MSP Business School

In this episode of MSP Business School, host Brian Doyle interviews Danny Brown, a veteran in the MSP industry who made the transition from a technical background to thriving in sales and business growth. Doyle and Brown delve into the critical changes MSP owners need to adopt for growth, effective sales strategies, and the importance of having the right mindset and processes in place.
Brown discusses his journey from a technical specialist to a business leader, emphasizing the importance of letting go and trusting employees to succeed. The conversation covers actionable insights for MSP owners struggling to build a sales process, highlighting the significance of focusing on ideal client profiles (ICPs) and understanding customer needs. Furthermore, Danny shares his experiences and tips on improving public speaking skills, adapted from his co-authored book "Talk it Up," to help MSP owners better connect and communicate their value.
Key Takeaways:
Mindset Shift: Embrace an abundance mindset instead of a scarcity one; this shift can lead to letting go and empowering employees.
Effective Processes: Implement standard operational procedures (SOPs) and proper training mechanisms to foster a trusting and efficient work environment.
Sales Strategies: Know your ideal client profile (ICP) and build connections rather than pushing for immediate sales. Understand your sales numbers and pipeline metrics to fine-tune your approach.
Public Speaking: Improve your public speaking skills with nonverbal communication strategies to foster trust and engagement.
Be Omnipresent: Increase brand awareness by being omnipresent in your industry and participating actively in industry events, conferences, and podcasts.
Guest Name: Danny Suk Brown
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannysbrown/
Company: AppMeetup
Website: https://appmeetup.com/
Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/
Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/
Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com

In this episode of the "MSP Business School" podcast, host Brian Doyle welcomes Craig Stanland for an earnest and enlightening discussion about overcoming adversity and rebuilding one's life after hitting rock bottom. Craig narrates his dramatic story of professional success veering into a catastrophic fraud that led to a prison sentence. This episode offers an inside look at Craig's initial rise in the tech industry, his subsequent downfall, and how he has harnessed this experience to transform into a respectable author and keynote speaker focused on fraud prevention and personal reinvention.
Through an engaging conversation, Craig and Brian explore themes of identity, self-worth, and the dangers of living beyond one's means. They discuss the concept of the "fraud triangle" and how perceived need, opportunity, and rationalization can lead someone down a path of wrongdoing. Craig provides insight into his reinvention journey, highlighting pivotal moments such as his mentor's advice to view his future as a "blank canvas." Leveraging his journey, Craig illustrates how individuals can transform their lives by embracing creation over chasing material success and serving a purpose greater than themselves.
Key Takeaways:
Perceived Needs and Identity: Craig sheds light on how living a lifestyle to fill perceived inadequacies and unworthiness led to a series of irreversible choices.

Understanding the Fraud Triangle: The discussion delves into the fraud triangle concept, examining how perceived need, opportunity, and rationalization play critical roles in unethical decisions.

Embracing Reinvention: Craig believes in the power of starting anew, viewing setbacks as opportunities to paint a new "blank canvas."

Transformation and Purpose: Discover how connecting, creating, and contributing can lead to a fulfilling life with a meaningful impact.

Taking Responsibility: Craig's story underscores the importance of owning one's choices to gain freedom from past mistakes and create a brighter future.

Guest Name: Craig Stanland
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigstanland/
Company: Reinvention Architect Advisors LLC
Website: https://craigstanland.com/
Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/
Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/
Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com

In this episode of the MSP Business School podcast, Brian Doyle welcomes customer service guru Vance Morris, a former Disney executive, to explore the intersection of Disney's world-class customer service methodologies and their application to various business models. With a focus on customer success—a topic often overshadowed yet crucial in building and maintaining great businesses—Vance articulates his transition from Disney to entrepreneurship, crafting experiences that lead to customer loyalty and retention. His expertise shines as he discusses the simple yet effective strategies any business can implement to enhance their customer interaction.
Vance outlines how businesses can infuse Disney's attention to detail and customer engagement tactics into their own operations. By sharing his journey from Disney to running a carpet cleaning business targeting affluents, he exemplifies how to create premium customer experiences. Concepts like consistency in service, customer respect through simple gestures, and strategic touchpoints for referrals are delved into with practical insights. Listeners will discover how Morris adeptly transformed seemingly mundane service processes into memorable experiences that boost referrals and customer satisfaction. His stories of success underline the importance of meticulous planning and execution when designing customer interactions.
Key Takeaways:
Customer Experience is Key: Drawing from Disney principles, consistently elevate everyday interactions to build stronger customer relationships.
Meticulous Attention to Detail: Like Disney's operations, businesses should focus on flawless execution in all aspects of customer experience, from attire to follow-up processes.
Engineered Referrals: Proactively structure referral opportunities to encourage word-of-mouth marketing, rather than leaving it to chance.
Tailoring Unique Experiences: Adapt successful customer engagement strategies to fit the unique ethos of your business as Vance did in his carpet cleaning venture.
Simple Gestures, Big Impact: Basic principles like punctuality, live communication, and simply doing what you claim can significantly enhance customer trust and loyalty.
Guest Name: Vance Morris
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vancemorris/
Company: Deliver Service Now institute
Website: https://deliverservicenow.com/
Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/
Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/
Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com

