Home > Technology > Transforming IT: A Manifesto for Tech-Savvy Entrepreneurs

Something fantastic is happening. We are emerging as a new breed of young, tech-savvy, small-by-design, agile, and innovative businesses. We are businesses that aren’t just changing the rules on how to run a business in our respective industries, we are changing the relationship that work has with our lives. We are a generation of entrepreneurs that aren’t simply using the Internet, we are part of the Internet. We work, play and learn through the Internet. We grow and share through the Internet. If we don’t know something, we know the answer typically a simple search away, always at our fingertips. Most of the time, we can even hack at the solution enough to solve our own problems. We are citizens in a world that is changing faster than anyone of us can comprehend.

This is a manifesto for those who have a desire to be liberated from the chains of traditional IT. I am actually an IT consultant by trade and I must admit, some consider me a bit of a nihilist (a title I am perfectly fine holding). I have noticed that something fantastic is happening on in the world of IT: it is being transformed. Our battle is with a 20th century mindset in which groups of IT experts deploy monolithic commercial software and hardware solutions for small business. It is being toppled by a new do-it-yourself paradigm focused on an information culture that is quick to embrace new technology built on the mobility, open standards, and this “thing” we call the cloud.

This new paradigm is quick to hop onto the latest mobile device, sync tool, web app, or social network to solve real problems, collaborate, and get amazing things done. In many cases we are shifting to tools that make the traditional relationship with IT professionals obsolete. But there is a caveat. For many small businesses: there is a gap.

There is a gap in knowledge between being good at using the tools we are provided with and the knowledge to craft these tools. There is a gap between using a tool that makes life convenient and the philosophy that goes into making the tool work. There is a gap between the ooie-GUI comfort of a graphical user interface and the raw power of the technology churning away underneath. For many of us, as we go down the path path of the new paradigm, we are also met with greater resistance by the very community that holds the keys to the kingdom: traditional IT.

The biggest criticism of this new paradigm shift by traditional interests is the “consumerization” of IT in small business. Consumerization describes the phenomenon of electronics made for the consumer that eventually make their way into the work place (think Apple). Overall, I see this as a good thing. Instead of electronics manufacturers developing “business” tools designed for old-school top-down IT deployment by Fortune 500 companies first, and then passing crumbs down to the rest of us, we have effectively democratized, through the market, the way in which we can interact with the world. But moving away from traditional IT leaves us with strange bedfellows. In many cases we are trading Nick Burns for Gizmodo. That of course trades trusting the advice of the IT professional and leaves us at the mercy of trusting advice from sales reps, tech bloggers, and vendors.

In doing so, we embrace a brave new world which ultra-small businesses can thrive by leveraging tools that let us compete against companies that are, at times, hundreds of times larger than we are. But, we must acknowledge that we are also taking on significant risk if we do not educate ourselves in the technological choices we are making.

I am telling you all of this as an IT professional, because I see the writing on the wall. Here is what I feel the future holds.

1. Small-by-design businesses & micropreneurs have an inherent tactical advantage in the future. They are leaner and faster than their larger competitors, and yet can still compete (and thrive) by piggy-backing on huge organizations like Google and Amazon (and a slew of web apps) for no-strings-attached infrastructure.
2. Small-by-design businesses & micropreneurs are growing in popularity and a greater number of tools are being built specifically for this market.
3. By moving away from traditional infrastructure with IT departments with expertise in security, backups, network infrastructure, workflow, data availability, digital communication, etc., it is more important now than ever to have a greater-than-basic knowledge of these technologies.
4. The traditional role of IT for small business will eventually vanish, especially the “break fix” role of on-site tech support. Instead it will be replaced by IT workflow experts and expert advice that empowers small business to stay independent.
5. The IT community of the future (and it is already happening now) will educate these new business on the importance of thinking like an IT expert. If this advice is ignored some sales rep will replace this role as educator. Sales reps are important, but relying on one as a trusted advisor is an inherent conflict of interest and greatly increases the risk of vendor lock.
6. Successful businesses will think of technology education like you think of fitness. Technology education is never-ending, just like the effort it takes to stay fit is never ending. Making time to grow and learn. Embrace technology that makes life better for yourself and other and ignore the “fads” as much as possible.

What I am getting at is this: armed with the proper knowledge and tools, most of the time, you won’t really need somebody like me. And, armed with the proper knowledge and tools, you can help make the Internet a better place for all of us.

My goal with this article and future articles is to aid in propelling this movement forward. I want you to know more about all the geeky stuff that I know. I want you to know more about the philosophy that goes into being an “IT expert”. I want you to be empowered with the philosophy behind encryption, security, internet protocols, networks, backups, coding, and more.

Think of this as a useful tool on a journey, not a guide to a destination. We never be able to know everything, but knowing more will empower us to know when (and where) to find help and how to find the best help (…and avoid bozos).

We are all citizens of the internet, and as a firm believer in the power of direct action, the only way we can encourage the Internet as a healthy and open place is by educating ourselves and participate in it.

I am really looking forward to sharing with you in the future and I hope to pass knowledge that both inspires and empowers you to grow and learn.

Photo Credit: Illusive Photography