SMB Community Podcast

We're staying positive in our home offices. But we've all got lots of online activity scheduled.

Mentioned: Dave and Sharon's how-to video on hosting a virtual party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwt6hYdwUD8 and how to be a good guest at a virtual party: https://youtu.be/GLRmHARTsic.

Topic 1: Companies "doing it right" in the current environment.

Many companies are suddenly facing a new environment - and one most were not prepared for. How are they responding? We talk a few winners out there. For example:

Paypal is delaying payments on their "Working Capital" loans for ninety days. BMW - suspend the next two payments. Both of these are designed to avoid a negative hit on your credit report.

Messaging with the right tone: Examples include Nike "Stay together at home," Coca Cola, and Burger King.

Topic 2: L.A. Wants Uber's Big Data

Uber Sues the city of Los Angeles over access to their big data. And of course this leads into the discussion of data availability . . . and even into our previous conversation about the Contract for the Web.

Link:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-sues-los-angeles-over-data-sharing-rules-11585104223

Related link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/coronavirus-singapore-to-make-contact-tracing-tech-open-source.html

Topic 3: "Life After" segment: Robotics & automation

Wherein we pick a technology to discuss what it will look like “after” the current economic downturn is over.

Related Link:
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2020/03/24/the-robots-are-ready-as-the-covid-19-recession-spreads/

Book referenced: A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink. Also a great audio book.

:-)

We have a special guest this week - Marie Rourke, Channel Chief Chief Channel Strategist at WhiteFox Marketing Inc.

So after our catch-up on what we're doing under quarantine, we jump in.

Topic One: Tim Berners-Lee’s Open Letter on the Role of Women on the Internet

Tim Berners-Lee is widely regarded as the creater of the World Wide Web.

Link:
https://webfoundation.org/2020/03/web-birthday-31/

He pinpointed three areas that cause women harm. The first is access. The second is online safety. And the third area that requires attention is gender discrimination that arises from bad engineering/algorithms.

As Dave points out, we brought in Marie so we don't have just three guys talking about the role of women. Thanks for the assist, Marie!

Topic Two: Ten trends for a post virus world

Here's the article that got us kick-started. We really encourage you to read this.

https://skift.com/2020/03/17/after-the-virus-10-consumer-trends-for-a-post-coronavirus-world/

We enjoy some of the new things people are trying. And we're happy to see some cool, cutting-edge technology coming into its own. We are particularly intrigued with who is in the right place in the right time.

Topic 3: New Show Segment - Life After Covid

Putting it all together, we introduce a new show segment. We're going to speculate from time to time on what we think the "new normal" will look like once we are allowed to leave our houses and wander out into the world.

We each give some opinions about what has changed and won't completely change back after the quarantine is over.

:-)

My friend Ryan Morris (from Morris Management Partners) normally hangs out on the Killing IT Podcast. But today he joined me here to talk about our industry from three different perspectives: Vendor, Distributor, and Partner.

Obviously, we spent most of our time on the Partner side of the equation.

Ryan is a 25+ year veteran of the IT channel. He has lived and worked in the channel from practically every point of view: solution provider, vendor, distributor, service provider, market analyst, business consultant, keynote speaker and industry expert.

Ryan works with clients from small startups to Fortune 50 and delivers services around the world. An award-winning speaker, consultant, and coach, Ryan's vision is to help the IT industry build businesses that thrive in every market.

Morris Management Partners (MMP) is a Seattle, WA-based professional services firm that works with IT vendors, distributors, and solution provider. Our services are designed to help companies optimize business performance, build profitable business models, and develop the skills to thrive.

Web: www.morrismp.com Twitter: @ryanmorris303 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmorris303

:-)

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Amy Babinchak is back, this time to question the relevancy of RMM and PSA tools with Amy Luby, founder of SMB Managed Services Community.

The technical landscape is constantly evolving, specifically in terms of security; it's not always a given that our existing tools are still right for the job.

