SMB Community Podcast

Had a great impromptu chat with Dave Sobel from MSP Radio and The Business of Tech (and the Killing IT podcast).

Dave has spent his time as both an IT Service Provider and a vendor. Now he is jumping into a new venture as an analyst and new reporter.

If you haven't checked it out already, head over to MSP Radio and subscribe to The Business of Tech - his daily five-minute podcast. Great stuff.

Dave mentions three important rules he's set for himself going forward:

1) Do things that are big, different, and significant

2) Don't talk to product marketing managers

3) Never sit on another pricing panel at conferences

Find out what's behind these and how they affect what he's up to.

I happen to know Dave has some pretty big things planned with MSP Radio, so tune in now and stay tuned.

Revevant Links:

MSP Radio: https://www.mspradio.com/

Killing IT Podcast: https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesobel/

:-)

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Everything this week is related to AI and ethics.

Topic 1:

Follow-up on Episode 33 - AI ethics across cultural boundaries.

Karl: “China will call it protecting our culture.”

Ryan said: “Crossing geographic boundaries is one things, but crossing cultural boundaries is another.”

So, how do we address cultural norms and ethics in a worldwide discussion. Business ethics and laws are different everywhere, yet we practice economic relationships without boundaries.

What should we be discussing here? We have thoughts.

Topic 2:

More ethics. The Wall Street Journal had a long article addressing the fact that Google is messing with search results to fit corporate needs and political biases.

Google has more than 90% of the worldwide search traffic. They made about 500 changes to their search algorithm in 2010. And about 2400 in 2017, and 3200 in 2018. That's a lot of changes! Most of them are in response to some kind of request.

It turns out, Google’s super-secret algorithm favors big companies over small companies; favors eBay and other large advertisers; and favors already-big web sites over lesser-known web sites.

Google also works hard to crafting “knowledge panels” in order to keep you on their site. AND they change the results of auto-complete in an attempt to be politically correct and less divisive.

Related Link:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-google-interferes-with-its-search-algorithms-and-changes-your-results-11573823753

Related topic: AI is male biased
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/technology/algorithmic-ai-bias.html

Note: Update. In the days after this posted, Google’s “Top Stories” included links to articles refuting the WSJ post. :-)

And now for the Mail Bag . . .

Topic 3: Listener Joe asked our thoughts on companies that negotiate - or pay off - ransomware.

Should you (and your clients) negotiate with ransomware criminals? Should you engage a company to negotiate for you? What's "right" and what are the best practices.

Related ProPublica story on this topic:

https://features.propublica.org/ransomware/ransomware-attack-data-recovery-firms-paying-hackers/

:-)

James Kernan: How to build Equity in your business BEFORE you sell - The 8 secrets to increasing the value of your business

I had a great chat with fellow coach James Kernan.

James is the author of the 36 Month Millionaire Program, and recently published books, Leadership Essentials for Successful Executives and Business Tips. For the past 12 years, James has served as a Principal Consultant for Kernan Consulting and provides Coaching, Advising and Mentoring programs to entrepreneurs and leaders.

We only had a half hour, but James covered a lot of territory. In today's crazy M&A environment, many people are approaching the sale of their business before they're ready. That is, they haven't done the ground work to maximize the value of their business before they get serious about selling it.

This discussion is chock-full of great advice!

Kernan Consulting offers One on One Coaching, CEO Peer Groups, M&A Consulting and online training programs. For more information on the company please visit: www.KernanConsulting.com or call: 888.VAR.COACH

Kernan Consulting empowers small-business owners to grow themselves, their teams and their profits using practical, proven and trusted business wisdom. If you want to learn how to create a winning company culture, grow a team of passionate and loyal workers who will help you win. If you want to learn how to market and sell better than your competition, and compensate your people in a way that motivates them to achieve more, then Kernan Consulting is for you. It's practical, applicable advice that can transform your business and help you become an incredible leader who others will gladly follow.

Links:

• https://kernanconsulting.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan
• https://twitter.com/jkernan
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/
• https://www.instagram.com/james_kernan/

:-)

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Quick note on our favorite social media for interacting with partners.

