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JUNE 2021
Staying Put
Why I Don’t Want to Travel to Space — But Find My Own Adventure
On June 3, 1965, Ed White made history as the first person from the U.S. to walk in space. This was a momentous moment in history, paving the way for astronauts like him to land on the moon just four years later and live in space for months at a time decades later. Still, I’ve never been one to have much of an interest in space. It can be interesting to hear about what could be out there and what scientists have found. But some of the technology developments, like AI, scare me. Despite all of that, I’ve never been one to want to learn about space. However, this historical moment and the recent advancements in space travel, including SpaceX’s recent missions and NASA’s goals for Mars, have me thinking about the people who do go to space. So, I asked my employees: If given the chance, would you go into space? Now, I like to think of myself as a pretty adventurous guy. I speed down snowy mountains on my skis, paddle over water, and enjoy hiking in remote forests. I like to get outside and explore, but that’s it. That’s my limit. Earth is the only planet I want to explore. I’m not even sure if I’m at the level of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored the great West we now call home. I’m pretty happy exploring the Treasure Valley — and that’s it.
Turns out, I’m not alone. I polled the office, and only one person would jump on a spaceship if given the opportunity. In fact, most people scrunched up their faces at the idea and knew right away — they are much happier living in this atmosphere. However, this prompted an interesting observation about my staff. The one person who said they would go into space is much more adventurous than all of us. He skydives, goes ballroom dancing, keeps bees — I mean, there isn’t a hobby this guy doesn’t have! He didn’t even hesitate when I asked him about space. But nearly everyone who did object to space happened to be alive when the Challenger space shuttle exploded right after takeoff in January 1986. Millions of children and people across the globe were watching as it happened because it was history in the making. Christa McAuliffe was set to become the first teacher in space, but sadly, she and the rest of the crew perished. As a generation, we were all scarred, and in my opinion, that had a profound impact on our sense of adventure. Now, that’s not to say we can’t have fun on our own adventures. On vacations, I like to plan out my adventures, rather than just wait for them to happen. It may not seem very adventurous, but that’s about as wild as I get. I think it’s impressive that some people want to go to space or have the confidence to strap themselves to a rocket and shoot for the moon. But like my employees, I’m much happier leaving boot tracks in the Boise foothills than I am walking in space dust.
Wherever your adventures take you this summer, I hope you have fun and stay safe.
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The Story of Lungile Mhlanga THE FOUNDER OF TREATS CLUB
Following your passion can take you to some pretty unexpected places, but few entrepreneurs can personally attest to that as well as Lungile Mhlanga, the founder of Treats Club. This innovative company offers a unique approach to getting customers freshly baked goods, even when COVID-19 spread across the world. During college, Mhlanga had a part-time job as a makeup consultant with Benefit Cosmetics. She loved this work so much that she dropped out of college to work there full time. A few years later, she took a position working for MAC Cosmetics
Mhlanga began posting some of her baked goods on Instagram, even scoring her former employer, MAC Cosmetics, as a corporate customer. Then, as fortune would have it, she got a chance to go on “An Extra Slice,” a sister TV show to the popular series “The Great British Bake Off.” On the show, Mhlanga was selected as “star baker,” validating her desire to turn her passion for baking into a “proper business.” And so, Treats Club was born.
Mhlanga made tasty treats, including hot doughnuts, for customers at markets all over London
at Harrods, a famous London department store. Honing her customer service skills, she soon ended up becoming a manager and trainer for MAC, working in Dubai, the Middle East, and India. After she quit her job at MAC, Mhlanga found herself back in London, wondering what to do next. She recalled the praise she had received for some of her baked goods, and that was when her foray into the baking business started.
— and not even a pandemic could stop her. Mhlanga simply pivoted into her new circumstances without much fuss, putting together kits that customers could use to make her hot doughnuts themselves. After being featured on popular morning TV show “Sunday Brunch,” she had over 200 orders for the kits. Mhlanga continues to gain notoriety for her baking prowess, and as long as she’s willing to adapt and follow her passions, that success won’t stop anytime soon.
See What Our Customers Are Saying
5-STAR RECOGNITION!
It takes every member of our 5-Star IT Service Team to ensure our clients’ needs are met — and we love to celebrate our team whenever we can! This month we have some big anniversaries and birthdays to recognize. Anniversaries: Danny Ryan (5 years) Ken Holt (3 years) Birthday: Javier Peredes
MicroTech Systems is very professional and has been a pleasure to work with. They are very knowledgeable and reliable. Our staff have been pleased with the support provided. – Shelley R. We have worked with MicroTech for many years and they do a great job. They provide excellent customer service. Chris, our on-site technician, is wonderful and extremely helpful. – Nicole R.
