Interview with Michoel, owner of MMA Computer Services

Here we are to day with MMS Computer Services.
Thank you very much for joining us at
Jerusalem Small Business Blog.
  By Rachael Orbach

What is your business, and where do you operate?
 I live and my office is in Safat, and much of my work in
the US. and in Jerusalem. I  run a programming service.
 For most of the years, I have created custom applications
that most of us need, Trumout, Students, payments to students
 and gemachim. I also write programs for
payments, what people owe. I write applications that are
donation orientated, tailored to schools and mosodos.
 What program do you write in?  I write Database
program desktop applications.
 We all use databases, They are ubiquitous.
 Most applications are running off of databases.
We use them  to query, or report on in a way that
gives you the information in a powerful way
We also use  mailing lists and labels to put on the envelopes.

Who else works for your company?
 My wife is also a programmer, in an other languages
such as  Colbolt, she worked on Wall Street and in banks.
 She acutally taught me how to program.

How long have you been doing this type of work?
I've been doing this for around 25 years,
We started on Dbase, the Power D base,  and for the
last 10 years we have been using Microsoft Access.
Besides using Microsoft Access as a database, it also
has a complete programming lanugage, and you can make
 applications with it. We wrote an application for the network
 computers of the Hekdesh Sefardi for Meron.  The Rashbi)
This program  gives reciepts, mailing lists, labels, does Horoot
 Keva. to pay something and it can be also used to pay
 people they want to give money to,
Also possible to have a Horaat Keva for the emplyees.
They use it to pay the Avrachaim in the Kollel
This is my flagship application  that has been bought by
 9 other mosodos.

Where do you do most of your business?
 Since I've been lived in Safas and we are
 starting to branch out to the Mercaz,
We  have written for Yeshivot,
 Microsof Accesss can be used to
make applications for the client.

How long does it take for you to write 
a full application like this? 
We usually sit  together for a half a year in
order to get exactly what you want.
The advantage of the programming platform,
 it is fast and relatively less expensve to create and change.
 I charge fairly and property.  That's they type of job I'm in.
For example, Someone wanted  a custom  application
for a music school, so I wrote it in Access.
The difference is because that this platform is fast it is
possible for me to do the work faster and more efficiently
 than for me to do something, in C++, which takes a long time ,
 whereas in Acess it is possible for me to do the work fast.
A lot of the appicatons can be used on the Web, but not
all the Haredim won't connect to the Web. Some won't
 let the Internet into the office.
What I do works over the networks, and if the clients
are not connected to the Web they can use my services.

How long does it take to write from scratch?
Some are can be up and running in a day  If it is major
application it can take 6 months.
A lot of the time I don't have to write from scratch,
 In the case of Rashbi, as I said, it took six months.
They  wanted exactly this  program, but other
applications can take a shorter period of time,
How do you start with a client?
We start with an applcation and build on it.
The  price covers programming, modification and training.
If someone wants to buy the Rashbi the price is fairly reasonable.
I factor in the actualy time I use to change it.
 I've done other things through out the years,
and  the clients found they came  to me asking
for all sorts of help, how to set up networks,
computer tech help because I was there and they trust me.



How can clients contact you?
 Please contact: mmacomp@gmail.com
 052-7631525 . for more information!
Thank you very much for your valuable time!

Interview with Alan Frishtat from www.loseit.co.il

Questions for Interview. 

The Jerusalem Small Business Blog is branching out in new directions this month.  

To better serve the business community, we have an interview section where we find out more behind the scenes. 

By Rachael Orbach www.JerusalemSmallBusinessBlog.blogspot.com 

Today we have Alan Frishtat from  www.loseit.co.il 

Hello Alan, thank you for taking the opportunity to speak with us today. 
 I know that you have a busy schedule,   

What gave you the idea to start Lose it!?

Having been a personal trainer for 15 years, and dealing with
weight loss and  having a good track record, I felt that  we could do better.
The average success rate is  3-5 % of people are able  to keep off
weight for 5 years. I felt that we can do better. 

A lot of people go to trainers and dietitians, but the missing
 component is the way you think, so you have to change the way
you think in addition to the way to eat and exercise.  When you  combine
 these elements  together it could be a winner. 

I came across a book about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,(CBT)  so we combine
all three aspects, and designed a program around about it.   I approached
Linda Holtz  and asked her if she was interested in helping to design a program,
,It took us  a year to design and test the program. Only time will tell if it works
 in the very long term, to date we have been open a year and a half. 

Our 12 week success rate is 83%  have lost 6% of their body mass.
This is our goal   Rapid weight loss is not our goal.  Any program
 that you see rapid weight loss is not going to sustain itself. 

What is special about Lose it! This a  personalized program.
Personalized in the fact we don't use a standard diet, 

We take into account a person's likes and dislikes.
We are not going to make people eat broccoli if they don't like it.

We deal with three factors, the person's  on their likes and dislikes, 
nutritional needs and caloric needs to lose weight. 

aloric needs to lose weight. 

We also deal with practical matters, How to eat on  Shabbat,
 when you go on  vacation,  and during Pesach.  If a client has
 two weddings  and a Bar Mitzvah in one week,
we deal with how to eat during simchas. 

What happens when someone misses a weight loss goal? 

Unlike other programs that are all or nothing, we help people
get back on track.  Human beings make mistakes, we have to get back on track, 

Mistakes can be valuable if they learn from them. 

What type of professionals work at Loseit? 

We have a nutritionist, a  personal trainer exercise counseling 
who doesn't train on site, a  registered dietian, a  behaviorial
therapist and a life coach. 

You get three of these people.  Including the opportunity to be in touch
between your weekly sessions. we are here. 

In the year and half we have been in business we are approaching the
250 client mark, and  we have on-going programs for people who need
help after the 12 weeks. 

We don't sell special foods , although that might a project for the future,
we help people  how to shop and make proper choices. 

How do you keep the people motivated to continue on the program?   

Usually the best motivation is health. weight loss is only one of the
results, improvement in colustral, they will see more energy, even
though weight reduction may be prime focus, the goal a better and
healthier life.

I've had people to lower their blood sugar and cholesterol 

When people see results, they are motivated to work even better. 

What do your clients have to say about Loseit! 

 I find myself to have gained more life-changing lessons than the
eight that I lost. I

learned how to control my desire for eating, rather than it
controlling me. I learned how to plan ahead, I learned how to
"find time" in my very busy day for things like health which

are so important. I learned that spending money on something
as important as this, was the best spent money of my life.
And most importantly, I know that I am being responsible

for the body that the Ribono Shel Olam has given me.

If I can be of any help to you, please contact me through
the Lose It office.

YF

Jerusalem, Israel

 I am fit again. I can run for buses; I welcome bending down to pick up

things from the floor, knein hora! I can even sit on the floor and play
with my grandchildren! I eat healthier foods, (salad and fruit at least
once a day!) And most important, I honestly feel

that I’ve changed for life. be”H, I will never be fat again.
And I’ve done all the other diets in

the world in my life, so I know what I’m talking about.)

Estie Newman

Thank you very much Alan, I wish you lots of success with Loseit.

Rachael Orbach