Check out our January newsletter!
JANUARY 2022
7462 Old Hickory Drive, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
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www.sklartechnology.com
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804-730-2628
It’s Time to Join the 21st Century! BEING ‘OLD-SCHOOL’ WILL HURT YOUR BUSINESS
to switch from old-school to new-school, protect your business, and take it to new heights. You can still become a visionary and join the 21st century! Cybersecurity is a great place to start.
never know just how easy it would be for hackers to steal your information.
Over the last few months, I’ve noticed a lot of business owners using the same phrase when my company recommends that they improve their cybersecurity.
As if that risk weren’t enough, there’s an even bigger problem with running an old-school business: Companies that are stuck in the past don’t thrive. They are mildly successful at best. To really succeed, you must be a visionary and push toward the future! ‘New-school’ entrepreneurs are successful. Think about Elon Musk, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. If he were old- school, he never would have founded Tesla! He probably would have focused on creating a better combustion engine and wouldn’t have made a single headline. But he wasn’t old-school. He had a big, forward- thinking vision. The guy wanted to literally change humankind and make the world a better place. That “new-school” philosophy led him to found Tesla and SpaceX, and in 2021, he became “the first person worth more than $300 billion,” according to Forbes! It’s the same story for Jeff Bezos. His big vision of taking on Walmart and beating them led him to revolutionize the e-commerce business with Amazon. No old-school thinker could have done it. Here are 3 steps to becoming a visionary. Here’s the good news: It’s not too late for you
• Step 1: Ask for a risk assessment. If all you have going for you is a firewall and
“No thanks!” they say. “We don’t worry about that stuff. Our company is old-school.”
a virus protection program, your security is weak — and stuck in the 1990s. We can help you figure out just how bad things
I don’t have anything against old-school values, but when it comes to growing and protecting your business, the truth is that being old-school will hurt you.
are when you book a risk assessment at SklarTechnology.com/Services/Risks- Assessment. • Step 2: Plug the leaks. Once we know the situation, we can help you fix it. Maybe you need a password management system, or your employees need training on how to avoid phishing scams. We can help! • Step 3: Keep learning. If you don’t think you understand technology or aren’t sure where to take your company, it’s never too late to learn. Seek out books to continue your education or turn your car into an education center with podcasts and audiobooks that will help you dream big. So, what do you say? Are you ready to join the 21st century? When it’s time, you know where to start: SklarTechnology.com/Services/Risks- Assessment.
And it’s not a matter of “if.” It’s a matter of “when.”
It’s 2022: No business is safe. Unless your company operates under a rock, you use the internet for at least some of your day-to-day operations. Do your employees have email accounts? Do you store information in the cloud? Do you use a CRM? Have you ever made a Google Doc? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, your business is vulnerable to cyberattacks. According to a 2021 CNBC and Momentive survey, 14% of small businesses reported being hacked last year. But 2019 data also showed “small businesses are target No. 1 for criminals and represented 43% of all 2019 data breaches.” That’s a serious threat! A lot of factors play into how at risk your business is, but if you claim you’re too old-school for cybersecurity and refuse an assessment, you’ll
–Randy Sklar Security. Availability. Support. .................................................................................... 804-730-2628 • 1 A REFERRAL IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY. WHEN A CLIENT REFERS FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES TO US, IT REPRESENTS AN APPRECIATION OF A JOB WELL DONE. IF YOUR FRIENDS OR ASSOCIATES COULD BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES, I’D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR REFERRAL!
