Humanize IT: Recent Episodes
Adam Walter
Bridge the gap between business and technology with Humanize IT — a fun, educational podcast that will keep you relevant, maximize your value and help your clients see you as a trusted partner. In each episode, hosts Adam Walter, Skip Ziegler and other industry experts will show business owners, technology professionals and problem-solvers how to excel their careers with a new, more conversation-based approach to IT!
Building loyalty is about more than just meeting expectations. You have to build relationships and observe the Platinum Rule "Treat people how they want to be treated"This goes a long ways towards a profitable relationship for both sides, whether it is a client or co-worker.
We continue celebrating the 200th episode with guest Richard Bauer and talk about where the podcast is going.
Spoiler alert...MORE GUESTS! We really want to highlight the different kinds of MSPs and strategies out there. We also want to celebrate the successes of MSPs around the world.
If you are interested in being a guest and talking about your MSP, listen to this episode and reach out on social media or email to let us know so we can get you scheduled!
What a ride 200 episodes! I know it says episode 300, we started counting at 100 thinking we would have each season be the first digit. We are actually a little more than that as we have had a few special episodes scattered throughout. With special guest Richard Bauer coming on some of you might remember him from the Tales from South Africa episode. We talk about the humble beginnings of audacity and stitching items together with entry-level microphones to today with Rodecasters, Streamyard and video podcasts!Come Celebrate our two hundredth episode!
Summer is almost it's own quarter, it bridges Q2 and Q3 but it is a season where people are vacationing, kids are home, and clients are quiet.
This means opportunities for those of you who are more strategic in your planning. Take advantage of this shift in the economy to get projects with different sectors in place.
In this episode Skip and Adam talk through how to take advantage of the Summer from a planning perspective.
What is this "mental health" everyone talks about? Why do we avoid it?
I should just work harder and ignore stress right? Maybe I am sleepy and should just drink more caffeine. Perhaps even you have an overbearing sense of anxiety so you just calm yourself with a drink or two.
This episode we talk with Mental Health Professional Dr Andrea Walter to talk through the tough topic of mental health, suicide awareness and general wellness.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we hear a lot of tales around burnout with IT professionals. Where a great employee turns into a jerk who is constantly dropping the ball. There are a lot of other issues we deal with and so we wanted to focus on how to be cognizant of mental health in the IT field.
This entire month we give tips and tricks on how to balance you and your employee's mental health in IT.
How do we shift with the economy? It seems like a LOT is moving around right now in the MSP world. So how do you adapt?Take it from Skip and Adam who have been through several of these shifts. What is going on in 2024 and how can you prepare/take advantage of this shift?
Connor Swalm with Phin Security joins us again to talk about defining company culture in today's IT world.
While Conner and Adam run their companies differently they do agree on how to define company culture and different ways of taking an intentional approach to leadership.
Conner Swalm with Phin Security brings his expertise to discuss how competing incentives are affecting the vendor community.
In this episode Adam and Conner discuss how to identify what incentive your partner has to be successful, we don't want to create conflicts with tools and relationships. However we can often unknowingly create a conflict by not being intentional in our relationships.
MSPs and IT Consultants tend to over-standardize in order to achieve efficiency. The main issue is that your clients often require unique solutions and are willing to pay for that experience.
In this episode, we talk through how you can have a standard approach to clients that also is adaptable to their needs which will make both of you more money during the relationship.
How do you know your processes are ready? How do you prepare for the unpredictable?
This is the world of table top exercises, to help your team identify where there are gaps in coverage as well as ensuring events run smoothly.
In this episode Skip and Adam talk through table top exercises, a few tips on running them as well as lessons learned from table tops in the past.
How do you find solutions for customers? Is it just a matter of specing out a laptop or PC with some network items and calling it good?
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through what it means to find solutions to customer problems and align to help their business grow using your engineering skillset.
How do you deal with new prospects? Do you accept anyone or do you find the best fit for both you and the client?
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through how to define great relationships and what it means to properly communicate your client fit.
The Ides of March used to be a time of celebration and new year celebration. However thanks to a certain playwright we now see it as a time of bad omens.
The question is, "Is March a time of celebration for your team or is it a reminder of how much you haven't gotten done?"
In this episode Skip and Adam talk through how preparation and execution can turn the Ides into a time of celebration.
What does 2024 have in store for MSPs? In our First MSP Advice podcast of the year we bring in Mike Giovaninni of Netwerks to discuss what 2024 has in store and advice of how to prepare your business for success.
Interruptions are a way of life in engineering. However you also need to manage your time and projects. So how do you keep on track while managing triage?
It is not an easy answer that is for sure!
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through the tips and tricks on how they have dealt with balance in their engineering lives.
