Tuesday, January 30, 2018

SMB Roadshow - Agenda and Details Announced

Woot!

Thank You to the folks who already signed up for the big SMB Roadshow 2018.

As I work through developing all new material for this roadshow, I am getting very excited. I just finished updating the Agenda and Details page over at www.smbroadshow.com.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Deets:
- - - - -

The Killer Combo:Cloud Services and Managed Services


Agenda – Details

– Registration 12:30 PM
– Seminar starts at 1:00 PM



Topic 1: The Absolutely Unbreakable Rules for a Successful IT Consultant

Deep dive into the 25 absolutely unbreakable rules of running a successful technology consulting business
Detailed examples with extra handouts, checklists, and examples

Topic 2: Cloud Services – 2018


  • Overview of cloud services today
  • Simplifying your offering – and making it more compelling
  • New clients versus existing clients


Topic 3: The Killer Combo – Managed Services and Cloud Services

  • Managed Services are Great; Cloud Services are Great; Together they guarantee extreme profitability
  • New bundles examples and price lists
  • Pricing strategies for the new era of MS + CS


… Followed by BeerFest 2018!



Seminar Objectives

This is a workshop – which means you will leave with some real-world goals, and the tools to implement them.

The bottom line is always: We guarantee you’ll learn tips and best practices that will pay for this seminar! As always, my handouts, checklists, and worksheets will save you many hours labor.

First tip: If it takes you more than two hours to pay for this seminar – you’re not charging enough!

Many IT consultants use the term “managed services” but really just provide the same service they’ve always provided. Learn why that’s far less profitable than it should be!

Here’s what you’ll learn

  • 25 Absolutely Unbreakable Rules for IT Service Delivery
    • I managed dozens of technicians at a time before starting my own consulting business. Find out what that taught me.
    • I was Site Manager for PC Software Support at HP’s Roseville, CA plant – managing 25 technicians and responsible for 7,000 computers on 5,000 desktops. Find out what that taught me.
    • I have built and sold two successful managed service businesses. Find out what that taught me.


  • Best practices for delivering service today
    • Getting the right clients
    • Getting the right tools
    • Creating awesome Standard Operating Procedures


  • Why you have to have a holistic approach to managing your consulting business
    • Why you can’t pick and choose best practices
    • Branding, hiring, training, service delivery, and getting paid: Four sides to the same objective


The bottom line: This is NOT a motivational, rah-rah-rah, “You can do it” presentation. This is a no-BS business improvement seminar. You will leave with the tools (worksheets/checklists) to refresh your business model and a thorough understanding of how all of this fits together to make you more successful.


Target Audience

This all-day seminar is intended for any IT service provider who wants to stay up to date with the latest tools and techniques. Whether you make money on Break/Fix, Managed Services, or Cloud Services, this event will help you build a profitable business for years to come.




Money Back Guarantee

You need to make or save two hours of labor in order for this seminar to pay for itself. *

“Between the best practices and the labor-saving handouts, I guarantee this seminar will pay for itself.” – Karl W. Palachuk

If you implement five or more best practices, checklists, or worksheets from this seminar and do not make or save the price of admission within six months, send us a note. We will send you a full refund.

* Note: If you cannot pay for this seminar with two hours labor, you need to raise your rates. Just sayin.

:-)

Thursday, January 25, 2018

SMB Roadshow 2018 - The Killer Combo: Managed Services Plus Cloud Services

Tickets Now On Sale
- Buy now and save!


I'm still working on the web site, but tickets are now available for the 2018 SMB Roadshow. Our theme this year is The Killer Combo: Managed Services Plus Cloud Services.

We start with a discussion of the 25 absolutely unbreakable rules of delivering perfect managed service. After that, we discuss the modern state of cloud services in the small business space. And of course we finish off bringing it all together as profitably as possible.

More information at www.SMBRoadshow.com!

Here's the invitation video:





Your Registration includes a recording of the entire workshop and (as always)

LOTS of Handouts and Checklists — at no additional cost!


Here are the cities we've booked so far:

Dallas, TX – March 6th

Phoenix, AZ – March 9th

Charleston, SC – March 23rd

New Orleans, LA – April 5th

Honolulu, HI – April 24th

Maui, HI – April 26th

Denver, CO – May 11th


Registration

Onsite registration is only $259 - a great bargain!

But if you pre-register, your price is only $199 for the first attendee and $149 for additional attendees!

Sign up today and save!

Agenda

Registration 12:30 PM – Seminar starts at 1:00 PM

Topic 1:
The Absolutely Unbreakable Rules for a Successful IT Consultant

Topic 2: Cloud Services – 2018

Topic 3: The Killer Combo – Managed Services and Cloud Services

- - - - -

More details will be posted on the SMB Roadshow web site. We have already had several people sign up in four cities! More to come, I am sure.



Wednesday, January 24, 2018

New Class - Service Agreements for SMB Consultants - starts January 31st

All About Service Agreements for I.T. Consultants

(Service Agreements for SMB Consultants: Applying the Book!)



Based on the best-selling book Service Agreements for SMB Consultants, this course covers everything you need to know about developing your service agreements. And the book subtitle is important, too: A Quick Start Guide to Managed Services.


Most I.T. Professionals sign - or don't sign - contracts for the wrong reasons. Most think contracts are intended to draw battle lines for when you have a disagreement with your clients. In fact, that piece of the relationship is almost always outside the contract! We'll explore why you really need contracts or service agreements.

We'll also look at various options, icluding a 2-page "terms of service" as well as managed services, programming agreements, and more.

Tuition for this course includes the ebook version of the newly revised and expanded Service Agreements for SMB Consutants!

That includes all the downloads from the book as well. YES - You get all the contracts and amendments!

You will learn
  • Defining Yourself and Your Relationships
    • Define Yourself
    • Define Client Relationships
  • The Language of Service Agreements
    • The Service Agreement Construction Kit
    • A Sample Credit Agreement
    • Boilerplate: A Sample Service Agreement
    • Flat Fee or Managed Services Parts
    • The Managed Service Agreement
  • Getting Help and Managing Agreements
    • Getting Help - Lawyers, Accountants, etc.
    • Managing Your Service Agreements

Includes five weeks of webinars with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor. All classes are recorded for download.

This course is intended for business owners and managers. It is particularly useful for the Service Manager or Operations Manager.
Register Now



A Few Details . . .


  • Each course will be five one-hour webinars
  • There will be handouts and "homework" assignments
  • If you wish to receive feedback on your assignments, there will be instructor office hours
  • Class webinars will be recorded and made available to paid attendees only.
  • All calls start at 9:00 AM Pacific Time and again 4:00 PM Pacific Time

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Managed Services in a Month - Now on Amazon

At last! Amazon has found the newest version of Managed Services in a Month!


They haven't put a graphic to it yet. But they will. We have no control over how they list or price our books.

And the saddest part is . . .

Book reviews do not carry forward from previous non-fiction editions!


That means I have zero reviews. Will you please do me a favor? If you have anything positive to say about Managed Services in a Month, please post a quick review here:

https://www.amazon.com/Managed-Services-Month-Successful-Consulting/dp/1942115474/


The same goes for the Kindle Edition, here:

https://www.amazon.com/Managed-Services-Month-Successful-Consulting-ebook/dp/B078J7ZKV1/


Thank you!

Notice the Kindle edition is linked on Amazon and has the front page graphic. I have no explanation. :-)

- - - - -

And if you have nothing positive to say, please click below and enjoy these cute and humorous animal videos:


:-)

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Replay Posted: 2018 State of the Nation Address for SMB IT

I just posted the recording of my webinar from a few days ago -

The 9th Annual State of the Nation Address for SMB IT


In addition to discussing a bit about where our industry went in 2017 and where I think it's going in 2018, I spend over half of this webinar talking about right-sizing your company in the modern world.

Announcements

Among the announcements in this webinar are:


  • SMB Roadshow 2018 Dates
  • Join me at four ChannelPro events
  • 15 classes at Great Little Seminar
  • Join me at four SMB TechFests
  • New book tease
  • Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams
    (See blog post on that)


The Myth of Expansion:

Many business owners have bought into the myth that you have to grow all the time - doubling the number of clients; doubling the revenue; doubling the employees; etc.

