I was perusing the Dell Small Business site today when I came across a link to the A&E TV series ‘We Mean Business’. It's a reality make over show with a twist, the recipient is a distressed small business. I watched clips on Dell’s website that detail the technology aspect of the make over whereby Dell donates equipment and expertise to automate or upgrade the business. My interest was piqued enough to go to the A&E website to do further research.

I would recommend the show to all small business owners, I think it could spark ideas that will prove incredibly valuable to you on how to present and market your company and what aspects of your business to focus on however, I was disturbed by the implication that ‘technology is the answer’ to many of the issues faced by the business owners featuring in the show.

I hereby declare myself a technology skeptic! To me, any investment, in technology, consulting or anything else, must have a demonstrable ROI, especially in this environment and I can conceive of no issue for which spending 6 months operating profit on technology is the answer. The most interesting part was watching the ‘Follow Up’ webisode, the program makers honesty in this video increased my respect for them enormously. The recipients of the Dell donation were very grateful and I do believe that Dell will see a return on their marketing dollar but I am convinced that, as far as the businesses themselves are concerned, greater value would have been realized by spending the money on something else. So enjoy the show but keep in mind, this is entertainment, don’t call it reality.

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