What a fascinating interview with Alex Shan, CEO of Jolera Inc. (The MSP for MSPs) If you don't know Alex, you should. His story is simply inspiring! Before we jump in, join dozens of your Vendor peers Wednesday, Jan. 11th at 11 AM EST to decide which IT Channel events are right for your 2023 strategy! Hear "Pitches" from the top 15+ Channel Conference providers and find out why you should consider exhibiting/ sponsoring their events in 2023! It's the Conference for … [Read more...] about Resilience in life and business | The vConference of Conferences (Seriously)
MSP
I Love the Start-Up Grind. Here’s Why.
I’m writing this in my car while I wait for my son to finish hockey practice. I’ve got a zoom call in 15 minutes, I need to prepare for a podcast I’m guesting on, I have resumes to review, some planning to do for the next Channel Pitch event, and I really need to go over some strategy and marketing plans we’re developing with my new CMO. I think I’ll grab some dinner at some point. My newest project, Channel Program, has grown from just two people (me and my business partner, Matt Solomon) … [Read more...] about I Love the Start-Up Grind. Here’s Why.
A Chat with the Channel Experts: Revolutionizing the Way We Interact
My first instincts aren’t always right. In 2014, when I first met Matt Solomon, my Channel Program partner, he was interviewing to join me at Winvale, my first consulting company. And, well… I didn’t really like him. Matt loves to tell the story: “Apparently the VP of Sales liked me, but then Kevin interviewed me and told the VP that I ‘wasn’t a closer.’ And he was unsure about hiring me,” he says, a bit of a grin on his face. “Not until we launched and then started growing, did Kevin start … [Read more...] about A Chat with the Channel Experts: Revolutionizing the Way We Interact
What’s Your Magic Trick? Selling Your Product in One Minute or Less
Did you know there are between 35,000 and 40,000 vendors in the IT channel space? Crazy, right? Even if you whittle that down to the top 500, that’s still an overwhelming amount of vendors for an MSP to consider. Too often they leave a trade show with no clear strategic direction, and then spend the next couple of weeks inundated with calls from eager vendors wanting to work with them. When there are so many options to wade through, and so many of them sound the same, how the heck do you get … [Read more...] about What’s Your Magic Trick? Selling Your Product in One Minute or Less
My Top 5 Tips for Choosing Investment-worthy Companies
I’m always on the lookout for the next big thing. As someone who’s been in the IT channel space for more than 20 years, I like to keep my pulse on what’s happening, staying in touch with what’s new and exciting. But not every new startup is worth my investment dollars. As someone who has built, scaled and exited my own companies, and now advises startups on how to attract and prepare for investors, I need potential investments to show me something special. (Spoiler: Very few measure … [Read more...] about My Top 5 Tips for Choosing Investment-worthy Companies
How to choose a channel chief–and why you need one.
One of the best IT channel chiefs I know is a guy who’s been in the IT space for 20 years. At events he’s known as the last guy at the bar–buying drinks, schmoozing and talking shop with all the right people until closing time. My longtime associate and now business partner is another recognized professional in the channel space–leveraging his position on LinkedIn, offering learning opportunities, and connecting in meaningful ways with potential partners. This is the magic of a channel … [Read more...] about How to choose a channel chief–and why you need one.