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NOV 2020
An Ode to the Strange Holiday, National Men Make Dinner Day November’s OTHER Food Holiday
I recently learned that the first Thursday in November is National Men Make Dinner Day, and I couldn’t help but wonder, where do these days even come from? These days, there seems to be a holiday for every kind of food, occasion, person, and whatever else we can imagine. With just a quick search on NationalToday.com, I found National Toothache Day (Feb. 9), National Eat Your Jello Day (July 12), and National Fruitcake Day (Dec. 27). Who comes up with this stuff!? It seems a little ridiculous to me. After all, National Men Make Dinner Day assumes quite a bit about the makeup of American households. First of all, it assumes there’s a man at the house to make dinner. What about relationships between two women? (I guess they have to order takeout on National Men Make Dinner Day!) Or, what about relationships between two men — is every day National Men Make Dinner Day? And what about people who are single? Plus, I’m sure there are many households in which, between the husband and wife, the man makes dinner on a regular basis.
After all these years with Keri at the helm in the kitchen, I have learned one thing: She hates deciding what to have for dinner. She hates opening the refrigerator and having to come up with dinner right there on the spot. If I make suggestions about what we should have for dinner, Keri gladly accepts them. But she doesn’t like entering the kitchen without a plan. So, I guess this Thursday, Nov. 5, I should relieve Keri of her kitchen duties — I call them that jokingly — and make dinner. I guess the holiday is implying that I should step up and serve my wife the dinner she deserves. If anyone has any recipe ideas that don’t involve the grill, send them my way. I’m going to need all the help I can get. Whether you actually celebrate National Men Make Dinner Day or protest it by ordering takeout, I suppose it couldn’t hurt to recognize this silly holiday and have a little fun while doing it.
So, this seems like this is quite a strange holiday to keep on our calendar!
But I’ll step off my soapbox for a moment because National Men Make Dinner Day did get me thinking about how the cooking is divided in our house. Keri does about 90% of the cooking, but it wouldn’t be fair to say I’m doing nothing. In fact, as she cooks, I’m following her, cleaning up what gets left behind. I’m loading the dishwasher, washing the pots and pans, and putting items away. I guess you could say that I work for my dinner! If I do step into the cook’s position, it’s usually when we’re grilling. I’ll always man the grill in our house, but Keri still contributes by prepping the meal and helping as I cook. I like to say our family meals are a collaborative effort. (It’s really a lopsided effort with Keri doing most of the cooking, but I digress.)
So, to my wife: Sit back, relax, and prepare to be very unimpressed with your nongrilled meal.
–Randy Amorebieta
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Mastering the Video Sales Call With Filmmaker Expertise
As we continue to adapt to a half-digital, half-physical world, one thing is certain: This is our new normal. And in the business world, you adapt or you die. While in-person sales meetings and lunches will never be a thing of the past, mastering the video sales call to present yourself, your company, and your product is vital. After all, you want the most memorable part of your call to be the product you’re pitching — not your cluttered background or the tinny sound. To appear like a pro, try these three tips from filmmakers to make your video calls the envy of your competition. Tip No. 1: Use what you have. While moviemakers, vloggers, and podcasters have advanced equipment to make them look and sound great, you can provide a professional video call without blowing your budget. Start with lighting. Shine a lamp toward the wall facing you, and turn on a light behind you to softly illuminate your face while creating
background light for depth. Good sound quality can be just as simple to achieve. Rather than rely on your computer or laptop’s microphone system, plug in your AirPods or headphones. These items have built-in microphones that better capture your voice due to their proximity to your face. Tip No. 2: Get the camera angle right. Aesthetically speaking, one of the worst angles for a camera is pointed upward at the subject being filmed. However, you’re often looking down at your laptop or monitor’s camera. Instead, stack your laptop on books or risers for meetings, or purchase a separate camera to mount at eye level or just above you. This is a much more flattering and commanding angle. Tip No. 3: Look again. In the moments leading up to a video call, remember to do two things. For starters, quickly scan the background behind you. Will your prospective clients see anything unflattering or unduly distracting? A simple background, like a plain wall or a bookshelf, is great for bringing attention to you and not what’s happening in the background. And before you join that meeting, rehearse looking into the camera as you speak, not at the screen itself. That will create eye contact for those in the meeting. You don’t have to be an Oscar-winning filmmaker to master these techniques. All it takes is a little practice to upgrade your video sales call.