In this enlightening episode of MSP Business School, host Brian Doyle engages with Taiye Lambo, an expert outside the traditional MSP community, to delve into the burgeoning world of AI. Introduced as a crucial discourse surrounding artificial intelligence, the conversation captures Taiye's insights on the myriad ways AI can be implemented responsibly, focusing on his Project Cerebellum initiative. Taiye Lambo's distinctive experiences, from his early days as an IT manager in the UK to his current work in AI governance, serve as a backdrop for this intriguing discussion.
Throughout the episode, Taiye elaborates on the complexities of AI integration in modern technology, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach between innovation and risk management. The conversation encompasses discussions about frameworks like the NIST AI RMF and emerging regulations, such as the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act (TRAIGA). Taiye's passionate advocacy for harmonizing global AI standards and promoting an efficient, secure, and ethical approach to AI adoption is laid bare, making this episode a valuable listen for those invested in technology ethics and cybersecurity.
Key Takeaways:
AI Integration Complexity: The expanding role and potential challenges of AI in tech sectors necessitate a thoughtful approach to integration, prioritizing innovation without compromising security.

Risk Management Balance: Organizations must evaluate their position on the innovation curve, balancing between leading-edge and laggard tendencies depending on their risk appetite.

Regulatory Insight: The importance of aligning with frameworks like NIST AI RMF to meet emerging state-level AI regulations, as exemplified by Texas's upcoming AI governance law, is highlighted.

Project Cerebellum's Mission: Taiye introduces his initiative's mission to harmonize AI best practices across global standards, offering practical tools and frameworks like the TAMEScore platform.

Future of AI Governance: Encouragement for stakeholders to proactively engage with AI technologies, understanding the dual impacts, both beneficial and risky, of thes

Guest Name: Taiye Lambo
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taiyelambo/
Company: Holistic Information Security Practitioner Institute (HISPI)
Website: https://www.hispi.org/
Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/
Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/
Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com

In this engaging episode of MSP Business School, host Brian Doyle is joined by Sam Glynn—a notable figure in the GRC landscape—to pull back the curtain on the intricacies of compliance within MSPs. Sam Glynn shares his wealth of expertise from a career that has advanced from IT management in financial services to becoming a specialist in cybersecurity and compliance. Listeners are introduced to the significance of GRC, particularly how MSPs can align themselves with increasing regulatory demands while fostering profitability and customer satisfaction.
The episode delves into the hurdles MSPs face when confronted with compliance audits and assessments. Sam explains how MSPs can view these assessments as opportunities to strengthen client relationships and increase revenues rather than as adversarial encounters. With an emphasis on understanding the framework alignment and the nuanced art of risk management, the conversation underscores the importance of embracing these challenges to enhance services and outcomes. The episode wraps up with a focus on Sam's advisory role, offering a perspective that's both realistic and strategic for organizations striving to improve their security posture.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding GRC: Sam Glynn illustrates how MSPs can navigate Governance, Risk, and Compliance to achieve compliance while maintaining profitability and improving service delivery.

Partnering for Success: Enlisting experts like Sam can transition an MSP's role from a mere service provider to a strategic partner capable of advising clients on risk management and compliance.

Framework Alignment & Risk Management: Embrace the interpretive nature of risk management processes, focusing on impacts and likelihoods to develop robust and tailored security strategies.

Regulatory Insights: Compliance is not solely about meeting regulatory requirements; MSPs must also consider best practices for comprehensive security that addresses today's threats.

VCISO Clarity: The role of a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (VCISO) extends beyond IT technicalities to include governance, risk management, and strategic alignment with organizational objectives.

Guest Name: Sam Glynn
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samglynnie/
Company: Secure and Assure
Website: https://secureandassure.com/
Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/
Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/
Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com