Nothing Happens
by Itself
Copyright © 2023 Karl W. Palachuk
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Hello Karl,
I am very excited about the next seven weeks. We are, and will be crazy busy! Holidaze aside, We'll have Amazing community meetings, a great new membership level, a 100% new class from Dave Sobel, and my 2024 State of the Nation - my 15th annual.
I want to send a huge thank you to all the people who have emailed me about the classes and the new membership level. I hope we're feeding you all the information you need. But just in case, we are holding an informational webinar on December 13th. See below.
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HUGE Recommendation for all MSPs:
Listen to this episode of Dave's Business of Tech Podcast: Surviving the Gates of Hell - A Kaseya Breach Victim Speaks. Dave interviews Robert Cioffi about their experience dealing with the infamous attack of July 2nd, 2021.
Lots of great take-aways here. The two that really stood out to me are: Call your insurance company first because they have lawyers who will help you manage communications and procedures for all the stuff you never thought about. And if your insurance company doesn't have that service, today's a great day to shop for a new cyber insurance plan.
The other big take-away for me was the amount of community support Robert's team experienced. Friends from all over the community dove in to help him. Many volunteered time and resources to help in the emergency. This kind of thing always makes my heart a little happier. For those who embrace the community side of the IT business, this is truly what it means to participate in the community.
Many people don't attend events. They don't share experiences with other IT service providers. They don't join the NSITSP, or ASCII, or CompTIA, or Tech Tribe, or Small Biz Thoughts. They're afraid to give away their secret sauce. Well, news flash: There is no secret sauce. And non-participants are missing a massive resource by not having a global community behind them.
The podcast has lots and lots of great information. Do yourself a favor and listen. You'll probably change at least one thing you're doing today.
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Please share my mantra for the year-end push:
Nothing Happens by Itself. Certainly not success.
Now, here's what's going on:
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All Book Formats are Now Live!
You have three great options for my latest book:
1) Download absolutely free - and attend class based on the book. This option is availabel to all members of the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.
2) Buy at our store - store.smallbizthoughts.com. Only $29.95 to give your 2024 a realy boost. Ebook/Kindle/paperback.
3) Buy at your favorite book store. You can order it anywhere. Of course it's on Amazon and Kindle. But also Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and everybody else.
NOTE: If you pre-ordered the printed book, and don't have it in hand by Thursday (the end of November), please email me!
Thank you all for your support.
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The Class based on the book continues December 7th and 14th. No need to catch up. Just join us live. We have a lively crowd.
Remember: These classes are not recorded. So you should attend live. This also allows folks to talk more freely since it's just the other community members on the call who are sharing the conversation.
Note Two: You can jump in any time. So head to https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/class-and-breakout-based-on-the-new-book-year-of-intention/ and plan to join us December 7th and 14th.
Members Click Here
Non-members: If you want to join the class, just join the Community.
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Webinar:
New Membership Level,
5-Week Classes, Certifications,
and Open Q&A
Everyone Welcome!
This webinar will introduce the new Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community level and review the training opportunities associated with it. We'll hold an extensive Q&A session for new members and existing members.
Our plan will be to leave you some time before the top of the hour so you can take a break and still be on time for your next meeting.
Dec 13, 2023
9:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Members: Learn about your benefits!
Non-Members: Learn where the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community fits in your successful business plan.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O1wbNigJSr2AwSXICaFIug
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New Membership Level Open
for Enrollment December 1st
That this Friday!
For existing members: We've upgraded you subscription! The name for your membership is Community Plus.
As always, Community Plus includes thousands of dollars worth of books, training, checklists, community meetings, audio programs, and more. Plus it includes all the classes at our sister site, IT Service Provider University (25+ classes focused 100% on IT consulting and managed services).
Now we've added three free certification exams each year for Community Plus members.
In the new Community level, you'll get all the content inside the community (books, etc.) and one free 5-week class per year, and one certification exam per year.
The main difference: If you need, or can use lots of great training, then choose the Community Plus subscription. If you only need (or can use) one class and one certification per year, then choose the Community subscription.
See the video below. If you have questions, let us know.
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Tid Bits . . .
I've talked to several people who are headed to Hawaii for the ASCII Navigate event. This is the last big event of the year. I'd love to see you there - and get together for dinner, or drinks, or both.
See the note here: https://blog.smallbizthoughts.com/2023/11/ascii-announces-2024-event-schedule.html
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Don't forget to scroll down and view the latest videos.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week. I'll see you in December. Or in class tomorrow.
:-)
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Join me live at . . .
- ASCII event - December 7 in Waikiki, HI
- Karl's 2024 State of the Nation report for SMB IT - Register Now
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Nov. 12-13, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA.
Links below in the events calendar - or at WhereInTheWorldIsKarl.com.
