Richard Tubb's Blog, page 83
July 31, 2015
The importance of IT documentation – TubbTalk10
Podcast: Right Click and Download | Play in a new window
Why is documentation so important to IT businesses and how it can it have a positive impact on the bottom line of any IT Solution Provider or Managed Service Provider (MSP)?
Chris Day on the importance of IT documentation
In episode 10 of TubbTalk I speak with Chris Day of IT Glue, an IT documentation platform, and the CEO of one of Western Canada’s biggest MSP’s, Fully Managed.
In our conversation, Chris and I discuss:-
How an MSP can think globally rather than just locally.
The biggest challenge in being the CEO of not one, but two businesses.
How running a SaaS business is different to running an MSP.
Why IT documentation is so important to MSP’s.
How to calculate the cost of poor IT documentation to an MSP business.
What the benefits of good IT documentation are to an MSP’s clients.
The best way to get started with IT documentation.
Mitigating the risk associated with bad or lack of documentation.
Which RMM tools will integration with IT Glue.
The concept of Documentation-as-a-Service.
An IT Glue discount code for TubbTalk listeners.
IT documentation is one of the top factors in MSP’s running more efficiently
Mentioned in this episode:-
Fully Managed
IT Glue
40 under 40 award
Alberta’s Best Workplace
British Columbia Small Business Best Employer
ConnectWise Partner Community
HTG
Service Leadership Index
Video: Simon Sinek: Start why why
Book – Mistakes MSP’s Make – The Five Most Important Mistakes IT Managed Service Providers Make Which Cost Them Time and Money
How to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
ITIL
Autotask
Labtech
Autotask Endpoint Management (AEM)
Kaseya
N-Able
Continuum
Request a demo of IT Glue
IT Glue on Twitter
Fully Managed on Twitter
Connect with me
Subscribe to TubbTalk RSS feed
Subscribe, rate and review TubbTalk in iTunes
Subscribe, rate and review TubbTalk on Stitcher Radio
Follow @tubblog
July 16, 2015
Why you should listen to Podcasts for personal development
Do you listen to Podcasts? While the traditional view of Podcasts might have viewed them as something of a novelty — niche audio shows listened to by nerds or geeks who knew what a Podcast was — Podcasts are now mainstream.
As consumers, we are now used to the concept of on-demand services. Services such as Netflix, Amazon Video and BBC iPlayer serve up traditional content like TV and movies on-demand. Similarly, Podcasts might be thought of as radio show on-demand.
Podcasts aren’t just a replacement for the radio though, they can actively be a part of your personal and professional development, helping educate, inspire and keep you informed.
Listening to Podcasts for Personal Development
Podcasts have been a staple of my own personal development for many years now.
I’ve shared my thoughts on making sure you surround yourself with success before. We are influenced by what we see and hear. Watch the news every day and you may think the world is a horrible place. Alternatively, spend time with positive people and you will be inspired. Podcasts are a way of exposing yourself to the influences of people who are smart and successful.
Podcasts are educational. I’ve learned from Podcasts how to form healthy habits, how to be more productive, how to startup a business, how to write better content and yes, how to start my own Podcast too!
Want to know how to be a better business owner? There’s a Podcast for that.
Want to increase your productivity? There’s definitely a Podcast for that — and you can become more productive by listening to Podcast’s while you’re doing something else too.
Using your time productively with Podcasts
I listen to a variety of Podcasts on a variety of topics, each varying in length. I’ve found that the typical Podcasts I listen to fall into three categories.
Some Podcast’s are very short. 4-10 minutes. I often listen to these Podcasts when I find myself in a long queue or a waiting room.
Other Podcasts are 20-30 minute Podcasts that you can listen to in the car on the way to work, or while out for a walk. I find these Podcasts leave me feeling inspired and full of ideas.
Then there are long-form Podcasts. Shows of an hour, 90 minutes or more that I tend to listen to when I’m driving long distances or taking flights.
In all instances — standing in a queue, driving through traffic, sitting on a plane or a train — listening to Podcasts means you can relax and nourish your mind with something positive at the same time.
Listening to Podcasts means you can relax and nourish your mind with something positive at the same time.
