NEWS

Computer Troubleshooters February 2012 Newsletter

Fred Givhan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:52:10 -0600


Technology Times

Insider Tips To Make Your Business Run Faster, Easier, And More Profitably	Volume V, Issue 2 February 2012 Dallas, TX

In This Issue

When An Employee Loses A Laptop, Phone Or Other Device, Who Should Pay?
How To Say No And Stop Dam Failure
How To Manage Your Company's Online Presence With One Simple App
Client Spotlight
Is Your Data Really Secure In The Cloud?
Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?
Shiny New Gadget of the Month: MoTool
How To Get More Done By Unlocking The Secrets Of Microsoft Office
The Lighter Side...Funny Love Quotes

"As a business owner, you don't have time to waste on technical and operational issues. That's where we shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!"

- Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters 214.363.6013
Get More Free Tips, Tools, and Services At My Web Site: www.fixyourpc.net

When An Employee Loses A Laptop, Phone Or Other Device, Who Should Pay?

Here's a little quandary for you to consider: If you have employees using company-owned laptops, phone or other devices, who's responsible for replacing them if they get lost, stolen or damaged? This is a sticky question and one that needs to be addressed BEFORE Joe walks into your office to sheepishly admit he's left his laptop at Starbucks last night.

Under federal law, an employer has the right to deduct the costs of a lost or damaged device from their employee's paycheck, PROVIDED that deduction doesn't drop the employee's compensation below minimum wage. However, California considers the loss and damage of electronic devices to be a cost of doing business and will only allow you to charge back your employees if they were negligent. Other states may have similar laws - so the first thing you should do is check with an attorney who specializes in employment law for your state to know what you can and can't do.

Next, decide what your policy is going to be on this topic and communicate that in writing to your employees. It should outline what care they should take with company-owned mobile devices as well as the consequences of losing or damaging them. Yes, the term "policy" makes us all cringe, but it's important to make sure you and your employees have a written understanding of what your expectations are, as well as what their responsibility is.

A BIGGER Loss To Consider

The cost of replacing a lost device is actually insignificant compared to the bigger cost and risk of the data it contains. Of course this opens up another can of worms all employers need to think about – security on mobile devices. And since some employees are using their OWN devices, you'll need to think through what the rules are for company owned AND employee owned devices. (Aside, putting your data in the cloud can help).

But one thing is for sure: if you and your employees are storing sensitive information like passwords, credit card information, client or patient data on mobile devices, extra care MUST be taken to ensure the security of that data if the device is stolen. As always, if you need help in determining what your policy should be and how to secure mobile devices, give us a call. This service is free to all of our top-tier managed service clients.

How To Say No And Stop Dam Failure

Are you about to experience dam failure? Let me explain what I mean. As a CEO Coach, I have conversations with leaders of companies from a variety of industries, shapes and sizes. Yet one pattern that nearly all these business leaders share is that they say "yes" too often.

Think about your schedule like a reservoir with the dam. Every time you say yes to something, you're adding more and more water to that reservoir. Say yes too often and pretty soon you're going to have to open the spillway to let something else out. Keep this up for a while, and eventually you'll experience dam failure.

To protect your reservoir of time, I'm going to give two tips that you can use to help you say "no" more often than you say "yes."

The first deals with saying no to others. The more successful you become as a business owner or a CEO, the more people will be drawn to you. They'll want you to be involved in their projects. That's not to say that you should say no to all of them, but you need to be judicious in the "yeses."

A simple way to handle this is to ask for requests through email. Email allows you to review their request in a calm environment, away from social pressure, and view it in relation to your calendar. Then, if you decide to say no, you can take your time to craft a diplomatic response.

The second tip deals with saying no to yourself. Most entrepreneurs, business owners, and CEOs are great idea generators. They have many ideas about business improvements or maybe even new business ventures. However, when they say yes to too many of those ideas, pretty soon they have to open the spillway of their time reservoir, causing them to neglect other things—or, even worse, experience dam failure.

I recommend using a perhaps list. A perhaps list is a running list of all those great ideas that you have. Put ideas on that list, and then set up a schedule—perhaps once per month—to review that list and decide whether it's time to add something new to your already busy schedule. These two simple tips will help protect your precious time and focus. Follow them consistently, and you'll go a long way toward avoiding dam failure.

Guest article provided by: Dave Crenshaw is an author, speaker and CEO coach. He has appeared in TIME magazine, Forbes, SIRIUS XM Radio, and the BBC News. His first book, The Myth of Multitasking: How 'Doing It All' Gets Nothing Done, has been published in six languages and is a time management best seller. His latest book, Invaluable: The Secret to Becoming Irreplaceable, is also an organizational behavior and motivational bestseller. Dave has helped thousands of clients worldwide harness chaos, get focused, and build invaluable businesses.

How To Manage Your Company's Online Presence With One Simple App

So you've bought into the whole social media and online marketing idea and you're Tweeting, posting to Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging and using Google+ (not to mention dozens of other online tools and resources) to promote your company. Whew!

However, here's the little "gotcha" to all of this that you might not have thought about: how do you manage all of this? And how can you keep an eye on these various web sites to make sure you're not missing a customer service issue, negative post or even a sales opportunity? The answer is Hootsuite.

