Nothing
Happens
by Itself
Copyright © 2023 Karl W. Palachuk
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Greetings!
I'm in the mood - for education!
I was at the ChannelPro SMB Forum on Wednesday and Thursday. Then I had to scoot home for a training at the California Society of Association Executives on Transforming the Role of Leadership into an Action. I was quite struck with how good the training was.
Then it occurred to me . . . perhaps the two days of training put my brain into a mood to get more out of the training. In addition, I had no appointments all day, I was relaxed from a good night's sleep, and I had been looking forward to seeing the CalSAE members again. So, bottom line, everything conspired to put me in a good mood for the training.
I have long been impressed with the fact that one's mood and attitude affect one's ability to be inspired by the reading or training. I'm sure you've seen this if you read a lot of self-help or inspirational books. You can read about the core messages from fifty different angles, but only a few really hit home for you.
One example for me is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I have a friend who swears that this is the most inspiring book he's ever read - and he reads it at lease once per year. I find the book "fine." To me, it covers well-trod ground. There's nothing wrong with it, but I just don't find it to stand out from a hundred similar books.
Another example for me is The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. I was introduced to this book right when I was starting my business. I had just completed a series of huge assignments that lasted years and were made more successful due to a complete commitment to documentation.
Unless this is the first time you're reading my newsletter, you probably know that I've been writing about, and preaching about documentation for eighteen years. I've literally built a career of it - and given a nod to Michael Gerber thousands of times. Clearly, this book fell into my hands at just the right moment. I needed his perspective, and I was predisposed to dig deep and read all the books I could find be Gerber.
You know the old saying, "When the student is ready, the master appears." The same is true with training and reading. You might read a lesson in fifteen different books. But then, when the stars are aligned, you read it in just the right place, in just the right mood, and suddenly it's powerful for you.
Most of the elements involved in this kind of inspiration are outside your control (mood, attitude, where you are in your life and business, the schedule of the training, etc.). But two elements are in your control. You can:
- Read a lot or take lots of training
- Relax into it and allow yourself to be "in the moment" rather than distracted by something other than the task at hand - the reading or training
I started my recent SMB Online Conference by asking people to turn off their second monitor. Distraction is a Boolean function. If you are trying to do two things at once, you can give no more than 50% of your attention to one thing. If you add a third thing, you do not recalculate to 33%. No. You are dividing one half of your attention in two again. So the new thing is lucky to get 25%. And so forth.
If you look at some of the books over at the Relax Focus Succeed reading list - https://relaxfocussucceed.com/reading-list/ - you'll notice there are a lot of books on focus and concentration. That's because focus is so central to success, and yet is dismissed as if it has no value whatsoever.
Focus is not simple. And now, almost two decades after I first wrote about it, it's more difficult and more important than ever. To get the most out of focus, you need to make it important, treat it as a special visitor, and prepare you mind to welcome it. THEN you might find yourself in just the right mood and attitude to get maximum benefit from the reading or training you've engaged in.
You do your part: Get yourself in the room and take the training seriously.
Mood and attitude are a topic for another day.
:-)
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It's Always DNS . . .
Except when it's TCP/IP
What is literally the building block of the Internet? The Internet Protocol. And, more importantly, the combination of TCP (transmission control protocol) and IP.
Back in the early days of networking, there were two primary types of protocols: routable and non-routable. Novell networks were based on IPX/SPX, a routable protocol. Microsoft networks were based on NetBEUI, a non-routable protocol. Both were made obsolete by TCP/IP.
In the early days of the public Internet (mid-1990's), pretty much every technician knew something about the basics of networking, routing, and what makes these protocols work. As the Internet became more sophisticated, most users - and most technicians - no longer needed to know these details.
Today, ironically, there's a small group of people who understand TCP/IP and DNS at a high level: Those who specialize in cybersecurity. I say it's ironic because both the criminals and the "good guys" have the highest level of knowledge while the average technician know almost nothing about these technologies.
In my mind, one this has remained true for the last three decades: A solid understanding of networking and TCP/IP is fundamental to being a good technology consultant. When Microsoft first introduced the MCSE, there was a networking component that you did not have to take an exam for - IF you had a Novell CNA certification.
In light of all that, we've decided to put together a deep dive for our member on TCP/IP and DNS. We highly encourage you to have all of your staff download these resources and join us in class. There is no charge for any of this for Community members.
These elements already exist and can be accessed now:
And we have scheduled the following webinars for members:
We think these resources will give you whole team a "level set" on basic networking. We highly encourage you to engage them in this training. Everything will eventually be recorded inside the community and wrapped up into a nice roadmap. For now, jump in and get it live.
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We are planning some really fun stuff for ChannelCon in Vegas!
Please add CompTIA's ChannelCon to your calendar August 1-2-3 at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Rooms are very reasonably priced right now, but they WILL sell out the block. So register today.
