Well it’s that time of year again.  Time to take stock of what’s been accomplished this year and plan for the next big thing.

This has been an exciting year for me.  I officially started my own business and began blogging about my experiences.  These were two big milestones in my life and I’m glad I was able to share them with you all and the world.

I thought I’d let you all in on what I have planned for next year and then ask for your input as to what you’d like to see here at Y.F.N.C.G. in the future.

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We’re in a recession right?  That’s what all the talking heads on TV keep telling me. That’s what the little squiggly red line that’s dipping down to the lowest point in decades seems to suggest.

But there’s a different story being told by the folks in the trenches.  These folks are chanting the battle cry of the small business owner.  They’re singing the song of the blogger using creativity to earn money from multiple income streams.  They’re the mom and pop shop down the street putting their customers first, laughing at the fat cat corporations that are falling apart at the seams because of greed.

Take a look at the following blog posts that I have come across over the last couple weeks.  They all suggest that this is one of the best times to start or grow a business.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  But I think these bloggers are all riding the common wave of optimism that appears to be growing in the small business community, even as the world feels the pressure of some intangible economic deficit.

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I’m a computer guy, but I’m also a bit of a movie buff.  So I decided I’d have some fun here as the year draws to a close and sum up the best movies of the year that computer geeks like myself can enjoy and appreciate.

Admittedly, 2008 was a pretty horrible year for computer tech-friendly movies. Maybe it’s because  technology is now such an integral part of our culture that it’s become boring. Or maybe all the most compelling tech related stories out there have already been told. Whatever the case, it took some thinking for me to come up with this list.

Though not all of them are true computer geek movies, I based my selections on films that deal heavily with computers, gadgets, hacking, or technology either by the characters or in the story itself.

Without further delay, here are my top 5 movies from 2008 that all computer geeks should see:

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I’ve been tagged!

I’m normally not big on Internet meme’s. I rarely forward chain emails and if there’s a RickRoll type fad floating around, I’ll usually avoid it unless it adds some sort of pertinent substance to my life.

But the other day one of my good blogging buddies and fellow computer consultant, Eric Hamm from Motivate Thyself, tagged me to participate in such an event.

My first inclination was to laugh it off and say that it’s really not something that would fit into my blog about starting a computer business. But I thought this would give me a great opportunity to give you a glimpse at the man behind the blog. And a great opportunity for me to get to know my readers!

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve got those hard-to-buy-for folks on your Christmas list that take some extra shopping time on your part. Well if one of those people happens to be a computer repair technician or consultant, worry no longer!

I’ve compiled a list of some wonderfully cheap (under $100) and practical items that your cherished geek will adore! Each item includes a picture and title that link straight to Amazon, or similar online store, where you can order it.

If you are a computer tech, forward this post to your friends and loved ones to give them some good ideas. Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

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There seem to be two schools of thought when it comes to the best way to run a computer maintenance or consulting business from home.  Some people believe that it’s impossible to do good quality work and get enough turn-over if you don’t take the customer’s computer back to your “shop”.  On the other hand, there are techs that work exclusively at the customer’s home and never bring work back home with them.

Which way is the best way to run a PC repair business?

As I’ve done in the past, I decided to weigh the pros and cons of each scenario and see how they stack up against each other using good old-fashioned reasoning.  Keep in mind, I’m not taking into account the possibility of opening a store front…that’s a whole different ball of wax and I’ll save that debate for a later time.  In the following lists I’ve lined out some of the more important factors that I could think of, drawing from my own experiences.

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Welcome to the third edition of Computer Guy’s Corner.  During the week I collect a small handful of links to useful news, reviews, and blog postings that relate to small business news, productivity, tech gossip, troubleshooting tools, industry news, or any random stuff that I find helpful, and share it with you all.  Feel free to comment about any of the links and let me know your take!

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In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Earlier this week I made a case for why Business Plans are a waste of time for part time entrepreneurs. Now I’d like to present you with an alternative to the formal business plan.  It’s my anti-business plan, and it’s what I’ve been using ever since I realized that a business plan was not for me.  Since then I’ve been ultra-focused on getting my business going without all the frustrations and distractions that I had before.

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Almost every “start your own business” guide out there seems to have one piece of advice in common: you MUST have a business plan. In order to grow a successful business, they say, you need to have every aspect planned before you start.  While I agree that this may be true for someone who will be launching a full-scale small business that they will rely on as their sole income, but for those of us starting a business part time on the side, a business plan is a waste of time.  Before you start writing a nasty comment telling me I’m doomed to failure for not properly planning my business, let me present my case.

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