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April 2020
Confessions of an Apathetic Baseball Fan
immediately feel how meaningful the place is as you walk into the stadium, and I was admittedly interested as we learned about the history in the old pubs and its hallowed halls. But the most impressive part was the sheer number of people in the stadium. I couldn’t believe how many people were at a baseball game at 1 p.m. on a Thursday! It was a packed house. To my bewilderment, the ticket taker simply said, “This is baseball. These are Cubs fans.”
Like many kids, I played Little League baseball. I was never extraordinary, and I don’t think the experience was miserable. I had a good time when I played, but for as many seasons as I spent on the ball diamond, I didn’t become a fan. Today, I’ll attend the occasional Boise Hawks game, watch baseball on TV, or hear people talking about it. Yet, I could not care less about what is happening. It’s just not exciting enough for me. Despite my resistance to the peanuts-and-cracker-jacks fun, a recent experience with my father-in-law had me wondering if I was too harsh with my assessment of baseball. On the other hand, there is my father-in-law who loves baseball and is a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. My wife’s family comes from the Omaha area which happens to be where they play the College World Series. Once, when back there to visit extended family, the event just so happened to coincide with our trip, and he really wanted to go. Being the dutiful son-in-law I am, along with pressure frommy wife (probably more so than being a good son-in-law), I faced the dread of having to sit through a college baseball game. My father-in-law claims I don’t understand all the intricacies of the game, and therefore I don’t understand what makes it so fun. I just think I need more action. But I do appreciate my father-in-law, and when I was in Chicago doing business this past summer, I had the perfect retirement gift for him. Despite his lifelong devotion to the Cubs, my father-in-law had never been to Wrigley Field to see his beloved team play. So, this past summer, I traveled to Chicago for work and took two days away from networking to take my son and his grandfather to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play the Colorado Rockies and the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Is this normal?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” she said.
Our seats for the Thursday game were on the lower level along the third- base line. We were right in the action, watching foul balls cruise into the stands and players running for their lives into home plate. The next day, we sat behind home plate as the Cubs took on their division rivals, the Cardinals. We could see the spin and speed at which each ball was thrown right from our seats! Suddenly, baseball made a little more sense. I began to wonder if I should venture out and give it another look or try. After seeing the game, I told my wife I would like to try going to another Major League game in a different city to see if it was baseball or just the experience at Wrigley. I left Wrigley Field impressed with what I saw, and for the first time, I actually enjoyed myself while watching baseball. To this day, I’m not sure I can ever sit down and watch a game on TV, but I do know that Wrigley Field, some time with my family, and great seats turned this apathetic baseball fan into an excited spectator (even if it was just for two days).
When we first walked into the stadium, I was in awe. Wrigley Field is a historic landmark in baseball and in American history. You can
–Randy Amorebieta
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Help Your Company Slay the Dragons With Business Lessons From Fantasy Novels
‘Harry Potter’: Hogwarts Built to Sell In the final book of the megahit series, it becomes clear that Dumbledore’s real wizardry was in his ability to execute an exit strategy. Over the course of the novel, Harry and his friends uncover the tools Dumbledore left behind to defeat Voldemort. The instructions he left were cryptic at best, but thankfully, Harry and friends eventually sort things out. Dumbledore’s key to success was putting the right people in the right positions. ‘The Witcher’: Toss a Coin to Your Marketer In Andrzej Sapkowski’s popular novels, Geralt of Rivia has a PR problem. Mistrusted for his supernatural abilities, he can rarely find work, despite being an expert in a niche industry: monster hunting. Those willing to hire him often misunderstand his services and think he’s an assassin, all due to a classic case of bad branding. Fortunately, our hero’s prospects change when he befriends an eccentric bard named Jaskier, who decides to write songs and poems about his adventures with Geralt. Soon, people across the continent know of Geralt and his talent for driving off things that go bump in the night, which goes to show that sometimes, good marketing makes all the difference.
