An Apple today keeps the Geek squad away
The following is a guest post from Sandra Eamor of Seamor Consulting from the YRSBiz Blogging Circle. The York Region Small Business Club helps small businesses in York Region connect online and in York Region. Their goal is to provide free or low-cost opportunities for local businesses to connect and engage with each other and ultimately to help small businesses succeed. Visit http://yrsbiz.ca to learn more.
An Apple today keeps the Geek squad away
I’m sure I’m not the first one to use that heading for a blog post. I got my first iPhone about two years ago. After a week, I couldn’t imagine having any other smart phone. I figured it was because I didn’t really have anything to compare it to since it was the only smart phone I ever had. I wasn’t ready to bash Blackberry because I had never used one. I love everything about my iPhone. Especially since I upgraded it this year. I am so much more productive with it and all the apps that make my life a little easier.
In March I was starting to get really frustrated with my netbook. It was just over a year old, and was running soooo sllloooowwwww. I wasn’t getting any work done. I figured that if I wanted to make the best use out of my time, I would have to invest in a really great laptop that would help me be more productive. And by that, I mean that I didn’t want to spend 30 minutes trying to turn it on because I had to reboot it 3 times before I could do anything. I won’t get started on how long it took web pages to load…
I made the decision to upgrade to a MacBook Pro. Yes, it was an investment. I figured if it would give me an extra 30 minutes of working time each day, it would eventually pay for itself. I’d say it’s actually given me an extra hour or two a day now that I’ve had it for a couple months. 
It was a little bit confusing at first, but I quickly got the hang of it and I am in LOVE! Within SECONDS of opening the laptop I am working away! Not to mention all of the great apps I can sync with my phone. I now have a truly efficient mobile office. As a Business Optimization Consultant, that’s what I’m all about!
But those aren’t the only reasons I’ll never go back. I’ve also had the (dis)pleasure of working with a Blackberry over the last two months. I understand that once someone is used to something, it’s hard to switch to something else. And that is fine. But if you want to be PRODUCTIVE, don’t bother with a Blackberry.
And there is one more thing that has me sold on Apple …
Our desktop isn’t working … again…. My gut reaction was to get a Mac. But after thinking about it a bit, I may just get the PC fixed. I already have my MacBookPro and I rarely use the PC. My husband isn’t keen on switching to Mac yet, and because of the work I do, I need to be able to test in both Windows and Mac environments, so it’s probably worth it to spend less for a new PC for those reasons. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I’m looking forward to spending many wonderful years with my MacBookPro and iPhone! Next on the list is an iPad!
Sandra Eamor is a Business Optimization Consultant that can help you streamline your operations and create systems that help you or your business run more efficiently. Areas of expertise include: Setting up New Systems and Processes, Software Implementations, Project Management, Social Media, Web Design, Training and More!
Seamor Consulting
http://twitter.com/sandraeamor
Facebook vs Tim Hortons
Let me be perfectly clear: I am in no way a financial advisor. Anything I write here is merely my own speculation and should not be taken as solid financial advice.
You should also know this: I seem to have a nose for good stock. I go with my gut and how I feel about the brand I am considering buying – almost the exact same way I choose horses at the racetrack.
Today is a big day in stock trading: Facebook is launching it’s IPO this morning at $38.00 per share. Stay the hell away from this one.
Here’s why: This is way over-valued. I know it would be cool to say you own a piece of Facebook, but Facebook will never be Google. I have not been able to discover what Mark Zuckerberg intends to do with all this money. And I can’t get past the random changes that keep happening on Facebook. If you were irritated when they changed how the news feed looked, imagine how you would have felt if you had paid for that original newsfeed.
Here’s what you should do: Invest in a nice Canadian company like Tim Horton’s. You can have a piece of hockey and a piece of culture. For $54.00 per share. Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) are always a good investment in my opinion. During an economic crisis – like the market crash of 2007 – fast food stock is pretty steady. Just look at the chart which shows McDonald’s and Tim Horton’s performance over the last 5 years.
The bottom line: Do not get caught up in the hype and listen to your gut. I have been afraid sometimes to listen to my gut when it comes to stocks because it is a gamble. The last time I chickened out was in 2007, when I did not want to borrow $2000 from our line of credit to buy some stock. See below for how that worked out.
That is the chart for Apple, Inc. That cost me more than $8000 in gains. A fact my husband reminds me of frequently. I will not make that mistake again.
Happy trading!