Handling IT concerns in any company can be a stressful task, and lying at the base of this stress is a simple imbalance between the capability of work that can be done by any given team, and the amount of work that is flowing in at any given time.

It therefore only stands to reason that, unless you can increase your staff to accommodate the work flow while avoiding Parkinson’s Law, the only surefire method to reduce the stress of working in an IT department is to better educate yourself and your staff in the best practices possible.

Sometimes this is a simple change in day to day work, other times an education comes with the realization that an increase in technology is needed. The purpose of this article is to inform well-meaning IT gurus and workers on some common sense techniques and practices that will increase performance without increasing overhead.

Maintaining an even baseline of efficiency over a certain period of time, barring any changes in the end user technology or any necessary IT training, should allow you to create a timeline for standard trouble tickets. Use this information to inform the end user, as this information removes the dreaded waiting game from their minds, and relieves much of the stress from both receiving and responding to complaints regarding the status of their ticket.

Always attempt to follow up a closed ticket with an attempt to gather feedback from the user. The most important forms of feedback should concern not only the ability of the IT responder, but the source of the problem, whether software, hardware, or both, and the strength of the proposed solution. This is where current technology plays its strongest role, as simplifying the source of software by considering a Dell virtualization server that operates through cloud computing can greatly reduce the complexity of software issues.

Each new ticket received should strive to quickly address the issue of the end user. This does not have to be a full assessment, it simply has to inform the user that their issue is being worked on. Addressing new tickets helps by not only informing the user of the timeline for resolution, but it can also be a source of quick fixes for known issues.

A scheduled day, out of either every quarter, or even every month, for an IT staffer to spend their time in another department, can result in a multitude of nagging problems being resolved. This not only reduces the number of tickets being forwarded, it can result in tickets being rescinded, and will improve the image of your IT department within the company.

Everyone lacks in something, and while this can be easily forgotten when helping others with their problems, it must be understood. Failing to empathize with an end user, or worse, giving poor attitude in response to a problem, can often halt the resolution process instead of speeding it along.

Do you dread going to work every day? Do you hate your job and feel like it’s going nowhere? Do you find it hard to pay the bills because your current job just doesn’t pay well? These are all reasons to find another career – a career that is pays well and provides the challenge that keeps you engaged every day.

With Palaestra Training, you can find that perfect job that will propel your career and life into something you want. You can receive CompTIA A+ certification and Microsoft certifications that will help you find a job or get promoted at your current job.

CompTIA A+ certification boosts a resume tremendously and makes you so much more marketable in the IT world. The fact is that the tech world is not going away any time soon. It’s here to stay and will continue to boom. Be at the front of the tech wave with CompTIA A+ certification and guarantee your spot in any job. Having technological certifications is helpful in any business. Since pretty much any type of company has or needs a tech department, this will give you many opportunities and allow you to set yourself apart from the rest.

Having Microsoft certifications will only make you more marketable in the workplace. Learning how to become a Windows 7 administrator is especially useful for anyone looking to move up or get hired. Windows 7 is the most robust and best operating system Microsoft has created and many companies are starting to transfer to it. With Palaestra Training, you can gain the skills necessary to install, upgrade, migrate, deploy and maintain a Windows 7 business setting. This will make you an invaluable asset to any company.

Whether you’re looking for a challenge or a job that gives you good income, make sure you get the right certifications to excel in the tech world. Let Palaestra Training help you make a difference in your life.

When it comes to getting ahead at work, there are lots of ways to improve your station in life.  Most people want the brass ring, but few are willing to do what it takes to get it.

As the old saying goes, “Some People Dream of Success, While Others Wake up and Work Hard at It”.  It really holds true, and work ethic is what separates the winners from losers.  No matter what the endeavor, be it work, sports, relationships, etc., nothing was ever attained without the consistent application of hard work.

Keeping this in mind, 10 things you can do to get ahead at work, are:

1. Be willing to do the things others wont.  That sounds like common sense, but it’s typically harder than it sounds.  Most people have their ‘”job description” and are resistant do extra work.  The immediate response from most people is “That’s not my job” or “am I getting paid extra for that”?  Be the one who does extra without being told, helps out a co-worker or picks up the slack when the rubber hits the road.
2. Be a team player.  No one likes the person who’s out only for themselves and if you have that mentality it will shine through in everything you do.  Most people have the WIIFM mentality (What’s In It for Me).  Again, separate yourself from the majority of people out there by being willing to help others without expecting anything back.  These things get noticed, even if it’s not an immediate return.
3. Do the job before you Get It.  What this means is that you have to function, as much as possible, in the role you want to get promoted into.  Showing your superiors you can do the job already goes a long way to getting you the gig.  After awhile, everyone already thinks of you in that role and your chances for promotion go up greatly.  Conversely, if you become the best “worker bee” ever, the company will see the value of keeping you in that role.  That seems to be in direct conflict with the first two suggestions, but it’s really not.  You can apply to first two, while taking on management or other roles (depending on where you want to go) and do things with the team in mind.
4. Always be Early.  The old adage “Get in Early and Work Late” holds true even in today’s virtual world.  Employers want to know your committed and being there when they need you goes a long way to that end.  Additionally, it shows co-workers and others that you are a go-to person.  Conversely, not being there or getting in late and leaving early builds resentment among others and brings the whole team down.  Being a leader, means leading by example and the more you do, the more encouraged your co-workers will be to do the same.
5. Model Success.  If you want to achieve a certain level of success, whatever that means to you, the quickest way to achieve that goal is to find someone else who already has achieved that goal, and do what they did.  That sounds incredibly overly-simplistic, and it is.  If you listen to any of the NLP practitioners, perhaps the most famous being Anthony Robbins, they talk in great detail about modeling.  “Success Leaves Clues”, and that really holds true.  Modeling is much more than just wearing the same suit or watch as someone successful.  It means learning what drives them, what beliefs they have, how they approach situations, how they make decisions, etc., and applying those same drivers to your own life. Easier said than done, but you don’t necessarily have to personally meet someone to get an insight into their mind and motivations.  Many successful people have written books and given interviews talking about their lives and what drives them.
6. Set Goals and Be Specific.  Very few things are more frustrating than working hard and getting nowhere.  Without specific, written goals, it’s very difficult to achieve success.  Your goals are your roadmap and will help you get to where you want to go by keeping you focused and on track.  Your goals (i.e. map) need to be specific and focused.  Just as it wouldn’t do you much good to be driving in Chicago with a map of Delaware, you must have a clear vision of what you want and how to get there.
7. Know Your Outcome.  In keeping with setting goals, knowing your outcome helps get you through any situation.  When you enter into a business meeting, interview, etc., know ahead of time what you want to achieve.  By knowing what you want and working backward from there, you can see at any point in time if you are on track, or if things need to be readjusted.  This can be applied to anything, even with things like meeting a new person, going to gym, time spent with family, etc.
8. Be Personable.  People like to feel good about themselves, and are attracted to people who make that happen.  Being upbeat, funny and engaging makes people feel good about themselves.  If people feel better when they’re around you than when they’re not, you’ll attract a great many people.  Some can help you achieve your goals directly, while others will help indirectly.
9. Understand Personality Types.  Almost everyone likes the same basic things (i.e. being liked, feeling appreciated and valued, laughing, feeling secure, etc).  Not everyone fills those things the same way though; and to be successful you need to figure out what connects with each person.  Some people like to discuss family or friends (be social) before getting down to business, while others couldn’t be bothered and just want the facts.  Some like specific details while others just want the bullet points.  Being able to adjust your approach for the different personality types increases your chance for connection and for success.
10. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously.  Being motivated and success driven is great and can provide an amazing life.  However, you must learn to balance that with rest, relaxation, good friends, family, etc.  Work, not to mention life, can be very stressful, and if you to be able to actually enjoy the fruits of your labor you need to learn how to pull back occasionally, put things on hold and recharge the batteries.  Be able to laugh at yourself and understand nothing is as important as your health.  Others pick up on that as well, and it helps give a sense of true genuineness to all the other traits mentioned here.

Windows Vista has been with us for awhile now, and SP1 was released a few months ago to address a number of issues. 

Overall, sales have been less than predicted and reviews throughout the PC world have been less than stellar.  All of this may make you ask, as an IT professional “Should I skip Vista all together and just wait for Windows 7”?

Definitely a valid question, but in all honesty, even though I’m not a massive fan of Vista (I love some things and hate others) there are a number of reasons to deploy now and not wait until Windows 7.

(more…)

It’s not often that I get excited about the launch of a new community site, but this one really caught my eye.

The site is www.tipd.com and it is a brand new site that provides the social and community aspects of sites like Digg that center around the financial sector.  With the global economy facing some extreme challenges www.tipd.com is perfectly positioned to provide a source of news and information, in real time, for financial, business and investment minded people.

