The main complaint of employees about their employers is that they don’t consider what effects certain changes have on them. There are employers only out for the all-mighty buck and employees are secondary. But, in all fairness, employers do exist who want to improve business but not at the expense of their employees.

As a business owner, you have staff in some capacity. For online businesses, you may have freelancers who contract with you for work or people that you hire. In each case, someone else is depending on you for part or all of their income. Treating those people fairly is of extreme importance to your business’ success.

In busy times, you don’t want employees to bail on you and you don’t want to let them go in tough times if you can help it. What is a business owner to do? Your attitude towards your employees is the key to the solution.

Be Honest

Honesty is truly the best policy in business. Tell your employees the real deal. You may not be able to go into detail about everything, but give them a heads up as to how the company is doing. Let them know that changes may need to be made.

Get Their Input

Allow them to help towards their own ends. Employees are not puppets. They are intelligent professionals who can come up with ideas to assist in restructuring. No one wants to get rid of loyal employees especially those who are part of a well-oiled machine.

Being up front with and asking for feedback from your employees can inspire all kinds of surprising things. They may even agree to a pay cut to keep everyone on board. Cross train employees in different areas to make them more valuable when business is slow.

The Golden Rule Applies Here Too

Sure, there may be times when business changes require layoffs or cutting contractors. Find out about their situations and try to help as much as possible. Treating employees with dignity and respect goes a long way in influencing how they revere you.

What would your helpers and employees think? You should ask yourself that question if you find the need to cutback or make changes to your company. If you consider things from your employees or contractor’s position and maintain a positive attitude, restructuring might not have to see anyone without a job. Include employees as much as you can in decisions that affect them. They are an important part of your success in business and should be treated as such.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

Business Structure Changes – What Would Your Employees Think?

It is not a big secret that no one has discovered yet. Some people just don’t pay much attention to the mind-body connection. Trust me, there is one. How do you think those monks in the mountains achieve such a high state of consciousness? The only secret is that it takes practice to get good at it.

Your mind may be looking forward to working the business, but your body may not. It takes a lot of stamina to run a business and a home. Learning to balance the two isn’t easy but plenty of successful entrepreneurs are happy in a business that they love with a family that loves and supports them.

Get Moving

A healthy body equals a healthy mind and attitude. When you exercise, endorphins are released into the bloodstream. These are “feel good” chemicals that lighten your mood, improve your focus and lead to a more positive attitude about life. If they could bottle it there would be none left on the shelves.

You don’t have to hit the gym everyday to get this benefit. Try an exercise like yoga or taking walks with the family. Getting outdoors (especially for home business owners) also provides a healthy dose of vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption in the body for strong bones.

A body, that feels good and moves well, increases your confidence level. A confident person is better able to handle challenging situations within their business. Creative solutions to problems come more readily.

Get Support

The second way to relieve stress is to have a healthy support system. You may run the business, but you couldn’t do it without the family in your corner. It takes a lot of time and effort to grow a new enterprise into a successful one. That is time away from your family.

But, if you love what you do and who you do it for, you will be more likely to strike a balance that is agreeable to everyone. Good communication is the key to dealing with business and family issues.

Schedule Your Time Wisely

Set up a schedule for business and family. Refuse to sacrifice one for the other unless absolutely necessary. Remember, you are the boss and you can set up your business to suit your needs. What doesn’t get done today will still be there tomorrow.

A healthy boss makes for a healthy business. You can focus on your success in business better if you are already enjoying success in life. No matter what, remember that YOU have control. Run your business, don’t let it run you.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

Stress-Free Business Success

We’ve all heard the stories before. Best-selling authors self-published their first novel and sold it out of their cars until they were discovered. Penniless movie stars who were discovered waiting tables or who spent their last dime on a bus ticket to Hollywood for a chance at fame.

The one common thread in these scenarios is determination. Willpower is more of an attitude than an act. It is the feeling that spurs you on to actions that lead to business victory.

