if you’re one of the 80% of people whose lofty aspirations fall to the wayside each year, you’re not alone. It’s only fitting that January is National Hobby Month, considering how many of us give up new hobbies and habits after January. I’ve personally had my fair share of hobbies that just didn’t make the cut. Back in college, a few buddies and I wanted to save some money on buying beer. So, I began home brewing craft beer. This was way before it was as popular as it is today. I was pretty proud of the few batches I made, and after some nights at the bars, we’d come back and continue the party with my homemade brew.
Today, I wouldn’t say I have any hobbies. I have activities I enjoy doing, like skiing in the winter and paddleboarding in the summer. I enjoy doing these sports, and it’s an easy way to just forget about everything going on in the world. I can shred the slopes or paddle across a calm Boise lake without so much as a care in the world. And the best part is that I can enjoy these activities with my wife. Fly-fishing, brewing beer, and gardening really aren’t activities Keri and I can enjoy together. That makes skiing and paddleboarding the perfect way to escape while still spending time with Keri. (My kids like to ski, too, so this makes the winter sport a great family activity to do together — when they want to join us.) I guess that makes skiing and paddleboarding hobbies, but I’ve always been impressed by people who can create something with their hands. That’s a real hobby to me. Someone who can create a spectacular table or a beautiful quilt is way more impressive than me going on a black diamond run for the umpteenth season in a row. Now that we have two kids in college, I may try fly-fishing again or find a real hobby to occupy my time. I do enjoy what I get from skiing or paddleboarding, but it would be nice to have something I could consider a real hobby. But if I don’t find one, I think that’s an important lesson for all of us when it comes to resolutions and trying new habits or hobbies. All we can do is try. Sometimes it sticks, and sometimes you end up with crappy beer or dead plants. Either way, you tried.
Except, no one drank it. It was that bad!
I gave up brewing shortly after that, but it wasn’t the only hobby I tried and gave up. I attempted to garden, but I just did not enjoy it. It was never fun for me, and I could barely keep up with the demands of the plants, in addition to the demands of being a dad and a husband and running a business. It just didn’t give me the mental clarity others claim to have found in it. I also used to hunt and fly-fish quite a bit, but after I became a dad, my weekends were filled with other priorities. I was never great at it, yet I always enjoyed fly-fishing.
Good luck this year!
–Randy Amorebieta
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Business Budgeting for 2021 You Can Still Plan Around Unpredictability
are having to change their marketing focus and invest differently, so you have to be willing to adapt your budget, too. As you set sales goals, be aware of your margins and get flexible with the way you’re achieving them if you want to improve them. Also take into account new expenses you may have in response to 2020, like staffing changes and Paycheck Protection Program loans. Take stock of what’s new and different for your business this year and include it in your budget plan. Remember the Essentials Even though last year was a wild ride, you can’t throw all your best practices out the window. Certain budget- forward thinking will always be essential, no matter where your business has landed. If sales are strong, drive profits while you can to build your reserves. Modify your products or services to align with customer behavior. Keep your accounts receivable clean. Don’t use credit cards to finance your business. Pay close attention to your balance sheet to keep a handle on debt. Cultivate an ongoing relationship with your banker. If you find a reliable baseline, are willing to be flexible and realistic, and if you can recalibrate your plans on the go, you can budget your way to a much better year.
This is the time of year when businesses would usually be looking at their budget and planning for the coming year. But COVID-19 has made the future entirely unpredictable, which makes properly planning your budget difficult. But all is not lost — there are some basic budgeting tactics you can implement to face 2021 with confidence. Create a Forecast If you’re not entirely confident in your ability to forecast sales for 2021, you’re not alone. But you do still have options. If 2020 went great, perhaps try setting your sights up 10% from last year. If you want to play it safe, keep your forecast on par with 2020. If even that doesn’t feel reliable, then jump back to 2019 and use it as a base for creating your budget. You can ramp up 10% or 20% from there. Don’t just forecast this year blindly — use data from a point you can rely on and plan accordingly from there.
Know What to Include Your budget needs to have flexible sales goals and realistic expense plans this year. Many businesses
See What Our Customers Are Saying
5-STAR SHOUTOUT!
“We are a new customer and had an emergency today with a virus that shut our business down. “I left them a message late at night, and they called me early the next morning instead of me calling them. They got people reassigned to our business and had them there in an hour. We had two highly qualified employees there all day, and they stayed late until they knew we were back up and fully going. They had to get creative until new hardware shows up, but they made it happen! Saved our bacon and saved us tens of thousands. I’m signing a contract with them; I want them on my team.” – Jessica S.
What would we do without our dedicated team? They deserve some recognition! This month, we want to wish a special happy birthday to Jeremy Young and Derek Hunt . Be sure to wish them a happy birthday, too! We also want to recognize those who are celebrating their work anniversary with MicroTech Systems: Chris Maurico (1 year)
Brandon Hunsaker (1 year) Randy Amorebieta (22 years) Now, that’s worth celebrating. Thanks, everyone!
