Nothing Happens by Itself
Copyright © 2021 Karl W. Palachuk
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Plan Ahead: Four New Classes! |
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We have big, Big, BIG changes coming at Great Little Seminar!
We have some extremely big changes coming in the second half of the year. But right now we are planning a series of brand new classes. All are available right now.
The big new classes are:
James is a friend of mine and a great Sales Trainer. This class is a great opportunity to make a huge step UP in your sales skills.
Later in the Summer, I'm starting a series of three classes on Social Media sales and marketing. Each of these stands alone, but the greatest benefit is attained by taking all three classes.
Originally, I designed a 17-part series. But, after talking to several people, I decided to reorganize a bit and offer the material as a series of three 5-part classes.
These classes are a great deal at only $299 each. BUT you can get all of these - and all of our other live classes - at no additional charge when you buy an annual membership to the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community.
Monthly members pay only $99 per class. That still saves you $800 on these four new classes. Either way, we're trying to make membership as valuable as possible.
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On other fronts . . .
I am very pleased to announce that CompTIA's annual Communities and Councils forum is on this week - and open to everyone.
Step Two: Customize Your Agenda . . . and make plans to attend my Community's meeting:
How to Cultivate High Potential Talent: Nurture Diversity from Within
9:35 AM - 10:10 AM PDT on Wednesday, March 17th
I'm planning to be there - in the chat. Don't forget to say Hello!
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Calendar Updates
Rob Rae posted a major tease on Facebook last week. It was along the lines of "What are you doing October 11-13?" Datto is planning to go live with DattoCon 2021.
I'm sure there are some details to be worked out. But if it's possible, I'm also sure this will be a major live event we can count on in a few months. I have updated the calendar below. If details change, I'll let you know.
Other organizations are also moving from Virtual to In-Person. ASCII hasn't posted the changes, but they are quietly moving to make the transition as soon as they can. Updates are coming month by month. Stay tuned.
ChannelPro is doing the same. There's a new link for ChannelPro Network events. Dates are the same, but looking more "live" all the time.
It takes a lot of detailed work to put on live events, especially when it's not clear that vendors and attendees will feel comfortable showing up! But, as more and more people are vaccinated, folks are more likely to make the commitment.
And, of course, the Channel Strong events continue today and all week. Check the Calendar below!
Personal Note: I am still awaiting my first shot. But I'm hoping to get it this month.
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Two final notes:
1) The SMB Community Podcast features an interview with John Hammond this week, with a preview of Hack_it 2021. This looks like a great conference. See the link below.
2) We put a new coat of paint on the Killing IT Podcast web site. It's got a sharper look and loads much faster! Check it out.
I think that's all the news for now.
Stay well, and have a great week.
-- Karl W. Palachuk
:-)
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Starts Next Week!
Managing Your Service Board
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Starts March 23rd
Sign up Today
Managing Your Service Board – Setup, Core SOPs, and Daily Procedures
Course 5W10
Taught By: Karl W. Palachuk
This course covers the most important pieces of making your PSA (Professional Services Administration) service board work effectively. Your PSA is the brain center of your entire operation.
Most Managed Service Providers don't use their PSA systems efficiently. In fact, most of them only use 10-20% of the capabilities of their PSA. This costs you money because you have the tool to run everything in your business more effectively. But if you don't put the right information into the tool, then you can't get the reports you need to improve your business.
This course covers the daily operation of a managed service business - or any IT shop with a service board and one or more technicians who execute the service. It assumes you have a service board or PSA (Professional Services Administration) and a service manager.
Whether you sell “break fix” or flat fee services, a service board will take your company to the next level – if you use it right. In addition to covering setup and core standard operating procedures, we'll get into the "nitty gritty" of running a service board and managing the service department.
Which PSA?
This course is not PSA-specific. I used ConnectWise for four years in my business. Then I switched to Autotask and used that for five years. Eventually, I move to SolarWinds and used that for more than five years.
On top of all that, I've worked closely with coaching client who have used all of these products. This course is intended to apply to all PSAs. I will point out areas where differences are most obvious.
You will learn
- How tickets should flow into, through, and off of the service board
- How to set up the core components of a service board
- Priorities
- Statuses
- Workflows
- Time Estimates
- The most important processes and procedures for making the board work effectively once it's set up
- Introducing new processes to you employees
- Getting clients to understand the new processes
- Time tracking the right way
- The most important reports you need to run
- Every Day
- Every Week
- Every Month
- When it's time for client renewals
- Avoiding the biggest pitfalls with service board management
- Building an Action Plan that works
Additional Topics Listed here:
Delivered by Karl W. Palachuk, blogger and author of the very popular "SOP Friday" posts at https://blog.smallbizthoughts.com.
Includes five weeks of webinars with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor. All classes are recorded for download.
This course is intended for business owners and managers. It is particularly useful for the Service Manager or Operations Manager.
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Weekly Agenda
Week One
- Core Components
- Building Blocks of a Great Service Board
- Documentation
Week Two
- Core Processes and Procedures for Success
- Time Tracking the Right Way
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Week Three
- Implementation and Daily Processes
Week Four
- A Day In the Life of the Service Desk
- Policies that Drive Profitability
Week Five
- Build and Maintain a Well-Oiled Machine
- Getting the Details Right
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Only $299 per student
Includes five weeks of webinars with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor. All classes are recorded for download.
This course is intended for business owners and managers. It is particularly useful for the Service Manager or Operations Manager.
A Few Details . . .