This attitude is more than just a “can do” type of approach. Determination encompasses a love of the task at hand and the will to see it through to the end – period. In business situations, that means, turning your fledgling business into a successful enterprise using whatever methods (only honest methods, mind you) that will get you there.

With all of the new technology these days, the Internet is one of the premier places to advertise and begin a new business. The startup costs are low and there are no employees to pay, at least in the beginning. You don’t have to spend hours at the library or on the telephone doing research on your business idea. The information you need can be accessed quickly via the World Wide Web.

Marketing is a Must

Even for a profitable and slightly tapped area of business, people won’t come running to you. Marketing is everything for a business online or offline. Marketing strategies have gone high-tech on the Internet. It presents an often steep learning curve to young business owners to make their way in the online business world.

Always Keep Learning

A positive attitude views learning as fun and not just a means to an end. Knowledge is truly king in this world. The more you know the more valuable you are to your business and the business of others. Taking a course on website design or creating online videos will enhance your confidence and your business success.

All of this takes time. On average, it takes one to three years to turn a profit in business. Online, those numbers are lower because of the lack of significant overhead costs. Time can feel like the enemy unless you are determined to see your business through until you hit pay dirt.

Seeing your vision for a business clearly fuels your determination. You won’t be inclined to give up that vision even when the possibility of success is slim. Instead, you’ll search for resources that can help you get over the hurdles. You acknowledge setbacks but choose to view them in perspective and move on.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

Determination and a Solid Foundation

A Necessary Evil

Organization is not a fun thing to do, but it is necessary to keep your business ship running smoothly. Some view it as grunt work – shuffling papers, creating databases, setting up calendars. It is all the reason why some businesses fail while others succeed.

When business is riding high, there is very little time to attend to the organization of things. You say that you will get to it, but never do. There are simply not enough hours in the day. So, you manage with the organizational structure (or the lack thereof) that you have until you can do better.

Even if you aren’t organized now and are going through a high in your business and can’t find the time to get that way, don’t give up. You can still put your business in tip top shape. Here’s one way. Periods of slow sales are the perfect time to get a workable organization going within your business. Think of it this way: You can find several ways to save and make money through this process. So, instead of feeling sorry for yourself or fretting about the drop in sales, get up and get moving.

Maintaining a positive attitude helps you to see this time in your business career as an opportunity. People are more cautious about buying. If they buy, there needs to be a compelling argument behind the product. Getting all your ducks in a row, so to speak, can help you meet that need.

Find the Hidden Money

Businesses often find a black hole in the area of supplies and man hours. This is because of a lack of streamlining business processes. If five people are doing one process, then you are paying four for nothing. Find ways to revamp the flow of your business so that your staff can be better utilized. Who says that each person has to do only one job?

An employee with multiple skills has job security. They can function in several areas in a pinch. That is saving you money.

You will save on paper products when you turn over many of the day-to-day tasks to software programs. Calendars on your computer keep you current with projects. Sharing them through programs like Google Docs, gives the right people access to them so they can do their jobs accordingly.

How about time tracking? Using time tracking software can show you where you are losing money on projects. This gives you the opportunity to examine the why behind it.

Hire a virtual assistant. If you are an army of one, it is hard to tend to the marketing tasks and the office duties all at once. Plain and simple, you’ll never catch up and you’re losing money. A virtual assistant will only bill for hours worked (not time at the water cooler) and you get to spend more time making money instead of losing it.

Organization is important to any business. When you have slow periods stay positive and proactive by streamlining your business for greater success.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

Organize Your Way to Success

°              Is there a real problem? Or are you being seduced by new models that are desirable objects of style and beauty in themselves? Identify the problem with your computer and evaluate your options. Buying a new laptop for its slim lines and built-in webcam is all very well, but if you wait a little while you can take advantage of the rapid rate of technological improvements.

°              Can you get the extra functionality you want without shelling out on a new machine? If your computer is slow then you could upgrade the memory (RAM) at a fraction of the cost of a new machine. Alternatively a tune-up (preferably by a computer professional) could solve the problem. If storage is the issue, an external hard drive might be the answer.

