This month, I’ve started the exciting process of mentoring a business in Microsoft’s ModernBiz Technology Make-over. When Microsoft first approached me to get involved, it was a no-brainer. I love mentoring. I love technology. And I love helping small businesses harness the power of technology to make life easier.
The business in question is Guardian Strata, a specialist strata management company based in Sydney. This is a business that’s been going for seven years and is headed by a passionate business owner Ossie Pisanu. With his team of eight full-time staff, it faces many challenges that most small businesses need to deal with, and a raft of challenges that are specific to the strata industry.
With Renee Freedman from Guardian Strata
I’m particularly excited in helping this business because it’s very clear to me that Ossie and his team don’t just treat their work like a job. They want to do great work. They don’t want to be average. Enthusiasm like that is priceless and it can carry a business through some pretty tough times. Specifically, I’m mentoring Renee – one of Guardian’s strata managers – and while we are only at the start of our mentoring journey, I can already tell we’re going to have a fun ride.
Ossie, Renee and the rest of the team are not only going to get a technology make-over, they are being given access to a posse of other mentors assembled by Microsoft. Each of us brings different strengths to the table. I’m thrilled to be one of these mentors because that also means I’ll be working with a brains trust – and, together, we can make a real difference to this business.
I’ll be keeping you posted on the progress that Guardian Strata makes while they are undergoing their technology make-over during the next few months. Especially as I’ve already received emails from some of you asking how you can get your own technology make-over.
Well, you can actually do this on your own – and you can get started right now. Ask yourself these questions:
- What areas of your business can become more efficient – and how can you use technology to make this happen?
- What areas of your business frustrate you the most – and what steps can you put in place to turn this around?
- Who can you talk you to get ideas on how you can use technology to make life easier?
The answer to number 3 is an important one. Too often, I see small business owners bumble around and do things the hard way because they don’t know what they don’t know. Sometimes, it can be useful to talk to another business owner to get ideas on how they have harnessed the power of technology to improve their business processes. Have a coffee with a handful of owners or managers who run non-competitive businesses for the sole purpose of learning more about their use of technology.
Of course, check back here in the coming months too, as I’ll be updating you on each step of Guardian Strata’s make-over. I look forward to bringing that to you – and to hearing what changes you’ve made in your businesses too.
This content has been created as part of my involvement in Microsoft’s #ModernBiz Program.
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