Kara and Jenn, two of my favorite contractors, will be back because they loved ChannelCon last year. AND probably another very special guest. Look for us in Booth 101!
Right now, you can register free on me - with code SBSmallBizThoughts23. This $1,200 value is yours at no cost when you register with our code.
ChannelCon is your opportunity to hear firsthand the important trends, best practices, and research from industry professionals, peers, and experts. Get the information you need to help your business grow!
Register today!
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Thank You to everyone who reads this newsletter!
I was very happy to meet so many people in San Jose last week. And I was grateful that many of you made a point of saying hello to me and thank me for this newsletter. Sometimes, when you "broadcast" week after week, you begin to wonder if you're just a voice crying in the wilderness.
When people thank me for writing my newsletter, I know I'm talking about the things that matter to you. And, of course, I'm not always good or spot-on, but your feedback helps me stay tuned in to what's important to you.
If you like this letter, please give it a thumbs-up somewhere on social media, and pass it along to consultants you know. I appreciate that.
Have a great week!
:-)
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You only missed two weeks!
Sign up now. Catch up, and join Manuel live tomorrow.
Business Strategy Made Easy: Your Ultimate Success Hack
Taught By: Manuel Palachuk, Author and Coach
- Five Tuesdays - May 30 - June 27
Learn the steps an entrepreneur or business owner should follow to design (or re-design) their ideal business from the top down. And then learn how to build (or re-build) that ideal business from the bottom up.
The easiest way to gain a competitive advantage is simply to have a specific plan – because most of your competition doesn’t! They’re running week-to-week trying to strike it rich with the next big fad tactic they’ve discovered. And to have a significant competitive advantage all you need to is have a specific strategy for systematically executing your plan.
This course will break down the step an entrepreneur or business owner should follow to designing (or re-designing) their ideal business, from the top down, and then it will show them how to build (or re-build) that ideal business from the bottom up. It will show you how to share your strategy with stakeholders, leadership and the team in a way that everyone can understand and easily help execute on.
Topics for this class include:
- Learning to Paint an Enticing Picture and Compelling Story
- The Business Strategy Lifecycle
- The Pyramid of Purpose and Value
- Business Culture
- Business Compass
- Business Roadmap and Strategy
- Competitive Advantage and Competitive Strategy
- The Market and Going Vertical
- Business Analysis Tools and How to Use Them
- Measuring Progress and Success
- The Balanced Scorecard and its Perspectives (Finance / Customer / Internal Process / Learning and Growth)
- Generic Business Strategies
- Sell More
- Spend Less
- Tying Strategy to the Company Culture
- Agile Methodologies – They’re Not Just for Software Development
... And More!
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Here are the specifics of what you'll learn, week by week:
Week One
- The “Why” – Tools Rundown – The Pyramid Framework
Week Two
- Culture – SWOT – GAP – Organizing the Laundry List
Week Three
- Compass – Balanced Scorecard – Strategy Maps
Week Four
- Blueprint for Success – Example Strategy Development
Week Five
- Business Strategy Meets Agile Execution
Delivered by Manuel Palachuk, Entrepreneur, Coach, Author. He believes that small business is the backbone of the world and the service industry in particular is the heart! Manuel has 30 years of business, management, and training experience in the computer and electronics industries.
Includes five weeks of webinar classes with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor.
This course is intended for business owners and managers. It is particularly useful for the Owner or Operations Manager.
ITSP University Certification:
Meets Certification Requirements for:
- Management
- Service Management
This class will be recorded. Each unit is generally posted within 24 hours of the live class. These recorded units will become the On-Demand class and you’ll have lifetime access to it.
Note: * Members of the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community attend at no additional charge. See details in the Community
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All the Resources That Are Fit to Print |
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Recent Blog Posts, Podcasts, and Videos |
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Small Biz Thoughts Blog:
Killing IT Podcast - Super Bonus Episode
SMB Community Podcast - New episodes drop every Thursday
National Society of IT Service Providers News Blog
Relax Focus Succeed:
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Selected Recent Videos and Webinars:
Our YouTube IT Consulting channel now has more than 690,000 views!
Subscribe today and don't miss a thing!
A quick guide to my Playlists:
- Total: Over 935 videos on the Small Biz Thoughts channel
- 360+ SOP videos
- 275+ Relax Focus Success videos
Plus . . .
- Training, Courses, Seminars on Managed Services
- Product Reviews
- and more
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Community News
SmallBizThoughts.org
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Join us every Thursday
9 AM Pacific / Noon Eastern
All members welcome.
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July Roundtable: Paul Green from
Paul Greens MSP Marketing
Join us Thursday, July 6th for a great Small Biz Thoughts Roundtable with Paul Green
Paul is an MSP marketing expert, based in the UK, working with 700+ MSPs all over the
world with his MSP Marketing Edge program.
