YOUR MANAGED SERVICES PARTNER
NOVEMBER 2019
One Less Thing to Worry About
As the season of gratitude approaches, many of us try to go off the grid and focus on our families and all we are thankful for. Unfortunately, the IT professional in most small businesses won't have this luxury. Most IT personnel have to be ready 24/7 to answer the call if any data or server issues arise, but it’s a sacrifice they are willing to make. Why? Because their timely response is the company’s only hope to protect sensitive data and fix any problems. Management of systems and data is more critical now than it has ever been. With constant threats from hackers and other cybercriminals, protecting an IT infrastructure 24/7, 365 days a year is an overwhelming task. Many small businesses only have one dedicated IT resource, or someone wearing many hats who has also been charged with the IT responsibilities, or, worse — no one at all. Not surprisingly, 90% of our customers are in this risky situation when we first start working with them. In one person decided to take the plunge into our managed services. As we began the onboarding process, the CFO was eager to move as he realized the value this would bring but his IT manager was skeptical, perhaps fearing loss of control or even of his job. But 60 days in, this same IT manager pulled me aside and enthusiastically explained particular instance, the CFO of a health company who had one IT
“Many small businesses only have one dedicated IT resource, or someone wearing many hats who has also been charged with the IT responsibilities or worse — no one at all.”
that in just the two months since we had been providing services, he was able to expand their current data center, which was previously a project he had not been able to find time for. Broadleaf’s managed services helped free his time to focus on that project. He was also enjoying a more worry- free lifestyle because he could unplug and know their IT network was in good hands. This is just one example that demonstrates how working with a managed IT service partner can help small businesses not only gain peace of mind, but also have a positive impact on the company’s bottom line. When a company works with us, our team’s full wealth of knowledge and experience are at their disposal. Customers can take advantage of this knowledge and work with us to build a road map to support their business goals. We not only manage the IT environment of a company but also
actively look for growing trends in technology to enhance and support the network and company goals. We understand how to implement new technology when it becomes a viable option. In addition, through routine checks of all servers, data, and applications, we recognize and treat problems before they negatively affect workflow and productivity. This Thanksgiving, show how grateful you are to your overworked IT personnel and allow us to assist. We can be ready 24/7 and 365 days a year to answer the call for your company’s IT issues, so they don't have to. Instead, they can focus on other important goals and projects your company needs to grow and flourish while we ensure your IT infrastructure is secure, efficient, and reliable.
–Chuck Mosca
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BREAK AWAY FROM BLAND
How to Write Content That Pops
As awareness about the global impact of climate change rises, consumers have started to vote with their dollars for companies that offer greener, more sustainable products and practices. Slowly, that groundswell has caused businesses to shift their priorities and take steps to track and reduce their environmental impact. But long before the green movement began in earnest, there was Ray Anderson — one man who decided to flip the script. In 1994, Anderson was 60 years old, the CEO of the modular carpet company Interface, Inc., and no more environmentally aware than his contemporaries. But when his customers started asking about the environmental impact of his carpets, he dropped into the rabbit hole of environmental research and emerged a changed man. He had a new goal for his $1 billion company: It would take nothing from the earth that the planet couldn’t replace. In 2009, Interface created and sold over 83 million square yards of carpet without negatively impacting the planet or losing revenue. Anderson chronicles his journey from point A to point B in his book, “Business Lessons from a Radical Industrialist.” According to Inc. magazine, Anderson, who passed away in 2011, was considered “the greenest CEO in America.” His company mastered sustainable innovation, and its patents, products, and processes are revealed in his book, which is as much a guide for entrepreneurs of the future as it is for those of the present. One reader on Amazon reviewed the book as “Inspiring,” writing, “If only the world had more Ray Andersons. The fact that he turned a company reliant on the use of petrochemicals for the production of its core product into [a company] with sustainability as its core ideology and was able to improve his profits is outstanding. Any and every company can learn something from this book.” If you’re trying to lessen your business’s impact on the planet and tap into a market of environmentally conscious consumers, “Business Lessons from a Radical Industrialist” is the place to start. How to Get Rich Without Hurting the Planet