More about Amy Luby: Amy is a successful leader and entrepreneur in the IT Services Channel, with an extensive record of achievement in Channel Sales program development and recruiting IT solution providers. She has strong technical expertise and domain knowledge in the rapidly evolving global managed, cloud and security services marketplace and a proven track record in creating profitable managed and cloud product portfolios, developing profitable Channel sales operations, increasing revenue quickly, and exploiting untapped market opportunities. Amy is founder and moderator of the global SMB Managed Services Community with 3000 active global SMB MSP reseller members.

Amy is also a proven entrepreneur and pioneer in the IT services industry having founded and built one of the first Managed Services Providers (MSPs) in the country and then expanded that into one of the first Master MSPs, defining that business model in the process.

Amy's successes in the Channel have not gone unnoticed. She is the recipient of numerous Channel awards including: CRN Channel Chief and Women of the Channel awards, MSP Mentor Top 250 Influencers, MSP Mentor Top 100 Global MSPs, SMB Nation's SMB 150, and COMPTIA's Industry Leadership Award.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys writing, drawing, yoga and her potter's wheel.

Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/msprevolution/

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First, a note from listener Chris.

Issue clarification Link: 

https://www.informationweek.com/cdc-plagued-by-virus-of-a-different-strain/d/d-id/1051659

Topic 1: Louisiana Secretary of State on Defining MSPs

We do a little analysis on Dave's interview on his Business of Tech podcast. What consitutes “malpractice” for an IT service provider?

“If self-regulation doesn’t work, the government will step in.”

And, of course, how will legislation define MSPs and MSSPs?

Link:
https://www.mspradio.com/podcast/mon-march-9-2020-an-interview-with-louisiana-secretary-of-state-kyle-ardoin/

Topic 2: COVID-19 and a Possible Recession

I'm not any of us understands what's going on with the Covid-19 virus or with the economy. But there definitely appears to be a connection. We analyze a bit for the IT consultants out there.

Link:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-06/the-u-s-may-already-be-in-a-recession-thanks-to-coronavirus

Topic 3: Robots aren't taking our jobs, they are becoming our bosses

An interesting twist from The Verge. AI without humanity can be very stressful. We speculate on what this means and where we're heading.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/27/21155254/automation-robots-unemployment-jobs-vs-human-google-amazon

:-)

I was happy to catch up with Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan, and his newest release Clockwork.

By his 35th birthday, Mike had founded and sold two companies - one to private equity and another to a Fortune 500. Today he is running his third multi-million dollar venture, Profit First Professionals. He is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and the former business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Over the years, Mike has traveled the globe speaking with thousands of entrepreneurs.

If you've listened to his audio books, you'll be pleased to know that he's just as nice and personable in the "real" world.

Note: I've got him tape (well, digital audio) saying that he'll be back to talk about his next book, Fix This First. We covered that for a couple of minutes at the end of the interview. Stay tuned. And if you have questions for Mike when he returns, send them to me!

Mike's new book, Fix This Next, will be coming out in April.

Mike's Links:

• http://www.mikemichalowicz.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/MikeMichalowiczFanPage/
• https://twitter.com/MikeMichalowicz
• https://www.instagram.com/mikemichalowicz/

:-)

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What?! Episode 50 of the Killing IT Podcast! We're almost at the one year mark. And we really appreciate your listenership.

Topic 1: Coronavirus / Covid-19 and Traveling Today

All of us travel a lot. Some notes from Karl’s travels to Thailand and Cambodia, etc.

We also discuss several industry cancellations and the longer-term implications of this on the broader economy. Since this recording (a couple days a go), CompTIA's CCF, Channel Partners, and South by Southwest have all canceled.

Other comments on caution vs. panic, supply chain, Christmas sales, and more.

Related links:

https://healthpolicy.fsi.stanford.edu/news/how-taiwan-used-big-data-transparency-central-command-protect-its-people-coronavirus

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-amazon-tells-seattle-not-come-to-office-washington-2020-3%3famp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.geekwire.com/2020/microsofts-new-coronavirus-plan-seattle-area-employees-work-home-next-3-weeks/amp/

https://scoop.upworthy.com/17-year-old-builds-website-track-coronavirus-epidemic

https://www.zdnet.com/article/coronavirus-update-2020-tech-conference-cancellations-and-travel-bans/

Topic 2: Technology in Cambodia

Karl’s notes from the field, particularly with regard to sensitive humanitarian work and the effect of China/Cambodia relationships. How this relates to the sex slave trade. The economics of working with other countries.