Karl = Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk
Dave = Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/djdave
Ryan = LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmorris303/

Please connect with us!

Topic 1: Four day work week study from Microsoft

There was lots of press coverage of Microsoft's study of a four-day work week in Japan. The first question that came up on social media was, how is this possible in an IT service delivery model? Can we really escape trading dollars for hours?

Of course we have opinions.

Link:

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-4-day-work-week-boosts-productivity-2019-11

Topic 2: In the modern world, do you have to have work experience before you become an entrepreneur?

It used to be that you started as an apprentice and then went out on your own. With few exceptions, the classic entrepreneurs all worked for someone else and then went out on their own. Today more and more people are starting businesses right out of high school or college. Would they be better faster if they worked for someone else first?

We cover a bit about how we got into entrepreneurship. And (shockingly) we have some opinions about this.

Topic 3: Should small IT providers be paying attention to smart cities?

Is this really an opportunity in the SMB Market or is this beyond us?

One definition of Smart Cities is that they cover at least five of these eight parameters:

1. Smart Energy
2. Smart Building
3. Smart Mobility
4. Smart Healthcare
5. Smart Infrastructure
6. Smart Technology
7. Smart Governance and Education
8. Smart Citizens

According to this criteria, there will be about 26 smart cities in 2025.

(Cite: Book Future Cities by Stefano Tresca)

:-)

In this podcast, I interview Andrew Lassise, a serial entrepreneur who has built Rush Tech Support from his living room in 2014 to a multi million dollar managed services provider. He got sober in 2013 and has an incredible story of triumph over alcoholism and growing and scaling an IT company

Andrew also has a podcast, Self Made & Sober. He talks with entrepreneurs who are in recovery and are successful in business.

We kick it off with Andrew's story of hitting the bottom while being pulled over for drunk driving. It was in climbing out of that hole that Andrew found his love for IT service delivery.

An interesting twist here is that Andrew has ended up with a podcast where people tell their stories. They open themselves to vulnerability. And their stories help them go to their clients and prospects with their values and integrity on display.

An interesting person and story - I think you'll agree.

Links:

• www.rushtechsupport.com
• www.selfmade-coaching.com

:-)

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Quick reminder: Find us on Facebook! 

Dave from MSPRadio.com: https://www.facebook.com/djdave
or https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews

Karl from the Small Biz Thoughts Community: https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk
or https://www.facebook.com/SmallBizThoughts/

Ryan from Morris Management: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.morris.5454

Topic 1: The DOD announces ethical rules for AI.

The military beats the private sector to the market — what does this mean?

Download the document at: https://admin.govexec.com/media/dib_ai_principles_-_supporting_document_-_embargoed_copy_(oct_2019).pdf

Quote: "The following principles represent the means to ensure ethical behavior as the Department develops and deploys AI." And so the Department of Defense proposes the goal that its use of AI
systems is:
1. Responsible
2. Equitable
3. Traceable
4. Reliable
5. Governable

Related links:

https://www.engadget.com/2019-11-02-pentagon-draft-ai-ethics-guidelines.html

https://www.mspradio.com (for Dave's Business of Tech podcast)

Topic 2: How much life is left in the current RMM market?

What do you need your RMM to do? How long will that last?

This is a big round-robin discussion of the tools as they are today and where (whether) they fit in the IT consulting business of tomorrow.

Related Links:

https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/05/24/ocado-the-tech-startup-you-thought-was-a-supermarket

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-news/servicenow-patch-management-findings/

Topic 3: The SMB Channel Digitization

Yikes. Is this digital transformation again?

Are you automating processes? If so, exactly what are you doing, and does it reduce your staff needs?

If you're improving client businesses with automation, then you're in the sweet spot or consulting.

https://techaisle.com/blog/382-32-percent-of-smb-business-activities-expected-to-be-digitized-by-2021-2x-from-2017

-- -- --

Note about Channel Evolution Europe 2-3 December: http://bit.ly/2MYCQdd
Use code SOBEL for 25% off.