- Each course will be five one-hour Zoom webinars
- There will be handouts and "homework" assignments
- Class webinars will be recorded and made available to paid attendees only.
- All calls start at 9:00 AM Pacific Time
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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:
Relax Focus Succeed:
SMB Community Podcast - New episodes drop every Thursday
The Killing IT Podcast - New episodes drop every Tuesday
The Cheeky Sales Coach Podcast / Video - New episodes drop every Wednesday
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SOP: Revenue Goals - Realistic Projections |
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Selected Recent Videos and Webinars:
Note: We started auto-posting the podcasts to YouTube. Those are not listed here as YouTube Videos since they're listed under the podcasts above.
A quick guide to my Playlists:
- Total: More than 700 videos on the Small Biz Thoughts channel
- 275+ SOP videos
Plus . . .
- Training, Courses, Seminars on Managed Services
- Product Reviews
- and more
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Small Biz Thoughts Community News
SmallBizThoughts.org
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Ecommerce Program Taking Shape |
Our monthly all-member meeting is Thursday, March 18th - 9 AM Pacific.
All members plan to join us. The link is as the top of your dashboard.
Remember - Live Community meetings every Thursday. I am still working on Client Referral Materials and other "homework" I've received from the Community meetings. Join us. The links are right at the top of your Dashboard.
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Our Ecommerce Working Group has met - and Kara is beginning to build the Model MSP storefront. I highly encourage everyone to read the two ecommerce blog posts this week. (See links above.)
We are trying to be as transparent as possible on this project. More details in the member meeting Thursday.
If you're a member, join us.
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Dave Sobel to Join the SBT Roundtable - April 1st
Long-time community leader Dave Sobel joins us for the April SBT Roundtable. Members will find the link in your Dashboard.
Dave is a former MSP and has worked with a few vendors. Currently, he runs the MSP Radio network, producing the Business of Tech podcast and videos.
And, of course, Dave is a co-host on the Killing IT podcast.
For many years, Dave has been a community builder and a pioneer in the SMB IT consulting community.
Members, plan to join us!
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In case you haven't see it yet, please check out the March News Video. This video is open to everyone, not just Community members.
As always, our goal is to help you to be as successful as possible!
If you need something, please post a question in a forum or email Kara (your Community Manager) or me.
:-)
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Honored
In 2019, I served on the Advancing Women In Technology (AWIT) executive committee for CompTIA. In 2020, that was folded into the Advancing Tech Talent and Diversity community, where I now serve.
2020 was . . . a bit busy and distracting. So CompTIA finally got around to sending out glass paper weights for EC members for the year 2019. And mine showed up Saturday.
Note: CompTIA's CCF - Communities and Councils Forum is live this week, and open to everyone (including non-members).
:-)
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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.
Of course: Everything here is subject to change based on Covid. Click the links for the latest details. Please send updates so we can post them.
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March
Channel Strong Tour
March 15
Plano, TX
Channel Strong Tour
March 16
Forth Worth, TX
Channel Strong Tour
March 17
San Antonio, TX
Channel Strong Tour
March 18
Houston, TX
Channel Strong Tour
March 19
New Orleans, LA
Channel Strong Tour
March 22
Tampa, FL
Channel Strong Tour
March 23
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Channel Strong Tour
March 24
Orlando, FL
Channel Strong Tour
March 25
Jacksonville, FL
Channel Strong Tour
March 26
Atlanta, GA
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April
If you know of in-person events we should list, please let us know.
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May
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Hybrid Event
May 6, 2021
Chicago, Il
SMB Roadshow - Vancouver
May 11th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Toronto
May 13th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Montreal
May 18th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
Join me Live!
ASCII Success Summit
May 19 & 20
Bethesda, MD
SMB Roadshow - Providence, RI
May 20th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
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June
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Hybrid Event
June 9, 2021
Houston, Tx
ASCII Success Summit
June 16 & 17
Cincinnati, OH
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Event
Omaha, NE
June 24-25th
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July
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Hybrid Event
July 8, 2021
Raleigh, NC
ASCII Success Summit
July 21 & 22
Chicago, IL
Black Hat USA
July 31-August 5
Las Vegas, NV
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August
SMB Roadshow - Manchester, UK
August 10th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Cardiff, UK
August 12th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - London, UK
August 17th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
ASCII Success Summit
August 18 & 19
Raleigh, NC
SMB Roadshow - Amsterdam, NE
August 19th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Berlin, Germany
August 21st
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
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September
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Hybrid Event
Sept 2, 2021
Boston, MA
ITBOG (Business Owners Group) Cruise Conference
Sept. 3-6
Departs Miami
ASCII Success Summit
September 22 & 23
NY / NJ area
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Event
San Diego, CA
Sept 23-24th
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October
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Hybrid Event
Oct 6, 2021
Atlanta, GA
DattoCon 2021
Oct 11-13
Seattle, WA (I think)
SMB IT Professionals National Conference - Australia
Oct 15-16
Surfer's Paradise
Join me Live. I'm going to do my best to be there!
ASCII Success Summit
October 27 & 28
Orlando, FL
I'm hoping there's a trip to the Gold Coast in my future. Stay tuned.
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November
ASCII Success Summit
November 3 & 4
Houston, TX
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Hybrid Event
Nov 16, 2021
Los Angeles, CA
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December
ASCII Success Summit
Orange County, CA - December 8 & 9
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Event
Dallas, TX
Dec 9-10th
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If you know of in-person events we should list, please let us know.
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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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