°              Is now the right time in terms of software? It may make sense to kill two birds with one stone. If you’re a Windows XP or Vista user, a new computer with Windows 7 preinstalled can get you a double upgrade. Make sure you can transfer your preferred antivirus software to the new machine if required.

°              Is a new machine going to require other upgrading? If you have X and Y computer peripherals, then a new machine with an upgraded operating system can cause you problems with your existing gadgets. On the other hand, there’s no point in upgrading selected components, only to find that you need to upgrade your video card and similar to be able to use it. Sometimes getting a new machine now is the economical and smart option.

°              Can you save by waiting a while? For example, if you want a Blu-ray drive, then you will probably score by hanging on a bit - prices are expected to go down. In fact, when it comes to hardware, you can almost always save by holding fire.

°              Could getting a new computer now interrupt your schedule? If you’re making a big change (to an unfamiliar operating system, for example) or if you’re adding gadgets, it could be. You will have to spend time learning how to ‘drive’ your new machine and familiar tasks might take longer. You’ll have computer ‘housework’ to do, like copying over your old files. Those state-of-the-art features on your new machine can be fun to play with, but very distracting! Getting a new computer when you have a deadline can be a mistake.

°              Are you yearning to swap your desktop for a laptop? Bear in mind that laptops are more difficult to upgrade and date faster.

°              Can you afford it? If you can get by with your existing computer, bear in mind that this is not the time to be maxing out your credit card.

Computers today may not cost the earth but buying a new one should still be done only after careful consideration. It’s the way to get the most for your money and avoid the costly mistakes that almost always follow in the wake of an impulse buy.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

When To Buy a New Computer

In addition to personal preferences that might dictate how you want the display on your monitor to appear, there are certain medical reasons lying behind the need to change these settings. For example, computer eye strain can often be minimized when optimal text size settings has been incorporated.

It is important for you to understand that the default setting is designed to provide optimal performance. Therefore, you can always revert to these settings if you are unsure of what to do.

How to Adjust the Text Size in a Windows-Based System

The specific version of the Windows operating system that you have installed on your computer determines exactly what steps you will be able take to change the monitor settings for your text size. The variations in directions are minor however.

1)      Close or minimize all programs.

2)      Right click on the desktop.

3)      Select the option, Properties. It should be located at the bottom of the small menu that appears.

4)      The Display Properties dialog box appears. Select the Settings tab from the options that are listed across the top of the box. It should be on the right-hand side.

5)      Locate the Screen Resolution section and move the slider to change the size of text and pictures. If you move it to the left side, you will decrease the resolution and increase the size of the text. If you slide it along to the right-hand side, you will increase the resolution and decrease the size of the text.

6)      Select Apply from the lower right-hand corner to create the change.

7)      The Monitor Settings dialog box might appear. If it does, it gives you the opportunity to see what your changes to the settings have done. If you like the changes, simply click on the yes and if you don’t like the changes, click on the no. If the Monitor Settings dialog box does not appear, you can look at the display that appears in the existing display and make your choice accordingly.

8)      Select ok.

You can also access these settings via the Control Panel. Select the display properties dialog box. Select the Settings tab to access the Screen Resolution slider bar that will allow you to tweak the size of the text display.

How to Adjust the Text Size in Internet Explorer

If you have connected to the Internet, you can easily change the size of the text that you are viewing. Simply select View from the menu that goes across the top of the screen and make your changes accordingly. This will change the size of the text and pictures that you view while browsing the Internet.

Intro: While the desire to adjust the text size for the monitor screen can have different reasons behind it, it is an easy task to complete. Use the simple directions provided here to tweak your display.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

How to Adjust the Text Size of Your Monitor

Can’t Say Goodbye

Waiting for your computer to quit already and shut off can be an aggravating waste of time. But the computer isn’t being difficult just to increase your blood pressure-most likely there is an issue with the registry, which is the quantity of programs and files that make up the operating system and installed software. Especially with Windows XP and sometimes with the other Windows operating systems, there is a tendency to reboot when the system detects a defect in the registry, which it may interpret as a Windows failure. Also, any problems or issues with the components of the registry which are individually shut down can slow the procedure and cause prolonged shutdown time. Another possibility is that there may be a hardware incompatibility, since there are some devices which aren’t actually compatible with Microsoft systems. Some PC owners who have NVIDIA Driver Help Service have seen some slow shutdowns due to outdated video drivers.

