1.) MSP Question of The Week   How do busy MSP business owners deal with stress?   Host Amy and Host James discuss their strategies.    ---   2.) Five Minutes with A Smart Person -  Eric Anthony    Host James sits down with Channel Vet, podcaster, and Director of Community at EGNYTE Eric Anthony.   Learn more about Eric:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/esanthony/   Eric's Customer Experience video: https://youtube.com/live/WHQWGhrg7FY   Eric's Book "CX That Sings": https://www.amazon.com/CX-That-Sings-introduction-Customer/dp/B085RTL8NT/ref=sr_1_2?   ---   3.) Notes on The News     "Microsoft set for AI-powered revenue surge as stock pulls ahead...   Microsoft is expected to report a 15.8% jump in quarterly revenue, its best growth in nearly two years, as rising adoption of its products infused with generative AI fuels demand for its cloud services."   https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-teams-down-thousands-users-downdetector-2024-01-26/   Microsoft's (MSFT.O), opens new tab Teams services were restored on Saturday after a disruption blocked access to the messaging platform.   Several users had flagged issues with the messaging platform on Friday. Complaints peaked in the afternoon with more than 14,000 incidents, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com. All incidents appeared to be resolved on Saturday.   --- Our upcoming events: AUSTIN TX – MASTERMIND LIVE (March 28-29th) http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200! Irvine CA – SMB Techfest (Feb 8th-9th) Make sure you catch Amy at SMB Techfest! https://www.smbtechfest.com/events.asp   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/  

Host Amy and Host James catch up and catch a tan.    1.) MSP Question of The Week   What is the best business structure for new MSPs?   See: https://www.toptal.com/finance/interim-cfos/c-corp-vs-s-corp#:~:text=Compared%20to%20traditional%20S%20or,it's%20taxed%20as%20a%20corporation   ---   2.) More Tech Layoffs?   EY Announces Layoffs in Response to Economic Struggles   See: https://www.channele2e.com/news/ey-announces-layoffs-in-response-to-economic-struggles   "Less than a week after Broadcom finalized its $61 billion acquisition of VMware, layoffs began. This is a familiar pattern for the company, which followed a similar playbook with its acquisition of CA Technologies in 2018. Overall, it's estimated Broadcom will cut about 2,000 employees post-acquisition.   Google, Amazon, Snap, Splunk, LinkedIn, Cisco, MariaDB and SecureWorks all recently announced layoffs. Other mass layoffs recently included Intel, Wish and LinkedIn in the San Francisco Bay area. At the beginning of September, Rapid7 announced a restructuring plan following disappointing second-quarter results, resulting in the layoffs of about 18% of the company’s workforce. Similarly, AppSec firm Snyk laid off 128 people in April. Cloud security vendor Zscaler announced layoffs after what it called a rough fiscal second quarter. Software tools giant Atlassian laid off 5% of its workforce as it “shifted priorities.”    ----   Our upcoming events: AUSTIN TX – MASTERMIND LIVE (March 28-29th) http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200! Irvine CA – SMB Techfest (Feb 8th-9th) Make sure you catch Amy at SMB Techfest! https://www.smbtechfest.com/events.asp   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/  

*Due to a small error, we are re-releasing this episode that was originally set for January 19th, 2024. Thanks for understanding. :-) 1.)  Should you update your GOALS and OBJECTIVES every year?  The short answer? Yes.  Email James (james@kernanconsulting.com) for his one page business plan exercise. ---  3.) Notes on The News  Is Connectwise a sinking ship? https://www.msptechnews.com/business-news/is-connectwise-a-sinking-ship/ The best click-bait of the year....so far! And MAJOR CONSUMERS SEVER RELATIONS WITH HACKED BRANDS? Ransomware attacks in 2023 surged by 95% year-over-year, with 1,278 victims identified on leak sites - already surpassing both 2021 and 2022 totals... https://www.msptoday.com/topics/msp-today/articles/458119-majority-consumers-sever-ties-with-hacked-brands.htm 2.) Five Minutes with a Smart Person: Erick Simpson  Erick Simpson is an MSP Business and Channel Growth Expert, MSP Influencer and MSP Thought Leader A pioneer and leader in the managed services industry, Erick Simpson built and sold one of the very first MSPs in the industry and grew and coached a channel of 30,000 IT Solution Providers through their MSP transformation with his MSP Mastered® Methodology for managed services business performance improvement. Erick is an MSP business & channel growth expert, influencer, thought leader, speaker and author with 4 best-selling books and 50 white papers to his credit, and his strategies and programs help MSPs overcome business challenges to realize consistent, profitable managed services recurring revenue growth. His M&A expertise has helped dozens of MSPs sell their businesses at the highest valuation or expand through acquisition. He delivers strategic MSP market analysis services and builds and improves channel programs for IT vendors and distributors, and helps recruit and enable their channel partners through his thought leadership podcasts, webinars, workshops and event keynotes and breakouts. Erick’s industry recognition includes Channel Futures’ 7 Thought Leaders Defining the MSP Market, Jay McBain’s 100 Most Visible Channel Leaders, 2 Time ChannelPro 20/20 Visionaries, 2 Time MSP Mentor 250 and SMB Nation’s SMB 150 award recipient. Check out Erick's new community:  https://mspmastered.com/ https://ericksimpson.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericksimpson/   — Check out Amy's Intune class: https://www.thirdtier.net/2023/11/29/learning-intune-a-six-month-course/   Our upcoming events: AUSTIN TX – MASTERMIND LIVE (March 28-29th) http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200! Irvine CA - SMB Techfest (Feb 8th-9th) Make sure you catch Amy at SMB Techfest! https://www.smbtechfest.com/events.asp   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/      

Host Karl does a deep dive into the four steps you need to take for your “AI Strategy” in 2024. Learn it, use it, teach it, sell it. Whatever you do, just don’t ignore it.   AUSTIN TX – MASTERMIND LIVE (March 28-29th)   http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event   Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!   Irvine CA – SMB Techfest (Feb 8th-9th)   Make sure you catch Amy at SMB Techfest!   https://www.smbtechfest.com/events.asp       Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

1.)  Should you update your GOALS and OBJECTIVES every year?    The short answer? Yes.    Email James (james@kernanconsulting.com) for his one page business plan exercise.   ---      3.) Notes on The News    Is Connectwise a sinking ship?   https://www.msptechnews.com/business-news/is-connectwise-a-sinking-ship/   The best click-bait of the year....so far!   And MAJOR CONSUMERS SEVER RELATIONS WITH HACKED BRANDS?   Ransomware attacks in 2023 surged by 95% year-over-year, with 1,278 victims identified on leak sites - already surpassing both 2021 and 2022 totals...   https://www.msptoday.com/topics/msp-today/articles/458119-majority-consumers-sever-ties-with-hacked-brands.htm     2.) Five Minutes with a Smart Person: Erick Simpson    Erick Simpson is an MSP Business and Channel Growth Expert, MSP Influencer and MSP Thought Leader A pioneer and leader in the managed services industry, Erick Simpson built and sold one of the very first MSPs in the industry and grew and coached a channel of 30,000 IT Solution Providers through their MSP transformation with his MSP Mastered® Methodology for managed services business performance improvement. Erick is an MSP business & channel growth expert, influencer, thought leader, speaker and author with 4 best-selling books and 50 white papers to his credit, and his strategies and programs help MSPs overcome business challenges to realize consistent, profitable managed services recurring revenue growth. His M&A expertise has helped dozens of MSPs sell their businesses at the highest valuation or expand through acquisition. He delivers strategic MSP market analysis services and builds and improves channel programs for IT vendors and distributors, and helps recruit and enable their channel partners through his thought leadership podcasts, webinars, workshops and event keynotes and breakouts. Erick’s industry recognition includes Channel Futures’ 7 Thought Leaders Defining the MSP Market, Jay McBain’s 100 Most Visible Channel Leaders, 2 Time ChannelPro 20/20 Visionaries, 2 Time MSP Mentor 250 and SMB Nation’s SMB 150 award recipient. Check out Erick's new community:  https://mspmastered.com/ https://ericksimpson.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericksimpson/   — Check out Amy's Intune class: https://www.thirdtier.net/2023/11/29/learning-intune-a-six-month-course/   Our upcoming events: Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop (Jan 16-18th) https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Use “KERNANWINS” as coupon code to save $500!   AUSTIN TX – MASTERMIND LIVE (March 28-29th)   http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event   Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!   Irvine CA - SMB Techfest (Feb 8th-9th)   Make sure you catch Amy at SMB Techfest!   https://www.smbtechfest.com/events.asp       Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/          

Host Karl sits down with friend, Jerry Koutavas. As President of The ASCII Group, Jerry Koutavas is responsible for creating resources and services aimed at helping IT and managed service providers better manage their time and their bottom line.  Koutavas oversees the creation, implementation, and adoption of benefits at The ASCII Group which services over 1,400 MSPs in North America. A widely-recognized figure in the IT industry, Jerry has more than 25 years of experience in the Channel.   Check out more:  https://events.ascii.com/   --- Our upcoming events: Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

1.) MSP Question of the week:  Will the US economy adversely affect my business?          In summation, it will...if YOU let it. And what does tabasco hot sauce have to do with you?   ---    2.) Notes on the News   Tech lay offs yet again! Google, Amazon and Snap are among latest to announce major layoffs.   See: https://www.channele2e.com/news/google-amazon-snap-latest-to-announce-layoffs   3.) Cool Tech Gifts   Our experts way in. :-)   --- Our upcoming events: Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

Host James sits down with Venvito's Founder Rob Fegan on partnering with Microsoft.  Venvito was formed to teach other Microsoft partners how to harness the scale and reach of Microsoft's field teams. Sharing with other owners, founders, and leaders the messaging, the mechanics, and the mindset necessary to partner with Microsoft, growing your Microsoft practice through mutually beneficial relationships at all levels within Microsoft.   Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfegan/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/venvito/ https://www.venvito.net/?r_done=1   Our upcoming events: Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/ Check out the latest episode!    

Today the SMBCP is whole again: Karl is back!      1.) MSP Question of The Week   What is the best commission plan for salespeople?    ---   2.) What's New in the News    OPEN AI – blew up!   And ransomware attacks are on the RISE!    Ransomware attacks have surged in recent years; this has led to significant financial losses, data breaches and operational disruptions across various sectors. As of 2023, over 72% of organizations worldwide were affected by ransomware attacks, according to Statista.   That raises a question as to how malicious actors are able to successfully carry out these attacks on the majority of organizations. And one industry that is struggling to handle ransomware attacks is...healthcare.   In fact, Sophos revealed in its “The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2023”  report that cybercriminals successfully encrypted data in nearly 75% of ransomware attacks. This is the highest rate of encryption in the past three years and a significant increase from the 61% of healthcare organizations that reported having their data encrypted last year.     ---   Our upcoming events: Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

In this week's edition of SMBCP, we sit down with the Chief Information Officer of TS Banking Group, Julian Caldwell. We discussed how to get into the door with executives--What are they looking for in MSPs? And hpw to become "Sticky" Long Term strategic partners with your customers? Listen today to see why most MSP's fall short of these expectations...   Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

Host Karl goes down under for the SMB IT Pro Con! In this episode, Karl captures bite-sized interviews with the best in the industry.  Featuring (In Order): Dean Calvert of Calvert Technologies  Elias Mansour of N-Able Matt Koenig of Nodeware  Pablo Munoz of Ninja One Peter Ward of Dijital Team Shaun Witherden of Kaseya  Shaun Capps of Pax8 Ted Deane 2Excel Tim Lippa Halo PSA Will Parker HP Elite  --- Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

Happy Thanksgiving!   In this turkey day edition of SMBCP, we have Chip Reaves in the studio! Chip’s expertise is in Microsoft software, teaching courses on a variety of apps and iterations from 2010 to the most current Microsoft 365. He has been interviewed on TV and other major media on topics related to small business technology and entrepreneurship, including ABC News, BusinessWeek TV, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and is a member of Jim Blasingame’s “Brain Trust" on www.SmallBusinessAdvocate.com and has taught a variety of courses both live and recorded. chip@bigger-brains.com www.BiggerMSP.com www.BiggerBrains.com --- Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

For this week's episode, we are joined by our co-host Amy Babinchak!  ---         1.) The MSP Question of the Week What can you do NOW to increase the value of your business BEFORE you sell? Host James and Host Amy break it down.  1. Business Plan  2.    Written Agreements both customer and employee  3.    Focus on Core Service  4.    Unique Assets  5.    Clean Books and record keeping  6.    Business Process Bible  7.    Diverse Customer-base  8.    Strong People ---   Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Contact James for a $500 discount code!    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

1.) MSP Question of The Week          What do you do when your customer hires one of your employees? Have you prepared with a non-solicitation in your agreement?  Did they let you know in advance or hire behind your back? Do you contact them?   All the questions answered with Host James!      2.) Five Minutes with a Smart person –   Steven Frank of TDSynnex   TDSynnex is MUCH MORE than a distributor, they are a partner We discussed resources that my customers use to grow and scale their business - real world success stories shared     3.) Notes on the News Topic    Host James addresses the most recent burning topics:   1. The 23andMe Breach – what should you do? 2. Scalepad acquires QUOTER 3. When do you hire someone BETTER than you? https://www.msptechnews.com/msp-news/hire/   --- Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

In this episode of the SMBC podcast, we have three special cohost!   Host James sits with Alex Farling, Wes Spencer and Kyle Christensen of Empath.   https://www.empathmsp.com/   Tune in as we discuss the next big moves for Empath.    ---   Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/    

1.) The MSP Question of the Week   What is your unique selling proposition? Or your "superpower"?   ---   2.) Notes on the News    Understanding Your Competitors – SWOT Analysis on your business.   https://www.msptechnews.com/business-news/evaluating-business-rivals/   We discuss:   - Understanding your competitors is crucial for staying competitive in today’s business landscape. - A successful competitor comparison involves evaluating various aspects, such as service offerings, marketing strategies, and operational structures. - Identifying patterns, trends, and vulnerabilities within your competitors’ businesses can provide valuable insights for your growth and success.   ---   3.) Questions From You   Do you use IT Staffing firms to help find talent?   ---      Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/    

1.) What's Up with You?   One of our favorite topics on the show: What do you prefer--the large events or the smaller events?    Let us know and send us message at james@kernanconsulting.com!   Host James breaks down the pros and cons of both.    ---   2.)  MSP Question of the Week   Should you have one offering or multiple offerings – AND – what is your recommendation for price per seat?        3.) James's Quick Marketing Tip   Please, update your headshots / video on your business.   Do this annually to keep fresh photos/video on your business to repurpose on social media marketing! --- Our upcoming events: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow Dec 7-8th, 2023 in Newport Beach CA –    http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event     Use code: EARLYBIRD   Jan 16-18th in Honolulu HI – MSSP Sales/Marketing workshop https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364   Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

1.) MSP Question of The Week          What is your favorite password tool? --- 2.) Five Minutes with a Smart Person – Lori Hardke  Host Karl discuss “PROFIT FIRST” with our guest Lori Hardtke. Check out Lori's next class: https://www.itspu.com/all-classes/classes/profit-first-for-msps/ More on Lori: https://www.profitfirst4msps.com/ --- 3.) Notes on the News  This week we have a lot to catch up on: What do you think about the new dress code for Congress? The power usage of AI is equivalent to 33,000 households!  Microsoft Copilot was all the talk at The Experts Conference.  What was the hallway talk at the Millionaire Mastermind? Graphics from Jay McBain Amy speaking at ITO Compass October 13-14 in Chicago:  https://itocompass.com/ Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

In this episode of SMBCP, Host James quickfires some insight on today's hot topics: How to compensate fully remote workers, dealing with late payers, and the search for entry level technicians.   1.) The MSP Question of the Week Can you pay your remote employees less money compared to employees coming to the office? — 2.) Notes on the News https://www.msptechnews.com/business-news/the-challenge-of-late-paying-clients/ https://www.msptechnews.com/msp-news/talent/ — Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

Today's special episode of SMBCP we have a special guest host, Donna Blum.  1.) The MSP Question of the Week         Is it a good idea for couples to work together in the same company?  --- 2.) Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Nick Wolf of EVO Security Nick is a senior sales  executive with experience growing channel partnerships for MSP focused vendors. From 2011-2020 Nick was a key member of Datto, and onboarded over 750 MSPs, which helped grow the company to be acquired for over $1.5 Billion in 2017. From 2020-2021 Nick was a member of SKOUT Cybersecurity, joining many previous colleagues he worked with at datto, and onboarded over 100 MSPs, which helped grow the company to be acquired in 2021 by Barracuda. Nick is now the Director of Partner Acquisition at Evo Security responsible for their rapid growth in the IAM space by working with MSPs and MSSPs.   https://www.evosecurity.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfnick --- Resources and Links: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow:  September 28-29 – Scottsdale, AZ! http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/ Check out the latest episode!  

1.) MSP Question of the Week  When should I hire my first sales person? --- 2.) Smart Person - Brianna Haun  Brianna's passion is to provide a level of excellence in serving clients, leading a team, and impacting the community through a value driven lifestyle. Gaining a new perspective, shifting a mindset, or creating something new, ignite my soul... https://www.linkedin.com/in/alignconsulting/ https://rss.com/podcasts/aligned/ --- 3.) Notes on the News   Google Anti-trust, Microsoft protects customers from lawsuits resulting from AI use, and GDP Growth beats expectations and Medicare spending has been level since 2010! --- Resources and Links: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow:  September 28-29 – Scottsdale, AZ! http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

In this special edition of the SMB Community Podcast, host James sits down for an in-depth discussion with Jason Miller Jason Miller - founder and CEO of BitLyft. Have you ever been lured in by a big-name vendor, only to discover their definition of services didn't quite match your expectations? Tune into "Burned by the Big Guys" as we dissect real-life stories of vendor disappointments and uncover the discrepancies that often lie beneath polished pitches. In this episode we’ll share what questions to ask vendors, how to spot red flags, and provide an overview of what should actually be part of your service package. Don't get side-tracked by glossy brochures; learn from those who've been there. Book a demo with BitLyft: https://www.bitlyft.com/   Suggest reads - StrengthsFinder 2.0: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253922/popular-cliftonstrengths-books.aspx   ---   Resources and Links: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow:  September 28-29 – Scottsdale, AZ! http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/    

1.) MSP Question of the Week What the heck is EOS? We break down Entrepreneurial Operating System. Recommended reading: https://www.amazon.com/What-Heck-EOS-Employees-Companies/dp/1543699561#:~:text=Based%20on%20his%20years%20of,companies%2C%20helping%20them%20implement%20EOS --- 2.) Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Lisa Shorr  Host James sits down with Lisa Shoor and discuss the importance of "soft skills" https://shorrsuccess.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisashorr --- 3.) Notes on the News Microsoft breaks its own rule for licensing.  ...and a follow up on Remote vs. In-Office    Resources and Links: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow:  September 28-29 – Scottsdale, AZ! http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

1.) MSP Question of The Week Do your workers come into the office, work remote or hybrid? --- 2.) Five minutes with a Smart Person Host Karl sits down with Kathryn Rose of ChannelWise.  Kathryn Rose is an innovator, and the founding CEO of award-winning global expert marketplaces (getWise, channelWise) that provide business owners and professionals in targeted markets, access to thousands of vetted executives, coaches/mentors, education and resources that accelerate business or career growth. She is a former Wall Street executive sales leader and an author of 9 books. She has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, CBS Marketwatch, Fox News and more. She was recently named Worth Magazine Top 100 Entrepreneurs, Forbes Top 1000 innovators and a member of the prestigious Nasdaq Milestone Makers program Learn more: https://www.channelwise.com/about-us 3.) Notes on the News  The infamous cage match and another vendor claims their product is what will make you money.   Resources and Links: Kernan Mastermind Roadshow:  September 28-29 - Scottsdale, AZ! http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/

Segment One: The MSP Question of the Week  Do you attend social events with clients? --- Segment Two: Notes on the News  ChatGPT is getting alarmingly less accurate! This is huge.  https://www.popsci.com/technology/chatgpt-human-inaccurate/    --- Kernan mastermind September 28-29 - Scottsdale, AZ: http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind or  https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event    Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/  

Segment One: The MSP Question of The Week How many shows should an MSP attend in a year? --- Segment Two: Minutes with A Smart Person - Jake Gregorich  Host James sits down with Jake Gregorich of Lyra Technology Group  and discuss sales and marketing philosophies. Jake oversees revenue generation for Lyra Technology Group. He joined the team in 2023 to help grow people, increase collaboration among Lyra companies, and serve as a resource to help drive revenue growth. Prior to Lyra, Jake worked with MSPs including Impact Networking, Ntiva, and Equilibrium IT. He also served as an independent consultant to private equity backed MSPs and private equity companies looking to enter the MSP market on sales & marketing, diligence, acquisitions, and integration. Outside of work, he enjoys good drinks, food, and laughs with his pregnant wife carrying their 1st child, golden retriever, and large extended family. When he is not spending time with family and friends, Jake can be found outdoors hiking, biking, swimming, and playing team sports. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-gregorich-47b27948/ --- Upcoming Events:  Host Karl attends XChange in Austin! See: https://event.thechannelco.com/xchange-august/agenda Kernan Masterminds September 28-29 - Scottsdale, AZ - http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind https://kernanconsulting-mastermind.mykajabi.com/mastermind-event  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/   Sponsor Memo: IT Service Provider University IT Service Provider University helps you improve the business side of your business. We launched IT Service Provider University in 2013 and today we offer more than twenty courses on every aspect of running your consulting business.  IT Service Provider University provides training and pathways to certification for individual IT Service Providers as well as offering company-level certifications. Pathways Include  Management Technician Sales/Marketing Service Manager Front Office Learn more about professional classes and certifications at https://ITSPU.com    

For this edition of SMBCP, Host Karl sits down with two lovely guests in two seperate five minutes with a smart person. Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Double Feature!  First up: Larry Mandelberg is a consultant, speaker and author with “more than 150 years of combined business experience.” A natural problem solver, Larry represents the 5th generation of his family’s business. He started working at a young age where he learned from his father before and after school. Larry is an effective catalyst for change who has solved intractable problems and achieved new levels of efficiency and success for businesses in multiple industries. A prolific writer, Larry has published more than 80 columns. His first book, Businesses Don’t Fail, They Commit Suicide is scheduled for release in early 2018. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered more than 60 business-changing keynotes and workshops. https://mandelberg.biz/about-larry/ https://www.amazon.com/Businesses-Dont-Fail-Commit-Suicide-ebook/dp/B0C3F9GQZ9#:~:text=Businesses%20Don't%20Fail%2C%20They%20Commit%20Suicide%20is%20an%20inspiring,strategic%20planning%20and%20proactive%20mindset. --- Next up: James Steel at ChannelCon An experienced IT channel leader with a passion for the Managed Service Provider (MSP) and IT Support Provider community and a specialism for working closely with partners in North America and Europe to drive growth.  Also a proud member of CompTIA's UK Executive Council where I work together with the hugely talented team to increase exposure for the great work the organisation does within the MSP space in particular. https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%91%87-james-steel-8964947/ https://www.linode.com/partners/ https://www.akamai.com/ --- Sponsor Memo: Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community NOW is the time to join the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://SmallBizThoughts.ORG There is no better value for training and education in managed services. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free 5-week courses, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Prices go up July 1st. Join now and you can lock in the lower price for life. See all the details and Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org. 🙂      

Segment One: MSP Question of the Week/Notes on the News We combine our two segments-- With Twitter X's arrival (and departure, which social media should MSPs be using? We compile a list of our social media necassities for MSPs and how to take advantage of it.  And...Is our industry dominated by the “Magnificent Seven?” Reuters: “The outsized gains have come with big earnings expectations for the seven companies: Apple (AAPL.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Amazon (AMZN.O), Nvidia (NVDA.O), Tesla (TSLA.O) and Meta Platforms (META.O). BofA Global Research projects they will increase earnings by an average of 19% over the next 12 months, more than double the 8% estimated rise for the rest of the S&P 500.” --- Segment Two: Fives Minutes with A Smart Person - Lucas Acosta  "I'm a fixer. I left Apple to provide business-class solutions for businesses using Apple products. We've got a fantastic team offering a few specific solutions for businesses using Apple products. I'd love to connect and learn how you're using your Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch, or HomePod! ;) Specialties: Mobile Device Management (MDM), Mobile Content Management (MCM), Asdeq, MobileIron, AirWatch, Casper Suite, Mac consulting, iPad consulting, Apple IT, Mobile Security, Mac training, iPad training, Group training. Did I mention I work with people I love? I'm proud of every single one of my team members. I hire only full-time W2 employees with benefits. We've got a fantastic culture built around servanthood, and hospitality." Lucas’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasacosta/ Blog and newsletter on MSP best practices: https://lucasacosta.com  --- Our Social Media:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.instagram.com/james_kernan/?hl=en https://twitter.com/JKernan https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.instagram.com/karlpalachuk/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizthoughts   Sponsor Memo: Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community NOW is the time to join the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://SmallBizThoughts.ORG There is no better value for training and education in managed services. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free 5-week courses, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Prices go up July 1st. Join now and you can lock in the lower price for life. See all the details and Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org. 🙂  

Today Hosts James welcomes our guest co-host: Charlene Ignacio! Being from Hawaii, she makes friends everywhere she goes. What you see online is what you get in person. She serves as a multi-industry CEO, speaker, author, serial entrepreneur for, business results Coach and is also a  2nd Degree Black Belt in Judo, and Black Belt Lean Six Sigma Certified. She is also the CMO at ChannelMastered and CEO of https://TheCMOGuru.com --- Segment One:  MSP Question of the Week What can MSP’s do to market their business with little or no budget? --- Segment Two: What Are You Up To? Catch James and Charlene at ChannelCon in Las Vegas and more!  --- Segment Three: Five Minutes with A Smart Person - Mr. Van Deeb  Host James and Mr. Van Deeb sit down and talk becoming successful by doing the right thing in the workplace and how leaders help others succeed. Van Deeb is the country’s foremost expert on building relationships and is dedicated to helping others become successful in the sales and service industry. He has inspired tens of thousands of professionals throughout the country to succeed through his motivational and informative keynote speeches, workshops, speaking events, newsletters, and books.   SPONSOR MEMO:  IT Service Provider University IT Service Provider University helps you improve the business side of your business. We launched IT Service Provider University in 2013 and today we offer more than twenty courses on every aspect of running your consulting business.  IT Service Provider University provides training and pathways to certification for individual IT Service Providers as well as offering company-level certifications. Pathways Include  Management Technician Sales/Marketing Service Manager Front Office Learn more about professional classes and certifications at https://ITSPU.com    

Segement One: MSP Question of the Week From Janet Schijns, a question and a survey: "Today I am thinking about how Generative AI will impact the channel partner cost to serve vendors in the future. For example: By using Generative AI to create your marketing materials, better select ideal customers, customized dev work, customer support, or other tasks that AI can do to help lower your overall costs, does this actually result in a lower cost of serving the vendor product/solutions you distribute? Or will it have no impact?" https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janetschijns_generativeai-channelpartners-surveying-activity-7069746600708841472-go6A   --- Segment Two: Notes on the News  New suggestions for what a secure password is in the era of AI: https://www.hivesystems.io/blog/are-your-passwords-in-the-green  Nvidia - Absurdly expensive? $385/share. Market cap $952B. Connectwise up for sale? https://www.reddit.com/r/msp/comments/142vndc/connectwise_buyout_heres_whats_really_going_on/  ---  Sponsor Memo: Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community NOW is the time to join the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://SmallBizThoughts.ORG There is no better value for training and education in managed services. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free 5-week courses, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Prices go up July 1st. Join now and you can lock in the lower price for life. See all the details and Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-)      

Segment One: The MSP Question of The Week I have clients that have three PCs but don’t need a whole lot, what should I do? Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Dr. Lance Reichenberger --- Host James sits down with his friend, Dr. Lance Reichenberger. When Lance was only 11 years old, he began working with and programming computers. His father, an engineer, sometimes worked on a computer at home. When he was not using the machine for his professional work, he allowed young Lance to learn while playing with this computer. This was before even a dial-up modem, when transferring data required a 5 ½ inch floppy disk. He found there was not much on the hard drive, so he began rewriting the programs. He changed out the hardware, added capabilities and eventually added an early stage modem to access in the internet. Technology was a natural match for his abilities and his father encouraged him to use the natural ability to create a future. As a young man, he volunteered in the emergency room of a hospital learned a lot about medicine. This led him to become an EMT and paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Although he had plans to become a doctor, those plans were sidetracked. He did, however, do a lot of the network cabling, computers, and programming at several medical organizations. He continues to be a subject matter expert in the area of medical technology. --- Segment Three: Notes on the News  Cage fight! Yup, it’s our turn to give our two cents on Zuckerberg vs. Musk. Azure AD gets a new name: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-ad-is-becoming-microsoft-entra-id/#:~:text=Microsoft%20Entra%20ID%20is%20the,secure%20access%20experiences%20for%20everyone. And finally, is it recession time? --- Resources and Links: CompTIA Free registration - August 1-3  Use code SBSmallBizThoughts23 Link: https://i.snoball.it/p/3igU/l Karl will be at XChange Nashville August 20-33! Check out more: https://event.thechannelco.com/xchange-august/agenda   Sponsor Memo: NSITSP Hey MSPs: People are talking about you - behind your back. They're regulators and legislators. They're CISA and the states of Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. And more. Every state now has at least one committee in their state legislature that focuses on cybersecurity. That means regulation is coming. You can count on it. The National Society of IT Service Providers was created to give you a seat at the table when someone's talking about you. That includes regulator, legislators, and even the media. Find out more and join today at www.nsitsp.org We're working on your behalf to turn the industry into a profession.      

We catch up with Host Karl and Host Amy. Find out who's smoke free. Segment One: The MSP Question of the Week   Do you have to be a “technical” person in order to run a successful IT consulting business? --- Segment Two: Five minutes with a Smart Person - Sarah Hansen Host James sits down with Sarah Hansen of Hansen Collective. Upon earning her bachelor's degree in journalism and media communications at Colorado State University, Sarah Hansen set out to forge a career path that was both creative and flexible in social media marketing. After gaining experience working as a social media strategist with top performing midwest agencies and freelancing with brands around the country, at the age of 23, Sarah launched her own social media brand– Hansen Collective. Not only is Hansen Collective a place where she uses her online marketing expertise to help both international and domestic clients, but it's also a place where she can foster a community and educate her audience on creating effective social media strategies for personal brands and businesses alike. --- Segment Three:  Notes on the News  Technology we didn’t expect...Car companies have become the “natural” providers of home electrical systems and DC battery power. https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/28/23776690/gm-energy-ultium-home-ev-charging-v2h-stationary-storage  --- Resources and Links CompTIA Free registration - August 1-3  Use code SBSmallBizThoughts23 Link: https://i.snoball.it/p/3igU/l XChange Nashville = Karl attending August 20-33 See https://event.thechannelco.com/xchange-august/agenda   Sponsor Memo: IT Service Provider University IT Service Provider University helps you improve the business side of your business. We launched IT Service Provider University in 2013 and today we offer more than twenty courses on every aspect of running your consulting business.  IT Service Provider University provides training and pathways to certification for individual IT Service Providers as well as offering company-level certifications. Pathways Include  Management Technician Sales/Marketing Service Manager Front Office Learn more about professional classes and certifications at https://ITSPU.com

Segment One: Notes on the News We sit down with Amy B and James and discuss the PAX8 marketplace Microsoft $5 Subscription Based Business Assist, and Microsoft Most Recent Security Response. Microsoft Business Assist: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/business-assist-for-microsoft-365-37deb8fe-61cc-4cf9-9ad1-1c8d93475070 Microsoft Security Blog: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/06/14/cadet-blizzard-emerges-as-a-novel-and-distinct-russian-threat-actor/ Windows patch: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5028407-how-to-manage-the-vulnerability-associated-with-cve-2023-32019-bd6ed35f-48b1-41f6-bd19-d2d97270f080 --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with A Smart Person - Oliver Nshom  Oliver Nshom is one of the Best Public Speaking Trainers, graduate from the Business Leadership School USA, a certified speaker from Kernan Consultancy USA, Trained and certified Human Resource professional (CHRP), Trained and certified Customer Relationship Professional (CCRP), Trained and Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Trained and Certified Speaker and Coach (CSC). He recently batched the Star Heroes after completing his Executive Master’s Program from MOGi Global Leadership School in Nigeria. --- Segment Three: What Are You Up To? Our hosts gear up for event season. Check out these awesome events will be at: CompTIA Free registration - August 1-3  Use code SBSmallBizThoughts23 Link: https://i.snoball.it/p/3igU/l XChange Nashville = Karl attending August 20-33 See https://event.thechannelco.com/xchange-august/agenda   Sponsor Memo: ITSPU IT Service Provider University IT Service Provider University helps you improve the business side of your business. We launched IT Service Provider University in 2013 and today we offer more than twenty courses on every aspect of running your consulting business.  IT Service Provider University provides training and pathways to certification for individual IT Service Providers as well as offering company-level certifications. Pathways Include  Management Technician Sales/Marketing Service Manager Front Office Learn more about professional classes and certifications at https://ITSPU.com      

Segment One: What are you up to? Amy B, James, and Karl--3/4th of our wonderful hosts join is for today's episode. Amy B joins on the road as she drives north to...the boat. — Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Person – Our Very Own James Kernan! James Kernan's first and last time as our smart person ;)! Today, we discuss James's course on Leadership and Management Principles for MSPs over at ITSP University. Learn more about this course here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zzbZqkPZz8&t=2s https://www.itspu.com/ Check out James's event: Kernan Mastermind LIVE Event – Denver June 29-30th LINK TO REGISTER: http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind — Segment Three: MSP Question of the week and Notes on the News  Q: Do you have to be an early adopter if you're an IT consultatant? And does it dictacte success?  Sometimes the latest, greatest tool just add up in the server closet. And sometimes change isnt necassary. As they say, if it ain't broke... In the news: Amy B reads an article. "Twitter owes google and AWS a boat load of money for hosting them in their evironement."  In short, Twitter is the dreaded "deadbeat client". So, when should you cut off your deadbeat client?   Resources and Links: https://nsitsp.org/events NSITSP's Webinar on Change Management: https://nsitsp.org/event/webinar-change-management-for-it-service-providers/ CompTIA Free registration – August 1-3  Use code SBSmallBizThoughts23 Link: https://i.snoball.it/p/3igU/l ---   Sponsor Memo: SBT Tech Community This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.  Check us out at https://smallbizthoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start.  Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls.  The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year.  We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you’re in business for yourself doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://smallbizthoughts.org

Segment One: What are you up to? Host Amy B and Karl discuss the latest in flower power. --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Allen Edwards  Allen began his I.T. career in 1994 as an entry-level tech, climbing the ladder through positions such as network technologist and then division manager in just six years. He founded his first I.T. company in 2002, and in ten short years led the enterprise through a transition from break/fix to MSP, and from custom ticketing to AutoTask before moving to ConnectWise Manage. Allen started Eureka Process with a view to benefiting their clients through immersion in their daily process and activity. Allen brings his breadth of technical and leadership knowledge to the table, along with proven leadership implementation skills to guide his clients and their teams through fostering the development of the hard and soft skills that make success inevitable. Allen is strict about Eureka’s mandate, always add value first, whether that means working with C-level executives to elevate their leadership game or getting hands-on with front-line techs or the sales team. A sought-after MSP expert, he aims to offer his clients a sense of relief from the demand and complexity of running a successful MSP. Allen wants to reinvigorate teams with enthusiasm and a sense of possibility while building meaningful, growth-centered relationships that support next-level performance. With a passion for adventure, Allen fills his spare time nurturing any one of his varied interests. From scuba diving to snow skiing, acro-yoga and travel – he looks to take in all this world has to offer. https://eurekaprocess.com/about/ --- Segment Three: MSP Question of the week and Notes on the News  Q: Do we have too few ports on new laptops? Is AI really going to kill us all? Why is there a move by AI-creators to scare everyone? Is it the end of work? Resources and Links: https://nsitsp.org/join/ Kernan Mastermind LIVE Event - Denver June 29-30th LINK TO REGISTER: http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind CompTIA Free registration - August 1-3  Use code SBSmallBizThoughts23 Link: https://i.snoball.it/p/3igU/l   Sponsor Memo: SBT Tech Community This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.  Check us out at https://smallbizthoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start.  Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls.  The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year.  We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you’re in business for yourself doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://smallbizthoughts.org  

Segment One: What are you up to? Karl just wrapped up the SMB Online Conference!  Check it out here: https://smbonlineconference.com  Three days of smart people & fun. James is revving up for his LIVE event in Denver this month June 29th-30th.  Register here:  http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind Interested in more live shows?  Use Karl's code for CompTIA Free registration!  Use code: SBSmallBizThoughts23 Link: https://i.snoball.it/p/3igU/l --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Brian Hoppe Karl sits down with this week's smart person. Brian has been part of the Managed Services industry since the early 2000s. He earned both his Bachelor’s and MBA from Baylor University. For over 20 years, Brian has worked in multiple MSPs and has bought and sold multiple MSPs. He has grown multiple MSPs to over $5 million in revenue and managed MSPs in excess of $15 million in revenue. Brian has a thorough understanding of all the ins and outs of running a highly successful MSP. His expertise in leadership and coaching can help any MSP owner or CEO achieve the results they want in both business and life. He is passionate about finding the right clients for his coaching practice to help take their business and leadership to the next level. Check out more here: https://brianhoppe.com --- Segment Three: Notes on the News and MSP Question of the Week   Our QOW: What’s more important: People or Process? As for the Notes on the News... Does the Netflix crackdown on password sharing affect you? https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/23/23734725/netflix-password-sharing-us-pricing-streaming  Fun with Statistics: Managed Services Market is $205B worldwide...headed to to reach $594.8 B by 2031.  We gotta ask: Why not just project $595B? https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/managed-services-market-A14724  --- Sponsor Memo: SBT Tech Community This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.  Check us out at https://smallbizthoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start.  Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls.  The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year.  We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://smallbizthoughts.org        

Host Amy and James take over the pod once again. Segment One: What are you up to? Amy and Karl finalize their sessions for the SMB IT Pro conference in Australia this October! There, they will discuss why retirement looks different for business owners and Amy will be doing a technical deep dive: getting Microsoft 365 Business Premium’s Endpoint detection and Response features setup. As for James, anything goes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-kernan-varcoach_business-consulting-ama-activity-7064672657526456321-80QK?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Don't forget to sign up for James's Kernan Mastermind LIVE Event - Denver June 29-30th: http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Ashlyn Szilva  Ashlyn Szilva achieved her doctorate in history with a specialization in Research Analysis. She has taught as a professor of history, journalism, and photo history for 2 1/2 years. She is now the Director of Social Media and Digital Marketing for JS Group Consulting where she worked part-time during her education. She manages the social media influence and social selling strategy for over a dozen technology firms big and small and am well known for her ability to create influencers in a digital normal. She still likes to utilize her research analysis skills from her education and does so now researching trends in the channel. On top of this she also runs her own LLC, ANS Group which focuses on social media and digital marketing. --- Segment Three: The MSP Question of the Week What certifications should I be focusing to complete if I’m looking for a better position in IT? --- Sponsor Memo: SBTTC  

In today's special episode, Host Karl heads out to Channel Partner's Las Vegas. We follow him on his adventures through the vendor hall. So what do these vendors have for sale and what socks do they have? Thank you to all vendors who participated in this episode!  Listed below in order:  https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/ https://www.ninjaone.com/ https://www.hooksecurity.co/ https://ussignal.com/ https://threatlocker.com/ https://www.scalecomputing.com/ https://pia.ai/ --- Sponsor Memo: IT Service Provider University We launched IT Service Provider University in 2013 and today we offer more than twenty courses on every aspect of running your consulting business.  IT Service Provider University provides training and pathways to certification for individual IT Service Providers as well as offering company-level certifications. Pathways Include  Management Technician Sales/Marketing Service Manager Front Office Learn more about professional classes and certifications at https://ITSPU.com      

We catch up with hosts Amy B and James!  Segment One: So what's up with you?  Amy B is back from Channel Partners!  Here takeaway: The expo hall is multi football fields long and every third booth was a bar. --- Segment Two: 5 Minutes with a Smart Person - Manny Palachuk Host Karl catches up with Brother Manny. Manuel Palachuk has over 30 years of business, management, and training experience in the computer and electronics industries. Manuel has owned several successful businesses, managed several successful IT and MSP service companies, and coached, mentored, or trained many more businesses all over the world. He is an expert of process, systems, and their efficiency who is driven toward continuous improvement in all aspects of business. He is a well-known author in the IT consulting community for Small and Medium-sized Businesses, and an experienced speaker and trainer at industry conferences. --- Segment Three: Social Media Marketing & Brand Awareness ---   Sponsor Memo: NSITSP By now you've heard of the National Society of IT Service Providers. But why should YOU join? The NSITSP is committed to transforming our Industry into a Profession. They've established an industry-wide code of ethics and are working to improve the reputation of IT consultants nationwide. Wherever anybody is talking ABOUT IT consultants, NSITSP wants a seat at the table.  That includes the media, government regulators, and the general public. Take pride in your industry and show off your membership. Join us today at https://NSITSP.ORG  

Today, our host congregate from their hotel rooms.  --- Segment One: 5 Minutes with a Smart Person - Larry Mandelberg We speak with Larry Mandelberg. Larry is an effective catalyst for change who achieved new levels of efficacy and growth for businesses in industries as diverse as software, automotive, education and agriculture. If change is causing your staff grief, frustration, baldness, or acne, I can help. After all, nobody likes change done unto them. Everybody likes change they do unto others, and I know how to flip that script. This class provides proprietary content from Larry Mandelberg, a non-recovering, 5th generation serial entrepreneur who’s owned 13+ businesses. He has launched four start-ups, led a merger, and performed a successful turnaround. A prolific writer, Larry has published more than 80 columns. His first book, Businesses Don’t Fail, They Commit Suicide is scheduled for release in early 2023. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered more than 60 business-changing keynotes and workshops.  Mr. Mandelberg is a student of organizational lifecycles and has developed a system to help business owners create sustainable growth. He has been a guest on television and radio programs talking about business and entrepreneurship. Through his consulting practice he provides leadership development, executive coaching, ethics training and strategic planning to mid-sized organizations and their Boards. --- Segment Two: MSP Question of the Week   All things MSP group owner, Eric Anthony, asked his question of the day, "Do you use SLA’s?" He got zip, zero, nada responses to his post. And he asks why that is.  So we ask, does anyone care about SLA from an MSP? --- Segment One: 5 Minutes with a Smart Person - Larry Mandelberg We speak with Larry Mandelberg. Larry is an effective catalyst for change who achieved new levels of efficacy and growth for businesses in industries as diverse as software, automotive, education and agriculture. If change is causing your staff grief, frustration, baldness, or acne, I can help. After all, nobody likes change done unto them. Everybody likes change they do unto others, and I know how to flip that script. This class provides proprietary content from Larry Mandelberg, a non-recovering, 5th generation serial entrepreneur who’s owned 13+ businesses. He has launched four start-ups, led a merger, and performed a successful turnaround. A prolific writer, Larry has published more than 80 columns. His first book, Businesses Don’t Fail, They Commit Suicide is scheduled for release in early 2023. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered more than 60 business-changing keynotes and workshops.  Mr. Mandelberg is a student of organizational lifecycles and has developed a system to help business owners create sustainable growth. He has been a guest on television and radio programs talking about business and entrepreneurship. Through his consulting practice he provides leadership development, executive coaching, ethics training and strategic planning to mid-sized organizations and their Boards. --- Segment Two: MSP Question of the Week   All things MSP group owner, Eric Anthony, asked his question of the day, "Do you use SLA’s?" He got zip, zero, nada responses to his post. And he asks why that is.  So we ask, does anyone care about SLA from an MSP? --- Segment Three: Are Indirect Career Paths Possible Today? There once was a time where you could train to be a psychology and end up working as IT service provider. But, now that these pathways have matured and standards raised, is the impossible still possible? Also an update on our ChannelPartners adventures.  As heard in the vendor hall…"We’re the easiest security solution!"  …from every security solution. Is the easiest solution the best solution? What happened to expertise? --- Sponsor Ad: The SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content.  More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com        

Segment One: What's New in the News and Parrots on Zoom “Stats” from Syncro MSP: https://storage.pardot.com/498741/1680897830mTi9uJgH/MSP_Resources_Communities_2023.pdf 603 respondents - Very unrepresentative of the MSP community.  And also, parrots talking to each other on Zoom!  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-taught-pet-parrots-to-video-call-each-other-and-the-birds-loved-it-180982041/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHcAOlamgDc --- Segment Two: 15 Minutes with a Smart Person(s) Justin and Matt of the Partner Masters  The Partner Masters: https://forms.microsoft.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Utst8GVMJ0S04Lir58VMVCi7Z49gv-RKrSi-5jurRu5UN1NVS1kwRDhUTTlMSDVDU1g4VUI1TkxOMS4u Matt Soseman  Matt is a unique and experienced IT professional who has led digital transformation projects that have fundamentally changed the way a organization does business. Matt is motivated by the results in new business outcomes and new business scenarios that increase an organizations revenue and drives their bottom line - but more important, changes the world for the better. Justin Slagle  After spending 10.5 years working at Microsoft in the Partner organization, it was easy to see that too many partners were being left behind. Justin and team founded The Partner Masters to help empower ALL Microsoft partners to achieve more with a specific focus on building a profitable practice. Their team has over 40 years of combined experience working at Microsoft across sales, marketing, operations and engineering. The Partner Masters look forward to empowering you to build your Microsoft practice! --- Segment Three: More on Artificial Intelligience  AI has exposed the search engines are not working out for people and that we're good at faking technology.    --- Sponsor Memo: SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content. More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com Check out the latest episode!

Amy B and Amy L talk about the economics of small business acquisition and what’s happening in the market. Segment One: What are you up to?  We catch you up with the latest events. Coaching with ChannelWise at the ChannelPartners Conference May 3rd - https://www.channelwise.com/coaching-cafe Find out more here: https://nsitsp.org/events/ --- Segment Two: 15 Minutes with a Smart Person - Walter Crosby     Amy B speaks with Walter Crosby.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/walterlcrosby/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-cigars/id1567106056 --- Segment Three: The Bell Curve and the MSP Question of the Week Amy B and Amy L goes into depth on the "Bell Curve of Security"  MSP Question of the week: When you have hybrid remote workers, who is responsible for the home network connectivity? Is the security of their home network your problem?   Sponsor Memo: SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content. More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com

Segment One: What Are You Up To? April and May is a busy month for our hosts. Check out one of their many events! Asigra Webinar April 19th - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ruK7Mp77TEaZyIXID96DLQ NSITSP Insurance Webinar April 26th - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9jSFDNP6R3uJWZ3lzgOiVg NSITSP Coaching with ChannelWise at the ChannelPartners Conference May 3rd -  https://www.channelwise.com/coaching-cafe NSITSP All-Member Meeting May 10th - https://www.nsitsp.org/events  SMB Online Conference May 17-18 - https://www.smbonlineconference.com  NSITSP Webinar on Press Relations May 24  . . . Link coming soon --- Segment Two: 15 Minutes with a Smart Person - Will Faiste  Will has been a Windows user since Version 1.0. Trained in computer science at Johns Hopkins University, he has held positions as a transaction processing systems programmer, magazine editor, newsletter publisher, Wall Street analyst, CTO, and systems consultant. https://www.askwoody.com/ Segment Three: The MSP Question of thr Week Should techs be using Google? And let’s push Karl’s button. Microsoft set to change the Print Screen button so it opens the Snipping Tool in Windows 11. --- Resources and Links:  Big thanks to Asigra for making this podcast possible. Check them out at https://www.asigra.com. Also: Sign up for our big webinar with Asigra - Does your backup protect you against the latest ransomware attacks? - April 19th at 9:00 AM Pacific Time Register Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ruK7Mp77TEaZyIXID96DLQ    

Segment One: What's Goin On with You? Amy's installs windows...also what is your preferred meetings app? And while we're on the topic of virtual meetings, we talk mics and coaching. --- Segment Two: Question of the Day Which authenticator app are you using and why? & Is the era of the generalist over, or will it be with us forever?  The MSP generalist needs to become the MSP security generalist Also, summer’s around the corner. Do you need a $174 high tech water gun? https://spyra.com/products/spyratwo MSP business tip: Reduce the number of vendors you are buying from --- Don’t miss this:  Asigra – Don’t Be the Latest MSP Victim.  Learn how new ransomware threats put your business at risk. – April 19th –https://mspwebinar.com/does-your-backup-protect-you-against-the-latest-ransomware-attacks/ Register Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ruK7Mp77TEaZyIXID96DLQ NSITSP – Amy B., Karl, & Jeff Ponts – Channel Partners Conference & Expo on May 3rd Channel Partners Conference & Expo Here: https://channelpartnersconference.com/ NSITSP – Insurance – Brian Mahon – April 26th  https://nsitsp.org/event/webinar-cyber-insurance-deep-dive-2023/    Resources & Links:  Amy’s Facebook communities Ransomware, Security, Compliance  and Privacy https://www.facebook.com/groups/RansomwarePrevention Intune, MeM, Defender and Lighthouse  https://www.facebook.com/groups/endpointmanager Legislation and Regulation  https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSPRegulationAndLegislation  --- Sponsor Memo: The SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content. More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com    

Segment One: Amy's First Company & Some Updates   April 1st marks the anniversary of Amy B's first company. We discuss how she got here. --- Segment Two: MSP Question of the Week & News Are you keeping an eye out for vendor errors? And one more thing about AI. Some people want to stop it. Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-apple-co-founder-103416584.html  --- Segment Three: Five minutes with a Smart Person ft. Rich Freeman and Manuel Palachuk Rich Freeman is founding editor and executive editor of The ChannelPro Network. One of the tech industry’s most experienced, respected authorities on the SMB channel, Rich has been writing about managed services since 2007. He has spoken or moderated sessions at live and virtual events for Acronis, Auvik, Axcient, ChannelPro, IT Glue, and SkyKick, among others, and has written for CIO, Computerworld, InfoWorld, Network World, and Redmond Channel Partner magazines. Rich has also produced strategic content for vendors including AMD, Citrix, Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and VMware. Manuel Palachuk has over 30 years of business, management, and training experience in the computer and electronics industries. Manuel has owned several successful businesses, managed several successful IT and MSP service companies, and coached, mentored, or trained many more businesses all over the world. He is an expert of process, systems, and their efficiency who is driven toward continuous improvement in all aspects of business. He is a well-known author in the IT consulting community for Small and Medium-sized Businesses, and an experienced speaker and trainer at industry conferences. --- Don't miss this:  Asigra - Don’t Be the Latest MSP Victim.  Learn how new ransomware threats put your business at risk. - April 19th -https://mspwebinar.com/does-your-backup-protect-you-against-the-latest-ransomware-attacks/ Register Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ruK7Mp77TEaZyIXID96DLQ NSITSP - Amy B., Karl, & Jeff Ponts - Channel Partners Conference & Expo on May 3rd Channel Partners Conference & Expo Here: https://channelpartnersconference.com/ NSITSP - Insurance - Brian Mahon - April 26th  https://nsitsp.org/event/webinar-cyber-insurance-deep-dive-2023/    Resources & Links:  Amy’s Facebook communities Ransomware, Security, Compliance  and Privacy https://www.facebook.com/groups/RansomwarePrevention Intune, MeM, Defender and Lighthouse  https://www.facebook.com/groups/endpointmanager Legislation and Regulation  https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSPRegulationAndLegislation   

This just in: James will order your pizzas for you.    Segment One: 15 Minutes w/ a Smart Person - Featuring Barbara A. Boldt Amy B. sits down with Barbara A. Boldt.  Barbara A. Boldt helps introverted tech managers, who are looking to advance their careers, communicate in a way that gets them and their ideas noticed by the people in positions to promote them. Learn more here: https://www.boldtglobal.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaraboldt/ --- Segment Two: The MSP Question of the Week Do you blog and should an MSP blog? We discuss. --- Resources and Links: A big thanks to Asigra for making this podcast possible. Check them out at https://www.asigra.com Also: Sign up for our big webinar with Asigra - Does your backup protect you against the latest ransomware attacks?  April 19th at 9:00 AM Pacific Time. Register Now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ruK7Mp77TEaZyIXID96DLQ   Amy’s Facebook communities Ransomware, Security, Compliance  and Privacy https://www.facebook.com/groups/RansomwarePrevention  Intune, MeM, Defender and Lighthouse https://www.facebook.com/groups/endpointmanager  Legislation and Regulation https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSPRegulationAndLegislation   ---   Sponsor Memo: The SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content. More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com Check out the latest episode!

Segment One: Notes on the News and Amy B Bought a Book! SVB - Silicon Valley Bank failed fast...Twitter may have played a role Does this mean anything for private equity, or our industry? Our answer: Eh, kinda. Also, we dive in and learn what exact book Amy B has Bought.    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/13/svb-collapse-2008-financial-crisis https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/14/business/silicon-valley-bank-gregory-becker.html  --- Segment Two: (1)5 Minutes with a Smart Guy - Asigra's Eric Simmons      Host Karl speaks with Asigra's Eric Simmons.  More here:  https://info.asigra.com/new-ransomware-infiltrates-backups Eric brings decades of experience to the company and has a proven record of taking customer-centric technology focused companies to the next level. Previously, Eric was Chief Strategy Officer at IMC, CEO of Altum Health a division of the University Health Network, Head of Innovation for automotive at Canadian Tire and General Manager of the Rogers Communications IoT business. Eric also held several leadership positions at Dell Technologies. Eric was also a board member of both the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) and Bialik. In his spare time, Eric enjoys taking travel, skiing, golf, and wildlife photography. --- Sponsor Memo: The SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content. More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com

Today -- Amy's B's Binaural Beats. Ft. Coughs...Subscribe for more. --- Segment One: Tik Tok Time Limit In effort to reduce teen screen time, Tik Tok has a set a 60 minute limit to users under 18.  Karl suggest we take it a step up and set a limit to all social media. --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Guy - Brian Mahon Brian Mahon, is a Certified Insurance Counselor, and innovation enthusiast. Brian has served innovative companies in the technology and life science industries since 2017. After a few years of helping entrepreneurs and CFOs at small, medium, and large companies with their risk management programs, he realized his favorite clients were all MSPs! In March of 2022, he graduated from Chubb and Carnegie Mellon’s Cyber COPE Insurance Certification program and launched www.insuranceformsps.com. He works day to day as an advisor at a top 100 independent insurance agency, EHD Insurance in Lancaster, PA. Find out more: https://www.InsuranceForMSPs.com --- Segment Three: A Little Bit About Everything  From Microsoft's secret features that aren't that secret, securit breaches, and a little bit more a bout Tik Tok. This sample platter is not something you want to miss. Resources and Links: Amy to speak in September...The Experts Conference OVERVIEW - The Experts Conference (TEC) 2023: https://theexpertsconference.cventevents.com/event/ff6b61dc-386d-422c-a142-8bd9b3b75453/websitePage:8c699f24-f1dc-4f41-942c-4ed5a001cb5e  Links to Amy’s Facebook communities Ransomware, Security, Compliance  and Privacy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RansomwarePrevention Intune, MeM, Defender and Lighthouse: https://www.facebook.com/groups/endpointmanager Legislation and Regulation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MSPRegulationAndLegislation   

In this special editions of SMBCP, we follow Karl on his journey at ASCII Edge. We have four bite sized interviews with four smart guys: Sebastian Uchima of Humanize IT The Humanize IT Framework is a top down approach to client conversations that turns any Account Manager into a vCIO in under an hour by equipping them with a simple tool and continually educating them with a community. By having conversations rather than presentations your team will create genuine human connections through better conversations rather than presentations. Ryan Cloutier of Security Studio Ryan Cloutier is the President of SecurityStudio. As an experienced IT/Cyber Security professional with over 15 years of experience developing Cyber Security programs, Ryan is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) and Chief Information Security Officer for organizations across the country. Frank Raimondi of Nodeware Frank is a Strategic Channel Marketing Professional. He passionately contributes his experienced knowledge to help others make sense of channels and clarify their efforts by bringing together organizations to develop strategies and programs producing the highest value for all. If it's not a win-win situation, it needs to be. Trevor Digerolamo of ASCII Trevor is Director of Strategic Projects at The ASCII Group. He has 20+ years of Business to Business sales experience in both financial sales and in Information Technology on a national level.   --- Sponsor Memo: The SMB Online Conference  Mark your calendars and plan to join us May 17-18 at the SMB Online Conference 2023. Two full days of content.  More than a dozen speakers. A special Killing IT Live podcast recording. And much more. Every three years, Karl Palachuk and Small Biz Thoughts bring you a spectacular two-day online conference. And they do it right. Save $100 by registering today at https://smbonlineconference.com

Weather alert: Amy B's eletricity is out by ice storm so she joins us by phone while Karl enjoys the sun in snowy Southern California...  Segment One: Creepy Bing AI Update According to a report by the New York Times, a four hour conversation with Bing's AI powered chatbot resulted in concerning codependent behaviour leading to the company limiting users' question count. You heard it here first: ChatGPT wants you to leave your wife. --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with a Smart Person - Rich Freeman Karl sits down with our friend Rich Freeman of ChannelProNetwork in another fun edition of Five Minutes.  --- Segment Three: Free Tools, Expensive tools, and Buying Overlapping Tools & a Real Weakness in SMB We talk Amy L's recent frustration: Tools. Or lack of investment in these tools... Later, Karl is enlightened by a Huntress presentation. Most SMBs are not trained in detection and response.    --- Resources and Links: Check us out on iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-SMB-Community-Podcast-by-K-31114511    Sponsor Ad: SBTTC This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you’re in business for yourself doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org 🙂      

Have a question or comment for us? Want your question or comment to be featured on the next episode? Send it here: concierge@smallbizthoughts.com Use the topic SMBCP and include your name for a shoutout. --- Segment One: The right to repair. This includes all electronics, automotive devices or farm vehicles such as tractors. We discuss what we look forward to as more legislation rolls in. --- Segment Two: Two Five Minutes with Two Smart People  On this edition of Five Minutes, we have a double header special. Host Karl sits down with Michael Callahan of Acronis and Amy B. chats with Rayanna Buchianico of ABC Solutions --- Segment Three: E & O Insurance -  Legal Component of What We Do  Why you need to protect yourself and analyze the language of your contract.    Resources and Links: James' Mastermind Event http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind --- Sponsor Memo: IT Service Provider University IT Service Provider University helps you improve the business side of your business. We launched IT Service Provider University in 2013 and today we offer more than twenty courses on every aspect of running your consulting business.  IT Service Provider University provides training and pathways to certification for individual IT Service Providers as well as offering company-level certifications. Pathways Include: Management Technician Sales/Marketing Service Manager Front Office Learn more about professional classes and certifications at https://ITSPU.com      

This podcast is not sponsored by big AI...but if anyone is offering, we're listening. Segment One: Bing AI In the race for the best search engine, Microsoft introduces an AI-powered Bing!  Amy and Karl pose the question: How will AI dictate if your answer is the top result?  --- Segment Two: Five Minutes with Sam Saab Karl sits down with our friend--Speaker, Author & Recognized Pioneer in the CRM Industry Sam Saab! --- Segment Two: Have You Seen the Green Comet Yet? Because we haven't. If anyone has one of those government funded weather machines, let us know. There are too many clouds in the way of this mysterious, emerald fireball.  --- Sponsor Memo: SBTTC This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org :-)

The answer is yes--It is another chatGPT episode... --- Segment One: Rob Rae joins Pax8 and the return of MSP Shows We discuss going public versus an MSP being bought out by an investment firm. Sometimes, it means sales and numbers because priortiy #1 making it harder to for technology and customer service to thrive. Shows are slowly but surely phasing out of the online events back into the lovely air conditioned venues across the states. But that does not mean it feels the same pre pandemic. --- Segment Two: chatGPT & the Green Comet  Well it happened. chatGPT offers a $20 a month subscription and BuzzFeed announces that it’s use the chatbot to generate content. Confirming too all that BuzzFeed is not a real news service. Or is this just the future? (1) LinkedIn https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6925682-chatgpt-plus-access  Also, comet is green. Green is comet. Which chemical is burning? --- Segment Three: We are Numero Uno! We are the number one Managed Service Podcast . . . according to https://blog.feedspot.com/msp_podcasts/  Resources and Links: Don’t forget to check out James’ mastermind group:  http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind --- Sponsor Memo: NSITSP Hey MSPs: People are talking about you - behind your back. They're regulators and legislators. They're CISA and the states of Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. And more. Every state now has at least one committee in their state legislature that focuses on cybersecurity. That means regulation is coming. You can count on it. The National Society of IT Service Providers was created to give you a seat at the table when someone's talking about you. That includes regulator, legislators, and even the media. Find out more and join today at https://www.nsitsp.org We're working on your behalf to turn the industry into a profession.    

