Micro Tech Systems April 2019

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April 2019

Patience and Potential What My Wife Has Taught Me About Education

C racking open the seal on your children’s report cards can stir up many emotions. For some, it’s a proud parent moment; others dread the lectures they’ll have to give to their kids. In the past, I’ve been a little more analytical and maybe took my kids’ grades too seriously. I’m not too proud to admit that if the grade wasn’t up to the expectations I knew my kids were capable of meeting, I’d want to implement some changes around the house. To me, school and homework were cut and dry. You sit down and do your homework, and there shouldn’t be any battles. My wife, Keri, is a high school science teacher in the West Ada School District. She teaches a variety of grade levels, from the kids who are just entering high school to those who are getting ready to tackle “the real world.” As soon as one of our own three children needs help with their homework, I see her mom hat come off, and she turns into a teacher. She walks them through their lessons and essentially comes at them with kid gloves. At first, I thought the act wasn’t going to work. To someone who is more business-minded and analytical, this act seemed pathetic and almost pandering to our kids. But over time, I saw what made Keri the great teacher she is: patience. I was fascinated by how good she was at getting them to understand concepts, buckle down, and get their work done. I’ve since thrown up my hands and agreed that she wins this round of parenting. Although, she does admit that, as the kids go through high school, it’s a little harder to come home from teaching Thankfully, my wife knows better.

teenagers all day and then continue helping teenagers. I love my job, too, but I wouldn’t want to work on IT when I came home, either.

Unfortunately, teaching isn’t getting any easier. With heavier digital expectations, teachers are being asked to not only be masters of the classroom and their topic, but they also have to run web domains and communicate effectively through digital means. Additionally, the expectations for children have skyrocketed. I’ve seen Keri struggle with expectations parents of her students have put on their children. It’s no longer enough to be a straight-A student or even to pass. The modern education system can never be a one-size-fits-all system, despite attempts to make it that way. The education system can be hard if you don’t fit in, and our family is a perfect example. All of our kids have a variety of strengths and weaknesses when it comes to school, and from the parenting and teaching perspective, Keri understands how hard it can be to try to meet expectations that shouldn’t even be placed on all children. Keri has taught me that something that presents itself as one child wasting potential could present itself as one child meeting their potential. Even as it gets a little harder, the expectations get a little higher, and the digital presence gets bigger, the drive Keri has for helping our students and the ones in her classroom is still there. She loves our kids, and she loves what she does. And from personal experience, she’s good at it, too. –Randy Amorebieta

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Meeting Your Customers Where They Are 3 Guerrilla Marketing Tactics to Grow Your Business

Guerrilla marketing strategies, with their low-cost methods and innovative approaches to advertising, can be the key to growing both large and small businesses. Here are three examples of guerrilla advertising that, with enough creativity and boldness, you can use to maximize business growth.

unconventional surfaces, like sidewalks and drinking glasses, to market your product — so long as it is creative enough to make a potential customer take notice. Engage internet users where they are. The marketing strategy that used to be known as “word-of-mouth,” “network marketing,” or “creating a buzz,” is now known as “viral marketing” on the internet. This is not a new concept in and of itself, but it can be made even more effective with some creativity. Major fast-food chain Wendy’s utilizes this strategy with their Twitter account. Their account takes on a personality, as opposed to just being a place to make announcements, which works well in their quest to get away from the cynical idea of the soulless, profit-mongering corporation. Having an online presence that engages people where they are, instead of making posts and waiting for potential customers to happen upon them, can help your business stand out online. Form real relationships with customers. This tactic, sometimes known as a grassroots movement, has many different facets. However, the goal is to ultimately win a customer’s business by engaging with them on a more personal level. This approach often involves using the internet to ask supporters of your business to repost or retweet material from your social media pages. You can also encourage your employees to engage with real people in places where your target demographic likes to spend their time. The goal is to foster genuine relationships with customers that make them feel cared for by your company and eager to keep coming back.

Leave no surface untouched and no medium unused. Ambient marketing is one of the more common guerrilla marketing strategies, and it is a great way to raise local awareness for your

brand. It involves advertising in unusual spaces with unusual methods. A recent example of this is how Taco Bell announced their presence in London in 2018. They created the illusion that Big Ben was ringing by mixing its sound with Taco Bell’s signature bell sound. They played it on speakers attached to rickshaws, which were driven around the city. While this is certainly a more elaborate example, ambient marketing can be as easy as using more

See What Our Customers Are Syaing

“I think MicroTech is great! Each time we have any issues, they are on top of fixing it right away! Definitely recommend using their services!” -Meg

are processed in a timely fashion, they are able to advise us on product selections, and are always available for expedited issues. We were able to agree to a term that met our needs without having to pay for services we didn’t need or time we would not use. Everyone is great to work with and always friendly.” -Krystal

“We’ve used MicroTech for about nine months now, and they are excellent to work with. Tickets

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We’re Curious ...