Hootsuite is an online aggregation tool that allows you to review and manage all your online postings and presence through a simple, easy to use interface. All in one place, you can manage your company's Twitter accounts, your personal Facebook account, your company Facebook fanpage, your LinkedIn posts, your WordPress blog entries and even more. You can even assign rights to any of your accounts to other team members without ever giving up a single password.

Other helpful features of HootSuite include:

Monitor social mentions of your name or company wherever they happen.
Pre-schedule posting to happen any time in the future.
Easily post your message across multiple social media sites with the simple click of a button in your HootSuite portal.
Create custom reports to see where your traffic goes and what is working.

Client Spotlight: National Realty Partners

When Bill Langhenry at National Realty Partners had his laptop brought to a halt by a particularly nasty malware infection, he brought it in to us for a virus cleanup to be performed as quickly as possible. Within 2 days, not only was his laptop malware-free, but we were even able to optimize his network. National Realty Partners specializes in the acquisition and sale of investment real estate, and has over 25 years of nationwide experience. Call Bill at 214.692.6920 for details.

**Would you like your company highlighted here in our "Client Spotlight"? Then give us a call today at 214.363.6013.**

Is Your Data Really Secure In The Cloud?

Are you thinking about moving all or parts of your computer network "to the cloud" but worried about who can access your data? You're not alone – but many security experts, software companies and cloud service providers alike agree that cloud computing offers a MORE secure way to store data. In fact, the US government's cyber security adviser Howard Schmidt had said that cloud computing will enable businesses to catch up on security issues.

That's because most small businesses do NOT have high-security measures in place for their data onsite and lack tight password protection policies, firewall management and backup procedures. The same business owners who verbalize their concern about putting their data in the cloud are backing up their entire network to a tape drive and leaving it in their car overnight – or are using weak passwords for important access points to their network, which are much bigger security risks than storing it in a highly secure, highly redundant cloud platform. That's like saying you'd rather stuff your money into a mattress at home than keep it in a bank because you're not sure who can see and touch your money.

Of course, with any data storage there is risk and there's no way to completely guarantee absolute security. That said, most cloud providers are far more diligent about security and invest millions of dollars into ensuring all aspects of security are as tight as possible. At Computer Troubleshooters we have spent a considerable amount of time investigating various cloud solutions and vendors for our clients. If you want more information on cloud security and what to look for, you can always call Joel at 214.363.6013.

Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?

Take my monthly "Trivia Challenge" and you could win too! The Grand Prize Winner of last month's Trivia Challenge Quiz is Weldon Bradley of Garland! He or she was the first person to correctly answer my quiz question from last month: Which of these famous people has a birthday of January 1st?

The choices were: a) Betsy Ross b) Paul Revere c) J. Edgar Hoover d) All of the above. The correct answer is d) All of the above. Congratulations, Weldon, you've won a $25 Tom Thumb Gift Card!

Now, here's this month's trivia question. The winner will receive a gift card to Tom Thumb.

Computer Scientist, Tim Berners-Lee is noted for creating? a) The First Computer b) The World Wide Web c) Turbo Tax Software d) Web Conferencing

Call me right now with your answer! 214.363.6013

Shiny New Gadget Of The Month The Mo-Tool

Everyone knows the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but do you know the second fastest way? With tools!

So, here's the perfect Valentine's Day gift. It's not just any tool, this is like a Swiss Army knife on steroids.

The Mo-Tool (short for more tool) is power-packed with:

Axe blade
Hand-crafted red oak wood inlay handle
Hammer head
Screwdrivers
Knives
A can opener
Wire cutter
File
Pliers
A wrench

It's perfect for the garage or even as an emergency tool set to keep in your vehicle. Give one to your dad, your uncle, your best friend or your son. It's a handy tool anyone would appreciate having.

They can be found at Amazon for around $40.

How To Get More Done By Unlocking The Secrets Of Microsoft Office

I read somewhere that the average Microsoft Office user uses less than 10% of the features available to them in the software. If that's true, then Office is a treasure trove of shortcuts, tools and features just waiting to be unleashed. Of course, we don't know what we don't know – which is why most people never invest in training to learn these features and tools and make shorter work of various projects. To quote an old axiom, "We're too busy chopping trees to stop and sharpen the axe."

Of course, not all training is created equal and you DO want to make sure you are getting the biggest bang for your buck; so the first thing you need to determine is, which software applications do you use the most? Word? Excel? Publisher? Next, you need to determine your learning style. Are you good at self-study or do you prefer to have someone walking you through the lessons? There are many self-study and online courses to choose from, such as those found at www.selfstudysource.com. Investigate and choose a program that's right for you!

The Lighter Side…Funny Love Quotes

There is a place you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart. ~ Melanie Griffith

Love is grand; divorce is a hundred grand. ~Anonymous

I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox. ~Woody Allen

Forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate. ~Anonymous

The great question... which I have not been able to answer...is, "What... does a woman want?" ~Freud

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience. ~Samuel Johnson

An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her. ~Agatha Christie

Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. ~ Albert Einstein

You can't put a price tag on love, but you can on all its accessories. ~Melanie Clark

"As a business owner, you don't have time to waste on technical and operational issues. That's where we shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!"

- Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters 214.363.6013
Get More Free Tips, Tools, and Services At My Web Site: www.fixyourpc.net

Computer Troubleshooters - 6803 Hillcrest Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75205 214.363.6013 info@fixyourpc.net

Technology Times January 2012

Fred Givhan — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:26:18 -0600

Technology Times

Insider Tips To Make Your Business Run Faster, Easier, And More Profitably

In This Issue

So What Is Cloud Computing And Why Should You Care?
Shiny New Gadget of the Month: Brain Massager
Kid Logic On Smart Buying And Careers
How To Finally Hit Your Top 5 New Year's Resolution Thanks To High-Tech
The Top 10 Technology Trends For 2012
The Difference Between Backup, Disaster Recovery And Business Community
Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?

"As a business owner, you dont have to waste on technical and operational issues. That's where we Shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!"
-Fred Givhan, Computer Troubleshooters

So What Is Cloud Computing And Why Should You Care?

The web and cloud computing is to storing and processing data what the electrical grid and electric company is to plugging in your coffee maker: a more convenient, more reliable and less expensive way to access the "computing power" and resources needed for the tools you use.

Traditional computer networks are undergoing the same technological revolution the one that altered our use of electric generators in the early 1900s.

During the industrial revolution, factories were required to produce their own electric power to operate the machines they used to produce their wares. In 1851, the man leading the pack was Henry Burden, an industrial giant who built the largest and most powerful electricity-generating water wheel in the world. At top speed this 600 foot, 250 ton machine could produce 500 horsepower, generating enough electricity to power the tools in his factory. This invention made Burden a very powerful and wealthy man.

Fast Forward 50 Years…

By the early years of the twentieth century, this once-world class, cutting edge technology was abandoned, left to rust in a field of overgrown grass. Why? Because Thomas Edison and his Pearl Street electricity generating station had realized the concept of providing electricity as a utility. It caught on like wild fire because it eliminated the large cost and complexity of running a factory, and within a very short period of time it became a competitive necessity for factories to tap into the cheaper electrical grid instead of produce their own electricity.

The Same Technological Revolution Is Happening Today With Cloud Computing

If you think about it, there's a good chance that MOST of the software applications you use every day are SaaS applications, or "software as a service." In other words, you don't have to install it on your server or PC – you simply access it as a pay-as-you-go model for only the licenses, space and features you use. This gives you, the user, the ability to access highly sophisticated software and functionality at a fraction of the cost – or even for free – and without long-term commitments.

For example, Google is a massive, free cloud application – the power required to search billions of web sites and content in seconds and deliver the relevant results to your screen far exceeds the capacity of your PC. Facebook is another free cloud application that allows you to post pictures, play games, and connect with your friends in real time without having to install those applications on your computer. Of course, there are also the applications such as Salesforce, Constant Contact, Zoomerang, etc., that you pay to use..

With the introduction of cloud-based office applications like Office 365, Google Apps and thousands of other SaaS applications, it's becoming unnecessary for some businesses to purchase and maintain an onsite server. Now we can host one or more of your applications, data, e-mail and other functions "in the cloud." That simply means it's stored offsite in a highly secure, high-availability "utility" company that has far more power and resources than you could ever logically have onsite as a small business. And with devices getting cheaper and Internet connectivity exploding, cloud computing is suddenly a very smart, viable option for small business owners.

What Are The Benefits?

Eliminates the need for expensive server upgrades and allows you to use cheaper devices (PCs, etc.) to get the same work done
Frees you to access applications from any device and any location. All you need is an Internet connection
Built-in disaster recovery and business continuity
Only pay for what you need and use (utility pricing)

Is Cloud Computing Right For You?

While there are a ton of benefits to cloud computing, it's NOT right for every company. Some applications don't play well in the cloud. You need commercial-grade Internet connectivity, and some functions, like working with big graphics files, are better kept local or the slowness will make you crazy. However, in almost every case, parts of your computer network (functions) can easily be put in the cloud to save you money and give you better service. So before you donate your server and sign up for Google Apps or Office 365, it's important you talk to someone who can honestly assess your unique situation and tell you the pros and cons of making the switch to cloud computing.

That's why we're offing all clients a FREE Cloud Readiness Assessment. At no cost or obligation, we'll come to your office and conduct a complete review of your computer network, data, software, hardware and how you work. From there, we can provide you with insights and helpful answers as to how you might benefit from cloud computing.

To claim your free Cloud Readiness Assessment, visit our website at www.fixyourpc.net or give us a call at 214-363-6013. Offer ends 1/31/12.

Shiny New Gadget of the Month: Brain Massager

Some days the stress builds up so much you can physically feel it. Common therapy for stress is a foot massage or neck massage to release some tension. But what about your brain? Isn't that what is really working overtime?

Now, for those times when your brain is overworked and needs a break, you can give it a massage. The USB Brain Massager relieves tension in your head by stimulating the thousands of nerve endings located on your scalp. It is convenient, easy to use, and provides different intensities of vibration.