Our OG, legend, matriach, and instagram hawties hath returned. What are the meaning of all these nicknames and which belong to who? Find out in today's episode.  Segment One: Layoffs everywhere and so is Elon...What the hell is going on? Layoffs have made its inevitable moment in the MSP world. Also, legend has it that if you say Elon in the musk three times to a mirror at night you get another click worthy article.  Segment Two: An MSP and a concrete vendor walk into a bar... Dave Seibert attends every event--we mean it.    Resources and Links: James Event:   http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind Karl's NSITSP All-Member Meeting: https://nsitsp.org/event/q1-all-member-meeting/   Sponsor Memo: Linode  Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider has resources specifically for helping MSPs explore the alternative cloud. Discover this growing market: one of the best-kept secrets in building a scalable, thriving, modern Managed Service Provider business. Learn about the cloud provider landscape, improving KPIs, security, and more in Linode's free ebook, The MSP's Guide to Modern Cloud Infrastructure, available now. This resource and more at linode.com/mspradio. 

Amy B has returned from a January in the UK. Brr! That said, we are happy to report that she kept warm and the pubs are a-boomin'... Segment One: Five Minutes with a Smart Guy - Dave Seibert!  It's said humans can only concentrate for a good 15 minutes...Today, we explore five minutes of focus with our friend and renowned smart guy, Dave Seibert.  Dave Seibert is a leader, author, speaker, and awarded influencer in the technology industry. His 35 year career includes Fortune 50 & 100 corporations, National IT Franchises, Business and Startups. Let's pick at his brain, shall we? You can pick his brain further at SMB Techfest. We hope to see you there! Segment Two: Attaining YOUR Personal Goals & Microsoft Layoffs  Amy B's peer group is going live! We discuss the simple method that will propell you to success and, to quote Amy, "Make it rain.". Hint, hint: marketing is kind of important. Speaking of marketing, chatGPT remains relevant: Amy B uses it for content creation. Remember, it's still in beta, so before you blindly chatGPT up your next newsletter, it's best to give it an old fashion peer review.  Oh yeah...and Microsoft...again.  Resources and Links: For free sign up to the SMB Techfest: https://smbtechfest.com/go/karl Karl’s Annual State of the Nation Address  https://mspwebinar.com/ James Event http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind Amy B’s Peer Group https://www.thirdtier.net/2023/01/02/new-growth-focused-peer-group/    Sponsor Memo: Acronis Every client needs Cyber Protection. But that doesn’t mean service providers have to deploy a jumbled patchwork of solutions to get it done. Modern protection starts with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. Acronis combines backup, anti-malware, endpoint protection, management and robust ransomware defense all from a single console. That’s why successful MSPs use Acronis to generate more recurring revenue AND reduce churn. It’s easy to get started at https://acronis.com :-) 

Amy B. is off to England so it's up to Karl, Amy L, James, and content creating AI to get us through the day...   Segment One: Customer Service gone Awry - Noma, Rated the World’s Best Restaurant, Is Closing Its Doors https://nyti.ms/3GQgMgQ Segment Two: The Economy and CMIT Aquired! James, our in-house sales specialist, shares the forecast for Q1 and Q2.  Followed by some great news with Amy L. Speaking of Amy, what is Amy B up to and where has she gone? Segment Three: AI - chatGPT  https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/19/1065596/how-to-spot-ai-generated-text/#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20Harvard%20and%20IBM,generated%20by%20a%20computer%20program Karl tests out the chatGPT waters: "Karl: regarding the book great by choice, what are the top lessons about culture chatGPT: The book "Great by Choice" by Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen explores the factors that contribute to success in business. According to the authors, one of the key lessons about culture is the importance of creating a culture of discipline. This means having a clear set of values and principles that guide decision-making, and a consistent approach to achieving goals. Additionally, the book emphasizes the need for a culture of productive paranoia, where leaders are constantly aware of potential threats and take proactive measures to mitigate them. Another important aspect of culture highlighted in the book is the need for a culture of innovation, where experimentation and risk-taking are encouraged and rewarded. Karl: give me that as a folk song chatGPT: Verse 1: Discipline is what we need To guide us on our journey With values and principles We'll make the right decisions Chorus: Great by choice, we'll be With a culture that's disciplined We'll succeed, you'll see With a clear path and vision Verse 2: Productive paranoia's key To stay ahead of the game We'll be aware and take action To keep us from going insane Chorus: Great by choice, we'll be With a culture that's paranoid We'll succeed, you'll see With a plan and strategy deployed Verse 3: Innovation is what we'll bring To keep us on top We'll experiment and take risks And never, ever stop Chorus: Great by choice, we'll be With a culture of innovation We'll succeed, you'll see With new ideas and invention Outro: With discipline, paranoia and innovation We'll be great by choice, you'll see With a culture that's strong and true We'll achieve success, it's guaranteed." Resources and Links:  Karl’s Annual State of the Nation Address  https://mspwebinar.com/ James Event http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind Amy B's Peer Group https://www.thirdtier.net/2023/01/02/new-growth-focused-peer-group/  Sponsor Note: PCMatic  PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation  Finally - a light weight,  simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack.  No minimums and no annual contracts.  Find out more about by visiting https://PCMatic.com/MSP today. 

Through rolling blackouts and timezones, our team prevail for another special all-hosts episode of the Small Biz Community Podcast.  Before we get into it, we would like to ask our listeners, how wild is too wild New Orleans? Hosts Amy L has your answer! Segment One: New Amazing Growth-Focused Peer Group from Amy Babinchak and the Quarterly Peer Group with James Kernan Host Amy B shares with us her latest mentor-led peer group. In today's episode, Amy discusses her goals for this new venture for business owners looking to find a community with like-minded individuals.  For more details, check it out here: https://www.thirdtier.net/2023/01/02/new-growth-focused-peer-group/  Similarly, Host James's Quartely Peer Group is mixing business and pleasure at the Mastermind Orlando Event. We pick Host James's mind a bit: What's with MSPs and Florida? Check it out here:  http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Segment Two: Tolstoy There are a gazillion How To, Where To, and What To videos. Long form videos can be seriously disengaging which can be attributed to the lack of interactions this videos have to offer. But, hey, remember those Choose Your Own Adventure storybooks? Tolstoy is taking that concept and running with it with their interactive video services.  Check out NSITSP'S example here: https://player.gotolstoy.com/qeqr5th6dnr1w https://www.gotolstoy.com/ Segment Three: What's on Your Radar?  LastPass - and more end-user confusion...Following the most recent breach, the uncertainty of its survival has been a hot topic. How do we earn the trust of end-users?  Host Karl's Annual State of the Nation Address is out now. Host Jame's discusses his one page business--efficient for a industry that is rapidly moves forward. Resources and Links: Karl's Annual State of the Nation Address  https://mspwebinar.com/ Dot Com Secrets https://www.amazon.com/Dotcom-Secrets-Underground-Playbook-Growing/dp/B08B9ZHVVG/ Expert Secrets https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Secrets-Underground-Converting-Customers/dp/B08B9DTGFM/ --- Sponsor Note: NSITSP By now you've heard of the National Society of IT Service Providers. But why should YOU join? The NSITSP is committed to transforming our Industry into a Profession. They've established an industry-wide code of ethics and are working to improve the reputation of IT consultants nationwide. Wherever anybody is talking ABOUT IT consultants, NSITSP wants a seat at the table. That includes the media, government regulators, and the general public. Take pride in your industry and show off your membership. Join us today at https://www.NSITSP.ORG :-) 

New music, new intro, new everything. We reboot the entire podcast format, and welcome new host Amy Luby. Our Hosts are:  Amy Babinchak - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ James Kernan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ Amy Luby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycluby/ Karl Palachuk - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ Call for help: Amy is looking for robots out in the wild! Connect with her via LinkedIn. Stay tuned for a show on AI chat and how you might use that. Please like, subscribe, and share. We look forward to a great new format! – – –  Sponsor Note: NSITSP By now you've heard of the National Society of IT Service Providers. But why should YOU join? The NSITSP is committed to transforming our Industry into a Profession. They've established an industry-wide code of ethics and are working to improve the reputation of IT consultants nationwide. Wherever anybody is talking ABOUT IT consultants, NSITSP wants a seat at the table. That includes the media, government regulators, and the general public. Take pride in your industry and show off your membership. Join us today at https://www.NSITSP.ORG :-)

Happy New Years! For our last episode of 2022, Host James chats with Mathieu Manaigre. Published author and a mastermind of overlapping calendars, Mathieu is backed by a team of amazing experts allowing him to do all the fun work involved in building the most loved IT services company in Canada. Resources and Links:  www.avenirit.com https://www.facebook.com/aveniritinc https://www.linkedin.com/company/avenir-it-inc. https://twitter.com/AvenirITInc Sponsor Memo: SBTTC  This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-)

Host Karl catches up with Yvette Steele. Yvette Steele is a global diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leader building inclusive and equitable workplaces one employee at a time. Her belief that “inclusion is everybody’s job that anybody can do” was the catalyst of the book “Impactful Inclusion Toolkit: 52 Activities to Help You Learn and Practice Inclusion Everyday in the Workplace.”  Since entering the workforce in the late 1980’s, she was frequently the only African American woman on the team or one of a few where bias, sexism, racism and prejudice were served daily making it impossible to consistently perform at peak levels. Decades later, these issues persist with the same intensity where many continue to be disempowered in their efforts to maximize potential.  In this time of increased awareness of unfair systems and practices plaguing people of color, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community and others, her book provides the roadmap to acquire the skills needed to create cultures of equity, inclusion and belonging. Yvette has been recognized as a diversity thought leader on the inaugural Channel Futures DE&I 101 List for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through words, actions, and leadership and has served on the DEI Advisory Committee for YMCA-USA, Tech Advisory Board Steering Committee for the National Urban League, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force for Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.  You'll find her calling out the issues and providing solutions on diversity and workforce focused podcasts, blogs, news articles and panel discussions to include the Wall Street Journal, the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the ChannelPro Network.  Resources and Links:  https://www.amazon.com/Impactful-Inclusion-Toolkit-Activities-Workplace/dp/1119930200/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvetteportersteele/ Sponsor Memo: SBT Tech Community his podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.  Check us out at SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year.  We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at SmallBizThoughts.org

Karl Palachuk has a major announcement . . . followed by a discussion of The Five Employee Rules You Can't Forget - No matter how difficult the job market is right now. Karl has been procuding materials for IT consultants who are tackling the challenges of hiring in as we roll the calendar over to 2023. He recently posted a recorded webinar at https://www.mspwebinar.com on Hiring and Keeping Great Employees in 2023 - https://mspwebinar.com/finding-and-keeping-great-employees/. In this podcast, Karl outlines five extremely important things you need to remember, even in a difficult job market.  Karl is one of the SMB Community Podcast hosts. He has written more than twenty books, and runs the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community as well as IT Service Provider University. Karl has built and sold two managed service businesses. He has been a professional consultant for more than three decades, and he has been an active community builder in the SMB IT market for more than fifteen year. He's also the founder of the National Society of IT Service Providers and is currently their Executive Director. --- Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions?  Modernize your cybersecurity and  data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud.    It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti- malware, and endpoint protection management.   As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security  posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue.     Learn more about Acronis Cyber  Protect Cloud at Acronis.com.   

Host Karl sits with Acronis's Righter Kunkel at the Cyberfit Summit 2022!  Righter is a seasoned leader with responsibilities for strategy, design, implementation, and execution of corporate customer success vision anchored with financial growth. Righter has over 20 years of leadership experience in the public sector/commercial education and consulting industry. Righter has a deep working knowledge of operating a global for-profit partner, employee, and customer training business to include the internal business functions of development, certification, enablement, sales, services, and operations. Sponsor Memo: Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://smallbizthoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start.  Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls.  The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year.  We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://smallbizthughts.org  

Host Karl sits with Acronis's Michael Callahan at Cyberfit Summit! Michael is a security marketing executive with the rare combination of branding, product and technical expertise. Proven track record in both large and startup companies developing and executing go-to-market and enablement programs that drive record revenue. He is an experienced leader who creates a collaborative environment while setting clear objectives and holding himself and the team accountable to deliver results. Specialties: corporate marketing, product marketing, field marketing, product management, web marketing, social media, corporate communications, branding, messaging and press and analyst relations   Sponsor Memo: PCMatic  PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation. Finally - a light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack. No minimums and no annual contracts. Find out more about PC Matic by visiting https://PCMatic.com/MSP today.   

Fire Clients - or Prune Your Client Garden - with Erick Simpson and Karl Palachuk Recently, our friend Erick Simpson blogged that "end of year" is a great time to fire some clients. He and Karl are pretty much in agreement on that, but look at it from different perspectives.  Erick was on the ChannelPro Network podcast and talked about this approach. So, Karl wrote a blog post about the same topic from a different perspective. In this interview, Karl interviews Erick about why you might want to get rid of some clients and how it can actually result in making more profit AND making your staff a lot happier. Background articles: - Erick's blog: https://ericksimpson.com/erick-simpsons-msp-newsletter-october-2022-its-time-to-fire-some-customers/ - ChannelPro podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MI15aTE1DU (ChannelPro Weekly podcast #245). - Karl's Blog: https://blog.smallbizthoughts.com/2022/11/fire-clients-and-give-better-service.html Erick is, of course, the author of some of the best selling books on Managed Services, and is a great coach, trainer, and mentor for many in the community. You can catch up with him at https://ericksimpson.com. Sponsor Note: FieldEffect  MSPs are frequently at the forefront of cyber security challenges. Between changing customer expectations and the growing threat landscape, you are stretched thin. Need a helping hand? Download research sponsored by FieldEffect, and learn how offering MDR increases revenue, simplifies operations, and maximizes margins for MSPs. This independent analysis explores the growing managed detection and response (MDR) market and how MSPs can differentiate their managed security service with the right MDR solution. You’ll also find insights from five MSPs who have added covalence, a hybrid MDR solution, to their offerings and the positive impact it has had on business. Want to learn more? Check the link in the show notes. https://hubs.li/Q01cPMsj0 :-)  

Jost James sits down with Hartland Ross. Hartland Ross is a digital marketing strategist, founder and president of eBridge Marketing Solutions – a digital marketing agency and M&A advisory firm founded in 2001 catering to IT service firms providing opportunities for growth through acquisition and & organic marketing strategies. Hartland has been working in the sales and marketing of IT services and SaaS firms since 1999. He is well recognized and regarded in the IT services industry and to date has worked with hundreds of firms providing opportunities for business growth through M&A, marketing strategy and by providing industry advice, recommendations and introductions. Resources and Links: https://www.thehostbroker.com https://www.ebridgemarketingsolutions.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/hartlandross/ Sponsor Memo: PCMatic  PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation  Finally - a light weight,  simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack.  No minimums and no annual contracts. Find out more about PC Matic by visiting https://PCMatic.com/MSP today. 

Host Karl sits down with Loren Williams of PCs for People. After more than 25 years working for IBM and other companies that bought, sold, and leased computer equipment, Loren Williams moved to the non-profit sector joining PCs for People in 2021. Loren focuses on building relationships with organizations that want to put their "retired" technology towards bridging the digital divide. In his spare time, Loren likes to bicycle and travel. According to the Pew Research Center, about 4 in 10 adults with lower incomes do not have a desktop or laptop computer (41%). In our modern society, reliance on technology access has never been greater, as it has become a necessity for learning, working, health care and many other daily activities. PCs for People works to fix this problem. In 2021 we distributed 53,000 computers to low-income individuals and saved 3.5 million pounds of electronics from going into landfills. Resources and Links: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/06/22/digital-divide-persists-even-as-americans-with-lower-incomes-make-gains-in-tech-adoption/ https://www.pcsforpeople.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-r-williams/recent-activity/shares/ Sponsor Memo: Nodeware Know about Nodeware? Nodeware is an in-demand and real-time cybersecurity solution that helps businesses reduce their risk of ransomware or other cyber attacks —all with breakthrough simplicity and affordability. With truly continuous vulnerability scanning, even during normal business hours, you’ll get real-time alerts of network access & new found risks, with easy and insightful reports to take action on and report to your customers. Want to learn more? Visit https://nodeware.com/partners to find out more.

Host Karl speaks with Patrick and Mike Clements of SherpaDesk.  As co-founder and CEO of SherpaDesk, Patrick is committed to delivering a powerful easy to use professional services automation (PSA) solution that simplifies the three core activities of MSPs and IT Service Providers; track customer requests, log billable time, and manage customer's assets. Patrick has spent over 20 years in building software technology companies. He is a member of several non-profit boards and is an active member of the entrepreneurial community in mentoring new startups. Mike's best asset is being able to relate to people by listening to what they have to say. Mike has had over 20 years of in success in sales and the customer experience profession. He has led multi-million-dollar teams at Oracle and is a member of several non-profile boards. He enjoys spending time with his three young kids and is very passionate about the outdoors. Mike enjoys pushing himself by competing in Iron Man, or trekking in the Peruvian Andes. He's been part of the SherpaDesk team for 15 years and has an identical brother, that happens to be SherpaDesk’s CEO   Resources and Links: https://www.sherpadesk.com https://www.sherpadesk.com/blog https://www.facebook.com/SherpaDesk/ https://twitter.com/sherpadesk https://www.reddit.com/r/SherpaDesk/ Sponsor Memo: OITVOIP Did you know about STIR/SHAKEN? If you’re doing voice for your customers, you had better — the deadline was June 30. This technology is focused on reducing robocalls, and providers have to take action.  Are you compliant? The team at OITVOIP has put together resources for you to learn more… or, for their customers, it’s already handled. Want to learn more? Visit https://oit.co/mspradio/ for resources to help make sure you’re covered.      

Host Karl speaks with Anne Hall. Anne Hall is the owner and founder of ITagree – The Agreement Lifeguard, providing legal agreements-as-a-service globally. Anne recognized just how much IT companies struggled with customer agreements so she decided to put her 25 years’ experience as an IT lawyer in New Zealand to use in an innovative way, establishing ITagree in 2016. ITagree provides access to the specific types of legal agreements needed by IT companies, quickly and cost-effectively, in order to help them to reduce business risk. ITagree’s agreements have been developed and refined to suit the needs of IT companies in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.   ITagree was founded by Anne Hall who has 25 years of experience as a specialist IT lawyer in New Zealand. Anne wanted to provide IT companies with access to IT legal agreements without delays or big legal fees. Now we have customers all around the world and the ITagree team continues to be committed to saving time and costs on legal agreements, so you can focus on growing your business. ITagree is a global leader for MSPs and IT companies in helping them to reduce unnecessary business risks. ITAgree has you covered if you provide: Managed Services Microsoft 365 or Azure Private Cloud Hosting Professional Services Third Party SaaS Master Services Agreements And more! For Example Hardware-as-a-Service AWS Services Supply Unified Communications SaaS, including for Microsoft add-on Resources and Links: www.itagree.com https://itagree.com/blogs/news Sponsor Memo: SBTTC This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org :-)    

Host Karl speaks with Donna Turgeon. In her role as head of channel, Donna will lead Infosec’s channel sales team and indirect go-to-market strategy, operations and revenue globally. Donna brings 30 years’ experience driving indirect and direct revenue, ensuring customer success, delivering global GTM programs, leading corporate Channel and Distribution strategy, recruiting and onboarding business partners, and building effective Global sales and support teams. Donna is a multiple-year CRN Channel Chief award winner. Before her role at Infosec, she built an excellent indirect and direct sales and Marketing organization as CRO of VIPRE Security Group. She has held various senior leadership roles at various companies, including KnowBe4, Tech Data, InspiredeLearning and AccentHealth. Resources and Links:  http://www.infosecinstitute.com/channel  Email: partners@infosecinstitute.com Sponsor Memo: Acronis  Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions. Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security  posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue.  Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at https://Acronis.com  

Host Karl speaks with Dave Charest. Dave Charest is Director of Small Business Success at Constant Contact, the online marketing leader trusted by millions of small businesses. In his role, Dave acts as an educator and an advocate for small business leaders, marketing professionals, and nonprofits by providing them with practical marketing advice that can help them achieve their goals. He is a dynamic leader, speaker, creator, and award-winning marketer who strives to inspire small businesses by simplifying the complex world of online marketing. Resources and Links:  https://www.constantcontact.com/ Sponsor Memo: Linode Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider has resources specifically for helping MSPs explore the alternative cloud. Discover this growing market: one of the best-kept secrets in building a scalable, thriving, modern Managed Service Provider business. Learn about the cloud provider landscape, improving KPIs, security, and more in Linode's free ebook, The MSP's Guide to Modern Cloud Infrastructure, available now. This resource and more at https://linode.com/mspradio  

Host Karl chats with Brian Laufer. Brian Laufer is the Vice President of QuoteWerks. With a background in IT consulting, software development, and government contracting, he works to ensure business owners and sales professionals have the tools they need to obtain their goals. Brian makes this happen through educating the community and by facilitating seamless integrations between distributors, CRMs, PSAs, QuoteWerks, QuoteValet, and others. Resources and Links: https://www.quotewerks.com/ Sponsor Memo: Cisco Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.     https://lnkd.in/gsydMya     

Frank Vitagliano has served as the GTDC’s chief executive officer since April 2019. His focus is on strengthening partnerships between members and vendors by addressing industry-wide issues and opportunities related to the integral role of distribution in the IT channel. In his career, Frank has consistently been recognized as a leader in the IT industry. He was inducted into the IT Hall of Fame in August 2017, in recognition of his leadership and contributions over the course of more than three decades. Additionally, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by VAR Business for his accomplishments as an industry channel chief. He is the only OEM executive inducted into Ingram Micro’s Venture Tech Network Hall of Fame. We can focus the discussion on the latest GTDC report (download here or ask and we'll send a PDF) https://gtdc.org/resource/environmental-sustainability-report/ Resources and Links:  Main GTDC page: https://gtdc.org/ ESG Report (free for anyone to download): https://gtdc.org/resource/environmental-sustainability-report/DC     Sponsor Memo: SBTTC This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org :-)

Host Karl chats with Jonathan Seelig. Jonathan Seelig is the Executive Chairman and Chief Evangelist of Ridge. He co-founded Ridge with the goal of building highly distributed cloud infrastructure, thereby enabling users to deploy cloud native applications on any infrastructure and in any location. He previously co-founded Akamai, the world's first and largest CDN. Jonathan has worked on distributed, low latency, high performance infrastructure for over 25 years. Description: With the rapidly increasing pace of digital transformation, many managed service providers (MSPs) and cloud service providers are at a crossroads: they need to decide how to best continue to support their customers as they continue to migrate to the cloud.  While the hyperscale public cloud model is an attractive proposition for some customers, there are many existing and planned use cases and business models for which local data centers and MSPs can be a better fit. These businesses’ cloud computing environments may be a blend of server types: on-premises, bare-metal, co-located, and distributed across multiple continents. No single cloud architecture with preset locations can offer them a consistently optimized level of application performance and deployment flexibility. Companies need a cloud provider that can customize a cloud for evolving business needs. Local cloud service providers and MSPs should therefore consider how they convert digital transformation into a home-field advantage. By integrating modern cloud-native services into their offering, in addition to their traditional services, they will offer a robust alternative to the large public cloud and will be in an excellent position to fulfill evolving customer needs.  Today, Joanthan discusses some of the key benefits for managed service providers with existing cloud offerings to add modern cloud-native services to their existing portfolio, including: Monetize existing infrastructure Add new revenue streams Win business that will otherwise default to the public clouds Become the go-to service providers for emerging location dependent applications Ensure long-term customer retention Resources and Links: https://www.ridge.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/11808567/ https://www.youtube.com/c/RidgeCloud Sponsor Memo: SBTTC This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at https://www.SmallBizThoughts.org   :-)  

In this edition of SMBCP, Host Karl catches up with Jadon and Erin of Bitdefender on the latest of Modern Security Operations. Learn the differences between EDR, XDR, and MDR as we delve into why detection and response services are necassary for your business.  Erin has been in the technology industry for over a decade, beginning in Public and Analyst Relations before transitioning to her true passion, product marketing. As Senior Manager, Product Marketing at Bitdefender, Erin focuses on all things Managed Detection & Response (MDR) and is responsible for developing messaging, positioning, and go-to-market strategies that reflect the voice of the customer and convey the true value-props of managed cybersecurity services. Before joining Bitdefender, Erin was a product marketer at Expel, focusing on MDR, threat hunting, and partner integrations.  Jadon is a product manager who specializes in bringing new technologies to market, including a SOAR platform at Rapid7 and a Cloud Attack Surface Management Product at Censys. He recently created Rapid7’s Active Response capability for their MDR service, ensuring expeditious remediation in the case of an incident. As a Senior Director of Product Management at Bitdefender, Jadon is the product leader of the MDR service. Jadon is a Las Vegas native whose true joys in life are chicken wings, mezcal, and watching reality TV.   Bitdefender is a cybersecurity leader delivering best-in-class threat prevention, detection, and response solutions worldwide. Guardian over millions of consumer, business, and government environments, Bitdefender is one of the industry’s most trusted experts for eliminating threats, protecting privacy and data, and enabling cyber resilience. With deep investments in research and development, Bitdefender Labs discovers over 400 new threats each minute and validates around 40 billion daily threat queries. The company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in antimalware, IoT security, behavioral analytics, and artificial intelligence, and its technology is licensed by more than 150 of the world’s most recognized technology brands. Launched in 2001, Bitdefender has customers in 170+ countries with offices around the world.   For more information, visit https://www.bitdefender.com   Resources and Links: https://www.bitdefender.com/content/dam/bitdefender/business/products/managed-detection-and-response/Bitdefender-GravityZone-MDR-Datasheet-en.pdf   https://www.bitdefender.com/business/enterprise-products/managed-detection-response-service.html   Sponsor Memo: Cisco   Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.     https://lnkd.in/gsydMya   

Host James chats with Daniel Wang of MSPbots. Daniel Wang is a seasoned MSP owner, and CEO of MSPbots, a software platform that uses dashboards, and bots to help MSP automate the business process, and help manage, and train employees. MSPbots has the best dashboard software for MSP, easily creating MicroTraining bots to alert employees, and providing real-time Microtraining based on KPI changes, and incidents based on the data.   Resources and Links: https://mspbots.ai   Sponsor Memo: SBTTC  This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at http://www.SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at http://www.SmallBizThoughts.org   :-)

Host Karl speaks with Robert Scott of Scott & Scott LLP. Robert Scott represents mid-market and large enterprise companies in software license transactions and disputes with major software publishers such as Adobe, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP. He has defended over 250 software audit matters initiated by software piracy trade groups such as the BSA and SIIA. He is counsel to some of the world’s largest corporations, such as Schlumberger, PepsiCo, Iron Mountain and American Express, on information technology matters including intellectual property licensing, risk management, data privacy, and outsourcing. As an attorney for 26 years, Robert Scott understands that law firms rarely get fans. Yet, that’s exactly what his firm, Scott & Scott, LLP, has in owners of managed services provider companies. In what Scott, who has spent 15 years serving MSPs, called an “exciting” time, the firm earned the enthusiasts through its cloud-based customer contracting solution.  Believing that collaboration between legal and technology professionals is the key to solving complex business problems, Scott & Scott, LLP helps with software disputes, intellectual property matters, corporate transactions, copyright litigation, security and privacy issues and information technology. The firm is committed to monitoring developing technologies and emerging law – as technology evolves rapidly, so do laws governing it – in order to provide efficient, highly focused representation. In its 15 years of practice, Scott & Scott has handled more 500 engagements involving software license transactions and audit disputes against Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Adobe, Autodesk, and many other companies. The firm has defended copyright infringement litigation by Microsoft, initiated wrongful termination litigation against Aptean, fought Adobe’s damage calculations, and filed declaratory judgment litigation against Autodesk. Scott & Scott’s client roster includes Fortune 500 companies and other leading companies of all sizes. Resources and Links: website: https://scottandscottllp.com/ blogs: https://scottandscottllp.com/blogs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottandscott Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScottandScott YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1loqaWnAyc0__O6EuhVACw?view_as=subscriber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scott-&-scott-llp/ --- Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at Acronis.com. 

Host Karl chats with Chase of JumpCloud. Chase Doelling is the Principal Strategist at cloud directory platform provider JumpCloud, where he leads the team in creating partnerships that enhance and secure digital identities. He has been working in venture-backed startups across security, integration, and DevOps for the last decade. JumpCloud offers a directory platform, specifically for SMBs and MSPs, that consolidates IT management and secures employees' access to IT resources (devices, applications, servers, networks, and more). Chase can discuss how SMBs and MSPs can leverage JumpCloud to simplify their IT environment, cut IT costs without sacrificing security, and centralize user identity so it's easy both for the admin to manage, and for the end user to navigate. The full-featured JumpCloud Directory Platform is available, for free, for any organization for up to ten users. One partner found that JumpCloud's cost saved them 80% on IT management.  Also, twice a year, JumpCloud surveys IT teams from SMBs to find out their concerns and challenges, their budgets, what trends they're seeing, and more. On June 15, 2022, JumpCloud will be releasing the newest report, and Chase could also discuss how SMBs are increasingly leaning on MSPs, their top security concerns, and how they're addressing rising threats. Chase can share how JumpCloud can help SMBs offer enterprise-grade security without adding enterprise-level complexity - and without paying enterprise-level cost or hiring enterprise-level support teams.   Resources and Links:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/jumpcloud https://twitter.com/JumpCloud A weekly gathering for SMB IT admins to discuss challenges: https://jumpcloud.com/the-it-hour Case study that shows JumpCloud is 1/5 cost: https://jumpcloud.com/resources/case-study-altitude-integrations-reduce-costs JumpCloud sign-up - fully free for up to 10 users: https://console.jumpcloud.com/signup --- Sponsor Memo: Acronis  Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions?   Modernize your cybersecurity and  data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a singlesolution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management.   As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security  posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue.    Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at Acronis.com. 

In this edition of SMBCP, Host Karl sits down with Robert Sawyer and Daniel Daraban to discuss Bitdefender's GravityZone XDR (extended detection and response).  Find out what GravityZone XDR can do for your MSP business.  Robert Sawyer is the director of product marketing for cloud workload security and managed detection and response at Bitdefender. Prior to Bitdefender, he led product marketing for integration and applications at IBM as part of its newly launched automation division. He also led teams in hybrid cloud, tracing his roots back through BPM and SOA, and worked at Rackspace Technology, helping lead marketing for a newly launched managed security service offering. He’s been in the IT space for over 20 years and started his career in software development, working on industry solutions in healthcare and life sciences and media and entertainment. As a Director of Product Management at Bitdefender, Daniel Daraban manages the Bitdefender Business Solutions Group flagship product lines: EDR and XDR. Together with his team, they are on a mission to solve real-world customer encountered issues. Eager to understand day-to-day workflows and how that is impacting the products he manages, Daniel enjoys interacting with customers, prospects and industry analysts to gain valuable feedback. Outside of work you will find him in his tool shed working on various DYI projects, playing around with Arduinos, or riding some of the world’s craziest rollercoasters. Resources and Links: XDR for MSPs Datasheet: https://www.bitdefender.com/content/dam/bitdefender/business/products/msp/Bitdefender-XDR-for-MSP-Datasheet-en.pdf  XDR for MSP launch blog: https://businessinsights.bitdefender.com/how-xdr-can-transform-msp-cybersecurity   Sponsor Memo: PCMatic  PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation Finally - a light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack. No minimums and no annual contracts. Find out more about PC Matic by  visiting PCMatic.com/MSP today.      :-)    

Host Karl speaks with Lee Darke of Information Technology Service Providers of Canada, a non-Profit organization dedicated to the Canadian IT Services Sector. ITSPC's goal is to provide a membership-based approach to industry standardization that helps IT Service Providers align to a common standard of service delivery curated by industry peers. And like other professional bodies ITSPC felt the need for standards in service delivery and conduct. ITSPC believes that we need a "Hippocratic oath" of IT service delivery, aligned with a set of standards that professionalize the provider and empower the client. The time has come to ensure that IT services are delivered with a common goal and set of standards that clients can trust. Resources and Links:  https://join.itspc.ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/itspc https://twitter.com/itspcanada https://www.facebook.com/itspcanada   Sponsor Memo: Cisco Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies including Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.     https://lnkd.in/gsydMya   

Skill gap, tools complexity, alert fatigue, and other market challenges have become increasingly difficult to navigate in the MSP space. And for those with limited resources, these obstacles will continue to inhibit successful customer service.   In this exclusive interview, Host Karl spoke with Bitdefender's Erin Meyers and Jadon Montero in response to these growing issues and how MDR Foundations look to act as its solution.     Erin has been in the technology industry for over a decade, beginning in Public and Analyst Relations before transitioning to her true passion, product marketing. As Senior Manager, Product Marketing at Bitdefender, Erin focuses on all things Managed Detection & Response (MDR) and is responsible for developing messaging, positioning, and go-to-market strategies that reflect the voice of the customer and convey the true value-props of managed cybersecurity services. Before joining Bitdefender, Erin was a product marketer at Expel, focusing on MDR, threat hunting, and partner integrations.  Jadon is a product manager who specializes in bringing new technologies to market, including a SOAR platform at Rapid7 and a Cloud Attack Surface Management Product at Censys. He recently created Rapid7's Active Response capability for their MDR service, ensuring expeditious remediation in the case of an incident. As a Senior Director of Product Management at Bitdefender, Jadon is the product leader of the MDR service. Jadon is a Las Vegas native whose true joys in life are chicken wings, mezcal, and watching reality TV. Resources and Links: For more information, visit https://www.bitdefender.com MDR Foundations for MSPs Datasheet: https://www.bitdefender.com/content/dam/bitdefender/business/msp/Bitdefender-MDR-Foundations-for-MSPs-Datasheet_en.pdf MDR Datasheet: https://www.bitdefender.com/content/dam/bitdefender/business/products/managed-detection-and-response/Bitdefender-GravityZone-MDR-Datasheet-en.pdf Sponsor Memo: Linode Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider has resources specifically for helping MSPs explore  the alternative cloud. Discover this growing market: one of the best-kept secrets in building a scalable, thriving, modern Managed Service Provider business. Learn about the cloud provider landscape, improving KPIs, security, and more in Linode's free ebook, The MSP's Guide to Modern Cloud Infrastructure, available now. This resource and more at linode.com/mspradio.   :-)  

Host James chats with Angela Schroeder. Angela is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, coach, connector, and life-long learner. Angela is passionate about empowering people to live courageously and developing phenomenal cultures and teams.  With over 25 years of experience in launching and growing businesses, record-breaking sales, leading highly successful teams, and developing phenomenal cultures, Angela has learned it all starts with leading yourself well. Angela has trained thousands of business owners, teams, and individuals globally on growing your mindset, growing your business, and growing your life. Author of the Courageous Mind Founder Courageous Strategies & Solutions.  We empower business professionals to operate in their unique genius and delegate everything else using a virtual team so that by focusing on what matters most they can grow their businesses and their lives exponentially faster. Resources and Links: www.thecourageousmind.com @angelabangsschroeder on all platforms Sponsor Memo: Agile Blue  AgileBlue is a 24/7 SOC, XDR and SOAR providing managed breach protection including monitoring,  detection, and automated response to cloud, networks, and endpoints.    Helping MSPs build their cyber business while increasing gross margins, ARR and stickiness. AgileBlue’s  partner program engages, enables, supports, and rewards your business growth with a white-labeled  security dashboard, pooled pricing, marketing collateral, and purpose-built sales content.   A 24/7 extension of your team, learn more at agileblue.com 

Host Karl chats with Richard Tallman & Michael Reeves of Bitdefender.  Richard Tallman is a 20+ year veteran in the technology industry merging the physical & virtual worlds under one umbrella. At Bitdefender, he manages Global Cloud Markets & Managed Service Providers (MSP) working directly with the Remote Monitoring & Management (RMM) Platforms and Cloud & Distribution Marketplaces. Prior to Bitdefender, Richard led the charge at some of the biggest technology companies in the world to streamline and secure customer and partner application enhancements to the cloud for both on and off premise solutions. When not at work he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children while sharing his love of beach volleyball, mountain biking and surfing.  Michael Reeves is the CISSP - Technical Director, Cloud & MSP at BitDefender. With over 22 years in the industry, Mike is a true pioneer of cloud security. His ability to translate engineering concepts to a business audience is unmatched. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing bass guitar, and four wheeling in his Jeep - especially at the same time!   Bitdefender is a cybersecurity leader delivering best-in-class threat prevention, detection, and response solutions worldwide. Guardian over millions of consumer, business, and government environments, Bitdefender is one of the industry’s most trusted experts for eliminating threats, protecting privacy and data, and enabling cyber resilience. With deep investments in research and development, Bitdefender Labs discovers over 400 new threats each minute and validates around 40 billion daily threat queries. The company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in antimalware, IoT security, behavioral analytics, and artificial intelligence, and its technology is licensed by more than 150 of the world’s most recognized technology brands. Launched in 2001, Bitdefender has customers in 170+ countries with offices around the world.  In this edition of SMBCP, we briefly overview the current threat landscape for MSPs and SMBs and how these segments are impacted by the current market trends.  Skills gap, complex tooling, alert fatigue, insufficient or poor onboarding all lead to slow provisioning and license restrictions. Richard and Michael discuss how an MDR service can address these struggles.  Resources and links:  https://www.bitdefender.com Blog: MDR—What is it and Why Should SMBs Care? https://businessinsights.bitdefender.com/mdr-what-is-it-and-why-should-smbs-care Article (MSPs): 10 Things MSPs Should Know About Cybersecurity Insurance https://connect.comptia.org/blog/10-things-msps-should-know-about-cybersecurity-insurance    

Host Karl chats with Eveline of airSlate. airSlate is a Boston-based technology company specializing in no-code automation solutions, specifically in no-code document workflow automation, eSignature services, and document management.  Eveline leads special projects at airSlate, including partner programs for MSPs as well as the airSlate Academy with a mission to educate and empower a community of people that are passionate about workflow process automation. Eveline is a managing partner at One Way Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund investing in exceptional immigrant entrepreneurs. Previously, she was a director at Techstars, a mentorship-driven startup accelerator based in Boston. At Techstars, Eveline along with her team sourced, invested, and nurtured over 50 prominent startups. Eveline is also the former CEO of leading media company Ekonomika, having launched several popular websites including delo.ua, the most quoted business portal in Ukraine. Prior to Ekonomika, Eveline was CEO of high-tech startup APCT, winner of the second annual "Silicon Valley Open Doors" contest in 2006. Before moving to Ukraine, Eveline worked for 10 years as an engineering associate on several multi-million dollar projects for the top industrial gas company Praxair, Inc.     Sponsor Memo: Cisco   Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.     https://lnkd.in/gsydMya :-)

Host Karl welcomes back Toby Nangle, the Global Director, Channels and Partnership at Field Effect to talk about a new white paper highlighting partner success with Field Effect. You can catch up on Toby's first podcast with us here:  https://www.smbcommunitypodcast.com/2022/01/field-effect-on-changing-security-requirements-for-msps/ On today's show, Toby and Karl delve into the latest in cybersecurity and its changing environment.  Since our last conversation, activity in the cybersecurity space has changed drastically as the conflict in Ukraine continues to shake the globe.  Toby and Karl discuss how FieldEffect and other cybersecurity vendors are navigating the emerging threats and how their services are adapting to this everchanging platform.     Karl also had the chance to ask Toby about the White Paper, prepared by Aite Novarica. In the White Paper, Aite Novarica surveyed five, random partners of FieldEffect to learn about their experience so far with the company.  Toby summarizes for us the conclusion of Aite Novarica's finds. Download the whitepaper here: https://hubs.li/Q01dCmGZ0   Resources and Links:  Field Effect Website: https://fieldeffect.com  Follow Field Effect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/field-effect-software/  Follow Field Effect on Twitter: Field Effect (@fieldeffectsoft) / Twitter   Sponsor Memo: Linode   Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider has resources specifically for helping MSPs explore the alternative cloud. Discover this growing market: one of the best-kept secrets in building a scalable, thriving, modern Managed Service Provider business. Learn about the cloud provider landscape, improving KPIs, security, and more in Linode's free ebook, The MSP's Guide to Modern Cloud  Infrastructure, available now. This resource and more at linode.com/mspradio   :-) 

Host Karl speaks with Frank Raimondi of IGI Cyberlabs.  Frank currently is the VP of Channel Development for IGI CyberLabs, a MSP focused tool that delivers complete visibility of your network, real-time discovery of devices, and prioritization of security gaps (vulnerabilities). Recent and past consulting clients include start-ups and established companies, including among others: Intel, ECS, CompTIA, ATTO Technology, Absolute Software, Higher Ground Gear, Chargifi, Kickpost, Vedamo, VidBid & MarketStar. Additionally, Frank was a national board member of the non-profit Community Health Charities (www.healthcharities.org), a guest lecturer at UC Davis, and provides additional marketing and business development support to other non-profits. He also participates as a Faculty member for CompTIA, presenting at industry conferences on their behalf, and most recently is a member of the Washington County (OR) Medical Reserve Corps, actively participating in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Resources and Links:  https://nodeware.com/events https://nodeware.com/blog     Sponsor Memo: Egynte Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions.  With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance.  Want to learn more? Check out  Egnyte.com/mspradio, and when you do, tell them we sent you. 

Host Karl chats with Owen McGab Enaohwo. Owen McGab Enaohwo is the CEO and Co-founder of SweetProcess, an easy-to-use software that enables company executives and their employees to collaborate together to quickly document and/or improve their standard operating procedures, processes, and policies. On this episode, we discuss the following: - Tired of being the Bottleneck in your business? How to stop doing it all yourself - Growth strategies for small businessed - Simplifying your systems and processes - Why you need work instructions (and how to create them like a pro) - How SweetProcess helps businesses scale, organize workflow, increase productivity and cultivate a winning culture   Resources and Links:  https://www.sweetprocess.com/smbcp     Sponsor Memo: Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community  This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-)  

Host Karl chats with Marnie Stockman. Marnie Stockman, Ed.D. started her career in Customer Success with the toughest customers of all - high school math students. Her passion for education and using data and humor to help others grow and succeed took her from the classroom to Sr. Director of Customer Success of a leading Ed Tech company - and now to co-founder and CEO of Lifecycle Insights - a vCIO/Customer Success platform for MSPs.  With her default setting locked on "Smiles," she aims to create raving fans for Lifecycle Insights and help MSPs do the same for their customers. She strongly believes your clients success becomes your success. When she isn't Lifecycling, she can be found playing volleyball with her husband and two 20-something kids in Greensboro, MD. Resources and Links: https://lifecycleinsights.io https://lifecycleinsights.sucks https://www.amazon.com/Literally-Book-Customer-Success-MSPs/dp/1646492110 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marniestockman/ https://www.facebook.com/lifecycleinsightsmsp https://twitter.com/lifecyclemsp     Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security  posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at http://Acronis.com      

Host James speaks with Jeff Nevins and Josh Wittman of Simeon Cloud. Jeff has worked in roles ranging from architecture and implementation of complex solutions to building and leading technology organizations. His experience leading teams in software development, cloud engineering, and IT architecture, combined with his passion for automation has led Jeff to found Simeon Cloud, the leading Microsoft 365 configuration management solution. Josh has always been driven by automation and champions the notion that every minute spent doing a repetitive task is a minute not spent growing your business. Josh currently serves as co-founder and chief operating officer of Simeon Cloud. Prior to launching Simeon, Josh worked at American Express, supporting the chief marketing officer with thought leadership and analysis of the company’s sponsorships and marketing investments. Josh began his career working in the capital markets. He received his Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and surfing along the coast of California.   Microsoft 365 has become a best-in-class solution for SMBs. Companies are rapidly adopting Microsoft's suite of collaboration, productivity, and security tools. However, MSPs have no way of managing their client's tenants in a streamlined or standardized way. Settings and policies are scattered across numerous portals. There is no ability to have a single baseline configuration across portals and tenants. That's where Simeon Cloud comes in. We are the first multi-tenant configuration solution that scales and standardizes the management of M365 tenants. We specialize in automated deployments and ongoing baseline management of O365, Azure AD, and Intune configurations.   Resources and links: https://www.simeoncloud.com/ https://twitter.com/simeoncloud https://www.linkedin.com/company/simeon-cloud/     Sponsor Memo: Huntress  Remember Huntress? The cyber startup that helps MSPs detect footholds and persistent malware? If you haven’t checked out their platform recently, it might be time for a fresh look. Over the past two years, Huntress has added a ton of new features and functionality to its managed security platform—including EDR capabilities, a powerful next-gen antivirus, ransomware detection and much much more. The company is on a mission to secure the 99%—those small and mid-market businesses being served by MSPs and IT resellers. Visit huntress.com/mspradio  to learn more about their latest innovations and how they can help you continue growing your security practice. Or, ready to start a free, 21 day trial? Visit huntress.com/mspradio to start today.  

Host Amy speaks with Heather Johnson Heather Johnson, MBA, has her background in business consultation and senior leadership. She co-founded Gozynta in 2018 and became their Chief Operating Officer. Since her arrival, she has developed and executed a successful marketing plan; created a knowledge base; and built a support and sales department. Heather recently became the Vice President of the National Society of IT Service Providers and is their Committee Liason. Prior to coming to Gozynta, Heather was a co-organizer of the 2015 and 2016 President's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge at the White House which had over 10,000 attendees. She worked with a remote team of organizers from the Department of State, Department of Education, and Georgetown University. As an extension of the President's Challenge, she organized and led a trip to Southeast Asia.  Heather was the Human Resource Director of a graduate school for five years where she organized a successful fundraising art and music festival.   Resources & Links  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-johnson-gozynta/ www.gozynta.com And we are launching Gozynta Payments www.gozynta.com/payments     Sponsor Memo: Cisco Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner  Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies including Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.     https://lnkd.in/gsydMya   

Host Karl speaks with Gil Cargill of Cargill Consulting.  Today we discuss coaching and consulting in Sales Process Managment.  "The sales function of an IT company must provide predictable NEW revenue. The owner who masters sales management is the owner that will continue to flourish." - Gil Cargill  Resources and links: www.salesmanagementmastery.com     Sponsor Memo: AgileBlue AgileBlue is a 24/7 SOC, XDR and SOAR providing managed breach protection including monitoring, detection, and automated response to cloud, networks, and endpoints.    Helping MSPs build their cyber business while increasing gross margins, ARR and stickiness. AgileBlue’s partner program engages, enables, supports, and rewards your business growth with a white-labeled  security dashboard, pooled pricing, marketing collateral, and purpose-built sales content.   A 24/7 extension of your team, learn more at agileblue.com     :-)

Host Karl interviewed Susanne Tedrick. Susanne is a Cloud Infrastructure Specialist for Azure. She's also a published author, and President of CompTIA's Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity executive council. The conversation covers all of those topics: Susanne's book (Advancing Women in Tech), diversity in the IT workspace, an right-sizing Azure cloud services.  Susanne's speciality at Microsoft is supporting professional sports teams and leagues. Leagues are clearly at the enterprise level with one set of challenges. Teams are generally more in the SMB space, often as small as twenty actual users.     Sponsor Memo: Egnyte  Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions.  With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources.And do it all addressing data governance and compliance.  Want to learn more? Check out Egnyte.com/mspradio, and when you do, tell them we sent you.  :-)  

Host James speaks to Alex Farling on the QBR Process.  As a recovering MSP owner and co-founder of Lifecycle Insights, Alex is working with hundreds of MSPs to help them automate the QBR process and deliver actionable information to their clients.  Resources and links:  https://lifecycleinsights.io https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexjfarling/      Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and  data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber  Protect Cloud at Acronis.com. 

Host Karl chats with Bob Coppedge on his book The MSP’S Survival Guide to Co-Managed IT Services Bob has written the only two books on the topic of Co-Managed IT services and has helped numerous MSP's improve their Co-Managed pratices.   Resources and links:  https://Simplex-IT.com https://CoMITs4MSPs.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrAQXmClGb2X6GH1WgaNyZA   --- --- ---  Sponsor Memo: SBTTC This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org :-)

Host Karl speaks with Jeffery Ponts.   Jeffery is COO and Co-Founder of Datatel Solutions Inc (www.datatelsolutions.com) which was founded in early 2003. Jeffery has more than 30 years in the telecom business, the past 19 as an entrepreneur.    Jeff and his business partner, Daniel Langton, have grown Datatel Solutions into a national entity. He has more than 30 years of telecom and technology industries experience covering telecom master agency, and software development/integration.   He has spent the vast majority of his career focused on channel development, sales and management. Jeff has held many industry association positions including the President of the Technology Channel Association (TCA), many previous council and community seats with CompTIA, and currently sits on the executive council of Advancing Women in Technology., he also Co-Founded software development, and ISV firm Concordus Applications (www.concordusapps.com) in 2011. Concordus specializes in Integration, IoT, mobile solutions, and financial technologies.   Resources and links: www.datatelsolutions.com     --- --- ---  Sponsor Memo: PCMatic  PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation  Finally - a light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack.  No minimums and no annual contracts.     Find out more about PC Matic by  visiting PCMatic.com/MSP today.      :-)

Host Karl chats with Dave Sobel from MSP Radio and The Business of Tech (and the Killing IT podcast).   Dave is regarded as a leading expert on IT and managed services, cloud computing, and virtualization, and is a featured speaker at industry events including Channel Partners, Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, IT Nation, SITS London, and as a CompTIA trainer at multiple events, and is often quoted in business and technology publications.   Dave started his career as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies, as well as a product developer and designer. He owned and operated a IT Solution Provider and MSP for over a decade, both acquiring other organizations and eventually being acquired.   Since his MSP experience, he has worked for multiple vendors at such companies as Level Platforms, GFI, LogicNow, and Solarwinds, leading community, event, marketing, and product strategies, as well as several M&A activities.     Resources and links: MSP Radio: https://www.mspradio.com/ Killing IT Podcast: https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesobel/ --- --- ---  Sponsor Memo: Cisco  Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding  Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.     https://lnkd.in/gsydMya      :-)      

Host Karl caught up with three c-level folks from CWell Marketing: Lane McDowell – CEO /Head of Customer Success at Cwell Marketing Owned and Operated IT Service Business for 9 years in the Northern IL area. Through trials and tribulations and lots of marketing dollars spent, they were able to crack the code on Intent based marketing for MSPs. After he sold his MSP, he knew he still wanted to work in the MSP space, so he and Shon took their passion for marketing and the process that made us so successful and shared it with the world.  Shon Corwell – From the Atlanta, Ga region. Worked in IT for 13 years and always have done marketing on the side. Lane and I paired up to start our own MSP and learned a lot on the way. Ryan Baudoin - From New Orleans, Louisiana. Avid traveler and Over 10 years in Sales in the IT industry with Cisco and Meraki before coming on as Director of Sales for CWell Marketing. These former MSP owners turned marketing gurus finally cracked the code on marketing IT services to the general public. Resources and links: cwellmarketing.com www.linkedin.com/company/cwellmarketing IG: @cwellmarketing FB: @cwellmarketing     Sponsor Memo: Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider has resources specifically for helping MSPs explore  the alternative cloud. Discover this growing market: one of the best-kept secrets in building a scalable,  thriving, modern Managed Service Provider business. Learn about the cloud provider landscape,  improving KPIs, security, and more in Linode's free ebook, The MSP's Guide to Modern Cloud  Infrastructure, available now. This resource and more at linode.com/mspradio.      :-)    

Host Amy speaks with the Zack Fair on web filtering with SafeDNS. Zack is the Business Development Manager at SafeDNS and an IT enthusiast SafeDNS breathes to make the internet safer for people all over the world with solutions ranging from AI & ML-powered web filtering, cybersecurity to threat intelligence. Moreover, SafeDNS strives to create the next generation of safer and more affordable web filtering products.   Resources and links: www.safedns.com https://blog.safedns.com/   Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week?  That time is 120 prospect calls, a month’s worth of the Business of Tech, or building an entire lego death  star. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of  invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click  of a button.    With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit us at g-o-z-y-n-t-a dot com  :-)

Host Karl speaks to Charles Preston on Human Risk Managment (HRM), Security awareness training, amd simulated phishing.  Charles Preston is the CEO & Founder of usecure, the Human Risk Management (HRM) solution that is transforming the way MSPs strengthen their clients' human security posture. With a wealth of experience in selling technology solutions to SMBs, Charles has amassed a number of key sales tips and insights to help run a successful IT business. Resources and links:  www.usecure.io Blog linking to usecure new 2022 guide: https://blog.usecure.io/free-ebook-the-2022-guide-to-reducing-human-cyber-risk Sponsor Memo: This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success.  Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-)    

Hosts Karl interviews Andy Liverman Anderson is the CEO and Co-Founder of DataStream Insurance. Andy has close to a decade of experience in cybersecurity and technology with leadership roles at Envelop Risk, Dispel, LiquidSpace, and Lovely. Andy is also the host of the podcast Cyber Security Dispatch. Before transitioning to technology, he was a Wall St. credit research analyst covering the insurance space at Barclay’s Capital. Andy holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia University Business School. A former member of the US National Rowing Team, Andy is now an avid but terrible tennis player. Additional Relevant Information Please contact Brian Sherman at CommCentric for arrangements and questions. References and Links: https://datastreaminsurance.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DataStream-Insurance-104589198575876 https://www.linkedin.com/company/datastream-cyber-insurance/ https://twitter.com/DataStream_Ins  Sponsor Memo:  This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-)    

Corey Kirkendoll is the President & CEO of 5K Technical Services. 5K Technical Service, is an award- winning Managed Service Provider (MSP) company that is committed to establishing solid IT solutions  for Small-to-Medium sized Businesses (SMB) throughout the North Texas area.  Corey is recognized by his peers as an IT Expert. Through his leadership, his relentless focus on being  process-oriented and his commitment to delivering excellence in security and compliance, he has been a  major influence on the rapid growth not only within his own MSP but with other MSP’s across the  country as well.   Corey is a Tech Titan and has received numerous awards in the IT industry.   References and links: www.5ktech.com

Host Karl talked to author and entrepreneur Jennifer Bleam about her new book: Simplified Cybersecurity Sales for MSPs. By now, the majority of your listeners have accepted the mission to protect their clients. If they don't learn to sell cybersecurity effectively, countless small and medium sized businesses will be financially and personally affected. The future of those businesses depend on the content of this book. Jennifer Bleam is a wife, the mother of three boys, and a mentor for MSPs looking to dominate their marketplace and build the company of their dreams. Her drive and expertise has led her to grow several multi-million dollar companies and divisions in under two years each.  She's been featured in countless trade publications and podcasts and has been a guest speaker and trainer on stages around the world including North America, Australia, and Europe. To date, Jennifer has coached nearly 2,000 MSPs on effective sales and marketing to small and medium sized businesses. References and links:  www.MSPSalesRevolution.com  -- -- --  Sponsor Memo: Cisco  Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/partners/partner-with-cisco/provider.html   

Host Karl talked to Cam Roberson, Vice President of Beachhead Solutions about choosing the right security tools.  BeachheadSecure for MSPs provides a PC and device security platform for businesses and MSPs to encrypt data and automate threat responses.  Earlier in his career, he was a product manager at Apple and ran an advertising agency in for 15 years before selling the firm. He also teaches courses at his local community college on business and entrepreneurship. Additional Relevant Information Some more detail on the topic/thesis Cam's interested in bringing to the SMB Community Podcast if interest (with no shortage of examples and energy): SMBs rely on their MSPs for expert and clear-eyed perspectives on their technology needs. That is especially true when it comes to data and system security. But given that the current security solution landscape has been rendered nearly incomprehensible by fancy new (and newer) acronyms, it’s no surprise that businesses seek experts able to tell EDR from XDR and SOAR from SIEM to guide their systems to safety. In truth, MSPs themselves must be more careful than they are right now in examining the the actual substance of potential solutions, since marketing departments have been more than happy to play fast and loose with acronym definitions. The acronym terminology on a product’s tin may have more to say about industry sales trends than what threats the tool actually addresses. Those marketing pressures also drive security acronyms to shift meanings and become increasingly hazy. The better approach for MSPs is to follow a disciplined strategy that selects solutions based on clients’ specific security needs and not on ephemeral acronyms or marketing hype. A loose strategy that chases acronyms only leads to an endless high-stakes game of whack-a-mole, where new risks regularly pop up to threaten unprepared systems and MSPs scramble to bat them down before harm is done. Ultimately, the false comfort of nebulous high-level acronyms doesn’t protect SMBs. It’s MSPs focusing on the gritty details of clients’ security needs that gets the job done. Web Sites, Blogs, and Social Media Links we can Promote on the Podcast Links: https://www.beachheadsolutions.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/camroberson/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/beachhead-solutions/   Sponsor Memo: Trend Micro As an MSP managing the security of multiple clients, ensuring you can quickly & efficiently respond to security incidents across your customers is critical to reducing the severity and consequences. Trend Micro's SOC-as-a-Service solution tailored for MSPs not only augments your existing team with security expertise but also proactively hunts for threats and indicators of attack across your entire customer base.  We call this "multitenant detection & response." Learn more and get the MSPs SOC-as-a-Service playbook using the link in the show notes or visit https://trendmicro.com/msp https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/partners/channel-partners/managed-service-provider.html?modal=s4c2-tile-socaas-playbook-c42c13

Host Karl caught up with MJ Shoer, the Chief Community Officer at CompTIA. MJ is responsible for leading a team of passionate leaders who deliver programs and benefits to CompTIA's global community of members.  MJ is a 25+ year MSP veteran, having owned his MSP for nearly 20 years before merging into a friendly regional competitor subsequently acquired by a national MSP. MJ was a longtime CompTIA member before joining the team. About CompTIA CompTIA is a non-Profit IT Trade Association. You've certainly heard of CompTIA certifications (A+, Network+, etc.).  At https://connect.comptia.org, you'll find the CompTIA communities, technology interest groups, industry advisory councils, and public sector councils make CompTIA strong. Join today and start collaborating on technology and business-building initiatives, network with peers, open doors to new partnerships, and contribute ideas to shape the future of our industry. There is a place for everyone to connect at CompTIA. Full disclosure: Karl sits on the Executive Council of CompTIA's Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity Community - the largest and fastest growing community. More info at https://connect.comptia.org/join-now/register?c=ADVTECTLTDIV.  CompTIA Communities and Councils Forum is March 14-16 in Chicago. See https://connect.comptia.org/events/view/comptia-communities-councils-forum-(ccf)-2022?sfredirect=/ccf    Links:  https://Connect.CompTIA.org  https://www.CompTIAISAO.org  https://facebook.com/mshoer  https://linkedin.com/in/mshoer  https://twitter.com/mshoer  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Linode   Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider as voted by G2 and Trust Radius,  has resources specifically for delivering digital experiences in the cloud with better ease and  affordability while not being locked into long-term agreements and commitments.  Their guide, “The Golden Ratio of Price to Performance in Cloud Computing“ details how alternative cloud providers and open source tools can lower costs and ease moving to multicloud envoirments.   This resource and more at https://linode.com/mspradio.    :-)  

Host James caught up with founder of Arsenal, Aaron Asher, to talk Sales Development and Appointment Setting. Since its inception in early 2019, Aaron and his team at Arsenal have worked with 100s of MSPs to provide transparent, no frill lists of services and resources. Link: www.arsenalbg.com  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Cisco  Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes.  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/partners/partner-with-cisco/provider.html  :-)   

In this special edition, I lay out some information on choosing clients, setting expectations, and getting clients to play their role in your company. This is absolutely essential to building a successful business model. When you look at your ideal client, you need to know what they care about and what they don't care about. What kind of buyer are you? What kind of buyer do you want your clients to be? Those questions will help you decide what matters and what does not inside your company. References and links: - Uncommon Service by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss  https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Service-Putting-Customers-Business/dp/1422133311/  - My blog: https://blog.smallbizthoughts.com  - My YouTube: https://youtube.com/smallbizthoughts  - IT Service Provider University: https://www.itspu.com  - Customer Service Course at ITSPU: https://www.itspu.com/all-classes/classes/customer-service-for-it-service-providers/  -- -- --  Sponsor Memo: PCMatic    Think you know PC Matic?  Think again.  PC Matic is working with MSPs to deliver true zero trust/default deny endpoint security.  Allowing only trusted applications and blocking all the rest.  A light weight, simple to deploy & easy to  manage approach to application allow-listing.  Layering a default deny approach provides MSPs of all sizes the ability to again focus on prevention, and  PC Matic delivers this without impacting performance or efficiency.  Find out more about by visiting https://pcmatic.com/MSP  Be sure to ask about PC Matic's exclusive lead sharing program for MSPs backed by a prime time  national TV campaign.  -- -- -- :-)  

Cyber Incidents, Cybersecurity Insurance, and SMBs. Host Karl interviewed Ron Pelletier from Pondurance. Pondurance is a cybersecurity incident response organization. Ron is the original Founder of Pondurance, having started the company from his basement in 2008. Ron has over 25 years of cyber security advisory experience. He started his career as an officer in the US Army, followed by nine years with Big Four firm, EY. As a strong consensus builder and customer advocate, Ron is focused on evangelizing the Pondurance brand as well as customer success. There are many kinds of cyber attacks. What's the right incident response for each of these? What are the roles of monitoring as well as actual response? Additional Relevant Cyber insurance policy prices are skyrocketing due to the increase in ransomware attacks. With that higher price comes less coverage. Add to that, more companies are applying for cyber insurance than there is funding. When demand exceeds availability, you get increased rates, and that’s happening universally. To better your chances for being approved for cyber insurance, it’s best to know why companies are denied cyber insurance in the first place, how they can be better prepared for the application process, and what to do to prepare for the years to come. Landon would like to discuss preventive measures small businesses can take to address questions that cyber insurance carriers have added to their underwriting questionnaires, as well as simple and cost-effective ways for organizations to reduce your cyber risk. Links  - http://www.pondurance.com  -- -- --  Sponsor Note: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions?  Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at https://Acronis.com.  :-) , , ,,   

This is the first in a series of interviews we'll be doing with Field Effect in 2022. Host Karl talked to Toby Nangle, Global Channel and Partnerships Lead for Field Effect.  We start out by agreeing that it's going to be another tough year on the cybersecurity front. Toby has worked extensively in the Education Technology, Cloud, IT Infrastructure and IT Security sectors. His expertise lies in developing cohesive channel strategies, identifying and developing the shortest path to revenue for new technologies, and implementing the necessary internal and external structures to support channel partnerships. Field Effect works to bring simplicity to a complex process of delivering top-notch cybersecurity. Their primary product is Covalence, which bring great security monitoring from a wholistic approach. Rather than deploy a variety of “DR” (detection/response) tools, Covalence monitors all traffic on both your on-site and cloud networks with one portal. Alerts are managed through a central system and delivered to MSPs. Of course it also connects to your PSA and other tools. If you’re interested in offering a successful managed security practice, the Field Effect partner program is a great place to start. We dig into a good deal of the technology as well as deployment and monitoring for the MSP. Their service is sold on a per-user basis in order to make sure people don’t exclude devices due to price. Their ideal market is between 25 and 2,500 users. (Not strictly enforced.) Related links: Field Effect Website https://fieldeffect.com   Follow Field Effect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/field-effect-software/  Follow Field Effect on Twitter https://www.linkedin.com/company/field-effect-software/  Sponsor Note: BVOIP    BVOIP — the Cloud communications offering designed specifically for IT providers, bvoip offers a complete Unified Communications suite which can also be tightly integrated via Microsoft Teams. Bvoip delivers the modern workforce cutting edge features including Contact Center, integration to your business apps, and real time visibility into your remote workers.  You control the price, with a unique hybrid model that avoids the complex dial tone taxation or compliance bullseye.    Don’t get stuck in a vendor relationship that works against you! Bvoip is channel only company that’s here to support you.  Find out more by visiting https://bvoip.com/mspradio    :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Vince Gerasolo of DaVinci Network Solutions of Toronto, Canada. In April of 2020, Vince started an experiment with a four-day work week for his business. Now it's been almost a year , so we checked in to see how things are doing. On top of everything else involved in managing and growing an IT business, Vince was working remote, increasing his staff size, and dealing the the pandemic. And in all of that, the four-day work week seems to be working. I dug into the details and Vince was very forthcoming with information and advice about how to get started with your own four-day work week. As you can imagine, there are lots of things to consider. You can contact Vince on LinkedIn or via DaVinci. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincegerasolo https://dvnt.ca/ -- -- -- Sponsor Note: Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out https://www.Egnyte.com/mspradio, and when you do, tell them we sent you. :-) Check out this episode!

