Micro Tech Systems July 2018

Micro Tech Systems July 2018

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July 2018

When Your Kids Hit the Road THE CHALLENGES OF YOUNG DRIVERS

I n movies, teaching kids to drive is always portrayed as this incredible bonding experience. The dad takes the son out to some deserted parking lot, and as he shows the kid the ropes, they grow closer. Of course, this makes sense; as your teenage kids learn to drive, they’re taking a massive step toward their independence, toward becoming a fully-functioning adult in the real world. But in my experience in teaching my kids to drive, there have been less of those peachy cruises around the parking lot, and more worrying close calls and classic teenage outbursts than I’d care to admit. As proud as I am of my kids for learning to take the wheel, it’s been a bit of a struggle to get them up to snuff. Sometimes I wonder if we unnecessarily invite some challenges into our lives. Though the driving schools have all migrated to automatic transmissions, we insist on our kids learning to drive a stick shift. Don’t get me wrong — I’m no old-timer pining for the days before automatic was the standard. Manual transmissions are a pain in the neck, but we stick to our guns for two reasons. The first is that, when you’re constantly forced to think about shifting, it’s a lot harder to text and drive or otherwise be inattentive on the road, so that brings us some comfort. The other is that you just never know when one of these kids will get in a situation where they have to drive a stick. I always joke that if the zombie apocalypse happens, all these new modern cars and computers aren’t going to be much use — but a stick shift will work through thick and thin. Our oldest has had her license for a couple of years, and our 16-year-old daughter just finally got her license, but man, it’s been a serious battle with the latter. It all comes down to the fact that she absolutely, completely despises driving a stick shift. I guess it basically just stresses her out. I’ve witnessed firsthand the meltdown that occurs when she stalls at a green light or stop sign. She acts as if we’re torturing her by allocating her a car with a manual transmission — it’s one of those truly frustrating parenting moments where you just have to scratch your head and do your best.

My youngest son just started driver’s training this summer, and my fingers are crossed that he’ll be a little easier through the process. But even if he is, it’s difficult to shake off that worry that nags at the back of your mind when your kids are suddenly out alone on the road. You’ve spent hours at their side while they were driving around, and you know they’re not anywhere near the level of an experienced driver, but you have to let them go anyway and just hope that they stay safe. Of course, it’s absolute bliss when you suddenly don’t have to cart them around to practices and hangouts and events every day all over the city, and it really is pretty moving to see them doing things on their own. But still, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise: the path to the driver’s license is fraught with challenges.

–Randy Amorebieta

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• Google+ isn’t the most popular social media platform, but having a Google+ page for your business helps Google generate search results, including maps, reviews, contact information, and photos. Assess Your Situation Before Joining: Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr There are plenty of other popular platforms whose formats aren’t for everyone. Don’t waste your time on a social media platform your business can’t benefit from. • Instagram is the king of visual content. Fashion outlets, restaurants, niche retail establishments, and luxury brands do well on Instagram because they can regularly share eye-catching images. • DIY crowds love Pinterest . This is a visual platform where fashion brands share style tips, foodies show off their recipes, and travel-oriented companies post advice on the best family-friendly cities to visit. • Not just for moody teens, Tumblr is a great platform for fashion brands (thanks to its visual elements) and media platforms (thanks to the site being friendly to long-form articles). While NPR and Rolling Stone do well on Tumblr, small businesses are likely to struggle. The many avenues of social media can be overwhelming, but it gives you plenty of opportunities to find the right platform to connect with your clients. Take some time to look at the pros and cons of a platform you’re considering and ask yourself if it really meets the needs of your business.

Social media has proven to be the most difficult part of digital marketing. A report from GlobalWebIndex found that the average person has around seven active social media accounts, so companies have a lot to lose if they ignore social media. But using a site that’s wrong for your business can be a waste of time and money. Here’s the rundown of popular platforms and what businesses they’re best suited for. Everyone Should Be On: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ These social media platforms are staples of the landscape and can benefit any industry. • Despite the recent privacy issues, Facebook still has an active base of around 1.45 billion daily users. You can’t afford to miss out on that kind of audience. • Twitter is also pretty active, and though this sort of engagement won’t necessarily benefit every business, it’s important to maintain an account on Twitter so you can monitor any mentions of your company.

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3 Reasons You Should Consider a Move to Office 365

Today, 1 in 5 corporate employees uses the Office 365 cloud service, combining many vital applications into a centralized platform. It’s time to catch up to the present and turn your cumbersome on-premises Exchange server into a modern subscription service with Office

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