Many leaders think accountability is all about having a stick to keep employees in line. However, accountability is more about measuring perceived value. Different people hold you accountable in different ways and if you are not aware of how they are measuring you, then you can work yourself to the bone without any appreciation.In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through what accountability actually means and how to use it to generate revenue and increase perceived value. As an added bonus your employees will become more loyal and customers will be much stickier!
"If you always do what you have always done you will always get what you always have got"In the past few episodes we talked through QBRs and having a plan. Today Skip and Adam talk through the importance of pacing. Having scheduled checkpoints throughout the year that follow up on the plan you create today. This means no procrastinating, that if you want to change and grow you need to make the change today.
Real world examples of what the results of a proper QBR are. In this episode Skip and Adam tell tales of how they were able to drive businesses forward with a proper QBR. Often helping businesses identify solutions to problems they did not know they had!
In part 3 of this series, we walk through a pragmatic approach to QBRs. What should we actually talk about during a QBR, specifically what topics and tools can you use to drive a truly strategic conversation with your clients, even if you are not a business strategy expert.
In Part 2 Skip and Adam talk in depth about how you can tell if you are actively listening to your client.
This is important because many people think they are listening to their clients when, in actuality, they are railroading the conversation. So what are the indicators that you are all on the same page and making money by working together?
If car salespeople treated their customers the way MSPs did...they would never sell anything.
No moment in a MSP's cycle shows this problem more than the QBR. So people are always hitting our site and material to learn "How do I run a QBR?"
Today we are still seeing people miss the point of QBRs and today we talk through one of the biggest issues that technical people have when doing QBRs.
Sometimes we think if we just work hard good things will happed. However, if you do not put order into a system it will just become more disordered. This is why many of you are stuck in firefighting mode.In this Episode Skip and Adam talk through how to find a plan, any plan and iterate to make it better over time. It doesn't have to be perfect today, it just needs to be SOMETHING.
2024 What is going to happen here? It is an election year, and we missed a recession, so what does this mean for consumer confidence? What about MSPs? What should we be focusing on with clients this year?In this quick episode, we forecast a little of the year as well as what we can expect out of an election year in the states as well as how to take advantage of this.
It is time for the holiday that marks the end of the year. So we keep this short and talk through the year. We salute those of you who have to work change windows during these days as well as those finally taking time to yourselves. Merry Christmas from all of us here at Humanize IT.
Impatience: The anger you feel when the computer is being lazy. This makes you write programs that don't just react to your needs, but actually anticipate them. Or at least pretend to.
In today's episode, Skip fights through a cold and talks with Adam about using the 3rd great virtue, which can put you in a bad spot with clients or accelerate your growth!
Hubris: The quality that makes you write (and maintain) programs that other people won't want to say bad things about.
This extends to so much of your professional life, Do things well for your clients that they brag about what you do.
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk about how having excessive pride has helped the engineering world evolve and how it can help your clients succeed.
Laziness: The quality that makes you go to great effort to reduce overall energy expenditure.In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through the value of being lazy and how it can drive your success. We talk in-depth about how to work smarter rather than harder as well as tips on how to gain that focus you so desperately want.
Everyone has blind spots, do you know yours? How can you find out and what is the cost of having blind spots?
In this episode seasoned veterans Adam and Skip talk through blindspots and how egos get in the way as well as how to sort them out so you can continuously grow.
This coming week marks the beginning of the end of the year. Since it is a 2-day holiday it kills the week and bleeds into the Christmas season. So what can you do with this knowledge?
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through the opportunities that the holiday season brings and some tips and tricks on how to make the most of the chaos through the end of the year!
Culture is often ignored when it comes to tech companies. What kind of culture are you creating? What kind of culture to you want to foster among your staff? If you are not deliberate you are leaving one of the most important aspects of your company up to fate.
Find out how to set culture and what the advantages are in this insightful episode!
Mike Giovaninni and Adam Walter will be giving a talk at 4:00 Friday November 10th at IT Nation connect. This podcast is a preview of that talk and how you can effectively step into a CIO or CISO role to do a risk assessment with a versitile tool...the SWOT.
Have you been told you need to be a better listener? Well so have we, well 'We' actually means Adam. So, how do you listen better, what does it look like to listen well and what are the results of those 'conversations'. In this episode, Adam and Skip talk through how to recognize when you are being a bad listener vs a good one.
October is an odd month, it seems so simple and easy, just one holiday at the end of the month. So why is it always so chaotic?
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through the reasons why Octobers are so chaotic and how we can avoid it.
Do you ever wonder if there is a cost to being perfect? In this episode, we talk about how to become better rather than perfect. How you can stall your company by aiming for perfection rather than good.