Host Karl caught up with Vince Gerasolo of DaVinci Network Solutions of Toronto, Canada. In April of 2020, Vince started an experiment with a four-day work week for his business. Now it's been almost a year , so we checked in to see how things are doing. On top of everything else involved in managing and growing an IT business, Vince was working remote, increasing his staff size, and dealing the the pandemic. And in all of that, the four-day work week seems to be working. I dug into the details and Vince was very forthcoming with information and advice about how to get started with your own four-day work week. As you can imagine, there are lots of things to consider. You can contact Vince on LinkedIn or via DaVinci. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincegerasolo  https://dvnt.ca/  -- -- --  Sponsor Note: Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out https://www.Egnyte.com/mspradio, and when you do, tell them we sent you. :-)  

Host Karl caught up sales trainer and coach Gil Cargill to talk about the importance of business-focused communication during sales calls. You hear it all the time: Don't talk about what you sell; talk about the client's needs. But how do you actually do that? How do you guide the conversation away from the price and still get the sale? Gil gives us some tips - and Karl back to get some juicy details. Too many technicians think clients care about technology. They don’t. They care about how you can improve their profit, improve their productivity, or help with cashflow. Gil gives some great tips on how to get the conversation started, and to get the prospect to buy in to a productivity audit. His approach is very conversational and is totally focused on the client rather than the technology. Contact Gil for his free starter evaluation: Web Site: http://www.gilcargill.com  Phone: 310-447-4102 :-) Sponsor Memo: Linode Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider, as voted by G2 and Trust Radius, has resources specifically for delivering digital experiences in the cloud with better ease and affordability while not being locked into long-term agreements and commitments. Their guide, “The Golden Ratio of Price to Performance in Cloud Computing“ details how alternative cloud providers and open source tools can lower costs and ease moving to multicloud envoirments. This resource and more at https://linode.com/mspradio.  :-)  

Host Karl interviews Christopher Barber, a Maryland MSP. Chris' MSP is called Cheaper than a Geek. Chris refers to himself as the Chief Nerd at Cheaper Than A Geek. They are an MSP that’s about to celebrate 22 years in business just outside of DC and Baltimore that specializes in the smaller SMB space. Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Society of IT Service Providers. Chris and Karl discuss the economy, focusing on service delivery during a pandemic, and the economic challenges and opportunities in these strange time. We also discuss Chris's goals for the NSITSP and why he is involved in this important organization. More About Chris and Cheaper Than A Geek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjbarber/  https://www.cheaperthanageek.com/  More info on NSITSP Visit https://nsitsp.org  The NSITSP is a professional association representing SMB – small and medium business – IT consultants. They focus on education, professionalism, and promoting the interests of IT professionals everywhere. :-)

I love talking with Dave Seibert for lots of reasons: One is his optimism. Before we hit the record button, he just kept going on and on about all the great opportunities he sees in 2022. So I hit record and made him slow down a bit. Dave is a longtime community builder, managed service provider, influencer, Microsoft MVP, and organizer of the SMB Techfest. We sat down for a year-end review and look into the new year. We start with an update on SMB Techfest and their plans for the new year. Q1 (January) and Q3 (July) will be virtual events and Q2 (April) and Q4 (October) will be live, in-person events. As Dave points out, he does his event four times per year because our industry changes all the time. And that's a good transition to our actual show contents. Our industry is typified by "change." Well, the pandemic has sped that up considerably. Dave helps us reflect on what we learned in 2021 and what he sees ahead in 2022. More than half the show is spent on opportunities in 2022! Links: SMB TechFest – quarterly technology conference - www.smbTechFest.com  Complementary registration to join a SMB TechFest conference - www.smbTechFest.com/Go/Worldwide  ProTier Peer Groups – Building Dream Teams to Accelerate Business Growth - www.ProTierPeerGroups.com  DaveSeibert.com – Dave's site for many activities and resources - www.DaveSeibert.com  and of course . . . - www.LinkedIn.com/in/DaveSeibert99  -- -- -- Sponsor Note: Dropsuite Dropsuite provides backup, archiving, and recovery solutions delivered at scale to power your business defense of cloud services. Award winning, safe, secure, and scalable – as well as trusted by top channel partners like Pax8 and Sherweb, Dropsuite protects Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and email from the full range of threats – accidental deletion to full-on cyberattacks. All with an understanding of what MSPs need to be successful and compliant. Interested? Learn more right at https://dropsuite.com.  :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Vadim Peskov, CEO and Founder at Diffco. The company develops mobile AI and computer vision solutions. Vadim has a lot of expertise in FinTech, cybersecurity, and B2B software development. He is also an advisor at Alchemist Accelerator and numerous startups. He is an expert and speaker who combines years of experience in AI-enhanced applications and Computer Vision, Cybersecurity, VC, and product design. The Diffco team has been developing powerful Android and iOS apps, AI-enhanced solutions and back-end architecture since 2008. The company specializes in transforming any business visions into revenue driving products for startups and SMBs, or complex scalable systems for enterprise companies. Links: - https://diffco.us  - https://www.facebook.com/diffco.us/  - https://www.linkedin.com/company/diffco  ----- Sponsor Memo: Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at https://Acronis.com.  :-)  

Host Karl talks with Scott Sandland from Cyrano.ai, a company that is developing smart "AI" software that will help counselors address some tough emotional issues. Scott started out focusing on teen suicide and has built up systems from there. Scott is the former world's youngest hypnotherapist. A few companies (and decades) later he is the CEO of a company focusing on artificial empathy and strategic linguistics. As a former executive director and CEO of a mental health clinic and longtime technologist, he has experience leading purpose driven organizations. He has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, Psychology Today, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Scott has presented his AI work at the United Nations AI for Global Good Conference and is a frequent guest lecturer at various universities. Here we dig into AI chatbots that are attempting to do good things - with empathy and strategy. We also dig into some of the current issues with AI and ethics. Scott's company builds and has patented an AI system optimized for effective communication skills, active listening, and strategic responses to help people increase motivation towards a desired outcome. Acknowledging that this is a very difficult chore and it could be very dangerous to get it wrong. Links: https://blog.cyrano.ai/  https://www.cyrano.ai/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsandland/  ----- Sponsor Memo: Gozynta Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, building an entire lego death star, or most of the content put out by Karl Palachuk in a week. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit them at https://gozynta.com  :-)  

Host Karl talked to Matt Solomon and Kevin Lancaster from Channel Program. They are producing a series of new programs for the SMB IT Channel, including Channel Pitch, Channel Explorer, and Channel Cash. Kevin is the CEO and Matt is the Chief Business Development Officer of the new company. They have joined forces again to start Channel Program, an innovative collaboration platform uniting the best Channel Partners (MSP's, MSSP's, VAR's, IT Service Providers, and Consultants) with the best Technology Vendors out there. Kevin and Matt previously led ID Agent, one of the fastest-growing start-ups through acquisition in a 2 year period. The new programs are: Channel Pitch - Allows MSPs/Channel Partners to attend anonymously and provide valuable feedback to the vendors. For vendors, they get 7 mins, (even playing field), cut out the fluff, and get direct feedback. Channel Explorer - Video platform, allow both MSPs and Vendors the ability to build a brand, thought leadership, community. Channel Cash - Launching the first Vendor agnostic MDF (Marketing Development Funds) program. Links: Web - www.channelprogram.com  Matt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjsolomon/ Kevin LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlancaster/ Channel Program - https://www.linkedin.com/company/channel-program/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/bethechannel  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Channel-Program-113031624351535  Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ChannelfiedPodcast  ----- Sponsor Memo: Calyptix Security Cyber security for small business has become overwhelming. Unprecedented threats, escalating rhetoric and limited resources. None of us can battle alone. Lean on your community at Calyptix Security. The Calyptix Community Shield automatically unites small businesses and raise the costs and challenges for cybercriminals by harnessing threat intelligence from our community. If they attack any one of us, everyone gets the benefit with Community Shield. The best part? No added costs. By working together, we will prevail. Learn more at https://calyptix.com and tell them Karl sent you. :-)  

Host Karl interviews Harry Brelsford and Scott Lopez about maintenance as the great new MSP opportunity. Scott is the creator of AOM - Alternative to OEM maintenance (AOM). Technology entrepreneur Harry Brelsford has teamed with Austin-based ZPI to bring the AOM World ecosystem to market to drive MSP success. Harry is best know for the SMB Nation community and several other startups including 420MSP. Link: https://aom.world/  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at https://Acronis.com.  :-)

Host Karl interviewed Manoj Srivastava, General Manager of ID Agent and Graphus. Today's employees have a better understanding of cybersecurity risks than in years past, but it can still feel like a massive undertaking to get everyone to complete even the most basic of training. While hacking into a system is difficult, sophisticated social engineering attacks tricking users to give away their credentials is far more common, meaning anyone can fall victim to these scams. Manoj explains why training is not enough. He believe cybersecurity awareness should be embedded into the culture of an organization, with employees understanding how their daily behaviors contribute to the cyber environment. Links: www.kaseya.com  www.idagent.com   www.graphus.ai    About Manoj Srivastava Manoj Srivastava is General Manager, ID Agent and Graphus, where he focuses on products that help managed service providers (MSPs) and IT professionals protect their customers – small and mid-sized companies – against cybercrime. He oversees a suite of solutions that includes monitoring for compromised credentials, employee security awareness training, attack simulations, email security, and identity access management. About Graphus Graphus, a Kaseya company, is an industry-leading, cloud email security solution. As the world’s first automated phishing defense platform, Graphus protects email users from cybercriminals posing as trusted contacts by automatically eliminating social engineering threats such as spear phishing, phishing, and business email scams. Its patented technology employs artificial intelligence to establish a TrustGraph® between people, devices, and networks to detect threats. For more information, visit https://www.graphus.ai.  About ID Agent ID Agent, a Kaseya company, provides the leading Dark Web monitoring, security awareness training and identity & access management solutions to organizations of all sizes worldwide. Its flagship product, Dark Web ID™, delivers validated intelligence to identify, analyze and monitor for compromised or stolen employee and customer data. The company’s BullPhish ID™ product provides cybersecurity awareness training and phishing simulation geared to the non-technical end user, to enhance a company’s overall cybersecurity and further safeguard corporate systems. Passly™ delivers comprehensive identity & access management to secure remote workforces and protect organizations from risk of exposure. To learn more, visit www.idagent.com.  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Calyptix Cyber security for small business has become overwhelming. Unprecedented threats, escalating rhetoric and limited resources. None of us can battle alone. Lean on your community at Calyptix Security. The Calyptix Community Shield automatically unites small businesses and raise the costs and challenges for cybercriminals by harnessing threat intelligence from our community. If they attack any one of us, everyone gets the benefit with Community Shield. The best part? No added costs. By working together, we will prevail. Learn more at https://calyptix.com and tell them Karl sent you. :-)  

From Karl: Everyone is a little overwhelmed with the fast-changing world of cybersecurity and what we should be doing. I wanted to give folks some clear, precise guidelines and questions about starting this process. I go into some detail on the questions and process I recommend for engaging EVERY client in this discussion. I make reference to the model cybersecurity training you can access and download from https://www.mspwebinar.com. You can view the entire 1-hour video (recorded live with a client in November 2021), and download the PowerPoint in PPTX format. Download it, remove my branding and graphics, and create your own version. Hey, it's easier to edit my stuff than to start with a blank page, right? And if you are a member of the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community, you can access example resources for data handling documents and the sample client-facing cybersecurity questionnaire. If you're not a member, sign up now at https://www.smallbizthoughts.org.  ----- Sponsor Note: Gozynta Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, building an entire lego death star, or most of the content put out by Karl Palachuk in a week. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit them at https://gozynta.com  :-)  

Host James Kernan interviews Dakota Fitzgerald from the new TDSynnex to discuss the Tech Data-Synnex merger and what it means for IT Service Providers. Dakota is the SYNNEX StellrCloud Cloud and Platform Strategist. Her background is in coding, development, and mass communications. In her current role, she works to develop new and innovative Cloud Strategies that provide resellers with the competitive advantage they need to navigate disruption and thrive in the Cloud arena. By connecting passionate people to powerful platforms through purposeful partnerships, TDSynnex is becoming the leader for Digital Transformation in the channel. Through end-to-end solutions, support, and services, Dakota works to serve reseller partners, vendors, and colleagues in making TDSYNNEX StellrCloud the obvious destination for all Cloud needs. More info at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakota17fitzgerald/  And of course . . . https://www.tdsynnex.com/  ----- Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at https://Acronis.com.  :-)  

Host Karl talked to Corey White. Corey is a proven security industry veteran with more than 25 years of success building and implementing security strategies and leading consulting teams. His work encompasses virtually every industry, including government, high tech, hospitality, critical infrastructure, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Corey is disrupting the modern approach to cybersecurity with Cyvatar.ai, making cybersecurity effortless for businesses with fully managed customer-centric security solutions that are mapped to business outcomes. As the industry’s first membership-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, Corey’s mission for Cyvatar is to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. Corey also served as the SVP of Worldwide Consulting, Chief Experience Officer at Cylance and as the Southwest Director of Consulting for Foundstone & McAfee/Intel Professional Services. He’s an avid lover of bio-hacking, manifestation, and meditation. He can offer valuable insights into the current state of affairs as well as the dangers on the horizon. He would love to talk about cyber security as it relates to healthcare, hospitality, gaming, cannabis, and more. https://cyvatar.ai/  :-) -- -- -- Sponsor Note: PC Matic Think you know PC Matic? Think again. PC Matic is working with MSPs to deliver true zero trust/default deny endpoint security. Allowing only trusted applications and blocking all the rest. A light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allow-listing. Layering a default deny approach provides MSPs of all sizes the ability to again focus on prevention, and PC Matic delivers this without impacting performance or efficiency. Find out more by visiting https://pcmatic.com/MSP.  Be sure to ask about PC Matic’s exclusive lead sharing program for MSPs backed by a prime time national TV campaign. :-)  

Host Karl talked to Larry Mandelberg, one of the founding members of the National Society of IT Service Providers Board of Directors. Larry is a long-time technologist and business consultant. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Businesses Don't Fail, They Commit Suicide. Larry is a "serial entrepreneur" who solves complex business problems for companies in a wide range of industries. He represents the fifth generation of his family’s business, inheriting 150 years of successful organizational experience. Larry has experience in all stages of business growth. He has launched four start-ups, led a merger, and conducted a successful turnaround. When the NSITSP was formed in the Summer of 2021, Larry was selected as one of the Board members. He brings a great deal of experience in non-profit boards as well at professional businesses and business success. Links: https://mandelberg.biz  https://mandelberg.biz/mandelblog/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrymandelberg/  https://businessesdontfail.com  For information on the NSITSP, please visit https://nsitsp.org  -- -- -- Sponsor memo: Calyptix Security Cyber security for small business has become overwhelming.  Unprecedented threats, escalating rhetoric and limited resources. None of us can battle alone. Lean on your community at Calyptix Security. The Calyptix Community Shield automatically unites small businesses and raise the costs and challenges for cybercriminals by harnessing threat intelligence from our community. If they attack any one of us, everyone gets the benefit with Community Shield. The best part? No added costs. By working together, we will prevail. Learn more at https://calyptix.com and tell them Karl sent you. :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Toby Nangle, a channel sales pro with Field Effect. With a 23-year career in technology channel sales, Toby has worked extensively in the Education Technology, Cloud, IT Infrastructure and IT Security sectors. His expertise lies in developing cohesive channel strategies, identifying and developing the shortest path to revenue for new technologies and implementing the necessary internal and external structures to support channel partnerships. Field Effect works to bring simplicity to a complex process of delivering top-notch cybersecurity. Their primary product is Covalence, which bring great security monitoring from a wholistic approach. Rather than deploy a variety of "DR" (detection/response) tools, Covalence monitors all traffic on both your on-site and cloud networks with one portal. Alerts are managed through a central system and delivered to MSPs. Of course it also connects to your PSA and other tools. If you're interested in offering a successful managed security practice, the Field Effect partner program is a great place to start. We dig into a good deal of the technology as well as deployment and monitoring for the MSP. Their service is sold on a per-user basis in order to make sure people don't exclude devices due to price. Their ideal market is between 25 and 2,500 users. (Not strictly enforced.) Links: Field Effect Partner Program: https://fieldeffect.com/partner-program/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/FE_Partners  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/field-effect-partners/  :-) Sponsor Memo: BVOIP BVOIP — the Cloud communications offering designed  specifically for IT providers, BVOIP offers a complete Unified Communications suite which can also be tightly integrated via Microsoft Teams. BVOIP delivers the modern workforce cutting edge features including Contact Center, integration to your business apps, and real time visibility into your remote workers. You control the price, with a unique hybrid model that avoids the complex dial tone taxation or compliance bullseye. Don’t get stuck in a vendor relationship that works against you! BVOIP is channel only company that’s here to support you. Find out more by visiting www.bvoip.com/mspradio  :-)    

Host Amy interviewed Ben Yarbrough, CEO at Calyptix Security Corporation about their new product launch. Ben founded in 2005 and has focused on the Small/SMB space from the start. He is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the computer and network security industry. Skilled in Firewalls, Managed Services, Business Development, and Entrepreneurship. Strong business development professional graduated from University of Virginia School of Law and Davidson College. Contact Info LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yarbrough-b500385  Twitter - @BenYarbrough -- -- -- Sponsor memo: Gozynta Mobius  Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, building an entire Lego death star, or most of the content put out by Karl Palachuk in a week. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit them at www.Gozynta.com  :-)  

Host Karl talked to Noelle Johnson, Co-Founder and Learning and Development Partner with Johnson Squared Consulting. Noelle has over a decade of experience working in operations and transforming company culture into a more equitable and happier work environment. She has earned a positive reputation for her expertise and has been quoted in Forbes, Fast Company, Glassdoor, NPR, and more. She has worked in operations in tech for years, including working at CompTIA for a few years. Now she owns a company that focuses on supporting women transitioning their careers in tech. Noelle has given speeches and lead workshops to small and large groups, in person and digitally, on topics including but not limited to; accessibility, psychological safety, establishing inclusion effort at work, self-advocacy at work, developing a diverse network, allyship, and addressing internal unconscious bias. Some links . . . website: www.johnson2consulting.com  Website Audit: https://www.johnson2consulting.com/audits/  Accessibe: https://accessibe.com/a/zz06tlp  Also . . . Johnsonsquaredconsulting.com  DEIallaccess.com  -- -- -- Sponsor note: Cisco Partner Program Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies including Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/partners/partner-with-cisco/provider.html  :-)  

Host James Kernan interviews Amy Woods from Content 10X. Amy is an expert in content repurposing and the Founder of Content 10x – a niche creative agency. She helps content creators grow their audience by maximizing their return on the content they create. She works with businesses, entrepreneurs and thought leaders, and is the content repurposing powerhouse behind some of the most well-known podcasts and video shows. Amy is the host of The Content 10x Podcast and she is the author of best-selling book Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results, the ultimate guide to reaching more people online with your content. She talks on stages all around the world about content repurposing, including at events like PodFest Multimedia Expo, Podcast Movement, Youpreneur Summit and RadioDays. Amy podcasts and writes about content repurposing at content10x.com and shares ideas on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Website - https://www.content10x.com  Twitter - @content10x Instagram - @Content10x Facebook - https://facebook.com/content10x  LinkedIn - https://LinkedIn/in/amywoods2  - - - - - Sponsor Memo Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour Threats to client data constantly evolve, so your strategies must evolve too …but knowing where to get good guidance isn’t always easy. Well, nowhere will you hear more helpful insights from leading cyber protection experts than at the Acronis #CyberFitSummit. I’m going again –this year in-person, in Miami – and you should join me. Experts like Erick Simpson; Larry Walsh; and Acronis’ Amy Luby will show you how to boost profits, reduce risk, and improve your team’s productivity, as well as the latest cybersecurity strategies, technologies, and processes. In person and online, Learn more about the Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour at https://Acronis.events  :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Marvin Bee from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Marvin runs MB Systems of South Florida Inc. You may know Marvin at the host of the Podnutz Pro Podcast (see www.podnutzpro.com).  We start out with one of Marvin's famous "Florida Man" news stories along with his own business origin story. Of course that leads to the general issue of dealing with clients who don't quite "get" it. If you haven't heard the Podnutz Pro podcast, please check it out. Marvin mixes a little fun, tech info, and business advice. Search for Podnutz Pro on your favorite pod catcher. We have a great conversation about growth, customer service, and all the details of building a business in the modern era. And we touch on growth strategies (fast vs. slow) and sales in the SMB space.   Marvin's links: Podnutz Pro Podcast: https://www.podnutzpro.com  MB Systems: https://www.mbsystems.net  Twitter: @podnutzpro YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8se7g23P_Qg7qS0YpJd0KQ  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvinbee/  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security MSPs do battle daily against cyber hostilities such as ransomware attacks and data breaches. Fight smarter. Call in the cavalry. Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security is here. Reduce stress and implement proper safeguards — as advised by the FBI, NSA and DHS — with Calyptix’s purpose-built solution for small businesses. Zero Trust access secures RDP and SSH connections with two-factor authentication. There’s no need for open ports to the internet, client installs, or VPN. Plus, you’ll enjoy audit-friendly access across all types of devices. Learn more at https://calyptix.com/gatekeeper.  :-)  

Karl caught up his long-time friend Dave Seibert. Dave is a managed service provider, a Microsoft MVP, organizer of the SMB Techfest events, and much, much more. Dave is an internationally-recognized community builder. This includes his status as a Microsoft Influencer and his own ProTier Peer groups. On top of all that, Dave's whiz on LinkedIn and networking. Karl talks to Dave about how he manages to attend so many events and have success on so many fronts. Dave also gives some words of wisdom on "being success" in the world of technology today. Leverage the resources Dave Seibert brings together to accelerate your business: SMB TechFest – quarterly technology conference www.smbTechFest.com  Complementary registration to join a SMB TechFest conference www.smbTechFest.com/Go/Worldwide  ProTier Peer Groups – Building Dream Teams to Accelerate Business Growth www.ProTierPeerGroups.com  I have 20 years P2P experience (Partner to Partner) on successful teamed client projects www.ITinnovators.com  DaveSeibert.com – My site of my many activities and resources www.DaveSeibert.com  Join me on Social Media platforms to stay engaged www.LinkedIn.com/in/DaveSeibert99  www.Facebook.com/dseibert  -- -- -- Sponsor Note: BVOIP — the Cloud communications offering designed specifically for IT providers, bvoip offers a complete Unified Communications suite which can also be tightly integrated via Microsoft Teams. Bvoip delivers the modern workforce cutting edge features including Contact Center, integration to your business apps, and real time visibility into your remote workers. You control the price, with a unique hybrid model that avoids the complex dial tone taxation or compliance bullseye. Don’t get stuck in a vendor relationship that works against you! Bvoip is channel only company that’s here to support you. Find out more by visiting https://bvoip.com/mspradio  :-)  

Host Karl talked to Abe Stein, Co-founder and General Manager at Matter365. Matter365 is a practice management solution for law firms, accounting firms, and SMBs of all kinds. It is built on top of Microsoft 365. As an experienced entrepreneur and sales leader, Abe has led Go-To-Market and business development for early stage and growth stage cloud software businesses across North America and Europe. Matter365 is the only practice management solution that is fully integrated with Microsoft 365. Matter365 enables legal, accounting, and business advisory professionals of all kinds to run their entire firm through a single pane of glass. By creating dedicated, matter-specific spaces in all of a firm’s Microsoft applications, Matter365 equips MSPs and VARs with an integrated solution to delight their professional services clients. Links Web - www.matter365.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/matter365  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/matter365  Twitter - https://twitter.com/matter365  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAgZMCkY37krjulvZ_NwcfA/featured  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, building an entire lego death star, or most of the content put out by Karl Palachuk in a week. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit them at www.gozynta.com  :-)  

Host Karl interviews Jim Goldman from Trava Security, Inc. Jim wrote the book on cyber security, literally! He is a nationally published author and frequently requested speaker and subject matter expert on relevant technical topics such as cybersecurity. He was a university faculty scholar at Purdue University, started a cybersecurity research lab serving the FBI, and built the company's first Security GRC organization at Salesforce. He is currently the co-founder and CEO at Trava. Jim is also a member of the invitation-only Forbes Technology Council where he is a respected voice on the Expert Panels and a regular thought-leadership content contributor. Links:  Website - www.travasecurity.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigoldman/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/travasecurity  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/  -- -- -- Sponsor note: The FIRST EVER Cisco Provider Elevate 2 day Virtual event is September 14 and 15 to start the journey with Thought Leaders from around the world. With 55 Speakers, 22 Educational and Interactive Sessions, Networking Happy Hours, and a Self Assessment To Help You Grow. And best of all, it's free. Register Free: https://www.canapii.com/events/cisco-provider-elevate  :-)

IT/MSP Business Growth Coaching Services  Host Karl interviews Ian Luckett from Innovate to Success. Ian Luckett is a multi-talented IT & MSP business growth expert with over 20 years' experience as a mentor, coach and business strategist. Over the years of working at various blue-chip companies holding a variety of senior positions, no one fits the profile better than Ian to help you build a profitable IT & MSP business by increasing your sales, productivity and profits. He uses his MSP Profitbuilder system to help techie business owners to increase their sales, profits and productivity. Ian's major expertise is in developing great Business Leaders. All too often we forget the skill of Leadership and this is a common thread throughout all of his work in the channel. Contact Links: Web - https://www.innovatetosuccess.com  Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianluckett/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ianluckettofficial  IT Experts Podcast - https://innovatetosuccess.com/podcast/  IT Experts Community - https://innovatetosuccess.com/ite-community-lp/  :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Paco Lebron from the MSP Unplugged podcast to talk about their upcoming LIVE event in Chicago - TechCon Unplugged. Juicy details at https://techconunplugged.com/.  Paco Lebron is the CEO and Founder of ProdigyTeks Inc. an MSP located in the West Loop of Chicago. Paco also co-hosts MSP Unplugged, a live, weekly podcast for aspiring IT business owners and vendors in the MSP space. In addition, is the co-founder of TechCon Unplugged, a dedicated multi-day conference for IT business owners. This will be an in-person event September 17-19th in Chicago/Rosemont, IL. Learn from amazing panels to help maintain and improve your business. Meet vendors to find products and services that can save you time and money. Rub elbows with your peers in the community. Along with a great Micrsoft365 Boot camp held by Cyber Matt Lee. Links and notes: Web site - https://techconunplugged.com/  Social - https://www.facebook.com/mspunplugged  Podcast - https://mspunplugged.com    Sponsor Note: Acronis Threats to client data constantly evolve, so your strategies must evolve too. But knowing where to get good guidance isn’t always easy. Well, nowhere will you hear more helpful insights from leading cyber protection experts than at the Acronis #CyberFitSummit. Experts like Dave Sobel, Erick Simpson, Larry Walsh, and Acronis’ Amy Luby will show you how to boost profits, reduce risk, and improve your team’s productivity, as well as the latest cybersecurity strategies, technologies, and processes. In person and online, Learn more about the Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour at https://Acronis.events  :-)

Host Karl Palachuk talks about how he got started in the SMB consulting business, and a few early decisions that made all the difference. Feedback welcome. You can find the 68-point checklist at https://store.smallbizthoughts.com (it's free). :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Ryan Morris from Morris Management Partners and the Secure Connections Podcast by IOTSSA. Ryan is a longtime member of the SMB IT Community and a well-known speaker and trainer in the industry. And, of course, he's one of the hosts of The Killing IT Podcast - https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com.  Ryan is the principal at Morris Management Partners. MMP provides: Go-To-Market Strategy & Planning Sales Training & Channel Management Best Practices Partner Recruiting & Onboarding Strategy Partner Assessment & Profile Development Partner Enablement & Business Skills Training As Ryan describes it, they spend about half their time on the vendor side and about half on the IT Solution Provider side of things. And now . . . Ryan has joined the Secure Connections podcast and provides his genius on their platform as well. That podcast addresses tools and techniques for managing your security offering. Of course, Ryan focuses on the business side of all of this. IOTSSA is the IOT Security Services Association. You can find them at https://www.iotssa.com.  Ryan's contact info is: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmorris303/  Website www.morrismanagementpartners.com   Twitter @ryanmorris303  :-)  

Host James interviews Karl Palachuk from the National Society of IT Service Providers on their new initiatives and what they're up to. What is the National Society of IT Service Providers? A new IT-central professional association dedicated to education, professionalism, and advocacy on behalf of the SMB IT industry. For more information on NSITSP, visit https://www.nsitsp.org   Karl Palachuk is one of the long-term leaders in the SMB IT community worldwide. He is the author of more than twenty books, and the founder of the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. For more information, visit: - https://www.smallbizthoughts.org - https://www.karlpalachuk.com :-)  

Building an “Operating System” for your Business Brett Jaffe is a strategic coach and advisor for IT professionals. Host Karl caught up with him to discuss the topic of creating a business operating system. Over a period of 25 years, Brett has built and sold three companies (including an MSP, cloud reseller, and digital forensics business), led hundreds of soldiers as an officer in the US Army, and built an international channel partner program from inception to over $30M in revenue. Brett is a former EOS® Implementer and certified DISC trainer and currently serves as as a strategic coach and founding partner at ConnectStrat as well as CEO of audIT MSP Sales Automation. Web sites: www.connectstrat.com  www.auditforit.com  Sponsor Memo: Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at https://Acronis.com :-)  

Host Karl interviewed Ali Imran from Boundless Digital. Boundless Digital provides a system for Managing Cisco Meraki Organizations. With the Boundless Digital service, one engineer can do the work of many, including automate the deployment, troubleshooting, and overall administration of Meraki organizations. Imran is a Solutions Consultant working in the pre-sales process, as well as aiding in product development. Boundless Digital is a Cisco ecosystem partner. Then sell to MSPs that cater to the SMB market, as well as to Enterprises that could benefit from network automation. Web site: https://www.boundlessdigital.com/  Boundless Digital also has a social media presence on all major platforms. -- -- -- Vendor Memo: This podcast is sponsored by Linode. Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider as voted by G2 and Trust Radius, has resources specifically for delivering digital experiences in the cloud with better ease and affordability while not being locked into long-term agreements and commitments. Their guide, “The Golden Ratio of Price to Performance in Cloud Computing“ details how alternative cloud providers and open source tools can lower costs and ease moving to multi-cloud environments. This resource and more at http://linode.com/mspradio.  :-)  

Host Karl interviews Frances Moore from Inbay Ltd. Inbay provides more than just a "back office" NOC or SOC: They can provide almost all of your remove support. We discuss everything from hourly support to outsourcing major projects. Frances Moore is Marketing Director of Inbay Ltd, bringing more than 12 years of experience, marketing high-end leading brands, streamlining business processes and implementing core controls to ensure success in both the sales and marketing teams. Over the last 9 years, Frances has worked for three MSP’s in the UK. Her knowledge and expertise from an MSP standpoint are invaluable to the Inbay team. Links https://www.inbay.co.uk  https://www.facebook.com/InbayLtd/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/inbay-ltd/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvI8HvUqvkMU_TR3leLawgg https://twitter.com/inbay  :-)  

Colin Knox, founder of Passportal, has launched a new venture called Gradient MSP. Gradient MSP is launching the first module of their data intelligence platform, focused on data hygiene and cleaning up all the dirty data that has accumulated in MSPs PSA solution. Colin has spent the past 20 years deeply embedded in the technology field. Founding both XCEL Professional Services (MSP) and Passportal, Colin led both organizations as the top executive through several consecutive years of triple-digit growth from $0 to millions in annual recurring revenue until their acquisitions by F12.net and SolarWinds respectively taking both businesses from founding to successful exit in just 10 years. He is now the Founder & CEO of Gradient MSP, focused on giving vision and voice to MSPs both small and large. Colin is a technology innovator, passionate leader, and professional speaker focused on advising entrepreneurs how to grow, expand, and mature their businesses. Links: www.meetgradient.com  @meetgradient @realityknox -- -- -- Vendor Memo: This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org.  Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org.  :-)

Host Karl talks with Alan Rihm from CoreDial - www.coredial.com. CoreDial is a leading provider of high-quality and scalable cloud communications, contact center, and video collaboration to more than 32,000 businesses. The company’s solutions are quickly and easily auto-provisioned through its CoreNexa™ platform, which seamlessly integrates with other essential business applications. For small- to medium-size businesses and larger enterprises, CoreDial offers comprehensive, cost-effective, and future-proof communications solutions customers demand. Backed by an industry-leading 99.999% SLA and supported locally by 850+ trained partners, CoreNexa is uniquely positioned to help businesses unleash the power of the modern workforce. CoreDial's newly-enhanced CoreNexa 7.0 platform lets partners scale their relationships with existing customers and capture new opportunities while providing modern, reliable, and feature-rich unified communications solutions, including the addition of richly-featured video and pervasive chat capabilities. CoreNexa 7.0 is a next-gen voice, video, messaging, and collaboration solution. These fully integrated, all-in-one capabilities are designed to unleash the power of modern and remote workforces and provide CoreDial’s channel partners with a highly competitive, high-value way to satisfy increasing needs for reliable and comprehensive communication and collaboration tools. As opposed to point-solution alternatives that only provide a place to conduct meetings, CoreNexa 7.0 was built as a collaboration-first platform for businesses of all sizes. The solution combines a built-in softphone for making and taking calls, HD video, messaging with chat & SMS, meetings, “always-on” virtual rooms, contacts w/ presence, contacts and calendar integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, Single Sign On and more. CoreNexa 7.0 can satisfy a multitude of remote and hybrid cloud deployments, replacing, supplementing, or enhancing an office environment. Channel partners can now compete more aggressively offering high-quality, reliable, all-in-one cloud communications while protecting their customers from over-the-top video competitors. Alan Rihm is founder and chief executive officer for CoreDial, responsible for the company’s strategic direction regarding sales, marketing, product management, and operational initiatives. He's been instrumental in establishing the company as a leading channel-focused provider of business communications services such as unified communications, contact center, workforce management, SD-WAN, hosted PBX, and SIP trunking. CoreDial offers private-label cloud communications solutions exclusively through more than 850 channel partners. Under Rihm's direction, CoreDial has developed a laser-like focus for enabling channel partners to succeed with cloud communications through a “sell, deliver, manage, and invoice” initiative that results in industry-leading profit margins, plus a private label business model that lets partners build their own brands. Links: - www.coredial.com  - @coredial on Twitter - https://www.linkedin.com/company/coredial-llc/  -- -- -- Vendor Memo: This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org.  Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org.  :-)

Host Karl caught up with Jason Bystrak from D&H Distributing. Jason is D&H's VP of Cloud and Services Cloud and XaaS is positioned to grow as more companies have been compelled to embrace digital transformation throughout the pandemic, moving greater amounts of their infrastructures and services to the cloud. Small to mid-size businesses have shown themselves to be especially agile in light of the shift to remote and hybrid technology solutions, making this sector a notable opportunity for channel partners to profit from cloud services bundled with hardware and services. All-in-all, XaaS is becoming the new standard for technology consumption in the emerging digital economy. The XaaS consumption model employs a combination of solutions including hardware, software, cloud-based solutions, and a roster of technology services. The challenge is to deliver this range of products and services through a streamlined conduit, reducing complexity while still capitalizing on the many benefits of XaaS. MSPs and VARs can more easily monetize per-seat services across multiple customers through use of a consolidated transactional platform, one that provides an array of cloud offerings and ideally allowing the partner to incorporate services of their own. While the XaaS model can support any technology solution – including data center and network infrastructure – they are typically built around end-point devices. Software and SaaS solutions such as productivity, collaboration, unified communication and business applications are added along with infrastructure options such as enhanced security, data protection, remote access and virtual desktop. These are combined with services such as migration, integration, management and support for the term of the agreement. While some XaaS solutions are capitalized in the project-style upfront payment, most are financed in a monthly subscription model, posing additional challenges for the traditional channel model. Jason Bystrak began his tenure at the company in 2019 to oversee what is now the distributor’s Cloud Solutions offering, responsible for lines of business including cloud, XaaS ("Everything as a Service"), services, security, and unified communications. He has more than 25 years of experience in channel and cloud services, and is driving the D&H vision to be the “XaaS Distributor” for VARs and MSPs serving the SMB market, executing programs and leveraging the company’s next generation Cloud Marketplace platform to help channel partners deliver total solutions in a subscription model. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbystrak/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/dandhdistributing/ https://www.facebook.com/DandHDistributing https://twitter.com/dandh   Sponsor Memo: Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, a month’s worth of the Business of Tech, or building an entire lego death star. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit them at https://gozynta.com  :-)  

Host Karl interviewed Tom Watson, Channel Chief Advisor at NinjaRMM. Tom is a former owner of an MSP for 15 years. He's now with Ninja, working to deliver quality information to MSPs to help them grow their businesses and increase profitability. Tom is also the Co-host of NinjaRMM's MSP Live Chats webinar series, host of the MSP Breakthrough podcast series. Links: https://www.ninjarmm.com/msplivechats/  https://www.ninjarmm.com/msp-breakthrough/  :-)

Host Karl caught up with Mario Pirolozzi, VP of Sales at Zomentum, to talk about their Sales Acceleration Platform. Mario is a 10 year industry veteran whose career has been dedicated to assisting thousands of MSPs and IT service providers in their go-to-market plans, sales strategy, and execution. As a former VP of Sales for Datto, and current VP of Sales at Zomentum, Mario is uniquely positioned to help MSPs evaluate their current technology stack and enhance their sales efforts by providing valuable insights and world class solutions. Zomentum is the channel's only end-to-end sales acceleration platform. Their partners are creating documents 70% faster, they are increasing their deal values by 600%, and converting 100% more often while using Zomentum's full suite of tools. Web Sites: https://www.zomentum.com/  :-)

Host Karl caught up with Greg Edwards, founder of CryptoStopper, about the details of how Cryptoware works. He's a great source on this topic since he's built a product to stop ransomware in its tracks. CryptoStopper creates randomly-named files of random sizes to monitor in key locations. Then, they monitor those files as well as other activities on your clients' computers. When CryptoStopper sees ransomware activity, they catch it much earlier than other monitoring services. We dig into some juicy details about how their system works. And, of course, Greg gives us some great details about how the viruses themselves operate. Greg has been a technology entrepreneur since 1998. Before he founded CryptoStopper, he started Axis Backup, a backup and disaster recovery company for the insurance industry. He saw firsthand the rapid increase in the damage cyber criminals were doing with debilitating malware resulting in high financial loss to vulnerable companies. Between 2012 and 2015, one in five of Axis Backup’s clients was hit by cybercrime. Greg realized effective cyber security could save businesses from costly downtime and compromised systems. In 2015, Axis Backup was acquired by J2 Global, freeing Greg to create CryptoStopper and focus exclusively on cybersecurity. Web Site: https://www.getcryptostopper.com/  :-) Sponsor Note: Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at www.Acronis.com.   

Host Karl talks to ASCII CEO Alan Weinberger about his new book - The Doctor’s In: Treating America’s Greatest Cyber Security Threat. Of course, we also talked about the state of the industry and what's ahead for IT consultants. Alan book illuminate for the general public how important a Managed Service Provider is in maintaining the health of our economy and our infrastructure itself, in the new cyber security era. Alan founded The ASCII Group in 1984 in Washington D.C. And, of course, ASCII is one of the premier communities for IT service providers, VARs, MSPs, and technology resellers all over the world. They host a series of virtual and in-person events. You can find out more at www.asciievents.com. Misc. ASCII Links: https://overview.ascii.com/the-doctors-in/ https://www.ascii.com https://twitter.com/asciigroup https://www.facebook.com/TheASCIIGroup https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascii ASCII Events – www.asciievents.com Alan’s Book is available on Amazon: - https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Treating-Americas-Greatest-Security/dp/1636613438/ (This is not an affiliate link.) :-)  

Host James Kernan interviews Dave Scott from Scott Digital Marketing. Dave Scott is the Founder, President and CEO of Scott Growth Strategies. Dave has over 20 years of experience working with MSPs, Tech and IT firms and B2B companies. He pours his wealth of marketing knowledge into clients making sure they’re seen, heard and valued in the current tech climate. In the end, Dave delivers digital marketing leadership, strategies and tools that lead to client success and prosperity. Related links: https://podnutz.com/ppro332/ https://www.sweetteasocialmarketing.com/episode191/ https://www.scottdigitalmarketing.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/scott-marketing-llc https://www.facebook.com/scottdigmarketing/ As always, if you have any questions or comments, post them here. :-)  

More and more every day, you need privacy policies on your web site. These requirements change every day. How can you possibly stay legal and up to date? The quick answer: You pretty much can't. That's where Termageddon comes in. Host Karl interviewed Hans & Donata Skillrud from Termageddon. Termageddon aggregates privacy policies and generates valid privacy policy text based on your business and location. When the law changes, so do the policies, keeping your company protected and allowing you to focus on more important things. Find our more at www.termageddon.com. We dig into the details here. Guest info: Donata and Hans are the cofounders of Termageddon. Donata is a licensed attorney and a certified information privacy professional. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's ePrivacy Committee and has provided insights to governing bodies on how to write privacy laws. Hans is a former small business agency owner, who sold his 12 person company in 2019 to focus all of his attention on Termageddon. Outside of work, you can catch Hans and Donata hiking, gardening, or beekeeping. Termageddon is a generator of policies for websites and applications. Web site: https://termageddon.com -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: MSPs do battle daily against cyber hostilities such as ransomware attacks and data breaches. Fight smarter. Call in the cavalry. Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security is here. Reduce stress and implement proper safeguards — as advised by the FBI, NSA and DHS — with Calyptix’s purpose-built solution for small businesses. Zero Trust access secures RDP and SSH connections with two-factor authentication. There’s no need for open ports to the internet, client installs, or VPN. Plus, you’ll enjoy audit-friendly access across all types of devices. Learn more at https://calyptix.com/gatekeeper.  :-)

Host Karl talked to James Norrie from CyberconIQ. CyberconIQ takes a new approach to educating users about security - based on their demonstrated behavior. As we've all seen, pure education has limited success. This program helps users alter their behavior. Guest Dr. James Norrie is a Professor of Strategy and Cybersecurity and former Dean of the Graham School of Business at York College of Pennsylvania. He is the author of six books, multiple journal articles and is a sought-after expert, frequent media commentator and national newspaper op-ed guest writer. Internationally known, his areas of research interest delve into the intersection of society and technology and the clash this can create, particularly as cybercrime has become a ferocious problem. In addition to his academic role, he is the Founder and CEO of CyberconIQ, a firm committed to changing the global cybersecurity conversation from fear to hope. He conducts, presents and publishes industry-related research and consults globally to prominent companies concerning cybersecurity, information privacy and security, and economic crime detection and prevention methods. He lives in York, PA. cyberconIQ mitigates cyber risk by leveraging CYBERology™ – the intersection of cybersecurity and psychology, which is the foundation of our solutions. Related Links: https://cyberconiq.com/ https://www.facebook.com/cyberconiq https://www.instagram.com/cybercon_iq/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/51683023/admin/ :-)

Host Karl interviewed Rom Hendler, CEO of Trustifi Email Encryption Solutions. We start our discussion discussing what makes Trustifi different from other email security solutions. Trustifi provides email encryption delivered on a software-as-a-service platform. They provide both inbound and outbound email security from a single vendor. Most email security systems address inbound traffic only. But as compliance expands across geographies and industries, we could see some real problems if we don't also manage the outbound traffit. SMB MSPs and solution providers should begin to think of email encryption as a way to deliver control of email data back to the user, as opposed to simply screening threats as they arrive at the network gateway. Trustifi’s one-click solutions leverage a breakthrough email encryption strategy. Rather than have emails pass through the recipient’s gateway and reside on their server, Trustifi’s solution encrypts messages before they go through the recipient’s gateway. Sent mail messages therefore reside on Trustifi’s proprietary web-based cloud storage platform, as opposed to on the recipient’s server. This allows messages to be accessed and recalled or altered as-needed, since they’re still officially housed on the vendor’s platform. Users can swap or remove attachments or reword text even after messages have initially been read. Similarly, this configuration allows the sender to remove or add recipients to emails after-the-fact—without alerting the other recipients. When the sender has a greater ability to manipulate messages they’ve already transmitted, it gives them the opportunity to correct potentially debilitating missteps. Related Links:  https://www.trustifi.com  https://twitter.com/TRUSTIFI  https://www.linkedin.com/company/trustifi-corporation/  https://www.facebook.com/trustifi  -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Still entering data into QuickBooks Online manually? Stop wasting that time on non-revenue-generating activity. Gozynta Mobius is the leading sync tool between ConnectWise Manage and QuickBooks Online. Trusted by over 1,000 MSPs. Not just invoices and payments, our newly revised expense report sync gives you complete traceability of charges to company credit cards, and makes employee reimbursements easy. Visit gozynta.com/mobius for demos and pricing. :-)

Host Karl interviewed Guillaume Boisvert, Director for Product Innovation at Sherweb. The topic of the day is: Take Office Security to the Next Level. Guillaume has been instrumental in commercializing Sherweb’s Infrastructure as a Service solutions for public and private cloud. He has more than 15 years of experience developing and marketing web services for both B2B and B2C platforms. Prior to his current position, Guillaume managed Sherweb’s security and compliance product portfolio. He holds a degree in CIS, and has business training from McGill University. The topic here is Sherweb's new Alliance program. Sherweb's Office Protect has been around for quite a while. It adds a serious layer of security to O365/M365. The default Office configuration is designed for enterprise clients, and their defaults are good for a large slice of users. Office Protect fixes some obvious problems, such as turning on 2FA and logging. Both are off by default. That's great . . . until something goes wrong. Office Protect basically implements a new set of "best practices" defined by you, rather then assuming that Microsoft is taking care of your best interest. So what's new? The Office Protect Alliance offering actually monitors those logs, analyzes alerts, and even fixes problems. As Guillaume notes, they take over the problem-solving and you keep the client relationship (and money). He also gives some great examples and information about how insurance companies and hackers both scan your web presence to see how professional you look on the security front. The insurance company wants to determine whether you're a larger risk; hackers are looking at the same information to determine whether you're a juicy target. Find out more about Sherweb Office Protect Alliance at: https://www.sherweb.com/blog/security/office-protect-alliance/ Sherweb's Partner Blog is here: https://www.sherweb.com/blog/category/partner/ :-)  

Host Karl caught up with Tom Lawrence of Lawrence Technology Services. Tom runs a very successful IT consulting business - and uses YouTube as his primary marketing tool. That's a very rare thing, but Tom's been making videos since 2014. His channel has really taken off in the last few years. The "Lawrence Systems" channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHkYOD-3fZbuGhwsADBd9ZQ - and has more than 185,000 subscribers. But lots of people don't subscribe, so he has about 1.8 million unique viewers in the last ninety days. Most of them joined in the last two years! Tom's philosophy for YouTube is very straight forward: He creates videos to talk about whatever is on his mind. Sometimes that's technology; Sometimes it's business. But he always puts in a plug at the end. "If you have a project we can help with, drop us a line." This is a great example of the philosophy that you should create content that you would like to consume. That will attract an audience that will find that content appealing. Here's the bottom line on the effectiveness of this strategy: 349 businesses hired Lawrence Technology Services as a result of his YouTube channel!!! Tom's approach is also a great example of the philosophy of, "Just do what you do." He doesn't worry about guru advice about length or format. Lots of great advice and information here. Catch Tom's channel here: - "Lawrence Systems" channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHkYOD-3fZbuGhwsADBd9ZQ - Content Creation Ethics and Guidelines - https://www.lawrencesystems.com/content-ethics/   :-)

Host Karl sat down with Kevin Coppins, President and CEO of Spirion. Kevin wakes up every day on a mission to protect what he knows matters most—your sensitive personal data. With a team of passionate data privacy professionals at his back, Kevin is working to re-envision the culture of entire industries, putting privacy at the forefront where it belongs. One of the biggest problems today is that people "just do their jobs" everyday, and unwittingly expose sensitive data to the Internet. Sensitive data is being replicated thousands of times across databases, shared folders, and cloud servers around the globe—and all a bad actor needs to cause chaos is one opening. Spirion is attempting to change the paradigm of data security; not by building higher walls, but by radically shrinking the target. The COVID Data Explosion - As we work together to flatten the curve, organizations around the world are scrambling to adapt. IT departments have been so focused on making the shift to working from home, that they’ve left the door open for a new threat. We also discuss the Growing Compliance Problem, Solved - GDPR. CCPA. FERPA. HIPAA. More privacy regulations have been passed in the last two years than the previous hundred. This has led companies around the world to spend billions trying—and often failing—to stay in compliance with a rapidly shifting regulatory landscape. Finally, we address: Why Kevin Doesn’t Want Happy Customers! Links: https://www.spirion.com/ https://twitter.com/ktcoppins :-)  

Host Karl interviews Eric Anthony, the founder of the hot All Things MSP Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/allthingsmsp). Eric also manages a YouTube Channel focused on his photography/videography hobby. Eric has been helping people with technology since high school. He has owned his own break/fix and managed services companies, spent time in internal IT and for the last 7 years has been working for vendors in the channel. He also runs the All Things MSP Facebook group and YouTube channel. On the professional side, Eric is the Director, MSP Director of Community and Partner Enablement at Egnyte. He is based in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area. He started as an MSP in 1992 and has worked for a variety of vendors. Links: Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/allthingsmsp YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EricAnthonyMSP LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esanthony/ Egnyte: https://www.egnyte.com/ More info coming soon on Egnyte's MSP Summit May 11th. :-)  

Host Karl interviewed Ryan Denehy, Founder and CEO of Electric (www.electric.ai). Electric manages pretty much any cloud-based services for end users. Interestingly, they provide support via Slack, Teams, and Email - not through a client-facing ticketing system. Ryan explains that they primarily focus on SaaS management, device management, and network management. In growing their MSP business, Ryan challenged the assumption that you have to be local and small in order to thrive in the SMB IT market. In particular, they challenged the belief that you have to look people in the eye and ask for their business. About Ryan: Ryan Denehy is a 3x entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Electric. Having experienced the pain and frustrations that many business owners encounter in managing their IT infrastructure and support needs, Ryan's light bulb idea to create a cloud-based, real-time, 24-7 IT Support ecosystem laid the foundation for Electric's vision to redefine IT Support for a new generation. Throughout the pandemic, Electric sought out to be the antithesis of all things “Silicon Valley bro culture”. The company has seen demand skyrocket during the pandemic and actually reopened its Series B round in March and April for added funds from Dick Costolo and Adam Bain at 01 Ventures. Links: https://www.electric.ai/ https://twitter.com/DenehyXXL https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandenehy Sponsor Note: Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security Introducing Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security: zero trust access securing RDP and SSH connections with two factor authentication without open ports to the internet, client installs or VPN. Two years of partner driven development brings audit friendly access across all types of devices. Reduce stress and implement proper safeguards as advised by the FBI, NSA and DHS, all in a purpose-built solution for small businesses. Interested? Learn even more by visiting calyptix.com/gatekeeper, and when you do, tell them Karl sent you. :-)  

