Dan Liutikas Posts

“Eat your vegetables, they’re good for you!” We’re all familiar with this expression, but as any kid struggling through a plate of Brussels sprouts will tell you, what you know ahead of time doesn’t always make the experience any better. Based on my experience, Green IT often falls victim to this dilemma.  Sure, we know it’s good for us and we want to do the right thing for our environment, but there is often a disconnect when it comes down to critical activities—such as how is it going to help ...

You’ve given it your best effort, but had to walk out of the store or had to hang up the phone before you reached the boiling point. We’ve all dealt with it before – whether it’s a rude waiter, a surly technician or an inattentive cashier; poor customer service can singlehandedly sour your opinion of a business, regardless of its reputation or its products’ quality. Good service is such an important aspect of a business relationship that customers often choose an inferior product or pay a premiu ...

Summer blockbuster movies bring together two of my favorite things: the vacation season and great cinema. One reason I love this movie genre is the escape it provides from the everyday routine and all its challenges. Time travel is a frequent occurence in blockbuster movies and it's also a great illustration of a business tool we'd all love to have avaialble. Whether the cinematic feature is Terminator IX, or classics like Star Trek or Back to the Future, the hero gets out of a sticky situation ...

At last the mighty task is done;Resplendent in the western sunThe Bridge looms mountain high;Its titan piers grip ocean floor,Its great steel arms link shore with shore,Its towers pierce the sky. These words were penned in 1937 upon completion of the Golden Gate Bridge by chief engineer Joseph Straus. The poem captures both the vision and grandeur of this modern marvel; considered one of the finest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century. What is most remarkable about the bridge is th ...

Those who enjoy baseball know that the game is as much about information and strategy as it is about skill. The most arcane player statistics are assembled and used to help managers make crucial decisions throughout a game. Picture a right handed starting pitcher facing a right handed batter in the eighth inning, with two runners on base and one out. Both managers will analyze the situation and consult a myriad of statistics before sending instructions to their team that could make the differenc ...

Author Robert C. Gallagher once quipped “change is inevitable-except from a vending machine.” In the IT industry, change is something we hear about every day.  It seems that the latest trend or fad is always just around the corner, ready to revolutionize our industry and turn traditional businesses upside down.For those of us who have been in the IT industry for a significant length of time, we have learned how to weather this constant barrage of change. For every noteworthy innovation or indust ...

Is your technology business the best kept secret in town?  You have great staff, faithful customers, operations second to none, but what’s keeping it from growing?  Quite simply — leads. You know many businesses are an ideal fit to utilize your products and services, but how do you find them?  Without good leads, your sales team will be less effective and your company’s revenue will likely remain flat. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Lead generation is not a black art and does not need to be ...

It seems like every time you turn around, a new device or technology is capturing the attention of the business world (as well consumers). Unfortunately, each seems to bring with it a new IT security threat requiring additional diligence on the part of users, and expertise from channel partners. Take Apple’s iPad as a prime example. Before it had even launched, concerns were circulating about its weak Wi-Fi encryption, lack of device wipe features, and susceptibility to malware through the iTune ...

Let’s flash back to the 1980s, when channel resellers were receiving healthy margins selling OEM equipment to small and mid-sized businesses. Over time, those profit percentages were eroded by competitive forces and manufacturers looking to improve their bottom line. That was one factor that caused many resellers to evolve their business model, becoming VARs (value added resellers). In this adaptation of the IT channel, providers gradually discovered increased profitability not from the sale of ...

Most Solution Providers go into business because they love technology. The problem is, running a technology business is often more about managing the business than managing the technology. Human resources is a perfect illustration of this point. The average entrepreneurial solution provider doesn’t have a lot of experience in creating a job description; but you can’t get too far along in your business before you need to put one together. Once your staff is on board, they will likely have what se ...