It doesn't have to be that way. You can grow with intention. With some thought, you should be able to figure out the "right" size for your business. That might be one person, two people, five people, or fifty people.

Whatever it is, the size and make-up of your company should be your intentional decision. Once you know what you want to do, and how big you want to grow, you can begin moving in that direction. And if you don't want to focus on doubling and doubling forever, you don't have to.

There are many ways to make money today without growing X% per year. You can reduce costs all the time. You can outsource tasks. You can replace your smallest client with your new largest client. And so forth.

Obviously, there's lots more juicy information in the 75 minute presentation. Check it out!





As always: I appreciate all your support and look forward to an amazing New Year!

:-)

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Webinar - Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams

This morning, on my 9th Annual State of the Nation address for small business IT, we announced the formation of Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams - in association with Bering McKinley.

What are "Managed Services in a Month" Branded Peer Teams? Basically, these are peer groups focused around the ideas and strategies outlined in the 3rd edition of Managed Services in a Month (MSIAM) - and in my other writings on processes and procedures.

The idea is to start with MSIAM as a framework for improving your business.

Questions? Of course!


Join Josh Peterson and me on Wednesday, January 17th for a live webinar. We'll explain the whole concept, introduce pricing, and answer all your questions. Register Here.

-- This event was recorded. Recording is here: https://youtu.be/qugUJRQ_ny4


More information also available at Bering McKinley.

Bering McKinley is a Management Consulting firm specializing in IT Solution Providers. They have over ten years experience in consulting owners and staff of IT Firms. They proudly provide Blue Chip consulting to small business. Since they only focus on one industry, they have in-depth expertise in all three business units: Sales, Service, and Finance.

Josh Peterson has more than 14 years of management consulting experience.  He has run Bering McKinley for five years, focusing very heavily on the most important challenges facing managed service providers.

Josh is also very active as a Peer Team leader. Bering McKinley Peer Teams focus on accountability and constant improvement. He has helped over a thousand companies move to a higher level of success.

. . . Now he's bringing all that focus on success to the Managed Services in a Month Peer Teams.


This morning I also posted a 30 minute interview with Josh over at www.smbcommunitypodcast.com. You can check out the podcast there or just watch the video here.

Watch this video to learn more right now:




Then register for the live webinar January 17th - where we'll answer all your questions.

Or just Join a MSIAM Peer Team right now!!!

See you then.

:-)

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Save Big with "Karl777" Discount for Bering McKinley Sales and Service Retreat in Las Vegas!

A while back I blogged about Bering McKinley's big Sales and Service retreat.

Well, they've set up a discount just for folks who read this blog.

Enter the code Karl777 at registration and receive $100 discount off the already great price for this seminar.


FREE Two Nights Stay at LINQ® Las Vegas*
+ 5 Jam-Packed Sessions in Sales, Service, Finance, and Culture + Parties + Lunches and MORE!

Las Vegas
February 5-6, 2018







This event delivers a jam-packed agenda across two and a half days with 5 breakout sessions led by industry experts and unparalleled networking opportunities starting on Sunday’s Superbowl kick-off and extending through Tuesday afternoon’s farewell wrap-up.

Excel your business acumen by attending our five critical pillars for growing your business.
Superbowl party, hotel rooms, High Roller happy hour and daily lunch are all included in the registration fee (while supplies last). 

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn, network and up your business game in 2018.



2018 ‘BIG GAME’ KICK-OFF PARTY
Let’s start this retreat on the right foot with our 3rd Annual BIG GAME at THE VEGAS SPORTS BOOK IN THE LINQ® . We will be taking bets to see which team will win. We will have complimentary specialty drinks, prizes and more!


GROUP FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Presenter: Josh Peterson, Bering McKinley

We’ll be training you on the 14 Key Financial Metrics. You don’t need 100’s of crazy micro detailed numbers. You need the fundamentals and you need to know the benchmarks. Oh, by the way, these are THE ONLY NUMBERS IN THE INDUSTRY you can trust. They are pulled right from your Quickbooks. No easily manipulated spreadsheets to skew the results. 




