I’ve recently gone through the process of purchasing a house and I found that all the questions you ask yourself, your realtor and the banker reminded me of the questions that should be asked when searching for the right solution for your business’s Web presence.

1. Land (server - physical or virtual)
Several questions apply to the land you choose to build a house on – location, size, what’s already on it, is there room for growth, cost, etc. These same criteria apply to the right server for your Web presence.  Where will the server be located – in a data center or under the desk in your office? How big and fast does the server need to be? As you think about the other questions you’d ask about buying land for your house, remember – the investment into your Web presence starts with the server - the foundation everything is built on.  

2. Address (domain)
When you invite someone over for dinner, you give them the address of your house not the parcel number that is on record at the courthouse. The street address of your house is provided as a usable identifier, instead of a bunch of random letters and numbers. The same is true for the domain you choose to be your address online. Will your customers be able to find you on the Web with the domain you choose? Is it simple and easy to remember?

3. Building structure (application architecture)
The 3 little pigs built their houses from straw, sticks and bricks. Whatever your house is made out of, it needs to be sturdy. What application structure will hold up your Web application – ASP.NET, Java, SQL, Oracle? Most likely there will be some combination of applications that build your structure, just like most houses are a combination of materials.

4. Front porch (what your client sees)
People drive, walk or run by a house, and something about it catches their eye. Hopefully it’s something positive that they see…a nicely painted, manicured and landscaped lawn, etc. If what people see on your Web site is appealing, chances are higher that they will want to stay and see what you’re all about. If you have an over-grown lawn and weeds in the flower beds, there is a chance the potential client might move right past your house to your competition’s.

5. Utility Room (Administrative Tools)
The heating & cooling system and water heater are vital appliances to keep your house comfortable. Typically they are kept in the utility room away from everyday life and visitors, but you and your handyman have access to keep the rest of the house running smoothly. You can imagine the tools that you use to keep your Web site up-to-date the same way. They are accessible online only to the people that need to know they are there to manage the site your customers see.  

6. Garage (data center)
Where do you store the things you want to keep but don’t use on a daily basis? The kids’ bikes, Christmas decorations, camping gear…I keep mine in the garage where I know I can get to it if I need it. This is true of the data center where your equipment for your infrastructure is kept. You don’t need to physically access it regularly, but you know you can if you need to. It is added space to keep the physical assets of your Web presence secure, but out of the way of the everyday hustle and bustle.  

7. Fence (security infrastructure)
The point of a fence is to keep something in or something out. Implementing a ‘fence’ around your Web presence is the same concept – to keep your business’s confidential information confidential and your client’s information private, as well as keeping potential hackers from compromising the integrity of your data.

8. Security System (monitoring)
ADT and Brinks Home Security are examples of home security systems that if programmed correctly will sound the alarm when the boundaries of your home have been breached.   Because of the time and monetary investment you’re making in your presence online, you should take a look at how you will know if the information you’re protecting with your ‘fence’ is compromised.

9. Handyman (developer/engineer)
Every house needs a little TLC to keep it looking nice and functional for your family. The same is true for your Web presence. As your business grows, it is important to have someone you trust to work with to ensure your Web presence accommodates your growth and business needs. This trusted partner should be a person or company that will care as much about your business as they do about their own. This will free up your time to focus on growing your business.

10. Thermostat (business intelligence)
There is a saying in the Midwest that as seasons change, you’ll use the heater in the morning and air conditioning in the afternoon. As easy as it is to change the temperature on the thermostat for your house, do you have that same luxury with your business? Having the right tools in place to know how hot or cold you business is running is vital to being nimble in the current economy.


People in the technology industry have a tendency to speak their own language, and just like any ‘foreign’ language it helps to see a common picture. Hopefully these analogies help demonstrate the importance of understanding all the various aspects of your Web presence.

The priorities in life often get muddled when you're in the midst of turmoil. I'm sure you've experienced this at one time or another. The pressures of work can overwhelm your life, and you don't have much left for yourself or your family.
 
I worked in a company before coming to Jelecos where the priorities were emphasized as Faith, Family and Career. The thought behind this was that if your faith was strong, all other aspects of your life would fall in line. Second, your Family is the reason for your Career. They depend on you for love and support, both emotional and financial. Lastly, Career…. But do you work to live or live to work? When you find something that you're passionate about and you love to do everyday - it's hard not to confuse these. But, ultimately, your career wouldn't be as necessary if it weren't to support the one's you love - your family.
 
In my first interview at Jelecos, without hesitation, Jeff Wilke said these words to me: “Our priorities for ourselves and our employees are Faith, Self, Family and Career.” A little shocked and awed by this, I immediately reflected on this same lesson from my past. Only this time, there was an additional priority…Self. Ah, yes. How can you possibly take care of your Family or your Career if you don't first take care of yourself? (Ponder this for a minute. Let it sink in.)
 
Let's take a step back and look at these priorities.
 
Faith. This doesn't mean you have to believe in God. But do you have faith in something greater than yourself? Faith by definition is the belief in something without proof. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Do you believe you get what you get, because that's the way it is? Or do you have faith that there's something more in store for you?
 
Self. Taking care of yourself obviously means eating right, exercising, etc. But, it also involves doing whatever you need to so that you feel good in your own skin. Everyone deserves to pamper or indulge themselves in a hobby (obviously moderation is key when it comes to indulging in some activities). Buy yourself something nice, call up a friend to spend time with, go fishing – whatever you need!
 
Family. The people who depend on you the most. Kids have school activities, sporting events, they get sick -  all sorts of thing happen when kids are involved. Spouses and significant others have needs and expectations: that you’ll be home for dinner, help with the kids, do house work, or whatever needs done to maintain the family rhythm. No matter what happens at work - going home to my family is the greatest joy I have in life.
 
Career. The career we have could be by choice or chance. Mine happens to be by chance, but all the same it is work I enjoy doing.
 
Now that I've been part of the Jelecos family for over 4 years, I have definitely experienced these priorities in action first hand. I am truly grateful and blessed to be working for such a forward thinking organization.

With the College World Series upon us, let's talk about baseball. Imagine taking a baseball and throwing it to the strike zone. Where did the ball hit? Was it off to the right or left? Was it high or low? Or did you hit the strike zone like a bullseye? If you hit the strike zone, congratulations, you are truly a talent. However, if you missed the strike zone, what was on your mind as the ball left your hand?
 
One of my favorite movie quotes, from Columbia Picture's 28 Days, uses pitching as a metaphor for control and focus. Viggo Mortensen's character, Eddie Boone, explains to Sandra Bullock's character, Gwen Cummings, that when throwing a baseball at a mattress with a strike zone outlined on it, she shouldn't be thinking about the strike zone. When you put all your focus and concentration on the target, it starts to look like the size of a peanut and you start to psych yourself out of the game.   Instead of thinking about the target, think about the things that you can control - your stance, your balance, the release and follow through.

The same is true for everyday life, when things are coming at you from all directions - the phone ringing, emails piling up and other interruptions, and you have deadlines to meet.  Take a deep breath to collect yourself. Remember to focus on the things you can control, and take it one step at a time.   Confidence will emanate from you as you gather your thoughts and focus on the little things.