SEE THE SIGNS (2)

Looking back now, it seems unbelievable that anyone running a business didn’t see this coming. It was like a big, fat, hairy monster stomping throughMain Street,U.S.A., crushing buildings in its wake, shouting, “Look at me! Look at me!” Watch for the signs, so you’re not the guy taking a nap on a park bench, about to be stomped on, who says,“What monster?”

At the beginning of this chapter, I tried to discourage any preconceived notions of what this technology chapter was going to be about. I hope that I provided you with at least a slightly new and broader perspective on a topic that has been discussed ad nauseam in the past few years. Much of this has more or less been said before, perhaps more directly by some and even more eloquently by others. My goal was to plainly outline a macroview of what technology means for you, in my humble opinion, from one small businessperson to another.

My big point is this: The role of technology in the human condition cannot be overstated. It has been with us since the dawn of civilization, and it will be even more pervasive in our near future. Don’t allow the endless cycle of hype and disillusionment, boom and bust, and trial and error dissuade you from fully immersing yourself in technology for the growth of your business, growth of your employees, service of your customers, and, ultimately, growth of you as an innovative leader.

If you take one thing away from this chapter, it is this: Watch for the coming waves of technological innovation, and learn how to ride them. Over the next 10 years, regardless of your chosen field of endeavor, technological advancements will be more pervasive and impactful than ever before. Learn how to evaluate and implement these opportunities quickly, and assume that these tools are only temporary.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

SEE THE SIGNS (1)

In the new millennium, your future depends on your recognition of disruptive technologies. You’re not going to have 10 or 20 years to change course. You might have 2 years, 10 months, or 20 days. Information circles the globe in a nanosecond, so competitive innovations of any kind will enjoy a shorter and shorter time frame.

As I mentioned before, the Web has been in our lives for only 10 years or less, depending on when we each first logged on. Look at how radically some industries have been transformed during that time. I mentioned a few industries before, but hereare more: book publishing, consumer retail, employment advertising, software, direct marketing, dating services, advertising, the recorded music industry, movie rentals, and package delivery. Within companies, the Web is influencing inventory control, shipping practices, employment screening, financial reporting, and a dozen other factors.

Most observers, even in the small business world, have been predicting this for years. A study titled The Future of Small Business, authored in 1999 by Dr. Richard W. Oliver, had the following quote in the executive summary:

While new opportunities created by technology seem limitless, some small firms, particularly those resistant to innovation, are threatened by these changes. The rapid pace of change associated with computerization and the Internet will force smaller firms tochange even more effectively in the next 10 to 15 years. Adaptability, willingness to change, and the ability to execute are the mantra for the Internet era.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

Who Won? Who Lost? (2)

THE WORLD WIDE WEB
In just 10 years, the Web went from a novelty to something
that pervades our lives. Its impact hits a wide swath: research, shopping, supply chains, marketing, customer relations, financialmanagement, communication, media, entertainment, and many more.

• Who won? Anyone who saw the potential, but the big winner so far has been the consumer.

• Who lost? Old-guard middlemen, anyone who reacted too slowly, and anyone whose business was based on sole access to information: travel agents, insurance agents, car dealers, newspapers (especially classified ads), and encyclopedia publishers.

You could run this little exercise in your head for a long list of developments. Imagine what happened when steel, fuel oil, electricity, plastic, or air conditioning came along. For the business you are in, look for what could rock your cozy world and be ready to adapt.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

Who Won? Who Lost? (1)

The history books love to talk about winners and losers. Let’s look at the ripple effect some past disruptive technologies created.

THE AUTOMOBILE
As the automobile reached critical mass, it literally transformed America. It led to highways, suburbs, travel destinations, shopping malls, and a general spreading out of cities and towns.

• Who won? Homebuilders, road builders, steel makers, rubber companies, the lawn care industry, oil refiners, tourist attractions, big box retailers, convenience stores, and states such as Florida and California.

• Who lost? Trolley car makers, railroads, corner grocery stores, downtown department stores and movie theaters, milk and potato chip deliverymen, and much of the Northeast and Midwest.

REFRIGERATION
When commercial and then consumer refrigeration technology came along, the whole food industry was transformed.

• Who won? Industrial food processors, fishermen, fruit importers, packaging companies, and appliance makers.

• Who lost? Local farmers, retail butchers, ice delivery companies, icebox makers, and anyone else who lost their share of the local stomach.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

BECOMEANEXPERT,ORHIREONERIGHTNOW

To take advantage of all this, however, you need to be an expert. You need to know what’s out there, what works, andwhat can help your business. You need to know what is on the way and how it is going to create obstacles or opportunities in the future. No matter what business you are in, you have to become a technology expert.

The best way I know to become an expert is to fully immerse yourself in technology as it relates to your business and industry. Really talk to the technology vendors at the next trade show—not just the salespeople but also the behind-thescenes product developers who build the solutions or applications. Find out who writes the technology columns in your trade publications and become their friend. Offer them valuable insights into how your business is looking at technology, and then, perhaps, they can offer a unique perspective on other areas that might warrant your attention. Journalists like this are dying for someone like you to call. You can even invite a professor from the local community college to use your company as a case study for a business, computer science, or engineering class.

If you truly can’t get your hands around it and understand it, hire someone who can be that expert and can explain it to you regularly in terms that make sense. Your company needs to be on top of the tech trends that are shaping your industry. In Chapter 4, when talking about superior market intelligence, one of the things you are going to be looking for is disruptive technologies affecting other industries, geographies, and even individuals.

