The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy is locked in a hotel room tonight in Atlanta. The business coverage on CNBC is depressing. Inflation. Rising consumer prices. Rising energy prices. Is there any good news out there? Actually, yes. We all owe Intel a big thank you today. Here’s why.

Each day, companies die a little when their employees utter these seven fateful words: “We have always done it like that.” We are, it seems, victims of our own inefficient habits. Consider this real-world example of antiquated workflow, and its potential business impact.

Ouch. The VAR Guy spotted some troubling news about tech spending within the retail vertical. ScanSource, which distributes point of sale and barcode technology, released disappointing quarterly estimates this morning. For VARs serving the retail vertical, this could be a major warning sign.

So, you’re about to launch a business. Or perhaps you’re a solutions provider that’s helping an entrepreneur to get a business off the ground. Here are seven IT tools The VAR Guy would recommend for that fledgling business.

When you’re talking about the US economy, don’t use the word “recession.” Instead, stick with “shrinkage.” That seems to be the safest approach. A case in point: Fed Research Chairman Ben Bernanke said the US economy may shrink during the first half of this year, but he didn’t mention the “R” word.

Just like have the wrong employees on your team, the wrong clients can hurt your business and create a lifestyle you don’t enjoy. So, how can you attract the clients you want, avoid nightmare customers, and have a fulfilling and satisfying business life? Here are seven tips to get you started.

Sometimes good isn’t good enough. Profits are up at Oracle. And so are software sales. But the improvements fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, which has The VAR Guy worried. He turned off his laptop to escape from depressing online chatter — only to find the latest InformationWeek on his kitchen table. The cover story: “Recession and You.” Ouch.

So, we’re in a recession. At least, that’s what the media keeps telling The VAR Guy. Still, some areas of the economy remain healthier than others. In order to move forward with your own business plans, take a look at these five anecdotal pieces of info.

The VAR Guy is sickened by Bear Stearns’ fall from grace. But even worse, look at this video of Jim Cramer from March 11.Pathetic. Now, let’s look at six key lessons from the Bear Stearns Debacle.

Here we go.

In his book, “Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System,” Bill Gates presents the concept of the fully integrated business digital dashboard. But is it possible to develop that type of rich dashboard for your customers? Let’s take a look.