Sometimes what seems to be an insurmountable problem can have a simple solution, if only we look at it from a different perspective. Here are a couple examples that I have been directly involved with. The first happened at a recent event I attended in Indianapolis, and the second happened early in the development of the ratio/index analysis functionality in our software and forever affected how we look at new software features.

I was recently at a conference attended by a large number of Certified Public Accountants. They were all highly educated, extremely sharp people. At the final break, the sponsors of the event provided milk and cookies as an afternoon snack. The cookies were large, and the milk was in individual serving bottles with a small opening in the top. I was talking to one of the participants as he stood with a cookie in one hand and milk in the other, when he said, “It sure would be nice to be able to dunk this cookie, but it won’t fit in the top of the bottle.” I just politely suggested he dump the milk into one of the glasses that were neatly stacked next to the big bowl filled with milk on ice, and he could dunk the cookie.

Over twenty-five years ago, I was having an intense discussion with our (then and current) Development Manager on how the data in our Ratio/Index analysis program should be displayed. This was as close to a knock-down, drag-out fight as we’ve ever had over a software feature. I thought the trend information on the reports should be presented in reverse chronological order so the most recent information was closest to the line titles, and he thought that was crazy, because financial information should always be in chronological order. One of our partners, at the time, entered the conversation at about the breaking point and after hearing just a small portion of the discussion, he suggested, “do it both ways and let the customers decide how they want to see the data,” totally ruining a perfectly good argument.

Next time you are confronted with a problem that seems to have no solution, step back, take a breath, and look at the issue from a different angle.

- Ken Hilton, President

All of our CenterPoint products are currently compatible with the Windows^® 10 pre-release versions and will be compatible with the final released versions of Windows 10 when available late July, 2015. Our legacy products are being verified and the compatibility chart on our web site will be updated. Check the compatibility chart for more information closer to the Windows 10 release date.

In the June 2015 issue of The Farmer, Dorrich Dairy, a CenterPoint Accounting and Payroll customer, was featured in the article, “Dorrich Dairy Wins 2015 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award”. Congratulations to Dorrich Dairy on your award!

CenterPoint Accounting and Payroll customer Don Jensen, of Lawnhurst Farms, was featured by the Brighton-Pittsford Post for the farm’s use of an anaerobic digester.

Laurelbrook Farm, a CenterPoint Accounting and Payroll customer, was featured in the May 25, 2015 issue of Progressive Dairyman, in the article, “Laurelbrook Farm raises calves to produce 100-pound average.” Owner Cricket Jacquier discusses the changes the farm has made to increase the productivity of the dairy farm.

Check out Red Wing Software customer, Indy Family Farms, who will be honored at the Indiana State Fair. They are the single Indiana State Fair representative for Produce Day as they highlight various ag-related disciplines. Click to read the full story at their local paper, the Daily Journal.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/local_story/FAIR-TO-HONOR-INDY-FAMILY-PROD_1433982480

Rob Richards and sons Eric and Aaron Dave Charrlin Photography

Summer is now in full swing. I was reminded of this recently while enjoying one of my favorite summertime outdoor activities, golfing. We were finishing the thirteenth hole when we heard thunder in the distance. I quickly grabbed my smartphone and checked out the radar for the area. A thunderstorm that had not been there ten minutes earlier was now just to our north and heading southeast. It appeared we would be spared, so we kept playing. As we finished the last hole, the sky let loose and everyone scrambled for a safe place to spend the next hour.

I mention this as a reminder of how fast storms can erupt, and how important it is to make sure you’re prepared for unexpected events. Do you have a safe place to retreat to in a hurry when things get dangerous? Does everyone in your organization know how to recognize when to take action? Is all your important information backed up and stored off-site? Do you have a disaster recovery plan in case it is needed? I certainly hope you never have to deal with a serious emergency, but it is always a good idea to have a plan.

On this Independence Day, and for our friends to our north, Canada Day, please celebrate safely.