Paul is a former journalist and radio presenter, and the host of the world’s most popular podcast on MSP marketing – search for “Paul Green’s MSP Marketing podcast” in your favorite podcast platform.
Remember: You can always submit questions in advance. The link is at the top of your dashboard. Join us live on July 6th - the link is always at the top of your dashboard!
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The SBT Roundtable happens on the First Thursday of every month. This is always a great members-only event.
We also have a weekly member Zoom meeting. If you haven't attended one, This Week is a great time to join us.
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Here's the last Community News video: |
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One of the ChannelPro attendees sported this delightful pun on his car. I asked if I could share and he agreed. Thanks!
:-)
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What's Here?
This calendar lists two kinds of things: LIVE in-person events from any organization that focuses on the SMB consulting community; and MY events, whether live, webinar, etc.
If you have live events on your calendar that may be useful to others in the SMB Community, please let us know. We'd be happy to list them.
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June
London Tech Week
June 12-16
London, UK
Pax8 Beyond
June 11-13
Denver, CO
IT Nation Sales and Service Leaders
June 12-16, 2023
Denver, CO
Nerdio Training Camp
June 20-21
New York, NY
Infosecurity Europe
June 20-22, 2023
London, England
ASCII Edge 2023
June 21 & 22
Tampa, FL
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Quarterly
June 29-30
Denver, CO
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July
IDM (Identity Management) Dach
July 6
Frankfurt, Germany
XChange Security 2023
July 10-12
Dallas , TX
ASCII Edge 2023
July 12 & 13
Columbus, OH
CyberSecurity Expo
July 13, 2023
Manchester, UK
Nerdio Training Camp
July 19
Calgary, Cananada
SMB TechFest Q3
July 27
Anaheim, CA
MSPRescue
July 27th
Princeton
:-)
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August
CompTIA ChannelCon
August 1-2-3
Las Vegas, NV
Visit me in Booth 101
Join me Live!
Nerdio Training Camp
August 1
Toronto, Canada
ChannelPro Summit
Aug. 9-10
Newark, NJ (Northeast)
IT Nation Evolve Business Leaders
August 7-11, 2023
Denver, Colorado
XChange - Nashville
August 20-22
Nashville, TN
Join me Live!
Inclusive Leadership Network Workshop 2023
August 23
Nashville, TN
CMIT Connect Live!
August 29th
Austin, TX
ASCII Edge 2023
August 30 & 31
Toronto, Canada
:-)
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September
ChannelPro Summit
Sept. 6-7
Boston (New England)
Nerdio Training Camp
Sept 12
Atlanta, GA
Midsize Enterprise Summit Fall 2023
September 17-19
Houston, TX
ASCII Edge 2023
September 20 & 21
Chicago, IL
CanIT Con
Sept 24-26
Banff, Alberta, Canada
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Quarterly
Sept 28-29
Omaha, NE
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October
dattoCon 2023
Oct. 2-4, 2023
Miami, FL
Nerdio Training Camp
Oct 3
San Antonio, TX
Best of Breed Conference 2023
October 9-10
Atlanta, GA
ChannelPro Summit
Oct. 10-11
Atlanta (Southeast)
NexGen 2023
October 15-18
Houston , TX
Acronis #Cyberfit Summit 2023
Oct. 16-18
Miami, FL
Nerdio Training Camp
Oct 17
Dallas, TX
NexGen Security Workshop 2023
October 18
Orlando, FL
SMB TechFest Q4
October 19
Anaheim, CA
ASCII Edge 2023
October 18 & 19
Washington, D.C.
Beerfest with Karl
- October 2023
- Perth, Australia
More Info: Details to be announced !!!
Join me Live in Perth!
SMB IT Professionals National Conference
October 27-28
Melbourne, Australia
Join me Live!!
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November
ChannelPro CyberSecurity Strategies
Nov 1-2
Los Angeles
IT Nation Evolve Business Leaders
November 6-8, 2023
Orlando, FL
Nerdio Training Camp
Nov 14-15
Austin, TX
IT Nation Sales and Service Leaders
November 28 - December 1, 2023
Nashville, TN
:-)
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December
Growcon
Dec 3-6
Clearwater, FL
Women of the Channel Leadership Summit East 2023
December 4-5
New York, NY
ASCII Navigate in Hawaii !!!
Dec. 7th
Waikiki, HI
Join Me Live in Hawaii!
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Quarterly
Dec 7-8
Phoenix, AZ
Nerdio Training Camp
Dec 12-13
Los Angeles, CA
:-)
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January 2024
Send us your updates
February 2024
Send us your updates
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March
Midsize Enterprise Summit IT Security 2024
March 18-19, 2024
Indianapolis, IN
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Note: If you know of any in-person event for SMB Consultants, please send info to karlp@greatlittlebook.com. |
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Small Biz Thoughts is a subsidiary of Great Little Book Publishing Co., Inc. |
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