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The Top 4 Qualities of Great IT Companies
as remote server storage. Your IT team needs to be steps ahead to help you thrive.
3. Disaster Recovery: When a hacker or virus does strike, you need professionals who will answer swiftly and with precise direction. These disasters could include internet hacks, fire, or in-person theft, and regardless of the platform, your IT company should have a plan to minimize your risk and get you back to normal capacity quickly. 4. Scalability and Service Agreements: As you grow, your IT company has to grow with you. Your IT company should be able to scale your company’s platforms, storage, and programs as you grow. A service-level agreement (SLA) can be vital to ensure this happens. Determine if an IT professional’s SLA is right for your company and use it to hold your IT company accountable. When it comes to being the experts, MicroTech Systems has more than five decades of experience in servicing small businesses in the Treasure Valley. (And, yes, we have these four qualities!) To discover additional options for your small business, visit us online at MicroTechBoise.com.
usage could cost you thousands of dollars. The best IT professionals understand that and can help as soon as possible. 2. Proactivity Security Approaches: The cybercrime industry is projected to hit $6 trillion in 2021, and no business is immune. You need a team that’s going to prevent disasters before they strike. This includes regular maintenance, routine monitoring, backup systems, and thorough security practices, such
Technology is essential to your success as a small business owner. It connects you to your consumers, expands your reach, and organizes your internal processes and communication in one easy-to-access space. As the expert of your industry, you can’t be expected to also be the expert of this vital tool to your success. That’s why many small businesses turn to outside IT professionals to manage the implementation, upgrades, and protection of their technology. But not all IT providers are created equal. To ensure you have the right IT team on your side, audit them for these top four qualities of great IT service providers: 1. Customer Response : IT experts are well-versed in “computer speak,” but not all of your employees will understand this language. Your IT provider has to discern what problems your team is facing and find the root of an issue. Part of this is a prompt response. Even short periods of interruption in your tech
Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
• •
1 leek, thickly sliced
•
8 chicken thighs or drumsticks, lightly salted
1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks
• • • • •
1 tbsp olive oil
• • • • •
2 garlic cloves, sliced 14 oz chicken stock
1 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 onion, finely sliced
1 sprig rosemary
2 celery sticks, thickly sliced
Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 carrots, thickly sliced
Directions
1. In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry salted chicken on high until brown. 2. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. Add flour and stir. 3. In the frying pan on high heat, fry the onion, celery, carrots, leeks, and potatoes until lightly browned. Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds. 4. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and add the stock, rosemary, and lemon zest\ 5. Cook on high for 2.5–3 hours or until chicken is tender. 6. Check seasoning and add lemon juice to taste. Top with parsley before serving.
Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
125 E. 50th Street Garden City, ID 83714
Inside
My Failed Hobbies
Business Budgeting for 2021
See What Our Customers Are Saying
Top 4 Qualities of Great IT Companies
Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole
4 Books You Should Read to Lead
Be a Better Leader 4 Leadership Books You Need to Read
important. His new book pushes readers to consider who they want their future self to be, and his ideas aren’t theoretical — they’re full of proven ways to change your priorities, break habits, and use your environment to make you a better version of yourself.
‘Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You’
For leaders at all levels in all types of business, 2020 was a tough year. Those businesses that managed to not only survive but also thrive all have one big factor in common: good leadership. If you want to be a better leader for your team in 2021, here are the latest leadership books you should add to your reading list. ‘Friday Forward: Inspiration and Motivation to End Your Week Stronger Than It Started’ by Robert Glazer Glazer is an entrepreneur and bestselling author who has taken 52 of the most impactful stories from his inspirational newsletter that goes out to more than 100,000 readers and put them in one convenient book. These stories of struggling entrepreneurs who turned things around can give you the push you need to make an impact in your own circles and end your work weeks stronger than they started.
by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss Frei is one of the world’s foremost
authorities on leadership. In her new book, she’s teamed up with Anne Morriss, a leader in the genomics industry. The
‘Honest to Greatness: How Today’s Greatest Leaders Use Brutal Honesty to Achieve Massive Success’ by Peter Kozodoy The turmoil of 2020 has pushed brands to reconsider how they appeal to their customers. Many are walking away from deceitful promises and aiming for radical honesty and authenticity, instead. In his new book, Kozodoy
book teaches leaders how to empower others. Great leadership takes grit, thick skin, and compassion, and
“Unleashed” offers advice from top-performing organizations on how to best achieve all three. ‘Personality Isn’t Permanent: Break Free From Self-Limiting Beliefs and Rewrite Your Story’ by Benjamin Hardy
examines how this revolution came to be and why it’s working. His guide teaches leaders how they can embrace these qualities to make their businesses better.
Organizational psychologist Benjamin Hardy makes a fascinating argument for why your current personality isn’t the one that’s most
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