I’ve found that combining Podcasts with other activities helps me form better habits too. I go out for at least a 30 minute walk each day and when I do, I listen to a Podcast. If I fancy listening to a Podcast, I go for a walk. If I fancy a walk, I listen to a Podcast.
How to listen to Podcasts
If you own a tablet or a Smartphone, then you’re already equipped to listen to Podcasts.
Apple now bundle their Podcast app as part of iOS 8. Simply find the Podcast app and start downloading Podcast episodes for free from the Apple iTunes store.
Android has a multitude of Podcast apps available on the Google Play store. My personal preference is DoggCatcher which costs a few pounds and which automatically downloads the latest episodes of my favourite Podcast shows so that I’m able to listen to them whenever I’m able to.
Podcasts are even making their way into in-car audio equipment. Apple CarPlay (“the best iPhone experience on four wheels” as Apple put it) can be found in many modern in-car audio systems.
Which Podcasts should I listen to?
If you’re a business owner or work in the IT industry, I’ve put together a list of recommended Podcasts for IT professionals. Whether your interest in marketing, productivity, technology, soft skills or any other personal or professional skill, you’ll find a Podcast that will help you learn more about that subject.
Conclusion
If you’ve not listened to a Podcast before, I’d encourage you to download a few episodes and have a listen.
The next time you’re in your car — trying turning off the radio and listen to a Podcast.
The next time you’re waiting in a queue, out for a walk or simply killing time — trying listening to a Podcast.
You’ll be surprised at the high quality of Podcast shows, and I promise you that in addition to learning something new, you’ll be inspired too!
Which Podcasts do you listen to and what do you get from listening to Podcasts? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
July 15, 2015
Introducing TotallyMSP – The source for European MSP news
Have you visited TotallyMSP – the recently launched source for European MSP news?
TotallyMSP is a new website created by my friend Chris Tate. Chris is a very well known and respected figure within the UK Managed Service Provider (MSP) scene, having been involved in running and growing several MSP’s and being an active member of the MSP community here.
What is TotallyMSP?
Chris Tate of TotallyMSP
Launched in July 2015, TotallyMSP is a website that has been built for MSP’s — specifically those in the UK and Europe.
Chris tells me that the goal of TotallyMSP is to become the de-facto resource for European MSP’s, featuring the latest news that affects European MSP businesses, as well as offering advice and articles that can help European MSP’s execute on their growth plans.
Advice for MSP’s
Since it’s launch, TotallyMSP has already featured a number of really interesting blog posts by noted experts in the MSP industry (and me…). Check out these valuable reads:-
Identifying your least profitable clients — Paul Tomlinson, MD of Mirus IT, one of the UK’s top MSP’s and who featured in one of my most popular interviews How do you build a £9m Managed Service Provider business?, explains why you should know who your least profitable MSP clients are.
What buying a new car taught me about the modern buyer (and myself) — Scott Riley, Director of Cloud and Hosting at UK MSP GCI, shares how our modern buying patterns have changed and how your MSP needs to adopt accordingly.
Winning new clients — Noted MSP Sales expert Paul Lloyd (who has shared with us on this site his advice on using an MSP Sales System) explains how MSP’s should be looking to find new business and how it’s not as difficult as you may think.
Can Giving Away Free Advice Help Your MSP Grow? — I share my own thoughts on the big difference between sharing valuable free content and giving away costly free consultancy in your MSP business.
Receiving European MSP news
You can stay up to date with all the latest MSP news and advice with
… and if you don’t want to miss an article then I’d recommend subscribing to the TotallyMSP email newsletter by visiting http://www.totallymsp.com and clicking the “Register for Newsletter” button at the top of the page.
Introducing @TotallyMSP – the source for European MSP news!
Go TotallyMSP!
I wish Chris all the very best with TotallyMSP. It’s a welcome new resource for the growing MSP market and I’ve no doubt it will be a success.
If you’re an MSP then you’ll want to follow TotallyMSP.
July 13, 2015
How to take Fridays Off – My interview on the AllThings Productivity Podcast
I had a blast recently being interviewed for the AllThings Productivity Podcast with hosts David Hay and Maria Drummond. The episode is now live and you can listen on-line or via iTunes or Stitcher Radio.
AllThings Productivity Podcast
Many of the readers of this blog will be familiar with the AllThings app as the productivity tool of choice for many IT Solution Providers, so it was great fun to talk with my old friend David Hay about our shared history in the IT industry.
