Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Products, stories, and tips for the MSP and IT Professional)

Kelsey was mistakenly nominated as the 'best guest' on a podcast she had never been on. Kelsey's career journey is anything but ordinary, and we unravel the twists and turns that led her to this pivotal moment, examining the fresh responsibilities that come with her leadership role. We also sneak a peek behind the curtain of event planning and content creation, along with Kelsey's insights from co-hosting 'Actually a Podcast'—all while fostering deep connections within the MSP community.

We share a few laughs over the unexpected demographics of our listeners and dissect the strategy behind selecting the most effective platforms for connecting with clients. The cybersecurity stakes are high, and we don't shy away from the critical discussions on privileged access management and user verification at CyberQP—with a side of light-hearted IT jokes to keep things lively. So come for the insights, stay for the humor, and leave with a broader perspective on IT professionalism and cybersecurity awareness.

CyberQP Website: https://cyberqp.com/

Podcast: actually, a podcast

Facebook Group: actually a podcast

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

I chat with Steven Spiegel from CrewHu about the importance of employee and client recognition in scaling a business effectively.  The conversation also covers the importance of gamification and recognition as separate but complementary strategies to engage employees. We highlight the use of leaderboards, contests, and metrics-focused incentives as part of gamification, while emphasizing voluntary recognition for embodying company core values as a way to build a strong workplace culture. We also touch on the role of loyalty programs, not only for customers but as a tool for acknowledging employee achievements. We wrap up by contrasting the customer experience approaches of giants like Chick-fil-A and Burger King, underscoring the crucial decisions MSPs face in sculpting their service quality and company culture.

Crewhu is an employee recognition and customer satisfaction platform built specifically for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). It offers services such as customer feedback, gamification, and recognition tools to engage and excite teams, focus on important metrics, foster a culture of recognition and collaboration, retain and incentivize employees, and provide outstanding customer interactions. The platform also provides features for employee performance analysis, peer review systems, and setting employee goals. Additionally, Crewhu offers integrations with various platforms used by MSPs and provides a no-commitment free trial and a guarantee on annual plans.

Website: https://www.crewhu.com/

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Join us as we discuss the critical role of networking for MSPs. We explore the essentials of both physical and wireless network infrastructures and the often-overlooked importance of their proper setup and maintenance. Prepare to have your knowledge base expanded with insights from industry experts like Tom Wyatt, who'll be shedding light on on-premises server connectivity, and Mike Pennacchi, who'll be educating us on cable standards and Wi-Fi challenges. 

=== New Sponsor!

SuperOps: https://superops.com/

=== Upcoming Webinars: Register for a chance to win a NetAlly AirCheck G3 Pro*

Networking 101 for Managed Service Providers: https://streamyard.com/watch/t4y2s3PEGPec

• Tom Wyant helps us gain a clear understanding of Network Management, including the type of network (Ethernet, WAN, LAN) and the devices used to build it. 

Networking 101 - Know Your Network: https://streamyard.com/watch/3VHXupDQxssb

• Mike Pennacchi shares his insights on cable and Wi-Fi and gives us strategies and tips to Know the Network.

Networking 101 with NetAlly: https://streamyard.com/watch/t4y2s3PEGPec

• Here about the Discovery Monitoring Capabilities for CyberScope to have daily, weekly, or monthly snapshots to track new and missing devices.

=== 

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

The show is filled with lighthearted conversations, well-wishes, and updates on the personal and professional lives of the guests. They discuss the challenges of hiring, business successes, and personal milestones. The episode is a mix of tech talk, holiday cheer, and reflections on the year.

We chat about everything from office expansions and staffing shifts to the unexpected joys of grandparenthood. And it's not all rosy; we tackle the challenges too, from the difficulties of office relocations to the all-too-common communication hurdles that arise when dealing with client expectations and last-minute tech installations.

So, until we hit 'play' on our next adventure, stay wired, stay informed, and most importantly, stay connected. Cheers!

Best Episode: 483 Is Automated Pen Testing a Thing?

Best Vendor Swag: Blackpoint Cyber

Best Guest: Rob Rae 

=== Music

Hype For The Holidays, Jon Presstone, Presstone Publishing (Storyblocks Asset ID: SBA-348510822) 

Joy To The World, (Storyblocks Asset ID SBA-300051633)

=== Guests

Tom Bull, Stanley Louissaint, Rick Smith, Jason & Rachel Miller, Paco Lebron and Dawn Sizer

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Scheduled for January 16-18 in the beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii, this conference intertwines local culture and activities to redefine the conventional business gathering. Charlene explains how the event is designed to cater not just to the attending CEOs but also to their spouses, offering a rich itinerary that promises both professional growth and personal enjoyment. Whether it's discussing sales and marketing strategies or connecting over unique Hawaiian experiences, this conference is set to be a standout affair. 

Charlene also provides insights into her background and the evolution of her company, Forenex Marketing, which is organizing the event. With their finger on the pulse of the intersecting worlds of cybersecurity, marketing, and technology, the team at Fornix offers a treasure trove of knowledge for business owners seeking to make complex IT solutions relatable. 