At Build IT Live 2023, we met great people and had great conversations. We recorded this conversation with Jonathan Crowe about community building. Check out this great episode as we discuss how we build our respective communities and attempt to steal Halo's McLaren...
Some MSPs call it firefighting mode, some just are feeling overwhelmed. Whatever you call it, you are overwhelmed by the amount of data and items coming at you every day. We have sen quite a few MSPs who have been in this mode for YEARS.
In this episode Skip and Adam talk through different techniques to help you get out of analysis paralysis and get some traction so you can move forward with confidence!
Ever wonder what the future of MSPs look like? In this episode get practical advice as to what the next 5-10 years look like for IT Service Providers.Learn from Sunny Kaila and Bill Smeizer as they talk through what they are preparing for and what the future looks like for forward-thinking MSPs.
How do you build a successful MSP? In this episode, Sunny Kaila and Bill Smelzer talk about the experience and give advice. What is important? What should be a priority? As well as advice for MSPs just starting out.
Engineers are nerds and business analysis are beer drinking flunkies right? Many people have this view of us vs them when it comes to engineering. Heck we even have a joke "My tech would work great if it werent for all the users".In this episode Skip and Adam talk through the importance of joining forces with business minds to create a better world. That business is just as complex if not more so than advanced engineering designs. It is just a different set of knowledge completely.
One of our favorite topics revisited. In February we talked about putting the B back in QBR. This time we talk through HOW to accomplish a proper QBR as we walk through a meeting agenda for a QBR as well as WHY it is important to run your meetings this way. It will free up 6 hours of your time as well as provide more value for your client and increase buyin.
We often get asked how to find clients as an MSP. In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through lessons learned on how to find clients that fit your culture. There are critical mistakes we make when finding clients such as looking too broad or assuming every client is going to be a culture match. Tune in to help define who your clients are so you can find them where they are.
A certainty in life is that we can unknowingly be toxic while having great intentions. In the case of MSPs we can set up client relationships for failure unknowingly with great intentions. One of these is not trusting our clients in ways that matter. In this episode, Skip and Adam talk through a hard topic regarding admin access and who really owns technical assets at a business. A simple mentality shift will reduce risk, build relationships and help reduce toxicity.
We tend to push our to-do list off until later or sometime thinking we will get to it then. However, when it comes to annual planning the year is deceptive since the last 2 months of every year are full of holidays, weather, and other people waiting until last minute to get their stuff done.
This makes things stressful and there is a better way that you have to do now. Tune in to this episode to find out what you need to do to avoid the trap of the last half of the year.
Many MSPs are simply seen as a reseller of technology and a service/maintenance organization. You need to re-define how your clients see you so that they can include you on the right conversations. Then when they have a business problem they will bring in their favorite advisors and ask their opinion on how to solve the problem.
In this episode Richard Bauer talks with Adam Walter about how he redefined client expectations in a simple way to make a larger impact.
As professionals, there are things you know in certain contexts. A desktop admin may be able to patch a cable in seconds from memory while a Server admin may have to look up the wire mapping. We tend to forget skills to make room for new skills This is not a bad thing, and is to be embraced. In this episode, Richard Skip and Adam discuss the necessity of losing some knowledge to gain relevant knowledge...even when it was hard-earned.
Too often we get lost in good intentions. We fail not because we are being lazy, rather that we are not focusing on the right areas. You can spend a hundred hours working on the right thing when 1 hour on the right thing will bring improved client relationships.
In this episode, Skip and Adam talk about how to keep the focus on the Main Thing.
As IT engineers we constantly have to step outside our box, whether it is trying to understand structural engineering while pulling wires or building stable data centers. In this episode, Adam and Skip talk through how to deal with being the wrong kind of engineer as well as how to work together with different experts to become something greater.
CIOs can be a tricky position to define for MSPs as in some sense many MSP leaders have always been in a CIO role, however what that role meant has changed as their MSP evolves. Yes there is a CIO and what does it mean to act solely in a CIO role?
In this wrap-up episode, Skip and Adam talk through what the main thing is that many people miss when it comes to acting in a CIO role.
This week we want to talk through what a CFO persona looks like within an organization. What do they care about...where are they at mentally? Spoiler, it has very little to do with accounting and everything to do with risk management. If you want to talk with CFOs or if you need to act in a CFO role, this podcast is for you to help understand how to relate to the CFO.
If you are stuck in a leadership role with many hats...this is the series for you!
Part 2 of our series on MSP personas. We have the CISO which is a role that intertwines everything, we break down this role and what it is as well as what it is not.
In the last episode we talked through how MSPs have so many personas and hats to wear. This week we break down the CEO role and how to focus. What some of the distractions can be to working on your company as well as how to delegate the right activities to different personas.