This magic device has been known to improve your blood circulation, metabolism, immunity, and sleep quality, while also relieving pain and pressure and even enhancing your memory. You can get yours today for around $40.

www.kleargear.com

The Lighter Side: Kid Logic On Smart Buying And Careers

A little kid was looking at the large ripe watermelons growing in the gardener's melon patch. "I'll give you my twenty five cents for that watermelon," said the boy pointing to a beautiful, large, ripe fruit in the middle of the patch.

"No," said the gardener, "I get $2 for a watermelon like that one." The little boy pointed to a tiny watermelon just beginning to grow nearby. "Will you take twenty five cents for that one?"

"Sure," replied the gardener, "I'll give you that one for twenty five cents."

"OK," said the little kid, sealing the deal by putting the coin in the gardener's hand, "I'll pick it up in about two weeks."

6-year-old Jimmy, a precocious kid, always told everyone he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up. One day as Jimmy was running through his house playing, he ran into the corner of a table and hurt his eye. Being a little kid, Jimmy cried for a while but also kept saying, "Oh no, now I can never be a doctor when I grow up."

Jimmy's mom trying to reassure him told Jimmy that he could still be a doctor but Jimmy kept insisting that he couldn't.

Finally she asked, "Why can't you be a doctor, Jimmy?"

Holding one hand over his injured eye, Jimmy said, "Because now I will have to be a pirate!"

How To (Finally) Hit Your Top 5 New Year's Resolutions Thanks To High-Tech

Thinking about setting the "usual" New Year's resolutions of losing weight, being more organized and getting out of debt, but have a feeling deep down you aren't going to follow through? We're here to help! Below are 5 common New Year's resolutions and simple techie ways to keep you on track.

Be More Productive

If improving your time-management skills is one of your New Year's resolutions, this will be a BIG help: Turn off the automatic send and receive for your e-mail (I can almost hear the gasps of horror). Admit it, you're addicted to e-mail and if you're like most people, you're checking it constantly. In fact, there's a good chance it's the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night. If you want to stop the constant temptation to lose focus on your work, simply turn off the automatic send and receive function, forcing you to click on the "Send And Receive" button at set times. If that's too "cold turkey," you could at least turn off the sound and icon popup so you're not distracted by it while working.
Save Time

After e-mail, checking social media sites can be another huge time suck. If you (and possibly your staff) are wasting a lot of time on Facebook, good content filtering software can keep you in check by preventing you from accessing these sites from your work PC. You can also allow certain people in your company access while blocking others; so if you have a web manager or marketing manager who needs to access these sites for work but find it too tempting for YOU, we can configure the system to assist you with that temptation.
Get Out Of Debt And Start Saving More

If you feel like you can't get a handle on where your money goes, check out www.Mint.com. This site automatically compiles all your bank statements, retirement and credit card accounts to give you one snapshot of where you're spending money – and it's FREE! Best of all, you only need to set it up once and it will automatically update your finances and put them into easy-to-read graphical reports – and since Mint.com connects to almost every US banking and financial institution with internet banking capability, you won't have to manually enter your information over and over again. The site offers ways to save money, allows you to set financial goals and keeps track of those goals automatically.
Lose Weight

Pearson's Law states that anything measured improves, and anything measured and reported upon improves exponentially; so if you want to lose weight, you might sign up for www.MyFoodDiary.com and start tracking everything you eat. This site allows you to set and track your weight loss goals by allowing you to post what you ate and then counting calories for you. If nothing else, it will help you think BEFORE you eat because you need to track the calories!
Get Organized!

If you're like me, you've got a million things going on – from business, family and everything in between, it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget tiny (but important!) details. Using Evernote can help. Evernote allows you to capture and organize any files, notes, web sites, audio or hand written notes in one easy-to-learn interface. And with the mobile app, you can capture a to-do item or reminder at any time without the fear of losing it.

Get More Free Tips, Tools, and Services At My Web Site: www.fixyourpc.net

The Top 10 Technology Trends For 2012

During the Symposium ITxpo 2011, Gartner unveiled its prediction for the top technology trends in 2012.

Mobility and social media are taking a front seat for the ride into the future. Many of these technologies will drive the future of your business if they aren't already:

Media tablets and beyond
Mobile-centric applications and interfaces
Contextual and social user experience
Internet of Things
App stores and marketplaces
Next-generation analytics
Big Data
In-memory computing
Extreme low-energy servers
Cloud computing

The Difference Between Backup, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

If you think "data backup" is synonymous with "disaster recovery" and aren't sure what "business continuity" means, you're not alone. Most of the business owners we talk to make the mistake of not knowing the difference and end up paying the price when data is lost, a network goes down or a disaster prevents them from accessing their physical office and the server inside.

First, data backup simply means a copy of your data is replicated to another device or location. Tape drives, offsite backup and even USB devices provide data backup. Data backup is obviously important. However, the more important consideration is whether or not your backup solution provides easy disaster recovery, or the ability for you to recover all your files, software and functionality quickly, easily and without corruption.