And Maximize Your Productivity at Work KICK IT INTO HIGH GEAR Have you ever gotten your first cup of coffee of the day and settled into your office to be productive, but by noon, your assignment is still completely untouched? If you’re struggling to motivate yourself at work, whether you work from home or in an office, here are a few things you can do to get yourself back on track and be productive again. Reevaluate your game plan. When you take on any project, you may come up with a strategy for the easiest and most efficient way to work on it. But, as the cursor mocks you from the blank screen, that strategy goes out the window. Maybe it’s time to make a new plan. By backing up a few steps and changing up your approach, you may spark some action and get moving! Stop multitasking. While multitasking can be beneficial, consistently splitting your attention between activities can lead to burnout and reduced creativity, especially if the activities are unrelated to the same project. Tackle just one task at a time — this way, you will be completely dedicated to the project at hand instead of trying to do everything all at once. Take a break and walk. According to a Stanford University Study, taking a break and going on a walk may help you think in a different way than you did before. When you step away from the desk and get moving, the ideas can start to flow. Who knows, maybe when you get back, you’ll feel like your current task is much simpler! Get rid of distractions. When you’re drawing a blank, it’s easy to whip out your phone and see what your friends are up to on social media or to check the weather for the upcoming weekend. Maybe you’d rather sort your emails or even surf the web. But being productive and focused means closing all unnecessary browsers, putting the phone away, and saving the emails for later. Keep your attention where it needs to be. To kick butt at work, managing your time in ways that are conducive to optimal productivity is key. Experiment with different strategies to get the ball rolling on all of your assignments!
By Exiting the ‘Drama Triangle’ KICK WORK AND FAMILY DRAMA TO THE CURB Conflict is a normal part of every human relationship, but there’s a difference between an ordinary disagreement and the kind of serial “drama” you see in TV sitcoms and soap operas. Unfortunately, this drama infects real life all too often. According to psychologists Janae and Barry Weinhold, 3 in 5 social interactions are stuck in a “Drama Triangle.” The Drama Triangle is a counseling tool developed back in the 1960s. It breaks conflicts down into three roles: the rescuer, the persecutor, and the victim. These roles can be played by three people or by two people who switch back and forth. You’re probably part of at least one Drama Triangle right now. If you look around, you’ll see these triangles everywhere. At work, coworkers bicker about each other’s lunch choices (“Tuna again?! I hate that smell.”), and executives debate the company’s future (“You know I don’t want to go public.”). At home, spouses find themselves trapped in the same arguments with each other and their kids over and over again (“Are you sure you don’t want to go to college?”). Does this sound familiar? These fights might feel inevitable, but they’re not! You can learn how to escape them for good and have more peace at work and at home. Just check out Randy’s new favorite book: “How to Break Free of the Drama Triangle and Victim Consciousness” by Janae and Barry Weinhold. “How to Break Free” will explain what the Drama Triangle is, show where Drama Triangles exist in your life (and whether you’re playing the rescuer, prosecutor, or victim), and give you tools to break out of those triangles. Thanks to this book, Randy discovered that he falls into the self-sacrificing rescuer role in most fights. He also figured out how to get out of that box! You might be surprised just how much “How to Break Free” will change your life. Pick up a copy today to start 2022 without the drama.
2 • www.sklartechnology.com .................................................................................... Security. Availability. Support.
SOCIAL SECURITY IS RUNNING OUT Do You Have a Retirement Backup Plan?
In this scenario, Vanguard recommends keeping most of your savings in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and pulling out a “cash reserve” every two years or so. You can move that money into a low- risk money market fund or checking account to pay your daily expenses while the larger amount earns returns. Option 2: Purchase an annuity. Pensions used to be a reliable alternative to Social Security, but most companies don’t offer them these days. An alternative that will provide you monthly payments for life is an immediate annuity. You can buy an annuity through your insurance company for a lump sum, and they’ll pay that money back to you over time. This is a good option if you’re worried about going through your retirement savings too fast, or if you come into a large sum of money (e.g., selling your business) and want to ensure it goes to your retirement.