Join me live at SMB Techfest January 18th

Join me live at SMB Techfest in Anaheim!

Get in free - visit www.SMBTechfest.com/karl




Be my VIP guest and see me live at SMB TechFest.  SMB TechFest Q1 is coming up on Jan 18th.  See me present along with other industry experts in sessions to grow your business.  Also engage in the IT Mixer, Expo Hall, and prizes included in this exclusive no-cost VIP pass for you. 

You can attend onsite in Anaheim, CA or online from anywhere worldwide via the live video broadcast.  In-person allows you to network better so join me live.  I have a limited number of complimentary VIP passes and they're first come first serve. 

Limited free passes so register now

SMB TechFest Highlights Watch the 2 minute video




Our Lineup Focused to Kick-Off 2018      

·         Marketing Guru Kendra Lee
·         Sales Expert Gil Cargill
·         Power Talks
·         Business Coach Manuel Palachuk
·         Security
·         Partner Panels
·         2018 Platform Tools for Operations







Rated a Top 50 Channel Conference

·         Expand your solutions at the Expo Hall
·         Network with 250+ partners and Technical Professionals
·         Win Prizes
·         Hosted Bar and appetizers
·         Exotic Car.  Raffle.  130+ mph experience.
·         Parking Included
·         Includes breakfast, lunch and more
·         Great for Partners & IT Pros of all industry focus
·         Always a high-value packed agenda



One Day
Thursday Jan 18, 2018
8:00am - 6:00pm
Sessions, Expo Hall & Large Social Mixer

Onsite in Sunny California
EXPO CENTER
1960 S. Anaheim Way Anaheim, CA

U.S. Wide & International
Remote Live Video Stream
All Sessions


See you at the Event!
:-)

Wednesday, January 03, 2018

Revised Class - Managed Services in a Month - Starts January 9th

Managed Services in a Month - Applying the Book - Newly Revised for 2017


- All classes start a 9:00 AM Pacific AND repeated live at 4:00 PM Pacific
  • GREAT for people in Sydney or those who want an evening class on the East Coast


You're guaranteed to learn something that will make or save you the price of admission!



This course will cover the process outlined in the book - to build your managed service practice in a month. In this case, five weeks. :-)

Managed Services in a Month is the best-selling guide to turning your "computer consulting" business into a recurring revenue machine!

This course is designed to walk you through the process outlined in the book. AND your registration includes a free copy of the book in the format of your choice.

Updated Information on Tools, Cloud Services, Per-User Pricing, Creating Bundles, and MORE!

It's not too late! YOU can get into Managed Services -- in a month.

Even if you decide not to become an MSP (managed service provider), this course will help you establish some great best practices when it comes to running your I.T. business.

Whether you're a new "Computer Consultant" or an experienced Managed Service Provider, you need to create successful processes that will propel your company forward. Nothing is more critical to making profit than having the right processes and procedures in place!
Managed Services in a Month

You will learn
  • Computer Consulting in the 21st Century
  • What’s Different About Technology Consulting Today?
  • Cloud Computing in the Small Business Space
  • The Managed Service Model
  • New Consulting Business vs. Existing Business
  • Managed Services in a Month
  • Integrating Cloud Services
  • Making A Plan
  • Starting Fresh with No Clients to Convert
  • Create A Three-Tiered Pricing Structure
  • Bundling Services
  • Per-User vs. Per-Device Pricing Models
  • Putting Your (New) Business Together
  • Weed Your Client Garden and Finish The Plan
  • Write a Service Agreement; Have It Reviewed
  • Overcoming Objections
  • Desktops and Managed Service
  • Executing the Plan
  • Client Sit-Downs
  • After The Sale
  • Key Points to Remember for Profit
  • Running Your New MSP Business
  • The Right Tools for the Job
  • Your Standard Offerings (Your Catalog of Services)
  • Building an Action Plan that works
  • and MORE!


Includes five weeks of webinar classes with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor.

This course is intended for business owners and managers. It is particularly useful for the Service Manager or Operations Manager.

Register Now