If you are stuck in a leadership role with many hats...this is the series for you!
MSPs owners wear many hats, somedays you are a CFO making sure to collect payments and ensure bills are covered. Other days you are a CEO planning the direction of the company, or maybe you are a COO managing the security stack and maintaining clients.Whatever the case, we can order our thinking by considering each of these hats a persona so we don't get our conversations with clients and staff mixed up.In this pocast learn how to keep your personas in order and what they mean, in this series we will talk about each persona and how it is used towards your success.
We often create a heap in front of us of work and say "I will just chip away at it". In reality, we just always have pressure on us to perform and then we never feel like we are getting anything done. We are working hard and what are we accomplishing?
This episode is built for people who are working so hard and feel like they are getting nowhere.
So many MSPs seem to think they know exactly what their client's goals are and what they need. This is a key indicator that they are on the left side of the dunning-kruger effect graph.
The goal of business is the topic of this insigtful podcast that aims to help you get a grip on what your client's needs are and how to help them with their challenges.
Last episode we really boiled the conversation down to: The care and feeding of others and the care and feeding of ourselves. In this episode, Elizabeth talks about how to hold each other with curiosity. Don't assume you know what the person across the table; or even you need. We need to ask more human questions and understand the person across the table as well as ourselves.
We are great at updating computers and maintaining them. So you would think it would be easy enough to apply maintenance to ourselves. In this insightful episode, Elizabeth Copland discusses how we tend to neglect ourselves and how to be just as mindful about our meat computers as we are about silicon computers.
Identifying Thought Leaders is hard. Sometimes it is easy to get swept up listening to a great speaker and confuse them for a thought leader. For reference see the TED talk on voice inflection.
In this episode Skip and Adam talk though what it means to be a thought leader, how to identify them in the tech space and how to leverage them to build your company and personal mindset.
In 2021 we began the merger process between Virtual C, Manged Services Platform and the birth of HumanizeIT. How is that going? What are the ups and downs of a merger and where do we go from here? All these things are discussed in our State of the union address!
Automation can be your best friend and save you hundred of hours. It can also be your worst enemy when overused and customer service takes a turn for the worse as you disengage with clients. How do you find the balance we talk about how to find the balance and use the right tool for the right job.
It is great when you drink your own kool-aid and have a lot of confidence in your own ideas, however, it is also hazardous. To honestly know if your ideas are good we need to hear from outsiders. This is the power of validation, listen to this podcast to ground yourself and gain insight as to whether you are talking into an echo chamber or understanding whether your product and services provide actual value.
Kyle Christensen and Adam Walter continue the conversation of "What does Success look like?" In the first session we talked about the problem of defining success. Now we talk about how to process our work and come up with a defined outcome of what success looks like for us individually.
How do you define success? Do you know when you are moving towards your goal? In this episode Adam and Kyle Christensen talk through how we view success for better or worse.
So we talked in part 1 about how QBRs are more like QTRs and all the things wrong with this. In this episode we talk through how and why to change your focus in these meetings. It will benefit both you and your client, you sell more projects and your client's business will grow. Listen to find out how!
Many engineers don't understand how to talk business in QBRs. So they fall back on the familiar and talk about technical things. However, QBRs and strategy sessions are more about discovering what the business objectives are than about technical specifics.
In this 2 part podcast Skip and Adam tackle the tough question: "How do we talk Business as Engineers?"
The knowledge you have today may not be useful tomorrow. It may become outdated or you might move to a new context or the tech you have might not be relevant. When this happens you have to let go of the old knowledge. Being deliberate about what you choose to know is key to staying focused and creative. This episode covers how to transfer from one area of expertise to another.
There are fewer professions where the Peter Principle is more prevalent than engineering. Just because you are a great engineer does not mean you will be a great leader. In this podcast Skip and Adam discuss how to transition from engineer to leader.
What is the biggest issue facing MSPs today? In this episode Skip and Adam rant about how MSPs are being brainwashed into solving the wrong problems...all to get rewards they don't really want.
Check out this tough episode where Skip and Adam clearly define the largest issue facing every MSP today.
In the first episode (with that horrible audio in the middle) Bruce and Adam discussed the issue that we don't treat people like human beings anymore. In this episode, we discuss easy steps to avoid this problem. How to ask better questions and how to build relationships that benefit both MSPs and their clients. Stay tuned.
In business we tend to treat individuals like clients, opportunities, processes, everything except for people. In this engaging hard hitting episode guest speaker Bruce Sarte and Adam Walter discuss the problem that businesses have today: "We don't treat people like people".
What will 2023 bring? Skip and Adam do their best to predict what to prepare for in 2023 with the upcoming recession. What should you focus on? Listen to find out!
