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Your business, or your computersAs I scan various online forums, or talk with small business owners, I am constantly faced with their overwhelming interest in their computers. There are two basic reasons for this, neither of them good. On the one had, they like the technology and enjoy fiddling. On the other hand, they need computers, but believe they can't afford the help. Why do some presidents feel the need to be experts at computers and networking? I read a Web forum message a few days ago from a guy who is installing a four node network. He threw around industry jargon like he knew what he was talking about (he didn't). I had lunch with an entrepreneur last week who regaled me with his views on Microsoft vs. Apple, the likely stability of Windows 2000, and the rock-solid capabilities of Linux. I kept trying to ask him about his business, but all he wanted to talk about was computers. I asked him why he needed to know this stuff. "Do you know any of these details about your copier?" He responded that he didn't NEED to know. I'm not sure that's a good enough reason. The real answer, for this gentleman, as well as others, is that he WANTS to know. Computers are cool, copiers aren't. So, given the opportunity and the excuse to learn about computers and read computer magazines, he'll take advantage of it. I know of another small business owner who recently installed his own network. He researched and bought his business software. Then, based on the vendor's recommendations, he bought his PC's, the network hardware and software, installed the cabling himself, and from what his assistant told me, put in about two weeks of late nights. His excuse was that, "Hey, if my business is going to run on this, I have to understand it." No wonder he's divorced. Here are some other topics that are critical to your business. Do you pay as much attention to them as you do to your computers? Taxes, law, accounting, your building's heating and ventilation - I think you'd have to agree that all of these are pretty important, in one way or another. But let's face it, they're just nowhere near as much fun as computers. Of course, a tax package for your computer might be OK, ya think? I've worked with other small companies that have computers, but are CLUELESS about them, and don't care about them. They have better things to worry about, like golf, and getting away early on Friday afternoon. They don't want to fuss with the dang computers, they just want to get their billing out. Many businesses simply can't afford to have professionals do it. This may be more justifiable, particularly if you have a small operation where cash is tight. Now we're in a cost justification area. Which is better, to devote yourself to the nuts and bolts of your business, where your time could be better spent? Or do you work on your computers? This is a function of your business model and, frankly, how much time and cash you have. If your business is stable, and you don't have to put in 80 hours a week, and you're making all the money you need, then maybe you've got the time to put your own network in. And if you desperately need a computer system, and cash is tight, maybe doing it yourself is the only course of action. But if you're putting in those 80 hours, and there are other things you can do, like manage your staff, call on customers, do marketing, come up with new products, look for opportunities to cut costs - you know - the standard stuff that most business people do, then you don't have time for, nor should you waste time on, your computers. In both situations, where the business owner "plays" with computers, and where the poor guy has to deal with them because he can't afford to hire a professional, it comes down to one question. Where can your time and money can be better spent...on your business or on your computers?
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