Most smartphones are only supported by the manufacturer for a set period of time, and once that time is up, support will be unavailable for that phone. Support includes everything from operating system updates to security flaw patches. Although it varies greatly between manufacturers and even service providers, updates usually roll out every few months. Apple is one of the most generous supporters of its older devices. It typically offers updates on devices that are 4–5 years old. While older devices can sometimes struggle to run newer updates, this commitment means you can keep your device for a longer period of time. On the Android side, Samsung also tends to support its devices for several years, often up to four years for its flagship devices. Despite that, for most brands the magic number is three years. So, once you notice that your device is no longer updating, what are you supposed to do? Are you expected to drop upward of several hundred dollars (or more) on a new phone? Or do you just “deal with it” and accept that your device is no longer receiving critical security updates? If your device still runs well — it does everything you expect it to, it has decent battery life, and the screen is in good shape — there might not be a reason to immediately buy a new phone. Many security experts say if you stick to a handful of apps and your usage is consistent from day to day, your risk is low. If your device is showing its age and/or you rely heavily on your phone for work and communication, the risk may be higher. Regardless, it’s a good idea to update your smartphone in regular intervals. We can all complain about planned obsolescence, but access to current updates and security patches is definitely beneficial. With so many cybersecurity risks out there, it’s better to not fall behind in these technological times.
THE SMARTPHONE DILEMMA Do You Need a New Phone When the Updates Stop?
DO THE HARD THING Don’t Ever Settle for ‘Good Enough’
Last year was a hard one for many businesses. Most people felt some kind of economic squeeze, and that was reflected everywhere from the headlines to the stock market. But what do you do about that — especially when it’s hard to put your finger on exactly what is going wrong yourself? That kind of general discomfort with “how things are” can be one of the hardest things to cope with as a business. It’s not like catching someone doing something wrong or finding out that a contractor has been bilking you. It’s tough to figure out a solution.
If what we’re describing sounds familiar at all to you, know you aren’t alone. Lots of businesses are feeling under-equipped to deal with the post-pandemic economy. Many didn’t make it at all, folding to the various pressures they faced. So, if you’re still here, be proud of yourself.
But don’t be complacent. A lot of people are going to feel the lift from a resurgent economy and just go back to business as usual. But if you felt
But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Like we said, it may be a hard thing. But that’s okay for companies willing to do the hard thing.
a 2020 squeeze, maybe it’s worth a closer look. What areas could you be doing better? Is your portfolio strong? Are your revenue streams intact? Will pandemic SOPs continue, or will you go back to “the old way” of doing things later this year? And remember, there’s no shame in having a professional business consultant work with you on this. Quite the opposite — we’ve already benefited from our work in that regard, and we can’t wait to see what the next year brings.
For CHB, the “hard thing” was hiring an outside consultant to look at our business and find areas we could improve. Any company is going to have things that aren’t working out as well as they should, but the funny thing about running a business is that it doesn’t make you the best-qualified person to diagnose what’s wrong. It’s sort of like being a quarterback: Sure, you may have a great arm and a mastery of on-the-field strategy. But when you take a bad hit, or even just feel off, it’s time to let the doctor take a look.
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