Error Remedies

Taking care of shutdown errors quickly can help decrease the possibility of further damage down the line. Isolating the cause of the shutdown error can be tricky, but if the problem is in the hardware, the easiest way to tell is to disconnect each device and see if it resolves the issue. For outdated video drivers, simply updating them will cure the slow shutdown. Finding out what is causing a registry error would be a tedious and daunting task, if it weren’t for the abundance of readily available registry scanners on the Internet. These programs can scan your computer files, point out any problems, and offer fixes for these problems.

Not Rocket Science

Computer errors can be irritating, but need to be addressed as soon as possible. One corrupt file can lead to others, especially if slow shutdowns or reboots cause you to pull the plug and interrupt the system. But fixing shutdown errors doesn’t require you to be a rocket scientist either-with some understanding and the simple remedies above, most shutdown errors can be resolved quickly, returning your computer to its usual obedient and smoothly functioning self.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

Remedies for Windows Shutdown Errors

Bandwidth
Spam costs everyone valuable internet bandwidth that is used for spam instead of legitimate business or personal use. Bandwidth is the rate at which data is transmitted, particularly the amount that can be transmitted in a specific amount of time. The lower bandwidth rate, the slower information travels.

Think of it as a traffic jam on a major highway, the more spam there is the more delays there are in the transmission of important business information. Internet service providers must then increase bandwidth to handle the larger volume. This is not free and you can guess where the additional cost will end up - on your internet bill.

Viruses, Worms and Malware
Viruses have become commonplace and devastating. Spammers will include viruses and malicious software in the messages they send out disguised as attachments. Some of these viruses will silently install on your machine and give the hacker any vital information stored in your system. Identity theft is perpetrated many times this way.

Viruses are also created with the single purpose of destroying property. Consumer reports recently studied the cost of damage that has been done to computers in this manner. The cost is over eight billion dollars worldwide in the past two years alone. This number does not include costs of anti-spam and virus software that consumers have felt compelled to purchase.

Productivity
While spam is irritating, it also eats up your valuable time just filtering through it to find your real email among all the spam. For businesses that receive hundreds or thousands of important emails daily, the cost in productivity is substantial. Spam calculators, like the one available at cmsconnect.com, estimate the lost time to be nearly 50 hours per employee and almost $1000 per person per year. That is a significant amount of money and time.

Lost Messages and Data
Spam blockers and filters that are supposed to be protecting us from the bad emails often grab legitimate correspondence as well. Even one lost important email from a client or supplier can cost money and relationships.

Identity Theft
The latest in the long line of schemes to bilk you out of your money are phishing frauds. Phishing uses what looks like an official email from a company you do business with. The message will be worded in such a way that the spammer hopes you will input your personal information, thereby allowing them the opportunity to steal your identity and more. This scheme alone has wound up costing victims billions of dollars.

Spam has become a drain on society, at least from an economic and productive standpoint. Everyone but the spammer is paying an extreme amount of money for his or her actions.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

The Costs of Spam

Spammers use a technique known as “harvesting,” where they collect your email address from legitimate websites like USENET, chat rooms, message boards, AOL profile pages, and special interest group postings. They are sites you have visited and filled out a request info form leaving your contact information or ecommerce sites where you have placed orders.

Technology has aided in the creation of the spambot, which is the spammers ticket to getting your email address. Spambots harvest your information from these websites by sending out feelers that scan every page of the site, collecting any text containing the “@” symbol. They then compile the list of emails into a database that has the capability to send bulk emails, in turn sending out mass spam mail. Spammers also sell the harvested emails to other spammers, further spreading your email and its spam intake. Think of it as a bad form of networking, you tell 3 people who tell 3 people and so on.

