it’ll likely be a much more significant expense to catch back up than it would have been before, not to mention that it can cause your employee productivity and other revenue-generating activities to slow down. It’s important to stay focused on vision and outcome when formulating your budget. Don’t get bogged down with a fixed number or a specific percentage. Take a broad view of upcoming and past projects and goals, and consider multiple methodologies to determine the best way to move forward. What does the company actually need? This question should also be posed to your staff and IT experts. Those who are working with the technology every day know better than anyone the shortcomings of your current setup. No matter what, don’t wait around for something to break before you decide to replace it. This will inevitably result in a much greater loss of time and resources while you wait around for a fix or a replacement. Planning for the future is a better business approach. IT Budget Basics Easy Holiday Party CHEESE FONDUE Scrambling to find something for the holiday potluck? This fondue is sure to impress!
Hammering out your business’s yearly budget for technology can be incredibly stressful, and understandably so. It’s a process fraught with anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty. You would think that since your business is small, budgeting should be easier, right? After all, you’re dealing with fewer assets, a smaller labor force, and presumably, fewer unknowns. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. When a large firm suffers an unforeseen fiscal event, weathering the storm is usually a simple matter. That’s not so for small- or medium- sized businesses, which have much less financial wiggle room. When business owners are calculating their tech budget, many return to that age-old adage: “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” And sure, that approach will definitely save you money in the short term. But it may also open you up to a potential crisis down the road. For instance, if your trusty old server fails next year, you potentially risk losing data, not to mention the productivity cost for you downtime. In addition, adhering to outdated technologies gives more tech-savvy competitors an advantage, as you fail to change with the times. When you realize how far you’ve fallen behind,
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
• • •
¾ cup dry white wine
• • •
1 clove garlic Salt to taste
1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 (8-ounce) package sliced Swiss cheese
Foods to dip (apple slices, bread cubes, roasted vegetables, etc.)
Directions
1. In a large bowl, whisk together wine and cornstarch. 2. Chop cheese slices into small, uniform pieces. 3. Rub clove of garlic all over the
some cheese and slowly whisk. When nearly smooth, add more cheese and whisk gently. Repeat until all cheese is melted. If mixture seems too tight, add 1 tablespoon wine.
sides and bottom of a heavy- bottomed pot, then discard.
5. Season with salt and serve immediately. Keep pot on low heat to keep the fondue dippable.
4. Heat wine mixture over
medium-low heat in the pot until thick and bubbling. Add
(Recipe inspired by PinchofYum.com.)
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