What Could Your IT Partner Be Doing That You Don’t Even Know to Ask About?
Remember the first time you watched a magician pull a coin from behind someone’s ear? That jaw-dropping, “Wait, how did you do that?” wonder? Well, that (believe it or not) is what your technology partner should be bringing into your business.
I’m Burak, and ever since I was a kid fascinating friends with computer tricks, I’ve had a front-row seat to that exact look: the bolt of joy when someone realizes their daily grind just got a whole lot easier. And here’s the secret I wish every small business owner knew:
The most valuable gift your IT partner can offer isn’t fixing what’s broken. It’s revealing all the incredible, game-changing ways you and your team can be getting through work, every day. Shortcuts, systems, and tools you didn’t even know you could ask for.
Let’s break open the magician’s hat together and see what’s hiding inside.
🤔 The Hidden Problem: “You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know”
Let’s be honest: if you’re a founder, owner, or leader running a business with 5, 20, even 50 people, you weren’t handed a manual called, “Every Tech Secret That Will Change The Game.” And while you probably have a list of things you want your IT partner to fix, there’s an even bigger list of possibilities lurking out there...ones you have no idea exist.
Here’s the kicker:
Most business owners underestimate just how much possibility they’re leaving on the table, simply because they don’t know what else to ask their tech person.
It’s a classic “unknown unknowns” trap and trust me, it’s costing more than a few missed lunch breaks and late night shifts.
💡 Real Magic: The Eyes-Go-Wide Moments
Let me paint you a picture.
A long while back, I was working with an architecture firm. Tight team, growing fast, burning the candle at both ends. Every day we got together I could see their juggling act: client updates, Slack pings, endless email chains, Post-it reminders, and the feeling that something important always fell through the cracks disrupted every meeting we had.
During a regular check-in,, I asked, “Ever tried a real project management system, like Asana?”
Cue the blank stares. ❓
Turns out, they didn’t know what they didn’t know.
They’d heard tools like Asana existed but assumed they were too expensive, too complex, or just “not for teams like ours.”
Long story short?
We rolled out Asana in a way that fit their flow, not mine.
Their project updates snapped into place.
Missed deadlines > gone.
Month after onboarding, over the Zoom follow-up, I got to watch sheer wonder light up their faces:
“We thought we were organized, but this! How did we live without it?!”
That’s the kind of rabbit I love pulling from the hat.
🛠️ More Than Patchwork Fixes: Surprising Tech Wins
But it doesn’t stop with project management. Some of the best magic tricks are practically invisible:
A messaging upgrade:
A client complained their team was drowning in emails about quick, urgent stuff. Instead of more training, I introduced a smart group chat system. Noise dropped, responses sped up, and that Monday morning inbox dread? History.The checklist rescue:
A major project deadline almost tanked because a small (but crucial) step slipped through the cracks. I set them up with a templated checklist, integrated right into their workflow.
Now, nothing gets missed even if Terry behind the admin desk “forgets” (Terry, we love you).
Each time, the conversation with clients sounds similar: “Why didn’t we do this sooner?” It’s, “We didn’t even THINK to ask for this!”
🚀 Why Most IT Support Stops Short (And You Shouldn’t Accept That)
Here’s a confession: For years, I believed my job was to keep tech humming along without a fuss, to be the silent fixer. But over time, two things became blazingly clear:
Operational & Optimized = Minimum Standard.
Today, keeping your systems stable isn't a high achievement, it’s like expecting your coffee to be hot.The real wins? They come from curiosity and partnership.
The businesses that leap ahead are the ones that never stop searching for better ways and expect their IT partner to dig for answers alongside them.
If you’re just using your IT person as a “fix-it” resource, you’re missing out on their most valuable superpower:
Helping you discover the breakthroughs you didn’t even realize were possible.
🔑 How To Unlock More (Without Becoming a Tech Genius)
Worried you’ll have to suddenly become a geek or spend lots of cash testing out stuff your IT person suggests? Not at all.
You only need two simple shifts:
1. Ditch “Set It and Forget It”
Don’t accept “it’s working fine” as your finish line. Instead, make it your starting point.
“How could we save even more time on this?”
“What do other teams my size use?”
“Is there a shortcut we’re missing?”
2. Treat Your IT Partner Like a Stakeholder, Not a Vendor
Invite them into conversations, not just emergencies. Ask:
“What tech change made the biggest difference for your other clients?”
“Anything we’re NOT asking you, that we should be?”
“What would you upgrade first if you ran this place?”
Trust me: The good ones will love these questions and your future self will thank you.
💪 The “Constant Magician” Mindset
The real difference between businesses that plateau and those that punch above their weight?
They never, ever stop asking for “better.”
They know that there’s always another rabbit in the hat if you keep poking around, asking questions, trying new tricks, and refusing to settle for “good enough.”
I love and savor those “wide-eyed” moments where a client lights up at a new system or an idea nobody told them about. A shortcut that saves an hour a week, or a hidden integration that just simply connects the dots all on its own, turning chaos into calm.. That’s what fuels me. And you can have that, too.
✅ Your Next Step
This week, toss one new question at your IT partner. See what magic you uncover.
And if you want a little more sparkle in your own setup, you know where to find me.
Let’s turn “you don’t know what you don’t know” into your next set of business superpowers.