MicroTech Systems - April 2020

MicroTech Systems - April 2020

(208) 345-0054 MicroTech Pages

April 2020

Confessions of an Apathetic Baseball Fan

immediately feel how meaningful the place is as you walk into the stadium, and I was admittedly interested as we learned about the history in the old pubs and its hallowed halls. But the most impressive part was the sheer number of people in the stadium. I couldn’t believe how many people were at a baseball game at 1 p.m. on a Thursday! It was a packed house. To my bewilderment, the ticket taker simply said, “This is baseball. These are Cubs fans.”

Like many kids, I played Little League baseball. I was never extraordinary, and I don’t think the experience was miserable. I had a good time when I played, but for as many seasons as I spent on the ball diamond, I didn’t become a fan. Today, I’ll attend the occasional Boise Hawks game, watch baseball on TV, or hear people talking about it. Yet, I could not care less about what is happening. It’s just not exciting enough for me. Despite my resistance to the peanuts-and-cracker-jacks fun, a recent experience with my father-in-law had me wondering if I was too harsh with my assessment of baseball. On the other hand, there is my father-in-law who loves baseball and is a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. My wife’s family comes from the Omaha area which happens to be where they play the College World Series. Once, when back there to visit extended family, the event just so happened to coincide with our trip, and he really wanted to go. Being the dutiful son-in-law I am, along with pressure frommy wife (probably more so than being a good son-in-law), I faced the dread of having to sit through a college baseball game. My father-in-law claims I don’t understand all the intricacies of the game, and therefore I don’t understand what makes it so fun. I just think I need more action. But I do appreciate my father-in-law, and when I was in Chicago doing business this past summer, I had the perfect retirement gift for him. Despite his lifelong devotion to the Cubs, my father-in-law had never been to Wrigley Field to see his beloved team play. So, this past summer, I traveled to Chicago for work and took two days away from networking to take my son and his grandfather to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play the Colorado Rockies and the St. Louis Cardinals.

“Is this normal?” I asked.

“Absolutely,” she said.

Our seats for the Thursday game were on the lower level along the third- base line. We were right in the action, watching foul balls cruise into the stands and players running for their lives into home plate. The next day, we sat behind home plate as the Cubs took on their division rivals, the Cardinals. We could see the spin and speed at which each ball was thrown right from our seats! Suddenly, baseball made a little more sense. I began to wonder if I should venture out and give it another look or try. After seeing the game, I told my wife I would like to try going to another Major League game in a different city to see if it was baseball or just the experience at Wrigley. I left Wrigley Field impressed with what I saw, and for the first time, I actually enjoyed myself while watching baseball. To this day, I’m not sure I can ever sit down and watch a game on TV, but I do know that Wrigley Field, some time with my family, and great seats turned this apathetic baseball fan into an excited spectator (even if it was just for two days).

When we first walked into the stadium, I was in awe. Wrigley Field is a historic landmark in baseball and in American history. You can

–Randy Amorebieta

page 1

Help Your Company Slay the Dragons With Business Lessons From Fantasy Novels

‘Harry Potter’: Hogwarts Built to Sell In the final book of the megahit series, it becomes clear that Dumbledore’s real wizardry was in his ability to execute an exit strategy. Over the course of the novel, Harry and his friends uncover the tools Dumbledore left behind to defeat Voldemort. The instructions he left were cryptic at best, but thankfully, Harry and friends eventually sort things out. Dumbledore’s key to success was putting the right people in the right positions. ‘The Witcher’: Toss a Coin to Your Marketer In Andrzej Sapkowski’s popular novels, Geralt of Rivia has a PR problem. Mistrusted for his supernatural abilities, he can rarely find work, despite being an expert in a niche industry: monster hunting. Those willing to hire him often misunderstand his services and think he’s an assassin, all due to a classic case of bad branding. Fortunately, our hero’s prospects change when he befriends an eccentric bard named Jaskier, who decides to write songs and poems about his adventures with Geralt. Soon, people across the continent know of Geralt and his talent for driving off things that go bump in the night, which goes to show that sometimes, good marketing makes all the difference.

The bookshelf of your average business owner is usually chock-full of hard-hitting nonfiction. And why not? Books like “The Obstacle Is the Way,” or “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” are great sources of inspiration for entrepreneurs in any industry. But did you know that the world of fiction has lessons to offer too? chronicles a quest for treasure, led by the upstart dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield. There’s just one problem: A dragon guards the gold and jewels. Thorin has no plan to defeat this threat, and his party unwittingly releases it upon a town. The angry residents then hold the dwarf king liable for destruction of property. The dragon attack was a known risk in Thorin’s venture, and he failed to account for it. Rather than work to protect himself from risk (and liability), he failed to prepare for the worst outcome. Wishful thinking never helps leaders — even in fantasy stories. ‘The Hobbit’: A Poorly Planned Venture J.R.R. Tolkien’s first fantasy novel

See What Our Customers Are Saying

TIME TO CELEBRATE!

“We have had a relationship with MicroTech for many years. They are very helpful to our needs when we call on them. They are also friendly an dprofessional. I would recommend them to you for your IT needs.” -Mindy Critchlow “Microtech has been great to work with over the past 7+ years we have used them. They are quick to solve problems that may arise int eh office. All the staff are professional in appearance and in the work they provide.” – Tyler Cooper

Providing 5-star IT service doesn’t happen overnight! It requires dedication, commitment, and proficiency from our team each day. To honor this dedication, we want recognize the following team members on their birthdays! Joe Shumway Randy Amorebieta Have a great birthday, guys! Thank you for all you do for our team and our clients.

www page 2

TRACKING TRENDS

Understanding Your Business’ Technology Future with 2020 Trends

technology systems obsolete. Switching to these platforms requires an investment, but this can save time, money, and energy often spent on outdated technology. Increased MSP Services Utilizing a managed service provider (MSP) for your IT needs goes beyond keeping your technology safe. MSPs are designed to enhance cybersecurity, offer 24/7 monitoring, and provide continued growth within technology. MSPs offer a proactive approach to your technology, protecting your company from attacks and upgrading your digital needs as you grow. Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) capacities are growing, and the list of what AI can do for your business includes >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

microtechboise.com

Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog