In today’s episode, Charly dives into the world of “Shadow IT” — the unapproved tools and apps your team or subcontractors might be using without your knowledge.
This isn’t just a big business problem. Even small businesses face real risks when team members use unapproved tech to get the job done. From data security breaches to duplicated costs and lost information, Shadow IT can quietly erode your business.
📌 In this episode, Charly covers:
✅ What Shadow IT is and how it shows up in small teams
✅ Why subcontractors often amplify this hidden risk
✅ Real data privacy, compliance, and reputational issues
✅ How to manage Shadow IT without killing flexibility
✅ A real example from Charly’s own CRM setup
🔗 Practical takeaway: Don’t lock everything down. Set smart guardrails, ask your team what they actually use, and keep communication open.
🛡️ Security starts with visibility and open dialogue — not crackdowns.
📢� Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com
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Life is busy and there's just so many things to remember. What tools do you use to help you keep on top of ALL the things?
The end of the year creates a natural pause, but your digital systems keep running regardless. Tools, automations, subscriptions and workflows continue by default, even when the circumstances that created them have shifted entirely. In this episode, Charly covers:
✅ Why temporary tech solutions often become permanent by accident
📌 How unfinished decisions create background fatigue and overwhelm
🛡️ The difference between ongoing maintenance and finite closure work
✅ Why fewer inherited systems make January decisions simpler
📌 How to identify one thing that served its purpose and end it cleanly
Book a Free 30minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me
(1 per person only)
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...
Have you ever received a notification that looked like your tech was hurling abuse at you? A friend of a friend sent Charly a screenshot of their Apple Fitness notification displaying what appeared to be profanity, and the mystery needed solving. In this lighthearted Boxing Day episode, Charly explains what personalisation tokens are, why they sometimes fail spectacularly, and how to avoid embarrassing automation mishaps in your own business communications.
In this episode, Charly covers:
✅ What the mysterious %@ symbol actually means in app notifications
📌 Why personalisation tokens break and display placeholder text instead of names
🛡️ The importance of testing automations with varied name formats including hyphenated, accented, and long names
✅ A classic QA testing joke that every tech person will appreciate
Book a Free 30minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me
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It's Christmas Eve, so Charly is taking a break from the usual tech tips to bring you something special. If you've ever wondered what would happen if the classic Christmas poem met the world of IT, wonder no more. In this festive episode, Charly performs a tech-themed retelling of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, complete with firewalls, backups, SSL certificates, and a very special visit from Saint Nick the sysadmin.
In this episode, Charly covers:
✅ A fun, festive tech parody perfect for sharing with your team
📌 Why even Santa needs strong passwords and two-factor authentication
🛡️ A lighthearted reminder that your backups and firewalls should be sorted before the holidays
✅ Season's greetings from the Ask Charly Leetham team
Merry Christmas from Charly and the team!
Book a Free 30minute Breakthrough Session: https://askcharlyleetham.com/book-me
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