Host Karl caught up with John Hammond, the Senior Cybersecurity Researcher at Huntress. Right at the start is Karl's favorite new term: Ransomware canaries. Here we discuss the Huntress "Hack_it 2021" event, March 22-24 online. In addition to an all-day "Hacking Windows" pre-day, the event features a variety of great hands-on training. You can see the full agenda at https://www.huntress.com/hack_it_2021. John is a primary presenter of the event. One of the cool sessions is Making the Malware: A Choose-Your-Own Adventure Exercise. This is a true hands-on opportunity to see how hackers actually plan, design, and execute attacks. Check out all the details and register now. Huntress is totally focused on cybersecurity detection and prevention. You can sign up for a free demo and kick the tires at https://www.huntress.com. About John Hammond Hammond is a cybersecurity instructor, content creator, red teamer, and Capture the Flag enthusiast. As a previous Department of Defense Cyber Training Academy curriculum developer and teacher for the Cyber Threat Emulation course, he educated both civilian and military members on offensive Python, PowerShell, and other scripting languages as well as the adversarial mindset. Hammond personally developed training material and infosec challenges for events such as PicoCTF, the "Capture the Packet" competition at DEFCON US, and the HacktivityCon CTF with HackerOne. He speaks at security conferences such as BsideDC, to students at colleges such as Clemson University and the US Coast Guard Academy, and other events like the SANS Holiday Hack Challenge/KringleCon. He is an online YouTube personality showcasing programming tutorials, cyber security guides, and CTF video walkthroughs. John currently holds the following certifications: Security+, eJPT, eCPPT, CEH, PCAP, OSWP, OSCP, OSCE, and OSWE. Sponsor Memo: Ready to Take Your Cybersecurity Skills to the Next Level? Save Your Spot for Hack_it 2021 on March 22–24, 2021! Join Huntress for their 2nd annual cybersecurity training event, hack_it 2021! Sharpen your tradecraft, network with security professionals and get hands-on training you can actually use in your business. Three days, including a Hacking Windows pre-day and two full days of cybersecurity education. Want to sign up? https://www.huntress.com/hack_it_2021 :-)

Host James Kernan interviews writer Kate Frank about the strategic use to writing as a marketing tool. Kate is a professional writer with decades of marketing expertise. She has a unique ability to tap into the genius of others and get their message on the page of a book or other media. Most people struggle with identifying their unique proposition for their customers and clients. For Kate, it is an instinct. Kate is the Editor of Tech UP or Lose OUT, an author in 6 collaborative books, and a ghostwriter in many others. Web Sites and Links: http://authorityredefined.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghostwritingkate/ :-)

Host Karl sat down with Pete Matheson for the second time in two months. Here we get an update on Pete's YouTube channel traffic and the lessons he's learned. Check out Pete's last appearance here: https://www.smbcommunitypodcast.com/2021/01/pete-matheson-using-video-to-grow-your-it-business/ Basically, Pete saw great opportunities with YouTube, so he jumped in and gave it a lot of his attention. In this podcast, he gives us the update on how he is growing revenue with his channel. He also gives us lots of great tips and tricks on building an audience AND providing business-related content. Lesson number one: Start a channel! Lesson two: Just start posting videos. Don't wait until they're great (or perfect). Just do it. Lesson three: Get comfortable and let people see your personality. After all, that's what people buy. Pete gives some great examples of the videos he produced as an IT consultant. These are client-facing. From there, he moved to helping IT pros figure out videos for their business. Sites: https://petematheson.co.uk https://youtube.com/petematheson https://www.linkedin.com/in/petematheson/ https://twitter.com/petematheson :-)

Karl and Mike get together for an update on security. As you know, 2020 was quite a year. There was new legislation at the state and local levels, primarily in response to an explosion of sophisticated attacks of ransomware. We went into a good deal of detail on new NIST and CMMC recommendations, as well as a major update on HIPAA. Mike Semel is a noted thought leader, speaker, blogger, and best-selling author. He is the President of Semel Consulting, focused on compliance regulations; cyber security; and Business Continuity planning. Mike has also developed Semel Systems, a series of cybersecurity and compliance training and go-to-market systems for MSPs. Link: www.mikesemel.com :-)  

Karl caught up with a fellow CompTIA Executive Committee member, Pete Busam from Equilibrium Consulting. Pete and Karl sit on the Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity E.C. Pete Busam is the founder and owner of Equilibrium Consulting, LLC, a management consulting and outsourced marketing firm specializing in assisting channel and technology services organizations with establishing partner relationships, and directing IT channel strategy, design and execution. He has more than 35 years of experience in the channel, where he began as a technician. Since then, he has operated several successful technology services providers and continues to be recognized by clients, partners and channel publications for his outstanding performance, commitment and contributions to the industry. His thought-provoking insights on the channel have been published by numerous industry-leading trade publications, including CRN, ChannelPro, Channel Futures and Channel Insider. An industry thought leader, he has given presentations and participated in panel discussions at numerous channel events over the years. He has also provided commentary on the industry for The Philadelphia Business Journal, Entrepreneur and the Wall Street Journal. Fully committed to the communities he immerses himself in, Pete is an active member with CompTIA, The Sales Association Sales Leader Council, Forbes Coaches Council and the American Legion. He is a United States Navy veteran. Websites equilibriumconsult.com connectmyPSA.com LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/equilibrium-consulting-llc/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EquilibriumConsulting :-)

Host Karl interviews Paul Katzoff from White Canyon Software. White Canyon provides software to really, truly, honestly remove all the data on hard drives so it cannot be recovered. As Paul points out, we could download free tools from the internet, but "they don't get certified for a reason - they don't work." Wipe Drive can erase one drive at a time, a dozen at a time, or even build a Pixi network. In addition to securing old hard drives, Wipe Drive makes it easy to recycle systems to keep them out of the land fill and help not-for-profit associations with donated hardware. The program also gives you great reports that can be shared as proof that hard drives have been wiped clean. For almost a decade, Paul has worked with technology companies seeking manageable growth and brand loyalty/expansion. His career has ranged from being an integral part of a new business start-up team, to becoming a key driver in the business enabling it to become both sustainable and profitable. Currently, Paul serves as the CEO of White Canyon Software -- a data security company used by 44 of the fortune 100 companies. Web Site - https://www.whitecanyon.com/ :-)  

James Kernan interviews Hartland Ross from eBridge Marketing Solutions. Hartland has been working in the sales and marketing of IT services and SaaS firms since 1999. He is well recognized and regarded in the IT services industry and to date has worked with hundreds of firms providing opportunities for business growth through M&A, marketing strategy and by providing industry advice, recommendations and introductions. With over 20 years of business development experience and having worked with technology firms since 2001, Hartland is a sought after conference speaker and authority who is often interviewed and quoted in industry related case studies and articles. eBridge Marketing Solutions focuses on working with B2B IT service firms looking for alternative growth strategies to complement existing efforts. We focus on both organic (digital marketing) as well as M&A options for those in the following industries: Web hosting, SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, MSPs, Data Centers and IT Security companies. Links: http://www.thehostbroker.com/ https://www.ebridgemarketingsolutions.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/hartlandross/ ----- Sponsor Note: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at Acronis.com. :-)  

Karl interviews Janet Schijns from the JS Group. Janet is the CEO and Digital Ninja of JS Group, a leading go-to-market consultancy in the technology industry. She's a former executive at Motorola, Verizon and Office Depot. Plus, Janet is the founder of Tech Worlds Half, a not-for-profit dedicated to keeping women in the technology industry. Her recent awards include: Channel Influencer of the Year Top 10 Women in Technology Top 50 Influencer in Technology ... and her newest accolade: Analytics Insight "10 Most Impactful Women in Technology 2020" Plus she's a Star Wars raving fan! Janet has a super focus on channel marketing. The mission statement of the JS Group is: "Save the Channel." What a great mission. Here Janet makes the argument that the "digital transformation" has already happened. We are now in the digital normal. If you missed it, that's on you: you need to catch up. Sites/Links: https://www.jsgnow.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetschijns/ https://twitter.com/channelsmart :-)  

Host Karl interviews Daniel Welling from Marlow, UK. Here we look at "organic growth" vs. buying companies as a growth strategy. Which is best for you? Daniel started his career in IT in 1995, following a sales track, working for a number of VARs and quickly developing a consultative approach to new business and account management, leading to Sales Management within a few years. The urge to do more resulted in forming an IT support business (what today we call an MSP!) in 2002 which developed over the following 12-years with the obligatory highs, lows and lessons learned. In 2014 the opportunity arose to exit the business in a trade sale, allowing Daniel to pursue his non-IT interests, which have included further highs, lows and lessons in the fields of motorsport and soft drinks, while remaining involved with the MSP market through being an active member of MSP communities, taking a part time role with the acquirer of his business and growing a base of other MSPs with whom he has worked in the blended-capacity of mentor, consultant, NED and devils advocate. Note: Daniel is a late-comer to the community of IT pros who meet all over the world. He discovered this great community after he sold his business. Site: https://www.wellingmsp.com :-)  

Host Karl sat down with Pete to talk about promoting IT businesses. Pete started his own MSP in 2011. For the next near decade that business grew, hit and exceeded the magic £1m turnover mark (one million pounds revenue), grew to 16-staff, strong and the business brand itself became well known locally as something for other MSPs to aspire to. In early 2020 Pete exited the business to pursue other interests, including Video, and helping other MSP Owners! In this conversation, we start with a discussion of mergers and acquisitions and that flows into a general discussion of business success. One big question: What's your number? Pete completed the sale of his business as the pandemic shutdown was taking place. So that's a great story. Before selling the business, Pete invested in video (YouTube) production. His big challenge was: How do you use YouTube videos to promote your IT business? Pete kept the YouTube channel - and you can find it at youtube.com/petematheson. Pete gives some great examples of the videos he produced as an IT consultant. These are client-facing. From there, he moved to helping IT pros figure out videos for their business. Sites: petematheson.co.uk  youtube.com/petematheson https://www.linkedin.com/in/petematheson/ https://twitter.com/petematheson :-)  

with Dylan Dahlquist dylanquestdigital ( at ) gmail.com Google's Advertising platform is versatile, far-reaching, and pretty confusing. Sometimes getting a clear return on ad spend can feel closer to wizardry than science, but that's why Dylan has spent years figuring out methods for businesses and organizations to grow with Google Ads. He has success managing Ad Accounts for a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations. Dylan is also a Digital artist as well as a published Scientist. Wow! "I just searched my business and I saw...." This is the statement many digital marketers/advertises hear from clients moments before disaster strikes. Google-ing your name/business is an outdated way of measuring your online presence, and a great way to distract yourself from actually helpful tools that could grow your business/brand online. Interested in Google ads? Email DylanQuestDigital ( at ) gmail.com :-)  

I caught up with Richard Tubb near the end of November. In addition to a general catch-up, we recorded a podcast on Marketing Tips! We did this after an experience we shared that resulted in extra bonus marketing for Richard - because he was prepared. It got me thinking about how being ready to take advantage of opportunities goes a long ways. In this conversation, Richard shares some great ideas for IT professionals who want to krank up continuous marketing - which is a great idea! Note: One tool Richard mentioned in the interview is Text Expander: https://textexpander.com/.   I mention a blog post I did on Richard recently. You can find that here: https://blog.smallbizthoughts.com/2020/10/meet-richard-tubb-true-community.html The easiest way to connect with Richard is via his primary web site: Resources for MSPs - https://www.tubblog.co.uk/resources/ I particularly encourage you to sign up for his weekly newsletter - MSP Insights - https://www.tubblog.co.uk/nl You can check out his blog over on my blog roll, or go direct to https://www.tubblog.co.uk Richard also has a fun podcast for IT Consultants called TubbTalk - http://tubb.co/TubbTalk . . . and a YouTube (TubbTube) channel at http://tubb.co/TubbTube And last, but not least, Richard has written several books, which you can explore at https://www.tubblog.co.uk/books/ :-) Sponsor Note: Gozynta Mobius Gozynta Mobius – the easiest way for ConnectWise Manage and QuickBooks Online to connect. Keep invoices, expenses, and inventory automatically updated right from Manage to QuickBooks Online, and payments right back into Manage. With simple pricing, set it and forget it auto sync, Gozynta Mobius delivers with no restrictions on the number of invoices, expenses and payments, and plays well with others like ConnectBooster. Trusted by over a thousand MSPs. Now introducing a free plan, Go to gozynta.com/mobius, and tell them Karl sent you.  

Karl interviews co-host James Kernan on his new book, Tech Up or Lose Out. James is the editor and publisher of the book. And, of course, he wrote a good deal of it. James calls this book the Entrepreneurs Guide to IT. The target audience is small business - not just IT businesses. You might, for example, give this book to clients to educate them on why they need tech support. The basic goal is to show business owners how they can leverage technology as a competitive advantage in your business. James Kernan is the CEO of Kernan Consulting, Inc. an international award winning management consulting company. They have become one of the most successful consulting firms in the country, primarily serving Information Technology Value-Added-Resellers or MSP’s. Its core competencies include Coaching, Advising and Mentoring programs like the Mastermind CEO Peer Groups, Leadership, Sales Training and its One-on-One Consulting Programs. Since 2006, over 500 businesses in six different countries have successfully been coached through their programs. The book is a collaborative effort with 11 of the brightest tech experts in North America. This team has come together to provide entrepreneurs an outline of how they can leverage technology as a competitive advantage in their business. From Cloud to Business Intelligence, this book has the tech basics you need to succeed. Related Web Sites, etc.: - www.KernanConsulting.com - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ - https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan :-) Sponsor Note: Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security Introducing Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security: zero trust access securing RDP and SSH connections with two factor authentication without open ports to the internet, client installs or VPN. Two years of partner driven development brings audit friendly access across all types of devices. Reduce stress and implement proper safeguards as advised by the FBI, NSA and DHS, all in a purpose-built solution for small businesses. Interested? Learn even more by visiting calyptix.com/gatekeeper, and when you do, tell them Karl sent you.    

Host James Kernan interviews Sarah Hansen on Social Media Marketing. Sarah runs Hansen Collective, a firm that uses online marketing expertise to help both international and domestic clients, while also fostering a community and educating her audience on creating effective social media strategies for personal brands and businesses alike. Hansen Collective combines modern social media marketing strategies with custom content to boost your business’s online presence. Our mission is to help your brand better communicate with your audience, and in doing so, create profitable social platforms. The greatest weakness Sarah find with social media strategies is that many companies use a cookie-cutter approach that doesn't feel natural online. She prefers a more natural, organic, and therefore successful approach. Web Sites, etc.: - www.hansencollective.com - www.instagram.com/hansencollective - www.linkedin.com/hansensarah21 - www.facebook.com/hansencollective :-)  

Karl interviews Manuel Palachuk, author and coach. Manuel is introducing a new kind of interactive event call The IT Confidential. See https://theitconfidential.com. The new venture is a bit like a webinar/podcast with a major twist: A live audience. The goal is to take a hard look at some issues that others are not talking about in the channel. Plus, he got a cool look and feel for the web site. One other fronts: We start by checking in on how things are going during the pandemic. So far, our industry seems to be doing pretty well. There are exceptions, of course, but the overall picture is pretty positive. We also look at the bigger picture and what the "next normal" will look like when the pandemic is over. Next year might be a lot like this year. But Manuel suspect 2022 should be much closer to the old normal. AND Manuel is announcing a new training series call Agile IT Service Delivery. Like "agile" in software development, Agile Service Delivery is a self-improving service delivery process based on continuous incremental improvement. You can find out more about that at https://agileservicedelivery.com/. In general, you can learn more about Manuel at ManuelPalachuk.com, and you can contact him at "manuelpalachuk" on all the social media. :-)

Karl caught up with Chris Timm from Sondela Consulting. Chris has a long history in the SMB IT community. He is a former MSP owner and spent a few years at Autotask. Today Chris is a coach and thought leader around making the most of your PSA. He runs a podcast with Rayanne Buchianico at http://psaimpact.net/. Check it out! But our focus here is Chris's new book! PSA Profitability is available on Amazon and Kindle. The Amazon.com link is https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1838111301/. Here Tim gives us some great advice about picking the right PSA for your business. Like many software packages, the right tool for one company is not the right tool for all companies. A good PSA with be customizable for your procedures and processes. Chris is a huge advocate of tracking all time in the PSA. But, at the same time, he says that you shouldn't buy a PSA if all you need is a ticketing system. If you need a ticketing system, go buy one. A PSA is a much bigger-picture tool. Yes, it includes a ticketing module. But it's a lot more than that. Overall, a great conversation. Related Links: - Web: www.sondelaconsulting.com - Podcast: psaimpact.net - Book: www.psaprofitability.com :-)  

Using LinkedIn to Generate Leads for MSPs with Nathaniel Freedman, Tech Pro Marketing Karl interviews Nathaniel Freedman, CEO of Tech Pro Marketing. As Nate says: You don't want marketing help from just anyone — you want it from someone who is focused exclusively on using MSP Marketing to help MSPs generate leads. Tech Pro Marketing is dedicated to delivering predictable, quality leads to Managed Service Providers and help fill their sales pipelne. Karl and Nate explore ways you can do better with your lead generation, specifically with LinkedIn. Related Resources: https://www.techpromarketing.com https://smartermsp.com/author/nate-freedman/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/natefreedman/ :-)  

Karl caught up with coach Erick Simpson (www.ericksimpson.com). He works with a lot of partners, and we talk about what partners are experiencing as the extended "work from home" world evolves. Luckily, many IT service providers are thriving and doing well helping their clients to be successful. That is a great example of technology that used to be "nice" and is no critical. So that has turned into an unexpected opportunity. But we are also faced with an unexpected challenge: Selling remotely. Erick talks about how we can use the extended functions of Zoom (or Teams or whatever) to help you deliver a killer sales presentation. From there, we dive into some specifics. How do you do qualifications and meeting setups remotely? Be prepared. Make the technology invisible. Plus lots of other great tips and information! Web site: www.ericksimpson.com :-)   Sponsor Note: Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security Introducing Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security: zero trust access securing RDP and SSH connections with two factor authentication without open ports to the internet, client installs or VPN. Two years of partner driven development brings audit friendly access across all types of devices. Reduce stress and implement proper safeguards as advised by the FBI, NSA and DHS, all in a purpose-built solution for small businesses. Interested? Learn even more by visiting calyptix.com/gatekeeper, and when you do, tell them Karl sent you.    

Karl interviews Ben Niernberg from MNJ Technologies. MNJ is an MSP that also helps other MSPs resell phone services and Internet connectivity. Ben currently oversees all sales, marketing, services and vendor management relations for MNJ Technologies. Before joining MNJ, he spent a decade at Canon Solutions America, a subsidiary of Canon USA Company, where he was in a variety of management and executive roles. At MNJ, Ben remains focused on working with new and existing customers to solve their technology and services business issues that they deal with every day. Ben is thrilled about the future of MNJ Technologies and the exciting growth that has already been realized. For many organizations, connectivity is a key financial, administrative and usability pain point. Legacy solutions like MPLS may be adding unnecessary expense. Traditional circuit/bandwidth services and newer SD-WAN offerings are typically sourced from different providers, making it difficult to optimize spend as well as forcing IT teams to manage multiple bills and complicating troubleshooting. Slow connections frustrate employees (especially those now working from home) while also hampering productivity. Managed services provider MNJ Technologies is solving those problems for mid-market customers by consolidating all telecom services under one roof through its role as both a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) and SD-WAN provider. Web Sites: https://www.mnjtech.com/ :-)  

Host Amy Babinchak interviews Josh Barker from TechRug (the Technology Risk Underwriting Group). Their topic is: The Insurance Landscape for MSP's. Amy starts out with the big question: What's up with the big price increases? Is it all ransomware? And just so we don't put all the blame on the "bad guys," Amy and Josh also discuss the promises made by MSPs that get them into trouble. If your web site embellishes your promises, you are setting expectations that could cause problems - for you! Josh Barker is the Senior Account Executive and Advisor at techrug (The Technology Risk Underwriting Group). Prior to joining techrug in 2014, Josh owned a consulting firm providing loss assessment and adjustment services to numerous national and international insurance carriers. Josh has 15 years of experience in the insurance industry and is currently in the process of securing his designation as a Certified Risk Manager (CRM). The insurance market for MSP's is changing rapidly. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-barker-7a852832 https://techrug.com/ :-)  

I caught up with Paul Green again, from Paul Green's MSP Marketing. One of the first things Pauls says is that you can't really speed up sales most of the time because you don't have the power place your prospects in a position of "needing" your services. Your goal is to be there when they realize they have a need. But you can't create the need. In this interview, Paul talks about the power of physical marketing (e.g., postal mailings). Unlike twenty years ago, printed material demands attention today. Paul gives some great tips on using postal mailings to remain top-of-mind when clients realize they need help. Another technique he digs into is to create reactive web sites. In this context, that means to send information to people who visit your web site. This requires some setup since you have to have a way to track visitors at a serious level. This is way beyond popups. Pauls covers lots of other great tips for MSPs who are looking for new clients. He even talks about how to get non-salespeople to help build relationships with clients on your behalf. As always, a great interview. Check it out. Related sites: https://www.paulgreensmspmarketing.com/ https://www.paulgreensmspmarketing.com/resources/#webinar -- -- -- Sponsor note: Gozynta Mobius – the easiest way for ConnectWise Manage and QuickBooks Online to connect. Keep invoices, expenses, and inventory automatically updated right from Manage to QuickBooks Online, and payments right back into Manage. With simple pricing, set it and forget it auto sync, Gozynta Mobius delivers with no restrictions on the number of invoices, expenses and payments, and plays well with others like ConnectBooster. Trusted by over a thousand MSPs. Now introducing a free plan, Go to gozynta.com/mobius, and tell them Karl sent you. :-)  

I caught up with Amy as she's running around (virtually) getting ready for the big Acronis Summit 2020. More information at https://summit.acronis.events. The Acronis Summit is . . . October 19-20-21 Registration is free at https://summit.acronis.events Amy is a long-time friend of the Channel and is now the Channel Chief Evangelist at Acronis. She is organizing a number of the sessions for the Summit, including all of the workshops. I'm doing a workshop on selling security (Stop Selling New Stuff the Old Way). Other workshops will be delivered by Amy Babinchak, Erick Simpson, and Rayanne Buchianico. Another great session will be delivered by Larry Walsh on how to attract the right clients. As you can tell, this conference is not focused on "how to use Acronis Cyber Protect." Day One (October 19th) is jam-packed with that training. The next two days are all about the business side of you business. Check out the agenda at https://summit.acronis.events - I think you'll be impressed at the variety of business, marketing, and sales topics designed to help you be more successful. I printed it out and found myself highlighting pretty much every session. Amy gives us lots of good information here on the keynotes and other highlights of the conference. One of those highlights for me will be Dave Sobel's commentaries. And, running throughout, Acronis will have a news coverage channel going on for viewers, with cameo appearances by various speakers and presenters (myself included). This will be a great event - even thought it's free! Check it out and sign up today! Registration is free at https://summit.acronis.events :-)

I caught up with Michael Slater, Director of Corporate Sales at Sherweb. Sherweb has promised that the 2020 Accelerate conference will be focused on MBA for MSPs. Accelerate is always focused on education, and 2020 will continue that approach. Historically, Accelerate has been held in Montreal. So, they decided to move to Florida this year. Well . . . then 2020 happened. Now, the conference is 100% virtual, but still packed with lots of information across two days. More information at: Sherweb Accelerate accelerate.sherweb.com October 21-22, 2020 Register Free! In this interview, Michael walks us through some of the conference highlights. And after the conference is over, "Stage Two" and "Stage Three" will continue engaging partners for the rest of this year and into 2021. Michael makes a point of focusing on Sherweb's commitment to a long-term partner relationship. We discuss a few examples of how Sherweb has lived that commitment in 2020. Lots of great details here. Listen now - and register for the conference! -- -- -- Sponsor note: The MSP event of the year is back. This time, it’s virtual and free to attend! Sherweb's Accelerate 2020 offers a comprehensive online program to help you gear up for the future of managed services. Industry experts will deliver thought leadership sessions and hands-on workshops on sales, marketing, financials, strategic business planning and customer engagement. Also available will be 1:1 meetings and fun virtual networking. Want to stay relevant in a disrupted world? Join us from anywhere on October 21st and 22nd. Registration is open at accelerate.sherweb.com. :-)  

Today's guest is Todd Snapp from Stridepoint, the developer of Relay Managed Security Awareness. We do a deep dive into "Security Awareness" services. And, of course, my big question was about the managed piece of this. Several companies will now send out test phishing email to catch client users opening things they shouldn't. Relay Managed Security Awareness goes way beyond this, including preventive micro education. We also answer the question, "What is security micro education?" Official bio: Todd is the President of Stridepoint LLC. Todd and his team have led the charge against Social Engineering and developed key programs and systems to help organizations defend themselves. Todd was instrumental in performing ethical social engineering attacks on some of the largest companies in the US, including government and Fortune 500 organizations. The attacks yielded unprecedented access to the organizations’ sensitive and highly secured data using only the telephone, email, and facility visits. With over 20 years of experience educating contact centers and managing large global networks, he has insight into the marriage between technical and non-technical security. A self-proclaimed “ethical con man,” Todd has made it his career goal to enlighten the corporate and government worlds to the serious threat posed by low-tech hackers. Related Blog: https://stridepoint.com/blogs/ Web sites: https://stridepoint.com/security-awareness/resources/ www.relayaware.com ----- Today's sponsor is Sherweb: The MSP event of the year is back. This time, it’s virtual and free to attend! Sherweb's Accelerate 2020 offers a comprehensive online program to help you gear up for the future of managed services. Industry experts will deliver thought leadership sessions and hands-on workshops on sales, marketing, financials, strategic business planning and customer engagement. Also available will be 1:1 meetings and fun virtual networking. Want to stay relevant in a disrupted world? Join us from anywhere on October 21st and 22nd. Registration is open at http://accelerate.sherweb.com. :-)  

Today's guest is Victor Raessen, founder of MSP Navigator. What are the first three questions every new MSP asks? 1) How do I get clients? 2) What are you using for RMM? 3) What are you using for PSA? Victor won't help you for #1, but MSP Navigator is designed to help you with #2, #3, and all the other "What are you using for" questions. Victor has worked in the IT Managed Services space for more than 20 years and has experience from both the MSP and the vendor side of the business. Victor is the founder of MSP Navigator, an online platform that helps IT managed service providers keep track of their technology stack and discover new services. MSP Navigator was founded in 2019 to provide the most comprehensive and curated overview of available technology solutions in order to help organisations in their digital transformation journey. Built for MSP looking to manage and optimize their Technology Stack, It offers a free and curated overview of almost 900 products from 450 vendors in 77 different categories. Both MSPs and vendors can self onboard and self manage their profiles. MSP Navigator has had attention from IT Channel Pro, TechTarget and ChannelE2E. The platform allows you to perform an audit on your current tech landscape by telling the platform about the products you are using today. It presents you with an overview of the products and services in your tech landscape, visualized with smart product cards across different categories. The product cards contain links to the vendors web pages, support and social networks. Product cards can be used to keep track of information such as notes, the internal product champion, product status. You can indicate your relationship with the product (reseller, integrator, developer) so other users can contact you through your public profile if they need help. The platform can suggest products and services in underrepresented categories, for example based on the NIST cybersecurity framework. Soon, the platform will let you keep track of your product spend, get notifications on upcoming renewal dates and view feedback from peers that have been using products you’re interested in. Link: https://msp-navigator.com/msp :-)  

Our guest this week is JB Fowler, CPO of Domotz. Domotz is a fast growing provider of a remote network monitoring and management system for all connected devices and IoT systems. The system is super affordable and enables MSPs to offer new IoT and security services for all connected devices - from cameras to VoIP systems. JB has spent over 20 years in the networking industry where he has led product strategy for a number of players in the commercial integration, residential integration and MSP sectors. As CPO at Domotz, JB is focused on understanding the pain points MSPs face with managing and securing IoT devices so Domotz can continue improving it\'s software for managed services. Additional Relevant Information Today’s business networks have a lot more on them than just computers and routers. There are all kinds of connected things on a network: Commercial Appliances, routers, firewalls, switches, VoIP phones, Point of Sale systems, Digital Signage, AV Equipment and Security Cameras. Who should be managing all this new technology? MSPs of course. Web site: https://www.domotz.com Follow this link for a 21 day free trial. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/domotz Twitter: https://twitter.com/domotz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/domotz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domotz/ :-)  

I sat down (virtually) with Harry Brelsford, the true found of the SMB IT consulting community worldwide. For more than twenty years, Harry has been the prime mover and shaker at SMB Nation, and is the author of more than twenty books, primarily focused on technology and consulting in the SMB space. Many years ago, Harry wrote one of my favorite books on how to be a technology consultant - SMB Consulting Best Practices. For years I had hoped that Harry would update that book for the twenty-first century. Now he has! Today Harry is releasing The Pocket MBA - Instant Entrepreneur. This is a great new book. It is good for any audience - IT or not -  and is a great resource for anyone who is looking to start their own consulting business, for any industry. In this interview, Harry explains the "Finder Minder Grinder" model he uses to organize the book. You can check it own now at www.pocket.mba/ (check out that URL). Chapters include: So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?!?!? Entrepreneur Business Plan Foundation for Entrepreneurial Success Discovering Opportunity Planting Seeds and Growing an Entrepreneur Practice Entrepreneur Marketing PIVOT Marketing and Analytics System Entrepreneurial Sales Be the Rainmaker Client Relationship Management Business Management Financial Management Use Case: Consulting Methodologies New Ideas! This interview has some very interesting observations about entrepreneurs, starting a business, and consulting in general. Check it out. :-)  

Brian Doyle meets up with host James Kernan to discuss customer engagement. Most MSPs have rock-solid service delivery process. But - the simple things, like checking in outside of assisting customers when not in duress, get lost. Listen in for some tips on improving your connections and how it can improve your business. Brian spent nearly 20 years in the MSP industry owning his own shop, as a partner in a Regional Managed Data Center, and as a hired gun for a Mid-Market MSP. Today Brian runs vCIOToolbox, a Strategic Client Management Platform that helps MSP's with client retention, technical alignment, and budgeting through better business reviews. -- Links: vCIOToolbox.com (SaaS) MSPBusinessSchool.com (podcast)

Karl Palachuck connects with Dortha Hise to talk about virtual assistants and what they can do for you . . . even if you're a "Type-A" business owner. Check out a few resources from Dortha to get started: VA Prep Checklist & Worksheets - if you're ready to hire a VA, this checklist and worksheets will provide you with questions to ask, a place to track your logins, make notes for budget, must-haves, etc. - https://prettysmartva.lpages.co/va-prep/ Make Delegation a Habit - a 10-day challenge designed to support you in identifying what to delegate and how to work with a team; includes downloadable worksheets with actionable guidance to implement faster - https://prettysmartva.lpages.co/delegation-challenge/ Website: http://prettysmartvaservices.com/ -- Dortha Hise is the Chief Overwhelm Eliminator at Pretty Smart Virtual Services. She and her team of amazing virtual assistants specialize in untangling tech for their overwhelmed clients. Clients from wide-sweeping industries rave about Dortha Hise, Chief Overwhelm Eliminator. They are freed up to do the things they love in their business, have reconnected with their joy, and are living a life free of overwhelm. Dortha is passionate about helping entrepreneurs identify the tasks that cause them overwhelm and limit their profits, shows them how to delegate those tasks, and thus frees up their time. Dortha is compassionate, positive, dependable, and trustworthy. She knows a lot about overwhelm, having been a litigation paralegal for ten years prior to starting her own business in 2004. Dortha has learned she has a gift for supporting others who want to proactively use nature to heal. Dortha currently lives with her husband Jason, in Folsom, California. They are avid backpackers and have a goal of hiking the Sierra Nevada Mountain stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. They also have two feather babies, cockatiels and their names are Chuck and Nunchuck.  

Karl Palachuk connects with Corey Munson of PC Matic on a topic at the back (or forefront) of everyone's mind: What if nobody returns to the office? Corey shares some ideas and opportunities for MSPs, should this be the case. Corey Munson is Vice President of Sales at PC Matic, developers of the only endpoint security software developed and supported exclusively in the U.S. In his 15 years with PC Matic, Corey has helped lead the company's rapid growth in the consumer markets; introduction into the channel and continued B2B market expansion. Prior to joining PC Matic in 2005, Munson spent 8 years with Gateway Inc, including 4 years leading competitive intelligence operations. Additional Relevant Information PC Matic is piloting a unique lead sharing program with our MSP partners that is backed by a national TV campaign. Links https://pcmatic.com/msp @pcmatic

Karl was joined by Marwan, co-founder and CEO of Veem, to talk about the one thing on every business owner's mind: where's my money?? Doing business internationally comes with a lot of opportunity, but also potentially a lot of fees. Marwan breaks it all down and also shares how his business, Veem, may be a good platform for your business. Veem simplifies payments to vendors, international contractors, contingent workers, etc. The payor just enters the email address, the currency they want to pay in, the amount, the scheduled date, and they will be shown the exact amount that will be debited from their account in their local currency, inclusive of any fees paid and the exchange rate conversion. Marwan Forzley is the co-founder and CEO of Veem, a global payments network helping small businesses transfer money domestically and internationally. Veem is revolutionizing global business payments with innovative technologies like blockchain to help small businesses grow at home and abroad. Forzley is also the author of “Small Business in a Big World: A Comprehensive Guide to Doing International Business”, which teaches small businesses everything they need to know about taking their operations to the international level, from business culture to negotiation tactics. -- Links: https://www.veem.com/ 

Karl caught up with Scott Sanders, founder of the IT Business Owners Group to dig into the details of Scott's online Facebook community. And - to hear about their upcoming member cruise in September 2021 so there's plenty of time to join The IT Business Owners Group (ITBOG) is a sponsor driven community that was created on social media to bring a common channel for IT business owners and the vendors of the products in which they sell and support. IT Business Owners Group, helps both members and vendors by sharing ideas to help each other grow. -- Links: https://itbog.org  https://facebook.com/itbog.org  https://facebook.com/groups/itbog

Karl connected with Paul Green about not only how to get started (or continue) your marketing strategy as an MSP, but also how to navigate the sales climate created by COVID. Grab some free resources at his website below and catch some actionable tips during the podcast. About Paul: Paul Green is an MSP marketing expert, based in the UK, working with 200+ MSPs all over the world. He helps MSPs improve their marketing and generate more leads with his MSP Marketing Edge program. Paul's a former journalist and radio presenter, and has been working with MSPs for 4 years now. He's also the author of Updating Servers Doesn't Grow Your Business. Links: https://www.paulgreensmspmarketing.com/  https://www.mspmarketingedge.com/ 

Karl talked with Jim Roddy this week on the topic of the Retail IT Channel. Jim Roddy is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Retail Solutions Providers Association, and he does not fall short in suggestions on how to support your clients in the restaurant, retail, and similar spaces during COVID-19. About Jim: Jim Roddy is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA). He has been active in the channel since 1998, including 11 years as the President of Business Solutions Magazine, six years as an RSPA board member, one term as RSPA Chairman of the Board, and several years as a business coach for VARs, ISVs, and MSPs. Jim is regularly requested to speak at industry conferences and he is author of Hire Like You Just Beat Cancer. Links:  www.GoRSPA.org  https://twitter.com/Jim_Roddy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/JimRoddy1/ 

Karl and Mike get together to talk about some simple steps to lower your risks and preserve your lifestyle as a smart managed services provider. Mike Semel is a noted thought leader, speaker, blogger, and best-selling author. He is the President of Semel Consulting, focused on compliance regulations; cyber security; and Business Continuity planning. Mike has also developed Semel Systems, a series of cybersecurity and compliance training and go-to-market systems for MSPs. Links: www.mikesemel.com 

Karl caught up with his good friend Rayanne this week to talk about your IT Business' Finances, updates to the PPP Loans, and your chart of accounts. Rayanne is the owner of ABC Solutions, LLC in Clearwater, Florida providing complete accounting, business, and tax consulting services to IT Professionals in the United States and abroad. Pick up some tips about tracking sales tax vs use tax and more, plus where you can get Rayanne's processes for these and more. Rayanne's 5-Week class started on July 7 - you've only missed one week and it's recorded! Her classes are always updated with the latest information and packed full of handouts and excellent information. Sign up here: https://www.greatlittleseminar.com/course/financial-processes-for-the-i-t-services-firm/ More About Rayanne:  Rayanne is the owner of ABC Solutions, LLC in Clearwater, Florida providing complete accounting, business, and tax consulting services to IT Professionals in the United States and abroad. She is a Certified QuickBooks Professional Advisor in QuickBooks Desktop and Online versions and offers courses and blogs tips on QuickBooks regularly. She holds a degree in Accounting and is enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Rayanne is also a partner with Sell My MSP. A listing service helping buyers and sellers of IT firms find each other. With expertise in managed service providers, Sell My MSP provides unique guidance through the merger/acquisition process including business valuation services. Her commitment to her profession takes her out of the office, too. Rayanne is a former member of the Executive Council for Advancing Women in IT at CompTIA as well as the Member Advisory Board for The ASCII Group. She teaches finance courses through Bigger Brains and Great Little Seminar to help IT Professionals understand their business finances and make appropriate management decisions. Rayanne also provides information through social media such as the PSA Impact Podcast series, YouTube Channel, and publishing articles through various IT Channel periodicals.   Links: https://www.psaimpact.net/ https://www.abcsolutionsfl.com/ https://www.sellmymsp.com/ 

James Kernan met with Eric Beller about building residual income. Eric Beller is a seasoned sales leader with executive experience in managing business development and support operations for decentralized sales teams and distributors. He is senior vice president of sales for Sandler Partners, America’s Fastest Growing Distributor of Connectivity & Cloud Services. In this role, Beller oversees recruitment and management of the company’s network of sales partners, including agents, VARs and MSPs, which are selling voice, data, mobility, colo, cloud, security and continuity services to businesses nationwide. Looking to Partner with MSPs so we can add residual + upfront income for the clients they service today. Partner up with Sandler Partners to sell cable, fiber, wireless, VoIP, and various cloud solutions and earn residual income. Its free and easy to sign up. See why thousands of MSP's use Sandler Partners today. Links: https://www.sandlerpartners.com/ebeller

Co-hosts Karl Palachuk and Amy Babinchak got together to discuss the use of Retainers in the MSP space. Amy shares exactly how they are applied in her business, the freedom they allow, and how she deals with the question of "roll-over hours." And more - there's always more when these two get together. - Amy Babinchak is the owner of three IT related businesses: Harbor Computer Services, Third Tier and Sell My MSP and has been working in small and medium business IT field for more than 20 years. She's a technical person with advanced skills in networking design, management and implementation. She values technology for what it does for people and the success it brings to business. Amy is also a Microsoft MVP for 14 years, has received numerous leadership awards and is a valued member of various boards. Amy is a new member of the executive council of the Managed Services community at CompTia. Check out Amy's Facebook group below – This is her ransomware and security group. Private and on-topic always. Subscribe to the blog, too. Use the Helpdesk. "We only do work for other IT pros." Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThirdTier https://www.thirdtier.net/ 

Karl sat down with Chris Timm of Sondela Consulting and Autotask PSA consultant. Listen in as they dive into the roll of PSAs in your Managed Services business, setting up Autotask for success, and the importance of tracking time.   Chris started Sondela Consulting to focus on his passion for working with MSPs to help them become more successful and more efficient by understanding and utilising their tools more effectively. Sondela is a Zulu word for “Advance” which is a nod to Chris’s Southern African roots and is an apt name with his number one goal being to help MSPs gain a deeper understanding of their investment and realise profitability much quicker. The 14 years of experience Chris gained through previously running an MSP business combined with working at Autotask has given him greater insight and understanding into both sides of the industry and how a PSA tool can provide efficiencies and profitability when implemented properly. Chris can take you from zero to hero with your PSA tool, using it to its full potential, and maximising every aspect of your business to ensure that every department is working in harmony. In a nutshell, Chris’s passion is to turn your MSP into a “well-oiled” machine. Chris co-hosts the PSAImpact podcast, a PSA independent series designed to help MSPs worldwide to get the most from their PSA tool and manage their business. Social media links are: Twitter @tegwin @sondelaconsult Facebook @sondelaconsulting Instagram @sondelaconsulting https://www.sondelaconsulting.com/ chris@sondelaconsulting.com PSAImpact: http://psaimpact.net/ Twitter: @PsaImpact Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PSAImpact/

James Kernan meets up with Matt Solomon and Natasha Boyko discuss the evolution of ID Agent and how serious they are about supporting their vendors. ID Agent provides Dark Web Monitoring + Phishing Simulation & Security Awareness Training, identity & Access Management Matt Solomon is an experienced sales professional with over 15 years in B2B, B2C and B2G environments. Past sales experience includes copyright, licensing, research and government consulting and advisory services. Matt joined Kaseya via ID Agent, with a wealth of experience working with managed service providers, large law firms, government contractors, non-profits and Fortune 500 organizations. He was the first employee of ID Agent and helped grow the business to 2,600+ MSP partners worldwide. He currently leads Kaseya’s business development team, working with managed services providers, channel partners and strategic partners. He has continued his role on the executive team of ID Agent. Links: www.idagent.com https://www.itcomplete.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/mjsolomon/ -- Natasha has over a decade of experience in both technology sales and customer success. Previously in education technology, she is passionate about leveraging great technology to drive businesses forward. Natasha launched her career at ID Agent as the first Partner Success Manager and helped build the program that empowers our partners to use Dark Web ID to provide critical protection for their clients and drive new recurring revenue. Natasha holds a Bachelor’s degree from Towson University. She is actively involved in her local community and loves to travel. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-boyko-a890506/

Karl meets with Susanne Tedrick about her new book: Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators. Susanne also gives great advice about how young women of color can get started with a career in tech. Susanne Tedrick is a technical specialist for a leading Fortune 50 technology company. Fiercely committed to increasing participation of women and people of color in STEM educational and professional opportunities, she is a career mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Initiative and a volunteer workshop technical assistant for Black Girls Code, a non-profit that empowers girls of color to develop in-demand IT skills and prepare to advance careers in tech.  Cloud Tech Specialist, IBM Author, "Women of Color in Tech" Link to purchase the book on Wiley.com: Purchase Susanne's book from Wiley My website: susannetedrick.com Book's website: webelongintech.com Nonfiction Book Awards Silver Winner From Wiley promo material: Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators will help you overcome the obstacles that often prevent women of color from pursuing and staying in tech careers. Contrary to popular belief, tech careers are diverse and fun—and they go far beyond just coding. This book will show you that today’s tech careers are incredibly dynamic, and you’ll learn how your soft skills—communication, public speaking, networking—can help you succeed in tech. This book will guide you through the process of cultivating strong relationships and building a network that will get you were you want to be. You’ll learn to identify a strong, knowledgeable support network that you can rely on for guidance or mentorship. This step is crucial in getting young women of color into tech careers and keeping them there. Build your professional network to get the guidance you need Find a mentor who understands your goals and your struggles Overcome negativity and stay motivated through difficult times Identify and develop the soft skills that you need to get ahead in tech Read this book to help bring to life your vision of a future in tech. With practical advice and inspiring stories, you’ll develop the right tools and the right mindset. Whether you’re just considering going into tech or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will show you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Susanne Tedrick is a technical specialist for a leading Fortune 50 technology company. Fiercely committed to increasing participation of women and people of color in STEM educational and professional opportunities, she is a career mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Initiative and a volunteer workshop technical assistant for Black Girls Code, a non-profit that empowers girls of color to develop in-demand IT skills and prepare to advance careers in tech.

Host Karl Palachuk meets up with Simon Severino to talk about how a strategy sprint can double your sales conversions - even during this tough sales climate. Learn what your bottleneck is with a free sales audit from Strategy Sprints - an $800 value at https://www.strategysprints.com/sales. Simon Severino is the Founder and CEO of Strategy Sprints. Host of the Strategy Show. Expert in Business Strategy, Growth Strategy and Execution. The Strategy Sprints Team does only one thing: Strategy in Sprints Strategy = Increase your monthly revenue consistently, gain market shares. Sprints = Fast Execution, Short Project Cycles, Motivated Teams.  - Links www.strategysprints.com  https://www.strategysprints.com/sales 

Karl sat down with Community Leaders Amy Babinchak and Joshua Liberman to talk about remote work. Amy runs Harbor Computer Services, which always runs a remote operation. They invite all employees in for a weekly meeting, but the rest of the time, they all work remotely. Josh has personally worked remotely for years, but runs an IT consulting company that is build around in-office work. We asked them to give their advice about hiring, culture, productivity, security, and more. In addition to their individual experiences, Amy and Josh give some great tips on trying to hire and manage remote workers. And they gives us some speculation about changes to client offices going forward. All in all, a good conversation. Contact info: Amy Babinchak is the owner of three IT related businesses: Harbor Computer Services, Third Tier, and Sell My MSP. She has been working in the small and medium business IT field for more than 20 years. Amy is a technical person with advanced skills in networking design, management, and implementation. She values technology for what it does for people and the success it brings to business. Sites: Third Tier – www.ThirdTier.net Sell My MSP – www.SellMyMSP.com Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thirdtier Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/thirdtier Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/thirdtier LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amybabinchak/ Joshua Liberman is a great community leader and the owner of Net Sciences in Albuquerque, NM. Josh's managed service business focuses on security as the basis for everything they do. Sites: Net Sciences: www.netsciences.com. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joshua.d.liberman Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NetSciencesInc Twitter - https://twitter.com/JoshuaLiberman LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-d-liberman/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/libermanjoshua/ :-)

James Kernan meets with Danny Jenkins to discuss how ThreatLocker adds a new and different level of security for MSPs.  ThreatLocker CEO, Danny Jenkins is a technical guru with a deep understanding of corporate IT and cybersecurity. He has an entrepreneurial background and two decades of experience in building and securing corporate networks. Before taking the reins at ThreatLocker®, Danny held CEO and CTO positions at multiple IT companies and founded a few cybersecurity businesses of his own. Links: -Website: ThreatLocker.com -Instagram: Threatlockersecurity -Facebook: TheThreatLocker -Twitter: ThreatLocker  -YouTube: ThreatLocker

Nigel built and sold a managed service business - and survived the last big recession. In this interview he talks with Karl Palachuk about the lessons he's learned. Nigel went on to found the Tech Tribe membership community and now helps hundreds of IT consultants run great businesses. Recently, he released a new ebook: Survive & Thrive: The MSP Owners Guide to Surviving & Thriving in Uncertain Times. (Available at thetechtribe.com) Nigel talks about the current environment, the "essential" role of IT in the current situation, and being a true business adviser. This is a 100% business-focused podcast. We talk about getting your finances under control, and keeping them that way forever. Managing cash inside your company is critical - and it needs to become a permanent process. We also touched on downsizing. No one wants to do it, but you may have to do it in order for your business to survive. And, of course, you need to do it the right way to improve the culture within your remaining team. -- -- -- The Tech Tribe is Nigel's training and coaching community. The book (Survive & Thrive) is available for download at: https://thetechtribe.com/guide/. Information on the Tribe generally is at https://thetechtribe.com/. -- -- -- Sponsor Info: For more information or to get a 4-month free trial, visit getcryptostopper.com/mspradio :-)

Host Karl Palachuk meets up with Justin Esgar to talk about the ACES Conference 2020: The Prequel - a free conference for all small to medium business owners, to help them survive and thrive in a post-Covid world! Justin is the owner of Virtua Consulting Group, a NYC-based company that helps not only clients with IT, but other consultants as well. Virtua Computers helps those companies with Mac-Based inventory, Virtua XYZ provides software to help MSPs succeed, Virtua Consulting offers 1 on 1 consulting with MSP owners to help grow their business, and Virtua Conferences, owners of the popular ACES Conference - a business conference for IT professionals and MSPs. Additional Links:  https://virtuaconsultinggroup.com  https://acesconf.com 

Host Amy Babinchak talks with Janet Schijns about how to generate demand, social selling, tactics to use when times are bad and community based IT marketing - you won't want to miss this. Janet Schijns is CEO and Co-Founder of JS Group, a go to market consultancy dedicated to achieving results in the channel. Janet was the 2019 Channel Influencer of the year and is a known expert on go to market. Additional Links:  https://jsgnow.com   twitter @channelsmart    linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetschijns/ 

Host James Kernan interviewed Tim Taylor. Tim is the Founder and President of TaylorWorks, Inc., a leading Managed Service provider in Central Florida. For over 20 years, TaylorWorks has provided companies with proactive IT consulting and support services. Tim has successfully guided his company over the past several years to 300% growth rate. Tim also has a consulting practice, www.timtaylorconsulting.com, where he helps MSPs grow their practices and become more profitable. Additional Relevant Information http://www.timtaylorconsulting Links: Podcast https://twitter.com/ttaylor614 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TimTaylorConsulting/ Web http://www.timtaylorconsulting LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorworks/ :-)  

Interview: Harry Brelsford from 420MSP Harry joins us for the one year anniversary of the launch 420 MSP (www.420MSP.com). Harry released How to Be an MSP - vertical edition focused on the cannabis industry last year at this time. His community has grown significantly. If you listen carefully, he digs right into the technology of the cannabis vertical. Perhaps the biggest thing going on right now in the industry is the growth of legalization. Harry talks about the challenges of this along with the culture of the industry vertical. One piece of that is the acceleration of legalization in response to the "quarantine" orders regarding the current virus pandemic. Several states have listed cannabis outlets as "essential" businesses during this very strange era. As a result, Harry believes that legalization will move from a five-year horizon to perhaps at two or three year horizon. That's speculation, of course, but gives a strong argument about the growth of this industry during the economic downturn we're about to experience. We covered lots of other great territory as well. This is a great business-focused discussion. Primary site: https://420msp.com/ Book: https://420msp.com/2020/01/how-to-be-an-msp/ Conference info: June 1-5, 2020 Online https://420msp.com/answers-20-20-conference/ :-)    

Host James Kernan interviewed Yoram Baltinester for this show. Yoram has been coaching and leading seminars since 1989. His fast, fierce and focused approach has earned him the nickname “The Personal Development Samurai.” While developing a successful high-tech career for large companies Yoram created and refined the LifeDesign Method and the Decisive Action Protocol. These tools facilitate effective leadership, high-quality decision-making, and purposeful engagement with business to create meaningful success without sacrificing life balance and burning-out. Yoram was involved in multiple startups since 1985, in Personal Development and in the software, hardware, and I.T. industries. He started a Managed I.T. Services company right after September 11th, which he grew and sold in 2013. In his free time, Yoram loves to travel. In 1992, Yoram and his wife spent a year backpacking around the world, spending most of that time in China, crossing the Gobi Desert into Tibet and then the Himalayas into Nepal and India. Everything Yoram accomplishes is done using the principles of the LifeDesign Method and the Decisive Action Protocol. Today, Yoram works with high-performing leaders and professionals and teaches them how to use the Decisive Action Protocol and LifeDesign Method to bring their leadership, teams, and businesses to the next level of success. Links: http://bit.ly/mslp2020   http://yourultimateworkshop.com/   http://HeyYoram.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/yorambaltinester/   :-)  

My friend Ryan Morris (from Morris Management Partners) normally hangs out on the Killing IT Podcast. But today he joined me here to talk about our industry from three different perspectives: Vendor, Distributor, and Partner. Obviously, we spent most of our time on the Partner side of the equation. Ryan is a 25+ year veteran of the IT channel. He has lived and worked in the channel from practically every point of view: solution provider, vendor, distributor, service provider, market analyst, business consultant, keynote speaker and industry expert. Ryan works with clients from small startups to Fortune 50 and delivers services around the world. An award-winning speaker, consultant, and coach, Ryan’s vision is to help the IT industry build businesses that thrive in every market. Morris Management Partners (MMP) is a Seattle, WA-based professional services firm that works with IT vendors, distributors, and solution provider. Our services are designed to help companies optimize business performance, build profitable business models, and develop the skills to thrive. Web: www.morrismp.com Twitter: @ryanmorris303 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmorris303 :-)  

Amy Babinchak is back, this time to question the relevancy of RMM and PSA tools with Amy Luby, founder of SMB Managed Services Community. The technical landscape is constantly evolving, specifically in terms of security; it's not always a given that our existing tools are still right for the job.  More about Amy Luby: Amy is a successful leader and entrepreneur in the IT Services Channel, with an extensive record of achievement in Channel Sales program development and recruiting IT solution providers. She has strong technical expertise and domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving global managed, cloud and security services marketplace and a proven track record in creating profitable managed and cloud product portfolios, developing profitable Channel sales operations, increasing revenue quickly, and exploiting untapped market opportunities.  Amy is founder and moderator of the global SMB Managed Services Community with 3000 active global SMB MSP reseller members. Amy is also a proven entrepreneur and pioneer in the IT services industry having founded and built one of the first Managed Services Providers (MSPs) in the country and then expanded that into one of the first Master MSPs, defining that business model in the process. Amy’s successes in the Channel have not gone unnoticed. She is the recipient of numerous Channel awards including: CRN Channel Chief and Women of the Channel awards, MSP Mentor Top 250 Influencers, MSP Mentor Top 100 Global MSPs, SMB Nation’s SMB 150, and COMPTIA’s Industry Leadership Award. In her spare time, Amy enjoys writing, drawing, yoga and her potter’s wheel. Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/msprevolution/

I was happy to catch up with Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan, and his newest release Clockwork. By his 35th birthday, Mike had founded and sold two companies - one to private equity and another to a Fortune 500. Today he is running his third multi-million dollar venture, Profit First Professionals. He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and the former business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Over the years, Mike has traveled the globe speaking with thousands of entrepreneurs. If you've listened to his audio books, you'll be pleased to know that he's just as nice and personable in the "real" world. Note: I've got him tape (well, digital audio) saying that he'll be back to talk about his next book, Fix This First. We covered that for a couple of minutes at the end of the interview. Stay tuned. And if you have questions for Mike when he returns, send them to me! Mike's new book, Fix This Next, will be coming out in April. Mike's Links: http://www.mikemichalowicz.com/  https://www.facebook.com/MikeMichalowiczFanPage/  https://twitter.com/MikeMichalowicz  https://www.instagram.com/mikemichalowicz/   :-)  

Catch Amy's Q&A with MSP owners Leon Black and John Zanazzi on her recent whitepaper: How to Build a Valuable Local LinkedIn Network. Get clarity on who to target, how often to post and more.  Find Amy's whitepaper here: https://www.smbbooks.com/How-To-Build-A-Valuable-Local-LinkedIn-Network-p/bab02.htm About our guests: Leon Black has been in the IT Industry for over 17 years, from enterprise support with Microsoft, Komatsu, Colgate, through to SMB support. Leon started Inspired Techs in 2012 to help small to medium business leverage technology as their competitive advantage and get the most out of their business. Leon is passionate about RnD and keeping at the front of the changes in technology. This allows us to empower our customers and let them really leverage their relationship with us and their technology On a fun note, Leon is an avid skydiver and has over 760 jumps, 5 Australian skydive records and a few different competition medals.  Links: https://www.inspiredtechs.com.au Facebook/linkedin/twitter - InspiredTechs    

This week we had Small Biz Thoughts employee Dylan Dahlquist (Quest) on the show. Dylan is certified in Google Adwords and has been supporting the Small Biz Thoughts brands since 2019. Listen in to hear how he gets paid offering free services to qualifying non-profits. Dylan Quest is a creative scientist with a passion for communicating complex ideas in innovative ways. His career started in materials research for brain implants, but has since left research work for digital advertising, specializing in Google Ads. His business works with organizations around the globe, many of which are non-profits. He utilizes his background in experimentation and data analysis for his clientele in order to create strategies tailored to their business. Dylan is also a member for the team here at Small Biz Thoughts!    You can reach Dylan at DylanQuestDigital@gmail.com

Had a great talk with C.J. Ezell who launched his newest business, CrossBay Digital Marketing in January. His offerings include web design/hosting, reviews, and local SEO. We also talk about working specific verticals and developing a niche. C.J. launched his first company in 1998. Twenty-two years later, he is still starting new ventures and inspiring others to do the same. He is a frequent speaker at business building events throughout North America and has a proven track record of success in the technology services and healthcare industries. His current businesses include PointClear Networks a 2018 MSP501 Winner, The Red5Agency, and CrossBay Digital Marketing, a digital media company focused on helping small businesses grow by increasing their online presence and through the use of social media management and advertising. Links: Web: https://www.crossbaydigital.com Web: www.red5agency.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjezell/

I was very pleased to catch up with Amy Babinchak - One of the new hosts for this podcast - and talk about employee training. This podcast grew out of a series of private emails we exchanged, which grew from an unrelated topic. Here Amy spells out how she helps employees gain knowledge on new technologies while helping to create consistent processes across all technicians. She also talks about the regular meetings they have in-house, which improve training and build culture at the same time. As a side benefit, Amy gives lots of advice along the way that demonstrate how she has built a very successful IT service business with no office and almost zero overhead.   Links: Check out my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThirdTier – This is my ransomware and security group. Private and on-topic always. Subscribe to the blog: https://www.thirdtier.net/ Use the Helpdesk. We only do work for other IT pros.  

