Command Control Power: Apple Tech Support & Business Talk

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, thaey discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts are joined by returning guest Adam Rice of Ask Adam. They discuss the challenges and benefits of being a solo tech support consultant, including balancing large business clients with residential work. Adam shares his innovative equitable pricing model, designed to make tech support accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. The conversation also touches on tools like TailScale and Alectrona Patch, effective strategies for leveraging tech tools as a solo consultant, and the nuances of building and maintaining client trust in both residential and business settings.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back, Adam Rice! 00:28 Adam's Background and Living in Philadelphia 02:08 Residential vs. Business Clients 02:47 Solo Consulting and Family Involvement 06:45 Challenges of Hiring and Subcontracting 16:35 Marketing Strategies and Client Demographics 21:39 Private Equity and Client Stability 27:20 Navigating Business Without Contracts 28:33 Shifting Focus to Residential Clients 29:58 The Importance of Client Relationships 31:47 Discussing Business Rates and Models 32:54 Implementing Equitable Pricing 35:03 Challenges and Benefits of Sliding Scale Pricing 48:58 Tools and Techniques for Business Efficiency 57:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss recent Apple updates, including the new liquid glass feature and macOS support schedules up to 2028. They share their insights on the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) announcements and speculate on client feedback regarding OS support timelines. The conversation also delves into technical aspects and user experiences with Unifi's six-gigahertz WiFi, highlighting troubleshooting steps like disabling the 6GHz band for improved stability. The team also touches on seamless transitions to 1Password MSP, comparing pricing and feature benefits. Through the exchange, they offer practical advice for managing both client and personal tech infrastructures as they keep an eye on emerging technologies and services.

00:00 Introduction and Recent Show Recap

00:25 Apple's Liquid Glass Announcement

00:45 macOS Support Timeline Discussion

04:10 Liquid Glass Early Impressions

06:35 MDM Migration Functionality

09:01 FileVault and MDM Enhancements

10:33 Intel Macs and macOS Tahoe Compatibility

13:32 Client Perspectives on Mac Longevity

26:39 Mac Mini Model Years Overview

27:36 Challenges with Mac Mini Hardware

28:11 Using Mac Mini for Various Tasks

30:26 Client Support and OS Upgrades

36:23 One Password MSP Transition

48:47 UniFi System Issues and Solutions

52:46 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of Command Control Power, Sam and Jerry address listener feedback about their on-air chemistry and dive into a variety of tech discussions. Sam talks about his recent MacBook Pro M4 upgrade and the challenges he faced during the data migration process. The duo discusses the importance of maintaining and justifying tech expenses, with Sam sharing his strategy of integrating different services using Hudu for efficient billing and management. Jerry shares a humorous support call mix-up, stressing the importance of communication. The episode also touches on VPN solutions using Ubiquiti's Teleport and the surprising endurance of legacy technologies like the iPod. Throughout, Sam and Jerry explore the nuances of staying relevant and efficient in tech consulting while maintaining client satisfaction.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:56 Mac Migration Woes

02:11 Challenges with Migration Assistant

03:16 Time Machine Backup Struggles

07:05 Choosing the Right MacBook

10:18 Travel Tales and Personal Insights

14:42 Client Challenges and Security Concerns

17:52 User Training and Security Solutions

28:42 Microsoft Signatures and Email Platforms

29:13 Balancing Technology Costs

30:04 Subscription Services and Expense Management

31:36 Cutting Costs and Employee Tools

34:21 Old Work Stories and Company Policies

40:16 Travel Gadgets and Recommendations

48:25 Client Management and Documentation Tools

50:59 Funny Client Interaction

53:33 Conclusion and Sign Off

Recorded July 19, 2016

CCP welcomes Matt Woestehoff Director of Business Development and Operations of The Foundation in Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Quoting Matt's Bio On The Foundation website: "Presenter, listener, growth engineer. I work with companies who understand the value of thinking ahead. We build a strong technological base so that you can Get Back to Work. We help acquire, deploy, and manage iPads, build network infrastructures to support thousands, and help entrepreneurs build their dreams. Born as Apple fan-boys, now recognizing brand-agnostic solutions for any business need. That said, we tend to work with creative agencies. Why? Because we get it. It's what we do."

