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Working from home can make it difficult to take a proper vacation.It's really tough to enjoy the beach when you're worrying about incoming emails, deadlines and work expectations. We recommend making a clear plan before packing up the luggage.
Use notifications StrategicallyWhile notifications can send off rewarding signals in the brain and ensure that deadlines are met, they are not helpful to unwind, relax and spend time with family or friends. Turn off as many notifications as possible: text messages, social media alerts, and even incoming phone calls. If you're with a group on your vacation, and on the go, you may opt to set specific ringtones and text tones for family members, just in case there's an emergency (and yes, running out of towels and nachos may classify as an emergency). A smartphone addiction study by the London School of Economics and Political Science showed that only 11% of phone interaction was prompted by a notification. With that in mind, use your notifications strategically. If you're worried about missing a call from your boss, set up a loud and silly ringtone just for their phone number. Then put your phone down with confidence; if the call comes, you'll hear it! Communicate with your family or vacation group about expectations for phones at the beginning of the trip! Skip the Auto-Responder Auto-responders were a great feature in previous decades, but now, with the overload in email inboxes everywhere, they can cause more frustration than assurance. If your clients, customers or colleagues have been trained to expect an immediate response to every email, you may need to rely on the out-of-office reply. If this is you, include these elements in your auto-responder:
On a technical level, the best reason to skip the auto-responder is that it is likely to land in the Spam folder. Unfortunately, once your email goes to Spam, there's a higher chance that your next custom-tailored message will also go to Spam. Use automated messages with extreme caution! Designate one hour each business day to check messages, voicemail and emailsTim Ferriss is the pioneer of changing email habits to increase productivity and decrease work overwhelm. Ferriss suggests, on typical work days, checking email at 11am and 4pm to break out of the read/reply/receive cycle that makes it impossible to accomplish typical workday tasks. On your vacation, just pick one hour that you'll check in and put out any fires. If you're on a different timezone than usual, take advantage of the shift to your usual schedule to find the sweet spot. Responding in the late afternoon and evening will reduce immediate replies, but gives colleagues the whole next day to address any tasks you have provided. Emailing in the morning is not recommended, but that may be a good time for making quick phone calls. Look for good times when your family or group is taking some down time and doesn't need your attention! Hit the coffee shop, set a timer, handle urgent items, and then get back to having fun! Coordinate with a colleague to assist with emergencies Rather than using an auto-responder that tells people who to contact in an emergency, we prefer coordinating a plan with this colleague prior to your vacation. Depending on your workplace's rules, you may be able to simply share access with your email account with a trusted colleague. You can either give them the reins and let them read emails and look for emergencies, or create a folder and move items to that folder for their review and reply. Review expectations and look for a system that would be willing to reciprocate the next time they're out of the office! Alert major clients and partners to your upcoming absence, and be proactive on their upcoming projectsIf you're in the middle of a big project, or have a client who must be impressed at all costs, notify them that you will be away. Clarify how the project is resuming without you, or how you will be checking in from the road. Over-communicate and demonstrate that the project and the client is extremely important, no matter where your flip flops may take you! We are here to assist you--on or off vacation!Yes. Business Class Internet is offered by many of the top Internet Service Providers like Comcast, Spectrum, Lumen,
Verizon, and ATT. Simplified Communications usually recommends utilizing the Business Class Internet option from your preferred Internet Service Provider. Consumer advocates say the 3G shutdown will leave some of society’s most vulnerable people without critical communications tools. Many devices have moved to 4G networks and newer phones are now moving onto 5G. But a motley assortment still relies on the more rudimentary 3G service and consumer advocates are urging the Federal Communications Commission to slow the change, which is set to start in February 2022. Older and low-income Americans are more likely to be affected by the shift. If they don’t upgrade in time, their phones and life-alert devices won’t be able to call 911 or other emergency services, government regulators warn. Companies have long planned to phase out 3G networks to free up valuable resources for 5G networks, which carriers say will bring faster speeds and allow more mobile devices to connect than ever before. Phone carriers have resisted slowing the transition, arguing that they have warned for years that the transition is coming and that they’ve taken extensive steps to ensure that their customers aren’t disconnected. The FCC so far has taken a largely passive approach to the transition. The commission is “reviewing the record that’s been compiled on this issue,” said Paloma Perez, a spokeswoman for the FCC. In the meantime, consumer advocates are focusing on alerting city governments about the transition and how it might disproportionately affect low-income and elderly Americans, so they can take inventory of who in their communities might need to upgrade. Need to upgrade your internet services for your business?
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Monthly costs for Business Class Internet can start at $75/mo and go up to $1,000+. Keep in mind, there is no universal standard for Business Class internet. Every business has unique needs. The benefit of working with Simplified Communications, is that, as an independent broker, we can put together an ideal package, utilizing the best services for the best prices available. |
Top Ten Tips to enjoy Thanksgiving: Simplified
We love finding ways to simplify your business, and sometimes that means finding ways to simplify your life! We hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving tips and tricks, and look forward to hearing your ideas and favorite recipes!
We are thankful for the inspiration from Wholefully.
- Craft a Menu
- Review Menu and CUT items!
- Plan Two Shopping Trips
- Audit your Serving Dishes
- Pre-Cook
- Set the Table (and yourself)
- Create Distractions away from the Kitchen
- Delegate
- Take Notes
- Be Thankful
We are thankful for the inspiration from Wholefully.
1. Craft a Menu
We've included a Traditional, Contemporary, Unconventional and Outlier Menu to consider. Get inspired and start fresh, or mix and match these menus!
Traditional Menu
Contemporary Menu
| Unconventional Menu
I'm Taking the Day Off Menu
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2. Review Menu and Cut Items
It's possible that you over-planned. Remember that while the food of Thanksgiving is a delight, being thankful should be in the spotlight. Cut a few of the items on the menu to make room for more love and thanks at your table!
3. Plan Two Shopping Trips
Do an early shopping trip to get shelf-stable and frozen items. Be prepared for supply chain disruption by doing your Thanksgiving shopping right away. Plan for a second trip to get any forgotten items, or to satiate any last-minute whimsy!
4. Audit your Serving Dishes, Fridge + Pantry
Pull all those big platters and serving bowls off the top shelf of the cupboard. Identify which bowls will be best for the winning items on your menu.
Organize items in the Fridge and Pantry by Menu Item, to make for easy preparation and grocery shopping. Sticky Notes are your friend.
Organize items in the Fridge and Pantry by Menu Item, to make for easy preparation and grocery shopping. Sticky Notes are your friend.
5. Pre-Cook
Many of your menu items will allow for pre-cooking. Even the Turkey can be cooked and carved on Wednesday, and then heated in the oven and smothered in gravy an hour before it's time to eat! That solves a lot of the Turkey Day chaos! Casserole dishes with lids are great for storing, reheating and serving. If an item can't be cooked or baked beforehand, prepare it as much as possible (chopping, slicing, dicing, peeling).
6. Set the Table (and Yourself)
Set the table right after a quick breakfast or quiet cup of coffee. This is a key step to enjoying a fulfilling Thanksgiving dinner. Having the table set with a tablecloth, plates, bowls, glasses, silverware, napkins and centerpieces will minimize traffic in your kitchen right when hot pots and pans are moving about. It will also quickly identify which plates, forks and spoons are available for serving and stirring!
The final steps in getting a beautiful dinner on the table always take longer than expected. Hit the shower and get dressed for the event before diving into the final cooking, so that you can continue managing the meal as guests arrive.
The final steps in getting a beautiful dinner on the table always take longer than expected. Hit the shower and get dressed for the event before diving into the final cooking, so that you can continue managing the meal as guests arrive.
7. Create Distractions away from the Kitchen
Set out small bowls of nuts, pickles, olives, or snacks that fit your menu, far from the kitchen to keep guests moving and mingling without interrupting the final steps of dinner preparation.
Consider non-food distractions, as well, like:
Consider non-food distractions, as well, like:
- Placemat-making station: scrapbooking paper, scissors, glue, ribbon, sequins, leaves, markers
- Guestbook
- Thankful Wall: butcher paper rolled out on the wall, markers or crayons
- Beverage station: sodas, beer, wine, coffee, tea
- Water station: water dispenser, cups, marker or stickers to personalize cups
8. Delegate
Our favorite tool for simplifying is delegating to others who can do the job better! Your sticky notes can help guide eager helpers. Have a few tasks or menu items in mind that can be stirred or frosted or finalized by someone who prefers to stay busy.