WHEN DO YOU PAY FOR REPAIRS, AND WHEN DO YOU UPGRADE?

At MicroTech Systems, we pride ourselves on offering five-star IT service. Our goal is to make sure you have a technology expert in your corner at all times because we know the panic of a crashing server or a computer that just won’t work right. But technology is a tricky business, and one example of just how difficult it can be involves your computer. Let’s say this device is having issues, and it’s preventing you from working. You’re getting anxious as you inquire with us to find a solution, especially when we discover it’s an obscure issue involving multiple variables and eight hours of labor to fix. And maybe the solution we tried first doesn’t pan out, and

There are always two costs to every problem. There’s our side of the cost — the side that involves our resources, staff, and expertise. Then there’s the client side of the cost, which is the bill the client receives from us for a service, time, and repair. But every client is unique, and their needs vary. Despite these technological lines blurring, we want to find the right solution for each client. Biting the bullet and buying new technology involves server migration, new training, and significant time. For some businesses, and even personal computer users, this can weigh significantly against upgrading to new technology, despite the price. Others will see the upgrades as an advantage, giving them an opportunity to start fresh and continue with modern, new digital platforms. So, we want to hear from you. When do you decide to troubleshoot a problem with your technology, and what prompts you to ditch it for a replacement?

we have to try a few more options. In either scenario, some people may get their bill and discover they could have bought a new computer for the repair price. This scenario could apply to a server, printer, or software. Overall, as technology has come down in price, the line has grayed on how much time we should spend troubleshooting a problem and when we should replace a system.

Let us know on

LinkedIn.com/company/microtech-systems-inc./

Have a Laugh!

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

Inspired by Food Network

• • • • • • •

12 ounces pasta, ideally fusilli 1/2 pound broccoli florets

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1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano- Reggiano Kosher salt, for pasta water and to taste

2 carrots, shredded 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips

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1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

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Directions

1. In a large pot, liberally salt water and bring to a boil. Add fusilli and cook according to package directions. Add broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper during the last 2 minutes of cook time. 2. Drain the pasta and veggies, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Return pasta and veggies to pot. 3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add garlic and cook until translucent and golden, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until tomatoes are wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved pasta water. 4. Add tomato mixture to pasta pot, stirring to coat evenly. 5. Divide into bowls, top with parmesan, and serve.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

12592 W. Explorer Dr. #100 Boise, ID 83713

Inside

Learning From My Favorite Teacher

Maximizing Creativity and Cost- Effectiveness in Your Business What Some People Are Saying About Us

Making Repairs vs. Buying New

Pasta Primavera

Discover ‘The Magic of Thinking Big’’

Revisiting a Classic ‘The Magic of Thinking Big’

In this issue, we’re diving into an old classic that helped define the modern personal development genre and has helped millions of readers improve their lives. “The Magic of Thinking Big” flew off shelves when it was first published in 1959, propelling author David J. Schwartz from university professor to foremost authority on motivation. But does his seminal work still hold true 60 years later? Is there still magic in letting yourself think big in the 21st century?

today they’re a given. While this may make some of Schwartz’s ideas feel old hat to modern audiences, the essence of what he wrote in 1959 still rings true today. In fact, one could argue that several core concepts of this decades-old work are even more applicable today. A running theme in Schwartz’s book is the incomparable benefit of treating people like people. While many personal and business dealings hinge on the power of a handshake, there’s something refreshing about the common human decency of Schwartz’s outlook. So many motivational works today focus solely on personal reflection — “Thinking Big” reminds us that there is great power in simply being good to other people. Perhaps the largest takeaway today’s readers can find here is to take on more and think bigger. “Thinking Big” is replete with real-world success stories of people doing precisely that, from students collaborating to solve supposedly impossible problems to wounded paratroopers making their way across the mountains of Burma toward safety. Whether you’re dusting off an old copy or picking it up for the first time, this classic is still worth a read in 2019.

In a word, yes. The lessons in “Thinking Big” are broad, but their wide applicability is also what makes them timeless. While today many authors and motivational coaches — from “influencer” culture to “growth hacking” — focus on whatever is new and shiny, Schwartz focuses on the fundamentals. This can make the opening chapters in “Thinking Big” feel excessively familiar to those who have read other personal development books. The power of positivity and self- confidence may have been groundbreaking ideas back when Eisenhower was president, but

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