I always like to catch up with Chip Reaves from Bigger Brains. Here we're talking about Online Training as a Service. Chip is a 30-year IT channel veteran who has built five MSP or related businesses and sold four. He's best known as the founder and CEO of Computer Troubleshooters USA, the world's largest IT services franchise network. In 2012 Chip created the channel's first end-user training platform for MSPs - Bigger Brains. Chip gives us some strategies for offering training as part of your managed service bundle. It's extremely affordable. In fact, over at the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community, we have set up a way for you to get this training FREE inside your company, get a discount, and even get more than one NFR license. Check it out now and use the code Karlsentme to get 10% off any Bigger Brains subscription. But even without that discount, you can make huge profits with this service - and educate clients on some products and features then didn't know about.  When you bring value, clients love you! Client facing site: www.GetBiggerBrains.com MSP Facing site: https://biggermsp.com/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biggerbrains   :-)    

Featured Guest: Joseph Landes I talked with Joseph Landes from Nerdio about the specifics of moving clients to the Azure cloud - and the special tools Nerdio employs to make sure you know what it will cost. They also have some cool tools for reducing the cost of running client operations on Azure. Joseph worked at Microsoft for almost 25 years before joining Nerdio to help MSPs learn how to build a successful and profitable cloud practice in Microsoft Azure. Nerdio's flagship product, Nerdio for Azure, has helped thousands of MSPs around the world transiton from the on-premises world to the cloud using automation. Nerdio has significant expertise and technical know-how in the Azure space and is the definitive Azure solution for MSPs. Site: www.getnerdio.com :-)    

My guest this week is my friend Scott Millar from IT Rockstars and MSP Video Academy. Scott is the founder of IT Rockstars. He has an extensive career spanning both IT and marketing. As systems engineer at heart, Scott saw an opportunity at a young age in generating leads to his break-fix computer repair business using online marketing techniques. This evolved into the managed service space where Scott has worked for over 15 years. Now he's helping fellow MSPs and IT business owners generate more leads and win more sales. IT Rockstars offers IT business the opportunity to build a process into their business that will generate a steady, reliable stream of warm leads using proven digital marketing strategy and tactics. Scot has a passion for SEO, but also realized that there are much quicker and more sustainable ways of marketing an IT business. Find out about the four marketing pieces he offers every month, as well as some great "best practice" tips for Facebook Live and repurposing your video content on LinkedIn. Links: https://www.itrockstars.net https://mspvideoacademy.com :-)

IoT Playbook - Part of the ChannelPro Network I interviewed Mark Smith from ChannelPro Network and IoT Playbook. Smith has been in IT for more than 25 years. He was the founder of Windows NT Magazine, a global media company that helped over 1M IT professionals. Mark is the Host of IoT Playbook, part of the ChannelPro Network. IoTPlaybook is on a mission to find the early IoTMSP pioneers and get them to reveal their playbooks so that you benefit from the lessons they’ve learned from the hard way. Playbooks show you the strategies, the business models, the technology stack, the marketing & sales angles, and everything else you need to succeed with each IoT managed service we cover. Playbooks are designed to apply in your business right now. Why you need to add IoT Managed Services to your business now Links: podcast.iotplaybook.com www.FreeIoTClass.com :-)  

I interviewed Alan Conboy of Scale Computing a few days ago. Alan is the CTO office at Scale Computing. With more than 20 years of experience, he is an industry veteran and technology evangelist specializing in designing, prototyping, selling and implementing disruptive storage and virtualization technologies. Prior to Scale Computing, Conboy held positions at Lefthand Networks, ADIC, CreekPath Systems, and Spectra Logic. Conboy is notably one of the first movers in the X86/X64 hyperconvergence space, and one of the first 30 people ever certified by Storage Network Industry Association. Here we discuss Scale's latest partnership with Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection. This OEM partnership offers Acronis Backup to customers through Scale Computing channels, expands its disaster recovery capabilities and delivers archiving, enhanced data protection, and threat mitigation on the Scale Computing HC3 platform. Sites: https://www.scalecomputing.com https://www.scalecomputing.com/blog https://twitter.com/ScaleComputing (@ScaleComputing) https://www.facebook.com/ScaleComputing/ (@ScaleComputing) https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalecomputing/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ScaleComputing :-)  

Had a great impromptu chat with Dave Sobel from MSP Radio and The Business of Tech (and the Killing IT podcast). Dave has spent his time as both an IT Service Provider and a vendor. Now he is jumping into a new venture as an analyst and new reporter. If you haven't checked it out already, head over to MSP Radio and subscribe to The Business of Tech - his daily five-minute podcast. Great stuff. Dave mentions three important rules he's set for himself going forward: 1) Do things that are big, different, and significant 2) Don't talk to product marketing managers 3) Never sit on another pricing panel at conferences Find out what's behind these and how they affect what he's up to. I happen to know Dave has some pretty big things planned with MSP Radio, so tune in now and stay tuned. Revevant Links: MSP Radio: https://www.mspradio.com/ Killing IT Podcast: https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesobel/ :-)    

James Kernan: How to build Equity in your business BEFORE you sell - The 8 secrets to increasing the value of your business I had a great chat with fellow coach James Kernan. James is the author of the 36 Month Millionaire Program, and recently published books, Leadership Essentials for Successful Executives and Business Tips. For the past 12 years, James has served as a Principal Consultant for Kernan Consulting and provides Coaching, Advising and Mentoring programs to entrepreneurs and leaders. We only had a half hour, but James covered a lot of territory. In today's crazy M&A environment, many people are approaching the sale of their business before they're ready. That is, they haven't done the ground work to maximize the value of their business before they get serious about selling it. This discussion is chock-full of great advice! Kernan Consulting offers One on One Coaching, CEO Peer Groups, M&A Consulting and online training programs. For more information on the company please visit: www.KernanConsulting.com or call: 888.VAR.COACH Kernan Consulting empowers small-business owners to grow themselves, their teams and their profits using practical, proven and trusted business wisdom. If you want to learn how to create a winning company culture, grow a team of passionate and loyal workers who will help you win. If you want to learn how to market and sell better than your competition, and compensate your people in a way that motivates them to achieve more, then Kernan Consulting is for you. It’s practical, applicable advice that can transform your business and help you become an incredible leader who others will gladly follow. Links: https://kernanconsulting.com/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://twitter.com/jkernan https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.instagram.com/james_kernan/   :-)  

In this podcast, I interview Andrew Lassise, a serial entrepreneur who has built Rush Tech Support from his living room in 2014 to a multi million dollar managed services provider. He got sober in 2013 and has an incredible story of triumph over alcoholism and growing and scaling an IT company Andrew also has a podcast, Self Made & Sober. He talks with entrepreneurs who are in recovery and are successful in business. We kick it off with Andrew's story of hitting the bottom while being pulled over for drunk driving. It was in climbing out of that hole that Andrew found his love for IT service delivery. An interesting twist here is that Andrew has ended up with a podcast where people tell their stories. They open themselves to vulnerability. And their stories help them go to their clients and prospects with their values and integrity on display. An interesting person and story - I think you'll agree. Links: www.rushtechsupport.com www.selfmade-coaching.com :-)  

I had a lot of fun recording this podcast with Nicholas Ford (Account Executive - Partner Network at SherWeb) and Jacob Wellman (Associate Account Executive at SherWeb). In addition to working together, these guys are friends who have built a great culture in their department. See the photo we discuss at www.smbcommunitypodcast.com. Topics include fun at work, building a fun culture, and figuring out how to motivate people and teams. And while we have a lot of fun here, there's also lots of great advice about building your team. You can connect with these guys on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-ford-b5a371b1/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-wellman-7a879412b/   Comments welcome.

I interviewed Ahin Thomas, Vice President of Backblaze. He describes himself as "A former bartender, songwriter and hand model." Ahin previously worked as director of eCommerce at Sears Holdings, was the co-founder and CEO of Vintners' Alliance, and was the head of marketing for Symphony Commerce. In this interview, Ahin talks about Backblaze's major products: Computer Backup and Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage. Computer Backup provides unlimited data storage, native clients that silently run in the background for Mac/Windows, and affordable prices with rock solid endpoint backups that do not require maintenance. Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage works well with an established company and includes reliable/predictable pricing in an industry where it is lacking. It also empowers companies to "move to the cloud" and leaves room for MSPs to make a profit where they can switch to Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, giving customers a discount vs. Amazon S3, and pocket the difference. Relevant links: - https://www.backblaze.com - https://www.backblaze.com/blog/ - https://twitter.com/backblaze (@backblaze) - https://www.facebook.com/backblaze (@backblaze) - https://www.youtube.com/backblaze :-)  

I caught up with Chris Wiser last week and grilled him on some of the secrets of creating a million dollar business. The number one need in this industry is sales, and all the elements that lead to that (leads, prospects, appointments). But, as Chris says, even if MSPs get those opportunities, they can't close "without lowering their price." Chris Wiser is the Founder and CEO of The Wiser Agency, a Digital Marketing, Coaching & Sales Agency based in Austin, Texas. The Wiser Agency focuses on helping IT & Managed Service Providers grow their businesses through Online Marketing, Advertising, and Sales Training. The Wiser Agency's '7 Figure MSP' system currently has over 200 clients all on their way to adding 7 Figures of revenue to their businesses this year. You can apply to be a partner at www.7figuremsp.com. Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/OfficialChrisWiser LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cwiser Web: www.chriswiser.com Web: www.thewiseragency.com   :-)  

I interviewed Keith Gillette, founder of TaskTrain, a new documentation tool for checklists and procedures. He describes TaskTrain as "A practical tool to scale your business by eliminating avoidable errors & increasing operational efficiency. Keith Gillette is a "process pragmatist" and Founder/CEO of TaskTrain, a process management SaaS application streamlined for SMBs. Keith has more than 25 years of IT operations management experience in both embedded and virtual CIO roles. He holds a Master of Science in Information & Telecommunications Systems Management as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Keith is a Six Sigma-certified senior member of the American Society for Quality. As a systems administrator, Keith was often burned by lack of system configuration and procedural documentation, so he became diligent in documenting everything he did. He carried that lesson with him when he advanced to IT leadership. His motto became "If it's not documented, it's not done." Based on that experience, Keith launched TaskTrain as the tool he wished he had back in the day. Web Site: https://TaskTrain.app LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/tasktrain/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Task_Train Facebook: https://facebook.com/TaskTrain/  

I had a great chat with my old friend Nigel Moore from Australia about his new book, Package Price Profit. (You can buy it on Amazon in paperback or Kindle edition.) This book is a great overview of pricing and bundling options in the IT service industry. I particularly love his analogy about so-called All You Can Eat: Everything at the buffet is included. If you want us to make a special dish for you, that's not included! Of course Nigel is also the founder of the Tech Tribe - www.thetechtribe.com. So we chatted about that a bit. The official book site is www.packagepriceprofit.com. :-)

I had a great chat with my old friend Nigel Moore from Australia about his new book, Package Price Profit. (You can buy it on Amazon in paperback or Kindle edition.) This book is a great overview of pricing and bundling options in the IT service industry. I particularly love his analogy about so-called All You Can Eat: Everything at the buffet is included. If you want us to make a special dish for you, that's not included! Of course Nigel is also the founder of the Tech Tribe - www.thetechtribe.com. So we chatted about that a bit.   The official book site is www.packagepriceprofit.com.   :-)    

This is a great interview with Jennifer Fields of ASTEK Marketing. I have worked with Jennifer for 2+ years now. She’s the real deal. ASTEK Marketing is based in Kenosha, WI. They have an office there for doing call-downs and follow-ups on the marketing services they provide. ASTEK specializes in marketing for MSPs: strategic planning, direct marketing, executing call-downs, and more. They have a new office in Kenosha, but it’s populated with people who have been with ASTEK for several years. We cover a lot of territory in this podcast, but the my favorite part was the discussion of MDF – Marketing Development Funds that are available from many vendors. In addition to simply helping you spend the money, ASTEK actually helps you apply for the funds and makes you they are distributed. The bottom line is that they provide a very technology-specific marketing. Everyone understands your offer. AND they understand the context of what you do. So if you’re doing VOIP or security, their team understands all those other options. So they can pick up on opportunities that a non-technical marketing team would miss. Overall, a fun conversation. Check it out and post your questions below. (Jennifer is also a community leader in the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.) Find Jennifer at: www.astekmarketing.com.

It's always great to catch up with my old friend Vince Tinnirello. Vince Tinnirello Vince is the Managing Director of Anchor Network Solutions, a Denver-based managed IT service provider, founded in 2002. He is the immediate past Chair of the CompTIA Managed Services Community, and very passionate about the IT Services industry and the service Anchor delivers to its clients. Vince lives in the foothills of Denver, and when not working enjoys skiing, climbing, mountain biking and golf. He recently completed his goal to summit all of Colorado’s 55 mountains above 14,000 feet and to ski in Japan. After spending many years with Marriott, Vince moved to the IT industry and realized that lots of technicians aren't very good with the personal side of business. So he went to work training and guiding his employees to support his brand. Vince tells a great story about climbing all the major mountain peaks in Colorado (some more than once). Of course that leads to a discussion of relaxing your brain and recharging your batteries. Vince is also a big advocate (and member) of Peer Groups. Even with a three million dollar business, Vince finds value in meeting with other business owners to talk about their challenges and victories. Here he talks about the peer session tracks that he manages for DattoCon. In general, we have a fun conversation about client engagement, employee management, and peer level relationships.

Since selling his Managed Service Provider business, Richard has helped dozens of MSPs to grow their own companies. He works with the owners of IT businesses to help them free up their time, concentrate on doing what is important and making more money. In his interactive presentations, Richard offers some practical advice on how he would run a great MSP today — including his tips for selling MSP services. Richard has a great book called The IT Business Owner's Survival Guide. It really is a good guide to getting out of your own way and thriving as a small business owner. Check out the reviews on Amazon. Whether you're new to the IT industry or you've been at it for awhile, this book will help you out! Richard Tubb One tip Richard shares that I am totally on board with: Turn you phone OFF at night and don't sleep with. Don't jump out of bed and grab the phone. Technology is awesome, but we should maintain control. Another great tip: Richard has a world-class out-of-office email process. He describes this in some detail. If you want a copy, wait until the weekend and send him an email. You'll get a great example almost immediately. I particularly like the tip that you do not include information on how to interrupt you since the phone interruption has failed. (Richard gives his email at about 20 minutes in.) Lots of great tips in this podcast. Give it a listen. Links www.tubblog.co.uk Newsletter: www.tubblog.co.uk/nl Books: https://www.tubblog.co.uk/books/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/tubblog :-)

Today's guest is Mr. Tim Taylor, author of How to Start and Run a Successful I.T. Company - Without Using your Shirt, available on Amazon, Amazon Kindle, and Audible. Tim is from Memphis, TN. He has always worked in the IT field. When he was 40, he started his own practice out of the trunk of his car. Today, he runs a multi-million dollar practice in Florida and employs over 15 people. Tim Taylor Tim likes to help people just starting out or struggling in their MS practices. He specializes in helping people turn around their companies and making them profitable. Links: www.timtaylorconsulting.com Facebook :-)

After a 20 year career as a commercial general contractor and 25 years as a small business consultant and IT provider, Bob Nitrio made two major decisions. The first was to move from California to Arizona for family purposes. The second was to move way from managed services and concentrate on his partnership with a software developer who had some amazing ideas for how mobile phones could be used by businesses and organizations. Bob Nitrio As a result, Bob now creates marketing resources that explain SmartConnect Apps by LogicTree It Solutions. As Bob say, "This incredible platform literally transforms mobility into productivity." The mobile apps created with this platform are designed to solve gaps in the way information is acquired and used by both clients and businesses. The evolution of the company's focus is an interesting story in itself, one with many business lessons. There are many businesses and organizations that don't know that they actually have a mobile workforce - their employees who own smartphones! Smartphones have paved the way to change business outcomes by making it easier for people to exchange information. If you can do that without extensive training or investment, you can creatively acquire data, report and manage it , and control workflows and outcomes. Now there is a way for IT professionals to offer a mobility solution as a service that can be customized for a broad cross-section of clients service without the need for a significant investment of time or money. If you can determine your clients' pain points, there just might be a way to solve them using the underappreciated smartphone. We can show you how to add mobility to your solution stack quickly and easily. Web Sites: - www.smartconnectapps.com - www.logictreeit.com Video Channels: - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsw4M6M0oXYbKUIbemqJJ9A - https://vimeo.com/logictreeitsolutions :-)

I caught up with Terry Hedden from Marketopia for this podcast. Normally, I see Terry on the road, but we're going to miss each other for the next few months. AND he's got a big sales coaching event coming up while I'm down in Australia. So, it was good to catch up on the podcast. Terry started out as an IT service provider. He built and sold a 49 person MSP in 6 years. Now he runs Marketopia, the largest demand generation firm for MSPs. Marketopia provides outsourced marketing and outbound lead generation. As Terry says, they are most successful when an MSP lets them run the lead generation based on their proven process. In other words, when you try to do it differently, you are likely to be less successful. :-) This interview has a lot of detail on the services Marketopia offers (including some very good pricing information). In October, Marketopia is putting on a training event called 4U2Grow - see https://www.4u2grow.com/ for more information. The conference is October 8-11. Primary web site: https://www.marketopia.com/ :-)

Jay McBain is Forrester's Principal Analyst, Channels, Partnership, and Alliances. He's always fun to talk to. And get ready to listen to this one two or three times. Jay drops numbers all the time. So go get a pencil before you hit "play." You can connect with Jay at:  https://go.forrester.com/blogs/author/jay_mcbain/ Jay is one of the most visible thought leaders in the global technology channel. He was named to the Top 40 Under Forty by the Business Review as well as numerous channel media top influencer lists, he is often sought out for industry guidance and future trends. He has spent his 25 year career in various executive channel sales, marketing, and strategy roles within IBM, Lenovo, Autotask, and ChannelEyes. A few quick stats: Jay counts 54 Channel magazines across 200 countries 150 tradeshows A dozen associations Plus peer groups 80 LinkedIn groups 30 Facebook Groups and about 600,000 channel service companies overall The conversation covers a lot of ground. I promise you'll get a "bigger" picture of the world you compete it. :-)    

I caught up with Rayanne Buchianico from Sell My MSP (http://www.sellmymsp.com). She gave us the big update on their 2019 Refresh. It’s more than a web site update. They’ve got a new valuation tool and more. Rayanne Buchianico Rayanne owns ABC Solutions in Clearwater, FL. She help MSPs get their finances straightened in order to run their company most efficiently. As you can imagine, this includes some great skills that will help MSPs as they start looking at selling their companies. ABC Solutions is a public accounting firm in Clearwater, FL. They focus on helping MSPs with accounting and bookkeeping services. Rayanne created the very cool valuation tool you’ll find at sellmymsp.com. That tool is newly reconfigured to look at Gross Revenue, Gross Profit, or EBITDA prices. Rayanne discusses this a bit in the interview. We cover a lot of territory here, including both the buyers’ and the sellers’ perspectives. We also talk about the practical side of cleaning up your profit and loss statement so you’re ready to go on the market. Yes, we discuss fees with complete transparency. Of course Rayanne will help you with the work of fixing your P&L if you need that. Such services are not included in the listing fee, of course. My favorite surprising note from this interview: Even if you’re not profitable, your clients might be worth something! Obviously, there’s more money with more profit. But your business is probably worth something even if you don’t make a big profit! Disclaimer: I have used Rayanne’s Company (ABC Solutions) to help me revise, update, and “fix” my QuickBooks accounts. I receive no money or even a tall beer if you spend your money with ABC Solutions or Sell My MSP. Also: The FTC has no idea how business works in the real world. Side note: Rayanne is teaching a class on maximizing your financials starting August 6th. It’s called Financial Services for the IT Services Industry. See www.greatlittleseminar.com. Another favorite note: There are two types of business owners. One maximizes tax deductions and shows no profit on the bottom line. The other maximizes profit and ends up paying more taxes. ONE of these is far more valuable on the day you sell your business.

I always see Mr. Tim Conkle on the road - as places like ChannelPro. Luckily, I got to catch up with him on the SMB Community Podcast. Tim Conkle - The 20 Tim holds over 30 years of entrepreneurial success in the Information Technology and Services sector. As a leading voice in the Managed IT Service Provider space, Tim is dedicated to developing simple, solid IT solutions for SMB clients and MSPs (Managed Service Providers) across the nation. His notoriously energetic nature, along with his deep-rooted passion for technology, has helped him forge solid customer relationships built on trust, dependability, and service. Tim currently serves as President & CEO of Roland Technology, President of the Board of Directors for Cytracom, and is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). As CEO of The 20, Conkle is the driving force behind a business revolutionizing the IT industry. By utilizing a proven multi-million dollar sales model and an execution framework that he developed, Tim helps MSPs attain profitability and success. Through The 20’s business model, Tim has advised more than 175 MSPs in sales and operations, resulting in catastrophic revenue generation and millions of dollars in savings from process improvements and single-funnel vendor access. If you're interested in attending The 20's Vision conference, you can Save $100 off your ticket with the code PALACHUK. See www.the20vision.com. Contact Info: Web - https:/www.the20.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/The20MSP/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-20/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/the20msp https://youtu.be/FyrMjEnfoxI :-)

I always see Mr. Tim Conkle on the road – as places like ChannelPro. Luckily, I got to catch up with him on the SMB Community Podcast. Tim Conkle – The 20 Tim holds over 30 years of entrepreneurial success in the Information Technology and Services sector. As a leading voice in the Managed IT Service Provider space, Tim is dedicated to developing simple, solid IT solutions for SMB clients and MSPs (Managed Service Providers) across the nation. His notoriously energetic nature, along with his deep-rooted passion for technology, has helped him forge solid customer relationships built on trust, dependability, and service. Tim currently serves as President & CEO of Roland Technology, President of the Board of Directors for Cytracom, and is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). As CEO of The 20, Conkle is the driving force behind a business revolutionizing the IT industry. By utilizing a proven multi-million dollar sales model and an execution framework that he developed, Tim helps MSPs attain profitability and success. Through The 20’s business model, Tim has advised more than 175 MSPs in sales and operations, resulting in catastrophic revenue generation and millions of dollars in savings from process improvements and single-funnel vendor access. If you’re interested in attending The 20’s Vision conference, you can Save $100 off your ticket with the code PALACHUK. See www.the20vision.com. Contact Info: Web – https:/www.the20.com Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/The20MSP/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-20/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/the20msp

Dominica DeGrandis is Director of Digital Transformation at Tasktop, where she helps customers improve the flow of work across value streams. Responsible for introducing customers to flow-based aspects of digital transformation, she guides IT teams and business teams to learn and adopt new ways of working to improve performance. Dominica is the author of “Making Work Visible: Exposing Time Theft to Optimize Work & Flow.” She is a huge fan of using visual cues to reveal mutually critical information across organizations to inspire change and spur alignment. Dominica lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and extended family. Dominica DeGrandis Here we talk about metrics, work flow, and the great benefits of minimizing WIP – work in progress. We also talked about engaging managers in the discussion of work flow and metrics. DeGrandis is excellent at seeing how processes work and finding ways to help participants literally see how work flows through the system. She advocates using Kanban boards to create a view of what’s going on at various levels in an organization. This can also help individuals see how their specific metrics affect the larger business goals. We also discussed the topic of “Priority vs. Calendar.” DeGrandis has a talk on this subject. She talks about The 30 Minute Jam, the All Day Cram, and the Triple-Book Wham. Many people – especially creative people – need large blocks of time on the calendar in order to reach and maintain “flow” and get quality work done. I love her assertion that most people have more control over their calendar than they believe. Lots of good stuff here. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk_9ZRIGQP8

I think I met Jamison about 2006 at SMB Nation. Since then, he has bought a few companies, built a few companies, and sold a few companies. Even today he owns a few companies. He calls himself a serial entrepreneur, but I consider that a parallel entrepreneur. Personally, I think all small business owners should have at least two companies. But that’s another story. Here we chat a bit about TimeZest, a calendaring add-on for ConnectWise. Then we move to EOS – the Entrepreneurial Operating System – as described by Gino Wickman in his book Traction. There are many, many books filled with advice for business owners. Jamison likes the EOS model because it is most easily applied to small business. In fact, as he says, it can be self-applied without a coach. But there are some obvious advantages to having a coach who can help you have those difficult meetings and keep things moving when you get stuck in the weeds. Jamison has been a “serial entrepreneur” for over 20 years. He has a wealth of experience in several areas include: Founding and operating companies in the SaaS and IT Services space; participating in and moderating professional peer groups (HTG & EO); advising organizations in the SaaS and IT Services verticals; speaking on a range of topics from Cloud to M&A to People, and implementing EOS®. Links: – www.jamisonwest.com – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamisonwest/ Listen here:

I think I met Jamison about 2006 at SMB Nation. Since then, he has bought a few companies, built a few companies, and sold a few companies. Even today he owns a few companies. He calls himself a serial entrepreneur, but I consider that a parallel entrepreneur. Personally, I think all small business owners should have at least two companies. But that's another story. Here we chat a bit about TimeZest, a calendaring add-on for ConnectWise. Then we move to EOS - the Entrepreneurial Operating System - as described by Gino Wickman in his book Traction. There are many, many books filled with advice for business owners. Jamison likes the EOS model because it is most easily applied to small business. In fact, as he says, it can be self-applied without a coach. But there are some obvious advantages to having a coach who can help you have those difficult meetings and keep things moving when you get stuck in the weeds. Jamison has been a "serial entrepreneur" for over 20 years. He has a wealth of experience in several areas include: Founding and operating companies in the SaaS and IT Services space; participating in and moderating professional peer groups (HTG & EO); advising organizations in the SaaS and IT Services verticals; speaking on a range of topics from Cloud to M&A to People, and implementing EOS®. Links: - www.jamisonwest.com - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamisonwest/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxLTHiFo3UE Listen here: :-)

I met Allen Edwards all the way back in April of this year. I’ve already seem him at events in two states. We even shared a beer (or two) in Albuquerque. Allen help IT Professionals create great processes. Allen Edwards began his I.T. career in 1994. He founded his first I.T. company in 2002, and in ten short years led his firm through a transition from break/fix to MSP, from custom ticketing to AutoTask before moving to ConnectWise Manage, and a final sale of the business. A sought-after MSP and Process expert, Allen helps Business Leaders and their teams while building meaningful, growth-centered relationships that support next level performance. Link: https://EurekaProcess.com Enjoy the video interview: Download Audio:

In 2008, Brooke Ferguson, MBA packed up her business consulting practice and moved it online. Her objective was simple: keep growing her business while she saw the world. Brooke spent a number of years traveling, while keeping Thailand as her “home base.” Eventually, she realized that she wanted to make beautiful Krabi, Thailand her home. She has since set up her business beachside, and helps others from around the world discover their own personal and business alignment. I don’t normally post photos this grand, but look at that landscape! Here we talk about Brooke’s newest book – The Levels. This is, basically, her approach to using the laws of the universe to understand our personal universe AND how we can use this understanding to influence our success. She uses the language of physics to describe our relationships, our business, and our general activities. Then she connects this to the world of self-awareness and even meditation. Best quote: “No one’s going to argue with the person who’s angry and wants to take a few minutes.“ Follow along with Brooke’s journey at https://www.businessbackpacker.com and get on her mailing list for upcoming deals and discounts for her new book, The Levels Sign Up Enjoy the video interview: Download Audio:

I caught up with my brother Manuel after he returned from a triumphant tour of Europe and the UK. He’s got some cool things going on the second half of the year, including a big Coaches Mastermind event at CompTIA’s ChannelCon. We talked about Manuel’s coaching and consulting, and then did a deep dive into a few topics. First up: Culture! How do you create culture on purpose? And what happens if you let it grow by itself? I love Manuel’s assessment that it has to grow from the top down . . . or else it will grow from the bottom up. Second: Manuel is organizing a “Coaches Mastermind” opportunity at ChannelCon – Free to attendees. This is a limited event due to the size of the room. First come, first served. To make sure you don’t miss it, sign up for Manuel’s newsletter here: https://manuelpalachuk.com/ Enjoy the video interview:

I always love catching up with Jeff Ponts from DataTel Solutions. If you attend a few conferences a year, you are likely to have seen Jeff somewhere. Jeffery Ponts is COO/Executive Vice President and founder of Datatel Solutions Inc. Datatel Solutions is an Integrated Communications Provider (ICP), and systems integrator focusing on marketing, delivering, and managing best-of-breed data and telecommunication products, services, and applications through the independent sales channel for small to medium size enterprises (SME). As Jeff says, his company does the “heavy lifting” for IT companies that want to resell telecom services. Datatel works with more than 500 agents and 4,700 end customers. In this podcast, we cover a bit about the past and a lot about the future of the telecom industry. Jeff gives some great information about the reality of 5G connectivity and SD-WAN. He makes an interesting point that 4G will be around for a LONG time because it’s impractical to have millions of 5G antennae all across the sparsely-populated areas of the country/world. Lots of great information here! You can find Jeff at www.datatelsolutions.com or www.concordusapps.com Download MP3

I always love catching up with Jeff Ponts from DataTel Solutions. If you attend a few conferences a year, you are likely to have seen Jeff somewhere. Jeffery Ponts is COO/Executive Vice President and founder of Datatel Solutions Inc. Datatel Solutions is an Integrated Communications Provider (ICP), and systems integrator focusing on marketing, delivering, and managing best-of-breed data and telecommunication products, services, and applications through the independent sales channel for small to medium size enterprises (SME). As Jeff says, his company does the "heavy lifting" for IT companies that want to resell telecom services. Datatel works with more than 500 agents and 4,700 end customers. In this podcast, we cover a bit about the past and a lot about the future of the telecom industry. Jeff gives some great information about the reality of 5G connectivity and SD-WAN. He makes an interesting point that 4G will be around for a LONG time because it's impractical to have millions of 5G antennae all across the sparsely-populated areas of the country/world. Lots of great information here! You can find Jeff at www.datatelsolutions.com or www.concordusapps.com https://youtu.be/HOsP6-pcXsk Download MP3

I caught up with my good friend Joshua Liberman for this SMB Community Podcast. Josh is a great community leader and the owner of Net Sciences in Albuquerque, NM. Joshua Liberman In this podcast, Josh walks us through the various elements they offer (and bundle) for their clients. I asked Josh to talk about this because it’s the basis for a presentation I’ve seen him make. Josh has worked on this offering for a long time – and sold a lot of these services over the last several years. Note, Josh relies on SonicWall and Datto for their key services. Since Josh brought this up, I asked him why brand names and vendors matter to him. The handout Josh mentions can be downloaded here: How We Secure Your Network. You can catch up with Josh at www.netsciences.com. Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I interviewed Mas Malik from Virtiant.com for this SMB Community Podcast. Mas is the VP of Sales and Marketing. Mas Malik Virtiant provides “Disaster Recovery as a Service” – without the onsite BDR hardware. It is VMWare-centric and able to recreate your environment in the cloud, so “failover” to the cloud can happen without users needing to repoint IP addresses or make other changes. As they describe themselves, Virtiant is “An all-in-one software-defined platform built on a scalable architecture that resides on commodity hardware. Virtiant is the only on-premise solution available today that can replicate a company’s virtual environment and enable normal IT operations to run while the primary production environment suffers an outage and is being brought back online.” Find out more at: www.virtiant.com Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I talked to Zack Rosenberg about his custom video program – Catapult. As Zack points out, by 2021 more than 82% of internet traffic will be against video, a number that will accelerate once everyone has 5G internet speeds. Video is pricey and difficult to do, especially when SMB’s spend around 2 hours a week on marketing. Basically, Catapult creates interesting and entertaining videos that you can place on your YouTube channel, social media, etc. The goal is to engage your potential audience and then place your marketing in front of them. Despite what you might expect, the videos are not about you – not about technology. They are on sports, hobbies, and other topics. The basic idea is that your prospects are interested in lots of things – and that technology is probably not on the list. Find out more at: www.firecatapult.com Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I was happy to interview Harry on the official announcement of his new book – How to Be An MSP. It is now officially released. In this interview, Harry also announces another new adventure: A serious focus on the cannabis industry as the largest new vertical opportunity for the next ten years. Harry is also launching a new site, effective immediately: http://420msp.com/ I have read the new book and am honored to have written the Foreword. The new book is a great introduction to exactly what it promises: How to Be An MSP. Many of you know that Harry has previously written books on how to be a successful Small Business Consultant. Well, this is literally a new book on that topic – designed for the 2020’s! In addition to the core focus on building a profitable IT consulting practice, the book takes a deep dive into the hottest new vertical market in North America: The cannabis and CBD market. This is a huge industry that requires an amazing amount of technology Learn about the book here: https://420msp.com/buy-the-book/C Visit the new 420 MSP site here: https://420msp.com Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

This interview with Ken Dwight covers a lot of territory. Ken Dwight Ken train IT Pros on cutting-edge virus fighting and virus remediation. He show folks how to dig into the guts of machines to do much more than “remove” viruses. Rather than “Nuking and Paving,” Ken teaches how to dig in and remove all the remnants of viruses – even those left over after AV software has removed the virus. As Ken points out, a lot of modern viruses are very complicated. Many techs approach this by wiping and reloading the PC. Instead, Ken recommends that you clean out the registry and find the files and folders that are left all over the machine. Here are a few additional sources he offers: Virus Remediation Training workshops – https://www.thevirusdoc.com/virus-remediation-training Recorded mini-course on encrypting ransomware – https://www.thevirusdoc.com/ransomware Recorded mini-course on cleaning up after a tech-support scammer – https://www.thevirusdoc.com/scammer Note: Ken offers a 15% discount on the tuition for any of his training. Just enter Coupon Code of KarlP15 at checkout. Find out more about Ken Dwight, “The Virus Doctor,” at https://www.thevirusdoc.com. Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

Had a great interview with Lori Tisinai from the IT Owners Compass conference – www.ITOCompass.com. Lori Tisinai ITO Compass is April 27-28 in downtown Chicago, with a reception the night before. Plan to join me there! I am proud to be the keynote speaker for this conference. And there will be many other speakers as well. Please see the web site for details. In this interview, Lori walks through some of the agenda, followed by a great discussion of speakers, content, vendors, and more. Sneak peek: I’m putting on a 2-hour workshop on the last day. We also talked about women attendees. Lori had a large percentage of women at the conference last year, which is highly unusual in our space. So I am encouraging women to attend by providing scholarships. Special Promo: First-time female attendees will receive a $100 scholarship toward their enrollment. Contact Lori for details. Check it all out at www.itocompass.com! Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I caught up with one of my favorite coaches, James Kernan, a few days ago. James Kernan He was eager to talk about the Ten Best Practices for a Successful Sales Organization. James runs the Millionaire Mastermind Group – Meeting in Orlando March 28-29. For more information, visit KernanConsulting.com. You can also catch up with James at the SMB TechFest show in Anaheim April 18th. Here’s a quick summary. But please watch the interview to get all the details: Ten Best Practices for a Successful Sales Organization Have a Sales Plan / Sales Strategy Set goals and KPIs Have USP Create a compensation plan that’s not too complicated Have a way to help the sales team with leads Constantly educate the sales team Have good communication Get the right tools and CRM Invest in support staff for the sales team Document your sales processes! Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3) [Sorry for my microphone problems. Something changed my settings and I didn’t notice until the recording was done.]

I interviewed Alex Hoff from Auvik from my hotel room in Chicago. Topic: Managed Network Services: Your Next Critical Opportunity. Best comment is that entrepreneurs always go where the white space is. Love that. Whenever you create an offering, you need to go where very few people (or no one) are hanging around. Auvik allows you to monitor complex client networks – with a specific focus on more complicated networks. That means more than just V-LANS: They excel at monitoring networks that stretch across cities, clouds, and various services. As Alex says, we can’t stay focused just the equipment inside a client’s office. The chokepoint might be somewhere else. And with multiple cloud offerings that you don’t control, it’s important to know that everything’s working as advertized. Links: www.Auvik.com email: ROI@Auvik.com The Frankly MSP Resource Centre: auvik.com/franklyMSP Blogs for MSPs: auvik.com/franklymsp/blog/ Auvik on Twitter: @AuvikNetworks Auvik on LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/company/auvik-networks-inc- Auvik on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuvikNetworksInc Alex offered a great network assessment starter kit you can get my emailing to ROI@auvik.com. Instructions bounce back. I did this and received a zip file with a great set of resources. Free. Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I interviewed Amy yesterday on three topics. Two (Third Tier and the SBT Community meeting) were quick. We spent most of our time on the topic of mergers, acquisitions, and “Sell My MSP.” Amy Babinchak Best comment is a quote from Will Smith. What do I have to do today to keep this going? Where do I have BE to keep this going? Unlike the massive MSP merger/acquisition stories you see on Channele2e and other places, we talk about the smaller buyers and sellers. After all, the vast majority of “small” businesses are in the $1-, $2-, or $3-million range. Amy says there are lots of national buyers looking for smaller MSPs to put their brand on. And, she adds, pretty much every market of any size has buyers who are looking for companies to acquire. Even more interesting, Amy says that small MSPs don’t experience the wild fluctuations that you read about in the news. Most of them sell for a number close to their annual sales – and that stays consistent without regard to what the rest of the market is doing. Plus – we covered a lot more territory. All in all, it was a great interview. Amy is always full of good info. Sites mentioned: Third Tier – www.ThirdTier.net Sell My MSP – www.SellMyMSP.com Small Biz Thoughts Community Meeting – www.smbroadshow.com Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I always love to catch up with Chip Reaves from Bigger Brains. This interview is no exception. Bigger Brains is an educational service that you can resell to your clients. They have more than one hundred e-learning modules for everything from Office 365 to Microsoft Teams, QuickBooks, and more. The way their service works is that MSPs buy end user licenses in bulk and then sell them to their clients. You can sell one user or ten at a time. You can also include the e-learning classes into your service bundles. It’s up to you whether you sell the classes separately, include them at no charge, or bundle them with other services. After the interview, Chip offered a “Karl” discount to anyone who requests it. Simply use the code KarlSentMe and you’ll receive a 10% discount on all licenses. One cool new tool Bigger Brains developed is called BrainBot. BrainBot is an app that sends you tidbits of class highlights as well as questions to students after the class is finished. This is based on a well-established educational reinforcement technique. As Chip explains, this application of the material after the class is complete helps the brain focus on the important lessons and reinforces the material. In the long run, students learn more of the material and retain it longer. There is no additional charge for the BrainBot! Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

I interviewed Pete Langas from Nerdio – GetNerdio.com. Pete is the Sr. Director of Strategic Partnership and Distribution at Nerdio. Nerdio empowers managed service providers to build and/or rapidly grow their cloud IT practices through what Pete calls a “ridiculously simple IT management platform” for public and private cloud. Nerdio for Azure is the first IT automation technology that delivers easy packaging, pricing, provisioning, ongoing management, and cost-optimization to complete IT environments in the Microsoft cloud. Nerdio Private Cloud is a fully integrated platform that delivers a comprehensive IT environment at your fingertips – including virtual hardware, software, security, backup and disaster recovery, and 24/7 tech-nerd support. Pete Langas Without Nerdio for Azure, an unoptimized IT environment running in Azure is higher cost than on-premises. You also need expensive engineers to onboard and manage customers in Azure. With Nerdio, you can automatically deploy a complete IT environment in Azure within 2 hours, and without an engineer. Thanks to Nerdio’s cost estimator, pricing out Nerdio for Azure is super simple. It easily enables MSPs to comprehensively calculate the costs and savings of running IT in the Microsoft cloud We talked about several elements of getting started with cloud services for MSPs. In particular, if you’re a Microsoft and have access to Azure as part of that partnership, Pete encourages you to deploy those Azure resources with Nerdio as a was to get experience with both products. Nerdio Links: getnerdio.com getnerdio.com/blogs twitter.com/getnerdio www.linkedin.com/company/getnerdio www.facebook.com/GetNerdio Watch the interview: Listen to the Interview (mp3)

Many people know Len DiCostanzo from his years at Autotask and Datto. Now he’s out on his own, helping IT consultants under the moniker MSP Toolkit. Len is a huge fan of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) and best practices. He’s also dedicated to models that focus on recurring revenue. I ran into Len at the NexGen Conference and Expo in December. We sat in on each others’ sessions and took notes about each others’ advice. We mostly agree on best practices! A mainstay of the channel community, Len provides thought leadership and best practice guidance to technology channel vendors, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and other Business Technology Service Providers (BTSPs). Most recently, Len was SVP of Channel Development at Datto where he focused on helping partners drive recurring revenue with Datto’s cloud-based solution portfolio. Len was with Autotask for a decade prior to Autotask being acquired by Vista Equity Partners for the second time, and merging with Datto in December 2017. You can find him at MSPToolkit.com – where he helps both vendors and MSPs. He helps MSPs get the right processes and procedures in place. He helps vendors find a broader audience in the MSP space. Watch the interview: Len is very well steeped in the ITIL best practices for ITSM (IT Service Management). In this interview, he gives some great guidance about how you approach problems (or are they incidents?) with clients. As you’ll see, Len’s a firm believer that our industry is better off when more of us follow these best practices. Len has a few introductory offers. Contact him (email is in the video) to find out more about how you can engage him. Listen to the Interview (mp3)

January is a great time to catch up With Arlin Sorensen and talk about building a successful managed service business. Arlin has built a few successful companies, including one of the most successful managed service businesses in the U.S. Now he’s the Vice President of Peer Groups at ConnectWise. Although, as he says, he spends a lot of time helping folks with mergers and acquisitions. In this interview, we cover a lot of territory, including planning for for M&A, building value in your business, and the habit of working “on” your business by participating in peer groups. Along the way, Arlin talks about how the ConnectWise peer groups help members deal with leadership inside their companies, building a legacy, and work-life balance. He has some particularly good advice about hiring a service manager and the centrality of that role within a managed service business. Interview with Arlin: Arlin always brings information and wisdom to the conversation. Check it out and explore whether peer groups might be right for your organization. Site: https://www.connectwise.com/theitnation/evolve/peer-groups Listen to the audio podcast

I caught up with my brother Manuel right after the first of the year. He’s got quite a lot going on this year. We talked about the concept of Agile Service Delivery – and the course he offers on the topic. There’s also a lot of fund stories in this interview. As you can imagine, we have some history together – both personal and work related. Manuel Palachuk Manuel’s primary web site is www.ManuelPalachuk.com. You will also find his blog there and lots of resources. In addition to his four decades of work in service industries, Manuel has deep experience in IT generally and managed services particularly. Now he travels, speaks, and coaches IT professionals. He was my first outsourced employee – at age seven. This interview has a great description of Agile Service Delivery and where it fits in your managed service business. It’s all about managing the work instead of managing the people. The PSA vendors tend to push a calendar-focused view of the world, which is literally a 250 year old approach to managing work. Books mentioned: Making Work Visible: Exposing Time Theft to Optimize Work & Flow by Dominica Degrandis. and The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win by Gene Kim. Listen to the audio podcast

Erick Simpson is my long-time friend and fellow coach. My good friend Erick Simpson, formerly the Co-Founder, Senior Vice President, and CIO of SPC International, is now out doing consulting on his own. This is his first interview in his new role as an IT Business Transformation and Channel Growth Expert. Erick is an author and consultant, a former MSP, a great coach, and one of the pioneers of the Managed Services business model. In this interview, Erick talks about how he recommends filtering which prospects should become your clients. I love the discussion of how to determine whether a client has a strategic approach to business. Hint: Ask them. Along the way, we tell a few stories and Erick throws out some good book recommendations (besides his own). Erick’s new web site is at http://www.ericksimpson.com – and you can sign up for his newsletter there. I did. Watch the Podcast: This interview is about 30 minutes long. Listen to the audio podcast

This SMB Community Podcast is the sixth in a six-part series entitled Go To Market with Remote Support Service, with Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. Dave starts out this episode focusing on using the Take Control tool as a way to differentiate yourself from other service providers. More specifically, he has a great analogy about the place of Take Control in your offering. Rather than “selling” this tool, bundle it with everything you do and sell the total service. Reporting is a huge component in that differentiation. You can generate a lot of information per-client and per-user. These are great for showing clients what they’re getting for their money. Plus you can access recordings of all sessions, track time, and provide the client with regular tracking information. Even if they never look at these reports, they’ll think it’s cool that you offer them. The recording option is particularly nice. You can record to the cloud. You can share these recordings with clients. You can add searchable notes, which then allow you to review your actions in detail if necessary. Dave makes an excellent point that you can move away from fear-based selling that is so common with security products. With Take Control, you can engage clients and prospects with a product that they’ll want to buy. As Dave says, no one likes to be sold, but people love to buy! Show them a cool tool that they will want to have in their company. It’s a great way to get started with SolarWinds Take Control! If you haven’t seen the entire six-part series, you can binge watch today at SMB Community Podcast. And if you haven’t signed up for a free trial, please do so today! As always, your feedback is welcome.   Podcasts in this series include: What to Look for In a Remote Support Tool Making Money – Break Fix vs. Managed Services Implementing Your Cloud Services Bundle Remote Control – A New Hope for Security Manage the Customer Experience/Manage the Customer Relationship (this one) Remote Control as the Ultimate Sales Tool Tune in next Thursday for episode six!   Free test drive of SolarWinds MSP Take Control at https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/products/take-control Watch the video podcast:  This interview is about 15 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast is the fifth in a six-part series entitled Take Control and the Customer Experience, with Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. In this episode, we touch on many features of the Take Control tool designed to help you improve and manage the Customer Experience with your technology consulting business. Some of these features are built in (and configurable/customizable). Others come into play as a result of agreements or policy decisions you make with the client. Offline options = Create business-focused policies. e.g., what is “privacy” at each client? Work with the client to help them to create their employee-facing policy regarding monitoring and privacy. And of course you can agree on the level of reporting that clients will receive. In fact, you can use this to help the client set policies about which software you are authorized to uninstall and what kind of reporting they expect regarding their employees’ computing habits. Dave mentions that you can set higher priority for your managed service clients vs. break/fix clients or folks who aren’t customers yet at all. As we mentioned in another podcast, you can use the Take Control app to help the client create terms of service. This is great for setting expectations with your primary contact as well as with end users. Dave explains how you can use Take Control to set up a “help desk” queue so users actually get estimated wait times as well as notices about where they are in the queue. This can relieve end user anxiety and frustration. This can be used for existing clients via a button on your web site. In fact, it can be used for strangers to go through your web site and request help. Dave calls that a “sales lead.” We also touch on juggling simultaneous sessions, providing client training, focusing on one-to-one communications, getting the most out of the licenses As always, lots of good information here. Listen today and download a free trial! Podcasts in this series include: What to Look for In a Remote Support Tool Making Money – Break Fix vs. Managed Services Implementing Your Cloud Services Bundle Remote Control – A New Hope for Security Manage the Customer Experience/Manage the Customer Relationship (this one) Remote Control as the Ultimate Sales Tool Tune in next Thursday for episode six!   Free test drive of SolarWinds MSP Take Control at https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/products/take-control Watch the video podcast:  This interview is about 15 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast is the fourth in a six-part series entitled Episode IV: A New Hope for Security, with Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. As you might imaging, the Take Control application from SolarWinds MSP has lots of security built in. In particular, we talk about all the little security-related details that many people don’t worry about. This includes securing endpoint connections, clipboard access, passwords, and more. Dave gives some good information on the two-factor authentication you’ll experience within Take Control. All that is paired with an authenitcator app that uses unique one-time-use passwords that are managed automatically. If you think about it, a remote control tool gives your staff total access to all client secure data. And with multiple sessions into multiple clients, someone has to make sure that all those sessions are independently secured – and secured from each other. Take Control builds all that security in from the start. We also talked to Dave about GDPR, HIPAA, and the privacy laws we’re seeing across the globe and within local and regional governments. With the new higher standards, technology consultants are responsible for reporting breaches – to the public as well as to your clients. So the question becomes: Can you afford the reputation hit of being breached and having to report that data breach publicly? I really liked the information about levels of access and policies around technician access to end user machines. Within the Take Control tool, the client can configure the level of “privacy” they want their employees to have. For example, you can work with the client to approve or not approve announced and unannounced sessions. Also, you can develop notifications to end users about what they can expect with regard to company data as well as personal data. Dave makes a good argument for using this security setup as a selling point. It certainly makes the point that you take client security and privacy seriously. The interview also introduces the new Take Control Secrets Vault. This is a great tool for managing secure information so that it is never moved outside of the remote session, the technician doesn’t access actual passwords, and the secure information isn’t even available unless a logon screen is asking for credentials. Dave goes into detail here. Very cool stuff. Podcasts in this series include: What to Look for In a Remote Support Tool Making Money – Break Fix vs. Managed Services Implementing Your Cloud Services Bundle Remote Control – A New Hope for Security (this one) Manage the Customer Experience/Manage the Customer Relationship Remote Control as the Ultimate Sales Tool Tune in next Thursday for episode five!   Free test drive of SolarWinds MSP Take Control at https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/products/take-control Watch the video podcast:  This interview is about 15 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast is the third in a six-part series entitled Successfully Implement Your Cloud Service Bundle, with Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. For six episodes, we’re talking about how to get the most out of your remote control tools – and make more money. I really wanted to include this discussion of implementing cloud services in this podcast series. As you may know, I am a huge advocate of bundling your cloud service offering in order to maximize profit and client stickiness. So, we start off with a discussion of setting up the agent and creating default configurations. Here’s the bundle we are discussing:   After that, Dave walks us through mass deployment. This is a very cool feature, and one that you might expect from a remote management tool. Dave also goes into detail about customizing your “terms of service” within the app and protecting yourself legally. After all, remove control of client systems is a very serious undertaking. You need to agree with clients on what kind of access you will use (visible, invisible, with prior arrangement or without, etc.). And, finally, we discuss several other opportunities to customize the Take Control applet. As always, I learned a lot in this interview and I encourage you to give it a listen. And if you haven’t used Take Control, click the link below for a free trial. Podcasts in this series include: What to Look for In a Remote Support Tool Making Money – Break Fix vs. Managed Services Implementing Your Cloud Services Bundle (this one) Remote Control – A New Hope for Security Manage the Customer Experience/Manage the Customer Relationship Remote Control as the Ultimate Sales Tool Tune in next Thursday for episode four!   Free test drive of SolarWinds MSP Take Control at https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/products/take-control Watch the video podcast:  This interview is about 15 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast is the second in a six-part series entitled Break-Fix vs. Managed Services, with Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. For six weeks, we’ll be talking about how to get the most out of your remote control tools – and make more money. Right off the bat, you might think that Dave and I would wave our hands and dismiss Break/Fix as a business model. But the truth is, there are still lots of people making money with “on demand” or “as needed” tech support. It is the right solution for some clients. It’s also a great way to get started as an IT solution provider. So we start out with our definitions of both break/fix and managed service. The next question is, how do you maximize revenue with the break/fix model? As Dave says, you have to figure out how to use your time as wisely as possible and bill for as much of your time as possible. And even though tools like Take Control were developed to help MSPs make more money by leveraging their time better, they also work for break/fix companies. After all, both tools and processes can help you become more efficient. Then, of course, you get to some of the added features that allow any company to offer a higher level of service. With Take Control, this includes recording sessions, tagging the recordings with searchable keywords, providing more timely support, and more. Best of all, Dave points out, you can start charging break/fix clients a small monthly fee to have access to this higher level of support. In addition to offering better service, you begin to taste that juicy good recurring revenue. And who knows? You might just decide that you can start transitioning those clients to full fledged managed service. Once again, I learned a lot in this interview and I encourage you to give it a listen. And if you haven’t used Take Control, click the link below for a free trial. Podcasts in this series include: What to Look for In a Remote Support Tool Making Money – Break Fix vs. Managed Services (this one) Implementing Your Cloud Services Bundle Remote Control – A New Hope for Security Manage the Customer Experience/Manage the Customer Relationship Remote Control as the Ultimate Sales Tool Tune in next Thursday for episode three!   Free test drive of SolarWinds MSP Take Control at https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/products/take-control Watch the video podcast:  This interview is about 15 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast is the first in a six-part series entitled Remote Control Deep Dive: Build and Grow Your Business, with Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. For the next six weeks, we’ll be talking about how to get the most out of your remote control tools – and make more money. Here, Dave talks about the core features of the SolarWinds MSP’s Take Control tool. These include one-to-many scripting and recording the control session. Take Control was built specifically for the SMB market. As Dave says, this is not an “enterprise” product watered down for SMB or a home product stretching to be the right solution. Dave gives us a long list of questions to ask when you go shopping for a remote control tool. And, finally, Dave covers billing. After all, the bottom line is the bottom line. He covers some of the key elements of squeezing as much money as possible with the right remote control tool. And of course he touches on the questions of security, performance, and managing all clients and devices from a single dashboard. I was surprised to learn about some of the cool features he mentions, including adjusting the amount of bandwidth used, recording sessions with notes, and managing multiple sessions at the same time. It’s ironic that I use this tool and didn’t realize how little I have actually been using. Bottom line: I learned a lot in this interview and I encourage you to give it a listen. And if you haven’t used Take Control, click the link below for a free trial. Future topics in this podcast series include: – Making Money – Break Fix vs. Managed Services – Implementing Your Cloud Services Bundle – Remote Control – A New Hope for Security – Manage the Customer Experience/Manage the Customer Relationship – Remote Control as the Ultimate Sales Tool Tune in next Thursday for episode two!   Free test drive of SolarWinds MSP Take Control at https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/products/take-control   Watch the video podcast:  This interview is about 15 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast features my brother Manuel, discussing his new Agile Service Delivery philosophy and training. Basically, Agile Service Delivery applies the principles of “agile” to the industry of managed services. As Manuel says, we stop managing people and start managing the work. One of the big weaknesses of old-school service delivery is that MSPs are taught to schedule, schedule, schedule until the schedule is full. The problem with that is, the schedule turns out to be a huge line of dominoes, stacked and ready to fall. When the schedule is packed so tight that it squeaks, it only takes one small problem to mess up the whole day – and potentially the week. Agile Service Delivery takes a different approach, based on priorities rather than schedules. The best news, according to Manuel, is that you don’t need a new PSA or other tools. You already have the tools you’ll use. It’s your processes that need to change! Check out all the details in the interview below. Manuel also announced his new Agile Service Delivery master class. See details on that site.   Web Site: Coaching Site: ManuelPalachuk.com   Agile Service Delivery www.agileservicedelivery.com/agile-workshop-replay/   Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

This SMB Community Podcast features Nigel Moore from The Tech Tribe. Topics include his community, crazy selling prices for MSPs, and a great discussion about building culture within your IT business. I always enjoy talking to Nigel. I met him just over ten years ago and am happy to still be doing things together. Of course a person can only take so many trips across the ocean in a year, so we do most of our collaboration online. In this interview, we talk about our respective communities (The Tech Tribe for Nigel and Small Biz Thoughts Community for me). After that, we talk about several aspects of selling a business and the crazy valuations we’re seeing for MSP businesses in the U.S. At last we get to the topic we were scheduled to talk about: Building culture in your business. The rambling and spontaneous nature of this interview is exactly why I love working with Nigel. He’s super smart and talented. He’s one of those few “coaches” who can speak on any topic and give some great advice off the cuff. NOTE: At the very end, we tease an event we’re putting together for a few folks in Melbourne at the end of October. Tune in to the emerging details at www.TheTechTribe.com/melbourne2018.   Web Site: The Tech Tribe   Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

Jennifer Fields of Astek Marketing has been helping out with my SMB Roadshows this year. She implements marketing programs for managed service providers. Jennifer has been helping MSPs for more than five years. She’ll help you build a list, clean it, pre-approve it, and “warm” it so that people know who you are when you contact them. If you’ve purchased a marketing program such as Robin Robins’ Technology Marketing Toolkit, Jennifer’s team can implement it for you. When you buy a program like that, you know it’s awesome and amazing. But YOU don’t want to build the list, print the postcards, send the mailing, and make the followup phone calls. Jen wants to do that! Listen to the interview. If you have questions, contact her!   Web Site: www.astekmarketing.com   Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

I had a great interview with Josh Peterson of Bering McKinley (https://beringmckinley.com) about the state of our industry and what small IT consultants need to be paying attention to. Our first topic was actually unplanned. We just started talking about what we’re seeing as we travel around the country and meet MSPs. What we’re both seeing is a frenzy of M&A (mergers and acquisitions), fueled by an influx of investor capital. In fact, Josh has a couple of great stories about crazy (high) valuations. I make the point point that YOU can take advantage of the mergers as a time to get new clients. When companies are in the throes of gobbling, combining, and figuring out what to do next, there’s a period of chaos in which their service delivery plummets. And you might be able to come in and say you’ll give these clients the attention they deserve. This 30 minute interview touches on the Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams, the different challenges of small IT companies and large, weeding your client garden, making hard choices, training your clients, and convincing your spouse that Managed Services won’t destroy your marriage. Josh also has a big sales training coming up Super Bowl Weekend 2019 in Las Vegas. He gives some juicy information about this two day sales retreat. Related Links: Bering McKinley web site: www.beringmckinley.com Note: I also interviewed Josh about peer teams back in August. See that podcast here. Find out more and sign up for MSIAM Peer Teams Here.   Josh Stuff: Bering McKinley is a Management Consulting firm specializing in IT Solution Providers. They have over ten years experience in consulting owners and staff of IT Firms. They proudly provide Blue Chip consulting to small business. Since they only focus on one industry, they have in-depth expertise in all three business units: Sales, Service, and Finance. Josh Peterson has more than 14 years of management consulting experience.  He has run Bering McKinley for five years, focusing very heavily on the most important challenges facing managed service providers. Josh is also very active as a Peer Team leader. Bering McKinley Peer Teams focus on accountability and constant improvement. He has helped over a thousand companies move to a higher level of success. Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

Stephanie Chandler is a long-time friend and mastermind partner. We are happy to announce our first book project together – The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan. Between us, we have almost thirty books. But Stephanie also runs Authority Publishing, so she has experience publishing many more books, focused on almost any audience you can think of. You can learn more about Stephanie on her Speaker Page or Wikipedia. She has been a driving force in the writing community worldwide, and particularly in Northern California. She is the founder of the Nonfiction Authors Association, with chapters all over the globe. On top of all that, Stephanie runs the Nonfiction Writers Conference. The Fall Conference will be held online November 8-9. More details at https://nonfictionwritersconference.com/. (I am honored to be a speaker at this event.) So, with all that going, I don’t know how she found time to talk to me on the SMB Community Podcast, but she did! After helping each other with thousands of business ideas and projects over the last 15-ish years, Stephanie and I finally collaborated on a book. Previously, Stephanie had great success with The Nonfiction Marketing Plan, and I wrote Publish Your First Book a long time ago. So we combined our knowledge of book publishing to come out with this guide to profitable self-publishing. Of course the book has it’s own page here: http://store.nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/book-the-nonfiction-book-publishing-plan/   In This Interview . . . Stephanie gives us some great tips on how to use your book to promote your business. You can tell she knows here stuff when I ask her to apply her ideas to the technology consulting market. She immediate threw out half a dozen ideas about how to use the book to promote your business, get local speaking gigs, and make sure your prospects have handouts with your name on them pinned to the bulletin board. We also discuss the strategy Stephanie used right there: Give your best information up front – hold nothing back. Remember, your prospects (and those you speak to at Chamber meetings, etc.) are not in your business. So they can’t absorb the information as easily as if you were talking to technology consultants. So give them the juicy good information and you will make them hungry to understand. And a great way to get that understanding is to buy your book or engage you in a contract. If you want to engage Stephanie, follow the links below. And I highly encourage you to join the Nonfiction Authors Association and plan to attend the online Nonfiction Writers Conference in November. I promise you’ll love it.   Links Mentioned: Nonfiction Writers Conference: https://nonfictionwritersconference.com/ Nonfiction Authors Association: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/ The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/the-nonfiction-book-publishing-plan-the-professional-guide-to-profitable-self-publishing/   Check out the interview here:  This interview is 30 minutes.   Listen to the Podcast  

Frank Bravata is a technology expert, serial entrepreneur, public speaker, best-selling author, podcaster and Veterans’ supporter. He works as a business technology coach assisting companies all over the country to fuel their explosive growth through technology and digital marketing. He is also the president of MSP Speakers, a training firm dedicated to assisting MSPs to become the authority in their marketplaces and to leverage public speaking and group-based selling to massively grow their companies. In this SMB Community Podcast, I talk to Frank about how you can get started as a speaker – promoting your business services from the front of the room. In the video, Frank mentions a free report you can get at https://mspspeakers.com/. He also has a webinar coming up. You can learn more about that at https://mspspeakers.com/webinar. Frank is also member of the CompTIA (www.comptia.org) Committees on IT Support and Cyber Security, helping to develop policies and standards to protect companies worldwide. He has been interviewed and written for outlets such as Reuters, The New York Time, Forbes, The Daily News, Long Island Business News, MarketWatch, The Daily News, Newsday, Business Solutions Magazine. CNBC, Fast Company, WLIX Radio, LI News Radio, and many more. Frank is also a two-time author, with his third book “Unleveling the Field: Leveraging Technology as a Competitive Advantage” forthcoming in 2019.   Links Mentioned: Web Site:  https://mspspeakers.com/ Webinar: https://mspspeakers.com/webinar CompTIA: http://www.comptia.org   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes.   Listen to the Podcast  

Gil Cargill is a sales trainer and coach. In this interview he talks about the importance of business-focused communication during sales calls. Too many technicians thing clients care about technology. They don’t. They care about how you can improve their profit, improve their productivity, or help with cashflow. Gil gives some great tips on how to get the conversation started, and to get the prospect to buy in to a productivity audit. His approach is very conversational and is totally focused on the client rather than the technology. Gil gives his email in the video. I’ll just list his web site and phone number below.   Links Mentioned: Web Site: http://www.gilcargill.com Phone: 310-447-4102 Check out the interview here:  This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

I caught up with Rob Boles from Blokworx for a chat on Modern Security challenges. In 2006, Rob created BLOKWORX to further his passion for creating fast, secure networks that provide clients peace of mind. BLOKWORX is focused on security, reliability, and positive user experience. They manage, monitor, and maintain thousands of nodes, all supported by a mature delivery model built from years of experience. Today there are over 2000 cybersecurity technology companies constantly innovating, and IT leaders are still sifting and sorting assembling the combination that “works”. Now BLOKWORX is helping other MSPs improve their security services. Give his interview a listen and see if they might be able to help you. Links Mentioned: Web Site:  https://www.blokworx.com/ Offer: for the SMB Community Up to 50 licenses for 30 days – AT NO COST 20% discount on all licenses for all new partners that respond by August 15th using discount code KARL ROCKS. – – – – – Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes.  