You can reach Matt via email: [email protected] On Twitter Follow The Foundation @thefndtn

In this episode of Command Control Power, hosts welcome Adam Burg from CALSO Technologies to share his harrowing experience with the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. Adam recounts the events leading up to the evacuation of his family, the destruction of their home, and their subsequent journey to recovery. He highlights the overwhelming support from the community, the importance of preparedness, and offers advice for ensuring business continuity in the face of natural disasters. The episode provides a detailed and emotional account of resilience and the power of community.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-burg-family-after-the-eaton-fire-in-altadena

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:23 Adam's Tragic Experience in LA

01:22 Evacuation and Immediate Aftermath

03:10 Community Support and Personal Reflections

04:14 The Fire's Impact on Daily Life

05:07 Realization of the Fire's Severity

06:32 Evacuation Orders and Family Preparations

08:25 The Night of the Evacuation

10:27 Returning to the Devastation

18:58 Cleanup and Recovery Efforts

30:20 Architectural Heritage and Rebuilding

31:45 Life at the Hotel: Initial Experiences

32:56 Community and Support Among Families

34:26 Interactions with Firefighters

35:36 Challenges of Hotel Living

36:43 Emotional Impact on the Family

38:01 Reflections on Community and Support

39:28 Environmental Refugees and Climate Change

41:34 Insurance and Preparedness

47:10 Rebuilding and Client Support

55:00 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

Meet the community trying to save Altadena's history after the L.A. fires

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss their long-standing production schedule and reliance on listener support through Patreon. They share humorous anecdotes and frustrations about everyday tech issues, such as fixing client problems and dealing with insufficient AI-generated messages. The conversation delves into the ever-increasing costs of essential services like QuickBooks and the challenges of using AI tools like ChatGPT for tasks ranging from contract creation to tech support. They also touch on broader issues involving monopolistic behaviors of tech giants and the impact of poor customer service on consumers.

00:00 Introduction and Support Request

00:28 Prom Date Analogy

00:54 Safari Issue and Client Gratitude

01:53 AI Summaries and Notifications

05:04 Apple Intelligence Rant

05:12 Google Assist Anecdote

06:47 Voice Dictation Errors

10:38 AI Contract Creation

12:43 Challenges with AI Refinement

21:20 AI in Daily Tasks

24:14 The Importance of Note Taking

24:53 AI in Coding and App Development

25:51 Gardening with AI Assistance

29:09 QuickBooks Pricing and Features

36:43 Challenges with Tech Support and Monopolies

46:54 AI's Potential and Limitations

48:22 Conclusion and Support

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts tackle a series of tech frustrations including missed live streams, troublesome iPhone camera features, and challenges with Apple TV and Hulu apps. They dive into a detailed rant about modern tech devices failing to work seamlessly, share personal anecdotes of encountering pop-up errors and software compatibility issues, and discuss potential solutions. Special segments include difficulties with remote work, the quirks of Notifications and Permissions in macOS, and the ongoing struggle with the Malwarebytes and Addigy integration. The discussion wraps with user interaction nuances and a nostalgic thank you to a decade-long listener.

00:00 Introduction and Apologies

00:19 Technical Difficulties and Live Stream Issues

00:34 Joe's Haircut and Visual Gags

01:31 Camera Control Button Rant

08:24 Dinner and Hulu Troubles

09:40 General Tech Frustrations

12:51 Coordination Problems in Tech

17:01 Malwarebytes and Agy Integration

17:50 Confusing Security Popups

19:00 User Reactions and Issues

20:23 Malwarebytes and Agy Coordination

20:40 Jerry's Experience with the Issue

25:01 Apple's Notification System

36:22 Remote Desktop Control Challenges

39:26 Listener Appreciation and Conclusion

In this episode of Command Control Power, Joe and Jerry dive into the intricacies of network monitoring, leveraging affiliate programs for additional revenue, and the challenges of managing client relationships. They discuss Jerry's struggles with dermatological prescriptions and the importance of staying updated on tech services. The conversation shifts to the mechanics of Amazon's affiliate program, their frustrations with Amazon's strict rules, and how they incorporate other affiliate programs like Backblaze and Uptime Robot into their business models. The duo also shares insights on using tools like Choosy for managing multiple browsers and discusses the pitfalls of extensions like the Honey browser extension. Finally, they highlight the importance of offering network monitoring services to clients and the strategies they use to sell these essential services.

00:00 Introduction and Opening Banter

00:13 Prescription Woes and Dermatology Services

03:12 Amazon Affiliate Program Frustrations

05:25 Affiliate Marketing Strategies and Challenges

11:43 Leveraging Chat GPT for Business Efficiency

20:13 Backblaze Affiliate Success

24:48 Honey Browser Extension Controversy

28:03 Browser Extensions: Pros and Cons

28:38 The Camel Extension for Amazon

29:22 Streamy Yard and Browser Compatibility

30:14 Choosy App for Browser Management

32:00 Affiliate Links and Malware Concerns

36:16 Uptime Robot for Network Monitoring

45:13 Challenges with Network Monitoring

51:36 The Importance of Regular Network Updates

56:37 Subscription Benefits and Conclusion

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, they discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.