Don't be shy about delegating desserts and sides, and even the main item to your favorite local restaurant or grocery store. Show your thankfulness for local business owners!
Don't be shy about delegating desserts and sides, and even the main item to your favorite local restaurant or grocery store. Show your thankfulness for local business owners!
9. Take Notes
Sometimes you figure out just the perfect way to make a magical moment. Take notes! We recommend putting the notes in a place where you'll be sure to see them, like somewhere in October or early November in your Google Calendar or Microsoft Office Calendar. Make it an annually recurring event, and continue to add to your notes each year!
10. Be Thankful
We like to encourage every guest at the table to share what they're most thankful for about from the last year. This is a wonderful way to give everyone an opportunity to talk, and to keep the focus on gratitude and thankfulness.
If you want to delegate your Note-Taking process, also ask your guests what their favorite menu item was!
If you want to delegate your Note-Taking process, also ask your guests what their favorite menu item was!
Have a Happy and Simplified Thanksgiving!
"The metaverse also could be a game-changer for the work-from-home shift amid the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of seeing co-workers on a video call grid, employees could see them virtually."
Mark Zuckerburg hasn't been short on innovative ideas, but his latest announcement of a new metaverse might be the most surprising yet. The Metaverse aims to be a 3D-style, virtual reality platform where users can do just about anything digitally that they could do in real life. For Star Trek fans the concept of teleportation and holographic experiences is nothing new. The benefits of being able to pause reality and enter a more imaginative, but controlled, space are endless. For many who now work from home, a virtual office would allow for easier collaboration, project management, and not-just-your-face-to-face meetings. Perhaps some employers will encourage Casual Avatar Fridays, where employees can let loose and show up as a dragon or Dwight from The Office. |
What's the Metaverse going to do to my internet speeds?!
We don't have exact data on how the Metaverse is going to impact Internet Speeds, but we predict the usage will be greater than the increase we saw when the pandemic first hit. There are still a lot of pieces that need to be worked out, but this is a good time to be rethinking your business systems and customer experience.
- What would be easier in a 3D environment?
- What new way could your customers be engaged in 3D?
- What new products/services could you offer if you could interact virtually with each customer?
- How could your staff complete tasks faster or more easily?
Want to imagine how the Metaverse might impact your business?
Source Information: AP News
Thank you to all who attempted our Halloween Trivia Quiz! We enjoyed seeing your answers!
A big congratulations to our winners! Gift cards have been sent to the winners!
We look forward to offering more trivia quizzes in the future!
A big congratulations to our winners! Gift cards have been sent to the winners!
We look forward to offering more trivia quizzes in the future!
Monthly costs for Business Class Internet can start at $75/mo and go up to $1,000+. Keep in mind, there is no universal standard for Business Class internet. Every business has unique needs. The benefit of working with Simplified Communications, is that, as an independent broker, we can put together an ideal package, utilizing the best services for the best prices available.
Get started and get into the Halloween mood! Players with the best scores in the shortest time period will win a Treat!
The 5 top scoring participants will get a $25 Amazon giftcard!
What’s your favorite horror movie?
While telecommunications can have its glitches and challenges, we have found a way to keep it Simplified.
Which frees us up to watch Horror Movies.
We asked the Team Members of Simplified Communications to tell us their favorite Horror Movies, and what they watch to get in the mood for Halloween.
We're ready to make your Internet and Phone service a lot less scary!
Knock on our door for a treat!
Business Class + Enterprise Class = Success!
As the demands of the internet increase, we are seeing more and more clients shift to dual connectivity. Depending on the needs of your company or organization, a combination of Business Class Internet and Enterprise Class Internet may be best.
To help determine the best options we'll first explore:
Every business has unique needs. The benefit of working with Simplified Communications, is that, as an independent broker, we can put together an ideal package, utilizing the best services available.
To help determine the best options we'll first explore:
- What internet services does your business have in place currently?
- Is the current service meeting your needs or falling short?
- What kind of growth or changes are you anticipating that might affect your bandwidth needs?