Again: How does this reality affect your, your clients, and their business?

Related Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/business/china-coronavirus-surveillance.html

Topic 3: Defending High-Tech And Its Billionaire Entrepreneurs

Dave declares a rant regarding a commentary piece in CRN magazine. Ryan and Karl throw in their two cents.

Related Link:
https://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/column-defending-high-tech-and-its-billionaire-entrepreneurs

That's it for this week. Comments welcome. There's a form below.

More information on Karl's SMB Online Conference here: https://www.smbonlineconference.com.

Catch Amy's Q&A with MSP owners Leon Black and John Zanazzi on her recent whitepaper: How to Build a Valuable Local LinkedIn Network. Get clarity on who to target, how often to post and more.

Find Amy's whitepaper here: https://www.smbbooks.com/How-To-Build-A-Valuable-Local-LinkedIn-Network-p/bab02.htm

About our guests:

Leon Black has been in the IT Industry for over 17 years, from enterprise support with Microsoft, Komatsu, Colgate, through to SMB support. Leon started Inspired Techs in 2012 to help small to medium business leverage technology as their competitive advantage and get the most out of their business. Leon is passionate about RnD and keeping at the front of the changes in technology. This allows us to empower our customers and let them really leverage their relationship with us and their technology On a fun note, Leon is an avid skydiver and has over 760 jumps, 5 Australian skydive records and a few different competition medals.

Links: https://www.inspiredtechs.com.au Facebook/linkedin/twitter - InspiredTechs

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Karl's out this week in Cambodia, so Dave and Ryan are the hosts this week.

Topic One: ChannelPro State of the Channel Info

ChannelPro released their "State of the Channel" report. Dave and Ryan focus in on a few key data points. Number one is, who is a managed service provider (as compared to those who claim to be one).

Once again, we question whether the term MSP has any meaning any more.

Next point - Only 67% are paying attention to security challenges. Does that make sense?

Other topics include cloud revenue and management of cloud infrastructure.

Related link:
https://www.channelpronetwork.com/article/2020-state-channel-cloud-and-managed-services-are-all-grown?page=0%2C0

Topic Two: Asigra warns that RMM platforms with integrated backup will be the next attack vector for ransomware

Dave and Ryan see this as FUD - fear, uncertainty, and doubt. This "press release" is really just a marketing piece.

Dave says this is an irresponsible move in the current era of outright attacks on MSPs and our clients. Ryan takes the argument to a different level and wonders whether they're really saying that aggregated services are naturally less secure.

Dave awards to Asigra the first ever Troll Press Release Award.

Link:
https://www.pr.com/press-release/806072

Topic Three: Low code and no code application development

Ryan digs into new changes in "Low Code" application development. This concept hit Gartner's radar about three years ago. There are now hundreds of services that make low-code and no-code development easy to use for the masses.

This is very interesting to folks in IT who used to make a bunch of money selling programming. Now clients can do a lot of this themselves.

But is it a good idea? Will clients destroy their own security? Or perhaps they'll create something that's not backed up, not documented, not encrypted, etc.

Link:
https://medium.com/swlh/what-is-low-code-development-f45550c3243d

:-)

This week we had Small Biz Thoughts employee Dylan Dahlquist (Quest) on the show. Dylan is certified in Google Adwords and has been supporting the Small Biz Thoughts brands since 2019. Listen in to hear how he gets paid offering free services to qualifying non-profits.

Dylan Quest is a creative scientist with a passion for communicating complex ideas in innovative ways. His career started in materials research for brain implants, but has since left research work for digital advertising, specializing in Google Ads. His business works with organizations around the globe, many of which are non-profits. He utilizes his background in experimentation and data analysis for his clientele in order to create strategies tailored to their business. Dylan is also a member for the team here at Small Biz Thoughts!

You can reach Dylan at [email protected]

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