IBM PC tidal wave . In the end , Jobs really did build the biggest company of his time .
From my experience there , I learned the value of teamwork and culture .
What book would you recommend to other MSPs or SMBs trying to grow their businesses ?
I have two .
“ The Soul of a New Machine ” by Tracy Kidder
It ’ s about the group at Data General that started to build the first mainstream minicomputer . It ’ s a true story about a team who built an entirely new system . The same rules apply today about putting a team together and operating together . It ’ s a reminder that even for new MSP businesses , the challenges are the same despite the changes to the calendar and the hardware . It ’ s a groundbreaking book about taking a tech product and bringing it to market .
“ Walk Away Wealthy : The Entrepreneur ' s Exit-Planning Playbook ” by Mark M . Tepper
An entrepreneur has a lot of MSPs , and a lot of them are boomers . They ’ re realizing that they need to turn their business over to someone else , but they ’ ve never thought about it before .
They were so busy building their business that they never considered handing it off . What ’ s your exit plan ? Even though this business is fun , your entire wealth is tied up in it . There ’ s no pension . No one will take care of it . MSP owners need to think about these things early on .
I have a friend I worked with at Apple , who started up a company when he left , and I met up with him a few years later . He asked me , “ What ' s your exit strategy ?” I had no idea what he was talking about . I was so busy trying to start this company that I didn ’ t think about ending it . As it turns out , he already had his plan in place .
Sure enough , within five years , he took his company public , and within another few years , he had sold another company he started to Apple .
It was a reminder to me that even a few years in , I had to ask myself “ What ’ s the end goal ?”
I ’ m building a solid management structure and culture and making sure the business can thrive . I just wish I would ’ ve done it sooner .
Don ’ t put it off . When you build your business , it ' s like boarding a plane . You have to know where the exit door is as soon as you walk through the front door .
In closing , do you have any specific advice or words of wisdom that you would give to other MSPs looking to grow or build a successful exit for their business ?
1 . We made a big move to fully embrace the cloud over five years ago , which was much earlier than other MSPs . This was a gamble five years ago , but now , the train has left the station , and everything is in the cloud . There are a lot of MSPs holding on to traditional infrastructure , but the cloud is the future , and you have to embrace it . You can ’ t fight it . No one likes change or risk , but success will pass you by if you don ' t adapt .
2 . For all of the business owners reading this , what is your finish line ? What is your end goal ?
3 . I am a believer in “ If you ’ re going to figure out the future , you have to have a good handle on the past .” Things still work the same . There are different numbers on the calendar and faster machines , but the challenges are the same .
4 . You have to utilize your resources . Tools like those offered by Kaseya are critical ; you cannot run this business on pencil and paper . Without them , we would be out of business . It ’ s that simple . You have to invest in the right tools and services to run your business . n
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