=== Links from the show

Hawaii Leaders Circle: https://conference.fornixmarketing.com/hawaii-conference-3364

• Use Coupon Code "UncleMarv" for a $500 discount. 

Fornix Marketing Website: https://fornixmarketing.com/

=== Holiday Music Intro

Licensor's Author Username: kashirinv

Licensee: MB Systems of South Florida Inc.

Item Title: Jingle Bells Christmas Logo

Item URL: https://audiojungle.net/item/jingle-bells-christmas-logo/34487082

Item ID: 34487082

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

We unravel the inspirations behind the conception of this unique summit - one that's designed to empower you with strategic education, enabling you to transform your Managed Service Provider (MSP) business. Don't just settle for product pitches that tell you what to buy; instead, learn ways to organically develop your business.

This isn't just about how a product can change your business, but how YOU can change your business. 

=== Links from the show

Website: https://superops.ai/

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Our conversation takes an exciting turn as we express our shared love for music. From Joe's experiences in rock bands to Brook's diverse music taste, the conversation is filled with passion for melodies and rhythms. Get ready to hear about our personal concert experiences, our favorite genres, and how we use music to create a fun atmosphere at events. We also reminisce about our earliest memories of music, the evolution of music formats, and the impact of legendary artists on the industry. 

Oh, and then there is Pia, a product that could conveniently streamline tasks for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). It integrates seamlessly with existing Professional Services Automation (PSA) tools to improve ticket management and customer service.

The platform uses advanced AI automation to optimize and refine workflows, which can lead to a reduction in service ticket workload, faster ticket resolution, and an increase in customer service satisfaction. This can also result in an uplift in employee retention.

=== Links 

Website: https://pia.ai/

Florida Man Arrested for Stealing Sponge Bob Necklace: http://tinyurl.com/3ycj9th6

=== History Lesson

Columbia House was a mail-order service that was formed in 1955 by CBS/Columbia Records. The service was initially designed to market music directly by mail, targeting rural consumers who had limited access to music stores. In the 1980s and 1990s, Columbia House was particularly popular, offering deals such as "8 CDs for a penny" which attracted many customers. The business model relied on customers committing to buy a certain number of items at regular club prices over a specified period. However, the advent of digital music and streaming services led to a decline in Columbia House's business. In 2005, Columbia House was acquired by BMG and transitioned into a mail-order DVD club. Despite this shift, the company continued to struggle and filed for bankruptcy in 2015. 

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Prepare yourself to be introduced to an innovative approach that will help you maximize your profits while simplifying your decision-making process. We deep dive into the nuances of setting up multiple bank accounts for different purposes like taxes and profit, and how they can be a game-changer for your business. 

These insights pave the way for a greater understanding of how to use bank accounts to not only track expenses but to simplify decision-making processes as well. We delve deeper into the nuances of the Profit First System, shedding light on the concept of profit first banking, and how it can be a game changer for businesses, even those dealing with banking restrictions.

*** Download the Profit First Overview: https://fitforprofit.com/itbiz

*** Get your copy of Profit First by Mike Michalowicz: https://amzn.to/3RikmFr

Florida Man Runs Out on $250 Waffle House Tattoo: https://tinyurl.com/37t23wzw

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

The map is a comprehensive resource that visually categorizes industry vendors by product specialty, providing a quick glimpse into the vast marketplace. With over 700 logos from 600 vendors, the map highlights the cybersecurity category as the largest and most complex. The purpose of the map is to help MSPs identify potential solutions for their problems and discover new options they may not have considered before. As we head into 2024, this map serves as a visual guide for MSPs to assess their current technology stack and identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement.

Website: https://channelprogram.com/technologymap

Some of the key features of the 2023 Channel Technology Map include: 

• Comprehensive Vendor Categorization: The map categorizes vendors by product specialty, providing an organized and accessible view of the entire IT channel landscape. 
• Powered by Real Insights from Real MSPs: The map is powered by insights derived from more than 3,000 MSP reviews, offering a high-level but comprehensive overview of the entire IT channel landscape. 
• Vast Scope: If printed in full scale, the map would stretch an impressive 8 feet by 10 feet, underscoring the vast scope of the global IT channel it encompasses. 
• Valuable Resource: It is designed to be an indispensable tool for MSPs and vendors, offering a bird's-eye view of the intricate IT channel landscape. 
• Showcasing Areas of Growth: The map highlights areas of growth and innovation, helping IT professionals stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving IT channel landscape. 
• Community-Driven Initiative: The map is an ongoing, community-driven initiative, continuously updated to reflect changes in technology and the IT channel.

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Strap yourselves in as we take a wild ride with our guest Matthew Koenig, a finalist in this year's PitchIT Contest by ConnectWise. 

Matthew shares his experience at IT Nation, where NodeWare participated in the PitchIT competition and secured third place. He talks about the valuable feedback he received from the judges and the exposure the competition provided for NodeWare. Matthew also highlights the importance of vulnerability scanning in an MSP's security stack and how NodeWare offers continuous scanning, including IoT devices, as opposed to one-off or monthly scans provided by other products.

The conversation then shifts to the importance of honesty and collaboration in the channel industry, emphasizing the need for vendors and MSPs to work together. 

Did we mention Matthew also played in a band? 

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.