This doesn’t mean you adopt every new gadget that comes along or that you are always on the bleeding edge of what’s being pushed into the marketplace. Plenty of companies spent millions on things such as fancy CRM software, only to find they didn’t have the internal processes or people in place to really use it. Or even worse, they didn’t have the internal expertise to interpret the data the software produces. The moneywould have been better spent on hiring the right people and training them well. By being an expert, however, or having a talented one at your disposal, you will know what your business can take advantage of and what is just a distraction.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

A Finger on the Pulse—From Anywhere (3)

The cost of the communication lines alone would have been prohibitive to a company our size. Now with low-cost cable modems and virtual private network devices, we can build a nationwide network very inexpensively. Current communication technology allows us and our customers to use our tools from practically anywhere. I can access our system in my pajamas at home.

Network operation centers have traditionally been the domain of large corporations with lots of money, lots of equipment, and lots of people.We have been able to use technology to accomplish the same thing with a minimal investment, limited equipment, and only a few people.

I love this story. It clearly shows what is really happening out there with technology. A product that has been with us for only a few years (digital cable) has quickly reached a point where service levels have become an issue. The really smart guys at iGLASS saw the emerging need before any others and set about building a solution. Folks, I’ve seen the solution and while I’m no cutting-edge engineer, I honestly believe I could work in a service role for the company. The easy-to-see, simple-to-understand interface makes most problem resolution a snap. That’s what technology offers: not more complications but, instead, more elegant solutions.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

A Finger on the Pulse—From Anywhere (2)

At the first sign of trouble, the monitoring software automatically kicks out a notice to NOC personnel. Each member of the iGLASS team has a wireless Handspring Treo 600 device. Through Internet protocol (IP) technology, the on-duty iGLASSemployee receives an easy-to-interpret warning. The employee can see which node is giving the problem, suggestions on how it might be solved, and a list of phone numbers to contact to discuss these potential solutions. In many cases, the operator taking your disgruntled service call can truthfully let you know the problem has been identified, addressed, and solved.

In a recent conversation I had with founder and president Tim Bolden, he described for me what technology has meant for his company:

Technology has been an enabler for us. Without it, a company our size could never attempt what we have accomplished. Ten years ago, we would not have been able to build iGLASS.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

A Finger on the Pulse—From Anywhere (1)

Digital cable television continues to grow throughout this country. Some industry pundits believe that our cable companies will soon be bringing us everything from telephone service to pointto- point video conferencing. Right now, for most of us, digital cable means a better image and on-demand movies.

It will probably come as no surprise for you to know that the cable television industry has suffered for years from a reputation for lousy service, especially on the phone. And they know it. If they are going to provide all of these other services in the future, they have to meet your need on your existing services. That’s where iGLASS Networks comes in.

Founders Tim Bolden, George Woodring, and Jack Woodring have designed at least a partial solution for cable operators. Let’s say you and the family order the latest Jim Carrey movie on screen, using your digital remote. Despite having clicked all the right buttons and responding properly to the subsequent prompts, the movie isn’t playing. The natives are restless; something has to be done. If this problem had occurred before iGLASS came along, you probably would have experienced some frustration. If you’ve ever been caught up in the labyrinths of onhold, phone tree loops and ineffectual suggestions, you know what I’m talking about. iGLASS Networks’ solution takes the pain away for both cable operators and their customers—you and me. Their remote software product monitors network operation center (NOC) for any and all glitches, outages, and other problems.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth

Gift on Christmas

Christmas is on 25 December every year. Days before Christmas, Christian and Catholic have already busy with the preparation. They have already prepared the tree, the accessories of the tree, gifts, and something else. One icon in Christmas is Santa Claus. Somebody who usually becomes Santa Claus in the Christmas day is extremely busy to prepare the gifts for the children.

One thing that may not be forgotten in celebrating Christmas is giving a gift to family, friends, colleague, and other else. Close to the Christmas, many stores and online stores provide new items for the preparation of the Christmas, such as Christmas gifts . One of the online stores is Designergifts.com. It provides many kinds of gifts. It is such as fruit & nut trays , Christmas gift for baby, business gourmet snacks towers and snacks, and many other things. If you have found the gift, there is a packaging service for the gift.

Designer Gifts also can serve you to make a different and special gift for your people special. This online store also provides Christmas gift sets. There are many gift sets that you can choose. You can order through the website or by making a phone call at 1-887-734-2458.

YOU ARE IN TECH WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT (4)

I’m not going to go into all the ways technology can help you save money and do your job better. Frankly, you can onlydo that yourself. However, I do want to point out that you no longer have a financial excuse for not using information technology to your advantage. Off the shelf, for a few hundred dollars or less, you can buy top-tier software programs to manage your accounting, web page design, documents, and other day-to-day tasks. You can subscribe to online services that do a great job of salesforce management, supply chain management, auctioning of unsold inventory, payroll, targeted mailings, or most any other function the big guys are doing. You can buy a box the size of a briefcase that uses sophisticated voice recognition to route your phone calls—even sending them to a designated cell phone.

Technology allows you to innovate. There are literally thousands of private enterprises out there using technology to create businesses that couldn’t have existed a few years ago. I’m no psychic, but I can promise you the same thing will be happening a decade from now, only faster. Fast-growing companies are now offering customized services or products. They’re drilling down into data to find the perfect customer fits for their tiny niche. They’re creating new partnerships to meet customer demands. In short, they’re using new technology to do what they have always done even better. Perhaps most importantly, leading companies are sending the right message to the right prospects at the right time. Technology enables growth.

The key is figuring out what your real business is and then riding those waves of creative destruction wherever they lead. Figure out what your solution is—not what your product or service is. Then offer that solution, whatever the means of delivery turns out to be.

Taken From:The 7 Irrefutable rules of Small Businnes Growth