In our interview we talk, amongst other things, about:-
M
y love/hate relationship with email.My experiment in reducing my emails by a quarter.
My Experiment in using the Telephone instead of E-Mail.
Systemising and automating your business. Or as I call it “being devoted to being a lazy, lazy man”.
The Managed Service Provider “Bible” – The E-Myth Revisited
Meditation with the Headspace app
Why You Should Create a To NOT Do List
The importance of Sleep and 3 Ways To Worry Less and Sleep Better as a Business Owner
My constant struggles with procrastination and how to end procrastination with the Pomodoro technique.
My Daily Productivity Routine.
How I’d survive a Zombie Apocalypse (no, really).
How to take Fridays off
We also talk extensively about the fact I no longer work of a Friday and how I manage to achieve this status quo, yet still remain as productive as when I worked a standard 5 day week.
The 4-day week, impossible for you? Listen to our interview to hear how to take Fridays off and how you could do the same yourself.
Thank you David and Maria for inviting me on to the Podcast and for giving us extended time to chat. I hope you enjoy our conversation!
July 10, 2015
Fleep – Bring All Your Conversations Together
Every Friday I try to share one of my favourite finds of the week – a web-site, tool or app that has impressed me.
My Friday Favourite this week is Fleep — a tool to bring all your conversations together.
Tired of email overload?
Many people, myself included, have a love/hate relationship with email. On the one hand email is free and convenient, but on the other hand, email isn’t free — it has a time cost associated with it — and it can be very inconvenient, being a distraction that takes people away from doing important work.
I’ve written about my experiment in reducing my emails by a quarter and my experiment in using the telephone instead of email, both of which have helped me manage my email better.
Within our business my team and I also rely more on tools like Slack for collaboration and information exchange. This reduces email further.
But the problem remains that the vast majority of the world don’t know or won’t consider using anything other than email to communicate. So how can you can manage email overload if you can’t persuade people to try alternatives?
Bring All Your Conversations Together with Fleep
The answer might be Fleep. Fleep describes itself as a next generation messenger designed to make your life easier by enabling chat without boundaries.
Essentially, Fleep merges email and messages and groups them together with relevant files. Using a Fleep account you channel everything you need into one place, which you can then easily search, highlight and even see when your messages have been read by others.
How to use Fleep
Works with email
So Fleep is a collaboration tool, but it also works with email! When you sign up for the Fleep service, you’re given a Fleep email address that when you send emails from Fleep, external contacts receive them and reply to them in the traditional way — except from your side you see the whole conversation within Fleep.
No persuading people to sign up for Fleep. No need for your external contacts to change the way they work!
Cross Platform
Fleep is free to register for and works with PC, Mac, Android or iPhone. All your messages, files, notes and history are securely synced to the Cloud so you can access and use them anywhere.
Do you suffer with email overload? @Fleepio is a next generation messenger
Conclusion
While moving your internal team to a more progressive, more productive modern collaboration team is a big step in itself, persuading external contacts to work in a more efficient way can be an uphill struggle.
I can see Fleep being a great way for freelancers, business owners and other like-minded people to manage their communication with others more effectively.
Email is a long way from dying, but the way we manage email can certainly change.
Try it now! Drop me an email at richard.tubb@fleep.io with your thoughts or leave a comment below.
July 7, 2015
Become a more profitable MSP – Raise Your Game Road-Show
A heads-up that I’ll be taking to the road in July to be a part of a very special national road-show aimed at IT Solution Providers and Managed Service Providers (MSP’s).
Learn how to:
Use vendor partnerships to meet client business needs
Develop and execute a go-to-market strategy to help your business develop fast
Increase business with optimum sales and technical strategies that achieve high revenue growth.
The Raise Your Game road-show is focused 100% on helping you become a more profitable, fast-growing Managed Service Provider — and what’s more, it’s free to register and attend!
Become a more profitable MSP
We’ll be visiting four cities:-
Edinburgh, Murrayfield Stadium – 20th July 2015 – Register now!
Newcastle, St. James’ Park – 21st July 2015 – Register now!
Manchester, Old Trafford – 22nd July 2015 – Register now!
London, Emirates Stadium – 23rd July 2015 – Register now!
