If you are running an online company, it’s critical that you have a reliable computer. If your computer goes down and you can’t write or place ads, if you can’t respond to orders or inquiries, even if you can’t check your email, that’s a big setback.Some people treat their computers like they treat their cars, replacing parts whenever something breaks, and staying with what they have. Around here we keep ours 6-7 years. However, no matter how frequently you upgrade, eventually you must upgrade.Maybe you are at the place where you need a new computer. You want to... [...]

Since many marketers use Microsoft Outlook to manage their email, we want to make you aware of this new article in InfoWorld, by Woody Leonhard. Microsoft just released a patch to correct problems in their Outlook email client. While it may correct some problems, unfortunately, it reintroduces other problems in the calendar function.An initial patch in early December solved some earlier bugs, but caused some users to only be able to use Outlook in “safe mode.” In mid-December, Microsoft released another patch to correct that bug. But that patch wasn’t widely available until... [...]

Microsoft says that 200,000,000 computers, tablets, phones and Xboxes have used Windows 10 in the last month. And, with their marketing push and free conversion for most users (the vast majority of Windows users use Windows 7), they expect a lot more to use it, too.They have been aggressively pushing users of earlier versions of the software to convert to Windows 10. They are expected to become even more aggressive, adding it to the list of updates that get installed automatically.Some users, ourselves among them, are finding the conversion doesn’t go smoothly. Even though the Microsoft... [...]

In the latest issue of Fast Company Magazine.Chris Winfield has an article on effective work habits. By some of our poor habits, we stretch our work into more time than is actually needed.The result is time wasted that could be used for other things, in our others pursuits of life.Winfield set a goal for himself to reform his life from a workaholic 60-80 hours per week to something more reasonable.As he describes it, “I had to make a big change. I had to figure out how to work smarter, not harder. I needed to optimize my work process to do more in less time.”He found his solution... [...]

Well-known and respected marketing trainer Yanik Silver just released his new book Evolved Enterprise – How To Re-Think, Re-imagine, & Re-invent Your Business To Deliver Meaningful Impact & Even Greater Profits.Silver is giving away a batch of paperback copies (at cost; he give you a breakdown of the costs on his offer page) as part of his initial launch. He wants the publicity and the testimonials.Request your personal copy here while supplies last: Evolved Enterprise.We have started reading the first 3 chapters of the book and so far it’s been an eye-opener about the changes... [...]

In a popular new article on Forbes.com, Travis Bradberry, co-author of the bestselling book Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and co-founder of TalentSmart, examines 9 Habits Of Profoundly Influential PeopleBradberry notes that “Influential people have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves.”Noting that we generally admire them as well as being subject to their influence, Bradberry goes on to observe, “We see them innovate, speak their mind, and propel themselves forward toward bigger and... [...]

The evolution of Microsoft Windows in the security realm is a slow affair. It proceeds in small incremental improvements, with occasional setbacks. There are two new improvements just made available this week.This week, Microsoft has released two patches they descibe as critical. They apply to all the versions of Windows Microsoft still supports, from Windows Vista through Windows 10.The flaws being patched by these updates allow a hacker to take control of your PC and use it just as though they were the authorized, logged in, user.Depending on your Windows settings, these patches may be applied... [...]

Shep Hyken, New York Times bestselling author, in a guest article on http://www.forbes.com/, warns all marketers that attention to customer needs is critical to long-term success.As Hyken says, Customers are smarter than ever before. As a result, their expectations of the experience you deliver is higher than ever.Customers know what good service is, and they expect it.This includes, for example, how carefully you keep their data secure. Again, from Hyken’s article, They are willing to give you information, but, if you don’t use it properly, they will penalize you by disconnecting... [...]

In a cautionary article on Forbes.com. Bill Hardekopf reports that Americans are over-confident about how secure their passwords are. He refers to a study by Avast that finds “Nearly every American consumer (98%) believes they are creating safe passwords, but a recent study shows that only 6% are actually doing so.” It is a fair assumption that Americans aren’t unique and that this is a worldwide problem.Most people use passwords of 8 characters or less and limit the characters to letters and numbers, although using Capital letters, small letters, numbers and special characters... [...]

Yanik Silver has kept a low profile for the last couple of years. Before that, he had created a number of training products for small business people. While he has been out of the public eye, he has focused his energy in building a mastermind group he calls The Maverick Network. He has also been honing his vision for how to change the way business is played. He has just released Evolved Enterprise to share his new vision. He calls it “the first practical road map for building a socially conscious, purpose driven company from the inside out.” He believes there’s a coming shift in... [...]