Microtech Systems - January 2021

Microtech Systems - January 2021

(208) 345-0054 www.microtechboise.com MicroTech Pages

JAN 2021

At Least You Tried

A Tour of My Failed Hobbies and What I Do Instead to Escape

I t’s that time of the year when we’re all making promises. Whether you want to get in shape, learn a new skill, or change your habits, we’re all venturing into the unknown and trying something new. Statistics show that this will only work for about 20% of us, as New Year’s resolutions often fail by February. But if you’re one of the 80% of people whose lofty aspirations fall to the wayside each year, you’re not alone. It’s only fitting that January is National Hobby Month, considering how many of us give up new hobbies and habits after January. I’ve personally had my fair share of hobbies that just didn’t make the cut. Back in college, a few buddies and I wanted to save some money on buying beer. So, I began home brewing craft beer. This was way before it was as popular as it is today. I was pretty proud of the few batches I made, and after some nights at the bars, we’d come back and continue the party with my homemade brew.

Today, I wouldn’t say I have any hobbies. I have activities I enjoy doing, like skiing in the winter and paddleboarding in the summer. I enjoy doing these sports, and it’s an easy way to just forget about everything going on in the world. I can shred the slopes or paddle across a calm Boise lake without so much as a care in the world. And the best part is that I can enjoy these activities with my wife. Fly-fishing, brewing beer, and gardening really aren’t activities Keri and I can enjoy together. That makes skiing and paddleboarding the perfect way to escape while still spending time with Keri. (My kids like to ski, too, so this makes the winter sport a great family activity to do together — when they want to join us.) I guess that makes skiing and paddleboarding hobbies, but I’ve always been impressed by people who can create something with their hands. That’s a real hobby to me. Someone who can create a spectacular table or a beautiful quilt is way more impressive than me going on a black diamond run for the umpteenth season in a row. Now that we have two kids in college, I may try fly-fishing again or find a real hobby to occupy my time. I do enjoy what I get from skiing or paddleboarding, but it would be nice to have something I could consider a real hobby. But if I don’t find one, I think that’s an important lesson for all of us when it comes to resolutions and trying new habits or hobbies. All we can do is try. Sometimes it sticks, and sometimes you end up with crappy beer or dead plants. Either way, you tried.

Except, no one drank it. It was that bad!

I gave up brewing shortly after that, but it wasn’t the only hobby I tried and gave up. I attempted to garden, but I just did not enjoy it. It was never fun for me, and I could barely keep up with the demands of the plants, in addition to the demands of being a dad and a husband and running a business. It just didn’t give me the mental clarity others claim to have found in it. I also used to hunt and fly-fish quite a bit, but after I became a dad, my weekends were filled with other priorities. I was never great at it, yet I always enjoyed fly-fishing.

Good luck this year!

–Randy Amorebieta

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Business Budgeting for 2021 You Can Still Plan Around Unpredictability

are having to change their marketing focus and invest differently, so you have to be willing to adapt your budget, too. As you set sales goals, be aware of your margins and get flexible with the way you’re achieving them if you want to improve them. Also take into account new expenses you may have in response to 2020, like staffing changes and Paycheck Protection Program loans. Take stock of what’s new and different for your business this year and include it in your budget plan. Remember the Essentials Even though last year was a wild ride, you can’t throw all your best practices out the window. Certain budget- forward thinking will always be essential, no matter where your business has landed. If sales are strong, drive profits while you can to build your reserves. Modify your products or services to align with customer behavior. Keep your accounts receivable clean. Don’t use credit cards to finance your business. Pay close attention to your balance sheet to keep a handle on debt. Cultivate an ongoing relationship with your banker. If you find a reliable baseline, are willing to be flexible and realistic, and if you can recalibrate your plans on the go, you can budget your way to a much better year.

This is the time of year when businesses would usually be looking at their budget and planning for the coming year. But COVID-19 has made the future entirely unpredictable, which makes properly planning your budget difficult. But all is not lost — there are some basic budgeting tactics you can implement to face 2021 with confidence. Create a Forecast If you’re not entirely confident in your ability to forecast sales for 2021, you’re not alone. But you do still have options. If 2020 went great, perhaps try setting your sights up 10% from last year. If you want to play it safe, keep your forecast on par with 2020. If even that doesn’t feel reliable, then jump back to 2019 and use it as a base for creating your budget. You can ramp up 10% or 20% from there. Don’t just forecast this year blindly — use >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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