See What Our Customers Are Saying
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“We always experience great customer service and very quick responses to our calls! All the employees are extremely friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.” – Karli S.
“MicroTech has helped us for over 14 years. They continue to shine in customer service and knowledge in the IT industry.” – Boise Radiology Group
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IT’S A TRAP
DON’T MAKE THESE 3 COMMON IT MISTAKES
Being a small-business owner is no easy feat. Whether you’ve been in business for decades or are just cutting your teeth, each day brings about its own challenges. As you begin to plan for 2021 and consider the ways in which you want to grow, don’t forget to examine your IT services.
Here are three IT mistakes many Boise business owners make. Don’t fall into these traps!
continually back up your data. Cloud services can do this automatically, so all you have to do is actually utilize the service.
HAVING POOR SECURITY Whether it’s the system you use to protect your data and files from getting hacked, the password requirement system you use, or your strategy for protecting data on mobile devices, a weak security system can be disastrous. Just one year ago, CNBC reported that 46% of cyberattacks were done to small businesses. Avoid becoming a statistic with an effective managed service provider (MSP). An MSP will ensure your devices are properly patched and secure, while your digital and password policies are vigilant and powerful. STAYING OLD SCHOOL If your company has paper filing systems or relies heavily on printed paperwork, you may be putting your client’s data at risk. Imagine the amount of work and data you would lose if there were a fire or flood. Online storage allows you to back up your data securely. The only requirement is that you need to Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes
NOT COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
The final trap is not communicating with your employees about cybersecurity. Good communication is two-fold. For starters, you have to train your employees on your technology, security, and data backup systems. Don’t forget to train employees on how to avoid and report scams, too. This instills confidence in your team and protects your assets from hackers and scammers. Similarly, you have to accurately and regularly communicate with your IT provider and team. Make sure your team knows whom to contact and how to get in touch with your experienced MSP if problems arise. As a small-business owner, you don’t have to go at this alone. Learn more about your IT options on our blog at MicroTechBoise.com/ blog . (You can also download our guide to business IT solutions online!)
Have a Laugh!
Ingredients
•
4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
• • • •
1 tbsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed
4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks
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1 cup light brown sugar, packed
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes.
5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve. Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
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Inside
Did You Know Nov. 5 Is National Men Make Dinner Day? Me Neither. Filmmakers’ 3 Tips for Video Calls That Don’t Suck
See What Our Customers Are Saying
Is Your Small Business Making These IT Mistakes?
Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes
Researcher Brené Brown Helps Leaders Find Their Vulnerability — and Succeed
‘Dare to Lead’ With Brené Brown’s Bestselling Book
How many leaders do you know who will admit to their mistakes openly and honestly to their team? How many leaders have you heard ask their team for direction? How many leaders are willing to step aside so someone else can shine? Chances are if you know that leader — or if you are that leader — then you understand the future of leadership, according to author, researcher, and teacher Brené Brown, Ph.D., author of “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.” In this book, Brown details her seven years researching and gaining a better understanding of leadership. She
In “Dare to Lead,” Brown examines the four pillars of courageous leadership and how business leaders today can practice and perfect it. Brown teaches the four pillars through her consulting work and has seen radical changes in organizations that practice courageous leadership. Brown offers examples — from well-known CEOs and within her own business — to walk readers through real-life applications of courage and how to create stronger teams through vulnerability. Brown exposes how business cultures that don’t practice vulnerability are ineffective as a result. She theorizes that often, these workspaces are filled with fear, uncertainty, and scarcity. To remove these negative traits, Brown offers leaders a road map to build their courage while practicing vulnerability and creating happier work environments. Brown has spent the past two decades researching and breaking down emotional concepts into tangible goals for her readers and followers. She is the owner of The Daring Way, a consulting firm that helps businesses develop vulnerability in leadership and the workplace. She is also the host of the podcast “Unlocking Us” and has one of the most- watched videos of all time, “The Power of Vulnerability.” You can learn more about Brown’s work and find “Dare to Lead” at BreneBrown.com.
interviewed business leaders at both small and large companies, asking questions that revealed what great leadership looks like. Together with her research team, she learned why certain workspaces thrive and grow while others, with seemingly just as powerful of ideas, wither and die. And it all boiled down to one thing, Brown says: courage.
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