For example, if your server died, you wouldn't be able to quickly get back to work if you only had file-level backup. In order for you to start working again, your server would need to be replaced, all software re-installed, data re-installed and then the whole system would need to be configured with your settings and preferences. This process could take hours or even days – and that's if you have all your software licenses and a clean copy of your data.

Then there's business continuity. This is the ability for your business to continue to operate even after a major disaster. For example, if you ran an accounting firm and your building burned to the ground, you'd be out of business if all your files were on the server only. However, if you had your network in the cloud (see our first article) your employees could continue to work from home or some other location, giving your business continuity.

Of course, you need all three at some level. At a minimum you need to make sure you have in place the right backup and disaster recovery plan for your tolerance for downtime, and a plan for how your business could continue to operate if you could no longer access your building, server or data. You should review your plan annually. If you want a simple and easy way to get all of this handled, give us a call! We specialize in planning, implementing and managing these projects so you don't have to.

Get More Free Tips, Tools, and Services At My Web Site: www.fixyourpc.net

Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?

Take my monthly "Trivia Challenge" and you could win too!

The Grand Prize Winner of last month's Trivia Challenge Quiz is Bill Langhenry of Dallas! He was the first person to correctly answer my quiz question from last month: On December 3rd, 1967, what medical breakthrough took place?

The choices were:
a) The first successful Siamese twin separation
b) Artificial insulin was first produced
c) The first successful heart transplant occurred. The correct answer is
c) The first successful heart transplant occurred!

Congratulations, Bill, you've won a $25 Gift Card to Tom Thumb!

Now, here's this month's trivia question. The winner will receive a gift card to Tom Thumb.

Which of these famous people has a birthday of January 1st?

a) Betsy Ross
b) Paul Revere
c) J. Edgar Hoover
d) All of the above

Call me right now with your answer! 214-363-6013

Get More Free Tips, Tools, and Services At My Web Site: www.fixyourpc.net

Technology Times December 2011

Fred Givhan — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:55:45 -0600

Technology Times

Insider Tips To Make Your Business Run Faster, Easier, And More Profitably

In This Issue

What Every Business Owner MUST Know To Protect Against Online Identity Theft
Humble Beginnings
The 15 Most Important Rules Of E-mail Etiquette
Skype – It's Much More Than Video Chatting
Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card
The Lighter Side…Swimming With Alligators
Shiny New Gadget Of The Month: Quirky Ray Solar Powered Charger

"As a business owner, you don't have to waste on technical and operational issues. That's where we Shine! Call us and put an end to your IT problems finally and forever!"
-Fred Givhan, Computer Troubleshooters

What Every Business Owner MUST Know To Protect Against Online Identity Theft

All it takes is one innocent security slip by you or one of your employees to instantly give online criminals the information they need to access your network and steal your identity. In no time at all, they can gain enough information to max out your credit cards, wipe out your bank accounts, and completely obliterate your business and personal credit. They can even use your identity to commit further crimes such as forgery, stealing from other businesses, or online scams. This nightmare can take months - sometimes years - to clean up and can destroy your credit and good name.

That's why for a limited time I'm giving away FREE copies of my new eBook, "What Every Business Owner MUST Know To Protect Themselves Against Online Identity Theft" (a $19.97 Value, FREE during December). This critical eBook will reveal:

The three most effective tricks online identity thieves use to gain access to your business and personal information - and how to avoid them
Sneaky e-mails you should delete IMMEDIATELY upon receiving them (you'll want to share this list with your friends, family and staff).
One super-easy, sure-fire way to make your computer network impervious to online identity thieves.
How to protect yourself against NEW scams being spread through social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.
How to keep your employees from accidentally giving away passwords and other "keys to the kingdom" to Internet criminals.

To download your free copy, go to the web site below. Copies of this eBook will be made available for FREE until January 31, 2012.

http://fixyourpc.net/ebooks

If you have questions about how we can assess your network to verify you have all of the best identity theft protection in place, give us a call a 214-363- 6013

Humble Beginnings

In the early 1960's, Phillip Knight and his college track coach, William Bowerman, sold imported Japanese sneakers from the back end of a station wagon. They invested $1,000 in start-up costs to get their company off and running.

In 1907, two teenagers from Seattle began a message-and-parcel delivery service for local merchants. The total investment to get their company started was $100.

With $900, Tom Monaghan and his brother bought a small pizzeria in 1960 and expanded their company using a simple strategy: locate their stores near college campuses or military bases and deliver their pizza within 30 minutes of receiving an order. Tom Monaghan didn't finish college, but as he would note, he stayed long enough to learn that college kids eat a lot.

In 1933, with $923 of their own money and $5,000 that they borrowed, two brothers with no business experience, rented a warehouse in Modesto, Calif., and launched their business. Not only were they lacking business experience, they learned their new chosen profession, wine-making, by studying pamphlets at the local library.

An old, white-haired man drove around the country, giving out samples to people, of what he had cooked in the back of his station wagon. He wanted to show people just how good his fried specialty tasted.

Michael started his company in his college dorm room and ended up dropping out of college. Harvard college drop-out Bill and his high school friend Allen, moved into an Albuquerque hotel room, started a little computer software company and went bankrupt. Restarted it again, with a slightly different name, and the rest is history.

