The Force Field

Episode 45 - Buying a Franchise

Rick — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:05:15 +0000

Today we will talk with an IT service provider who bought into a franchise, learn how a franchise works and find out if joining a franchise is right for your business.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:19
Billboard 1:24

News and Comment segment 4:51

Intel announced this month it will buy security vendor McAfee for $7.68 billion dollars.

The Summer of Podcasts II will hold a Live Drawing September 6, 2010. To enter go to www.podcastmadness.com, read the rules and regulations, listen to this episode of The Force Field for the code and enter it in the form on the page for your chance to win. Deadline for entries is August 31, 2010.

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Seagate and Samsung announced an agreement in a press release this month to jointly develop new controller technologies.

Microsoft issued a security advisory warning of a zero-day exploit affecting DLL files.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:51
Today we will talk with Chip Reaves, National Director of Computer Troubleshooters, hear how he went from tech to successful entrepreneur by buying into a franchise, learn how a franchise works and find out if buying into a franchise is right for your business.

Interview with Chip Reaves 24:13

Wrap up and Close :46

Comments, questions or suggestions? Send them in to comments@theforcefield.net. Feedback on this topic will be read by the host and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at http://www.theforcefield.net!

Episode 44 - Call That Girl!: A Marketing Success Story Part 2

Rick — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:19:22 +0000

Today we are going to continue our discussion with a computer support professional and find out how the methods she used to market her company can be used to make your business successful as well. Part 2 of a two part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:21
Billboard :32

News and Comment segment 4:44

CompTIA will hold their annual CompTIA Breakaway 2010 August 9-12 2010 in San Antonio Texas.

Apricorn released the Aegis Bio, a portable hard drive with biometric hardware encryption.

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Intel announced this week it has created the world’s first silicon based photonics data connection using integrated lasers.

The DOJ ruled that jailbreaking an iPhone is legal.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:36
Today we will continue our discussion with Lisa Hendrickson, owner of a computer support and repair company called Call That Girl! and learn more about her marketing techniques. We will talk about the big seven marketing tools she uses, discuss a common networking trap to avoid and how social networking can help you establish yourself as an expert in your field. Part 2 of a two part series.

Interview with Lisa Hendrickson 16:12

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 43 - Call That Girl!: A Marketing Success Story Part 1

Rick — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:31:59 +0000

Today we are going to talk with a computer support professional who created a unique brand for her business, learn how she did it and how the techniques and tools she used to market her services made her business successful. Part 1 of a two part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:20
Billboard 1:57

News and Comment segment 5:45
OnForce announced the appointment of Bill Lucchini as Chief Operating Officer of the company.

CompTIA will hold their annual CompTIA Breakaway 2010 August 9-12 2010 in San Antonio Texas.

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The Summer of Podcasts II contest is underway. To enter go to www.podcastmadness.com, read the rules and regulations, listen to this episode of The Force Field for the code and enter the it in the form on the page for your chance to win.

Microsoft announced it has sold 150 million copies of Windows 7 since its launch in October 2009.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 3:10
Today we are going to talk with Lisa Hendrickson, owner of a computer support and repair company called Call That Girl!, hear how she got into the industry, learn how she created a unique brand for her business, and find out how she used social networking and something she calls “Lisa Marketing” to successfully build her brand and her business. Part 1 of a two part series.

Interview with Lisa Hendrickson 21:57

Part 2 Teaser :27

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 42 - Forming Your Business Part 2

Rick — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:00:56 +0000

Today we will continue our discussion with Tony Mancuso, an expert on business formation and learn about starting various forms of business entities for IT such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and corporations. Part 2 of a two part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:19
Billboard :29

News and Comment segment 7:06
OnForce released their Services Market Index for the first quarter of 2010 April 26. The OSMI Q1 2010 report is available for download at http://www.onforce.com/OSMI/q110.

We are currently updating the The Force Field National Contractor Directory. There are over 100 companies currently listed and you can view them all when you log into TheForceField.net and click on IT Business Resource Directory in the member menu on the left sidebar. Note: you must be a member and log in to view the directory. Membership to The Force Field portal is FREE. Join today!

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CompTIA will hold their annual CompTIA Breakaway 2010 August 9-12 2010 in San Antonio Texas.

According to NetmarketShare, Microsoft Internet Explorer lost 20% market share in the last two years.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:47
Today we are going to continue our discussion with Tony Mancuso author of a book called LLC or Corporation? How to Choose the Right Form For Your Business, discover the difference between Limited Liability Companies and Corporations, discuss the different types of corporations and how you can find out which form of business is right for your company. Part 2 of a two part series.

Interview with Tony Mancuso 16:22

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 41 - Forming Your Business Part 1

Rick — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:15:19 +0000

Today we are going to talk with Tony Mancuso, an expert on business formation and learn about starting various forms of business entities for IT such as sole proprietorships, partnerships and LLCs. Part 1 of a two part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:18
Billboard 1:22

News and Comment segment 4:51
Apple officially began selling its new iPad April 3.

CompTIA announced April 1 it would offer a new membership package aimed specifically at Value Added Resellers.

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AMD announced its new Opteron 6000 Series Platform March 29.

A Utah court ruled in favor of Novell and said SCO has no ownership in the Unix code the company claimed was used in Linux.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:58
Today we are going to talk with Tony Mancuso author of a book called LLC or Corporation? How to Choose the Right Form For Your Business, learn about the various forms of businesses we can start, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of forming a business as a Sole Proprietorship and Partnership and discover a form of business known as the Limited Liability Company or LLC. Part 1 of a two part series.

Interview with Tony Mancuso 13:54

Part 2 Teaser :27

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 40 - Planning Your Business Part 4

Rick — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:57 +0000

Today we are going to continue our discussion with Tim Berry, a business planning expert who developed an application for use as a guide in business planning, learn how it works and find out how it can help you create a plan for your business. Part 4 of a four part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:16
Billboard :27

News and Comment segment 7:21
OnForce released their Services Market Index for the fourth quarter of 2009 January 25. The company also released The 2009 Year End Report, which contained data compiled from service transactions performed throughout 2009.

The Force Field The State of the IT Industry Contest winner announced.

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Seagate announced February 9 that it is shipping the world’s most reliable hard drive.

MacWorld 2010 opened last week without Apple. Can Mac fandom survive without Steve Jobs and Apple?

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:58
Today we’ll continue our discussion with Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software and learn more about Business Plan Pro. We’ll find out what it does, how it does it and how you can use it as a guide to create solid a business plan that will work for your business. Part 4 of a four part series.

Interview with Tim Berry 17:50

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 39 - Planning Your Business Part 3

Rick — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:52:03 +0000

Today we’ll talk with a business planning expert and find out just how important it is to have a plan for your business. Part 3 of a four part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard :26

News and Comment segment 4:39
The Force Field.net upgraded to new forum software December 16. You can access the forums from the Forums link in the menu on the left sidebar of the home page at TheForceField.net or at http://www.theforcefield.net/forums..

Adobe released eight security patches for its Acrobat and Acrobat reader applications January 12.

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VMWare announced that it it will buy the open source e-mail application Zimbra from Yahoo.

Facebook has partnered with security vendor McAfee to provide protection from malware for its 350 million members.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:43
Today we’ll talk with Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software and conceptual author of Business Plan Pro. He will discuss the myth about business plans, the real purpose of having a plan and how a business plan can help you understand your business better. Part 3 of a four part series.

Interview with Tim Berry 17:31

Episode 40 Part 4 Teaser :22

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 38 - Planning Your Business Part 2

Rick — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:47:56 +0000

Today we’re going to continue our discussion with an IT service provider who created a business plan, learn how he did it and find out how his business plan helped his business become more successful. Part 2 of a four part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard :28

News and Comment segment 4:43
A study by Squaretrade on laptop reliability listed Asus as manufacturer of laptops with the lowest malfunction rates within a three year period. The report can be download at http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/.

Rescuecom reports that Apple is number one on its reliability list. The complete report is available at http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM278.html

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Intel Intel unveiled a 48-core processor early this month.

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released its 14th annual Small Business Survival Index December 1, in which it rates the best and worst entrepreneur friendly states in the US. The complete list and map of entrepreneur friendly states is available at http://www.sbecouncil.org/survivalindex2009/

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:24
Today we’re going to continue our discussion with Pat Palmer of The Computer Guy and learn more about writing a business plan. We’ll find out if the time spent writing the plan was worth the investment, what his business plan told him about his company and how having a plan even helped him develop an exit strategy.Part 2 of a four part series.

Interview with Pat Palmer 18:17

Episode 39 Part 3 Teaser :22

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 37 - Planning Your Business Part 1

Rick — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:42:37 +0000

Today we’re going to talk with an IT service provider who created a business plan, learn how he did it and find out how his business plan helped his business become more successful. Part 1 of a four part series.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard 3:40

News and Comment segment 5:18
OnForce released their Services Market Index for the third quarter of 2009 October 21. The OSMI Q3 2009 report is available for download at http://www.onforce.com/OSMI/Q309.

IObit is giving away full one-year licenses of Security 360 Pro anti-malware utility until November 11, 2009. To obtain a free license, go to http://db.iobit.com/license-free/win7-special-offer.php

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NASBA is now offering a free 60-day trial version of security software from Kaspersky Lab for resellers throught D&H Distributing.

Microsoft released Windows 7 October 22.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 1:58
Today we’re going to talk to Pat Palmer of The Computer Guy, learn about his business, hear how he took a course in business planning and find out how he created a plan for his business that helped him become more successful. Part 1 of a four part series.

Interview with Pat Palmer 15:45

Episode 38 Part 2 Teaser :25

Wrap up and Close :46

Episode 36 - Profit From the Service Platform

Rick — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:53:39 +0000

Today we are going to talk with a representative of an online service platform and ask him how service technicians can best use them to earn more revenue.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:18
Billboard 2:43

News and Comment segment 4:31
OnForce officially surpassed one million completed work orders through its online platform.

Newegg filed for a $175 million dollar initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission September 27th. Newegg IPO Form S-1

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Belkin released a surge protector that automatically switches off devices to conserve power. http://www.belkin.com/conserve/.

Microsoft released a new Microsoft Security Essentials security suite September 29th.
Microsoft Security Essentials can be downloaded free at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/.

Commercial Break 1:00
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Intro to Topic 2:03
today we will talk with Eric Castro, Director of Channel Management for ServiceLive and ask him how service technicians can best use service platforms to earn more for their businesses.
Join ServiceLive FREE!.

Interview with Eric Castro 29:36

Wrap up and Close :46