Every business has unique needs. The benefit of working with Simplified Communications, is that, as an independent broker, we can put together an ideal package, utilizing the best services available.
What our clients are saying:
I went to Patrick when I was moving my company and needed to upgrade my internet and phone systems. It was great to work with him vs. going directly to one of the providers as he was able to find the best deal and recommend what I needed for the size of my company. Incredibly prompt communication and he was on it to hit all of our deadlines and push the providers when it seemed like things were going off track. Reed on the Simplified team was also great to work with when we needed help with installing access points in our office. I would recommend them to anyone looking for business internet or phone.
--Micah
Annual Business Internet Usage has surpassed:
Billion Gigabytes
See if Business Class Internet is best for your business.
Simplified Communications usually recommends utilizing at least the Business Class Internet option from your preferred Internet Service Provider.
Depending on the provider and level of service, benefits may include:
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Popular Business Class Internet Service Providers:
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Simplified can help you determine the level of service and best provider based on your business’s unique needs.
More information at: What is Business-Class Internet?
Business Class Internet is a big step above residential level or standard internet, but with the new consumer demands on speed and reliability, you may be needing something more. Enterprise Class Internet is the next step up from Business Class Internet, and it is worth looking into if your company relies heavily on the internet. We've compiled a quick overview of the differences between Business Class Internet and Enterprise Class Internet. Reach out to our team to find out which service is best for your current trajectory and growth in your business! |
Business Class Internet usually offers:
- Fast, Asymmetrical Speeds
- Reliability
- Static IP
- Enhanced Customer Service
There is no universal standard for Business Class internet. Check with our team to make sure your internet package is appropriate for your needs
Enterprise Class Internet also offers:
DEDICATED SERVICE
Dedicated service means that if you subscribe to 100mbps, you get 100mpbs dedicated to you, and it is not shared with other businesses.
SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
Quality levels are guaranteed in most cases with a Service Level Agreement. SLAs vary from carrier to carrier but typically offer four guarantees:
OTHER BENEFITS AND FEATURES
Dedicated service means that if you subscribe to 100mbps, you get 100mpbs dedicated to you, and it is not shared with other businesses.
SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
Quality levels are guaranteed in most cases with a Service Level Agreement. SLAs vary from carrier to carrier but typically offer four guarantees:
- Mean time to repair
- Jitter: The fluctuation of latency over time.
- Latency: The time it takes for a packet to get to its destination.
- Uptime: What percentage of the time will the internet be up and running.
OTHER BENEFITS AND FEATURES
- Project management from service order to installation
- Other network solutions in addition to internet connectivity. For example, Point to Point connectivity between 2 sites, MPLS (allows for multi-location businesses to communicate with any other location through a private network, Express route or Cloud Connectivity.
Enterprise Class Internet is considered "the most reliable and highest-quality option, offering guaranteed bandwidth and same-day repair response."
Let's make sure you're getting the best possible internet services!
Cloud-computing giants and phone companies have decided they need each other to drive the market for 5G business services.
Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Corp. have all signed partnerships with telcos in recent months as they seek new opportunities amid slowing growth in demand for data storage. Telcos, including AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., are also looking to revive flagging revenue while tapping into cloud computing's ability to make super-fast 5G networks more efficient and cheaper to run.
"The cloud companies need to reinvent themselves," said Omdia analyst Vlad Galabov.
"Communications service providers have the same thing — everyone has a mobile phone, a network — so both have saturation."
Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Corp. have all signed partnerships with telcos in recent months as they seek new opportunities amid slowing growth in demand for data storage. Telcos, including AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., are also looking to revive flagging revenue while tapping into cloud computing's ability to make super-fast 5G networks more efficient and cheaper to run.
"The cloud companies need to reinvent themselves," said Omdia analyst Vlad Galabov.
"Communications service providers have the same thing — everyone has a mobile phone, a network — so both have saturation."
The parties are working together to bring computing functions such as data processing onto the 5G network, closer to where data is generated. This system, known as multi-access edge computing, or MEC, enables partners to offer enterprise services such as real-time analytics, manufacturing automation and live product tracking.
Teaming up is a great strategy right now in all industries. If you're needing a solid telecommunications partner to work with in your business, we are excited to collaborate!
See if we service your location!
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