Today might not be going so well for you … and you or your company might be facing challenges or competition that seem to be overwhelming. I think it is safe to say Nike, United Parcel Service, Domino's Pizza, E & J Gallo Winery, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dell Computer, and Microsoft all felt the same way numerous times. Success comes to those who will persist, fight, challenge, and change when times get tough. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. If those great companies can come from such humble beginnings and make it work … so can you.

Guest article provided by: Robert Stevenson is a highly sought after, internationally known speaker. He is the author of the best-selling books ―How to Soar Like An Eagle in a World Full of Turkeys‖ and ―52 Essential Habits For Success.‖ Robert is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and is a former All-American Athlete. He started his first business at 24 and has owned several companies. Robert has international sales experience dealing in over 20 countries and his client list reads like a Who's Who in Business. He has shared the podium with such renowned names as Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf, Former President George H.W. Bush, Anthony Robbins and Steven Covey. For more from Robert Steveson, visit http://www.robertstevenson.org/

The 15 Most Important Rules Of E-mail Etiquette
More than 80 years have passed since Emily Post wrote her first book on etiquette. Back then, the rules had more to do with how to properly introduce someone and which fork to use at a dinner party. But with the introduction of new communication tools comes new rules of engagement. Here are 15 quick tips and rules for what is— and isn't—acceptable behavior when using e-mail.
Be concise and to the point. Read your e-mail to make sure it makes sense before sending to avoid e-mail "ping-pong." Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation. This is still a communication and a representation of YOU. Sloppy spelling and punctuation looks unprofessional. Don't use e-mail to deliver bad or personal news. If you need to discuss a serious matter with someone, only use e-mail to request a face to face meeting or phone call, not to deliver the news. Do not attach unnecessary files, especially large ones. Sending big files can cause someone's e-mail system to clog, shut down or crash. Instead, use www.yousendit.com for large documents. Do not overuse the high priority option. Use it only when something is truly critical and time sensitive. Do not write in CAPITALS—it's the equivalent of shouting. Don't leave out the message thread. Give your recipients an easy way to opt-out or remove themselves from your list. Do not overuse ―Reply to All. If you have a message for the sender that is not relevant to everyone else, make sure you only send it to that person Do not ―CC everyone when sending a broadcast to multiple people. Instead, use the bcc (blind carbon copy) to keep everyone's e-mail private. Don't overuse abbreviations and emoticons. Don't use neon colors, hard to read fancy fonts and background images. They make it difficult—if not impossible—to read your message. Only use rich text and HTML messages when you are certain the recipient can receive that type of message. Many people can only open text messages, and most rich text and HTML messages don't convert well. Do not forward a message that was sent to you without permission from the original sender. Do not use email to discuss confidential information. If you don't want the entire world to see it, then don't put it in an e-mail.

Skype – It's Much More Than Video Chatting

When most people think of Skype, they think of video chatting. The truth is, Skype is much more. Skype works on your computer, regular phone, or cell phone and runs off your Internet connection so you can talk, IM, send pictures, videos and conduct live video conferences for free with anyone else in the world that also has Skype. It even works on various game consoles.

You can also use Skype to make calls, texts, and video conferences to phone numbers that do not have Skype. Because of its versatility, ease of use, and low-cost, many businesses are adopting the technology to help them communicate with their mobile workers and with vendors from around the world.

To set up Skype on your computer, simply go to www.skype.com and click on the "Download" tab. To install on your mobile phone, open up your phone's web browser and go to skype.com/m.

Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?

Take my monthly "Trivia Challenge" and you could win too!

The Grand Prize Winner of last month's Trivia Challenge Quiz is Jerry Alcoa of Dallas! He or she was the first person to correctly answer my quiz question from last month:

In addition to Thanksgiving and Veteran's Day, what else takes place in November in the United States?
a) National Beard Month

b) National Tobacco Awareness Month

c)National World Kindness Day

d) All of the above

The correct answer is d) All of the above.

Congratulations, Jerry, you've won a $25 Tom Thumb Gift Card! Now, here's this month's trivia question. The winner will receive a gift card to Tom Thumb.

On December 3rd, 1967, what medical breakthrough tookplace?

a) The first successful Siamese Twin separation

b) Artificial insulin was first produced

c) The first successful heart transplant

Call me right now with your answer! 214-363-6013

The Lighter Side…Swimming With Alligators

A CEO throwing a party takes his executives on a tour of his opulent mansion. In the back of the property, the CEO has the largest swimming pool any of them has ever seen.

The huge pool, however, is filled with hungry alligators.

The CEO says to his executives, "I think an executive should be measured by courage. Courage is what made me CEO. So this is my challenge to each of you: if anyone has enough courage to dive into the pool, swim through those alligators, and make it to the other side, I will give that person anything they desire. My job, my money, my house, anything!"

Everyone laughs at the outrageous offer and proceeds to follow the CEO on the tour of the estate. Suddenly, they hear a loud splash. Everyone turns around and sees the CFO in the pool, swimming for his life. He dodges the alligators left and right and makes it to the edge of the pool with seconds to spare. He pulls himself out just as a huge alligator snaps at his shoes.

