Man vs. Technology

Leave it to my stepson to find the coolest, quirkiest shows on television! While enjoying a queso burrito Friday night, Alex commandeered the remote and turned on the Travel Channel. I don't usually watch that channel, but he told me the next show was going to be great. So I put the finishing touches on my respective meal and prepared to be regaled by this hysterical program, "Man V. Food." Now, I can appreciate edible delights of all kinds, but the host Adam Richman comes across some real doozies like a 10 pound stuffed pizza, a 48 ounce steak, and much more. What's even more amazing is his quest at the end of each episode to conquer some of these behemoths like the 12 patty "OMG" burger in Tucson, AZ. I have to admit, I had second thoughts about my own dietary habits after watching this program, and yes, he has visited Philadelphia! Check out the website where I found an old favorite, Tony Luke's on Oregon Avenue as well as a few I'd never heard of.

It sounds like a bit of a digression I admit, but I went from thinking about Adam's challenges on his show, to the small business owner's challenges in adapting to an ever-changing technology landscape. For them, it must feel like man vs. technology! While the business owner is responsible for every aspect of business growth, he or she doesn't have to be a human resource expert, marketing guru, website designer, or IT engineer. The best answer is that they shouldn't be. Even in a small business, the best solution is to compile a team to maximize efforts in growing business and coming up with new ideas. In regard to technology, the most logical direction to turn is to a trusted partner who can look at your business dispassionately and recommend solutions that fit your business and technology goals.

There are many choices that are available to you for assistance, but the key is to find a company that has a reputation for stability and quality. Your brother’s nephew who took a few courses in community college may be able to perform some rudimentary tasks, but can you trust your critical business functions to someone with limited experience and expertise? Look for a partner that possesses top level certifications with best-in-breed industry-leading vendors like Microsoft, Cisco, APC, Citrix and more. Inquire about similar implementations or projects that they have completed, and check their references. Make sure they have a team of engineers that can engage in knowledge-share to give you a wider range of experience to draw from. Where do you look? Most of the vendors like Microsoft and Cisco have a "Find a Partner" link on their main sites. Talk to others in your circle and see who they have had experience with. Lastly, check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they can recommend a partner. Don't wait too long because if you do it might be the competition eating you!