As we write this, Social Security is projected to run out by 2033 — leaving retirees in the lurch without payments. This isn’t the first time Social Security’s balance has been an urgent issue, but COVID-19 relief hit the fund hard. Of course, it’s still possible that the government will find a way to top up Social Security in time. They’ve done it before! But you can’t count on them to secure your retirement. To make sure you can have the lifestyle you want, consider these three alternatives. Option 1: Rely on a cash reserve. Most people go into retirement with some savings in the form of an IRA or 401(k). These are usually supplementary to Social Security, but they don’t have to be! If you have enough income and/or a savvy investment strategy, you may be able to survive on the fund alone.
Option 3: Leverage real estate. If you’re in the financial position to purchase an income property and rent it out, those monthly rent payments can support you in retirement just like Social Security would. If not, you can still leverage your real estate by taking out a reverse mortgage on your own home, which will convert your equity into monthly payments.
Note: For retirement advice tailored specifically for you, consult a financial advisor.
Root Vegetable Buddha Bowls Inspired by SheLikesFood.com
Root vegetables are the cream of the crop during winter, and this recipe makes the most out of them by pairing them with other protein-packed ingredients. To level it up, add grilled chicken or fish!
Ingredients •
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4 handfuls baby kale 2 small avocados, sliced
8 cups root vegetables of your choice, chopped
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2 tsp olive oil
Balsamic glaze
1/2 tsp salt
Optional: Garnishes of your choice (lemon juice, fresh herbs, etc.)
1/4 tsp black pepper 2 cups quinoa, cooked
1/2 cup hummus
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. On a large sheet pan, toss root vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them evenly and roast until fork tender, about 40 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through. 3. In a serving bowl, layer 1/2 cup warm quinoa with 2 cups root vegetables, 2 tbsp hummus, 1 handful of baby kale, and 1/2 an avocado. Repeat for the 3 remaining bowls, drizzle with balsamic glaze and any other desired toppings, then serve and enjoy! (If you don’t want individual bowls, you can mix everything together into a salad!)
Security. Availability. Support .................................................................................... 804-730-2628 • 3
7462 Old Hickory Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23111 www.sklartechnology.com 804-730-2628
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Inside This Issue
1 2
The Easy Way to Save Your Business
Maximize Productivity at Work
The Secret to Avoiding Workplace Drama
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3 Ways to Fund Your Retirement Without Social Security
Root Vegetable Buddha Bowls
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The Lost Art of the Thank-You Note
Bringing Back a Lost Art
YOUR GUIDE TO WRITING A THANK-YOU NOTE
that 72% of respondents thought handwritten notes were more meaningful than electronic ones. Even if your handwriting is messy, your
A 2019 survey by Ask Your Target Market showed 80% of respondents appreciate receiving thank-you notes — but only 22% of respondents report regularly sending them. That’s a pretty big discrepancy. During the holiday season, you probably received several gifts and may have been hosted at a family member’s house, so now is the perfect time to revive the dying art of the thank-you note. If it’s been a while since you last wrote one, fear not. Here’s everything you need to know to get started. Know When a Note Is Needed. You should strongly consider sending a thank-you note any time you receive a gift, but they are particularly expected after big events like weddings or showers. It’s also good form to send a note whenever someone has done you a big favor or hosted you at their house. Professionally, thank-you notes should always be sent after job interviews. Notes should be sent as soon as possible, ideally within one month of the gift or event.
recipients will appreciate the personal touch. Exceptions apply for thank-you notes sent after job interviews — due to time sensitivity, these are best sent via email.
Be Specific. Especially when you’ve got a large stack to get through, it’s pretty tempting to write the same note over and over again, changing only the salutation. Don’t give in! While it’s fine to have a template, recipients will recognize when the note you sent them is generic. Be sure to mention exactly what you’re thankful for (not just “the gift”) or how you plan to use the gift.
Use Paper. It may seem old-fashioned, but that’s exactly what makes it special. In fact, the Ask Your Target Market survey found Now, you’re ready to let people know how much you appreciate them in a way that’s both simple and classic. Your family, friends, and colleagues will be impressed, and who knows, you just might start a trend. 4 • www.sklartechnology.com .................................................................................... Security. Availability. Support.
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