The flabbergasted CEO approaches the CFO and says, "You are amazing. I've never seen anything like it in my life. You are brave beyond measure and anything I own is yours. Tell me what I can do for you.

The CFO, panting for breath, looks up and says, "You can tell me who pushed me in the pool!"

Shiny New Gadget Of The Month: Quirky Ray Solar Powered Charger

Have Sun, Will Travel

It happens all the time…you are out at a meeting, traveling or running errands, you look down and realize your smartphone is on its last bar of battery.

No need to fret when this happens again! Charging on the go has never been easier. With the Quirky ray solar powered charger, you simply connect your phone and suction the device to a nearby window (in your office, your car or even on an airplane) and it will begin to charge using the solar power surrounding you.

The charger measures 2.5 X 2.5 X 3 inches. Its suctioning stand absorbs solar energy while its battery stores the power. It provides enough energy to fully charge a mobile phone. The solar powered device has an LED indicator and also comes with a USB port to facilitate connections to electronic devices.

The flexible suction cup can be attached to any window to absorb solar energy. This is perfect for car and airline travel. Pre-order yours for around $40:
http://www.quirky.com/products

The 5 Signs Your Computer Hard Drive is Failing

Fred Givhan — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:24:48 -0500

Every day throughout the Park Cities, people pack up their computers and travel to Starbucks and other locations to work. Mobile computing has become increasingly popular, but many don’t think to take the necessary precautions to protect the valuable data stored on their computer. Laptops especially see a tremendous amount of movement, between loading and unloading from cars, going in and out of the case, and opening and closing the laptop, with or without properly shutting down the device.

In my line of work, I know how devastated a person will be if they lost all their data in a hard drive crash. I have seen several executives lose their entire work history. Some we have been able to recover and some we have not. Backing up your computer files is vital. Think about it, when was the last time you backed up your computer? Was it last week? Was it a month ago? Last year? Never? What would you do if your data was lost?

Signs of hard drive failure include:

Frequent Freezing: When the computer is on, the cursor fails to move and the keyboard strokes are unnoticed by the system. It is necessary to restart the computer before anything can be done.
Disappearing Files: If you are not deleting your files, but they go missing, this is an early sign of hard drive failure. Over time, the problem will increase.
Strange Noises: If your computer is making unusual mechanical noises such as grinding or thrashing sounds, it’s an indication of hard drive failure. Act quickly—the damage may not be done, but it’s headed that way fast.
Slow File Access: Does it take your computer a lot of time to access, save or open files? If so, take this as a sign that your hard drive is failing.
Blue Screen of Death: The Blue Screen of Death is the most obvious sign your hard drive will crash. If you see this, your hard drive is most likely on its way to failure.

Our advice:

Your hard drive is susceptible to failure, plan for it.
Prevent a disaster by having a back up plan in place
Back up consistantly!

Computer Troubleshooters would be more than happy to help. We can make this process very easy for you, with a secure, safe and automatic back up plan.

Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Fred Givhan, Owner
www.fixyourpc.net

University Park & Highland Park Seeing Several Mac Virus Issues

Fred Givhan — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:57:14 -0500

Just wanted to report that we are seeing Mac Malware attacks in our own backyard.

Several University Park and Highland Park clients have clicked on false warnings from Mac Defender, Mac Protector and Mac Security, stating that their computer is infected with a virus, and prompting them to buy software to clean it off.

The Malware is pretending to be an Anti Virus Software, that in turn, infects your computer with Malware.

Here are a couple of articles that explain in better detail the issue:

Article from Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/askjack/2011/may/26/ask-jack-malware-apple-macintosh

Article for Eweek: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Apple-Finally-Acknowledges-MacDefender-Scareware-Infections-Promises-Fix-606858/

Sincerely, Fred Givhan

Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Fred Givhan, Owner
www.fixyourpc.net

Beware of Osama Bin Laden Computer Virus

Fred Givhan — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:58:11 -0500

It is just starting to circulate in some of our virus alerts and technology updates that hackers are offering pictures and/or video of Bin Laden's body in email messages, facebook posts and shared links, to infect computers with spyware, viruses and malware.

Do not click on anything offering pictures or video of Bin Laden's body or actual raid!

...Fred

Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Fred Givhan, Owner
www.fixyourpc.net

Beware Computer Phishing Virus Going Around

Fred Givhan — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:29:51 -0600

There is an email circulating claiming to be from NACHA - an electronic payments system, stating that your ACH payment was cancelled. Beware that this could potentially harm your computer and do not open any attachments or links provided in the email. If you are not one of our BEST customers (managed service plan), please make sure that your virus software is current.

If you feel you may have been infected, we are a phone call away.

Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Fred Givhan, Owner
www.fixyourpc.net

Here is the actual Alert from NACHA - NACHA Phishing Alert (02/22/2011) Email Claiming to be from NACHA

NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association has received reports that individuals and/or companies have received a fraudulent email that has the appearance of having been sent from NACHA and signed by a non-existent NACHA employee. Specifically, this email claims to be from the "Electronic Payments Association" and appears to be coming from the email address "payments@nacha.org." See a sample of the email below.