The bookshelf of your average business owner is usually chock-full of hard-hitting nonfiction. And why not? Books like “The Obstacle Is the Way,” or “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” are great sources of inspiration for entrepreneurs in any industry. But did you know that the world of fiction has lessons to offer too? chronicles a quest for treasure, led by the upstart dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield. There’s just one problem: A dragon guards the gold and jewels. Thorin has no plan to defeat this threat, and his party unwittingly releases it upon a town. The angry residents then hold the dwarf king liable for destruction of property. The dragon attack was a known risk in Thorin’s venture, and he failed to account for it. Rather than work to protect himself from risk (and liability), he failed to prepare for the worst outcome. Wishful thinking never helps leaders — even in fantasy stories. ‘The Hobbit’: A Poorly Planned Venture J.R.R. Tolkien’s first fantasy novel
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TRACKING TRENDS
Understanding Your Business’ Technology Future with 2020 Trends
technology systems obsolete. Switching to these platforms requires an investment, but this can save time, money, and energy often spent on outdated technology. Increased MSP Services Utilizing a managed service provider (MSP) for your IT needs goes beyond keeping your technology safe. MSPs are designed to enhance cybersecurity, offer 24/7 monitoring, and provide continued growth within technology. MSPs offer a proactive approach to your technology, protecting your company from attacks and upgrading your digital needs as you grow. Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) capacities are growing, and the list of what AI can do for your business includes data entry, accounting, email marketing, and customer service. AI will never replace the human worker, but it can take care of small tasks for your employees and free up their day for bigger, more impactful projects. As we finish the first full quarter of 2020, don’t let technology leave you in the dust. Our team at MicroTech Systems can position your company at the forefront of innovation with our MSP- style IT guidance and support. Learn more at MicroTechBoise.com.
The decisions that small-business owners are facing continue to evolve alongside a rapidly developing technological landscape. Investing in technology and upgrading your processing systems can be a big leap, and every small business is different. Understanding your requirements, your budget, and technology trends can aid your decisions on digital upgrades. But just like you’re the expert on your business, our team at MicroTech Systems are the experts in technology. Before you jump into new platforms, use our guide to the top three trends for small business owners in 2020.
Advanced Tech Collaboration Advancements in technology have improved the way our devices connect and the ways we communicate. For starters, platforms like Office 365 feature a variety of planning, meeting,
and communication tools for any workplace. In addition, cloud computing and wireless operating systems will make antiquated
Have a Laugh!
Easter Lamb Cake
Impress your family with this festive Easter lamb cake that’s as cute as it is scrumptious!
Ingredients
• • • • •
2 1/4 cups cake flour 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• • •
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
4 egg whites
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
Equipment •
1/2 cup butter
1 lamb-shaped, 3D cake mold
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 F. Coat lamb cake mold with vegetable oil and wipe clean after a few minutes. Then grease again and flour cake mold. 2. In a bowl, sift cake flour, then sift flour again with baking powder and salt. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and butter together to form a batter. 4. Add flour mixture and milk to the batter alternately. 5. Stir batter until smooth and add vanilla extract.
6. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. 7. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into batter mixture, then fold in the remaining whites. 8. Fill cake mold with batter and avoid air pockets. Place the lid on the cake mold, secure it tightly, and place it on a cookie sheet. Bake for 1 hour.
9. Let cake cool completely before
decorating with frosting, candy, and edible Easter grass.
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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Inside
The One Time I Found Baseball Exciting
What Fantasy Brings to Reality
Where 2020s Trends Are Taking Tech
Easter Lamb Cake
The Most Important Question You Can Ask
‘Start With Why’ And Better Business Will Follow
you build a sense of trust. This trust leads to loyalty, and loyalty means that person comes back to do business with you and also refers your business to others. This is how businesses grow!
“There are only two ways to influence human behavior: You can manipulate it, or you can inspire it.” –Simon Sinek
It can often be hard to clearly articulate what you do for a living. That means it can be difficult to explain your vision to potential clients and customers, which then makes it harder to convince them to purchase your product or services. In “Start With Why,” author Simon Sinek illustrates the importance of explaining to others why you do the business you do rather than explaining what you do or how you do it.
Figuring out your “why” is a process of discovery, not invention. In order to discover it, you can turn to three key strategies.
• Look backward at the original motivation for starting your business. What specific problem were you trying to solve, and why was it important to you to solve it? • Look outward by asking those around you why they spend time with you or why a customer buys from you. You can learn why people are drawn to you and your business this way. • Look inward by identifying a bigger vision that you wish to contribute to. What do you believe in? What really matters to you? “Start With Why” teaches readers how to go about discovering their “why,” then instructs them on how to effectively use that information to help their business. It also helps them unleash their business’s vast potential that has remained untapped until now.
Sinek argues that when people start figuring out the “why” in what they do, it inspires action from others in a way that discussing the “what” can’t. Talking about the “why” engages emotions; analyzing the “what” is purely logical. When you try to sell something
to people based on “what,” you rely on specific manipulations like price and product details. But if you help people understand why you do what you do by revealing the real purpose and intention behind your reasons,
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