2022 is coming to an end, so we are taking some time to recap the highlights of this awesome year, as well as touch on some of the things we will be working on in 2023.
Work life balance is hard. In this episode we talk through the importance of finding some joy in life.
Reviewing your lessons for the year is very important, this podcast walks you through the importance of discussing what went well, what could have been better and what are you going to change going forward.
It is almost cliche but IT departments exist in silos. We see everyone not technical as outsiders. What if...we treated them like teammates with value to add to the conversation? What if we brought them in and sought their advice? A lot of cool things that is what will happen. Stay tuned to this episode to learn more about how to create dynamic teams that are inclusive and take your solutions to the next level.
Be a fly on the wall and join Vonahi, AlertOps as we discuss IT Nation 2022 highlights. Also guest star appearances from Tom Lawrence and Elizabeth Copland! Amazing discussion, massive margaritas, Guacamole is made fresh and a really fun environment all around!
Following formulas is easy, however, there is no replacement for Genuine Authenticity when dealing with clients. Listen to learn more!
Last week we talked about what MSPs are doing wrong when it comes to compliance. Now, we are discussing the bountiful benefits that can come when compliance is prioritized.
People process technology. Getting all the right people in place can be a struggle, but partnering with compliance experts will help to bring forward the compliance regulations that your clients need. These compliance organizations are able to walk you and your client through an evaluation process that will help the client to better understand where they stand. They’ll know where your client is doing well and where they’re struggling, which is beneficial to you as an MSP; you can build project work out of the areas where they need help.
This week, we’re talking about why engineers should care about compliance. To understand, it helps to really know what compliance is. Essentially, it is adhering to some standard. In the technology world, there are Risk Management Frameworks (RMFs) that are used as a compliance standard to adhere to. You could compare it to quality control, or the referee of cybersecurity. This “referee” is helping guide you through the rules that you and the client should adhere to in order to avoid the ramifications and consequences that could follow.
Tune in to the first episode of this two-part series on compliance!
So now you know why your clients are avoiding meetings, in this episode we walk you though how to get them to join!
A common complaint we hear from MSPs is "Clients don't attend meetings". In reality...they are going to meetings, they are just avoiding yours. In this episode learn why.
Communication is so much more than just words. Sometimes we need to be physically present to be understood and make an honest connection.
It is finally here the Ultimate MSP Podcast Crossover! Listen in on an action-packed episode as skip and friends discuss an amazing series of topics!
Talking with people is very different than talking to them. In this episode Skip and Adam talk through how collaboration is accomplished.
This week, author Sean Mahar joins us to discuss the concept of his book, Stop Wasting Words: Leading Through Conscious Communication. What does it mean to waste one’s words, and what are people doing (or perhaps saying) to make their words wasteful?
Tune in to this week’s episode as we discuss these questions and talk about why we should be more intentional with the words we incorporate into our conversations.
It is the little things that make all the difference to your clients. Don't overlook what it is that your client finds meaningful.
Vulnerability assessments and pen testing are not what they once were. In fact, they have drastically changed within recent years to offer automated services, giving you results in a much quicker timeframe than if the report were to be completed manually. Automated pen testing is vital in this day and age as cyberattacks are becoming more and more frequent.
In this week’s episode, we discuss what’s changed in the world of vulnerability assessments and pen testing, and why you should care!
Humanize IT - The new face of Managed Services Platform
Human - it’s a small word that carries a lot of weight. It’s what we are and connects us to one another. By acknowledging the human element in business, Humanize IT, formally Managed Services Platform, provides the tools and resources to turn technical presentations into meaningful experiences.
SOmetimes you are so busy trying to get dimes that you miss the dollars. In this eposide Skip and Adam hit on the hard topic of profits and where to spend your energy!
How do we get good hires? What steps do you need to take to ensure you retain them. In this episode Skip and Adam discuss the ever present concern of "Employees"
In this eposide Skip and Adam discuss how to get out of firefighting mode so you can be proactive about managing client projects!
Tech Companies focus on the wrong item for Risk Analysis, why is this? Today we deep dive on the 'why' of risk analysis and keep you from missing out on great opportunities!
The conversation continues with Sean Lardo and Adam Walter regarding PitchIT and some of the tips we have on communicating with clients effectively!
Sean and Adam kick it off with PitchIT but eventually get on to the topic of how to build business and focus on what really matters.
What does Entertainment have to do with running a business? How can the progession of entertainment over the last 30 years help with your business strategy? Stay tuned!
Opportunities fall into place when you are prepped and in line with your company’s goals. In this episode, we discuss how to use preparation and failure to your advantage.
You might be wondering what the difference is between the culture of the corporate and MSP world. Well, today we’re talking about it!