James Kernan is a business, “success,” and sales coach. He has owned and built some very successful managed service companies. This SMB Community Podcast with James Kernan covers “Gamification” within Your MSP. How do you motivate employees, make their job fun, and improve your success? Coach James Kernan gives you his best tips. This includes his five points to keep in mind as you look to “gamify” goal setting within your team. Note: The handout mentioned is linked from the SMB Community Podcast blog post is HERE in PDF format. That handout is on financial goals and KPIs.   Links Mentioned: Web Site: http://www.kernanconsulting.com Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

Doug Hazelman is the VP of Technical Marketing at Cloudberry. We talked about Cloudberry’s cloud backup options as well as their managed service reseller program. (I didn’t know their cloud agents could be deployed with many RMM tools.).   About Doug Hazelman: Doug is a software industry veteran with over 20 years experience including 9.5 years at Veeam Software. He was on the executive team at Veeam and also helped spearhead Veeam’s community and technical evangelists efforts as well as provided insight into product strategy. Doug has held various management positions at other software companies throughout his career. He graduated with a BS in Computer Science from Western Illinois University with a minor in marketing..   Links Mentioned: Forum: https://forum.cloudberrylab.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cloudberrylab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CloudBerryLab/ Blog: https://www.cloudberrylab.com/blog/   Check out the interview here:   This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

I interviewed Ramey Bell from Tech Reputation – www.techreputation.com. Tech Reputation automates the process of getting reviews posted on the major review sites. They also have a process to alert you to potentially bad reviews and help you intercept those reviews so you can potentially turn them around. Tech Reputation was founded in 2017 by Ramey Bell, an IT professional with over twenty years of experience in marketing. Ramey has owned and operated a computer repair shop in Oak Harbor, Washington for the last six years, using those marketing skills to grow his business. He found that having an automated system in place to capture positive reviews led to improved word-of-mouth referrals and increased revenue. Fully understanding the time limitations all IT owners face, he decided to offer an automated service and marketing system that enables owners to quickly understand their current reputation and manage all of it from a single place. Google pays attention to about fifty sites that publish reviews. Tech Reputation automates the process of getting positive reviews from your clients. Note: You can get a discount with the code KARL!   Links Mentioned: Web Site: www.techreputation.com   Check out the interview here:   This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

I caught up with my brother, co-author, and fellow coach recently. It seems odd to interview my brother, but I have massive respect for Manuel. In addition to practicing a work/life balance that few achieve, he is a true master of process control and an amazing business coach. Manuel Palachuk You can find out more about his coaching programs at www.manuelpalachuk.com – and more about our ChannelPro shenanigans at https://events.channelpronetwork.com/. We start with a bit of a deep dive on coaching. Many people don’t know exactly what they want from coaching. All they really know is that “stuff” is broken and they need help. Manuel explains how he uses and “agile” approach to help companies identify goals and make quick changes to move in that direction. We also covered mergers and acquisitions in the SMB space. Most important statement in this interview: Companies in the middle of a sale or acquisition are consumed by chaos for six to twelve months. That means you might have an advantage for a period of time when your competitors are up to their eyeballs with the details of a merger or acquisition. . . . This also ties into the last podcast with Nigel M0ore.   Links Mentioned: Web Site: ManuelPalachuk.com Membership Info:   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

I had a great interview with Nigel Moore from My Technology Business (The Tech Tribe). Nigel Moore Nigel joins us from an hour north of Sydney, Australia. He tells us the story of how he sold his managed service business AND maximized the price by creating standardized processes. Great line from this interview: When you move the sale from simply acquiring clients to a strategic buy, then the prices goes way up! Last year Nigel launched the “Tech Tribe” community – officially My Technology Business. His community provides a wide variety of resources, including video trainings and downloadable templates. In this interview, Nigel walks through one of his favorite forms – a client screening to determine whether or not it’s worthwhile to take on a client. . . . Plus stories and a lot more. Enjoy!   Links Mentioned: Web Site:  www.mytechnologybusines.com Membership Info: www.thetechtribe.com Special Offer: www.thetechtribe.com/karl – including a speed coaching call!   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

Harry Brelsford In this SMB Community Podcast, Harry Brelsford from SMB Nation gives us an update on the latest and greatest from his world. Highlights include the Spring SMB Tech Talks (Topics include Blockchain and Bitcoin), Life-long learning, new analytics courses from Microsoft, and an update on “Pivot” marketing program. Harry finishes off with a quick summary of his hottest five tips for marketing online in the SMB Community.   Links Mentioned: Web Site:  www.smbnation.com SMB Tech Talks: http://unbouncepages.com/msptechtalkspring2018/   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

If you’ve attended an ASCII Success Summit in the last few years, I’m sure you’ve run into Herman Pool from Vertical Axion (www.verticalaxion.com). If you haven’t attended an ASCII Sucdess Success Summit – You Should! Visit asciievents.com for more info. Vertical Axion helps Managed Service Providers with a variety of marketing programs, including building customized web sites. They also provide syndicated content for your web site – and promote those posts on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. They also help with SEO. In this interview, Herman talks about some of the pitfalls small businesses find with SEO. Herman also has a great book called One Hour Marketing. I’ve linked to his site so you can find out more. Best advice snippet: Don’t build your Internet presence on Facebook!! That’s like building on rented land. :-O   Links Mentioned: Web Site:  www.verticalaxion.com Herman’s Personal Web Site: www.hermanpool.com   Check out the interview here:   This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

I had a great chat with my friend Dave Sobel, Senior Director of MSP Evangelism at SolarWinds MSP. We covered a broad range of future-looking topics – and how they might affect us in the small business space. Dave is an author and former managed service provider. Note: This is NOT a vendor-centric podcast. Dave is a tremendous thought leader in our community and I’m always happy to catch up with him and talk about where he sees the world of technology headed. Enjoy the video – and see why Dave has the title Senior Director MSP Evangelism! Also, connect with Dave on social media. All his links are on his about.me page at www.davesobel.com.   Links Mentioned: Web Site: www.davesobel.com Article: The Perpetually Valuable MSP – www.solarwindsmsp.com/resources/wp-perpetually-valuable-msp Book: Flash Foresight by Daniel Burrus   Check out the interview here:   This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

I caught up with Michael Siggins, founder and Publisher of ChannelPro Magazine. In addition to covering a bit of the history of ChannelPro magazine, Michael gives us some great information about the ChannelPro events and other resources. Two cool topics we touched on include the State of the Channel research that was recently released (see link below) and the new IoT Playbook (also linked below). One cool stat from the State of the Channel report is that 44% of MSPs are bringing in more revenue than they did in the previous year. Folks are also broadening their scope and making money with security, IoT, and other offerings. The IoT (Internet of Things) Playbook is a new resource from ChannelPro to help you learn about the Internet of Things and figure out how to profit from IoT. After all, $1.4 Trillion is expected to be spent on IoT. That’s so big, it can’t all be in the enterprise. There’s plenty of money in the SMB space: How will you get your share? Side Note: I am doing a three out event before the ChannelPro SMB Forums. I’m bringing my SMB Roadshow to the ChannelPro pre-day. Check out the ChannelPro links below or visit www.smbroadshow.com.   Links Mentioned: Web Site: www.channelpronetwork.com ChannelPro Events – www.ChannelProForum.com 2018 State of The Channel Research – www.channelpronetwork.com/article/2018-state-channel-survey-stepping-toward-future-it IoT Playbook – www.iotplaybook.com Other great publications from EH Media, the publisher of ChannelPro: https://www.cepro.com http://www.channelpronetwork.com https://www.commercialintegrator.com https://www.securitysales.com   Check out the interview here:   This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

A few weeks ago I announced a public “SMB IT Community” meeting, which was held Monday February 26th. Here’s the original announcement so you know the set-up here: http://blog.smallbizthoughts.com/2018/02/hear-ye-hear-ye-attend-live-community.html That meeting was recorded and here it is.   This meeting is about 60 minutes.  

Joshua Liberman is a well known member of the SMB IT Community. In addition to writing for ChannelPro and other magazines, you may recognize him as the guy taking pictures at several shows, including ASCII and SMB Techfest. Josh owns Net Sciences in Albuquerque, NM. They are an MSP with a strong focus on security. Luckily, Josh also makes presentations to IT Pro conferences. I’ve seen him present in the U.S. and Australia. That’s when I decided I should interview him. Here Josh talks about the challenges and opportunities for installing, configuring, and upselling firewalls. (Hint: Starting in the mid-range can be a great place to start.) Josh’s team has a thorough checklist for firewall setups. If you need help, he is willing to assist. Contact him at NetSciences.com. Best Comment: If you’re in this business, you’re in security, whether you realize it or not.   Link: Web Site: www.netsciences.com   Check out the interview here:    This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

In this SMB Community Podcast, I interviewed Jennifer Fields and Elizabeth Vanover from EMC – Executive Marketing Collective – on IT Marketing Strategies. Each of them had a successful marketing business. Then they merged into a bigger, better company focused on helping Managed Service Providers do effective marketing. They help MSPs find clients and convert them through an amazing variety of techniques. They help you find leads, set appointments, and even help you use the news media to promote your business. If you need telemarketing or custom content, they do that as well! Marketing is one of the biggest pain points for IT service providers of all sizes. Because they offer such a large variety of services, EMC has a price point for everyone. Most unexpected info: You can have donuts hand-delivered to your hottest prospects. Talk about a personal touch!   Link: Web Site: www.executivemarketingcollective.com   Check out the interview here: Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast  

In this SMB Community Podcast, I am joined by Justin Esgar. He runs an MSP business in New York City called Virtua Computers. They focus primarily on Apple computers. Justin runs a conference called ACES that will be held in Baltimore, MD May 9-10, 2018. More information at http://www.acesconf.com/karl. The ACES conference evolved because Justin realized that the technology conferences he was attending we focused on technology more than business. So he got together a bunch of IT professionals for a conference. And while it started out primarily among Mac consultants, the content is very business focused – so the hardware is really not relevant. Note: Justin is offering a 10% discount on registration. Use the link above and enter the coupon code “karl” at checkout. Early Registration pricing ends March 1st. The coupon code is still good after that, but the base will be higher. Big unexpected advice you need to listen to: When you attend a conference, finish your coffee! Listen to learn why.   Link: Web Site: http://www.acesconf.com/karl   Check out the interview here: Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast  

In this SMB Community Podcast, we talk to James Kernan of Kernan Consulting about selling managed services. James is a sales coach and the author of the 36 Month Millionaire program. I got an email a few weeks ago from someone looking to hire a sales person. I answered that email – but immediately thought about James. What advice would James give to a sole proprietor who is looking to hire a sale person? So I scheduled a call with James and asked him what advice he has. In case you haven’t heard of James, trust me: He knows what he’s talking about. He has built a few businesses. In fact, he bought one business that was selling about $300,000 per year and grew it to $12,000,000 in thirty-six months. Hence the 36 Month Millionaire program that he developed for Robin Robins. This is a very educational interview. James gives a ton of great advice. And, as you’ll see, he has great business advice in addition to sales advice.   Stuff Mentioned: Web Site: www.KernanConsulting.com Phone: 888-Var-Coach   Check out the interview here: Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

New Year’s means one thing in business: Tax Season! My good friend Rayanne Buchianico joined me to talk about “all things tax” for 2018. We started off talking about 1099s and other reporting requirements. One of the interesting points Rayanne made is that some pieces of the process are not really required – at least not the way most of us think. This 30 minute interview covers taxes for sole proprietors, s-corps, and lots of related issues. Rayanne owns ABC Solutions in Clearwater, FL. She is an enrolled agent: A tax professional who is licensed to represent you before the IRS. She is also and MSP and and she specializes in helping other MSPs get their finances straight – and keep them that way. As strange as it sounds, we spent a lot of time talking about 1099 requirements. Basically, 1099s are good for YOU because they allow you to deduct those expenses from your taxes. But in order for you to do that, someone else (whoever receives the 1099) must then declare that money as income on their tax return. Quote of the Day: “If you only have one 1099, that means you don’t have a business. You have a job.” There are also dramatically different 1099 rules for corporations. You have to send a 1099 to any vendor you have paid $600 or more. And here’s a great safety tip: Never pay a new vendor until after they return their W9! Rayanne’s favorite question (which I asked her): “If I’m a sole proprietor with no employees, can I get a tax payer ID to use instead of my Social Security Number?” . . . And then we talked about S-corps, C-corps, changing tax rates, 20% reductions in taxable income for 2018, and SO MUCH MORE . . . . . . And more and more. I am amazed at how much good information you’ll find in this 30 minute interview. Without typing a transcript, there’s no way to cover all the good stuff here. Just listen. Stuff Mentioned: ABC Solutions: https://abcsolutionsfl.com/ Rayanne’s Blog: https://abcsolutionsfl.com/blog/ –> Follow-up blog post on Rayanne’s Blog – Filing 1099-MISC – https://abcsolutionsfl.com/obligations-1099-misc/ Classes Rayanne teaches at Great Little Seminar: http://www.greatlittleseminar.com   Check out the interview here: Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

My friend and one-time business coach Josh Peterson  has agreed to run a new set of Peer Teams – based on the “Managed Services in a Month” approach to managed services. I hope you’re not too surprised to learn that Josh and I have very similar ideas about most things. Many of you have seen Josh speak at conferences or taken his classes from Bering McKinley or over at Great Little Seminar. This 30 minute interview covers the concept of Peer Teams, “opening your numbers,” and business improvement generally. Learn about what makes these groups Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams vs. any other peer group. What would an entire year of working on this philosophy look like? NOTE: Josh and I have also scheduled a Live webinar on January 17th to answer all your questions about the Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams. Register for that here: Live Q&A Webinar Registration.   Stuff Mentioned: Bering McKinley web site: www.beringmckinley.com Bering McKinley Big Game Sales and Service Retreat: https://beringmckinley.com/bering-mckinley-las-vegas-retreat/ — Use code Karl777 to get the discount mentioned in the call! Live Q&A Webinar January 17th: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EHZxiaCgQo6k7-Xz3TenJg Note: I also interviewed Josh about peer teams back in August. See that podcast here.   Find out more and sign up for MSIAM Peer Teams Here.   Josh Stuff: Bering McKinley is a Management Consulting firm specializing in IT Solution Providers. They have over ten years experience in consulting owners and staff of IT Firms. They proudly provide Blue Chip consulting to small business. Since they only focus on one industry, they have in-depth expertise in all three business units: Sales, Service, and Finance. Josh Peterson has more than 14 years of management consulting experience.  He has run Bering McKinley for five years, focusing very heavily on the most important challenges facing managed service providers. Josh is also very active as a Peer Team leader. Bering McKinley Peer Teams focus on accountability and constant improvement. He has helped over a thousand companies move to a higher level of success.   Check out the interview here: Watch the video podcast: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

My friend Brooke Ferguson decided to try running her business from Thailand. That was ten years ago and she’s still going  strong. Brooke is a Lifestyle and Business Coach. Talk about drinking the Kool-Aide! She started with a three month stint to see if she could really run her business abroad. Then she realized that not only *could* she, but she also thrived. That’s when she realized that she never had to return home if she didn’t want to. Over the years she has learned to navigate the world of business overseas, getting paid across international boundaries, and providing amazing service across all the time zones of the world. To assist her clients, Brooke has developed a massive training that includes 42 videos and worksheets. She has sold this in the past for $600. Now, as she describes it, she has completed all her “bucket list” items and is ready to operate at a much higher level. So she’s giving away this training in order to spread her business and best practices to a much wider audience. Please check out the podcast – and subscribe to that massive training. I have! Web site: www.businessbackpacker.com Blog: www.businessbackpacker.com/blog/ Free $600 course mentioned in podcast: www.businessbackpacker.com/sign-up-page   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

VSP – Vision Service Plan – has a great Individual Plan for people who are self employed. I worked with VSP to create a white paper about preparing for retirement when you’re self employed. After all, it’s a lot different from folks who receive a regular paycheck. In this video, I interview Al Schubert from VSP. More information on the white paper mentioned is at http://www.vspdirect.com/retirement. Check out the interview here: I’ve blogged about this program before. See these blog posts: Benefits make sense even without a group Retirement Resources for the Self Employed   More information about VSP Individual Plans can be found at www.vspdirect.com.   This interview is 30 minutes.  

Josh Peterson has been a friend and mentor to me for many years. I am happy to interview him about his company and what he’s up to. Josh is the co-founder Bering McKinley, a consulting firm for MSP’s and IT Solution Providers. He has been in the IT Solution Provider arena for the last 15 years. First as an owner, then as a management consultant with Taylor Business Group for 8 years, and now as founder of Bering McKinley. Additionally Josh is a maniac for strong financial accounting practices being followed at business of all sizes. He believes, as Peter Drucker did: “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” Josh has a deep respect for anyone who has the nerve to start their own business but also believes that only gets you so far. Sooner or later you have to take accountability for your business and perform at extraordinary levels to enjoy the lifestyle you deserve. In this interview, Josh talks about the Bering McKinley Peer Teams. Note – that’s not groups. Listen and find out why. Web site: www.beringmckinley.com   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

Lisa Hendrickson Lisa Hendrickson is “Call That Girl” – an Office 365 and Outlook specialist. In this 30 minute interview we cover her business strategy, supporting O365, migrating email to the cloud, SEO blogging, and much more. Lisa has grown a thriving business serving several audiences. She created the business to serve end users. But over time she’s found herself helping I.T. consultants figure out how to move Exchange email up to the cloud with Appriver’s Office 365 offering.   We have recently started selling Lisa’s great 7-video training set: Outlook Troubleshooting for Technicians. See http://www.smbbooks.com.   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

Mark Smith is the Executive VP of EH Media, publisher of ChannelPro magazine, as well as CEPro, Commercial Integrator, Security Sales and Integration. In a former life, Mark founded Windows NT magazine. As I’ve mentioned in several settings, I’m a big believer that all the really fast-moving technologies are merging and adding TCP/IP into their offering. The key to success, of course, is to add recurring revenue and become a managed service provider. In addition to some great stories from the past, we also cover the challenges of making money in the years ahead in all areas of technology service. EH Media has created a program to train everyone who’s interested in technology service in the secrets of recurring revenue and managed services. The program is call RPM: Recurring Profits Mastery. Starting May 17th, I’ll be teaching a new course on how to create your managed service offerings and go from “zero” to 100% managed services. It’s called MSP Kickstart and it’s a detailed 6-week online course. The price is only $997. But I requested a limited time discount! Check out the details at http://ehimpact.co/order-kickstart. Then enter code kpkickstart to save $202. That makes your final price $795! You literally need ONE new client to pay for the whole course. Here’s what you get: Week 1: Adopt the MSP Mindset so you can position your company to take advantage of the cloud service opportunity Week 2: Create a Profitable Offer so you can focus your efforts on the clients that will most likely buy your new offer and generate the fastest profits Week 3: Service Agreements. You’ll create the 3 key agreements so you can start selling your new profitable offer. Week 4: Client Meetings. You’ll be scheduling client meetings and learning what to do before, during and after the meetings so you can sell benefits, overcome objections and get signed agreements. Week 5: Tools. You’ll learn the right tools, checklists and processes so you can start running your managed service business after you’ve made a sale. Week 6: Generating Leads. You’ll learn how to use the 68-point checklist strategy to schedule “free network checkup” sessions so you can CONVERT those free network checkup LEADS into new clients.   Note: This is NOT the Cloud Five-Pack training. Go see SMBRoadshow for that. There is almost zero overlap between this course and the Cloud Five-Pack training.   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

Harry Brelsford is the founder of SMB Nation. In this interview Harry announces a new Marketing as a Service platform called Pivot. We talk about marketing and analytics in the SMB community – and a lot more. See http://SMBNation.com/pivot.   Harry stresses that modern marketing requires analytics. You are wasting money if you just do a little SEO and buy Google ads. In addition, there are lots of things involved in marketing that the average MSP owner can’t do or shouldn’t do. You really don’t have time for analyzing your clients, split-testing ads, and all the other modern elements of marketing. Subscriptions start at $300/month. You need one one client to pay for that.   Links mentioned in our conversation: http://www.smbnation.com http://SMBNation.com/pivot http://www.blabpredicts.com/ http://www.lumapartners.com/lumascapes/social-lumascape/       Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Audio Listen to the Podcast.  

Manuel Palachuk (yes, we’re related) is a business coach, author, and trainer. This week he announced the launch of the MSP Pro Acedemy – a training and certification site for managed service providers and IT Professionals of all sizes. More details at www.mspproacademy.com. In addition to launching the academy, Manuel has started an Indiegogo campaign to speed up the release of the first course materials. Contributions there will get your great prices on his book, the Academy, and more. For more about Manuel’s coaching, visit www.ManuelPalachuk.com.   Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes.   Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast:   Manuel’s Coaching: ManuelPalachuk.com MSP Pro Academy: MSPProAcademy.com MSP Pro Academy Indiegogo campaign: https://igg.me/at/mspproacademy Coaching Offerings: https://www.manuelpalachuk.com/start-here/program-fees  

Debbie Leoni is my life coach. I thought it would be useful to introduce her to the SMB IT community. I get questions about why I have a life coach coach and how that’s different from a business coach. I hope this interview answers those questions. You can learn more about Debbie from her web site at www.debbieleoni.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook. She has some great Facebook “Live” videos. So keep an eye out for those. You can buy Debbie’s book – I Am Fearless – from her web site, on Amazon, or over at SMB Books.   Check out the interview here: This interview is about half an hour.   Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast:   Debbie’s Fearless Web Site www.debbieleoni.com   Debbie’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/deborahannleoni    

I had a great chat with Kendra Lee on the subject of Hiring and Managing Your First Sales Person. We talked about writing ads, choosing a “hunter,” setting goals, and managing them through the first year. It was a great discussion. You can learn more at http://www.klagroup.com. You’ll find Kendra’s blog there as well. If you’re interested, you can request a free half-hour consultation with her. Check out the interview here:   This interview is about half an hour.   Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast:   KLA Group: http://www.klagroup.com   Kendra’s Blog: http://www.klagroup.com/blog   Karl’s Blog: http://blog.smallbizthoughts.com    

You know I’m all about SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). So I was happy to talk to Raj Goel about his “SOP Culture” project. He has defined a series of SOPs for I.T. Professionals. They are available on a subscription basis. Check out the interview here:   This interview is about half an hour. Links mentioned in the video are linked below.   Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast:   Andy Parkes’ Blog: http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog   Jay McBain on the most visible leaders in the channel: http://www.jaymcbain.com/2016/10/100-most-visible-channel-leaders-2016.html   Raj on Creating Obvious SOPs: https://www.brainlink.com/creating-obvious-sops/ Raj on SOPs: http://www.sopculture.com/secret-to-brainlinks-success-process-and-sops/ VIDEO that you should watch before or after this interview: https://youtu.be/HD-8eB20M6c  

I had a great talk with Rayanne Buchianico yesterday. We covered Sell My MSP, QuickBooks, important reports to run for your business, and the next course she’s teaching over at Great Little Seminar in October. Here’s the video:   Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast:   Robert Crane’s Blog: http://blog.ciaops.com/2016/09/azure-site-recovery-is-cool.html   Andy Parkes’ Blog: http://andyparkes.co.uk/blog/index.php/2016/09/13/command-prompt-and-the-clipboard/   Rayanne on Robert Crane’s Podcast: http://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-112-rayanne-buchianico/   Sell My MSP: http://www.sellmymsp.com/ Rayanne Buchianico Accountant and MSP Business Consultant Rayanne has over 25 years of accounting, tax and business experience in the SMB sector. She specializes in working with IT Professionals and MSPs to improve profitability through accounting systems, financial reporting, and PSA integration. Rayanne was awarded the 2012 Jim Locke Memorial Community Award by SMB Nation and SMBTN and was named to the SMB 150 list by SMB Technology Network (SMBTN) and SMB PC magazine in 2011 and 2012. She partnered with Bigger Brains to provide the QuickBooks 2013 video training course. She is the founder and leader of the Tampa Bay IT Pro Group, and is the past Treasurer of the Global IT Community Association for both the North American Board and the Global Board. Rayanne is the owner of ABC Solutions, LLC in Clearwater, Florida. ABC Solutions provides accounting, tax, and accounting systems consulting services to SMB IT companies throughout the United States.   The course: Financial Processes that Make All The Difference   Xero https://www.xero.com/us/   PeachTree – MAS90 – Business Works http://www.sage.com/us/sage-50-accounting   Great Plains / Microsoft Dynamics https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/small-midsize-business.aspx   Topics for this class include: Separation of duties – Handout includes a list of accounting/financial duties for students to complete What services are profitable Separating out information on the P&L for management decisions Entities and tax considerations – understanding how your entity is taxed. Handout is a tax projection worksheet for 2014 taxes Cash flow forecasting – Handout is a cash flow projection spreadsheet to forecast revenues and expenses Understanding margins and ratios – Deep dive into the P&L and Balance Sheet to understand how the numbers work together to make decisions. Handout is a worksheet on calculating and understanding the ratios & margins. Understanding the balance sheet Controlling inventory & Cost of Goods Sold Action plans for success . . . and More!    

I interviewed with Dave Seibert from SMB TechFest about the Fall show. This event is held four times per year in Anaheim, CA. This is always a good event. And this year, I’m pairing it up with my 12th Annual Fall Seminar. More about that on a future podcast.     Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast:     The Need to Know Podcast (Robert Crane) http://blog.ciaops.com/ How to Manage Your Daily Workflow (LogicNow blog) https://www.logicnow.com/blog/how-manage-your-daily-workflow 3 Magic Questions a Sales Manager Must Know (Ken Thoreson) http://yoursalesmanagementguru.com/2016/08/3-magic-questions-a-sales-manager-must-know/ Attend SMB TechFest for free at … http://www.SMBTechFest.com/karl Karl’s Fall Seminar http://www.smbpreday.com  

We’re kicking off a whole new podcast series here at SMB Community Podcast. So subscribe today so you don’t miss a thing. We’re going to be doing a series of “video call” podcasts of about 30 minutes each. These will be recorded as both a Video and as an Audio download. So you can decide whether you want to watch or just listen. To kick off the new series, I talked with Amy Babinchak from Third Tier and Sell My MSP. Amy is very well known in the SMB IT community. Recently, she’s noticed that there are a lot more buyers looking for MSPs than there are sellers listed to sell their business. One reason for this, she believes, is that there’s a myth in the community that a small MSP has no value. I’m not sure where that myth originated, but it’s one of the things people keep telling each other over and over again. Amy has a very different perspective: If you’ve been making money in your business for 10-20 years, it has value and it can be sold. You just need to find the people who are looking to buy. A lot of buyers want to be anonymous, though, so their competition doesn’t find out that they’re in expansion mode. That’s where Sell My MSP comes in. It’s like a dating service for your business . . . except you can’t use a ten year old picture. The site includes a tool you can use to get some idea of what your business is worth. Get all the details – and more – in the interview: Video     Audio Listen to the Podcast. Links mentioned in this podcast: – Lisa Hendricks’ Call That Girl Office 365 Podcast Blogs – The Three Biggest Mistakes Non-IT People Make When They Plug Things In – New Ransomware Kit Materials Released – Blog series on Documenting New Server Install Amy Links – Third Tier Consulting – Sell My MSP – Infographic Maker

I had a great conversation with Alistair Forbes, the new Managing Director of SolarWinds MSP (formerly the General Manager at LogicNow). In case you missed the news yesterday, SolarWinds MSP bought LogicNow. LogicNow CEO Walter Scott now becomes the Executive Vice President of Solarwinds MSP. And Dave Sobel retains his title as Senior Director of Partner Community and Field Marketing. I exchanged a few emails with Dave as he’s traveling in Portugal right now. He is very excited and positive about the changes ahead. Change brings uncertainty, and I’ve received lots of emails and requests for information about this merger. So I asked Alistair to join me for a quick conversation to answer the big questions. This interview is about 15 minutes. More details about this interview are on my blog at http://blog.smallbizthoughts.com. As always, I am impressed with the LogicNow team’s openness and willingness to directly answer the major questions being asked online and in the forums. It’s a period major change, so there’s some natural “fear uncertainty and doubt.” But it looks like a great move in the right direction for LogicNow partners. More information about SolarWinds MSP is here: http://www.solarwindsmsp.com/ More information about LogicNow is here: https://www.logicnow.com/ Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

Final report from SMB Nation 2015. My guests here are Patrick Houston from Biz Tech Xperts and Rich Maddalena from LogicTree IT. Patrick Houston Patrick Houston is the co-founder and editor at Biz Tech Xperts (see www.biztechxperts.com) – Note: Not experts – xperts. BizTechXperts.com is a site for end user clients to come and ask questions. The site pairs you up with people looking for answers. You can then answer their questions and begin to build a relationship. The match-up gives you a warm lead because you are helping them answer a question. Now you’re “known” expert who can help them at a deeper level. Patrick talks about using the system to position yourself as an expert and for focusing on a niche market. There is no cost to you as the expert.   Finally, I talked to Rich Maddalena from LogicTreeIT.com about their Two Vie Hub product. Two Vie Hub is a mobile app platform that gives users the ability to customize the look, feel, and content of applications very easily. Rich Maddalena As Rich mentions, it only took about four hours to take the customizable app and generate the SMB Nation conference-specific app. You can check it out by going to your app store and searching for SMB Nation. Vertical markets, including cities, restaurants, schools, and of course conferences. Home owners associations is a very strong vertical market for them already. At this event, Rich is looking for channel partners who are interested in making money by selling customized apps. Rich has some great tips on how to make apps usable and valuable so that people actually open them. If you’re interested in a free trial – as well as advice on designing and selling apps – contact Rich. You can sign up as a reseller by calling Rich at 916-676-7335. Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

The first person I grabbed at SMB Nation was Robert Crane from CIA Ops – CIAOPS.com. Robert presented a great demonstration on using live data to create meaningful information for clients. Robert Crane Microsoft’s PowerBI is a business intelligence. Robert showed how to analyze data from a variety of sources. Once you have an Office 365 login, you can add this product and it will be just another app on your portal. In this interview, Robert covers a lot of territory about getting started with data analysis, including some notes about mashing up client data with public databases. The really good news is that these tools are readily available to your clients for no additional cost. He also talks about the huge public databases you can access. And of course everyone has web data. Some clients have data on sales trends and other internal processes. The one thing that’s very clear from this interview: Technology is not enough! You need to help your client with their business. Find out more and follow Robert at CIAOPS.com and on his blog at Blog.ciaops.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at @directorcia. Chip Reeves Chip Reeves from Bigger Brains had a table to promote online training. In addition to providing training that you can resell to your clients, Chip announced “Bigger Brains Tech” in association with SMB Nation. For $99, you can give your technicians access to a series of training specifically for IT Pros. The first training is on network basics. A training on HIPAA will be released later this month, and troubleshooting course after that. Now you can get great training yourself, in addition to raising money selling training to your clients! More information at BiggerBrains.com.   Joel Zaidspiner Finally I chatted with Joel Zaidspiner from ChannelPro Network. He covered what’s in the ChannelPro magazine and how to subscribe for free. We also talked about the big ChannelPro SMB Forum coming up November 3rd in Neward, NJ. (Details at http://events.channelpronetwork.com/). As always, that event will feature great content that you can take home and use right away. I am honored to be a speaker there. If you register for the big ChannelPro SMB Forum in New York, mention me and you will receive 100% of your registration fee back when you attend the event. Of course you can find out more about ChannelPro magazine at www.channelpronetwork.com.   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

Report One from SMB Nation 2015. Featuring Nick East from Zynstra and Dave Seibert from SMB TechFest. Nick East Last year Zynstra (www.zynstra.com) pretty much dominated SMB Nation with demos. This year Nick East announced that Zynstra is now distributed both through Ingram’s cloud program and through D&H. In fact, they were at the show with D&H (www.dandh.com). If you’re interested in finding out more, there’s a TCO (total cost of ownership) tool on the Zynstra site. Research shows that the number one thing you can do to increase your company’s value is to increase Recurring Revenue, followed by Professional Services. At the bottom are hardware and software. Zynstra’s goal is to turn all of these into recurring revenue. Nick also noted that Zynstra has a new acceleration program that gives you a huge boost in margin for your first three deals.     Dave Seibert and Karl Palachuk Next I talked to Dave Seibert from SMB TechFest (www.smbtechfest.com) about the big event they have coming up October 15-16. I will be joining Dave on the stage on the 16th. I fly in from Australia that morning. I’m renting a car and driving down to Orange County just in time to climb on stage. Join me. . . . In this interview, Dave talks about technology trends and some of the things we’re going to cover in our talk at SMB TechFest. I’m sorry I won’t see all the great speakers, including Gil Cargill, James Kernan, and Mike Semel. I’d love to see you there!   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

At the Business Solutions Channel Transitions event in Chicago (two weeks ago), I caught up with Randy Clark from Mercury. Mercury is a payment processor. Think credit cards. Pretty much everyone takes credit cards. Everyone who has clients that trust them has the potential to sell credit card processing. Randy Clark – Mercury Pay In this interview, Randy talks about getting started as well as the opportunity options for credit card processing. Some people sell directly to their clients. Others create a complete side business selling credit card processing. In addition to working with Consultants and VARs, Mercury works with software developers. As you know, there’s at least one live of business application for every business out there.   One very important point: If you want to increase the resale value of your company, recurring revenue from payment processing can increase the value dramatically. The key is that you get a small faction of every sale made by the merchants you set up.   Find out more about Mercury and how how can create a stream of recurring revenue at www.mercurypay.com.   The next Business Solutions Channel Transitions conference will be in Orlando in November 5th. Details and registration are at http://www.channeltransitions.com/.   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

Mike Monocello Mike Monocello Mike Monocello is the editor-in-chief of Business Solutions magazine, a monthly publication dedicated to helping IT solutions providers grow their businesses by selling complementary technologies and moving into thriving markets. We talked about building recurring revenue models, technology, and business. Mike has to come up with new articles for a variety of readers every month (retail VARs, managed service providers, etc.). As you can imagine, it’s hard to figure out which content to focus on. They spend a lot of time listening to their readers in order to get feedback about where their audience is and where they’re going. We talked about the Business Solutions Channel Transitions conference in Chicago last month. We also looked ahead to the conferences Business Solutions had coming up later this year and next. The next Business Solutions Channel Transitions conference will be in Orlando in November 5th. Details and registration are at http://www.channeltransitions.com/.   You can find out more at www.BSMInfo.com.   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen at a conference is a “Visual Practitioner” summarizing the event via large scale drawings. I talked to Jackie Forbes at the recent MAX 2015 conference. She is with Drawn to Learn (www.drawntolearn.co.uk). Her background is in meeting facilitation, so she has good skills around picking out the important points of the day. Here’s a picture of the drawings she did for two days of the conference. Click to enlarge. Drawn to Learn   I didn’t realize that this is now an official profession with meetings and titles. Even while we were talking, someone came up to ask Jackie about illustrations like this for video projects. She specializes in meeting artwork like this, but she gave him a referral to someone who specializes in the video side of the business. If you were not at the conference, a lot of the components here won’t make sense. But to those who sat through presentations, these are great reminders of what we saw and heard from the screen. (Did you know the unicorn is the official animal of Scotland?) Jackie Forbes, Drawn to Learn   Jackie says you don’t have to have a lot of artistic skill to be a Visual Practitioner, but I’m not sure I buy that. My unicorn would look like a blob with a stick. Clearly, you need t understand what’s going on at the meeting and be able to pick out the juicy good information that’s important to the attendees. That I can do. Scribbling it into a picture . . . that’s out of my skill set. Check out Jackie’s web site. Obviously, she’s from the UK, so you probably won’t have her at one of your events in the U.S., but you’ll get a sense of what the industry is about. And she’s very friendly, so if you need a referral, I’m sure she can help.   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

Back at the vendor hall . . . I talked to four folks about taking your business to the next level. Two of them are directly in sales and marketing (helping you with S&M), one who helps you generate reports to make more sales, and an industry organization you should absolutely be involved with.   Ken Goldstein is with Choice Technologies. They are an MSP with a successful sales process – and they’re willing to help you increase your sales. They have developed an assessment system to help you analyze prospect networks and develop a sales proposal based on the findings. Find out more at www.choicetech.com.   Matthew Koenig is with RapidFire Tools. RapidFire Tools provides network auditing reports that are both big and beautiful. Here Matthew talks about the compliance assessments you can run with RapidFire Tools. This includes PCI, HIPAA, and general security. More info at www.rapidfiretools.com. Karl and Raj   Raj Khera is with Presstacular. They help you automate getting out a newsletter every week, or month. They provide articles that are “news” as well as just good advice. Most small MSPs don’t have a marketing department. Presstacular provides professionally written technology articles that you can add to your newsletters, blog posts, etc. Best of all, you can edit and customize these articles to fit your needs. More info at www.presstacular.com.   Susan Kostbar is a Senior Manager at CompTIA. You probably know CompTIA from the A+ and other certifications. The CompTIA Lounge   One of the fun things CompTIA did is to set up a lounge in the vendor hall so that attendees could relax and recharge. In fact, they had a recharge station where folks could plug in their phones, tablets, etc. to literally recharge them. I talked to Susan about the training programs at CompTIA as well as their community and advocacy efforts on behalf of the computer industry. More info can be found at www.comptia.org.   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

While in DC for the MAX 2015 conference, I wandered down to the vendor hall. Of course I took my trusty recorder along for the stroll. Here are three quick interviews with vendors I met.   Carl Banzhof from iScanOnline talked about “data breach intelligence.” Basically, they use a host-based agent to search for sensitive data. In addition to the places where you know you have data (e.g., the database), iScanOnline looks at PDF and Excel reports that were generated from a database, but now those reports are stored on local PCs and in Dropbox accounts. In addition to cataloging data that might be where it doesn’t belong, the tool also checks to see whether a breach has occurred and calculates the estimated cost of that breach. You can request a 14 day free trial on their web site at www.iscanonline.com.   Jim Lippie from Clarity Intelligence Platform talks about “turn-key automated analytics as a service” platform. Basically, that’s a tool that looks at how their data is moving around inside their business (both on premise and cloud-based). General topic areas include finances, sales and marketing, and I.T. operations. I love the line he uses: “Small businesses are pack rats.” One of the ways to use this tool is to find the data that’s rarely used and recommend that it get moved off to long-term (less expensive) storage. The reports will certainly make monthly business reviews or quarterly business reviews a lot easier. And now you can bring juicy good data and not just how many viruses you stopped last month. Check out the free 90 trial at www.clarityintelplatform.com.   Josh Peterson Josh Peterson from Bering McKinley joins us to talk about Peer Groups. In addition to group calls and in-person meetings, Bering McKinley provides a partner portal for members to communicate and help each other between meetings. They also partner with Corelytics to provide meaningful financial analysis so that members can benchmark themselves against others in the industry. While some peer groups are “pure peer,” Bering McKinley provides a facilitator to help members get the most out of their meetings and overall experience. While a peer group might see the insides of 10-12 businesses, the facilitator has seen hundreds or thousands of businesses. The facilitator will also know a lot about how to tweak things in the business to meet the “best in class” benchmarks in Corelytics. For more info, visit www.beringmckinley.com.   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

I always love working with Joe Panettieri. He’s a very smart guy, very fun to talk to, and totally tuned into the channel.So I had to grab him for a quick podcast when I saw him in DC this week. Joe Penettieri at MAX Joe and his partner Amy Katz run After Nines, Inc., a consulting company. And they’ve been working on a new project. In fact, they’re going to announce it and launch in a few days. I knew Joe wouldn’t give me the full scoop, but I got some hints. Joe’s using the hashtag #E2E so you can look for that on Twitter, etc. The official announcement is Tuesday, September 15th. In the meantime, here’s a teaser podcast.   Check out the After Nines Blog at http://www.afternines.com/news/ And follow Joe on Twitter at https://twitter.com/joepanettieri   UPDATE: The Site is Now Live Visit my Small Biz Thoughts blog for the details: ChannelE2E Launch Promised to Walk You to The Exit and the new adventure is . . . Channel e2e – https://www.channele2e.com   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

I love the ChannelPro SMB Forums. There’s always something new and different going on. Even the panels change from city to city. Here’s a quick report from the ChannelPro SMB Forum in Chicago last week. You can still sign up for the last show of the year – November 3rd in New York / New Jersey. See http://events.channelpronetwork.com for more details.   In this podcast, I interview Erick Simpson and Todd Haugland.   Erick Simpson Erick Simpson is the VP and CIO, of SPC International – see http://www.spc-intl.com. Erick was one of the panel members on Cloud Services and bundling. He also made a presentation on “Value Pricing.” I asked what that is and Erick explained. Instead of taking costs plus x%, value pricing focuses on identifying the client’s pain and pricing services with client pain relief in mind. Note that this is a different kind of sales process, and is focused on clients who approach technology from a strategi perspective. Luckily, Erick is convinced that anyone can learn this process. For more information, see SPC, International at http://www.spc-intl.com.   Todd Hauglund is the Lead Sales Engineer for MAXfocus by LogicNow. Todd Haugland Todd presented an in-depth Preday training called the “MAXfocus Remote Management Academy Classroom Training Day.” As you can hear in the interview, I gave him some grief for that title. Todd tells us something about that training, which he’ll be repeating in New York in November. But more importantly, Todd wanted to talk about the big MAX 2015 U.S. conference that’s coming up Tues-Thurs in Washington, DC. The conference is September 9-11. The conference will have Five tracks – and Todd is presenting an entire track by himself! Other tracks include technology, business, vendors, and sales. MAX will be making some big announcements about new features as well as filling in some details about announcements that have recently been made. Last week then released new pricing to customers and announced that they will be switching to Bitdefender for anti-virus. Because I saw the announcements in Australia, I know the biggest announcements that will be made a few days from now. – And I’ll report those right here. So subscribe to the SMB Community Podcast and don’t miss the news! MAX currently has more than 12,000+ partners. Todd says they are very close to 13,000. Growth has been spectacular. Find out more about MAX at https://www.maxfocus.com/ Find out about the conference at http://conferences.maxfocus.com/us-2015/ … And follow the MAX IQ blog at https://www.maxfocus.com/blog/   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.

Earlier this year I spoke at the Retail IT VAR of the Future Conference, sponsored by Business Solutions Magazine. In this interview, I talk to Jim Roddy, President of BSM, about the upcoming conferences called Channel Transitions. The conferences will be: Chicago – Sept. 24th and Orlando – Nov. 5th You can find out more at www.channeltransitions.com or www.BSMInfo.com. Jim Roddy The conferences will focus on transitioning to recurring revenue models. Traditionally, Business Solutions subscribers (about 40,000) have included a large number of businesses with vertical markets in POS (point of sale) and barcode technology. Jim mentions an interview with Greg Dixon from ScanSource called Managed Services Tsunami. You can read that article here: http://www.bsminfo.com/doc/a-managed-services-tsunami-in-pos-bar-coding-is-coming-don-t-say-you-weren-t-warned-0001. Note: You can get into these conference free of charge with the checkout code PODCAST01.   Additional Contact info: Web – www.BSMinfo.com Blog – blog.BSMinfo.com Twitter – @Jim_Roddy Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Business-Solutions-Magazine/302094311173 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-roddy/6/523/a68 YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/BSMinfo Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

Sell My MSP! What a great idea! I love the new project from Managed Service rock stars Amy Babinchak and Rayanne Buchianico for a number of reasons. Their new project is called Sell My MSP and the web site is www.SellMyMSP.com. It’s a new clearinghouse for people looking to buy or sell an I.T. business. Sell My MSP The first reason I love this project is that it’s very educational. You can request an evaluation of your business right away.  But you can also get some forms and worksheets to “prep” your business for sale. Those will give you some checklists that are educational to go through. Second, Amy and Rayanne are totally focused on the reality of selling a business. Some people have unrealistic expectations about the value of their client list, the role of debt in the process, and the timeline needed to complete a sale. Amy talks about the “strategy” of letting a business winnow down until there are just a few clients left. Rayanne mentioned the need to put debt outside the sales process. Both of them talk about having a long-term plan for selling your business.   What’s your exit strategy? The service – Sell My MSP – is a clearinghouse. Prospective sellers can list their business anonymously, so clients and investors can’t tell that your business is for sale. Of course identities of buyers and sellers are revealed at some point. Unlike many listing services that don’t focus on the SMB space, Sell My MSP does not take a piece of the action or base fees on a percentage of the sales price. There’s a flat fee for buyers and a flat fee for sellers. And BOTH are at a reduce site during the introductory period. So check it out today. They have a new blog, so subscribe to that as well. You never know when you might find it useful! Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

While I was down under at the MAXfocus partner conference in Melbourne, Australia, I talked to a couple of the sponsors in the back of the room. Mark Winter Mark Winter from Rapid Fire Tools was promoting their Network Detective product. Rapid Fire Tools (www.rapidfiretools.com) already has a presence in Australia. Mark was here to meet partners as well as sign up some new partners. In this interview we discuss HIPAA equivalent issues in Australia as well as the global PCI standards. Mark also had some good conversations with distributors in Australia. So things are looking great for them! Contact info: Sales@rapidfiretools.com Web – www.rapidfiretools.com Phone – +1 678-323-1300     Jerry Koutavas I’m always happy to run into Jerry Koutavas – even when I’m not expecting it. Jerry and the ASCII Group were in Melbourne to support MAX as well as test the waters with regard to expansion of ASCII into Australia. Of course I used the opportunity to probe about specific programs they might be offering. I’ve always loved the ASCII Group and think the folks down under will be well serviced by them! Jerry gave a wonderful presentation about using publicly available tools to dig into prospective clients. He used a local business owner he found on LinkedIn as his example. It was quite amazing how much information Jerry could dig up in a very short time span. Here in the U.S., ASCII is preparing for their bill “ASCII CUP” competition and end-of-year conference in October in Irvine, CA. I will be speaking there, so check it out – and join us if you can! Find out more about the ASCII SMB Success Summits and the Fall conference at http://www.asciievents.com/.     Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

While I was in Australia for the MAXfocus Partner Conference, I was quite impressed with their plans to data mine their own tools. Dave Sobel I caught up with Dave Sobel, Director of Partner Community for LogicNow (MAXfocus). Dave’s team is responsible for the MAX partner conferences and they did a great job with this one. I asked Dave about the whole “Big Data” initiative at MAX. He was very excited about the possibilities. As he says in the interview, MAX has billions of data points to analyze, not just from how their tools are used, but for end-user computer systems as well. Dave gives some hints about the big announcements coming from MAX at the U.S. Conference next month. He also brags up his team in Australia.     Dana Bullister   Next I talked to Dana Bullister, a Data Scientist for LogicNow. Of course I thought they had one. She assures me that they have a whole team of Data Scientists (isn’t that a cool title?). Dana talked about how the data are gathered and used. She makes the point that the concept of “best practices” takes a different angle when you look at how hundreds of thousands of machines are configured and maintained. With almost 20,000 partners, LogicNow supports an amazing array of end-points. One of the coolest concepts they’re working on is predictive failure of equipment. When you can isolate all the servers with a specific motherboard or hard drive, and you see problems across thousands (or tens or hundreds of thousands) of machines, it becomes possible to assign probabilities that a given component or system will fail. The Data Folks at LogicNow are working to make that service possible.     Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

Todd Billiar Yesterday I talked with a couple of pros about the hiring environment for small IT shops. The good news: According to Todd Billiar from VAR Staffing, there’s about a 1-2% unemployment rate for I.T. Consultants. The bad news: Everyone wants more money – even if they’re not qualified. This podcast includes interviews with Todd as well as Josh Peterson, one of the great coaches in the IT community. Todd recently published an article in ChannelPro SMB magazine. That got me thinking about the best interviewing approaches today. I discovered that he’s got all kinds of great information about the trends in our industry today. Here we talk about some of those trends, including the rising cost of technicians as well as the types in highest demand. Todd’s Billiar Contact Info: www.varstaffing.com email tbilliar@varstaffing.com Phone 972-847-0566     Next up I talked to Josh Peterson about the recruiting/hiring process. Josh is a firm believer that you should also be talking to people about working for you. Josh Peterson Like everything else in business, you should be prepared for the “urgent” situation when you need a new technician. You need to avoid hiring because you’re in a panic. You need to avoid hiring with a single interview, or the the person who walks in the door. Josh also gives some great advice about making the most of the first day, first week, and 30-60-90 days. Even if you don’t execute that flawlessly, having a plan before you need it will be very helpful. Finally, Josh talks about the best interview technique for getting the information you need from technicians. Josh Peterson’s Contact Info: www.beringmckinley.com Blog: www.jo-sh.comjosh@beringmckinley.com Phone 212-203-1364   A Few Other Resources If you’re looking to hire a technician, check out the job resources at ChannelPro: http://jobs.channelpronetwork.com Volume Two of the Managed Services Operations Manuel is all about employee hiring and management. If you already own it, please go read it. If not – buy it!   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

Catch our July 7th and last episode of Odd Tuesdays where Carbonite’s Dave Maffei joins the show to give MSP tips on working with millennial SMB owners. Dave’s tips recently featured in ChannelPro magazine. Dave also talks a bit about Carbonite’s partner program. Check out the episode HERE. Odd Tuesdays listeners are encouraged to take advantage of the OddTuesdays show coupon at the MSP store. That coupon expires at the end of July. You can receive 20% off store-wide with the coupon.

Dave Seibert joins me for a look at tapping into Community Knowledge. Dave Seibert This conversation flows from a presentation I saw Dave give in Anaheim last year at the SMB Techfest (www.smbtechfest.com). In fact, I liked the presentation so much that I asked Dave to create a new version for the SMB Online Conference. There are people “talk” community and there are people who “do” community. Dave does community ALL THE TIME! He was just named as one of ChannelPro SMB’s top 20/20 visionaries. And that’s the tip of the iceberg after his recognition as a Microsoft MVP, SMB 150 honoree, MSP 250, VP of the So Cal IAMCP chapter, a major player in the SMBTN, and so much more. WHY does Dave participate in all those things and more? Because he totally understands the value of participating in the community. In this podcast Dave talks about how he garners knowledge on new topics and challenges as an IT professional by engaging in conversations at various SMB channel events. Then he gives some notes from his upcoming presentation. In all, he sprinkles in great advice and perspective from someone who is a great example for the rest of us!   Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

I had a great catch-up chat with Harry Brelsford from SMB Nation. He’s busy with a couple of things going on at once. I know: Shocker! First up, SMB Nation is putting on the first “Behind the Curtains” training on Windows 10, in association with Microsoft. This is a vendor-free event. It is also sold out – but Harry has a waiting list. So be sure to register because that will guarantee you’re on the list to get information about the next big Windows 10 event. Details at the Events Page at SMB Nation.   The much bigger event is SMB Nation / Office365 Nation’s Get Connected event. Details are at http://getconnected.o365nation.com/ – including the agenda and speaker lists. Get Connected happens August 4-5 and focuses on Office 365, Windows 10, and Azure. As their web site says: “Bringing together Office 365 and Win10 experts, thought leaders, and a wide range of IT Professionals, THE Get Connected event provides you the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and tools you need to support your organization. Learn how to incorporate the industry best practices at more than 20 educational sessions tailored to Office 365 and Win10. Join us to learn and explore bench marking features of Office 365 and Win 10 via this two day online conference August 4 and 5th, 2015, from the comfort of your desk.” The fun starts at 7:00 AM (Pacific) on Tuesday, August 4th. Sessions go through 4:00 PM that day. On the 5th, sessions are 7:00 AM until 1:30 PM. Harry Brelsford Topics scheduled so far include: Office 365 Licensing Office 365 Click-To-Run Deployment Making Money with clients on Office 365 Line of Business Apps/Integration SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business Migration Introduction to Windows 10 Windows 10 Security Windows 10 and Universal Applications Windows 10 and the Internet of Things Windows 10 Sales and Support Opportunities   Interviews with Harry are always fun and informative.     Listen Now: Listen to the Podcast.      

Catch our June 16th Odd Tuesdays episode! Ulistic Founder and CEO Stuart Crawford joins the program to talk about the types of marketing services they offer MSPs as an outsourced option. IT Innovators’ Dave Seibert and resident Oddball Rayanne Buchianico also join this episode – with a healthy dash up current Tech events and news stories thrown in. Check out the episode HERE. Odd Tuesdays listeners are offered discount codes for the upcoming 4th annual MSP online conference. Be sure to listen out to save $$!  

Catch our June 2nd Odd Tuesdays episode! eFolder’s Ted Hulsy joins the show and talks about client misconceptions on data loss risks and about their Cloudfinder solution. One of our resident Oddballs, Manuel Palachuk, also features in our Oddballs segment to talk about how to motivate wayward technicians. Check out the episode HERE. And listen out for discount codes in the show to MSP classes & conferences like Time To Thrive-2015!  

We are joined by Bernadette Wilson, Associate Editor of Business Solutions Magazine, in our May 21st episode of Odd Tuesdays. Bernadette talks about the resources and events Business Solutions provides for MSPs, to include information on their Channel Transitions conference tour (with a special discount code given to Odd Tuesdays listeners good for a free conference pass.). Resident Oddball Rayanne Buchianico also joins the show in our Oddballs segment to share QuickBooks tips for MSPs. Check out the episode HERE. And listen out for more discount codes in the show good for upcoming events such as the Time To Thrive-2015 MSP Online Conference!

Our May 5th episode of Odd Tuesdays featured SharePoint & Office365 Expert Robert Crane talking about his consultancy and resident Oddballs Manuel Palachuk talking about head hunting for techs.       Check out the episode HERE. And listen out for the episode coupon to save $$ on the upcoming 4th annual MSP Online Conference!  

Last week we had a report from Robin Robins’ Big Seminar – www.robinsbigseminar.com. This is the second report on that event – featuring an interview with Robin herself on why this event is different from other events in the community. In this podcast, I interview four folks: Nadia Karatsoreos from MAXfocus, Stephen Swavley from Documentation Toolkit, Rob Rae from Datto, and Robin Robins from Technology Marketing Toolkit. The first three are vendors. As you know, I love vendors because the pay the bills at these events. They literally make it possible for us to have channel-related events.   Nadia Karatsoreos – MAXfocus Nadia Karatsoreos – http://conferences.maxfocus.com – www.maxfocus.com – http://youtube.com/maxfocus   Stephen Swavley – Documentation Toolkit Stephen Swavley – www.doctoolkit.com   Rob Rae and Robin Robins Rob Rae from Datto with Robin www.Datto.com – Rob@datto.com   Special Musical note . . . Music for this episode courtesy of Holland Marie . . . www.hollandmarie.com Holland Marie Used with permission of the artist.   Listen to all four interviews and my commentary here: Listen to the Podcast.      

Our April 21st episode of Odd Tuesdays features SaaSMAX CEO Dina Moskowitz and VP Partner Clinton Gatewood discussing the marketplace they have available of reseller-friendly SaaS applications. One of our resident Oddballs also joins the show to share some “keeping it simple” MSP business accounting tips. Check out the episode HERE. And as always, every episode of Odd Tuesdays includes a special listener coupon for various upcoming MSP events and educational materials. Listen out and save on events like below!

We had a great time in Nashville for Robin Robins’ Big Seminar – www.robinsbigseminar.com. I love this event because it’s crowded with great partners who are totally dedicated to working ON their business (see my Small Biz Thoughts Blog post on this). In this podcast, I interview four folks: Jan Spring from eFolder, Jeff Dryall from Plan27, Nathan Brebner from Sandler Partners, and Bab Farkas from Computerama in Freeport, NY. The first three are vendors. One of the reasons I like to interview vendors is that they are in business to make money for us. Those who do a good job making money for us become partners for life. The vendors also help to make possible the events we attend!   Jan Spring efolder Jan Spring – jspring@efolder.com – www.efolder.com   Jeff Dryall and Karl Palachuk Jeff Dryall – www.plan27.ca   Nathan Brebner Nathan Brebner – www.sandlerpartners.com   Bob is an I.T. Provider from Freeport, NY. I wanted to interview him because he has such a unique vertical. If you’ve ever thought about focusing on a specific vertical, give this a listen!   Listen to all three interviews and my commentary here: Listen to the Podcast.      