After going through the site for awhile, I really think this is a great idea and a service that is sure to be useful to a lot of people.  Even though there are a lot of Digg like sites out there, this one comes along at a perfect time and is aimed at tapping into the crowdsourcing philosophy or providing useful financial tips.

In addition, Tipd.com has the backing of Muhammed Saleem, one of the top Diggers on the planet.  He definitely knows what makes a social site work and what is required for a successful implementation.

(more…)

As we all know, the US is currently in the middle of an economic crisis.  The true extent of that crisis depends on who you listen to. 

One thing is for sure however, and that is that we are currently in a major economic slowdown. 

Some major financial institutions have recently failed completely or had their assets seized including AIG, Bear Stearns, Wachovia and Washington Mutual along with some not as well known institutions such as IndyMac Bancorp Inc., First National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank NA of California.

What this means is that our economy is most definitely in trouble.  The housing market, sub-prime mortgage debacle and the impending credit crunch have all lead to plummeting consumer confidence. 

As I finish writing this the US government is stepping in and passing a $700 billion dollar bailout package.  Will this have a positive, long-term effect on the economy remains to be seen.

(more…)

Years ago, being “into” computers meant long, lonely walks home from school, eating lunch at tables far, far away from the “cool kids” and lengthy discussions about the relative impact of photon torpedoes and how Dr. Spock actually could be transported down to the surface of that mysterious planet.

These days, thankfully, Geek is the new Chic and being in the Information Technology (IT) industry offers a lot of opportunities and many benefits that we’ll list below.  When you finish reading our top 25, leave a comment and let us know your top few favorite reasons for being a IT pro.

If you’re in the IT industry, many of these will be common knowledge to you.  If you’re not in the industry yet, or thinking about making a change, you really need to consider these 25 Reasons why it’s Great to be an IT Guy (or Girl).

(more…)

When it comes to marketing on the Internet, and leveraging tools, technologies and trends there are a few major players out there. 

Several that we follow, and have learned a lot from over the last few years are Aaron Wall, Neil Patel and Jeremy Shoemaker, aka “ShoeMoney”

The ShoeMoney group has recently released a set of SEO tools that is sure to boost your business and make you more money if used correctly.

They have assembled a tool set that simplifies many SEO tasks and provides a way to really dig deep into areas only professional SEOs had access to before.  Their tools focus on three main areas, including SEO Tools, PPC Tools and Link Building Tools.

If you’re serious about driving your business to the next level, finding new ways to develop traffic, build backlinks and ultimately get ahead of your competition, you need these tools.

One of the most interesting tools is their expired domain checking tool, which allows you to see a real-time list of all the domains that have recently expired and are available to be registered.  Even more importantly, their tool shows you how many backlinks currently exist for the domain. 

In other words, you’re able to see how many backlinks from high authority domains like .edu, .gov and .mil currently exist for each expired domains.

This is pure gold for people looking to pick up domains that already have rank and authority in the search engines and either develop a site or business around it, or use it to drive traffic to an existing website.  This tool alone is worth the price, please check it out if your at all serious about building an online business.

ShoeMoney Tools is a definite “recommend” from us; and something everyone who runs a business online, or is thinking about developing an online business should take a serious look at.

When we talk about landing the perfect job, or creating “the career” we often focus on getting the education, the certification, the training (i.e. the technical aspects of the job).

Those things are of course extremely important and a necessary piece of the puzzle.

What many people overlook however, is the importance of building relationships.  Just as interconnecting networks of computers, routers and switches are the building blocks of the Internet; Interconnecting networks of people are really the life blood of business, of careers and ultimately of success.  Never downplay the importance of a connection, for that unlikely match-up might lead to the dream job, contract or business down the road.

Treating everyone with respect, and going out of your way to help others without the thought or need of an immediate return goes a long way to forging a reputation that mountains can be built upon. People will naturally gravitate toward things that make them feel good or better about themselves. (more…)

If you run a business online, the number one most important aspect of developing a successful business is attracting customers.  You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it your business will never reach its full potential.

Running a business online requires the obvious:

1. Dedication to developing a great product or service
2. Researching what your customers need (and even more importantly what they want)
3. Finding ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors

As a business owner what you might not realize is that you need equal dedication to ensuring your website can be found when potential customers are searching for what you sell.

The days of “build it and they will come” are over.  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a continuous process that is a requirement for online success. 

In an ideal situation, hiring a professional SEO consultant is your best bet.  If you don’t have the budget for professional SEO services (or even if you do but want to gain a better understanding of what SEO is all about), here is our list of 10 SEO sites you need to follow:

(more…)