Do you ever Google your name to reveal how the rest of the world sees you? Now, do the same thing for your Exchange profile. Plug your company name into the Exchange search bar and open the resulting profile page. How does it look? Are all the fields complete? Are there still default images where your company images should be? Are all your staff featured with photos and contact information? Be sure you're making the most of your profile and that it reflects well on your company.

Get more Exchange tips and best practice ideas at csiaexchange.com.

There can be numerous reasons why the owner of a system integration firm may want to sell some or all of the company. Those reasons could include, but are not limited to, retirement, poor health or a capital need to help further grow the company. Regardless of the reasons why, there are immediate steps an integrator owner is recommended to take in the six to twelve month lead-up to a sale process.

Here is a legal lesson for a rainy day: Responsibility for the defective design of a control system is mostly about drawing lines. Whoever draws the brightest lines wins. What do I mean? It's because the design of a system solution, by necessity, often involves multiple "cooks." It involves the end-user, of course, as well as its constituent stakeholders and an intervening contractor or two. In fact, it can involve multiple disciplines.

In my contributions to this newsletter, I have generally commented upon all aspects of our program in a serious, or as I like to think, studious manner. This month I thought I would be lighter hearted. In the sense that all valid claims are caused by an accident, I thought that I would share with you the true story below. The next time you're having a bad day, just think -- you're lucky you're not this guy!