Our April 7th Odd Tuesdays show features Author and IT Freelance Writer James Gaskin discussing his recent feature in ChannelPro magazine entitled ESET Endpoint Security: Effective and Unobtrusive. And one of our resident Oddballs, Amy Babinchak from Third Tier, also joins the show to talk about staying ahead of the curve in your MSP business. Check out the episode HERE. And as always, listen out for special coupons for upcoming MSP events like below!  

Our recent episode of Odd Tuesdays features several interviews with experts in the non-profit sector. First up, Karl talks to Dan Webb from TechSoup, an organization that connects technology vendors with non-profit organizations seeking free and discounted software, hardware, and general tech support. Karl also talks to Mark Moreno, Owner of C&M Support Services & Consulting. Mark shares his wealth of experience in utilizing TechSoup and servicing non-profit and church organization clients. Check out the episode HERE.

This is the first report of two I’m doing on the Channel Partners Conference in Vegas last week. The primary reason I attended is that many, many, people at the Channel Pro SMB event in Baltimore kept asking me if I was going. I went a little early and connected with some folks. Then I stayed a little late and caught up with some others. I always recommend that strategy, as opposed to rushing in and rushing out. A lot of the “good stuff” at any conference takes place around the edges. Zynstra and CloudMSP team (and Karl) I was lucky enough to connect up with the whole Zynstra Hybrid Cloud team. They were in town for an HP Global Partner conference. Here we are at the MGM. Pictured here are Daniel Langton (CloudMSP), me, James Tuff (Zynstra), Andrew Morlidge (Zynstra), Nick East (Zynstra), Rhett Ryder (Zynstra), and Jeff Ponts (CloudMSP). Learn more at www.zynstra.com or www.mycloudmsp.com. – – – – – I interviewed several people. On this podcast, you’ll hear interviews with the following folks:   – Dave McGirr – Advocates for Business Dave McGirr – Dave is from Annapolis MD. He literally stopped me in the hallway to tell me how excited he is about the Zynstra Hybrid Cloud solution I had mentioned some time ago on a podcast.     – Paula Wong – Hayward Networks Paula Wong – Based in the SF Bay Area. Paula is a security specialist looking for IT partners. See www.haywardnetworks.com.   – Sam Ciaccia – Datto Networks Sam Ciaccia – Datto has offices in the U.S., Canada, London, and Australia. – Learn about the cool news for founder Austin McCord – and find out about the Datto Partner Conference in New Orleans! – www.dattopartnerconference.com and www.datto.com   Listen to all three interviews and my commentary here: Listen to the Podcast.       Enjoy the recordings . . . I’ve got more coming soon from the Channel Partners event that just finished in Vegas.

I am fundamentally lazy. Or busy. Or both. As a result, I sometimes captures interviews while I’m out and about and then don’t post them up right away. I’m going to be doing some catch-up here. I’ve got three quick interviews for you here. They are:   Steve Noel, MSP Evangelist for Axcient Jeff Dryall, Directory of Business Development with Plan 27 and Kevin Jones, Sales Engineer, RapidFire Tools   We’ll start with Steve Noel. Steve helped out one of my clients at the end of last year and we chat about that a bit. I ran into Steve at SMB Techfest (www.smbtechfest.com) awhile back. Axcient recently released a Granular Exchange Recovery tool – and they have lots of other cool things planned for 2015. In this podcast, Steve also gives details on the “freeware” version of the Axcient product so you can learn the product – and maybe even use it in an emergency. For more info, see www.axcient.com. Listen to our Interview Here.       Next up is Kevin Jones from RapidFire Tools, discussing their flagship product – Network Detective. Kevin tells us a bit about the new “Inspector” product. It’s a great tool for doing assessments and creating a vulnerability report for clients and prospects. Last year, RapidFire released a new HIPAA Compliance Module that has become very popular. Network Detective was named by CRN as the #1 income generating tool for 2014, largely due to the success of the HIPAA Compliance Module. Coming in 2015: a new PCI compliance module. For more info, see www.rapidfiretools.com. Listen to our Interview Here.         Last but not least, I talked to Jeff Dryall from Plan27. I insult him, then he insults me. Then we get down to the interview. Plan27 is a web-based lead generation service. They provide search engine marketing specifically for the channel – as a managed service. My question is: Isn’t SEO such a moving target that no one can stay on top for more than twenty minutes? Jeff’s got a great answer for that question. Plan27’s Google analytics team keeps your Google campaign fine tuned hour by hour. Find out more by listening to the interview. For more info, visit www.plan27.ca. Listen to our Interview Here.       Enjoy the recordings . . . I’ve got more coming soon from the Channel Partners event that just finished in Vegas.

In March 3rd’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Microsoft MVP Kevin Royalty joins the show to discuss his recent feature in ChannelPro magazine on the benefits of MSPs partnering with their peers. Computer Wallah Bob Nitrio also joins the episode in our Oddballs segment to compare Stamps.com and PB Smart Postage following his investigation into handy, professional business postage tools. The episode also includes a listener coupon for upcoming MSP online courses over at Great Little Seminar. Check out the episode HERE.

In February 4th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Karl talks to a Social Ammo’s Peter Caddick about the stunning lead generation his company is doing for MSPs. This episode also hears from one of our resident Oddballs, Rayanne Buchianico, and updates listeners on the latest in upcoming Tech Events and current Tech News. Take a listen HERE! * And Updates * Our 4th annual online conference is just about sold out at the $99 price tag. Visit SMBOnlineConference.com for more information! SMB Online Conference  

    Our latest Odd Tuesdays episode is chalked full of a lot of MSP resources, links, and a great discussion between Karl and MSPmentor‘s Jessica Davis! Check it out & be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed so you do not miss future episodes. There are also updates on this year’s annual SMB Online Conference. Karl has announced the title of this year’s Conference, Time to Thrive 2015, and is now accepting registrations. The first 50 to register, get all 3 days for $99. Visit SMBOnlineConference.com for more information!

Be sure to catch our one-year anniversary episode of Odd Tuesdays! We’ve had a terrific year of Podcasts and have delightfully seen our audience grow and our show syndicated to iTunes! In this episode, Robert Crane, from CIAOPS, shares a lot of little known opportunities that exist with SharePoint. And resident Oddball Manuel Palachuk joins us in our Oddballs segment. Manuel spells how some how-to’s on MSPs documenting their processes. You can find our birthday episode here. And don’t miss out on the special code to access great discounts on MSP online courses over at Great Little Seminar! Cheers to all who have been supporting our show!!      

On Jan 6 we featured some HIPAA discussion on our Odd Tuesdays podcast, with David Sims joining the program.  David runs an educational website called HIPAA for MPSs. We also had resident Oddball Computer Wallah Bob Nitrio in our Oddballs segment. He offers some smart-chat on CryptoWall, CryptoLocker, SmartShield, and Easy Recover Essentials from NeoSmart. You can find the Jan 6th’s Odd Tuesdays episode here. …And heads up – all Odd Tuesdays listeners will hear about a discount good for classes over at Great Little Seminar.

Just in case you haven’t heard of Third Tier . . . Third Tier (www.thirdtier.net) provides services for technology consultants. They provide education and assistance on a wide variety of topics. I caught up with Amy Babinchak a few days ago to find out what new and cool. It turns out there’s LOTS of great news from Third Tier. Their SMB Kitchen project is going strong – with a new program coming soon. Click Here to Listen to My Podcast with Amy One of their cool new programs is call Look, a Whale. The program is designed to help you with major problems, major projects, and taking on new Whale-Size clients. My brother Manuel is the new whale tamer at Third Tier. (I wish I had that on my resume.) Another cool program features our long-time friend Rayanne Buchianico, helping people get their finances set up properly for running an efficient technology consulting business. That program is called Tech Your Books. I’ve worked with Rayanne personally for a long time and think she provides an amazing service. Check it out.  The original reason I asked Amy for an interview was her new Micro-Staffing program. Third Tier is ramping up to provide top-level technicians for your “team” on an ongoing basis with very little commitment. Think about that: A genius-level technician at your disposal. You get their cell phone and can have them do a variety of tasks as members of your company’s tech support department. Very cool. Check out the podcast to hear all the details.   Note: After we recorded this podcast, but before I could post it, I had an urgent need for assistance. I called on Third Tier and Mr. Philip Elder came to the rescue. It was a great experience, and I posted some details about it on my Small Biz Thoughts blog.   Related Links: Here’s the recorded webinar Amy refers to in the podcast: http://www.thirdtier.net/2014/12/third-tier-2015-sneak-preview/ SMB Kitchen: http://www.thirdtier.net/smbkitchen-asp/ Look, A Whale: http://www.thirdtier.net/look-a-whale/ Tech Your Books: http://www.thirdtier.net/tech-your-books/ MicroStaff: http://www.thirdtier.net/my-third-tier/ Blog: http://www.thirdtier.net/blog/    

Catch our Dec 16th Odd Tuesdays episode! Karl speaks with ChannelEyes‘ Jay McBain about their mobile app platform for connecting Vendors and channel partners. Rayanne Buchianico also joins the show in our Oddballs segment. Rayanne talks about her MSP course –  the Financial Processes That Make All the Difference. The course is geared for MSPs and covers such topics as: separation of accounting and financial duties, entities and tax considerations, cash flow forecasting, and more over a five-week online teaching structure. You can find the Dec 16th’s Odd Tuesdays episode here. *~* And don’t forget to listen for the show coupon that will give you discounts on the 2015 MSP Courses Lineup over at Great Little Seminar!    

Check out Nov 4th’s Odd Tuesdays episode where Karl talks with Results Software‘s Mike Honig about their expanded CRM system. And our Oddballs segment in this episode features Small Business MVP Amy Babinchak discussing the importance of MSPs building and developing vendor relationships. You can find the Nov 4th’s episode here.

I just got back from the big ChannelPro SMB Forum in Philadelphia. For more information on next year’s events, visit http://events.channelpronetwork.com/. At the event, I talked to a number of vendors. Here is present some quick shout-outs from Datto, Buffalo Tech, Excel Micro, Lenovo, and StorageCraft.   Most importantly, I had a chance to hang out with Dave Seibert and sit on a cloud panel with him. Dave is the mastermind behind the big SMB TechFest that happens about four times a year in Anaheim, CA. Here I talk to Dave about the next event – November 21-22, 2014. For more info, visit www.smbtechfest.com.    

In the October 21st Odd Tuesdays episode Datto’s Rob Rae, joins the show to discuss continuity as a viable solution for small business. Karl and Rob also discuss the future of hybrid cloud solutions and data storage issues, particularly in relation to storage across country lines. This episode also features an interview with ASCII’s Jerry Koutavas who has tremendous things to report on how well their ASCII forums are doing. He says they regularly have around 2,500 messages a month between MSPs of varying sizes and says the community has become invaluable to many MSPs. The Oddballs segment welcomes back Oddball Manuel Palachuk who offers tips on avoiding communication gaps within our MSP businesses and in external communications with clients. You can find the Oct 21st Odd Tuesdays episode here. Listen through to the end of this episode for a special show coupon to access a discount to Karl’s down under tour! The SMBRoadshow 2014 is heading to Australia and New Zealand in November!!  

Oct 7th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays sees Datatel Solutions‘ Jeff Ponts join the show. Jeff talks about software integration vs. systems integration. Jeff also talks about the other hats he wears, to include President of the Technology Channel Association (TCA) and Co-Chair to CompTIA’s Telecom Advisory Council. This episode also features a conversation Karl has with GFI Max’s Caroline McClelland at the recent GFI Max Conferences. And Computer Wallah Bob Nitrio joins the show in the Oddballs segment to discuss how mobility is shaping and changing the way MSPs and their clients are doing business.   You can find the Oct 7th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

The Sept 16th episode of Odd Tuesday highlights a Kickstarter campaign Chip Reaves from Bigger Brains launched to raise awareness for a series of courses Bigger Brains is currently developing. The Brain Bites mini-courses are basic productivity courses MSPs can resell to their clients that cover productivity skills in Time Management, Organizing Files, and Managing Email. And in the show’s Oddballs segment, resident Oddball Rayanne Buchianico, shares sales tax tips for MSPs. You can find the Sept 16th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

I had a good visit with Rob T. Rae from Datto at the GFI Max 2014 conference this week. Later in the day, Datto was awarded both Best in Show and Best Exhibitor Interaction awards. Datto is a backup and disaster recovery company with about 400 employees worldwide. They’re big in Canada, Europe, as well as the U.S.   One big point for Rob was that they’re focusing on a lot more than continuity. How does the MSP make money without talking disasters? Most restores are from people – not natural disasters. So they talk about robust and speedy recovery from human mistakes. Datto is strictly a hybrid solution – both onsite and in the cloud. The local device is as important as the cloud. The local is a quick, easy way to restore. The cloud provides additional continuity security when there is a local disaster. How is cloud storage affected by the U.S. Patriot Act, as well as laws in other countries? More importantly, can you get documentation of the chain of custody for your data? For more info, visit Dattobackup.com. Register and get access to all the tools and products.   Rob T. Rae  

In September 2nd’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Karl welcomes back SMB Nation‘s Harry Brelsford to discuss the latest on Windows XP and Server 03 migrations. Resident Oddball Amy Babinchak also joins the show to talk about Microsoft’s Multipoint. You can find the Sept 2nd Odd Tuesdays episode here. ALSO! Karl’s latest 4-Book Series, the Managed Services Operation Manual, is out now! – Listen to the Sept 2nd episode for a coupon code!!

August 19th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays welcomes Richard Tubb to talk about his book The IT Business Survival Guide. Richard joined Karl earlier in the year in Karl’s annual SMB Online Conference and the two frequently collaborate in the MSP consulting space. Also in this episode, listeners are updated with upcoming Tech news & events and Manuel Palachuk joins the show as a new addition to the show’s Oddballs team. You can find the August 19th Odd Tuesdays episode here.  

August 5th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays featured Cisco’s Michelle Ragusa-McBain who talked about CompTIA’s Advancing Women in IT Group (AWIT). Michelle is the Vice Chair of the group, which offers aspiring female IT professionals resources, such as Dream IT and The Career Resource Center. The episode also features Computer Wallah Bob Nitrio talking about Sonos, a HiFi wireless speaker & audio system and Tech News & events. You can find the August 5th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

Don’t miss the July 15th episode of Odd Tuesdays which features a special peek into this year’s 3rd annual Online Conference put on by Karl Palachuk and the Small Biz Thoughts team! The Systematic Success 2014 Conference was a tremendous success. The online event grows by the year and always features well rounded and timely business advice covering all aspects of running a managed services business. (Previous years’ recordings can be found here.) The Odd Tuesdays episode also features the latest in Tech News and events updates, as well as some handy QuickBook tips for MSPs from Rayanne Buchianico (ABC Solutions). The show also features the announcement of Karl’s latest publication (his 11th book!): Project Management in Small Business. This book was co-authored with Dana J Goulston, who was involved with the 3rd edition of the PMBOK® Guide, and is a true How-To on managing scope creep! You can find the July 15th Odd Tuesdays episode here.    

In the July 1st episode of Odd Tuesdays, Karl talks to Phil Elder and Susan Bradley from the SMBKitchen Project. The pair talk about the managed services educational programs they are involved in and offer the chance for a lucky Odd Tuesdays’ listener to win a year-long membership to the SMBKitchen ASP Project. The episode also features Third Tier’s Amy Babinchak in the show’s reoccurring Oddballs  segment. Amy talks about when to hire and how to train administrative and tech staff for your managed services business. The episode also updates listeners on Karl’s recently announced Roadshow Down Undertour, covers some Tech News, and gives a highlight of upcoming technology events around the country. You can find the July 1st Odd Tuesdays episode here.  

June 17th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays features Zynstra CEO Nick East and Fully Expressed Potential’s Jenifer Landers, both of whom are keynote speakers in this month’s Systematic Success 2014 online conference.  In this episode, Nick outlines a solution Zynstra is gearing up to launch in North America this fall, a solution for those requiring something on premise for their clients in light of the impending end of support for Windows 2003 and the end of life of SBS. Jenifer shares tips on how to best sell services that are abstract or foreign to clients, an issue all too familiar to technology consultants selling to clients and customers with little to no tech background. You can find the June 17th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

Catch June 3rd’s episode of Odd Tuesdays where MSP Coach Manuel Palachuk talks about the importance of everyone from management to admin working in real time in your managed service business. Manuel just completed a 5-week course covering the specifics of how to implement working in real time. The Critical Habit for Success: Working in Real Time is a course offered in the MSP academic program over at greatlittleseminar.com. Rayanne Buchianico also joins the show in the Oddballs segment, offering more QuickBooks tips specific for managed service providers. Listeners are also reminded that they still qualify for the Odd Tuesdays’ discount code for The Ultimate 2014 Conference Bundle! Be sure to listen for the discount code! Odd Tuesdays listeners are also being offered a Chance to Win a Free membership to Third Tier’s SMBKitchen’s ASP project. The ASP project includes a series of webinars and MSP educational tutorials from Microsoft MVP. You can find the June 3rd Odd Tuesdays episode here.

Check out the latest Podcast episode of Odd Tuesdays where Karl investigates WiFi as a Service offering. Our Oddballs segment also features perspectives on and best practice tips in delegating in your MSP business.You can find the May 20 Odd Tuesdays episode here. NOTE: The Odd Tuesdays’ discount code for The Ultimate 2014 Conference Bundle is still on! Be sure to listen for the discount code! 

  The May 6th episode of Odd Tuesdays featured Gil Cargill, a rockstar sales consultant with nearly 40 years experience in sales, including an outstanding career at IBM. Gil discusses tips on automated prospecting tools and how MSPs and VARs can make the best use of a sales person in their business. The show also features our famous Oddballs segment, tech news & industry event updates, and a special discount code for listeners for The Ultimate 2014 Conference Bundle – a package of documentation resources that includes eBooks, whitepapers, and 3-day access to the online Systematic Success 2014 Conference. You can find the May 6 Odd Tuesdays episode here.

April 15th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Ted Hulsy, VP of Marketing at eFolder joins Karl to talk about sync and security for MSPs and VARs. Rayanne Buchianico, from ABC Solutions also features in the episode in our Oddballs segment. Rayanne continues her QuickBooks tips series with today’s tips surrounding the variety of preferences you can take advantage of in making QuickBooks much more user friendly with daily entries, particularly for managed service providers. You can find the April 1 Odd Tuesdays episode here.

On our April 1 episode, Josh Peterson, Co-founder of Bering McKinley and a keynote at this year’s annual SMB Online Conference, joins Karl to discuss tech hiring tips. Josh advises MSP business owners to learn how to “right size” your personnel – a concept involving not targeting MCSCs or the top-level techs for your business, but rather aiming for entry-level techs that you craft into great engineers. Josh concludes his interview with Karl by extending a special offer for Odd Tuesdays listeners. Amy Babinchack, owner of Harbor Computer Services, returns in our Oddballs segment. Amy talks about how to create job satisfaction with your techs in some creative & non-traditional ways.   You can find the April 1 Odd Tuesdays episode here.

On March 18th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Karl talks to Chip Reaves, from Bigger-Brains, about their Bigger MSP Program. The program is a high quality video series featuring online training for business professionals covering Windows 8, QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, Gmail, sales & marketing, and more. There is some mention that MSPs often neglect to consider the budgets SMBs designate annually for training, which goes beyond the IT budgets MSPs normally target. In fact, it is noted that this can be a good angle in targeting more business, with MSPs first earning new clients based on business professional training offerings and then moving into a managed services soft sell. Karl mentions that another angle to consider is that as the economy begins to recover, there are untapped government grants that pay for people to get training. MSPs could educate themselves about such grants and include that in pitches to potential clients. Also featured in this Odd Tuesdays episode is our returning Oddball Computer Wallah Bob Nitrio discussing Software Defined Networks (SDN). You can find the March 4th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

On March 4th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Karl speaks with April Sage, from Online Tech, to discuss HIPAA compliance – a topic our Odd Tuesdays audience has been asking more and more about (Follow Karl’s HIPAA Pinterest Board). April encourages MSPs to embrace the notion of HIPAA compliance because trying to work against or get around the regulations can cause a lot of headaches. She says it is a good idea to become familiar with the Business Associates Agreement – a contract that outlines the accountabilities in the chain of trust and what the flow of responsibilities are. She notes that the Department of Human Services has a good example of what that agreement should look like (See link here). Rayanne Buchianico joins us in her debut Oddballs segment. She discusses how to record Hardware as a Service (HaaS) in QuickBooks. She outlines four key points: 1) What to record right after you buy the equipment 2) How to set up the rental income accounts 3) How to track associated costs 4)  How to retire the item at the end of the lease term You can find the March 4th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

3D Printing – An Interview with Alan Ware   Sacramento has a great organization called Hacker Lab – part hacker space, part maker space, and part co-working space. I joined last year and plan to cover a number of subjects related to the things they do there. This includes programming, Arduino, robotics, 3D printing, and more. This is an interview with Alan M. Ware, B.S.M.E. Alan is a 3D design and manufacturing engineer. He teaches the 3D Printing class at Hacker Lab. I took the class and then asked him for a quick interview. Recorded February 2014   I also recorded some videos. One is already posted. The other one needs some production. The first video is here: http://youtu.be/ncLrcYIbOeA Hacker Lab is open to everyone. It’s a great place to learn and to prototype your ideas. Find out more at http://www.hackerlab.org. Hacker Lab is located at 1715 I Street, Sacramento, CA. Alan also mentioned “The Design Spot” at the Arcade public library – 2443 Marconi Ave., Sacramento, CA. They have computers with PhotoShop, AutoCAD, and other software as well as 3D printers that anyone can use. Alan’s web site – http://www.AMWDesign.net – has a number of great links for anyone interested in finding out more about 3D printing, the software used, and some of the hardware options. (He promised he’d tune it up after the video comes out.)      – Download the Interview with Alan Ware on 3D Printing here.

On Feb. 18th’s episode of Odd Tuesdays, Karl speaks with GFI Max’s Dave Sobel and GFI client Neil Holme, from Impact Business Technology. There is discussion on how one defines their MSP role to their clients. Dave says it important MSPs become bolder in the way they define their role to their clients. He maintains that you need to be seen and heard as more than just the guy who works on the computers. He says if you set the tone right, a very different kind of relationship can evolve – a big difference in the way you are perceived by clients and in the services you can deliver to them. Neil talks about the primary conflict MSPs encounter. He says they have to often decide between acting on the behalf of the customer vs. making service/product suggestions as a business person trying to make money. Neil and Karl agree that you will ensure long-term relationships with clients, that will result in more referrals, if you always put the client needs first. Karl notes that he is a huge fan of Road Map meetings with clients where it takes the relationship to that consulting level and the MSP is not just pushing a Purchase Order. Bob Nitrio makes his debut in our Oddballssegment. Bob outlines a new tool known as Touchcast, which is currently in beta testing for PC. He says the tool gives you the power of a TV studio on your desktop, with tools ranging from editing to teleprompter. More information about Touchcast can be found at Touchcast.com. You can find the Feb 4th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

On the latest Odd Tuesdays Podcast, Karl talks with Result Software’s Sam Saab, about their Results Customer Relations Management (CRM) offering, which can incorporate data from QuickBooks, Outlook, and Constant Contact. Amy Babinchak also joins Odd Tuesdays in the first (of soon to be many) Oddballs segment. Amy is a Small Business MVP and discusses banking fraud issues and how MSPs can best put their clients into a position that limits their liability. She notes that neither clients, nor MSPs, are 100% assured protection from the FDIC. You can find the Feb 4th Odd Tuesdays episode here.

Odd Tuesdays was launched this week by Host Karl Palachuk and Producer Monica Caraway. The Podcast is geared for I.T. Consultants and features what’s new in tech management and best practices for running an I.T. business. The Podcast airs on the first and third Tuesdays of each month and features a variety of Vendor & MSP consultant interviews and advice segments. In the first episode, SMB Nation’s Harry Brelsford joins the show to discuss all that 2014 has in store for the SMB Nation community. He also mentions their Emerging Technology Tour, of which Karl is participating in. Lars Andersson, from Cloud Nine, joins the show as well to talk about how instrumental SMB Nation has been to his business. Karl also updates the audience on the many live presentations he will be giving around the country this year. More information can be found at whereintheworldiskarl.com.      

Posted: Karl’s State of the Nation Address for IT Consultants   In case you couldn’t listen live, we recorded the “State of the Nation” address. Recorded January 15, 2014 Notes from Karl Palachuk on the year gone by and the year ahead. Karl Palachuk Announces Odd Tuesdays   Karl’s Fifth Annual State of the Nation Address for I.T. Consultants 30 minutes. Key contents: – Windows 9 timeline announced – Announcement of new podcast series: Odd Tuesdays – The year 2013 in review – The effects of the recession on the business ahead – Thoughts on 2014 – Upcoming appearances and events   Links mentioned in this podcast: SMB Books: www.SMBBooks.com Small Biz Thoughts: www.smallbizthoughts.com SMB Tech Fest: www.smbtechfest.com SMB Nation Emerging Technology Tour: http://tour.smbnation.com Great Little Seminars: www.GreatLittleSeminar.com SMB Online Conference: www.SMBOnlineConference.com SMB Nation Preday: www.smbpreday.com Odd Tuesdays Podcast: www.OddTuesdays.com    – Download the Karl Palachuk’s State of the Nation Address 2014 here.

Please join me for a live Podcast on January 15th, 2014. No need to pre-register. Just hit this link on January 15th at 9:00 AM Pacific: http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventID=50033748   For several years now, I have presented an “address” with my thoughts about where we’ve been and where we’re going in the small and medium business technology market. The world is certainly different than it was a year ago. Join me for some thoughts about where we’re going and some tips about the best way to get there.   This even is free. Just show up. You can listen live on the web or by phone or Skype. Details will be at the link above. See you then! – karlp

Online or In Person: Partner Training with Third Tier   I ran into Dave Seibert at the recent ChannelPro SMB Forum in New Jersey. He brought me up to speed on the SMB Tech Fest events he produces. The Sixth SMB Tech Fest will be October 19th in Irvine. Details are online at www.smbtechfest.com.   The October 19th event will be presented by members of Third Tier, including Amy Babinchak herself! See the event schedule at http://smbtechfest.com/events.html. Presentations include: Vision of the Future – Presenter: Amy Babinchak Hyper-V Configurations for SMB with Replication – Presenter: Boon Tee Hyper-V Configurations for SMB with Clustering – Presenter: Phil Elder The state of SMB Security – Presenter: Susan Bradley Plus a panel discussion! The very reasonable price includes breakfast and lunch! Location: Brandman University (Irvine Campus) 16355 Laguna Canyon Road Irvine CA 92618   About SMB Tech Fest SMB TechFest is a combination of business & technical training. Each venue date has a unique combination to offer attendees a breadth of experiences. This means some events will be 60/40 split on content and others will be 100% technical. This is intentional as the SMB community has business & technical focused individuals and the goal is to bring value to each. SMB TechFest is designed to offer expert topic speakers. The key benefit of SMB TechFest is many topics and solutions in one venue. So it’s concentrated deep learning. There are no distractions from waiting for other attendees to “catch up” with the instructor. Just focused learning at the speed of a talented expert.   About Dave Seibert Dave Seibert is a community leader and an IT industry leader with 30 years experience in the channel. He is a founder and active leader in SMBTN and several IT Pro groups. Dave is also the principal at IT Innovators, an MSP based in Southern California. IT Innovators provides complete IT solutions to SMB (Small Medium Business) within the Southern California Area. Their services include servers, networking, PC’s, software, Cloud Solutions, virtualization, firewalls, social media, websites, managed services and total outsourced IT solutions.   More info on SMB Tech Fest: Web Site: www.smbtechfest.com Email DSeibert@smbtechfest.com    – Download the Interview with Dave Seibert here.

SaaS Marketplace Allows MSPs to Find Business Cloud Services to Resell    Today SaaSMAX Corp. announced the official commercial release of their new SaaSMAX marketplace platform. A few days ago I recorded a short podcast with SaaSMAX Founder and CEO Dina Moskowitz about this announcement and the Saas Marketplace in general.   Basically,  SaaSMAX  brings together channel resellers and app vendors, increasing revenues for both. It’s like a one-stop shop for partners who are looking for services they can sell (resell) to create recurring monthly revenue sources. The commercial launch kicked off with the unveiling of the new SaaS marketplace at CompTIA’s ChannelCon, with WiseSaaS search functionality that now permits site visitors to immediately start searching and discovering trusted business cloud software solutions that match their needs. Moreover, SaaSMAX provides Resellers with permission-only on-demand access to many SaaS Vendors’ reseller and affiliate programs and their related incentives. As you’ll hear in this audio, the SaaSMAX marketplace can be both a clearinghouse for finding vendors and a place for those vendors to communicate with you if  they don’t already have a partner portal. Joining SaaSMAX is free to Resellers. Resellers in SaaSMAX typically include Managed Service Providers, Value-Added Resellers, IT Solution Providers and IT consultants, but also extend beyond IT to include Marketing & Digital Media consultants, HR consultants, tax & financial advisers and other trusted advisers within various business domains. SaaS Vendors pay a flat monthly or annual licensing fee.   About SaaSMAX Corp. SaaSMAX Corp. is the ultimate Value-Add SaaS Marketplace for business cloud software vendors (“SaaS Vendors”) and resellers to create new revenues and partner opportunities. Resellers can now find and compare SaaS Apps AND manage deal registrations, affiliate tools and commissions, all in one place. SaaS Vendors now have the ultimate neutral venue to showcase their solutions to relevant B2B Resellers and Buyers, plus marketing support and tools to track sales conversions and commissions.   About Dina Moskowitz Dina Moskowitz is recognized by UBM Tech Channel CRN as one of the ‘Top Women in the Channel’, the recipient of the SMB 150 Award, the CRN Top 500 Solution Providers Award and San Diego IT Leadership Award, Dina Moskowitz has been leading and/or consulting to cloud-based, SaaS and other technology companies throughout her career. As founder and CEO of SaaSMAX Corp., the ultimate SaaS Marketplace for business cloud software vendors (“SaaS Vendors”), Dina conceived and built a market place allowing resellers to create new revenues and partner opportunities. Prior to SaaSMAX, Moskowitz was CEO and founder of Critical Digital Data Solutions Inc., which developed cloud-based data storage solutions. Dina has presented at various IT Channel events, including Channel Partners, SaaS University, CompTIA Breakaway, RetailNOW (RSPA), ChannelPartners and gSocial 2.0.   More info on SaasMax: Web Site: www.SaaSMAX.com Twitter: twitter.com/WiseSaaS    – Download the Interview with Dina Moskowitz here.

Stacey Powell: Take Your Finances to the Gym!   Stacey Powell owns two businesses to help companies be more successful by managing their finances more effectively. At Creating Answers (http://www.creatinganswers.com/), Stacey works with business owners to stop once a month and take a closer look at their numbers.   Meanwhile, over at The Finance Gym (http://thefinancegym.com/), she works with small groups of business owners in a sort of master mind format. The Finance Gym bootcamps are a great way for small businesses to get feedback in real time from other small business owners. Stacey tells us how these groups help business owners feel more comfortable with their numbers and become more profitable.   Stacey will be one of the featured speakers on the SMB Online Conference next week. Her topic there is Five Magic Tricks to Make Your Numbers Jump Up and Speak to You. Her presentation is on Wednesday, June 26th.   Tune us in!   More info for Stacey Powell: Web Site: www.creatinganswers.com Web Site: www.thefinancegym.com Blog: http://blogs.forbes.com/people/Stacey%20Powell/ Blog: http://thefinancegym.com/blog/ View the Press Release about This Appearance       The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day Two: June 26, 2013 9:00 AM PST – Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM Richard Tubb – Effective Business Networking: How to Network Online and Offline 11:00 AM Stacey Powell – Five Magic Tricks to Make Your Numbers Jump Up and Speak to You 1:00 PM Mark Moreno –  Serving Larger Clients – The Mid-Market: An Opportunity You Do Not Want to Miss 2:00 PM Josh Peterson – Stop Hiring Your First Sales Person Over and Over Again (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com.  – Download the Interview with Stacey Powell here.

Need to Manage Amazon Web Services? ElasticTask Gets The Job Done One of the cool things I noticed about the Autotask Community Live event is that many partners are developing products and services that plug into Autotask. In all cases, these partners solved a problem internally and then turned that program into a product that can be used by others. One of the coolest I saw was ElasticTask.   ElasticTask helps you make sense of your Amazon Web Services billing, converts it automatically into Autotask, QuickBooks, and other programs, and even creates the related products you need for AT invoices. I talked to Lubbi Ernjakovic about the specifics. If you sell AWS , I think you’ll find this very interesting. This product is worth a look if: – You sell/resell AWS and have multiple child accounts – You have several AWS accounts – You want estimated bills from your AWS service – You want a centralized dashboard for managing AWS accounts, child accounts – You need monitoring of AWS services – You want automatic ticketing and alerts from AWS   No matter what services you buy from Amazon, this product will parse the services and automatically create them in Autotask for use in invoices and configurations.   For more information on ElasticTask, visit www.elastictask.com.  – Download the Interview with Lubbi Ernjakovic from ElasticTask  here.

Spam Soap’s “Click Protect” Scans Attachments When they Download Len Dimiceli from Spam Soap talked to me at Autotask Community Live in Phoenix about the latest and greatest news from Spam Soap.   The latest service from Spam Soap is called Click Protect.  Click Protect scans attachments. But more than that, it always scans the attachment before it’s opened. So if an attachment’s reputation has gone bad, it will not open. There is no additional charge for this feature. Existing partners will need to turn on the feature. New partners will receive it turned on automatically. Len gives us some details of the Spam Soap partner program, sign-up costs, etc. He also talks about the nature of partners at the Autotask conference versus some of the other conferences out there. For more information on Spam Soap, visit www.spamsoap.com.  – Download the Interview with Len Dimiceli from Spam Soap  here.  

Continuum Bundles Everything – And Lets You Test Drive at a Low Price With No Obligation   Continuum (formerly Zenith) was the original RMM solution with NOC back end included. Today they have a very large variety of offerings, including Level 1 and Level 2 tech support on the desktop. They have a new Mobile Device Management program, their Vault BDR, and a “Tech Advantage” program that allows you to send project work to their team.   They also have a new “Marketing Advantage” program, which Matt describes in this podcast.   I talked to Matt at the Continuum booth at Autotask Community Live. I asked him about their Starter package. He gives some good details here. Basically, you have a small buy-in with no long term contract, and you get just about every product they offer.   They basic RMM agent includes a variety of add-on software as well, including anti-virus and anti-malware software all for one low price.   For more information on Continuum, visit www.continuum.net.    – Download the Interview with Matt Waters from Continuum  here.

Karen Guarino from Reflexion – Spam Filtering, HIPAA Training, and Automated Email Encryption for HIPAA Compliance   Karen  Guarino is the Channel Support Manager at Reflexion. She talked to us at the Autotask Community Live event about the latest and greatest campaigns from Reflexion. Of course Reflexion does spam filtering, but they have added some cool services that allow partners to more easily serve their medical/HIPAA clients.   In addition to spam filtering, Reflexion offers training on a few topics. The one I’ve been involved in is their HIPAA certification training.   In addition to that, Reflexion has a cool email encryption service that scans outbound emails and encrypts them if they meet certain criteria. For example, if it detects a Social Security  (not allowed to be emailed under the HIPAA HiTech Act), it automatically encrypts the email.   For more information on Reflexion, visit www.reflexion.net.   For more information on Reflextion training programs, visit www.reflexiontraining.net.    – Download the Interview with Karen Guarino from Reflexion  here.

Steve Noel: Management by Exception Interface takes continuity to the next level    I caught up with Steve “The Dude” Noel, Technical Sales Engineer with Axcient at the Autotask Community Live event.   Axcient’s big push right now is on their “Management by Exception” Interface for their business continuity solution. With this tool, you can get alerts if a good backup is not received within a specified time period.   On other fronts, Steve mentioned that Axcient is beginning to see more activity in the mid-market space in addition to the “S” side of SMB. (It is interesting that he’s the second person we interviewed that is seeing traction into the mid-market.) You can find out more at www.axcient.com   or contact Steve directly at snoel@axcient.com.  – Download the Interview with Steve Noel from Axcient  here.

Ken Edwards: Adding Streams of Income … and More    My friend Ken Edwards is a busy member of the community, an SMB 150 award winner, and an Autotask user. Ken owns Maverick Mesa Computers in Glendale, AZ. He also owns a few other small businesses unrelated to I.T. service delivery. Here he gives us some ideas about how to set up “automated” businesses that sell products without him having to deliver services or manage the sales of a product. His big key to success is finding little niche products that fill an existing need. Ken is also a speaker at the SMB Online Conference next week. His topic is: Topic: Where Facebook Meets Business. Ken Edwards has been servicing the computer networking needs for small businesses for over 25 years. Beginning as an aviation tech in the Marine Corp, he progressed through servicing restaurant systems to handling the computer needs of general small business. He really cut his teeth in networking in the mid-90s as a Novell CNE, and then became a Microsoft Networking expert. Recently holding the Microsoft Small Business Specialist designation, he continues to serve small businesses as head of Maverick Mesa Computer Specialties Inc, an Arizona local IT firm. On behalf of his own business, he recognized the need to develop an internet marketing expertise. Currently, he advises other businesses on using the internet as a promotion vehicle, handing out knowledge gathered during his intense 3 years of internet marketing experimentation. Web: http://mavmesa.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/ken-edwards/4/516/5a9/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maverick-Mesa/110323722456207   View the Press Release about Ken’s Appearance at the SMB Online Conference.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day Three: June 27, 2013 9:00 AM PST Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM  Brian Sharp – How to Take Back and Turn Around Your Small Business 11:00 AM John Armato – Think Inside The Box 1:00 PM Rayanne Buchianico – Understand Your Financials – Use Data to Make Decisions 2:00 PM Ken Edwards – Where Facebook Meets Business – Strategies to Market to the Business Audience Existing in Facebook (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com.  – Download the Interview with Ken Edwards here.

Mark Moreno: Success with the “Mom and Pop” Mid-Market    My friend Mark Moreno is an active member of the SMB community, an SMB 150 award winner, and an Autotask user. He owns  C&M Support Services & Consulting, Inc. in Elkhart, IN. He has built a great business based on a specific kind  of client, which he calls the “Mom and Pop” mid-market. This is an interesting hybrid market that operates just like any other small business when it comes to buying an decision-making. But they spend at the level of enterprise companies. Mark Moreno Mark gives us a quick intro to the topic here, but he will have a much more detailed presentation at the SMB Online Conference next week. Mark’s topic at the conference is Serving Larger Clients – The Mid-Market: An Opportunity You Do Not Want to Miss.   Mark’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/christsitguy View the Press Release about Mark’s Appearance at the SMB Online Conference.   See the press release here: SMB Online Conference Press Room.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day Two: June 26, 2013 9:00 AM PST – Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM Richard Tubb – Effective Business Networking: How to Network Online and Offline 11:00 AM Stacey Powell – Five Magic Tricks to Make Your Numbers Jump Up and Speak to You 1:00 PM Mark Moreno –  Serving Larger Clients – The Mid-Market: An Opportunity You Do Not Want to Miss 2:00 PM Josh Peterson – Stop Hiring Your First Sales Person Over and Over Again (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com.  – Download the Interview with Mark Moreno here.

John Phillips: Synnex has an entire Small Business Team   I talked to John Phillips from SMB Connect at Synnex while I was as Autotask Community Live. Synnex SMB Connect John was at AT Live to educate folks about a special sales group at Synnex focused completely on the SMB space. The group has 44 sales people, credit programs, and exclusive vendor rebates for participants of the program. See details at www.synnex.com/smbconnect.   You can find out more about the program at that site or email smbconnect@synnex.com, or call them at: 855-899-0050. John even has his direct number and cell phone on the SMB Connect web site. That’s pretty accessible! In this interview John also talks the reseller program, the refurbished product service, licensing, and more. One of the cool tools is Renew Solve – a free tool for tracking license renewals that sends reminder messages to clients – from YOU and not from the vendor.  – Download the Interview with John Phillips from Synnex here.

Michael Siggins from ChannelPro SMB   At the Autotask Community Live conference, I caught up with Michael Siggins, Publisher of ChannelProSMB. They loved the event and the sense of community.   Michael highlighted for us the upcoming ChannelPro SMB Forum in New Jersey September 10th. Channel Pro Forum  will be a jam-packed, one-day affair with great content, great food and great networking opportunities. Sessions include: o Adapting Your Business to the Cloud o Winning Sales and Marketing Strategies for MSPs o Where the Money Is in Mobility o Today’s Hottest Trends in Hardware o CompTIA Training: MSP Partners Trustmark And of course you, I will be there on a panel. The event is FREE. For more info and to register, please go to www.ChannelProForum.com.      – Download the Interview with Michael Siggins here.

Travis Austin: PumpUpTheAuto.com   One of the first and best Autotask experts is Mr. Travis Austin. Travis has developed programs for getting information in and out of Autotask. Now he specializes in helping companies get the most from their Autotask investment. Austin’s new venture is called PumpUpTheAuto.com.   Of course  Travis was at Autotask Community Live in Phoenix last week. We caught up and talked about his latest adventure. In this interview Travis tells us about how folks are using Autotask and how you can make the most of it if you’re already an Autotask user. Travis has extensive background and experience in making Autotask fit a business’ workflow. His tools, tips, tricks, and expertise have proven invaluable to thousands of Autotask users, and he’s ready to help you use Autotask better, too! We use his email connector and have for many years.   You can check out Travis’ new adventure at www.PumpUpTheAuto.com There you’ll find some great educational videos about the latest features being released for Autotask. His blog is at http://www.pumpuptheauto.com/blog/ Also see: Twitter – https://twitter.com/PumpUpTheAuto LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/travisraustin  – Download the Interview with Travis Austin here.

Richard Tubb – Effective Business Networking: How to Network Online and Offline   Richard Tubb is well known for the Tubblog at http://www.tubblog.co.uk/. Richard is a former Managed Service Provider and now a successful coach for I.T. Consultants.     Richard has worked in the IT industry for more than 15 years, working at large corporations such as Ernst & Young and the NHS, as well as being the owner of an award winning  Managed Service Provider business in the UK. After selling his MSP business, Richard now works providing expert advice to help IT companies who want to grow their business in a scalable and sustainable way – helping them moving their business up a gear by putting together Managed Service offering and pricing it correctly, getting to grips with Marketing to help generate sales, or implementing internal systems and processes that encourage growth. Richard has a great blog and always provides excellent value to the community. We are please to have him talking at the SMB Online Conference about networking success – both online and in the so-called real world. In this interview he gives us some great perspective on how this kind of communication has changed over time. Web Site: www.richardtubb.co.uk Blog: www.tubblog.co.uk Email: richard@tubblog.co.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/tubblog   See the press release on this topic here: Do You Even Geek Bro?     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day Two  – June 26th: 9:00 AM PST Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) / Building Your Identity (Internally and Externally) 10:00 AM Richard Tubb – Effective Business Networking: How to Network Online and Offline 11:00 AM Stacey Powell – Five Magic Tricks to Make Your Numbers Jump Up and Speak to You Noon Hour Lunch Break 1:00 PM Mark Moreno – Serving Larger Clients – The Mid-Market Opportunity for Small Business Consultants 2:00 PM Special Presentation (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com. – Download the Interview with Richard Tubb here.

John Armato – Think Inside the Box   John Armato is a Senior Vice President & Senior Partner, and Creative Strategist for Fleishman-Hillard International Communications.     John helps companies set strategy, shape messages, and develop programs to inspire people, sell products, solve problems, promote causes, and avert crises. He has won dozens of awards and worked with more than 100 clients, including Hallmark, H&R Block, Visa, E. & J. Gallo Winery, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Egyptian Tourism Authority, and the University of Oregon. John is in demand to lead “big idea” sessions and to coach others on the creative process. He has been called “one of the most accomplished presenters in his field” and his keynotes have been featured at clients, colleges, and conferences around the country. In this podcast, John talks to us about creativity and how the “idea” process works. I think you’ll find this a very engaging discussion. It also ties in well with the presentation John will be making at the SMB Online Conference next month. John’s presentation is entitled “Think Inside The Box.” He’ll be discussing the creative process, communications, and living a life of ideas. John’s Web Site: : www.thinkinside.biz Twitter: www.twitter.com/@armatoj LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/johnarmato   See the press release on this topic here: Creative Strategist Says Stop Thinking Outside The Box.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day Three – June 27th: 9:00 AM PST Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM Brian Sharp – How to Take Back and Turn Around Your Small Business 11:00 AM John Armato – Think Inside The Box 1:00 PM Rayanne Buchianico – Understand Your Financials – Use Data to Make Decisions 2:00 PM  Special Presentation (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com. – Download the Interview with John Armato here.

Rayanne Buchianico Rayanne Buchianico is an Accountant and MSP Business Consultant. At the SMB Online Conference in June, she’ll be talking about Understanding Your Financials: Three Mandatory Monthly Reports and What They Are Telling You. We talked last week about how you can use QuickBooks and your financials. She gave some great information – which is why she has TWO presentations at the SMB Online Conference next month. Listen to the podcast … then check out the conference. Rayanne has over 25 years of accounting, tax and business experience in the SMB sector. She specializes in working with IT Professionals and MSPs to improve profitability through accounting systems, financial reporting, and PSA integration. She was awarded the 2012 Jim Locke Memorial Community Award (formerly “SBSer of the Year”) by SMB Nation and SMBTN and was named to the SMB 150 list by SMB Technology Network (SMBTN) and SMB PC magazine in 2011 and 2012. She partnered with Bigger Brains to provide the QuickBooks 2013 video training course. She is the founder and leader of the Tampa Bay IT Pro Group, and is the past Treasurer of the Global IT Community Association for both the North American Board and the Global Board. Rayanne is the owner of ABC Solutions, LLC in Clearwater, Florida. ABC Solutions provides accounting, tax, and accounting systems consulting services to SMB IT companies throughout the United States. Web Site: www.abcsolutionsfl.com Blog: http://abcsolutionsfl.wordpress.com   See the press release “Demystifying QuickBooks – What I.T. Professionals Need To Know” here: SMB Online Conference Press Room.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day One – June 25th: 9:00 AM Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM Chip Reaves – Better Sales Through Better Education 11:00 AM Rayanne Buchianico – Understanding Your Financials: Three Mandatory Monthly Reports and What They Are Telling You 1:00 PM Manuel Palachuk – Five Tools That Could Transform Your Company Overnight (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com. – Download the Interview with Rayanne Buchianico here.

Manuel Palachuk My brother Manuel is an author, business coach, and outsourced CIO. He worked at KPEnterprises for six years, half of it as President. In this presentation he talks about the five tools that can transform your company overnight. He has over 25 years of business, management, and training experience in the computer and electronics industries. He is an expert of process, systems, and their efficiency who is driven toward continuous improvement in all aspects of business. Manuel is the co-author of the Network Migration Workbook, an expansive document covering the complete processes and checklists required to migrate your network with zero downtime. Manuel is currently writing Getting to the Next Level: A Blueprint For Taking Your Managed Service Business To The Top. Manuel speaks on Day One – June 25th. In this 25 minute interview he gives an introduction to his talk. In the full presentation, he’ll talk about cash flow, communications, people processes, working in real time, and monitoring backlog. All of these, he says, are All inter-related. Listen to this interview and find out why Time is your widget. For more info on Manuel: Visit www.ManuelPalachuk.com and just look for ManuelPalachuk on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.   See the press release here: SMB Online Conference Press Room.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day One – June 25th: 9:00 AM Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM Chip Reaves – Better Sales Through Better Education 11:00 AM Rayanne Buchianico – Understanding Your Financials: Three Mandatory Monthly Reports and What They Are Telling You 1:00 PM Manuel Palachuk – Five Tools That Could Transform Your Company Overnight (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com. – Download the Interview with Manuel Palachuk here.

Brian Sharp Brian Sharp is a great motivational speaker/trainer. He runs a company that helps small business owners learn to use speaking and presenting as a means to expand their company and make sales. His company is called Go Big – http://www.gobigcompany.com/. As you’ll hear in this interview, Brian does not like the “pitch fest” approach to motivational training, which is very popular these days. We did a press release recently on Brian Sharp’s appearance. See the press release here: SMB Online Conference Press Room. Brian helps businesses understand where their business and how it can grow. Very much inline with our “IT Business Reboot” theme, Brian will be talking about How to Take Back and Turn Around Your Small Business. As you will hear on the audio, Brian is very excited to be presenting this material. A few sites mentioned by Brian: PresenterBox.com and BrianSharpOnline.com.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day Three – June 28th: 9:00 AM Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) / Absolute Rules of Success 10:00 AM Brian Sharp – How To Take Back & Turn Around Your Small Business 11:00 AM John Armato – Thinking Inside The Box 1:00 PM Rayanne Buchianico – Understanding Your Financials – Use Data To Make Decisions (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com. – Download the Interview with Brian Sharp here.

Strategies for a Post-SBS World   “June 30th isn’t that far away.” Kevin Beares is the Community Lead for the Windows Server and System Group at Microsoft. Kevin is in charge of driving community interaction for the SMB space.     I caught up with Kevin at SMB Nation Spring at the Microsoft Conference Center. Kevin gets props for putting himself on stage and letting the entire crowd put their toughest questions against him. It was supposed to be an hour, but Kevin stayed more than two hours and was accompanied by Microsoft MVPs Steven Banks and Cliff Galiher, who did a good job of representing both the Microsoft perspective and the partner perspective.  One of the first things Kevin pointed out to me is that there IS a product team that is still focused on the SMB space. The Home Server and Small Business Server products have been re-jiggered and the current SKU is Server Essentials. But the team still exists. He did not say this, but the comment “Read into that what you want” allows me to read into it that there will be a new product or perhaps product line. It’s kind of funny. Just a couple days ago I reported on the Small Biz Thoughts Blog that Frank Shaw from Microsoft was irritated by the negative feedback they’ve received over Windows 8. He basically said that feedback is good, but not too much. I have always found that Microsoft is very willing to take feedback. Sometimes they sound a bit defensive and really just want to explain their position. But they do listen and they do take the message back to the development team. Kevin Beares is doing a great job listening to the community and gathering their feedback. He is fully engaged on the Facebook Group that is discussing changes in SBS. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/131473643614130/. And rather than simply defending past decisions, Kevin did a great job on stage echoing back to the community: “I understand your concerns about pricing ….” He also offered up a configuration strategy for putting Server Essentials and Exchange on the same box. Listen to the interview and engage Kevin here: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.beares or KBeares@Microsoft.com – Download the Interview with Kevin Beares from Microsoft here.

Better Sales Through Better Education Chip Reaves from Bigger Brains is going to be one of the featured speakers at the 2013 SMB Online Conference. We did a press release recently on Chip’s appearance. See the press release here: SMB Online Conference Press Room. In this podcast Chip talks about some research he’ll be presenting in his June presentation. Here’s a very good tidbit: When asked what they need in a consultant, the Number One requirement is knowledge. Clients want to have someone they can trust to give them advice . . . and that person needs to speak business as much as technology. Chip’s talk will address several ways you can improve your sales and bottom line by adding internal and external education to your business. Download the interview to read more.     The theme of this year’s SMB Online Conference is IT Business Reboot – We’ll cover a variety of topics related to re-building your business as if you were starting over today. Here are the topics for Day One – June 25th: 9:00 AM Karl’s Keynote (Karl W. Palachuk) 10:00 AM Chip Reaves – Better Sales Through Better Education 11:00 AM Rayanne Buchianico – Understanding Your Financials: Three Mandatory Monthly Reports and What They Are Telling You 1:00 PM Manuel Palachuk – Five Tools That Could Transform Your Company Overnight (all times are Pacific)   For more information on the conference, visit www.SMBOnlineConference.com. – Download the Interview with Chip Reaves of Bigger Brains here.

At the SMB Nation Spring Conference, I talked to Laura Shafer, Director or Product Marketing at StorageCraft. StorageCraft and their ShadowProtect product are very well known.   Now StorageCraft has a new cloud-based disaster recovery program called StorageCraft Cloud Services. This product was in beta during “Super Storm Sandy” and performed admirably. Now it is in general release.     For more information, visit www.StorageCraft.com – There’s a Partner link on the right side of the page. Contact Laura at laura.shafer@storagecraft.com or ping the partner program at sales@storagecraft.com. – Download the Interview with Laura Shafer of StorageCraft here.  

This week Chip Reaves from Bigger Brains announced a great new offering for managed service providers. I talked to him about Bigger Brains and the new offering – Computer College. Chip is the founder of Computer Troubleshooters in the U.S. (It was originally an Australian company.) Computer Troubleshooters grew to 480 locations in 33 countries. After selling off his interest in that franchise, Chip still owns a Computer Troubleshooters business in South Carolina. Bigger Brains was created to provide e-learning systems to Chip’s clients. Training is a natural addition to what we do for a living. In fact, many of us offer some kind of O.S. or software training in our managed services offerings already. Bigger Brains now has two levels of offerings. First, the “Bigger Brains” brand is a training service that you can resell. It has lots of courses and sells for about $17 per user per month. That’s end user pricing. You can make a very healthy profit on that (details in the audio). Cources include Excel, Word, PowerPoint, online marketing, sales, productivity, and many more. Right now there are fourteen courses but more are in production. This service can be billed to the MSP or to the end user, depending on what you want. For more information, visit www.Bigger-Brains.com – There’s a Reseller link at the bottom. Second, Chip has just announced Computer College – a new service that is a lower cost version of Bigger Brains – specifically designed for MSPs to include in packages. Computer College includes Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and QuickBooks. Your cost is only $30 per client per year. That’s not per user: $30 for the entire company! You can resell individually or include in your managed service packages. The new service is billed 100% through the channel. Only available to MSPs. Bigger Brains (Computer College) bills you and you then bill the client or simply include in your offerings. The client-facing portal is at www.ComputerCollege.biz. Notice that there is no reseller information there. Reseller info is at www.biggermsp.com. Best way to get started: Sign up at Bigger-Brains.com and sign up as a reseller. That will start your interaction with Chip. Chip@bigger-brains.com – Download the Interview with Chip Reaves of Bigger Brains here.  

I had a great talk with Michael Siggins, Publisher of ChannelProSMB. Among other things, he brought me up to speed on their big live event scheduled for April 10th: Channel Pro SMB Forum. This day-long educational event will be in beautiful Long Beach, CA. The weather is expected to be perfect! Channel Pro Forum  will be a jam-packed, one-day affair with great content, great food and great networking opportunities. Sessions include: o Adapting Your Business to the Cloud o Winning Sales and Marketing Strategies for MSPs o Where the Money Is in Mobility o Today’s Hottest Trends in Hardware o CompTIA Training: MSP Partners Trustmark And of course you, I will be there on a panel. The event is FREE. For more info and to register, please go to www.ChannelProForum.com.   Michael also mentioned that ChannelPro magazine is holding its Reader Choice Award voting. This is a program designed to identify the most SMB-specific products, solutions and services for ChannelPro readers and their customers. They are accepting votes at least through the end of February and will announce the results in the springtime. You can cast your vote for our Reader Choice Awards at www.VoteChannelPro.com.   And of course you can alwasy check out ChannelPro SMB magazine at www.Channelprosmb.com.   – Download the Interview with Michael Siggins from ChannelPro here.    

For several years now, I have presented my “State of the Nation” address for small business IT consultants. I never pretend that I’m unbiased. But most of my writing is pretty matter of fact. And most of my interviewing is intended to coax information out of other people. But once a year I dust off the soapbox and give a 45 minute “State of the Nation” address. This year, I talked about  . . . Highlights (lowlights?) from 2012 The Death of SBS Cloud Services Economy Rebooting Your IT Consulting Business in 2013 The recording came out pretty good, so I am posting it here. – Download Karl’s 2013 State of the Nation Address for Small Business I.T. Consultants here. Here are some of the web sites listed in this broadcast. www.SMBBooks.com  www.smbonlineconference.com blog.smallbizthoughts.com  

After months of preparation, Cloud Nation (www.cloudnation.co) was launched last week. I interviewed Tom Poole, President of Cloud Nation about the launch. First, I dropped in to www.cloudnation.co and signed up for the install-access 30 day trial. So I was logged into the system while interviewing Tom. The site has two sides. Betty the Business Woman represents small businesses. Folks who enter there will get a test drive, but they will be channeled to resellers if they want to buy. Carl the Cloud Guy The other character is Carl the Cloud Guy — the I.T. Pro. There are two levels of membership. There are partners who wish to offer their cloud services through Cloud Nation. But most of us are going to be exploring how to be a Cloud Nation Certified Professional. Yes, there is a certification program. The training program has a series of ten modules that cover the technology as well as sales and marketing strategies. As the introductory email states, “Getting the Cloud Nation experience firsthand is a great way to truly understand the power and simplicity of our platform.” And what are you selling? Cloud Nation is currently offering virtual desktops that you can resell to your clients. You decide what the mark-up will be. Even if you are not a current client, you can get your questions answered via email at support@cloudnation.co. – Download the Interview with Tom Poole from Cloud Nation here. For more information on Cloud Nation, see www.cloudnation.co. For questions, email support@cloudnation.co.

A few people have been talking about the new HIPAA training from Reflexion. In my brain, Reflexion = Spam Filtering. So how do you get from there to HIPAA training and certification? So I called Scott Barlow, VP of Sales and Marketing at Reflexion. HIPAA Training from Reflexion Scott ended up giving me a great education on HIPAA requirements, the one important “Business Associate Agreement” you need to have, and how you can get certified and resell certification to your clients. Scott tells stories about very small companies being fined due to HIPAA compliance issues – including a 5-physician that was fined $100,000! Training is very straight forward and very inexpensive. The course has ten sections with quizzes at the end. Then the course as a whole has a 50-question test at the end. It is 100% online and costs only $299! Best take-away is the template you get for your Business Associate Agreement. If you’re looking for a great additional source of revenue, and you want to work with people in the medical community, please listen to this podcast. Very informative! – Download the Interview with Scott Barlow here. For more information on Reflexion, see www.reflexion.net. For more information on HIPAA certification, see www.reflexiontraining.net. For webinar information, email Scott at scott.hipaa@reflexion.net. Scott gives more contact info on the podcast. Check it out today.

