If you’re a busy professional, “keeping up with tech” can feel like a second full-time job you did not apply for. New tools launch daily. Your inbox is full of “game-changing” software. Meanwhile, you still have customers to serve, a team to lead, and probably at least 47 open browser tabs. Right? While there’s enormous pressure to keep up with innovation these days (it’ll make you more efficient), you can’t be on top of everything. And you don’t need to be. You just need a simple system that keeps you informed about the right things, so you can make smart, confident decisions to reach maximum efficiency without losing your mind (or your evenings). Start by Shrinking What “Tech” Means “Tech” is a massive category. If you treat all of it as equally important, you will burn out and do nothing. Instead, filter what you pay attention to through three questions: Will this help me grow revenue? Things that fall into this category include: better customer relationship tools, email marketing, online booking, e-commerce, paid ads, social scheduling. Will this save time or reduce friction? Things that fall into this category include: automation, project management, AI assistants, e-signatures, online forms, scheduling apps. Will this reduce risk? Things that fall into this category include: cybersecurity basics, password managers, backup systems, compliance tools. If a new technology does not hit at least one of those, it goes into the “interesting, but not for me right now” pile. You acknowledge it, you do not adopt it. Build a Tiny “Tech Intel” Ritual Keeping up with tech should not be an endless scroll. Otherwise, it becomes much like the empty promises you make to yourself of “one more reel, then back to work.” Treat it like you would your financials or strategy. Give it a container. Once a week, block out fifteen minutes on your calendar and label it “Tech Check In.” That becomes your standing appointment to look up, not just grind through. During that time, you are not randomly Googling. You are returning to a small set of trusted sources you have already chosen. Which brings us to your next move. Making the most of your time means having the learning materials at your disposal when you’re ready to review them. But ensure you keep this appointment with yourself. Otherwise, things stack up and you end up deleting them and not learning anything. Let a Few Smart People Review Things for You You do not need to read everything. You need to follow a few people who already do. Pick two or three “filters” you like, such as a newsletter that reviews tools for small businesses or your specific industry, a YouTube channel that breaks down tools and trends in simple language, or a podcast that recaps what actually matters each week. The humans behind these channels are doing the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. Your job is not to chase every link they share. Your job is to skim their summaries and ask a simple question: Could this help our revenue, our time, or our risk in the next 6 to 12 months? Again, schedule the time to actually read or listen. Subscribing is not the same as using it. During your Tech Check In, spend those fifteen minutes with their recap instead of random scrolling. Find a “Guru” Who Speaks Your Language It also helps to have one or two “gurus” you follow consistently. Not the loudest tech celebrity shouting about the future, but someone who translates tools for real-world businesses. Look for people who work with companies roughly your size, explain things in plain language, focus on outcomes and use cases (not just features), and share honest pros and cons instead of hype. You can find them by asking peers who they follow, noticing which experts show up again and again on business podcasts you like, or searching phrases like “small business tech review,” “tools for [your industry],” or “non techie tech tips.” When you find a voice that feels grounded and practical, stick with them. Consistency beats chasing a new expert every month. Let AI Be Your Research Assistant You do not have to read every two-thousand-word review to get the point. This is where AI can quietly make your life easier. You can copy an article into an AI tool and ask it to summarize the key takeaways for a small business owner and flag any obvious risks. You can paste a software homepage and ask what the product actually does, who it is best for, and whether it is overkill for a business with fewer than twenty employees. You can ask for a simple comparison between two tools you are considering. You can even create your own GPT that you train on your business and talk to it about how those products may or may not be a good fit for you. The goal is not to become a technician or a tech consultant. Instead, you want to quickly understand whether something is worth a deeper look. Use Your Network as a Shortcut You are not the only one trying to sort this out. Other people are already testing things. Borrow that. At your next networking event, ask one question that cuts to the chase: “Is there any app or software you started using this year that you now swear by?” Inside your own organization, invite more tech-comfortable team members to do short “show and tell” sessions. Ten minutes, one tool, one way it saves them time. And do not forget your chamber. Many already host tech focused webinars, workshops, or lunch-and-learns that are curated for small businesses. That curation is half the value. Experiment. Do Not Overhaul Everything. The fastest way to stall on technology is to decide you need a giant digital transformation before you do anything. You do not. You need small, low-risk experiments. Start with a single problem: missed appointments, slow invoicing, messy lead follow up, repetitive manual tasks. Choose one tool that might help, ideally with a free trial or month-to-month plan. Decide what success would look like. Fewer no-shows. Faster payment. Less time spent on a tedious process. Run a 30-to-90-day test with one team or one process, then choose to keep it, switch it, or drop it. That is it. No epic overhaul. Just repeated, thoughtful experiments. Park the Shiny Objects on a “Not Now” List You will see plenty of tools that look cool but are not right for this season in your business. Instead of feeling guilty for not jumping in, create a simple “Not Now” list. It can be a note in your phone or on Notion (it’s a cool app), a page in your planner, or a shared document. Any time you hear about something promising that is not urgent, park it there with a short note like “future CRM upgrade” or “AI chatbot to explore next year.” When you plan your quarterly or annual priorities, you can revisit that list and choose