Be aware that phishing emails frequently have attachments and/or links to Web pages that host malicious code and software. Do not open attachments or follow Web links in unsolicited emails from unknown parties or from parties with whom you do not normally communicate, or that appear to be known but are suspicious or otherwise unusual.

NACHA itself does not process nor touch the ACH transactions that flow to and from organizations and financial institutions. NACHA does not send communications to individuals or organizations about individual ACH transactions that they originate or receive.

If malicious code is detected or suspected on a computer, consult with a computer security or anti-virus specialist to remove malicious code or re-install a clean image of the computer system.

Always use anti-virus software and ensure that the virus signatures are automatically updated.

Ensure that the computer operating systems and common software applications security patches are installed and current.

Be alert for different variations of fraudulent emails.

= = = = = Sample Email = = = = = =
From:payments@nacha.org [mailto:payments@nacha.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 7:32 AM
To: Doe, John
Subject: ACH transaction rejected

The ACH transaction, recently sent from your checking account (by you or any other person), was cancelled by the Electronic Payments Association.

Please click here to view report
------------------------------------------------------------------

Otto Tobin,
Risk Manager
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The Buzz with the Verizon iPhone

Fred Givhan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:16:44 -0600

If you have been wondering about the impact or the difference between ATT and Verizon, regarding the iPhone, here are two article that may be of interest.

FROM CNN MONEY: Verizon iPhone: The big questions
FROM MASHABLE: What's the Difference Between ATT and Verizon's 3G Networks?

Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Fred Givhan, Owner
www.fixyourpc.net

Tipping Off the Burglars

Fred Givhan — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:30:11 -0600

Tip for the Day: Tis the season for burglaries. When you (or your kids) post on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Four Square etc, it is not a good idea to write in your status the following: At the Mall, At the Airport, At Starbucks, At a Party, Relaxing on the Beach, etc.

You get the idea. Basically, you are saying " Come on over, clean us out, the house is empty!"

Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Fred Givhan, Owner
www.fixyourpc.net

Better Check Your Verizon Bill!

Fred Givhan — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:56:40 -0500

If you are with Verizon for wireless, you may want to look over your bill closely. Looks like some refunds are in order. Click Here to Read Article

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 9 in Beta to Public

Fred Givhan — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:42:36 -0500

We are not recommending that you download the beta version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9 - just yet. Having just released on September 15, it will be interesting to follow the reviews and see how the public will embrace it.

Here is a good review by Engadget: Click Here to Read

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 9 in Beta to Public

Fred Givhan — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:39:32 -0500

We are not recommending that you download the beta version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9, just yet. Having just released on September 15, it will be interesting to follow the reviews and see how if the public will embrass it.

Here is a good review by Engadget: Click Here to Read

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

How Secure Is Your Email Password?

Fred Givhan — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:58:36 -0500

Great article on passwords. This is a must read!

Click Here Article

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Own A Dell Computer? A Story From Our Tech Bench

Fred Givhan — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:51:01 -0500

Last week a client brought in a Dell laptop. The motherboard was bad. Dallas, one of our CT techs, checked the warranty online and verified that the computer was out of warranty by a month or so.

However, Dell gave the option online to extend the warranty for $200.

Even though this seemed too good to be true, Dallas spoke with our client and we gave it a try.

The next day our Dell technician showed up and replaced the motherboard and the laptop is now working perfectly.

Even had replacing the motherboard not resolved the problem, under the warranty terms, Dell would have replaced the computer.

Dell went the extra mile to satisfy a customer. Do you think this customer will buy another Dell? You bet!

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

McAfee says malware threat at a new high

Fred Givhan — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:43:34 -0500

All computer users need to be on alert to make sure that your computer is in top condition to fight off Malware. McAfee says that even Apple users need to be aware

Click here to read article from MSNBC

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

It's A Rumor But A Good One!

Fred Givhan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:30:11 -0500

For the Apple Fans, we ran across this and wanted to share!

Ipad Mini & Iphone 5 Coming Soon!

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

New Gov rules allow unapproved iPhone Apps

Fred Givhan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:01:06 -0500

Owners of the iPhone will be able to legally unlock their devices so they can run software applications that haven't been approved by Apple Inc., according to new government rules announced Monday. more

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Antenna Problems with the New Iphone

Fred Givhan — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:00:47 -0500

Feedback from some of our customers show that the placement of the antenna on the new iPhone is causing some to drop calls. Steve Jobs response to the problem was to hold the phone a different way or buy a case.

- - - Steve Jobs Responds to Antenna Issue (techcrunch)
    - uTube Video on Reception and Key Demo

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Iphone Users! What are the New Features in iOS4

Fred Givhan — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:22:33 -0500

You don't need to buy a new iPhone to benefit from the features of Apple's new iOS4.

New Features in iOS4 software upgrade

Read my previous post for an article on installing. If you want us to do it, give us a call.

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net

Iphone Users! Time to Install iOS4

Fred Givhan — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:04:33 -0500

Here are step by step instructions with photos to download the new iOS4 version to you iphone

How to upgrade to iOS4 (source CNet)

Fred Givhan
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363 6013
info@fixyourpc.net