Brian Sherman Posts

What a wild 10 years it’s been in the IT channel. Earlier this week I attended one of the Level Platforms’ Road Shows in Columbus, Ohio, and, while listening to a number of MSP presentations and vendor presentations, I had a flashback to my first discussion on managed services. It was almost a decade ago when I sat down with Level’s CEO Peter Sandiford for a Business Solutions magazine interview at a Gartner ChannelVision event. Over the next two hours, he laid out the client and provider need f ...

Now that I have your undivided attention, let me confess that most solution providers won’t get rich simply by reading IT channel-related magazines and online posts. But by paying attention to a few publications and online news sources on a regular basis, they can track industry trends and better understand the events that can impact their business. IT channel-related media should be considered a free business intelligence resource, offering best practice articles and highlighting the technology ...

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." When Jack Kerouac uttered those words, he was inspiring his generation to see the world and enjoy the carefree life, not drawing attention to a thriving mobile workforce. But his comments do reflect the contemporary solution provider’s life, though their time on the road is more often dictated by business necessity than the need to roam the country.Kerouac’s “beatnik” philosophy ...

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." Muhammad Ali’s quote illustrates the commitment that most successful people make, whether participating in a sport or starting a small business. Boxers of his caliber spend years improving their skills and talent until they get their big break, typically working with a variety of experienced training specialists and coaches who know the ropes. The fights represent a small part of ...

With the exception of utility companies and a limited number of monopolies, few businesses are able to turn almost every one of their prospects into paying clients. The optimal business deal is one where both parties get a fair value. Both the buyer and seller should be pleased with the results of the transaction, with no lingering issues that could prevent future sales. Though that scenario may seem straightforward, many companies lose that perspective over time. The sales team may fall into a ...

Just a few years ago, I was looking at a booth filled with the latest “consumer-oriented” products from Apple and several other manufacturers, when a solution provider friend of mine noted how odd it was that this company was displaying at an IT distributor event. While iPods and similar devices seemed out of place at a conference filled with IT resellers, the traffic through the booth was strong and the sales team seemed to be deeply engaged in discussions with attendees all day long.So why wou ...

Almost all businesses go through periods of stagnation. That doesn’t mean the companies become unprofitable or experience sales declines, but less emphasis seems to be placed on new organizational activities. It’s a natural occurrence, as owners and managers struggle to keep up with the needs of their growing clientele, there often isn’t enough time (or the urgency) to focus on the future.After several years of rapid expansion, a number of managed services professionals are experiencing similar ...

Can you imagine how hard it would be for a farmer to till a field without a plow or for a pilot to circumnavigate the world without a navigation unit? Sure, they could find other ways to accomplish the same goals, but the complexity and effort required would be significantly greater. When you have the right tools for the job, it makes the process a lot simpler.The same rules apply to IT services businesses: with the proper tools, the path to building a successful organization is a lot smoother. ...

Is yours a recession-based business, able to maintain profitability or survive longer-term economic downturns?  The topic was brought up by Karl Palachuk in his State of the Nation Address webinar earlier this week as he discussed some of the things solution providers can do to strengthen their organization. Without a firm handle on the IT business metrics and processes (such as cash flow and automated systems), it’s easy for MSPs and VARs to find themselves in financial trouble when the economi ...

For most, the year has either wrapped up or is just hours from completion. Whether the last 12 months were prosperous or challenging for your business, it’s time to close the books on 2011 and build on the things that went right. What lies ahead for your business in the next year? While the areas of opportunity for solution providers aren’t expected to change considerably, the focus will surely continue to shift in the coming months.The drivers that created project and service revenue for VARs a ...