:-)

I had a lot of fun recording this podcast with Nicholas Ford (Account Executive - Partner Network at SherWeb) and Jacob Wellman (Associate Account Executive at SherWeb). In addition to working together, these guys are friends who have built a great culture in their department.

See the photo we discuss at www.smbcommunitypodcast.com.

Topics include fun at work, building a fun culture, and figuring out how to motivate people and teams. And while we have a lot of fun here, there's also lots of great advice about building your team.

You can connect with these guys on LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-ford-b5a371b1/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-wellman-7a879412b/

Comments welcome.

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Quick note: Here's where you can find us on Twitter. Please connect:

https://twitter.com/ryanmorris303
https://twitter.com/djdaveet
https://twitter.com/karlpalachuk

Topic 1: Mailbag - Blockchain

Bryan sent us a note asking for our take on Blockchain and BitcoinSV and the creation of the Metanet. (https://nchain.com/en/the-metanet/)

For a little background, of the “split” and related politics, see https://changenow.io/currencies/bitcoin-sv

Overall, we're much more bullish on blockchain generally than Bitcoin specifically.

Links mentioned:

https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/platform
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/blockchain/
https://aws.amazon.com/managed-blockchain/
https://cloud.google.com/customers/blockchain/
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security/blockchain-overview.html

Book: Anarchy, Inc., by Patrick Schwerdtfeger.

YOU can ask us a question at https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com.

Topic 2: Starting or joining a Mastermind group

We discuss our experiences and give some general advice on joining or starting your own.

Topic 3: Navy submarine resupplied by drone delivery

It’s not a burrito ... but it’s getting closer:

https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-drone-delivers-supplies-to-submarine-for-first-time-2019-10

See last week's show as well as several others. Drone delivery is a money making venture - and now is a great time to figure out what your role is.

:-)

I interviewed Ahin Thomas, Vice President of Backblaze. He describes himself as "A former bartender, songwriter and hand model."

Ahin previously worked as director of eCommerce at Sears Holdings, was the co-founder and CEO of Vintners' Alliance, and was the head of marketing for Symphony Commerce.

In this interview, Ahin talks about Backblaze's major products: Computer Backup and Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage. Computer Backup provides unlimited data storage, native clients that silently run in the background for Mac/Windows, and affordable prices with rock solid endpoint backups that do not require maintenance.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage works well with an established company and includes reliable/predictable pricing in an industry where it is lacking. It also empowers companies to "move to the cloud" and leaves room for MSPs to make a profit where they can switch to Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, giving customers a discount vs. Amazon S3, and pocket the difference.

Relevant links: - https://www.backblaze.com - https://www.backblaze.com/blog/ - https://twitter.com/backblaze (@backblaze) - https://www.facebook.com/backblaze (@backblaze) - https://www.youtube.com/backblaze

:-)

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Quick intro note: Check out Dave's new podcast The Business of Tech daily - www.mspradio.com.

Dave and Karl were in Adelaide Australia for this recording - live from the SMB IT Pro conference.

Topic 1: Update on Drone technologies and opportunities

Karl attends the Comptia Drone council webinars. Of course that's a favorite topic here, so we share our thounghts. Commercial drones are no longer on the Gartner Hype Cycle. But drone delivery systems has entered.

Lots of people who took the original license exams are not renewing their certs. But colleges and high schools are beginning to pump out students. About 20% of the students who complete the classes actually take the exams.

There are millions of drones in the air – most are not licensed.

People in our industry are making money today - “Drone Service Provider” is a thing. Opportunities include recurring revenue.

Link: See www.comptia.org/drones

Topic 2: Should Facebook take the ad money from politicians?

We don't go political here, but it's a legitimate quest about online industries and "media" outlets. Ad revenue is a small portion of revenue for Facebook. If you say no to politics, where does the line end, just with candidates?

. . . And perhaps the larger question of who (if anyone) should be policing outright lies.

Topic 3: The changing nature of background checks in the era of Big Data.

As we all know, the amount of "data" on you is growing all the time. Who owns it? Do you have rights to limit its use? How far should we go? We’ve probably already gone further than most people realize.

https://www.smartdatacollective.com/growing-depth-of-background-checks-in-big-data-age/

:-)