I’ll be joined by a number of the UK industries top experts for a very interesting agenda including:-
Trends in Managed Services
A vendor neutral presentation from CompTIA, a leading voice for the IT industry. Presented by Sylvia Collins.
Sales & Marketing for MSPs – What You Need to Know
I’ll be joining my friend Gemma Telford of the IT Marketing Agency to reveal the most innovative and powerful marketing and sales solutions being used by MSPs and resellers today.
How to Build and Sustain an MSP Business
In an Q&A setting, I’ll interview Andy Pope, MD of Consort Group, a successful collective of Managed Service Providers who are working collaboratively to leverage their strength, improve their businesses and win nationwide opportunities, about how they’ve done it.
Profitable Partnering
This Quick Start session presents six strategies for gaining the greatest benefit from your investment in vendor partnerships. Presented by Sylvia Collins.
Plus there are other sessions including Building Your Margin: New Solutions with Epson, The Complete Data Protection Platform – A Breakthrough Solution for MSPs from Infrascale, Building Your Business with AVG – Partnering for Growth as well a complimentary lunch, networking event and a tour of each of the stadium’s we’re visiting!
Register for the Raise Your Game Road-show
To register for the Road-show visit the Raise Your Game site and sign-up.
Give me a shout out on Twitter if you’re attending so I can make sure to say hello!
I’m attending the #MSP Raise Your Game road-show. See you there!
July 6, 2015
Social Networking is a life’s highlight reel, not the whole story
What impression do you get of others from their Social Networking profiles? Is it simply their life’s highlight reel?
If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I tweet about the IT industry at all times of day and night, get to enjoy playing with a lot of cool geeky gadgets, and haven’t won a game of Words with Friends in months. Some of that is definitely true.
If we’re close enough to be friends on Facebook, you’ll know that I’m always have a roaring good time with my vast circle of close friends, who, incidentally, are fabulous. I travel the world, visiting fantastic places, eating good food, and hob-nobbing with some of the most intelligent, beautiful and amazing people. There’s some truth in there too, and I’ll leave you to decide which.
Typically, most of us only post the cool and exciting to our Social Networking accounts. It’s understandable. Why would we post the boring or the mundane? That’s not what we want to be noticed for.
Social Networking is a life’s highlight reel
I’m just like most people on Social Networking sites. If I travel somewhere cool — I’ll share it. If I’m enjoying a good time with great friends — I’ll share it. That recent Friday night when I sat at home feeling utterly miserable and attractively stuffing my face with Pizza? Not shared so much.
Yet despite this, we find ourselves comparing our lives to the highlight reel’s we see on Social Networking profiles. It’s an unfair comparison.
I caught up with some very old friends of mine recently, and we got talking about Facebook. My one friend shared with me “Sometimes, I look at your Facebook profile and all the cool stuff you’re doing, and I laugh!”. “Why?” I asked. “Well… because it’s you!”.
What I understood my friend meant is that having known me for so long, she found it funny reading my Facebook profile — my highlight reel — which didn’t reflect my true life with all it’s lumps and bumps, up’s and down’s.
Comparing lives through Social Networking
The danger here of course, is that as the majority of us are all connected on social networking sites to people we actually don’t know that well at all — think work colleagues, business contacts and acquaintances — is that it’s then easy to look at their social networking updates and think that everyone but you is experiencing the most amazing lives! Why am I not sky diving every weekend? Does everybody drive fast cars for fun? Am I the only one who isn’t travelling the world?
I think comparing who we are and what we do to others is unhealthy at the best of times. Social Networking sites make it dangerously easy to make that comparison more readily.
After all, very few of us post too much to Social Networking about the challenges we have, the heartache or frustration we experience, or the hard work we’ve put in to achieving anything. We typically only post the good bits. The bits we are proud of. In effect, we post our life’s “highlight reel”.
Struggle with Insecurity
The Pastor Steven Furtick posted a very astute update to Twitter last year. He said “One reason we struggle with insecurity is that we’re comparing our behind the scenes to every else’s highlight reel”.
Comparing your own all encompassing view of your own life with the highlight reel of some else’s life can create insecurities. It can also create resentment. It shouldn’t, but it’s human nature.