one or two to evaluate. You are not saying “never.” You are saying “not right this minute.” You Are Aiming for Literacy, Not Perfection You are not trying to become a tech expert. You are becoming a tech-literate decision maker . That looks like this: You understand, at a high level, what matters and what does not. You stay curious in small, consistent doses. You test tools in bite-sized ways. You keep the focus on how technology supports people, not the other way around. If you put even a light system around how you track and test new tools, you will be far ahead of businesses that only react when a trend goes viral. You do not need every new app. You need the right few that make your work smoother, your customers happier, and your business more resilient. That is what “keeping up with tech” looks like when you have an actual life. Read More: 15 Tech Tools to Elevate Your Work-Life Balance How to Make Time for Innovation Maximizing Efficiency: Tools and Techniques to Boost Team Productivity ----------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

You already know this but you will never out-doorbuster the big box stores. You are not supposed to. Your power is not in pallets of TVs sold near cost to get people in the door. It is in how people feel when they walk through your door. If you lean into experience, Black Friday can shift from “we cannot compete” to “we own this lane.” Here’s how: 6 Ways to Win at Black Friday 1. Position Your Business as the Calm in the Chaos Black Friday is loud, crowded, and a little unhinged. Use that to your advantage by being the opposite. Think of your business as a holiday oasis. Ideas you can try: Quiet Hours Shopping. Offer “calm hours” in the early morning or later evening with softer lighting, relaxed music, and a limited number of shoppers by RSVP. This is an ideal way to stand out. Cozy Comfort Station. Set up a hydration and warmth bar. Think hot cocoa, tea, cucumber water, and maybe a simple snack. You are literally refueling tired shoppers. Phone Drop Zone. Create a “scroll break” basket where people can put their phones while they browse. Add a small sign: “You will not find peace in your notifications. Try here instead.” You become the place where shoulders drop and breathing slows. That alone is a competitive edge. 2. Make Black Friday Feel VIP, Not Bargain Bin People love to feel like insiders. Use that instinct. Ideas to elevate the day: By-Appointment Shopping. Offer 30-minute mini appointments for styling, gifting help, or product demos. Shoppers leave with decisions made and gifts checked off. First Look Access. Give your email list, top customers, or loyalty members early access to your best bundles or limited items. Frame it as a thank you, not a gimmick. “Done and Dusted” Gift Packages. Curate grab and go gift sets for specific people: “Teacher TLC,” “Hostess Hero,” “Self-Care Sunday,” “Office Secret Santa.” The value is not only in the items. It is in the decision fatigue you remove. You are not trying to be the cheapest. You are trying to be the easiest and the most thoughtful. 3. Turn Shopping into a Memory, Not a Chore If the big box experience feels like a stampede, yours can feel like a respite. Add small, memorable touches: Gratitude Wall. Invite customers to write what they are grateful for on tags or sticky notes and hang them on a wall or tree. It creates a moment of reflection and looks great on social. Photo Moments. Set up a simple photo nook. A decorated chair, a small backdrop, a “We survived Black Friday together” sign. Offer to take photos for customers on their phones. Word of Mouth Marvels. Ideally, word of mouth testimonials will come from customers in the form of reviews or social posts. But you can also use the help of your employees. Help customers feel more confident about their purchases by telling them things like, “That’s one of our biggest sellers” or “I bought that for my son’s teacher and she loved it.” These short employee-led testimonials work in-person and even as physical signs near a popular product or service. If you’re not a believer, check out how Amazon designates some of its products as “Amazon’s Choice.” 4. Create Sensory Experiences That Match Your Brand Use all five senses to stand out. Sight. Make your best bundles and gift solutions front and center. Use clear signage like “Gifts under $25” or “Perfect for the person who has everything.” Sound. Choose a playlist that fits your brand. Calm acoustic, jazzy holiday, or upbeat pop. Just be deliberate. Smell. A subtle holiday scent can make your store feel warm and inviting. Candles, diffusers, or even a simmer pot if it is safe. Taste. If allowed, offer small sips or bites. Think sample cocoa, infused water, or a local treat. Touch. Invite people to try, test, feel, and flip through. Hands-on experiences make products more real and more likely to be purchased. You want people to feel like they have stepped into a curated world, not just another errand. 5. Partner with Other Local Businesses You do not have to do Black Friday alone. Collaboration makes everything bigger without blowing your budget. Ideas: Oasis Trail. Partner with nearby businesses to create a “Holiday Sanity Route.” Each shop offers a comfort element or mini perk. Share a simple map online and in print. Shared Experiences. Host a pop-up inside your store featuring a local baker, maker, or artist. It brings their audience to you and gives your customers something extra to enjoy. This is how you turn one good experience into a whole neighborhood story. 6. Communicate Clearly and Early A great experience still needs promotion. Share your Black Friday “experience menu” on social media, your website, and via email. Focus the message on how people will feel. Less “10 percent off.” More “Skip the chaos and actually enjoy your holiday shopping.” Let your chamber know what you’re doing. They may share it in their newsletters or social feeds and send more people your way. If you can make Black Friday feel human, calm, and a little bit magical, you will not just survive it. You will stand out from all the noise and become a place people seek out year after year. They’ll feel like you understand their needs. You don’t want to compete in the race to the bottom on price. You are competing in something much more powerful: the memory of how your business made people feel in the middle of holiday madness.  Read More: Last-Minute Black Friday Promo Ideas Meeting Customer Needs: Inexpensive Sensory-Friendly Ideas for the Holiday Season Tips for Reaching Holiday Shoppers This Small Business Season Unwrap the Magic: Using Nostalgia to Boost Holiday Sales ------------ Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith