techSOAP

Starting up....

This last month has been very busy for me as I have launched my new business the TECHgrove.  Its been so exciting and challenging but as I learn how to brand and package myself I have learned that first impressions are absolutely important even when working with people from within my existing network.

For example, when someone in my network makes an introduction of me to one of their associates that I may be able to help, my 20 second elevator pitch is so key to setting the tone of conversation.  If I say, "I'm a technology consultant...and um, I just started my own business, and um, its really great to be out on my own to help customers with their technology," I haven't left a good impression and I have been so vague that the natural progression of conversation has been stifled quite dramatically.  So dramatically in fact, that after those few awkward seconds of silence I will need to elaborate on exactly what I do.

My introduction should have gone something like (assuming I was introduced and asked what I do)  :  "Hello, my name is Brendan Cosgrove, and as a strategic technology consultant I help my clients discover how to leverage their technology investments to drive value into their business, whether its through specific technologies or systems, or through staff management or vendor relationships."  I have now told them who I am and given them an rough idea of what it is I do. 

But here is the kicker, I realized that whatever it is I say in that first introduction has GOT TO BE ACCURATE or I have pigeon-holed myself with that person.

- EPILOGUE -

The take-away from that introduction is my business card....which has created more conversation than any version of my elevator pitch ironically, but at least people are remembering me and aren't chucking my cards.  I must brag on my cards though.  I LOVE THEM!  If you want some for yourself CLICK HERE for the company that did them.  Ask for Luke!

 

Technorati Tags: startup,technology,consulting,strategy,marketing

The business gap....

There is a gap between the people doing the individual jobs that make a business and the one's that can put those job roles together to have a business.  The is exceedingly obvious in IT. 

There are so many IT professionals out there who are really good at maintaining the technology infrastructure or even just a specific component of that infrastructure.  However, how many of those professionals, especially the ones with 7-10 years experience, could you sit down in a board room and have field questions from your company's board of directors with confidence?  My guess is not many. 

The gap is another way to say most IT pros can't see the forest for the trees.  The IT pros that can see the forest are the ones who start being able to drive real business value. 

If you're an IT pro, find ways to bridge that gap.  See the forest.  To start seeing the forest, try having lunch with the CFO or the VP of Sales to start.  Get to know them, and their roles, if they are on your side, the CEO becomes a much easier win.

If you are the business owner or CEO, determine if you have the right information on your technology.  If you don't think your IT guy, company, department, can see the forest, then try painting them a picture.  They may come around.  You'll at least have scored some points by trying to help them see the forest, at worst you'll have confirmation that you need a more strategic technology voice in your company.

 

Technorati Tags: business,IT,leadership

I'm always right....

If I have a frustration or concern with service at a restaurant, or my dry cleaners, or the mechanic, I am always right.  So are any customers who feel cheated or misled or mishandled.  The question is how the vendor handles it.

For me, the fear is always about the probability that my concern or frustration will result in a change for the better.  If the potential for change is definite or even a possibility, I will say something.  If there doesn't seem to be any hope of either having them understand the problem, or being able to talk to the person who could affect a change then I won't waste the time of voicing my concern.  They lost me or at least my passion for their product or service.

So 2 things come out of this:

1.  The people that your customers deal with should be able to make nearly any change to address the customer complaint.

2.  The people that can affect change based on a customer complaint should be at least readily available. 

If you are in IT you user base is your customer base.  If you are in Sales your prospects are your customers.  If you are married then your spouse is your customer.

 

Special thanks to Seth Godin for the basis of this post.

 

Technorati Tags: customer,customer service,value,service,marketing

My First Day as a Free Agent....

Well, today is the first day without knowing where my next paycheck is coming from in over 9 years, the last 7 with the same company.  I must say that I am excited, a little scared, and a little dumbfounded still. 

I can't wait to see what's next, the problem is wading through the options to get there.  For the time being I will be doing consulting and coaching with the TECHgrove. 

Here is a link to my online resume.  It isn't totally complete yet, that's one of my tasks for this week.  In addition to re-writing my paper resume. 