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Starts Tomorrow! - Register Now
Customer Service for IT Service Providers
Taught by Karl W. Palachuk
Author, Coach, and Community Builder
- Five Tuesdays
- Nov 28 - Dec 26
Register Now - Only $399*
(Only $349 with code below)
One of the most ignored/neglected aspects of running an IT business is Customer Service. My particular approach focuses on what I call the Three P's - People, Processes, and Programs.
I take a wholistic approach. In other words, I believe that customer service touches every part of your company. It's not just when technicians or CS reps are talking to clients. Remember: Customers just call it service. And service begins with your marketing, sales, and client onboarding. It includes the way you invoice and do collections. And, of course, it affects your technicians, front office, and CS staff.
Check out the super-quick intro video
https://youtu.be/qAH1Kx6-M0E
Description
Great customer service doesn’t just happen. It’s built from the bottom up with great processes, people, and programs. In this course, you’ll learn how to build a system that provides excellent customer service while keeping your company profitable. Most companies don’t design a customer-focused service delivery with intention. We’ll show you how to attract new clients based on your service delivery.
We use a framework that focuses on people, processes, and programs. “People” includes your employees, your clients, and your vendors. And that makes clear why you need to build a customer service system that’s totally consistent with your brand.
It’s critically important that you don’t simply “bolt on” customer service to whatever you’re already doing. Instead, we’ll show you how to create a never-ending loop of brand-building, employee management, and customer management. And we’ll do all this with in a way that maximizes profitability.
And of course, all of this is presented in the context of an IT consulting business.
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Only $399 - only $349 with code
Top Take-aways:
- Why is Customer Service different in small business?
- Where does customer service happen in your company?
- Why 10x-ing everything is stupid and harmful to your business
- How to build a great business based on your perfect clients
- Why customer service permeates every single thing in your business
PLUS lots more.
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Here are the specifics of what you'll learn, week by week:
Unit 1 What is Customer Service and Who Delivers It?
Unit 2 People: Clients and Employees
Unit 3 Processes for Success
Unit 4 CS programs and automation
Unit 5 Consistent, Scalable, Reproducible, Amazing Customer Service
Delivered by Karl W. Palachuk, author The Absolutely Unbreakable Rules of Service Delivery . . . and other fine books.
As always, this course includes instructor office hours, lots of handouts, and homework intended to help you actually make change in your business.
ITSP University Certification:
Meets Certification Requirements for:
- Management
- Front Office
- Technician
- Service Manager
- Sales & Marketing
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.
Register Now - Only $399*
Save $50 with code above
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 | |
Recent Blog Posts, Podcasts, and Videos | |
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Small Biz Thoughts Blog:
SMB Community Podcast - New episodes drop every Thursday
National Society of IT Service Providers News Blog
Relax Focus Succeed:
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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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New Members (well, all members): Join us Every Thursday
We have a live meeting for all members every Thursday at 9AM Pacific (Noon Eastern). And we have a couple of special meetings each month. On the first Thursday, we have a special Roundtable guest. It's a different format with a special guest. And on the second Thursday, Kara shows up a half hour early to give a guided tour to all new members - or anyone who needs a tune-up on finding thing in the Community.
I know we have an overwhelming amount of information, programs, and downloads. So let us help you get the member benefits you deserve!
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We have a GREAT guest for our December 7th Roundtable: Dave Sobel from The Business of Tech!
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If you're not following The Business of Tech podcast with Dave Sobel, you should be! I am a huge support and subscribe to his Patreon.
Dave is going to be our special guest on the Small Biz Thoughts Roundtable December 7th.
Members can always find the Roundtable Link in your community Dashboard. For more information, see the What's New post here: https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/dave-sobel-on-the-sbt-roundtable-ai-and-more/
Dave is extremely smart and is a great news analyst as well. So we'll talk about a variety subjects. But our primary topic will be . . . AI!
Dave uses the two primary kinds of AI on a regular basis: Tools and content generation. We'll ask Dave how he is using these to generate content for his newsletter and podcasts.
Join us for a great Roundtable. December 7th. Find the link in your Dashboard!
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Here's the last Community News video: | |
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Home Depot alternate universe.
At first I thought, "Put a Santa hat on it and call it Christmas." Then I realized that lots of just these have red clothes on. Close enough?
I didn't buy any.
:-)
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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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November 2024
ChannelPro SMB Forum
Nov. 12-13, 2024
Los Angeles, CA
Stay tuned for info: https://events.channelpronetwork.com/
Join me Live!
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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. | |
View this and previous newsletters at
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AI Transparency Statement
We do not use artificial intelligence apps in the writing of any content for this newsletter. Some of our royalty-free paid graphics might use AI-generated images. But all of the writing is by Karl W. Palachuk, or others as noted.
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