Be sure to give these guys well wishes next time you speak to them!
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BEYOND THE TECH
Trust and Commitment Trust isn’t earned overnight; your MSP has to prove they protect your digital assets and data from the intense threat of hackers and scammers. From the moment you pay an MSP to provide IT services to your business, they have to prove their value to you. Over time, your MSP should become a technology partner and valued asset. This is the case for one of our clients, a business that has been with MicroTech Systems for nearly a decade. They came to us frustrated by their previous company but worried to commit to a new MSP. So, we took it slow. As time passed, we made improvements that had the biggest priority and impact, and eventually, we formed a lasting partnership that continues to grow. That’s trust built on our commitment. Attentive to Your Needs Sadly, neglect is common in the MSP industry, as subpar IT companies become complacent and
small-business owners, overwhelmed by the prospect of having to find a new solution, try to make it work. We had something similar happen to a client of ours. This client had been relying on a former employee to manage their IT “after hours,” but the result was their employees could not complete their work during hours. Together, we found a process that worked for them and their employees, rather than trying to slap a Band-Aid on what was a very big issue. Today, we continue to provide proactive communication and support for all their IT needs. Your IT service provider should provide top-tier technology support, but the interpersonal support they provide is just as important. If you would like to learn more about what your MSP should be doing for you, visit our blog at MicroTechBoise.com/Blog.
Small-business owners turn to managed service providers (MSPs) when they need a partner who can manage, repair, and protect their technology and business. This relationship allows the business to focus on serving their customers, while the MSP manages network set-up, database protection, cybersecurity, and more. Yet, small businesses need their MSPs to be more than mechanics or IT gurus. In fact, there are two ways in which every MSP should be providing support to their business partners to ensure the small business gets the service they need.
ICEDGREEN TEA, 2WAYS Inspired by 101Cookbooks.com
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
• •
2 tbsp loose-leaf green tea 4 cups filtered water, divided
Option 1: Rose and Coriander • 1 tbsp dried rose petals •
Option 2: Ginger Mint •
1 handful fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp whole coriander seeds
•
1 inch fresh ginger, cut into coins
Directions
For Rose and Coriander Tea: 1. In a large pitcher, place green tea, rose petals, and coriander seeds. 2. Bring 1/2 cup water to just below boiling. 3. Pour hot water over tea leaves, petals, and seeds. Let steep for 10 seconds, then add the remaining 3 1/2 cups water. 4. Refrigerate 4–8 hours until tea reaches your desired strength. Strain and serve over ice. For Ginger Mint Tea: Follow the instructions above, substituting the mint leaves and ginger coins for the rose petals and coriander seeds.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
125 E. 50th Street Garden City, ID 83714
Inside
Finding My Own Adventure Without Leaving Earth
How This Entrepreneur Found Success
See What Our Customers Are Saying
2 Ways Your IT Company Should Support You
Iced Green Tea, 2 Ways
Understanding ‘The Power of Moments’
Can ‘Defining Moments’ Be Created? According to ‘The Power of Moments’ by the Heath Brothers, Yes!
Why do we remember our best and worst experiences and forget pretty much everything else in between? Why are we most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel so incredibly alive when we plunge into the unknown? These are the moments that stick with us — the moments that define us. They’re an organic part of the human experience, and they can’t be purposely created. Or can they? In “The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact,” brothers Chip and Dan Heath seek to answer these questions and ultimately discern why specific moments can define us. They also explore whether those moments can be purposely created. According to the Heath brothers’ research, positive moments share four characteristics: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. When you look for situations in which you can foster those characteristics, you can create moments that you and the people around you will remember for years to come.
“The Power of Moments” is great for anyone looking to leave a lasting impact on their employees or work team. Rather than have your next meeting be about unity — and leave your team grumbling about how that
information could have been sent in an email — create a meeting that has, in the words of the Heath brothers, “drama, meaning, and connection.” You can’t bring your team together for a defining moment by just talking about unity; they have to experience it. While the characteristics the Heath brothers describe may seem a little vague at times, rest assured that “The Power of Moments” will give you a fantastic playbook for creating moments that define your team and stick with them. Check it out today!
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