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Are You Running Your Technology or is Your Technology Running You?

Article Overview: Are you running your technology or is your technology running you? Learn how to simplify your company's technology while enhancing your business.

Free Download - Stuck Launching Your Business? By Stefan Doering

Are You Running Your Technology or is Your Technology Running You?

Six months ago I was reallyconcerned about the future of my business. I had to decide whether to pursue an opportunity of a life time teaching atColumbiaUniversityor continue full-time with my coaching company.

In the endI decided to cut back the coaching to 3-days a week. But in order to do this and not mess up the company, I hadsubstantiallysimplify the operations.

One ofbiggest simplification steps is counter-intuitive:toreally cool it with the technology, which was consuming the company’s vital resources.

Unusual decisionconsidering my background:BBA and MBAin Information Systems,formersystemsprogrammerrunningacomputer system for 250,000 employees.Subsequentlyran aninternet-basedtechnology company.

And whileI still feeltechnology isextremelyimportantto effectively compete in today’s market as a small company, enough was enough.

The spendinghours and hourslearning the latest and greatesttechno-marketing trendslike podcasting, affiliate programs, videomarketingand on and on.

Or thealmost$20,000spenton websitedesign anddevelopment only tolater set up our current websiteforless than $350plus$15/monthmaintenance.

I havescreened,hired, and fired Search Engine Optimization (SEO)vendorsthat promised increased trafficofand exposuretomany, many people.

What didthis do forsales?Market exposure?Quality of service?Customer recognition andloyalty?

Well, if I were really honest with myself, not a whole lot.

So whenwe simplified the company’s technology, it caused me to shift thetime and energy I was putting into all those whistles and bellsandbuild relationships withourleads and customers the old-fashioned way. I made phone calls, answerede-mails,andmet people, and spoke tolive groups.

Justbeingwithpeople. Giving them what they most desire…human interaction.

Now here is the interesting thing. After scaling back a lot of these frivolous technology-based products and services the business is now rocking. Sales are coming in238%over last year (into the six-figures.)

All onthree days a week.

Action Step for the Week:

Take inventory of your technology. Review each system you currently use. Determine your expensesofeach (as much as you can.) Do this by adding your direct costs (i.e. monthlyproductfees) with the indirect costs (i.e.yourlabor). Compare this total to the revenue it produces.

Next,seriously consider letting go of anytechnologynot generating a minimum of 3-to-1 sales-to-cost ratio. This means for every $100 you spend onthat particulartechnology it should produce atleast$300,otherwise chuck it.

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Article Tags: decrease, entrepreneurs, human interaction, saving money, technology

About the Author: Stefan Doering
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Hi, my name is Stefan Doering. Since 1987, I’ve been pioneering new approaches to environmental business and sustainability. After having started one of the first green retail businesses in the country and growing it to one of the largest, I now have coached hundreds of green businesses as well as teach green entrepreneurism for various NYC programs and at Columbia University's Center for Environmental Research and Education. I focus on three major areas:

1) Innovating powerful green business models,

2) Crafting and implementing marketing and positioning strategies for bringing green to mainstream, and

3) Creating a consistently profitable and sustainable business.

Click here to visit Stefan's website