We struggle with insecurity comparing our behind the scenes to every else’s highlight reel
It’s a lot like visiting a party. You scrub up. You wear your nicest clothes that make you look the best. During small talk with others you share the cool things that are happening in your life. You accentuate all the good bits about you – and understandably so. It’s the stuff you’re proud of and want to share.
But reality may be different. Few amongst us want to highlight the stuff we’ve failed at, or the mistakes we’ve made, or the disappointments we’ve experienced.
It’s worth remembering that.
Conclusion
So the next time you are a little low, and become irritated by another super-cool picture or super positive update from a Facebook friend, just remember that you’re seeing their highlight reel. There is absolutely, positively (no two-ways-around it) also stuff happening behind the scenes to that person too that more than likely mirror the struggles everyone else has or will experience.
Comparing your life to the highlights you glean of others lives on Social Networking sites is an inaccurate comparison. Always remember that Social Networking is a life’s highlight reel, not the whole story.
Always remember that Social Networking is a life’s highlight reel, not the whole story.
photo credit: s_falkow via photo pin cc
June 30, 2015
Zimbra, WordPress and Managing a Distributed Team – TubbTalk09
Podcast: Right Click and Download | Play in a new window
How do you manage a hosting and software development company that has staff in three different countries and two different time zones, all while you’re in a different country yourself?
Marc Gadsdon on Zimbra, WordPress and Managing a Distributed Team
In Episode 09 of TubbTalk I speak with Marc Gadsdon of InTuition, a data and email hosting provider and software development company. InTuition are a business with several purpose designed locations in the UK and staff distributed across the world.
In our conversation, Marc and I discuss:-
Zimbra – one of the best kept secrets in solutions for IT Solution Providers and Managed Service Providers (MSP’s).
Zimbra’s powerful integrating abilities, ease of use for file sharing, communicating and keeping your diary up to date.
What Zimbra can offer over Exchange and Office365 and what it can offer in terms of building value for your business.
Why Zimbra is very reliable at protecting and recovering your data.
Premium WordPress Hosting and how the right host can shave time off your website loading time.The challenges of managing a remote team in Manchester, London and Canada when you’re based in Andorra.
Travel caching, Tim Ferriss style life-hacks and becoming better at planning when on the road.
Why great communication is key when you work remotely from your business.
Mentioned in this episode:-
TubbTalk 03 ft Phylip Morgan of the Network Group
InTuition
Zimbra
Basecamp
Voice-Over-IP (VoIP)
Pivotal tracker
Tim Ferriss – How to Never Check Luggage Again
Giro
WordPress
EasyPress
Vmware
Marc Gadsdon on Twitter
Zimba, WordPress and Managing a Distributed Team. The TubbTalk #Podcast.
Connect with me
Subscribe to TubbTalk RSS feed
Subscribe, rate and review TubbTalk in iTunes
Subscribe, rate and review TubbTalk on Stitcher Radio
Follow @tubblog
June 12, 2015
AwardWallet – Track Your Reward Programs
Every Friday I try to share one of my favourite finds of the week – a web-site, tool or app that has impressed me.
My Friday Favourite this week is AwardWallet – Track Your Reward Programs.
Track Your Reward Programs
AwardWallet keeps track of your reward programs such as your frequent flyer miles, hotel and credit card points.
A free service, AwardWallet supports 648 loyalty programs including air, hotel, car rental, credit card and others and allows you to see all your reward program points in a single web dashboard.
AwardWallet App
AwardWallet is also available as an app for iOS and Android.
June 5, 2015
Sugru – Mouldable Glue
Every Friday I try to share one of my favourite finds of the week – a web-site, tool or app that has impressed me.
My Friday Favourite this week is Sugru – mouldable glue!
Sugru – Mouldable Glue
Sugru is mouldable glue. Stick it, shape it and leave it to dry and it will turn into rubber. Sugru appeals to the domestic ninja within me — it can be used in lots of different ways. This video explains it best!
Sugru for Gadgets and Tech
I love the range of inventive applications for gadgets and tech. Check out some of the ideas below.
Buy Sugru
Sugru is available in a range of colours and costs £6.99 for a 3-pack or £12.99 for an 8-pack.
You can also invest in Sugru, who are currently offering equity in the Sugru Crowdcube campaign. At the time of writing, Sugru had raised £1.3m!
Thanks to Jane Lee for recommending Sugru to me.