All humans have one thing in common: a need for rest and recuperation. Learn about the important balance between work and rest and how taking a break can help you work more efficiently.
Wow, 100 episodes! What better way to celebrate than to chat about how we got into IT in the first place.
Testing, testing. One, two, three. Can you hear us clearly? Today, we’re tackling the topic of good and bad audio and how it can make all the difference in your interactions with people online.
You may not know how to test your performance as an MSP. We’ve got some metrics for you to see if you are doing well or need improvement.
We’re looking at the big question: which is more important, sales or engineering? Listen to us duke it out and determine the answer!
Want to know a great way to relax and become more creative? Read! That’s right, today we’re talking about the all-important topic of books. Let’s get on the same page, shall we?
Relationships are valuable for both MSPs and their clients. Learn how to deepen relationships, and how it will help your business grow.
If you’ve ever wondered what a teenager thinks about technology, you will not want to miss this! Hear from Lizzy Walter about her thoughts on all things technology.
Dumb mistakes happen to everyone. But, what is your response when dumb mistakes do happen? There is a way that these silly mistakes can make you better? Want to know how? Listen to this week’s episode!
When operations and strategy work together, it’s a beautiful thing! Learn about how important each of these aspects is in this week’s episode.
Last week, our focus was talking like a CFO. This week, we’re tackling how to talk like a CEO! The CEO’s opinion is extremely important and following our tips and tricks will help you find success for both you and your clients.
CFOs may seem to only cause problems in purchasing, but if you learn to talk like them, they can become one of your greatest assets.
Boring reports and lectures will never land you more clients no matter how you dress them up. You need engagement!
In today’s climate, hiring the right people can be tricky. We’ll walk you through four ways that you can be a noteworthy employer and attract great hires!
Not all business is good business. We’re here to help you determine what clients need to go, how best to handle that transition and, ultimately, how to benefit your team.
We're tackling the uncomfortable task of firing an MSP — something that must be done but isn’t fun. Since this is such a daunting task, we’re giving you three tips to make it the smoothest transition possible.
Not all business is good business. This week, we dive into the best practices for picking clients that will fit your business.
Picking the best technology service provider for your business can be a tricky decision. Here are the do’s and don'ts of picking an MSP that will take your business to the next level.
Learn about the future of MSPs and how to grow and achieve new status in the business world in this episode of Humanize IT.
We are kicking off a new year of podcasts with a focus on Managed Service Providers! We’re giving insight into the consulting world and how to level up your services in 2022.
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of year… and the most likely for your information to get stolen. Listen to this week’s episode to learn how to protect yourself.
Holidays are complicated in the IT world. While most people are trying to get time off, IT professionals are hoping to have some holiday time to work in the peace and quiet of an empty office.
After attending an in-person conference, we think they are here to stay. Learn more in this week’s episode all about the importance of relationship-building at tech conferences.
We are joined by a very special guest host, Adam’s 10-year-old son Elijah. We talk about how to have great conversations with anyone, no matter their background.
Drinks with IT is our series of episodes where IT professionals guest star on the podcast, we crack open a cold one and let the conversation flow naturally. This week we talked about daylight savings time!
Among the great technology is a lot of dumb tech. Today, we talk about those innovations that just didn’t work out.
Innovation comes from inspiration. Learn all about how to inspire the people in your organization to make positive change in this week’s episode!
Learn more about the three-step process that will ensure you create meaningful relationships with your audience.
Want to know how to talk to your clients and make personal connections? Listen to this week’s episode!
The internet is everywhere, but does it need to be? Learn more about the internet of things in this episode of Humanize IT.
Music is important in the tech world. Find out how we came from no streaming to unlimited streaming in this episode of Humanize IT!
Last week, we talked about shiny things in IT. This week, find out how to avoid being distracted by shiny business things.
What are shiny things in IT and how can they become a frustration for IT professionals? Find out how to avoid being distracted by all the new technologies and systems in this week’s episode!
Video games are huge in the IT community and have weight when it comes to culture and society. Learn more in this week’s video game-focused episode of Humanize IT!
Drinks with IT is our series of episodes where IT professionals guest star on the podcast, we crack open a cold one and let the conversation flow naturally. This week we talked about coffee!
Technology is wonderful, but have we become too dependent on it when it comes to traveling? Tune in to this week’s episode!
People are constantly in danger of over-complicating solutions. Here is how you can simplify things and make them more elegant and easier to understand.
Drinks with IT is our series of episodes where IT professionals guest star on the podcast, we crack open a cold one and let the conversation flow naturally. This week we are joined by an IT professional from Canada!
You can prepare your business better by using data to track trends and understand your customers better. Learn more in this week’s episode!