If you have any needs for IT consulting or need a reference for any technical resources I am happy to help in anyway I can.  If you are interested in engaging with me for a project, or longer term consulting please send your request to :  letstalk@theTECHgrove.com

 

Technorati Tags: jobs,consulting,IT,smb,tech,technology,Southern California,business

I bet your password is weaker than you think!

Microsoft offers a online password checker that will tell you how strong your password is.  I always tell my clients how important the strength of their passwords is.  Thanks to techtuesdayblog.com for mentioning this tool. 

The other important thing is to have different passwords for different types of logins.  For example, the login password you use to read the WSJ online should be different than your online banking password. 

I recommend 3 passwords for your personal online activities.

• LOW SECURITY - one password for all non sensitive sites that don't store your address or any billing information.
• MEDIUM SECURITY - one password for more secure things that include personal information like name, address, phone numbers
• HIGH SECURITY - one password for anything that invovles storing personal information with data like address, phone, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, insurance information, medical informaiton.

With this plan you never have to remember more than 3 passwords.  You should change the Medium and High security ones at minimum every 6 months. 

ALWAYS make sure that your password at work is not the same as ANY of the above passwords.  Your company could or may have already hacked your password to ensure their own security. 

Technorati Tags: password, IT Services, security, best practices, strong

Google Twitter Mashup and live Google Election Results...

Here is a great Google/Twitter Mashup of Super Tuesday Coverage.

 

 

Technorati Tags: election, mashups, Google, Twitter

Dell and Microsoft go (RED)

 

I love PRODUCT (RED) stuff, and in fact this is a RED(BLOG).  I am super stoked to see Microsoft and Dell jumping on board with the (RED) stuff!

Click here for Microsoft(RED).

Click here for Dell(RED)

Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 RTM'd....

Well, this isn't an insightful or meaningful post to most, but today Microsoft confirmed release of Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista for Mid March  and the Release to Manufacturing for Windows Server 2008. 

Can't wait to see what happens.  (I'm such a nerd)  I will report back on Vista SP1 as soon as I can find it to download.  :)

 

Technorati Tags: windows, technology, server, microsoft, vista, sp1, 2008

Happy New Year!

With the start of 2008 I hope to at least double the readership of this blog to maybe a double digit number!   2008 is going to be an exciting year here at techSOAP and for me personally.  As I can, I look forward sharing the details with you all. 

Here are some fun thoughts to consider: 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract of the United States: adults and teens will spend nearly five months (3,518 hours) next year watching television, surfing the Internet, reading daily newspapers and listening to personal music devices. According to projections from a communications industry forecast, people will spend:

-- 65 days in front of the TV
-- 41 days listening to radio
-- A little over a week on the Internet in 2007
-- Adults will spend about a week reading a daily newspaper
-- Teens and adults will spend another week listening to recorded music
-- Consumer spending for media is forecasted to be $936.75 per person

Technorati Tags: new year, facts, random statistics

Don't let metrics fool you...

To follow up on my post about agility, I thought I would discuss another chronic problem that many businesses seem to have with growth.  Metrics. 

As a business grows you have more and more details to measure.  For a service business its things like: Customer Satisfaction, call intake volume, time to resolution, response times, hours billed, hours worked but NOT billed, etc.  All of these are important metrics that are good to watch, count, and use to build the delivery systems for the business.  However, there is a critical point that many businesses get wrong.  Instead of building the business to serve the customer in a better way, they build the systems and processes that serve the business in a better way first and leave the customer and their experience buying or receiving service from your business second. 

Seth Godin references this type of problem here regarding PayPal.

If you are in the SMB market this is an even more critical problem.  As your organization grows to support the volume and growth of the business, you need to ensure that your delivery systems are all about making that customer ecstatic to be doing business with you just like you did when every single penny of revenue mattered.

Don't ever be fooled.  EVERY CUSTOMER MATTERS!  If you forget that as you grow, then your metrics are just about you and your business and not about serving your customers.