When it comes to winning over customers with content marketing, many entrepreneurs seem to think, “If we publish, they will come.” That would certainly explain the flood of bland, cookie-cutter blog posts pumped out across social media every day. To win over readers and make the most of your marketing dollars, your content needs to have a personality — a voice. Of course, personalizing content comes with a few pitfalls every marketer needs to know. newspaper. Do you think the author speaks exactly like that in real life? Probably not. Speech and writing are two different mediums with different stylistic needs, and trying to translate one to the other can prove disastrous. For example, many content writers include verbal cues like dramatic pauses … by including useless ellipses. In a conversation, strategic pauses may impress, but on the page, they pull readers out of the article. Contractions Aren’t Your Enemy On the other end of the spectrum, some people write like robots. They avoid contractions like “don’t,” “can’t,” and “aren’t,” resulting in stilted, plodding sentences that inflate word counts and alienate readers. Obviously, formal publications like research papers and legal briefs still maintain this archaic ban on mashing words together, but when it comes to marketing content, rules are flexible. Do not fear using these tools. You cannot go wrong with adding a splash of informality to your writing. Your readers are not going to mind. (Are you still with me?) Show, Don’t Tell This is a big one. So many businesses publish copy with big statements like “We love our customers!” or “Our passion is helping you!” These blanket sentiments come across as shallow. So, rather than tell customers you care about their needs, write content that shows them you understand their needs and want to help address them. We care deeply about your marketing campaigns and want to help them succeed! Don’t Write How You Speak Read a few sentences from your favorite book or
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Point by Point
Revolutionize Your Business With Bullet Journaling
When you’re an entrepreneur or a business leader, your to-do list can feel more like a novel than a manageable list. But what if you could order your thoughts, track your accomplishments, and maintain organization all on your own terms? It may sound too good to be true, but bullet journaling does just that. What Is It? Despite what the name may suggest, bullet journaling has little to do with writing out your feelings — unless you want to do that! Instead, it’s a log of all your to-do lists, reminders, and tracking systems in one convenient place. The goal is to complete tasks and update your journal each day. You can even download a companion app to digitally stay on top of your tracking.
The beauty of bullet journaling is customization. If you’re a visual person, create drawings or tape down pictures to represent your tasks. If you prefer precise outlines, use ruled pages to order each goal and its subtasks. A bullet journal can include every aspect of your business down to the smallest logistical details, or it can break down a single, complicated aspect, such as vendor tracking, into one journal. The look and function of your bullet journal is completely up to you and your process. How Do I Do It? Despite the versatility, every bullet journal shares a couple key components. First, you need a legend or key to identify what symbols mean throughout your journal. For example, a square next to a task may indicate it is a high priority, or a star may mean a task has been completed. Any group of symbols will work, but consistency keeps you organized. Second, you need a calendar in your bullet journal. That way, you can organize your goals by year, month, week, or day and keep track of smaller goals along the way. Throughout your journal, create separate sections for as many breakdowns as you want, but the key is to keep it all connected. No longer do you need to carry around a to-do list, a planner, and a calendar. Turn to bullet journaling to revolutionize the way you organize. For more tips, inspiration, and information on how bullet journaling can help you and your business, visit BulletJournal.com.
PUZZLE
HAVE A Laugh
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Inside This Edition
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We’re There for You 24/7
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Is Going Green Good Business?
Are You Making These Writing Mistakes?
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Bullet Journaling for Your Business
Have a Laugh
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Execution Is Greater Than Strategy
Execute Strategy and Kill Stagnancy 3 Tips for Every Business Leader “To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed ... Execution is worth millions.” –Steve Jobs
2. Be Methodical While you shouldn’t wait for the perfect plan, you shouldn’t be flying in blind, either. You can be too energetic about execution. Make sure everyone involved in a plan knows their responsibilities.
Anyone can take this advice to heart, whether you’re a stay-at- home parent or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Ideas are easy, but no one becomes successful because they had a great idea. Success comes from putting that idea into action. Being able to execute a plan is a skill every business leader needs. Here are three steps to help you improve your execution. 1. Ditch Perfection Have you ever watched a behind-the-scenes featurette of your favorite movie? Some of the most successful films were all but unrecognizable in their early phases. In fact, a lot of early concepts are terrible. Look up the original designs for Woody in “Toy Story” to see for yourself. Fortunately, rather than wait for the perfect script, creators executed their visions and make changes as needed. Putting off action in favor of creating the perfect plan or strategy leads to stagnant business. Successful people know that plans take many shapes before they reach their final form. Don’t jump into something without a clear plan, but don’t be afraid to define your strategy as you go. There’s a reason audiences won’t be flocking to theaters to watch the latest galactic adventures of Luke Starkiller this December.
Confusion will torpedo any strategy faster than you can say, “Who was in charge of this?” The Harvard Business Review states, “Having the discipline to organize people, assemble resources, and then generate a plan that others can commit to will collectively improve execution.” 3. Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate We’re not saying you should micromanage your team, but you do need to be checking in on a regular basis to evaluate progress on your plan. Schedule monthly or quarterly meetings to go over the strategy. This is where you look for any changes that need to be made and refine the strategy. A smart strategy feels reassuring, but learning to execute a plan is the only way to make progress. The best business plan in the world is worthless if you never follow through.
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