Nothing Happens
by Itself
Copyright © 2023 Karl W. Palachuk
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Hello Karl, -
Happy New Year!
You know the way this goes: You have to hit the ground running!
We certainly are. We have a great Community Roundup Thursday with Eric Anthony (see below). And next week, we have a great new course over at IT Service Provider University - Navigating Emerging Technologies for MSPs with Dave Sobel.
AND - January 10th - I give my 15th Annual State of the Nation Address for SMB IT. See all the details and register now at https://mspwebinar.com.
. . . And away we go!
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What Do You Like Most? - Results
Thank you for the feedback! Almost 200 people responded to my requests for feedback on this newsletter.
Here's an interesting fact: When my newsletter comes up in conversation, it's almost guaranteed that someone will volunteer the information that they never read it. And yet, with a base of ten thousand subscribers and 30-40% open rates, this is one of the most widely read newsletters in our industry.
But I'm always looking to improve, so I asked the question, What do you like or use most in this newsletter? Here's how you responded:
Opening notes from Karl - 25%
Commentary - 17.3%
Information/News - 11.3%
Promotions - 6.5%
Links to blogs, podcasts, videos, etc. - 8.9%
The Calendar of Events - 6.5%
Something Else - 24.4%
The big winners are my notes (Thank you) and Something Else! I would love to know what that something else is. Should I have listed Picture of the Week?
If you have feedback for me, please respond to this email and drop me a line. Thank you.
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Personal Holiday Note
I hope you manage to grab some positive energy and quality family time in the transition to the new year. As you'll hear in my State of the Nation address, my overall assessment is positive.
But this year, more than most, I have been struck with how much we each go through in the course of a year. Good financial planning and bad. Good health and bad. Good business decisions and bad.
In the last month I've witnessed friends who have struggled with extreme mental issues, the loss of family members, and the loss of pets. One of my high school buddies is suddenly hospitalized and fighting for his life.
At the same time, people have had great victories, reached amazing milestones, and taken their personal and professional lives to a new level. I have a new grand baby who is healthy and I get to see all the time. And my high school community has flocked to Facebook to cheer on Jerry and follow his improvement.
My point is simple: We each go through a great deal in a year. Tough times should remind us to always acknowledge the human being inside every person we deal with. They go through the tough times just as we do.
And the positive events should remind us that the future will always include more good things, and more reasons to celebrate. Each year, we get to decide what we cling to and what we discard. Bring the positive with you into the new year!
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NEXT WEEK:
My 15th annual State of the Nation Address for SMB IT
Some thoughts on 2023 and 2024. I tally up my predictions. Wins and losses. One massive dire prediction. The challenge for private equity. And the good news for MSPs that no one wants to talk about.
And almost nothing on Artificial Intelligence.
Free, of course. Register now at MSP Webinar.
Wed., January 10th
9:00 AM Pacific / Noon Eastern
This year's theme is The Dawning of a New Era for IT Consultants. Yes, I'm biased to the positive. But the change that's coming is gargantuan and important. So don't miss it.
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Two great advantages to knowing IT consultants all over the world:
1) Birthday wishes start the day before and continue until the next day
2) New Years videos and good wishes start the day before and continue until the next day
Wherever you are in the world or in the global clock, Happy New Year from me personally and the folks at Small Biz Thoughts!
And best of luck in your great New Year.
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Final unrelated side note. When I was a grad student and Instructor at The University of Michigan, either UM or Michigan State made it to the Rose Bowl almost every year. So, even though I'm not a huge sports fan, it does warm my hear to see Michigan back on top and in the Rose Bowl again.
#GoBlue
Have a great week.
:-)
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Join me live at . . .
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Karl's 2024 State of the Nation report for SMB IT - Register Now
- ASCII Edge - Feb. 21-22, 2024 in Costa Mesa, CA
- Channel Partners Conference - March 10-13 in Las Vegas, NV
- 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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Great New Class to Kick Off 2024 !!! | |
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Starts next week:
Navigating Emerging Technologies for MSPs
Taught by Dave Sobel
Technology Analyst and Podcaster
- Five Tuesdays
- Jan 9 - Feb 6
Register Now - Only $399*
In this five-week course, you will delve deep into the strategic facets of leveraging emerging technologies and trends for Managed Services Providers (MSPs). As the technology landscape continually evolves, the ability to identify and integrate new technologies into your MSP service offerings can be a significant differentiator. This course is designed to equip you with the tools, frameworks, and practical skills necessary to not only adapt but also thrive in this fast-paced environment.
