It has been 35 years for CTaccess! What a journey it has been. We are so grateful for this milestone and look forward to continuing to grow, build, and serve our team, our customers, and our community! As we look back with gratitude, we are sharing some of the lessons we have learned along the way.

Here are 35 Lessons from 35 Years in the IT Business: 

1. No matter what business you are in, it is about people. We are in the people business, and technology is the tool that allows us to serve people.

2. Being proactive saves time and money and reduces anxiety. While this certainly applies to cybersecurity, it also has great significance in life.

3. Kindness does not always come easily, but especially when it does not, it is the right way to approach people, even when they are anxious, rude, or arrogant.

4. We see life through our lens of self-importance, but it is not about you! See the other person with empathy, even when they do not meet your expectations.

5. There is no substitute for learning. If you have a mindset of continually learning more and never being stagnant, your value to others will multiply.

6. Always listen to people’s opinions, but whenever possible, temper opinions with data. People often make broad generalizations, but data sheds light on the truth.

7. What you praise and recognize grows.

8. Sales is a long game. Do the RIGHT things now, and you will reap the rewards for years to come.

9. Selfish ambition drives many of us to succeed, but it does not bring true fulfillment. Real success lies in the relationships we build and how we serve others, inspiring a sense of community and purpose.

10. Great systems and processes produce consistency and enable growth. Take time to build them but always be willing to rebuild again.

11. What got you here may not get you to where you want to go and may even become a roadblock.

12. Life is bigger than you. There is a sovereign God who loves you, sent his son Jesus to die for you, and cares about the intricacies of your life. Put him first, and you will find real purpose.

13. Sarcasm comes easily and sometimes brings humor, but it is not a virtue.

14. Love your spouse and kids. Prioritize time with them. You will never regret it.

15. Setting goals and pursuing them is hard work and requires discipline. Often, we miss the mark, but even then, without the goal, there would be no progress at all.

16. Take a moment to stop and celebrate. Don’t be so driven that you don’t appreciate what others help you accomplish.

17. Never miss an opportunity to introduce someone. Praise them, recognize them, and build them up.

18. Do not let yourself get caught up in the pursuit of things. That better car, that bigger house, none of it has any lasting value.

19. Work on your BE and your DO will follow.

20. Some have a greater sphere of influence than others, but we can all use what we have to encourage and to point others toward better.

21. Words really do matter. Learning to communicate in a way that makes others feel heard, understood, and valued builds trust and strengthens our connections.

22. There is a point somewhere between hacking it together and unattainable perfection that is the right thing. Sometimes the magic comes in the doing.

23. Be purposeful about forging relationships. Find the right people, take responsibility for keeping the communication going, and be intentional about getting together. True friendships take work and sometimes start one-sided.

24. Where you spend your time is an indicator of where your heart is.

25. Always give credit to your team. The team is doing the heavy lifting!

26. Regardless of your position, you are a leader. You have influence. Study and learn to lead well, and you will have a broader impact and more influence.

27. Learn to listen, to really listen, to listen to understand.

28. Developing the lost art of asking questions with genuine curiosity will take you far.

29. “Trust and inspire” beats “command and control” every time!

30. Time spent early in the morning purposefully setting your heart and mind on the right things has an exponential impact on a productive day.

31. Pay attention to what you feed your mind. That daily dose of media to “help you unwind” may really be what keeps you from letting go and finding rest.

32. When decision-making stalls, ask yourself what you need to learn.

33. Risk is just part of business. Approach it with as much information as you can gather, with input from others, and with wisdom and inspiration. Then take it and make it good!

34. You will never regret taking time to spend with people, to listen, to encourage, and just to be present.

35. Quiet generosity unlocks abundance.

Thirty-five is a significant milestone for CTaccess, and the journey continues! Thanks to our incredible team, loyal customers and partners who have been a part of this journey! We are privileged to live, love, and serve in this crazy world we live in!