CMS Web Solutions

Over the last 7 days I’ve had conversations with 3 different people who are in the process or have shut down their offices in order to stop driving and run their operation from home. Why…because they now can. Technology in the last few years had allowed people to operate a business effectively no matter where they are, even the cottage. Satellite broadband is now available for under $400 for the equipment and $54.95 month for service. Companies are setting up central servers and have employees login in from home and work from there. On line meetings are easy. Need to speak immediately? Use new cellphone technology or send a message through MSN. With all the talk of reducing emissions, saving the environment and increasing the quality of life it just makes a lot of sense. Why, because you now can.

Recently, we had outside eyes come in to assist us through a transition in our business. The process reminded me that running a business day-to-day tends focus us inwardly. Periodically it’s advantageous to use outside eyes to help identify patterns that we may not be seeing. As you put together the “picture puzzle” of your business, as the world around you changes, it’s a good idea to smash the puzzle now and then. Take the pieces that still work and cast off the ones that don’t. That will ensure that in this fast changing world, the pieces still work and your new picture is even more profitable.

Many people me tell me I seem to know “everybody”?. I started thinking lately about how I got that way. I like to hang out in different circles with others who love people and are nice people themselves. I find creating good relationships rewarding. Doing so in different “circles”? exposes me to a diverse group of interesting people. If I need to find someone, I just ask someone in one of the circles who they know. I end up being introduced to their key people/friends who, by the way, tend to be competent and nice themselves. And so the circle grows. I also enjoy helping others whenever I can. A bit of kindness not only goes a long way, it actually helps make me a genuinely happier person. Happy people tend to hang out with other happy people. So, my secret, it seems, is to simply be what my parents taught me to be nice to others mixed with the golden rule.

Welcome!

Lately I’ve been seeing a slow change in the way we can do business. The old ways still seem to work here and there, but the Internet is starting to change things. There is no right way, it’s more “let’s try this and see if it works”, “now let’s try that.” I used to be the kind of person who had an issue and I would go seek out some answer in some book. Lately there doesn’t seem to be clear cut answers. I figure it’s time to connect with the real business people out there, those owner managed companies like ours who have an ample amount of experience trying things, falling on their face, picking themselves up and trying again. I figure if we could share what’s really going on and keeping us up at night, we might be able to learn from each other. I look forward to future conversations.

I’m reading a good book called “the World is Flat”. The author talks about how technology is making the world flat. Individuals and companies are partnering all over the world to do things better and cheaper. Those that don’t start to take advantage of technology, innovate constantly and change their company quickly will simply be left behind. In my business we’re on the Internet all the time and see how companies are slowly taking advantage, but they are moving very slowly. Time to kick it up a notch or be left behind. It’s just beginning to heat up.

We saw Al Gores movie, An Inconvenient Truth It was excellent (we highly recommended you see it) and made us look at how to cut down our CO2 emissions. No more waiting for “them”, whoever “they” are, to do it for us. We signed on with www.Bullfrogpower.com and now 100% of our electricity generated through either wind or Hydro. It costs a bit more, but we’ll focus on cutting our consumption. Besides, knowing our websites are being built with renewable power is gratifying.