BYOD; The Good, The Bad, and The Divided

Almost as dramatic as the 1966 Clint Eastwood western (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) is the talk and opinions about the BYOD (Bring your own device) revolution. I think the lesson learned, as in the western, is to be ahead of the game… at least 10 steps ahead. As a business leader (perhaps CIO, entrepreneur, and otherwise), certainly knowing the benefits and risks of BYOD is key. For Telecom Agents, being knowledgeable is always profitable.

With the Smartphone/ iPhones, tablets, and laptops, people can do business any time, from anywhere. In fact tablets outsold PC’s or desktops last year. Website visits are coming from mobile users.

Similar to the Cloud, a business really needs to have a strategy in place before adopting BYOD practices, evaluating the pros and cons to determine (and deal with) security risks. Basically, the benefits must outweigh the risks.

The debates continue:

  • Employee
    chooses device versus controlling the types of devices and uses.
  • Going mobile versus chained to a desk.
  • More productive versus more risk.
  • Effectiveness versus costs of networks and other cost for usage.
  • Employee empowerment and choices versus lack of IT support

How to decide:

  1. First question is…’Is it doable?” Find out from a Telecom Agent at NW MAP if BYOD is manageable and appropriate for your business (type of business and/or size).
  2. Employee surveys- finding out who would use them and what they think about it. Some research has shown employees would accept a lower paying job if able to use their own devices.

How to do it:

  1. Talk to your Telecom Broker or Agent.
  2. The current thought and what many businesses are allowing is BYOD but with limited support. Issues with this is of course security but also employee satisfaction with limited support. Allowed with full IT support is optimal, but your choices are not allowing it, allowing with minimal support, allowing with full support, and allowing with no support.
  3. Check and evaluate network capacity. Most people using BYOD have 2-3 devices.
  4. Money! Realize BYOD will not eliminate costs, but rather place them in areas of support functions rather than devices.

With BYOD, it seems employee satisfaction varies – employees either love it or hate it. Truth is, companies want, no need, their employees to be connected, especially to what is
happening now…information and communication at the speed of light. Employers are equally on the fence as about 40% of companies allow it.

Contact a NW MAP Telecom Agent: https://nwmap.com/contact-us

 

With BYOD, it seems employee satisfaction varies – employees either love it or hate it. Truth is, companies want, no need, their employees to be connected, especially to what is
happening now…information and communication at the speed of light. We’ll see how it all unfolds.

What is Innovation and Why is Everyone Talking about it?

From CIO’s to entrepreneurs to tech gurus, the new word of the hour (or millisecond in Internet land) is Innovation. Why is it suddenly popular? For some of us who remember “it” words of the past like synergy (wasn’t that a cool sounding word…rolls right off the toungue), innovation may mean nothing more to you than a passing buzz word. Who starts these fads anyway? What is innovation and why is it important to you? We want to take the time to answer this…we were curious as well.

Let’s just go straight to the facts on why you should care about innovation or innovative. The simple answer is, well it’s a catch word right now. Jumping to the numbers game- this word is highly searched on search engines, but if you’ve got better things to do than play the numbers game on Google (SEO optimization), say running your business, then we’ll explain more specifically why innovation is important.

The back story: Literally, innovation differs from invention in that innovation refers to the use of a better and/or novel idea or method, whereas invention refers more directly to the creation of the idea or method itself. Innovation differs from improvement in that innovation refers to the notion of doing something different rather than just better. Now you know the basics. When I first learned about innovation, it was used in reference to Steve Jobs who didn’t necessarily invent new products, he just made them different and exciting…and innovative. Now that Steve is gone, his innovative legend is thriving. This really is the day and age for innovative because the wheel can’t be re-invented, not many people are inventing absolutely new things, but re-creating is where it’s at.

In the land of social media and cyberspace catch words mean a lot to your business and reputation. This is one way clients and consumers know you are on top of things…even if it is a fad. Things change in an instant online, and it’s important your customers believe you are riding the wave as well. You put that word, innovative, included in a tag line about your products or services and you’ve got people interested. Innovation has a lot to do with technology and technology isn’t going anywhere soon.

**If you want to be more innovative, you’d better get in touch with your creative side- turns out that’s where innovation lies within us.

Elle Izett, Contributing Blogger at NW MAP Telecom

On the topic of innovation, NW MAP Telecom is searching for agents; innovative ones! The opportunity to work for yourself in a rewarding field is right here. Please contact us about becoming a Telecom Agent: https://nwmap.com/contact-us/become-an-agent

Notes on Success for the CIO, CEO, and Entrepreneur

I flipped open the latest issue of Success magazine and found some inspiring stories. I don’t usually read something like this because success seems elusive during tough times. Such a broad term. Everybody’s chasing after it, right? Just like the American Dream, does it even exist anymore? But I think what we need right now is exactly what I found in the magazine- inspiration. We’ve been in a recession and will be for a while, but innovation and re-invention seem to be key now. People who used to work for others are now working for themselves. Times are changing.

Reading through the editor’s note at the beginning I picked a quote that I enjoyed. “Now, because of technology, every ambitious individual has direct and immediate access to a global market of resources and customers.” (Darren Hardy- SUCCESS magazine Publisher and founding Editor). He also states technology as being the foremost reason for the current ‘entrepreneurial revolution’. Anybody and everybody can get ahead and really be in control of their professional destiny. Personally, I don’t have a 401k anymore but I do work for myself and do what I enjoy. Even Steve Jobs didn’t have it easy at the get-go…sleeping on his friend’s floors after he dropped out of college. The key is we’re desperate enough now and there really is opportunity for the right kind of person.

Another key to success is defining what success is to you personally. My definition is doing what I love. Yes, I’m one of those people who believes if I’m doing what I love, the money will follow. So far, so good. I also believe people should  consistently train for success. Find what motivates you- some people need money in their pockets and food on their table, others want freedom and power over their life. Research what gets you there. Take lessons from others who ARE there. Sometimes setting yourself up as your biggest competitor is a more rewarding challenge than always comparing yourself to the “other” competition and their numbers.  People who succeed felt they never had a choice otherwise.

After skimming some great articles in the latest Success issue, I realized inspiration and technology are our fighting chance in this economic climate. Use it to your advantage.

Written by: Contributing Blogger, L. Izett

Need extra money in your pocket? Contact NW MAP and learn how to be a Telecom Agent: https://nwmap.com/contact-us/become-an-agent