What do fire and IT have in common? More than you think! Find out more in this week’s episode.
Drinks with IT is our series of episodes where IT professionals guest star on the podcast, we crack open a cold one and let the conversation flow naturally. This week we are joined by two IT professionals from Canada and South Africa!
Is the silicon prairie the new place for tech start-ups? Learn why this area is so beneficial to businesses in this week’s episode!
Is remote work here to stay? Find out in this week’s episode as we dive into this hot topic with IT expert Fred Chagnon.
In a post-pandemic world, is there any need to meet for conferences to swap vendor swag and learn new info, or have we discovered a better way?
Introducing Drinks with IT, a new series of episodes where an IT professional guest stars on the podcast, we crack open a cold one and let the conversation flow naturally. This week, we are joined by Bob Mohr!
Sales is an important aspect of your business and can make or break any company. Learn how sales affects your business in this week’s episode of Humanize IT!
There are lots of problems in the business world that we used to have that are just not thought about today. We’re going to talk about a few of them in this week’s episode!
The IT world has changed and that means that the traditional roles of an IT position are no longer simply focused on fixing technological problems. Learn about modern IT practices in this week’s episode of Humanize IT!
Season one is wrapping up, and what a year it has been! Hear the wins from the first year of Humanize IT, and learn about upcoming news about our upcoming season.
Are you experiencing burnout in your IT profession? Learn how to get out of your slump and take care of yourself in this week’s episode of HIT!
Learn how to find the value of the nerd’s deep diving abilities and incorporate them into your business in this week’s episode of Humanize IT!
Learn about important seasons in the IT world and how this knowledge can benefit your business in this week’s episode of Humanize IT!
Learn how technology can increase profits with scalability and reaching new markets in the fourth episode of our frequently asked questions series.
It’s impossible to truly know what technology will be the next big thing, but you can place your best bet. Learn about what the next best things are in this week’s episode of Humanize IT.
What happens when you don’t spend the appropriate amount of money on technology in your business? The answer is tech debt. Join us for the second episode in our series about frequently asked tech questions.
What used to be a mad dash to buy the newest and most cutting edge technology is now a more methodical and thought through process, making technology advancements predictable for your business. Check out this very first episode of our new series that dives into the frequently asked questions of the IT world.
In IT, tech moves fast making the “use it or lose it” mentality a big reality. Learn how to ensure your team’s skills are up-to-date and current in this week’s episode.
Now that everything is being outsourced through the cloud, is an IT professional even necessary? Find out how this position has changed but still remains an important part of business in the fourth episode of our deep dive into the cloud.
You know how the cloud came to be and how it applies to you today, but you might be asking yourself one major question: Is the cloud safe? Dive into this week’s episode to learn tips and tricks to keeping your data and information safe.
Deep dive into the cloud with us and learn how you can save time and energy in order to do things that you truly enjoy in this second episode of our four-part series.
Want to know what the cloud is? Here is the start of our four-part series as we dive into the origins of the cloud and how it came to be.
Due to a new hybrid system of both in-person and remote work, a new problem called network congestion is on the rise. In this podcast, we try to simplify in business terms what the problem is and how you can deal with it.
2020 was a crazy year for everyone. But, with 35 podcast episodes out, Adam and Skip consider the year a success. They share their favorite and most memorable episodes from last year.
Sometimes we get so caught up in what the competition is doing, we forget to take a deep, introspective look into our own business efforts. Are you being strategic with how you cater to your desired market? Have you dove deep into their underlying wants and needs? Laurie Fraser returns to share her insight on the final episode of our “Year in Review” series!
Laurie Fraser from Doorstep Diner and Country Sliced Ham joins Adam & Skip this episode to talk about the rollercoaster year known as 2020 and how she was able to navigate multiple food businesses through the ups and downs. If you’re someone who has a stake in your local eating scene, this episode is for you!
In the second episode of our “Year in Review'' series, Adam and Skip are pouring another drink to reflect on the few months of 2020 that completely redefined our definition of normal. April, May and June were full of chaos from the pandemic, the protests and the financial uncertainty, but this time allowed us to reevaluate our priorities and come out of the initial madness even stronger than before.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that January, February and March of this year were even part of this year. The first quarter of 2020 seems like it was decades ago, right? Well, now it’s time to reflect. In the kickoff episode of our four-part “Year in Review” series, Skip and Adam discuss what business was like in the wake of disaster and how we initially reacted — or rather, under-reacted — to the pandemic that would soon change life as we knew it.
Ditch the dinner table office setup! Your home office deserves your utmost attention. Penny from H.O.M.E. (Home Office Made Easy) joins Adam and Skip this week to discuss how drastically beneficial it is to have an ergonomic office setting.
