Evolved Radio

Today on the Evolved Radio podcast I’m joined by Dave Sobel host of The Business of Tech.  Dave and I talk about the current state of the MSP industry and the economy. Dave has a watchful eye on the trends of the tech industry as a whole and is an outspoken voice of the industry. If you enjoy our discussion today I would also encourage you to check out his daily podcast and YouTube content.

Work from home (WFH) and hybrid work models are here to stay. Today on the podcast I'm doing a solo show to detail some of the ideas I have about how MSPs need to shift their management models. The opportunities and the pitfalls of this change being forced on the work world.

Today on the Evolved Radio Podcast I’m joined by Mike Slater w/ Sherweb. Mike and I dig into the Microsoft NCE program, what’s changed, and what you need to know. We also chat about how this partner program is an indication of where the industry is trending in general. Mike’s passion for the channel and his depth of experience is perfect for this complex topic. I found it really valuable. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Mike Slater of Sherweb.

Today on the Evolved Radio Podcast, I’m chatting with Catherine Mattaskie, founder of The Performance Company. Catherine and I talk about a topic that is important to everyone, learning.  Everyone spends huge part of their life learning, but we’re making a mistake in our approach to learning. You may have heard the terms “Visual Learner,” but in fact, there are many more modalities that we can leverage. If we understand how we learn and process information, learning becomes easier and our ability to acquire and use the information we’re learning grows dramatically.  Understanding these learning modalities is crucial in business as well. Knowing how your staff, your peers, and your clients learn can be a massive competitive advantage for your ability to communicate.  So let’s dive in with Catherine as we discuss how to unlock your Inner Genius.

Today is a special episode of the Evolved Radio Podcast. I’m chatting with Jay Brister, Chief Business Development Officer with General Fusion. General Fusion is a Canadian company and one of the leaders in the race to develop commercial fusion energy. Fusion technology has been around for 70 years but has historically remained elusive. Recently things have changed. Funding of private companies has been rushing into the space as technological advancements are being announced regularly. Today I chat with Jay about the state of the industry and why General Fusions approach holds so much promise to bring the world a clean and safe source of power to bring us into the future of energy production.

Today on the Evolved Radio podcast, I'm chatting with Ben Worthen, CEO of Message Lab, an award-winning agency that combines journalism, data, and design to create content that resonates with any audience. Having studied how more than 1 million people engage with online content, Ben is the go-to expert when it comes to customer engagement and brand storytelling. This episode is packed with practical takeaways that will help you improve your marketing by engaging with people in the correct way and at the correct point in their journey. I especially liked Ben's concept of the idea store.

Today on the podcast I'm joined by Bad Ass IT guy, Ben Brennan, Founder of QSTAC. Now I call him badass cause he did write a book called "Badass IT support." That idea of delivering top-shelf badass support forms the basis of what we talk about in our discussion on the podcast today. We talk about Ben's experience rising up in the ranks of IT and what it taught him about IT that led him to develop his customer satisfaction software QSTAC. Ben is also a trained therapist, so his perspective on the psychology of work is an area we really connected on. We also talk a bit about Ben's journey as an entrepreneur starting a software company. There's lots to get in to here, so I hope you enjoy my conversation with Ben.

Joining me today on the Evolved Radio Podcast is Stephen Pasiciel with Kerkhoff Technologies. Head of coaching, culture, and talent development. Stephen and I discuss emotional intelligence or EQ. Emotional intelligence is often a stronger indicator of people's future success. However, it's an amorphic subject that isn't well understood by most. We talk about coaching, and how you can check in with people beyond the "hey how ya' doin'?" We talk mental health and what leaders should be looking for in their staff as red flags. We also help define EQ and emotional intelligence to better understand these terms in a business context.  Please enjoy this important conversation with Stephen.

Today I'm joined by Peter Melby CEO of Greystone Technologies. Peter tells a fantastic story about how he grew his company from 800 bucks to cover rent and beer to a 10 Million dollar MSP powerhouse. Peter also shares his view on company culture and how that influenced his decisions in recent acquisition activity. Please enjoy the fantastic shared in my conversation with Peter.

Joining me on the podcast today is Keith Daser, Director of Data & Security with WBM Technologies. Keith came to the technology field from sales and we chat about building a funnel, why selling IT service contracts is harder than selling products, and how to manage a skeptical prospect. It's a great episode with a few tips that could help you grow your business. Please enjoy my conversation with Keith.