Most websites are now requiring you to register with them before you can place an order or receive certain information from them. The thing to worry about here is that some sites are not as careful with your email as you would like them to be. Newsgroups are your biggest concern when it comes to letting your email address “slip” through the cracks and into the spammer’s hands. Most of these newsgroups do not worry themselves with hiding your email address, thus leaving your email address exposed and vulnerable to spammers. You will also have to worry about the websites that deliberately sell your information.

Spammers also use a method that targets a particular domain. They just guess and make up any possible combination of email addresses based on a domain name, such as @YourDomain.com.  They take the mailing list of the addresses they have made up and send out the spam. The most vulnerable to this technique are corporate emails, because they have the distinct format of @BusinessName.com. Even though a large portion of these spam mails bounce, spammers don’t really care because they send out millions of spam mails daily. This leaves a small portion of spam to get through, which is enough for the spammer. This method is known as the brute force spam attack, and it is easy to see why.

A great defense against this is to make it as difficult as possible for the feelers to collect your email.  When you fill out the register form replace the “@” symbol with “at.” This makes it more difficult to find your email since the spambots are looking for the “@” symbol. The best defense is to display your email as an image rather than text, making it even more difficult.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

How Spammers Get Your Email Address

The most efficient way to backup your files and valuable information is by doing the online data backups. This method has proved to be beneficial since your files are protected online. At the time of any potential crisis, you will not to fret about losing your files. Your data will be saved in the secure servers and the uploading will happen via the internet. They offer many benefits to the companies and the individuals in terms of data security. When a crisis befalls your enterprise, you can easily log-on to your account and download your saved documents and files. Since it gets saved immediately, you will not have to wait for your hard drive to be restored with the data is being retrieved by your technicians. This is highly effective than most of the backup options. It saves your time since it is an online operation and there are no threats of it getting corrupted or being affected by viruses.

Online data backup is a boon for businesses, especially if they are looking for safety and security of their files. Like other methods, everything comes with positives and negatives. The negative point of online data backup is that a brilliant hacker can easily login to these sites and corrupt your valuable information. You will need to make sure that you keep changing your passwords at regular intervals.  Online data backup is an asset to many people; and therefore, it is gaining worldwide popularity very fast. Hacking is very rare since all the data on the server is encrypted, and these online companies know various tactics of going about their business. So, you can be assured about your data, since it is in completely safe hands.

The best thing about online backups is that there are no hassles like the space taken up by CDs or DVDs or extra hard drives. You simply have to upload data to the backup company server of your choice and your work is over. Once your data is uploaded, these companies assist you in keeping your valuable information safe. No other person other than someone to whom you give the login ID to can access this data eliminating most unauthorized access to your data. The whole system is fully automated, and it is safeguarded by your password. Since the data is uploaded on the Internet, you will not need to worry about safeguarding any kind of device like a hard drive or CD. If any calamity or disaster occurs, you are well-prepared as your valuable information is safely tucked away online in some other state or country.

There are many companies that offer excellent online data backup facilities. It is usually up to you to make the right decision when you are choosing the best company for your data safety. Always select a company which ensures full accountability of your valuable data, and only choose the ones that promise the lockout policies or state of art security. These companies will completely safeguard your valuable information and you will not face any issues or threats which can affect your data. These companies might charge you with reasonable fees, but it is surely worth the investment if they can guarantee the safety of your assets. After all, it’s your credibility that comes into question with your data security.

It is always advisable to take your decisions wisely. One wrong turn can lead to a drastic failure in your business due to data loss. Researching the online backup companies is a must. A company that is credible will rarely fail you with its services. Remember, your data and corporate information is a valuable asset to you, and your company should protect it like a mother would protect her child.

Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic IT
Your Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more. Cisco Partner - VoIP and Unified Communications Microsoft Partner - Small Business Server Specialists Schedule time with one of our highly qualified network technology specialists

Online Data Protection