Week 1 sets the stage by helping you understand the analysis process of current technology trends and how they can impact your MSP business. You’ll learn forecasting techniques that empower you to anticipate technological shifts, giving you a competitive edge.
Week 2 focuses on equipping you with decision-making skills tailored to technology adoption. By understanding how to evaluate and prioritize technologies based on various criteria, you’ll be well-placed to make choices that align with both market demand and your company’s capabilities.
In Week 3, you’ll gain financial literacy specific to technology investments. Whether you are a business owner, a manager, or a technical lead, understanding the financial implications of your choices is crucial. You’ll learn about building financial models to calculate ROI, TCO, and payback periods, enabling you to make fiscally responsible decisions.
Risk and compliance are the central themes of Week 4. In today’s complex regulatory environment, integrating new technology into your offerings isn’t just a matter of technical compatibility; it also involves meeting compliance standards and managing risks. You’ll acquire skills to navigate this intricate landscape effectively.
Finally, Week 5 enables you to put all the pieces together. You’ll engage in practical exercises that teach you how to create pilot programs, adjust your existing service offerings, and develop strategic roadmaps for incorporating new technologies into your business.
Through a blend of lectures, examples, exercises, and group discussions, you will emerge from this course with a robust understanding of how to strategically leverage technology trends. Whether you’re a seasoned MSP professional or aspiring to become one, this course will provide you with valuable insights and skills to elevate your career and business.
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Only $399
Top Take-aways:
- Technology Opportunity Identification: Gain the ability to identify and assess emerging technologies and trends relevant to Managed Services Providers.
- Decision-making Skills for Technology Adoption: Gain understanding in using frameworks and criteria to make informed decisions about integrating new technologies into service offerings.
- Financial Literacy for Technology Investments: Acquire skills in building and interpreting financial models to evaluate the ROI, TCO, and payback periods of technology investments.
- Risk and Compliance Management: Learn about risk assessment frameworks and compliance requirements for adopting and implementing new technologies in services.
- Practical Implementation Skills: Develop skills for creating pilot programs, adapting existing services, and formulating strategic roadmaps for technology adoption.
PLUS lots more.
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Here are the specifics of what you'll learn, week by week:
Unit 1 Scanning the Technology Horizon for Opportunities
Unit 2 Evaluating and Prioritizing Emerging Technologies
Unit 3 Financial Modeling and ROI for Technology-Driven Services
Unit 4 Risk Management and Compliance in Technology-Driven Services
Unit 5 Incorporating Emerging Technologies into Service Offerings
Delivered by Dave Sobel, Technology Analyst and Podcaster.
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
- Service Manager
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*
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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Video of the Week . . .
One of our most popular videos!
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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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AND be sure to join us Thursday, January 4th for our fist SBT Roundtable with special guest Eric Anthony from All Things MSP.
The SBT Roundtable is always held on the first Thursday of each week.
Our community will kick off the 2024 Roundtable meetings with Eric Anthony from All Things MSP. Eric is a long-time community member and also serves as the Director of Partner Engagement for Egnyte.
Join us Thursday
January 4th
9:00 AM Pacific / Noon Eastern
The Weekly Zoom Meeting link is always in your community dashboard.
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New Members (and old members who want a tune-up): Show up 30 minutes early on the second Thursday (Jan. 11th) for a grand tour of of the insides of the SBT Community. Bring you questions.
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Here's the last Community News video: | |
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I declare we are back to normal. Events came to a halt in 2020. I think I attended two events in January and March of 2020 (I spent February in Thailand and Cambodia). When I landed home March 5th, all the events for the rest of the year were cancelled.
2022 was slow, and 2023 was slow to start. But now we're back in full swing.
So, I cleared the tie rack. Now MyTie hangs alone . . . waiting for 2024 events to begin.
:-)
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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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