Joining me today is the MSP Channel champion, Ernest Murry of Genuine Technology. Ernest is a well-recognized member of the MSP community. His focus on SOPs and strong technical standards is often used as a reference point for others. We also talk quite a bit about his view of security in our industry and Ernest provides a host of insights from his experience growing his Managed service business. Please enjoy our conversation.

Joining me today on the MSP insights series is Ron Harris, VP of Sales and Partner at Omega Computers. Ron and I talk about how they developed their pricing strategy. Omega also has a very low client churn rate and we explore that as well. Ron tells us why they decided to roll their own MSP tools, the strength of their brand presence, and why the up-market clients are where you should be. It's a great conversation with Ron as he shares his experience in growing a successful MSP. Please enjoy.

Joining me today on the MSP insights series is Paul Vedder with VXIT. Paul talks about the division of responsibilities running his MSP with a partner. How to handle the conflict created by winning a new client away from a competitor. We also chat about one of VXIT's superpowers, which is brand sophistication. Paul is also one of the co-founders of the MSP community IT Pool Party, so we chat a bit about community building. It was great to connect with Paul for a very friendly and open conversation, like catching up over a beer. So please enjoy the discussion and lessons learned.

Today on the podcast we're continuing our series of interviews with MSP owners and operators. Joining me today is Aaron Zimmerman founder of TotalCareIT. Aaron shares his experience growing his IT business from side hustle to a full-time gig. Aaron shares what he's learned operating in a more rural market. Aaron also recounts a difficult period where he lost a significant portion of his revenue, but ultimately was better off. Lots of great stories and experiences were shared in the episode, please enjoy my discussion with Aaron.

My first guest to kick off this series is Brad Ruben, President of Archway Computers. Brad's business isn't a typical MSP. Brad's early experiences in the IT industry shaped some of his decisions about how he runs things. His approach is intentional and has served him really well in growing the company. Brad's primary role in the business is sales, so we also chat about how he thinks about sales and growth. Please enjoy this insightful conversation with Brad.

Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Paul Green, MSP marketing expert. Paul and I talk about why IT companies really struggle with marketing, despite knowing it's important. Paul details where to start from scratch on your marketing strategy and how to focus down on qualified leads. We also chat about the tremendous opportunity to market to your existing client base. Finally, we talk about how many MSP websites are downright embarrassing and why you should ensure your website represents you in the market. Paul is knowledgeable and super passionate about MSP marketing, so grab a notepad and get ready to soak up some learnings here.

Today on the podcast I'm joined again by Eric Rieger of Webit. Eric and I are chatting about the important topic of Mental health. It's a heavy topic, but one that doesn't get enough of the spotlight. The IT industry can be an extremely challenging field. Lots of demands, risks, and an extreme pace of change. Now after almost 2 years of a pandemic, the cracks are starting to show in even the most stoic of us all. In the conversation today, Eric shares his challenges with mental health. We also chat about some management practices that can help. So if you're struggling with a mental health challenge or even if you're not there's great info for everyone in this episode of the podcast. Please relax for an hour zone out and enjoy the episode.

Today on the podcast I'm joined by Eric Rieger with WebIT. Eric has been running his MSP for 25 years and has learned many lessons through his growth. One that has had a profound impact on his business is using a system called open-book management. This is the practice of being highly transparent with your finances. Sharing as much financial information as possible with your staff and using it to instill a sense of ownership and awareness of the company finances. We also talk about his experience in developing an employee stock ownership program or ESOP. Eric's insights here are super valuable and align very closely with what I've observed in leveraging open-book management practices. So please enjoy this enlightening conversation with Eric Rieger.

Today on Evolved Radio I'm chatting with Jay McBain, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research. Jay is a well-recognized and trusted voice in the IT Channel. He lives and breathes this stuff. He's super passionate about the industry trends and our industry future. I get Jay's insights on the evolution of the distributors, the role of community in the channel, and his perspective on potential regulation of the IT industry.

Today on the podcast I'm joined by Matt Lee, CISSP, Director of technology and security with Iconic IT. Matt and I chat about his experience and lessons learned in growing an MSP from a handful of staff to a multi-million dollar business. We talk about staffing, team structure, client management, and tech stack. There are a ton of insights that you may find familiar in your growth story. There are also come great takeaways that could help you in your business. Matt is a great guy, very open and honest and this was a fun discussion that I'm sure you'll enjoy.