I ran into Arlin in Orlando a few weeks ago, but we never connected for a podcast. So we made a point of connecting my phone a few days ago.   Arlin Sorensen of HTG Heartland Technology Groups (HTG) have been a major force in the SMB space for many years. HTG programs have traditionally been face to face peer groups. Right now there are about 250 companies in the face to face groups. But now there are another 70 companies involved with HTG’s online program. Arlin gives us some good information about the specialty groups that are evolving. There are specialty groups for managers, smaller companies, and even much larger companies. HTG’s big annual conference will be in Dallas May 6-9, 2013. In addition, HTG is organizing a “CEO Vision” Summit in Omaha, NE August 15-16, 2013. This will be a special “Ted-Style” format. Arlin gives the details in our podcast. – Download the Interview with Arlin Sorensen here. Whether you’re interested in the Face to Face peer groups, online peer groups, or specialty programs, you can find out more information at www.htgpeergroups.com. Check it out today.

One of my favorite resources in the SMB community is Robert Crane – Directory of the Computer Information Agency. You can find him at CIAOPS.com. I refer to Robert as a resource because he really is “the man to know” with regard to SharePoint. That includes the SharePoint services shipped with Small Business Server 2003, 2008, 2011, the free version from Microsoft, or the full-price product now available as a hosted environment. SharePoint Operations Guide by Robert Crane Robert maintains a massive resource library he simply calls SharePoint Operations Guide. See more information at SMB Books and CIAOPS.com. The SharePoint Operations Guide now includes a great deal of information on Office 365 and how you can integrate these products to add value for your clients. Robert and I had a phone chat yesterday (Well, today in Australia). Robert gives us some great ideas about how to make money with these new products. He spells out a wonderful analogy between technology consulting and shepherding sheep. Imagine that you have always tended a small group of servers (sheep). With modern tools you can now tend a much larger flock. So the next question is, how can we add value to the service we provide.   – Download the Interview with Robert Crane here. Christmas Special: Right now – through Christmas Day 2012 – the SharePoint Operations Guide is $50 off at SMBBooks.com. No coupons. No codes. Just add it to your cart. That means more than 2,000 pages of great information on SharePoint and Office 365 for only $249 USD. Download this PDF to see a “Getting Started” document on the SharePoint Operations Guide, which gives and in-depth look at the contents: Getting Started Check it out today.

AVG Announces Cloud Care As I was wandering the floor at IT Nation, Jessica Turner from AVG stopped me to give me some information about the new AVG program: Cloud Care. Then Austen Clark wandered up to hand me to AVG marketing goodies. I assumed he was an AVG employee, but he’s a very happy client of theirs and volunteered to hand things out. So I snapped this picture:   Jessica agreed to an interview. She brought me up to speed on the new AVG program and the revenue opportunities for MSPs. This service is provided on an as-needed basis with month-to-month payments. Includes anti-virus, content filtering, and remote IT services. We also went into deployment options, installation, their dashboard, how new users are added to the system, and more.   Download the Interview with Jessica Turner from AVG. For more information on AVG Cloud Care, visit www.avg.com/cloudcare. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.     Side story: Jessica has a great sense of humor. When I interview people, I take a picture of their badge so I get the name right, like this:   I asked Jessica if I could take a picture of her badge. She said yes. And as I focusing in I heard her say “Uh. I’m up here.” I’m up here!    

As the IT Nation show was winding down, I talked to some guys from Continuum. Joe Consolmagno is a Technical Account Manager for the Mid Atlantic Region. Raymond Vrabel is Director of Technical Account Management. Continuum was at IT Nation to talk to partners about how they integrate with a variety software programs. In addition, they introduce a variety of products. I asked Joe about the performance of Continuum worked during Hurricane Sandy’s visit to New York and New Jersey. The result was pretty impressive. The combination of Continuum and Datto made response to the disaster fast and easy. In addition to “Continuum Vault” for disaster recovery, the performance of the cloud-based NOC was excellent. Ray mentioned that during the disaster, about 3,000 virtual servers were spun up in the cloud – many of them in advance of the hurricane just to make sure that companies would have no downtime. Download the Interview with Joe and Ray from Continuum here. For more information about Continuum, visit www.continuum.net.   For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

I always like catching up with Dan Wensley from Level Platforms. Dan makes a point of starting out this interview with a ringing endorsement of the IT Nation conference. Level Platforms recently added helpdesk and NOC support for MSPs. The phones are answered in North America – primarily in Ottawa, Ontario. The key to success is the integration with clients’ existing RMM solution. We talked quite a bit about the lessons from Hurricane Sandy and the power of cloud services during a disaster. Hurricane Sandy was a real test for how MSPs will react to disasters in the age of cloud-based management and disaster recovery. Dan is proud of the performance of their NOC during the hurricane, and he’s confident that they will perform just as well in the next disaster. Download the Interview with Dan Wensley from Level Platforms here. For more information on Level Platforms, visit www.levelplatforms.com. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

My friend Nancy Hammervik is the Senior Vice President, Industry Relations at CompTIA. On November 9th she was awarded a Bronze Stevie Award as “Female Innovator of the Year – Government or Non-Profit – 11 to 2,500 Employees.” The Stevie Awards were created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people worldwide. All organizations and individuals worldwide may submit nominations to the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards are given out by the American Business Association. We talked about her role mentoring women in business and specifically women in IT. Nancy deals with pretty much everything in CompTIA that deals with partners: Communications, education, and a lot more. Their goal is to be vendor neutral while providing education and opportunities for VARs and MSPs. Download the Interview with Nancy Hammervik from CompTIA here. For more information on CompTIA, visit www.comptia.org. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

Alan McDonald is President and CTO of Xilocore. Xilocore is a “business continuity and disaster recovery” company focused value added resellers. The develop entire disaster preparedness plans that can be added to managed service offerings. In addition to simply having a business continuity plan, Alan talks about testing recovery systems on a regular basis. He notes that the most successful partners for his product are those that focus their business around disaster recovery. And of course I made him answer some questions about their partner program. Download the Interview with Alan McDonald from Xilocore here. For more information on Quosal, visit www.xilocore.com. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

While at IT Nation last weekend, I grabbed Kent McNall, CEO of Quosal for a quick interview. This “killer combo” of products is one of the most impressive things I saw over the weekend. Quosal was one of the highlighted products in Arnie Bellini’s keynote speech. Kent gave us some of the details about how Quosal connects the LabTech RMM to the ConnectWise PSA. We talked in some depth about the “possibility engine” in LabTech that triggers quotes from Quosal. From little things like the need for RAM, all the way up to creating an automated proposal for replacing an entire server, the LabTech/Quosal combination can help you find opportunities among your clients that you might otherwise miss. Quosal was written as an open application, so it works nicely with Autotask and other products in addition to ConnectWise. And with the LabTech integration it is very obvious that other RMM tools will want to develop a competing product as well. Download the Interview with Kent McNall from Quosal here. For more information on Quosal, visit www.quosal.com.   For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

One of the fun people I don’t get to see enough is Ian Watkins from the UK. He has been using ConnectWise for seven years. I caught up with Ian as he was in line to get into one of the breakout sessions. So we recorded this podcast in the hallway. He gives us his perspective on the data protection issues for companies in the UK and European Union. We also talked about other vendors — and some comments about the music at the event. Download the Interview with Ian Watkins – ConnectWise user from the UK. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

While hanging out in the PacketTrap booth, the talk turned to an interesting product combination that surprised me. Geoff Parker from PacketTrap tells me that a number of partners came by the booth and mentioned that they use these tools together. Hmmm . . . aren’t they both RMM tools? Well, yes, but they each have some outstanding features that makes them even better in combination. This is a quick interview but very interesting. Download the Interview with Geoff Parker from PacketTrap here. For more information on PacketTrap, visit www.packettrap.com. For more information on LabTech, visit www.labtechsoftware.com. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

Interview with Erinn Davis, Community Manager for ConnectWise, Labtech, and Quosal Erinn Davis is one of the hardest working people I ran into at IT Nation. We grabbed an empty boardroom to talk about these three products and her role connecting with the community. The “Community Team” currently has 12 people. They manage all partner-facing activities at ConnectWise, Labtech, and Quosal. These activities include facilitating user groups and working with social media. One person on this team is Holly Soule. I mention the Pinterest pages she manages. You can see a taste of this at http://pinterest.com/connectwise/look-learn/. When we took the picture, the first shot didn’t capture Erinn’s hot shoes, so we had to redo this. Download the Interview with Erinn Davis from ConnectWise, Labtech, and Quosal here. For more information on LabTech, visit www.labtechsoftware.com. For more information on Quosal, visit www.quosal.com. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

ChannelEyes is now in its second year and Jay McBain was on the floor at IT Nation to talk to vendors about connecting with partners. According to Jay, most MSPs work with an average of eight vendors, and yet they are overwhelmed with the information flooding from vendors to partners. Jay explains the mobile “Channel Candy” apps that ChannelEyes makes available for vendors to develop. Channel Candy apps will live on your cell phone/mobile device and be a direct communication system between vendors and their channel partners. Jay gives us a great deal of detail on channel relations and how ChannelEyes is working to improve those relations. Download the Interview with Jay McBain from ChannelEyes here. For more information on ChannelEyes, everyone should visit www.channeleyes.com. For vendors to view the mobile app, visit www.channelcandy.com. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

Kim’s cloud display was very clever. In fact, it caught my eye and I had to take a picture. Then, of course, I turned on the microphone to ask what they do. Integral is a “full IT solution provider.” They were recruiting partners to resell their managed service offerings, including cloud services and hosting/colo services. SSAE 16 SOC2 Audit Compliant. (See http://www.ssae16.org/ssae-16-reporting/ssae-16-type-2-reports.html) Their channel program has no minimums and no quotas. They will help train you to sell their solutions, so they can help you with both sales and technical support. Download the Interview with Kim Mann from Integral here.   For more information on Integral, visit www.integralsg.com.   For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

I dropped by the Symantec booth at IT Nation and had some fun horsing around with Anne Stobaugh and Dal Gemmell. They brought me up to speed with some of the latest programs at Syamantec. Anne made a point that Symantec is trying to be very MSP friendly. They offer a monthly subscription buying program AND promised that you don’t have to worry about Symantec contacting end users! The monthly program is a buy-what-you-need model and great for cash flow. A few products are available in this program either on-premise or in the Cloud, including End Point Protection and Backup Exec. Dal focuses on that Endpoint Protection piece and says Symantec is totally supporting Windows 8 devices at this time. As he says, “In this business, if you don’t adapt quickly to change, you’re not going to be in business for very long.” Symantec is also a big supporter of HTG. They support some groups directly and try to have a tight relationship. Their goal her is to stay tuned to what MSPs are looking for. Symantec has an “MSP Specialist” team that focuses completely on MSP products and issues. You can contact the MSP team at … msp@symantec.com or call 855-210-1101. Download the Interview with Anne Stobaugh and Dal Gemmell from Symantec here. For more information on Symantec, visit www.symatec.com.   For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.  

Karl with Jenna from Spam Soap Jenna Chase is always in a good mood, and she really enjoyed the IT Nation vendor floor this year. We caught up with her on the last day. Spam Soap is a cloud based email and security provider. Which means cloud-based spam filtering, archiving, encryption, and hosted Exchange services. Of course they’ll filter any email you need filtering, so you don’t have to be hosted with them. Download the Interview with Jenna Chase from Spam Soap. For more information on Spam Soap, visit http://spamsoap.com or Call 866-772-6688.   For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.    

One of the vendors that seems to make every show is eFolder (www.eFolder.net). I talked to Booth Dude Tel Hulsy about the eFolder product and what they’re up to. eFolder Crew at IT Nation Ted’s big push is the eFolder/AppAssure combination that allows client systems to be imaged to the eFolder cloud. This gives them on-site data recovery plus cloud-based recovery options. We also talked a bit about the explosion of data on client sites and how that affects backups. Ted explained a bit about eFolder’s de-duplication feature. Other topics included . . . – Why public cloud? – How does the availability of bandwidth affect recovery? – Running clients in the virtual environment in the cloud – The “eFolder Continuity Cloud” Download the Interview with Ted Hulsy from eFolder. For more information on eFolder, visit www.eFolder.net. For more information on IT Nation, visit www.TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit www.ConnectWise.com.

ConnectWise Goes Way Beyond PSA I had a chance to sit down with Arnie and David Bellini near the end of IT Nation and get some insights into what they’re doing and where the company is going. Arnie Bellini is the CEO of ConnectWise and David is the COO. Arnie Bellini, Karl Palachuk, David Bellini As Arnie describes ConnectWise, their mission is to help you run your business better by bringing all of your “Silos of Chaos” into a common interface. Now, in addition to the features built into ConnectWise, they are building strong alliances with other products in order to take integration to a higher level. Two of the coolest things I saw at the keynote were the “Marketplace” and the “Partner Kits.” You can check out the Marketplace at www.connectwise.com/marketplace. They list all of their all integration partners – about 400 in all. The Partner kits are available at www.connectwise.com/partnerkits and include quick-start kits for sales, helpdesk, human resources, and more. Arnie is justifiably proud of their success with product integration. One of the coolest things he demonstrated in his keynote was the ability for Labtech to find problems and connect to Quosal so Quosal and automatically generate a sales opportunity in ConnectWise with a draft sales quote. At that point the sales team can fine-tune the quote, collaborate with the tech department, and get the quote out to the client. And of course Arnie loves the partnership ConnectWise shares with HTG – the Heartland Technology Group. He looks at HTG as the group that’s going to push innovation in the IT support business. . . . And there’s a lot more covered in this 12 minute interview. Download the Interview with Arnie Bellini from ConnectWise here. For more information on IT Nation, visit TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit ConnectWise.com.

One of my old friends Steve Noel talked to me about his role at Axcient and what the company’s up to these days. Steve is a Techno Sales Engineer at Axcient. Steve Noel Axcient is a 100% Channel focused backup and BDR solution. Steven doesn’t describe their solution as “BDR” but he says, “We eliminate downtime.” Whether your systems are physical, virtual, or some combination of things, Axcient can back up your stuff. Steve gives us a few notes on the new people who working at Axcient development. He promises that they have a lot of new developments in the funnel. Axcient is on a 6-week development cycle, so he expects some big changes very soon. Because the appliances are in constant communication with Axcient, they can increase functionality and update systems remotely and automatically. And of course quality assurance is very important in this process. Steve also gave us some information on their integration strategies for LabTech, ConnectWise, and other products. In addition, they have a strong relationship with the HTG groups who were present at IT Nation. Download the Interview with Steve Noel from Axcient here. For more information on Axcient, visit http://www.axcient.com. – – – – – For more information on IT Nation, visit TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit ConnectWise.com.  

I sat down with Larry Walsh, CEO of The 2112 Group at IT Nation. The 2112 Group is an analyst firm that supports vendors in the solution provider community. They provide “leadership and best practices” for solution providers. Larry Walsh – The 2112 Group On the topic of having vendors selling direct versus selling through the channel, Larry says that this has always been true. He explains how you differentiate yourself so the vendors’ practices become irrelevant. On the question of how vendors can help get the right information to solution providers, he says “The channel is awash in content.” So he is not worried about whether solution providers will have access to information. But he argues that solution providers need to figure out what their business model is going forward. Once they do that, they can get the information they need from their vendors. Download the Interview with Larry Walsh here.  (17 MB) For more information . . . ChannelNomics.com ChannelNomics on Twitter and Facebook lmwalsh2112 on Twitter and Facebook – – – – – For more information on IT Nation, visit TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit ConnectWise.com.    

Kevin McGibben – CEO of LogicMonitor – met up with me at the ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando Friday. LogicMonitor is a “pure SaaS based IT infrastructure monitoring service.” We talked about what that means and why it is NOT an RMM tool. LogicMonitor discovers and analyzes everything at the hardware level and up through virtual environments and hosted services. As a SaaS model, there is no on-premise tool. And because they deploy to any location at once, you can monitor everything from database performance in hosted environments all the way down to hardware at your colo facility. The price is also very good . . . and very much in line with standard Managed Services pricing. Everything can be based on pure usage for you while you parcel out monitoring across all your clients. There is one master portal that you can customize. Kevin McGibben of LogicMonitor In case you want to take a closer look and see if this is something you can integrate into your managed service business, LogicMonitor is happy to extend a trial to partners. To get a better idea of the price point, please listen to the podcast: Download the Interview with Kevin McGibben from Logic Monitor here. For more information on Logic Monitor, visit LogicMonitor.com. – – – – – For more information on IT Nation, visit TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit ConnectWise.com

I caught up with Jason Samples from PacketTrap at the ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando. My first question was “What are you doing here?” PacketTrap has both a PSA and an RMM tool. Their RMM tool is an “agent/agent-less hybrid” that integrates fully with other PSA systems – including ConnectWise. So they are having good luck talking to their clients and prospects on the vendor floor. Jason Samples from PacketTrap PacketTrap offers trials for their tools. Jason recommends that you start with the RMM side. Once you’re comfortable with that, then they invite you to look at the PSA. They have a number of online training videos and we’re planning to do a webinar together in the next month. Download the Interview with Jason Samples from PacketTrap here. You can find out more about PacketTrap at www.packettrap.com. – – – – – For more information on IT Nation, visit TheITNation.com. For more information on ConnectWise, visit ConnectWise.com.

Final Report from SMB Nation Fall 2012. Our final interview from SMB Nation’s Fall conference is with Tom Poole, Founder and CEO of Cloud Nation. Cloud Nation is an SMB Nation family brand. Cloud Nation has created a three-pronged program for helping MSPs make it to the cloud. Their goal is to provide a system so that SMB Consultants can jump into cloud offerings very quickly — confident that they’re selling top-notch, reliable services. The program is good for both existing MSPs without a cloud offering and folks who are knew to the business altogether. Tom Poole Cloud Nation Components include: – Sales and marketing support – Education and certification – Platform (actual cloud offerings) Download the Interview with Tom Poole here. The timetable for the release of Cloud Nation is: – November 1st – You can sign up at http://cloudnation.co – December 1st – Educational component goes live – January 1, 2013 – The entire operation goes live   Past Podcasts We recorded two other podcasts with Tom. The first was part of the Cloud Services Roundtable in October of last year. Download the one-hour Interview with Tom Poole from Cloud Services Roundtable. The other podcast was a quick interview earlier this year from MVP Nation. (See the full report at http://www.smbcommunitypodcast.com/2012/07/smb-community-podcasts-from-mvp-nation-part-2/). Download the Interview with Tom Poole from MVP Nation. Personally, I am very interested to see the specific offerings from Cloud Nation. Can’t wait to see it live!  

Report from SMB Nation Fall 2012. Mike Bayless Near the end of this year’s SMB Nation, I caught up with Mike Bayless from America’s Tech Support in Sacramento. Mike says that networking with other MSP partners is the biggest benefit to attending. “The majority of what happens here for me is either at the exhibitor booths, or the vendor booths, or in the hallways and at parties.” Mike is very clear that the conversation has already moved past the “death of SBS” issue. Partners were talking about strategies for the future. Download the Interview with Mike Bayless here.

Report from SMB Nation Fall 2012. I was wandering past the Datto booth at SMB Nation and stopped to chat with Shannon Kohn, the Director of Marketing and Channel Relations. She invited me to watch them blow things up. We recorded a brief podcast. Download the Interview with Shannon Kohn here. Find out more about Datto at www.dattobackup.com. After that, they did in fact destroy a machine. Here’s Shannon’s report: The Datto team had a strong showing at the “Back to the Future” themed SMB Nation Fall event. As a Gold Sponsor, Datto was given a breakout session on Saturday that many attendees showed up for. The breakout, titled ‘Datto’s LIVE Disaster Demo’, was an interactive hardware destruction session that showcased their flagship business continuity solution, SIRIS. The Datto team put SIRIS to the test, performing both an instant local virtualization and an instant off-site virtualization in Datto’s cloud, right before the attendees eyes. To make it clear that this was not just an act, Datto let audience members participate in the destruction of the computer hardware and the SIRIS device. Datto concluded the presentation by speaking to the importance of business continuity for SMBs and the benefits of implementing solutions that save companies from experiencing costly downtime. Datto Disaster Demo 2 Datto Disaster Demo 1  

Report from SMB Nation Fall 2012. I had a good chat with Regina Ciardiello, Editor of SMB Nation magazine while I was in Las Vegas. Regina wrote the Daily Gazette “newsletter” for the event. In addition to the plug for next year’s SMB Nation conference, Regina gave us some information about SMB Nation staff member Jeremiah Ilges. Jeremiah suffers from aplastic anemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. Jeremiah is scheduled for his bone marrow transplant in a couple of weeks. A “10/10” match donor has been found. Jeremiah’s family could use some financial assistance. So the folks at SMB Nation are encouraging everyone to contribute what they can at www.adoptourfamily.com. Download the Interview with Regina Ciardiello now.

Interview with Jon Sastre One of the best interviews I had at SMB Nation was with Jon Sastre, one of the IAMCP leaders at the state, national, and international levels. Jon is also a very successful managed service provider, value added reseller, and system integrator. Jon’s company is Conquest Technology Services of Southern Florida. They are the Microsoft Partner of the Year for Lync. Download the interview Jon Sastre now.  

One of the reasons I love working with my brother Manuel is that he is AMAZING at defining and implementing successful processes. Earlier this year he started a new coaching program geared specifically toward Managed Service Providers. Manuel was the President of my MSP (KPEnterprises) for three years. After that he took a position as the outsourced Chief Operating Officer for an MSP in Florida. He turned their operation around and brought them four quarters in a row of profitability – something they had not had before. Manuel has a great resource site at www.conceptualageconsulting.net. Check it out and review the programs he has available. Just FYI: My coaching program is full and I have a waiting list. Trust me. You will miss NOTHING if you engage with Manuel. He is the best team leader I have ever seen. He is also amazing at defining and implementing processes. After all – he had primary responsibility for the 270 page checklist in the Network Migration Workbook! Our mastery of ConnectWise, Autotask, Kaseya, and Contiuum (formerly Zenith) is due to Manuel’s leadership. Download the Interview with Manuel Palachuk here. You can also find him at: www.facebook.com/manuelpalachuk www.linkedin.com/in/manuelpalachuk If your company could use some personalized coaching to get to the next level, please contact Manuel today! P.S., NO: I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother. I have five brothers. Each has skills. Some I promote, some I don’t. Manuel really is “the man” when it comes to getting your business pointed in the right direction.  

Rob Patterson talked to me at SMB Nation about his very successful IT Pro group in New York City – the New York Small Business Server Group. He revealed to us the secrets of holding a meeting, plus the Pre-meeting meeting and the Post-meeting meeting. There’s no B.S. here: Rob is one of the great user group leaders out there. His success is possible because he has a large group of people who jump in and make things happen. The group has many unique features, including Michael Klein’s special presentation on news, trends, links, and more. He is a true resource who “does the reading so you don’t have to.” The New York group has a very strong community. Over 300 members with up to 100 at a meeting (200 when Microsoft has a big event). If you’re interested in contacting Rob, go to nysbs.net http://nysbs.net/ You can also sign up for their Yahoo Group from that site. Download the Interview with Rob Patterson Here.  

One of the fun things at this year’s SMB Nation event was the whole “Back to the Future” theme. In addition to the lovely Claudia Wells (see previous podcast), StorageCraft and Intel paid to bring the Time Machine to the conference hall. Since he was there all weekend, I grabbed the opportunity to talk to the current owner, Mark Shields. Download the interview with Mark Shields now. You can find Mark online at: www.TimeMachineRental.com or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/deloreanrental His web site has a photo gallery as well as a video gallery. Mark is an application Architect for a large corporation in Minneapolis, so this is a part-time gig for him. Not a bad side job. As Mark mentions in his interview, a portion of his rental fee goes to the The Michael J. Fox Foundation to fight Parkinson’s Disease. https://www.michaeljfox.org/ Over on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk), I posted some close-up pictures of the car. Mark says there are about ten replicas in the US. One very interesting note in this interview: Mark is working on how to un-SEO your Internet footprint. Mark has done some other projects in the past, including other replica cars. After he’s figured out how to convert existing SEO to his current projects, he’s hoping to write a book. I hope he stays in touch.  

I caught up with Jeff Middleton at SMB Nation over the weekend. We covered several topics, including: – Update on the SBS Migration / IT Pro Experts conference (the annual conference that is held from time to time) – SMB Community Roadshow, sponsored by Microsoft and HP – The future (and past) of Small Business Server – The new IT Pro Experts brand: www.itproexperts.com – SBS Migrations going forward – Microsoft’s participation in the SMB space Jeff is a Microsoft MVP and a long-standing leader in the small business and SBS community. In addition to helping people with the technical side of what they do, he is very active (and successful) at bringing vendors into our space to participate at a level that can help small IT consultants to make money. Download the Interview with Jeff Middleton here. You can review the SBS Migration catalog at www.sbsmigration.com. You can explore IT Pro Experts at www.itproexperts.com. And Jeff says you can always email him at “Jeff@ almost any domain I control.”

As I said on my Facebook page, two of my favorite people in the world have been honored as the SBSers of the year: Rayanne Buchianico and Bob Nitrio. This award is officially the Jim Locke Memorial Community Award and is sponsored by SMB Nation and the SMB Technology Network (SMBTN). Both of these folks happen to be user group leaders, so we talked a bit about that. But we also talked about community involvement and why they participate so heavily. Robert A. Nitrio is the CEO of Ranvest Associates, Orangevale CA. The is the president of the Sacramento SMB IT Pros. Rayanne Buchianico is the Owner of ABC Solutions, Tampa FL. She is the founder (and runs) the Tampa Bay SBS User Group. Both are very active in the “SBS Group Leads” Yahoo group.   We also covered some of the other events they participate in each year and why they find value in them. Please download the Interview with Rayanne and Bob here. Also check out SMBTN and SMB Nation. http://www.smbtn.org http://www.smbnation.com

I talked to Bob Godgart from ChannelEyes (www.channeleyes.com) about what’s new with their cool channel partner tools. The coolest new product – Channel Candy – is an app that allows vendors to create a branded partner app for smart phones. This will allow you to track the information and updates from your vendors. There will be some common controls from one vendor to another, but vendors will be able to customize as they see fit. If you’re like me, you are a “partner” with 6-12 vendors. But, if you’re like me, you might visit each site once or twice a year. Channel Candy will allow vendors to create information channels so you can decide which information your receive. And the vendors can send you to their portal when there’s a program they really want you to see it. Bob gives a lot more detail in the audio. Download the Interview with Bob Godgart here. You can join ChannelEyes and download the apps for free. Visit www.channeleyes.com. While you’re there, you will also find a channel with my Small Biz Thoughts blog (thank you Channel Eyes!).

Report from SMB Nation Fall 2012. I caught up with Jessica DeVita – one of my favorite people in the IT space. Jessica is an IT consultant, technical wiz, advocate for education in the IT community, Microsoft MVP and a really great person. Her web site is www.theubergeekgirl.com. Recently, Jessica was on the cover of ChannelPro magazine and had an article in there about Women in IT. We talked to her about that and the work she’s doing to educate women (and men) on IT as field. Check out the magazine at http://www.channelprosmb.com/archive/channelpro_smb_september_2012. Recently Jessica has been on several panels recently discussion IT as a career choice and on mentoring young women. She will be speaking on November 7th at Santa Monica College for a program called Cool Careers. As a side note, I asked Jessica how she came up with the name Uber Geek Girl. Download the Interview with Jessica DeVita here. This is not my first interview with Jessica. Check out the earlier podcasts at SMB Community Podcast.

Report from SMB Nation Fall 2012. Highly Reliable Systems Provides a New Approach to Backup Hardware Many people don’t like tape backups. But most hard drive-based backups have their own problems. I talked to  Darren McBride about the “Highly Reliable” systems and what makes them different. Their story is interesting and compelling. Until this conversation, I wasn’t sure about the exact need they filled. In addition to adding a level of security to the physical handling of backups, Highly Reliable Systems is providing tape replacements from extremely reasonable to 12 TB. Listen to the interview. You’ll see why it’s worth taking a look at this technology. Download the Interview Here Check out their web site at www.high-rely.com.

The theme of this year’s SMB Nation is “Back to the Future.” Basically, it’s wrapped around all the cool new things we have . . . and understanding them in light of the fact that SBS Server end of life is upon us. So Harry Brelsford and Chris Bangs over at SMB Nation got ahold of the guy who owns the DeLorean from the movie (Mark Shields). Yes: This guy still drives this car. Then they got ahold of Claudia Wells, who played Marty’s girlfriend Jennifer in the original movie. Claudia attended the first get together on the night of the Preday events. Turns out she’s a very nice, normal business owner with a great sense of humor. She owns a high end clothing story in Studio City, CA. She’s also got some new movies in the works. I caught up with her while taking shelter from the lightning storm. She agreed to a podcast. Download the Podcast Here Claudia’s store can be found at www.armaniwells.com http://www.armaniwells.com/ – High end clothing at discount prices. In addition she has a personal page at www.claudiawells.com. There you can see what she’s up to and even order personally autographed pictures . . . or a copy of the “Save the Clock Tower” flyer. Just a little extra fun along with the work and educational sessions.

July 2012: Welcome to the new SMB Community Podcast My plan is to make this a permanent archive for my various podcasts. We are now moved over the SMB Community Podcasts, as well as archived podcasts from the SMB Conference Call and Cloud Services Roundtable. New podcasts will be posted here. Older podcasts will be stored in archives. Feel free to download as many as you want. Send me feedback if you have any. – karlp

July 2012: Welcome to the new SMB Community Podcast My plan is to make this a permanent archive for my various podcasts. We are now moved over the SMB Community Podcasts, as well as archived podcasts from the SMB Conference Call and Cloud Services Roundtable. New podcasts will be posted here. Older podcasts will be stored in archives. Feel free to download as many as you want. Send me feedback if you have any. – karlp

This article was originally posted June 23, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. SMB Community Podcast: Chatting with Jeannine Edwards and Erinn Davis Fifteen minutes of information and commentary. – – – – – I caught up with Jeannine Edwards (ConnectWise) and Erinn Davis (LabTech Software) and had a great discussion about what’s new, the community, IT Nation, and what they see for the SMB Community in the year ahead.   Download the podcast here. Jeannine is the Director of Community for ConnectWise, LabTech, and Quosal. Erinn is the Community Manager at LabTech Software. Their job is to nuture the complete communication cycle between the ConnectWise / LabTech / Quosal family of products and their clients. One of the best guidelines these folks have is: “If it can be monitored and managed,  it can be put in a contract.” (And of course it can then become recurring revenue.) In the end, it’s all about predictable costs for the client and predictable revenue for the consultant. Jeannine will be one of the keynote speakers at the SMB Online Conference next week. Her talk there is on Five Proven Strategies to Triple Your Cloud Profits – Even If You Have No Cloud Strategy Today. Read more about that at www.smbonlineconference.com.   Our discussion covered cloud services, the hype in the market, the future of growth in our business, and a lot more! Check it out. For more information, see – www.connectwise.com – www.labtechsoftware.com – www.quosal.com – www.TheITNation.com – Facebook.com/connectwise – Facebook.com/labtechsoftware – Twitter.com/connectwise – Twitter.com/labtechsoftware

This article was originally posted June 16, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Freeday Friday Report: Three Conferences in Eight Days This is a very different Freeday Friday podcast . . . and the last one we’ll produce. – – – – – My report on IT Pro Conference in New Orleans. “Trusted Identity” and what it means in the big picture. A few comments on delegation of trust and what that means to our clients. My recommendations based on the topics from this conference. I talk a bit about the kinds of white papers and “lunch and learn” seminars you might create on cloud computing, modern security concerns, BYOD, and mixed (Windows/Non-Windows) environments. Then I talk about the Autotask conference and their expansion into international markets. After that I went to TechEd North America and the “Birds of a Feather” sessions I moderated there. In addition to the community activities at TechEd, I report on a cool new laptop and a bit about Server 2012. My presentation on Relax Focus Succeed and work/life balance was very popular. Holy smokes. They cut off registration when they realized it was at 162% of capacity for the room. My Birds of a Feather presentation on publishing was also pretty popular (though far less crowded) and included publisher reps from Microsoft, Wiley, and O’Reilly. I spent some time with Jerry from ASCII and Thomas Dawkins from Microsoft Technical Communities. Thomas and I recorded a podcast that I’ll post up in a few days. Stay tuned for that. Anyway . . . Here’s my report on the three conferences I attended over eight days of travel. Total time for this is about 25 minutes. The last few minutes is an announcement that we are no longer going to produce the Freeday Friday podcasts. I’ll talk more about this in my weekly newsletter. You can subscribe to that at http://www.mcssl.com/app/contact.asp?id=75012. Download the podcast here. For more good information, please see my blog at http://blog.smallbizthoughts.com.

This article was originally posted June 15, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Thomas Dawkins Introduces Microsoft Technical Communities   While attending the Microsoft TechEd North America conference last week, I literally ran into Thomas Dawkins just wandering the floor. Thomas is a senior IT Pro Audience Marketing Manager at Microsoft. He is responsible for relationships with IT Pro Groups and User Groups. In this interview Thomas gave us some hints about the community involvement for the year ahead. Microsoft Technical Communities will officially be launched next fiscal year (next month). Services include helping user groups with speakers, funding, and training. It is also clear that Microsoft is engaging groups in many other markets besides the “small and medium” market we know so well. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear a very big hint about funding for groups and product launches. For more information, see the new site at www.technicalcommunities.com (content will be up once the program is officially announced). Download the Interview with Thomas Dawkins (Time 4:41)  

This article was originally posted June 15, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Len DiCostanzo Reports on Autotask Community Live 2012   June 2012 – Orlando, FL – A buncha people gathered in Orlando for the Autotask Community Live conference. This is, of course, a very product-specific conference. Many of the panels were run by users. The coolest thing about that is that 83% of the attendees were first-time attendees, so they were eager to find out how others are using the tool.   We had a great time learning about what’s new with Autotask and what’s planned for the year ahead. I interviewed Len DiCostanzo, Senior Vice President, Community and Business Development for Autotask. Obviously, Len was super-busy. So we were lucky to grab a few minutes. Len gave me some great information, including that 83% stat above. Over 90 sessions, more than 70 run by customers. You can tell from this interview that he is very jazzed about the entire event and enjoyed it like the rest of us. For more information on Autotask, please visitwww.autotask.com. Download the Interview with Len DiCostanzo (Time 3:53)  

This article was originally posted June 15, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Mark Moreno Gives a Mid-Market Perspective on some SMB Events   One of my favorite people in the SMB/MSP space is Mark Moreno from C & M Support Services. I think I first met Mark at the IT Pro Conference in New Orleans five years ago. But I also see him at SMB Nation and several other events. In the last ten days I ran into Mark at two separate conferences: the 2012 IT Pro Conference and Autotask Community Live.   Both Mark and I flew straight from New Orleans (the IT Pro Conference – see this blog post) to Orlando. So no time off for good behavior. Um . . . I guess that’s appropriate. Anyway, we had a great time learning about challenges and opportunities in consulting today. It’s actually pretty nice to jump in with both feet and totally immerse yourself in the business side of your business for a week or so. Mark is known as “Christ’s IT Guy.” He specializes in helping large churches with their technology needs. He often works more in the mid-market rather than the SMB space. But he also does a lot of Small Business Server installations because there are plenty of businesses that have a lot of employees but only 10-50 actual computer users. Of course Mark is an Autotask user. Mark talks to us about the Third Tier “Brain Explosion” preday event for the IT Pro Conference; the 2012 IT Pro Conference; and the Autotask conference. You can tell that Mark is really working hard to integrate all this knowledge into his business. Download the Interview with Mark Moreno (Time 5:18)  

This article was originally posted June 15, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Six Podcast Reports from New Orleans IT Pro Conference   June 2012 – New Orleans – Jeff Middleton’s IT Pro Conference was a great success last week. Two days of panels and discussions on the theme “Trusted Identity: Faith in a Technology World” were very well received. About 150 attendees spent the time in a conversation that wound around through discussions of – Trusted Advisor roles  – Identity Theft  – Social Media Privacy Breaches  – Hosted Environments  – Government Oversight  – Unintended Electronic Disclosures  – Branding Realities in a Business or Technology without Trust  – Partnership and Service Provider Failures  – Identity Federation (Facebook, Gmail, Passport, service aggregators) – Social Media and more!   Naturally, I decided to catch up with some folks and get their impressions of the whole event. I started with Andy Goodman, a long-time community member and leader. Andy has been working for/with SBSMigration.com for almost a year now. He was instrumental in making this event happen – and introducing Jeff’s new brand – IT Pro Experts – ITProExperts.com. Here’s Andy: Download the Interview with Andy Goodman (Time 1:11)     Next up, I talked to Ben Yarbrough from Calyptix Security (http://www.calyptix.com/). In the conference, and in this interview, Ben talks about how security devices have really become very different from one another. The feature sets are now quite amazing. Download the Interview with Ben Yarbrough (Time 2:52)     One of the ever-present members of this community – and Jeff’s conference – is Jan Spring from eFolder (www.efolder.net). Jan is an absolute fireball and one of the great brand ambassadors in this community. She gave us a quick sound check. Download the Interview with Jan Spring (Time 1:00)     One of my favorite people in the SMB space is Jessica DeVita. Jessica has been involved for awhile, but she has recently decided to crank up her participation and “voice” in the community. She is a Microsoft MVP, a speaker at the conference, and is one of the people watch in our space. We talked about the future of our community – and a lot more. Download the Interview with Jessica DeVita (Time 5:23)     Another one of my favorite people is Mark Crall, now from Storage Craft (www.storagecraft.com) and a former MSP from North Carolina. He talks here about choosing vendors and creating relationships in the channel. Download the Interview with Mark Crall (Time 2:12)     Finally, I talked to Mitch Garvis, who travels ALL the time. Based in Canada, it is always a pleasure to run into Mitch way down in the Southern United States. Mitch is a Microsoft MVP, a Virtual Partner Technology Advisor at Microsoft Canada, and his blog is at http://garvis.ca. Mitch gives us some great reasons to attend community events, and this conference in general. Download the Interview with Mitch Garvis (Time 1:23)     My personal thoughts on this conference – and some ideas about what you should be doing to educate your clients about modern discussions of “Trust” and delegation of trust will be posted separately in the “Oceanic” edition of the Freeday Friday podcasts. As soon as I get around to it. Bottom Line: A great conference as usual. Great community. Great topic. Great discussions. And, as Mitch reminds us: They have beer.

This article was originally posted May 18, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Reports from the SMB 150 Banquet 2012   May 16th – Los Angeles – SMB Nation put on a nice banquet to celebrate the 2nd Annual SMB 150 Influencers. This was a great event. To be honest, this event started for me about lunchtime as I met with a series of great people that I don’t get to see very often.   Download the SMB 150 report now On Friday I asked Harry Brelsford from SMB Nationto give us a brief report on the event. That’s included here. In fact, Harry kicks off the podcast. While I was in Los Angeles, I interviewed a few folks. So those very short interviews are here as well. Interviewees include Denis Wilson, Terry VanWinkel, and Jerry Koutavas. I do have to say that I was really impressed that people came all the way from the eastern side of the U.S. But I was more impressed with people who came from Canada, Brazil, the UK, and Australia. I’m not sure how Harry does this, but he really knows how to put on a community event! And a tip of the hat goes to co-sponsor SMBTN for helping with every stage, including the voting process. Of course, a number of the SMB 150 are in SMBTN as they are strong contributors to the community.   I’m sorry sorry that many 150-ers could not make it. But I totally understand!     Downlodard SMB 150 Report  

This article was originally posted May 18, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Freeday Friday May Podcast Posted – US / UK Edition   This program was recorded and is posted here.   How to Convert 700 Clients to Managed Services Without Dropping Any The US/UK Edition of Freeday Friday featured a kickoff question of whether it’s possible to covert a traditionally break/fix business into managed services. The question came from a partner with three employees and 700 customers. That told me something about his business and his customers. I talked about what we did in the transition to managed services and gave him some advice. We also had a few questions about the hiring process, specifically about filtering candidates. I talked about our process and how well it works . . . as long as I don’t break the rules and just hire someone. Boy, can that go wrong! If you would like your question to be the start-off question, just send an email tokarlp@greatlittlebook.com. Please put Freeday Friday in the subject line. Freeday Friday is a program to give you access to some coaching advice in a totally new format. See details at www.FreedayFriday.com. Basically, I am offering free coaching advice to a very few people – live and free. The “price” for free advice is that other people get to listen in. The idea is that we all share some common challenges, so we might be able to learn from each other and address those challenges in similar ways. I’m not really a “coach” with a program to sell. I will sell some hours. But this one-to-many format allows me to get information out there and engage in the community.

This article was originally posted May 18, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Freeday Friday May Podcast Posted – Oceanic Edition   This program was recorded and is posted here.   Customizing Cloud Services for Medical and Other Verticals The “Down Under” edition of Freeday Friday featured a kickoff question about building a cloud package for the medical industry. In particular, how do we deal with a combination of cloud services and one or more servers that remain onsite. We actually have clients with this scenario, so I talk about what we do. We also had a question about getting started in our business today. Is it a good idea? What would I do differently? So went spent time on that. Then we covered a few misc. questions. If you would like your question to be the start-off question, just send an email tokarlp@greatlittlebook.com. Please put Freeday Friday in the subject line. Freeday Friday is a program to give you access to some coaching advice in a totally new format. See details at www.FreedayFriday.com. Basically, I am offering free coaching advice to a very few people – live and free. The “price” for free advice is that other people get to listen in. The idea is that we all share some common challenges, so we might be able to learn from each other and address those challenges in similar ways. I’m not really a “coach” with a program to sell. I will sell some hours. But this one-to-many format allows me to get information out there and engage in the community.  

This article was originally posted May 11, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Join me May 23rd for a free webinar: Designing Successful Cloud Service Offerings With Microsoft SBS Essentials. Looking for a great combination of tools and practices for moving your smallest clients to The Cloud? You’ve heard of SBS Essentials – But how do you build a business model around selling it with Cloud Services? And where does Managed Services fit in the picture? Join me and Len DiCostanzo (Autotask SVP Community & Business Development) for a very practical and actionable look at making SBS Essentials a key part of your cloud offering. I’ll give a bit of a “quick start guide” that will get you moving in the right direction immediately. And then we’ll talk about integrating that Cloud+SBS Essentials with Managed Services. Register and get a big step up on the practical application of cloud services and managed services in the very-small client environment. What is SBS Essentials and how does it fit in your solution stack? Which cloud offerings make the most sense for getting started? How does The Cloud work with Managed Services? How can Autotask help autotmate and scale service delivery and drive revenue and profitability? Find out more and Register free.

This article was originally posted April 20, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Freeday Friday April Podcast Posted – US / UK Edition   This program was recorded and is posted here.   Do I Really Need to Try to Sell SBS Essentials into My Client Base? We had a good show today (45 minutes). Four people posted questions live and we had a good email question to kick us off. The kickoff question was, “Do I really need to sell SBS Essentials?” We talked about when it is and is not the right product to sell to specific clients. Caller Ken asked a follow-up question: When to sell SBS Essentials and when to sell Foundation Server since they have so many features in common. . . . And lots more! If you would like your question to be the start-off question, just send an email tokarlp@greatlittlebook.com. Please put Freeday Friday in the subject line. Freeday Friday is a new program to give you access to some coaching advice in a totally new format. See details at www.FreedayFriday.com. Basically, I am offering free coaching advice to a very few people – live and free. The “price” for free advice is that other people get to listen in. The idea is that we all share some common challenges, so we might be able to learn from each other and address those challenges in similar ways. I’m not really a “coach” with a program to sell. I will sell some hours. But this one-to-many format allows me to get information out there and engage in the community.

This article was originally posted April 19, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Freeday Friday Podcast Posted – Oceanic Edition   This program was recorded and is posted here.   How Do I sell if I’m Not a Salesman? We had a quick show today (35 minutes). Just a few questions. The kickoff question was, “How do I upsell clients when I don’t want to be the salesman?” I give a little advice and encouragement. and we answer a question from a live listener as well. If you would like your question to be the start-off question, just send an email tokarlp@greatlittlebook.com. Please put Freeday Friday in the subject line. Freeday Friday is a new program to give you access to some coaching advice in a totally new format. See details at www.FreedayFriday.com. Basically, I am offering free coaching advice to a very few people – live and free. The “price” for free advice is that other people get to listen in. The idea is that we all share some common challenges, so we might be able to learn from each other and address those challenges in similar ways. I’m not really a “coach” with a program to sell. I will sell some hours. But this one-to-many format allows me to get information out there and engage in the community.

This article was originally posted March 19, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. This program was recorded and is posted here.   Robin Talks About What’s Next, Cloud and BDR Promotions, Perennial Campaigns, and More I had a nice chat with Robin Robins this morning. For those of you unfamiliar with Robin, she’s the genius behind the Managed Services Blueprint, as well as marketing programs geared toward cloud integration, managed services, and BDRs. I always like catching up with Robin because she’s full of energy and ideas – but totally focused on the big picture. She just finished a roadshow with Axcient and HP, hitting five major cities. She talks about some of the discussions and lessons learned there. We also touched on Robin’s annual Bootcamp in Nashville, which is totally sold out. Finally, we talked a little about marketing strategies that will work going forward. I asked her about the effectiveness of Facebook and LinkedIn for most MSPs. She gave some nice insights about that, and also about long-term strategies for success. One key lesson is to adopt campaigns you can use over and over again. Despite what you might think, repeating a successful campaign can bring you a great deal of success. Check out the whole interview here. (Free to subscribers.) You can find out more about Robin and the Managed Services Blueprint at: ManagedServicesBlueprint.com.

This article was originally posted March 16, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. First Freeday Friday March Podcast Posted – US/UK Edition   This program was recorded and is posted here.   UK Partner Challenged with Time Management. US Partner Wondering About Hiring Techs. The first UK/US show went off pretty well. Lots of questions. Totally different topics from the Oceanic edition yesterday. We start out with a partner who desperately needs a PSA system. It’s actually pretty amazing how many problems are solved with the right PSA tool. Plus he got a little tough love. On hiring, we talked about Craigslist, Monster, Career Builder, temp agencies, and strategies for direct hire of part-time technicians. I am so grateful to the community for their participation here. It really is exactly what I was looking for. I get tons of email and I sometimes end up answering questions six months later. I feel bad, but I can only do so much. This allows me to answer more questions in a shorter time frame. What I was hoping for with this dual show is that there would be a wide variety of topics. That’s exactly what we got. Thank you to everyone who participated – especially the folks who put themselves out there with tough questions about their business. We are a community, and that means relying on each other for support at times.

This article was originally posted March 16, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. First Freeday Friday Podcast Posted – Oceanic Edition   This program was recorded and is posted here.   Well, the Aussies Kicked Off Freeday Friday with a Great Show When it’s Thursday afternoon here, it’s Friday morning over there. So at 3PM Pacific time today, I launched the Aussie/New Zealand/Oceanic edition of Freeday Friday. We got a good recording, and it is available free to Cloud Services Roundtable Members. Freeday Friday is a new program to give you access to some coaching advice in a totally new format. See details at www.FreedayFriday.com. Basically, I am offering free coaching advice to a very few people – live and free. The “price” for free advice is that other people get to listen in. The idea is that we all share some common challenges, so we might be able to learn from each other and address those challenges in similar ways. I’m not really a “coach” with a program to sell. I will sell some hours. But this one-to-many format allows me to get information out there and engage in the community. Besides . . . it’s new and fun! And once the idea entered my head, I had to try it. This recording is the first ever Freeday Friday – and starts off with a very common question for companies seeking to grow from one person to a four- or five-person shop. It’s a little rough, but I think the advice is worthwhile.

This article was originally posted March 5, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Interviews with Chris Bangs from SMB Nation and Dal Gemmell from Symantec   As MVP Nation was winding down in Redmond, I was able to grab Chris Bangs and Dal Gemmell. Chris does a variety of things at SMB Nation, and plays a big role in getting vendors on board. Dal Gemmell is a Principle Product Manager at Symantec.   1) Download the Chris Bangs interview on “What’s Up” with SMB Nation. Chris gives us great info on the re-designed SMB Nation website, the Fall Conference in Vegas, the SMB 150 awards, and a lot more.   – – – – –   2) Download the Dal Gemmell Interview on one “Vendor’s” view of MVP Nation. Dal is responsible for Endpoint Protection on desktops and servers for the small business market. He gives us some insight on why anti-virus is not enough, and how you might discuss that with you clients. He also gives some info on the integration of Backup Exec and other products with our standard SMB Tools.  

This article was originally posted March 4, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Greg Starks from HP Gives a Great Intro to iQuote   What do you need from HP? What have you always needed from HP? A “Configuration” Quoting Tool! Well, in this member podcast, Greg Starks from HP shows us the great stuff you can do with HP’s new iQuote tool. There are three ways to use the tool . . . including using their API to integrate it right into your company web site.   Member Download: Interview with Greg Starks, March 2012 Links Mentioned in, or related to this podcast: – HPiquote.net – HP’s press release was in June when the first US distributor turned on iQuote:http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2011/110628a.html?mtxs=rss-corp-news – Here is the blog announcement Greg did Feb 13 to introduce HP iQuote Universal:http://h30507.www3.hp.com/t5/Coffee-Coaching-HP-and-Microsoft/Announcing-HP-iQuote-Universal/ba-p/107019  (Note: There are now 16 countries using iQuote.) – The general info/landing page for iQuote is: http://hp.com/go/iquote.

This article was originally posted March 4, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Interviews with Jeff Middleton on IT Pro Conference and Tom Poole on SMB Nation   I caught up with a few more folks at MVP Nation in Redmond. After two days on content, content, content, I managed to talk to a few community members about what’s next. Then I nabbed Jeff Middleton again to give us the low-down on his June conference. So here’s the line up of new down-loads: 1) Download the Jeff Middleton interview on the IT Pro Conference 2012. Jeff gives us the information and a great introduction to the theme of this year’s IT Pro 2012 conference in New Orleans. Once I heard New Orleans, I agreed to go! Join me. Details: 2-Day French Quarter Weekend Conference  New Orleans June 8 & 9, 2012 With a pre-day “brain explosion” event by Third Tier on June 7th. I’ll be at Jeff’s conference . . . and THEN wander off to Orlando for the Autotask Community Live conference on June 10-12. That whole trip will be 75% brain overload and 25% vacation (at least for me). – – – – – 2) Download the Tom Poole interview on the MVP Nation and SMB Nation Conferences. Tom runs Cloud Nation and is a great source of info. He was a bit busy closing out this conference, but gave us ten minutes. Check it out and find out what’s ahead for SMB Nation Fall!

This article was originally posted March 3, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. Member Podcasts from MVP Nation – Part 1 I ran into Arnie Mondloch and Dave Sobel in Redmond this week. I was there for the MVP Nation show. Arnie’s in charge of Windows Evangelization program worldwide and has some great information on how partners can get involved in the development of Apps, Apps, Apps for the new Windows 8 and Windows 8 Metro platform. The official title of his group is the Worldwide Platform Evangelism Group. Two products Arnie mentions in this interview are: – Microsoft Platform Ready –http://www.microsoftplatformready.com Microsoft Action Pack for Development & Design – https://partner.microsoft.com/US/40171463 Note: Arnie is also a Gonzaga University grad! Go Bulldogs! Member Download:   Interview with Arnie Mondloch March 2, 2012     – – – – – Dave Sobel is the new Partner interface for Level Platforms. He has some very cool things going on, including an offer to engage with the existing SMB and SBS user groups all over the world. I caught up with Dave in the hallway and he brought me up to speed on what Level Platforms is doing on the partner and user group front. Member Download:   Interview with Dave Sobel March 2, 2012  

This article was originally posted March 3, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. I’m having a great time at MVP Nation in Redmond. We’re on the Microsoft campus and I had a chance to catch up with a number of great people. I recorded six short podcasts yesterday. The first two podcasts are under the category of “SMB Community Podcasts.” That means they’re free and open to the world. First, I talked to Jeff Middleton about the MVP Roadshow that is just finishing. Thanks to the help of dozens of Microsoft MVPs, this show hit more than 50 cities all over the world. Jeff gives us a report on that. Download the Jeff Middleton interview on Microsoft MVP Roadshow Here. Second, I caught up with Dave Seibert from SMB Technology Network. SMBTN is helping to compile the list of the SMB 150 again this year. So nominations are closed and there are about 400 candidates to choose from. Voting has begun and you can go vote now at http://www.smb150.com. Download the Dave Seibert interview on the SMB150 Here. In addition to that, I have even more podcasts under the members-only section. So if you’re a Cloud Services Roundtable subscriber, you can hear from Arnie Mondloch at Microsft, Dave Sobel from Level Platforms, and Greg Starks from HP about some really cool things going on in our space.

This article was originally posted February 22, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. This program was recorded and is posted here.   Harry Brelsford Announces Webcast of MVP Nation I had a phone call with Harry two days ago while he was in the Bay Area. He gave me a lot of updates: – Cloud Connect Conference – MVP Nation – Windows 8 and the MVPs – Hotel information for MVP Nation   Harry also announced (and asked me to keep under wraps for a couple days), the fact that he has partnered with Zenith’s MSP TV to webcase the MVP Nation Conference. For information on the MVP Nation Conference and the $99 webcasting for two days of solid content, visit http://mvp.smbnation.com/.   I’ll be at MVP Nation . . . so if you’re there, look me up! And I’ll be podcasting from the show. For the full press release on this, see http://blog.smallbizthoughts.com. This program was recorded and is posted here.

This article was originally posted February 22, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable. This program was recorded and is posted here.   Jerry Koutavas / ASCII Updates I caught up with Jerry K from The ASCII group to talk about ASCII Success Summits for 2012, the ASCII Cup, and more. Find out how to contact Jerry for a free pass to one of the ASCII Success Summits.   Links mentioned in this podcast: –www.asciievents.com – Follow the ASCII Cup at http://www.tripline.net/trip/Where_is_the_ASCII_Cup_-50552312153010049976FED79C206258   This program was recorded and is posted here.

This article was originally posted January 19, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable This program was recorded and is posted here.   Dave Sobel Joins Level Platforms Podcast posted – A free-flowing discussion with Dave Sobel.   I caught up with Dave this week while he is in London, in a sweet little flat he rents by the week. As you may know, Dave has been a powerful member of the SMB community for some time. He has been a leader in the Microsoft MVP space, in the virtualization and cloud computing world, in HTG, and in the community at large. Dave recently sold his managed service business and accepted a job with Level Platforms   https://www.facebook.com/djdave https://twitter.com/#!/djdaveet http://www.smbbooks.com/products/mssob01.htm   The book is Virtualization Defined – Now only $39.95 The DVD set is Designing, Implementing and Making Money with Virtual Environments – Now only $49.95 . . . Members download the podcast now.  

This article was originally posted January 15, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable This program was recorded and is posted here. Part One of this Interview is posted here. Interview Continued: Joyce Blonskij – Own the Clouds: The First Guide To Investing In Cloud Computing Companies This is Part 2 of my interview with investment advisor and author Joyce Blonskij. Joyce is the author of Own the Clouds – The First Guide To Investing In Cloud Computing Companies. This book will be released on January 31st, 2012. For more information on the big “Virtual Launch Party” and a bunch of free give-aways, see http://owntheclouds.com/. In this follow-up interview, Joyce gives some tips about getting started in Wall Stree investmenting. Joyce als introduced the four Key Cloud Elements – so you can identify cloud companies you want to own. She also introduces a chart called a Bollinger Band – her favorite kind of charting tool The book will be only $24.95, and that prices includes a number of give-aways you can find out about at seehttp://owntheclouds.com/. Joyce will be donating all proceeds from this book to charities, including Kiwanis House.http://www.kiwanisfamilyhouse.org/ Members can download this recording right now and get the year started off right with an introduction to investing. It’s particularly cool to have such a great guide with a hook into our area of expertise. Check it out today.

This article was originally posted January 10, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable Interview: Joyce Blonskij – Own the Clouds: The First Guide To Investing In Cloud Computing Companies I had a great interview with Joyce Blonskij, author of Own the Clouds – The First Guide To Investing In Cloud Computing Companies. This book will be released on January 31st, 2012. For more information on the big “Virtual Launch Party” and a bunch of free give-aways, see http://owntheclouds.com/. Joyce’s book is a great introduction to stock market investing generally, but her focus is specifically on Cloud and Internet companies. The book provides a four-layer view of investing, starting with the highest level “clouds” – The most visible companies. The second layer addresses the small companies that are flying under the radar. The third layer is the middle management view of investing. And the fourth layer covers low-level “technical” investment techniques. The book will be only $24.95, and that prices includes a number of give-aways you can find out about at see http://owntheclouds.com/. Joyce will be donating all proceeds from this book to charities, including Kiwanis House.http://www.kiwanisfamilyhouse.org/ Members can download this recording right now and get the year started off right with an introduction to investing. It’s particularly cool to have such a great guide with a hook into our area of expertise. Check it out today. Download the podcast here.

This article was originally posted January 5, 2012 on Cloud Services Roundtable Karl’s State of the Union Address for Cloud and SMB Posted In case you missed the live broadcast, you can download my 2012 “State of the Union” address here: http://smbcommunitypodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/201201_Palachuk.mp3 This one-hour program includes my perception of where we are as a community and where we’ll be going in the year ahead. I also have observations on business success for I.T. consultants and some tips about how you can make the most of the challenges and opportunities ahead. 2012 will be a tough year for many. But it will also be a great year, and you can make it a successful one as well! Finally, I talk about some big changes that are coming to the Cloud Services Roundtable. In fact, the first change will be up in a few days. I’m going to reveal the branding for the Cloud Services Roundtable and SMB Community Podcast. For details, and a preview of the first new podcast, see the link above.

Right now, we have archived podcasts at Great Little Book (greatlittlebook.com) for the SMB Conference Calls that we extremely popular back in 2008-2009. Those will all be brought over to the archive section soon. – karlp   Gonna repeat for testing purposes: Right now, we have archived podcasts at Great Little Book (greatlittlebook.com) for the SMB Conference Calls that we extremely popular back in 2008-2009. Those will all be brought over to the archive section soon. – karlp Right now, we have archived podcasts at Great Little Book (greatlittlebook.com) for the SMB Conference Calls that we extremely popular back in 2008-2009. Those will all be brought over to the archive section soon. – karlp Right now, we have archived podcasts at Great Little Book (greatlittlebook.com) for the SMB Conference Calls that we extremely popular back in 2008-2009. Those will all be brought over to the archive section soon. – karlp Right now, we have archived podcasts at Great Little Book (greatlittlebook.com) for the SMB Conference Calls that we extremely popular back in 2008-2009. Those will all be brought over to the archive section soon. – karlp Right now, we have archived podcasts at Great Little Book (greatlittlebook.com) for the SMB Conference Calls that we extremely popular back in 2008-2009. Those will all be brought over to the archive section soon. – karlp