On a much smaller scale, I also greatly value my thinking time. I attend a peer group meeting 4 times per year which takes me out of town for two solid days of being locked in a conference room somewhere with 11 other people who run companies just like itSynergy. Those who know me also know I enjoy running VERY early in the morning, and that also gives me some GREAT thinking time several days per week.

I am always astonished at the clarity that I often get out of this thinking time. A few minutes or days away from the tactical issues that seem to bog us down can really give you a different and much clearer perspective on things.

If you don't have thinking time set aside for yourself, I'd highly recommend giving it a shot!

The Speed of Small?
Jack Safrit, Axxys Technologies

We have heard a great deal about small businesses of late. It's been said they are the engine that will power our economy out of the recession. They will be the catalyst for employment growth, and future lending to small business will be the basis of any economic recovery. And while I agree that small businesses will be the impetus for change within our economy, it often seems that our leaders do not fully understand the pace at which small businesses move and how quickly they make decisions. Small businesses are not led by burdensome management or boards of directors who have fiduciary responsibilities to their companies' stock holders and as a result must weigh many factors in order to make a decision. Small businesses are agile, make both quick but thoughtful, rational business decisions, but also tend to react to the immediate needs and requests of their clients, customers, employees, and suppliers.

Read more

Your Business Really Blew It: What Now?
by Jeff Wuorio
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business

We all make mistakes. It's the damage that really counts.

Not long ago, Twin Partners, a Rochester, N.Y., advertising agency, signed on a media behemoth as a client. During the agency's first media buy for the project, it switched to a less-expensive freelancer. And the results showed.

"She didn't use the proper software. When we showed our work, we were told that it was not representative of what we said we would do," recalls agency owner John Galbraith.

The giant fled, taking nearly a quarter million dollars in revenue. But Twin Partners has rebounded from the experience, in large part from lessons learned from the gaffe that cost it the job.

I was just sickened, but we learned from then on to take the high road," Galbraith says. "We've done well because we learned not to cut corners."

Businesses of all sizes and types are subject to devastating missteps. So what do you do about it? If it doesn't mean the end of your company, you spend some time doing whatever it takes to get the anguish and misery (and incompetent employees, if necessary) out of your system. Then you pick yourself and your business up and move on.

However, you must know what steps are necessary to recover -- and what message you can squeeze from the mishap so it doesn't happen again.

Here are six to consider: Read more

Have a problem with your computer?

Have you emailed the person you normally work with at itSynergy and haven't yet received a response?

Many of our customers aren't aware, but we post a sheet with instructions on the best ways to contact us on our website.

You can get it here http://www.itsynergy.com/contactsupport.pdf.

Many of our customers work with itSynergy vs. another organization because of the rock solid processes we have in place to ensure that the quality of our service is high, that we respond to your issues quickly, and that the right resource is assigned to assist you with your issue.

By contacting one of our employees directly, it circumvents all of that process. That person may be at a customer site all day, on vacation, etc. and so our response is slowed down. Using the methods described in our Reporting Technical Issues document makes sure you will get the fastest resolution to your issue.

Help us help you!

April 2010
In this issue

 □  Welcome
 □  The Speed of Small
 □  Your Business Blew It
 □  Engineering Corner
 □  Referral Program
 □  Work More Securely

itSynergy Referral Program

Can we buy you dinner and send you to the movies? How about make a donation to your favorite charity in your name? Earn rewards for referring new customers to itSynergy. For more details, please visit here.

10 Ways to Work
More Securely
used with permission from
Microsoft At Work

The security of your computer and data is crucial for you and the success of your company. Lost or stolen information can reveal company secrets, or expose your confidential or personal information. The more you do to keep your computer secure, the safer your information will be. Use these 10 tips to learn ways you can help protect your computer, your data, and your company's network.

1. Work with your IT department
Make sure that you install all of the patches and updates that your IT department recommends. In addition to installing Windows and Office updates, your IT department might require you to install additional security software, such as a firewall or custom software to help you connect from remote locations.

Read more

Quote of the month

Like almost everyone who uses e-mail, I receive a ton of spam every day. Much of it offers to help me get out of debt or get rich quick. It would be funny if it weren't so exciting.

- Bill Gates

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Telephone: 602.297.2400
Fax: 602.297.8703
Email: info@itsynergy.com
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