In the season one finale of Humanize IT, Skip and Adam bring back Bob Mohr, certified digital advisor at Digital Maturity Group, to give us a glimpse through the crystal ball and discuss the future of business and technology in 2021. Will our at-home setups become permanent solutions, or will we all go back to the office once the virus is contained? Bob predicts a combination of the two will occur through a safe, flexible hybrid workspace.
Why is it that we always seem to find the most focus when a deadline is right around the corner? This week, Adam and Skip will teach you how to use the last minute to your advantage by thoughtfully planning ahead and ranking your priorities based on importance and urgency.
In business, there seems to be a language barrier among each department, meaning sales lingo and technology jargon won’t translate well when trying to form a productive conversation together. We assume everyone knows what we know, but this is how you create silos. Luckily, there's a foolproof way to talk to people that breaks that language barrier. In this episode, we cover the best ways to converse in order to come up with professional solutions.
For IT professionals, the fourth quarter can best be described as chaotic. Between looming deadlines, end of year budgets and swag from vendors, IT departments everywhere are left scrambling while the rest of the office is Christmas shopping or eating turkey. But, with some careful planning and collaboration, this Fourth Quarter Madness can be avoided. Find out how in this episode of Humanize IT!
Don’t get caught up in having technology for the sake of technology! Sometimes we believe the most advanced tech solutions available will solve all our problems, when in reality, the human element is what really impresses our customers and clients. In this episode, Adam and Skip expand on their “What Really Matters'' miniseries to discuss how to work smarter — not harder — and avoid over-engineering.
Learn how to develop practical solutions in technology by having a clear, targeted thought process that puts the business’s needs first. Identify problems within each department, then pinpoint the exact technology required to fix them. As an IT professional, you must decide if the effort is worth the reward!
It isn't the big, technical projects that change your perceived value, but instead the little ones that benefit others. How can you identify which employees you should prioritize, then balance your everyday IT operations with serving the right people at the right time?
By reading the room and thinking of every business situation like a game of “finding the other person’s win”, you can discover the root of your coworkers’, clients’ and colleagues’ behavior in order to treat them how they want to be treated and, in turn, influence outcomes in your favor.
Changing the narrative among you, your clients and your team comes down to changing one simple word. Find out the big mistake you've been making and discover simple ways to find acceptance and agreement through a three-step process in the second episode of our Improvised Intelligence series with improv guru Gina Trimarco!
Being a great teammate is more than working hard, it is about making your team members look and feel great. In this uplifting episode series we talk with Gina Trimarco from Pivot10 about how to change how you communicate with your team for the better.
As time and technology have evolved, so has our cultural perception of what’s nerdy and what’s not.It used to be that if you loved Marvel and had all the gadgets, you were a nerd. Now, if you haven't seen the movies or don’t have the iPhone 11XR, the Amazon Echo, the AirPods — you’re the uncool one. So, what’s changed? The answer is technology. In this lighthearted episode, we dive into how culture has shifted into a safe space for self-proclaimed geeks of all kinds to express themselves and their interests.
Lessons learned is a fantastic tool for companies today. Despite some audio problems we had during this episode we talked through some amazing points that every business needs to hear.
It used to be that technology was brought into a company to solve its business problems. Then, at some point, technology became about speed and assets rather than support. When did this change happen, and how can you stay focused when ensuring your tech is serving a greater purpose?
After creating quite a stir with our first “Tales from Around the World: South Africa" episode, we’re back with a part two to expand upon some of the stories, questions and opinions you shared with us on social media. Also returning is our guest Richard Bauer, an engineer from Cape Town, who updates us on the country's current situation regarding business, technology and life in general.
Every technical person has a scrap pile. It may be kept in a box in the basement, or it may be a storage closet at your place of business. Wherever it is, it keeps your company running. However, sometimes this scrap pile can get out of date and needs to be managed so the right parts are available in emergencies. In this funny episode, we talk through the pros and cons of this quirk of all IT personnel and things your business can do to help them out.
When we work together to solve problems, we come up with innovative ideas far beyond what we could have achieved in our own, isolated silos. In this insightful episode, we talk about how we have crossed IT and business boundaries to build solutions that have changed how companies do business.
"Death by Scaling" has been one of our most popular podcasts, so we thought we would follow up with another episode about scaling your business properly with traction coach John Fulwider from Gear 80. Learn the best ways to maintain growth and track your process with the help of experts.
Every business has workers who keep things moving behind the scenes. From accountants to engineers, these folks work day in and day out to support your company. The less you hear about them, the better they're doing their job. In this episode, we talk about the unseen worker and how to be more aware and appreciative of their efforts.
To wrap up our Tales from Around the World podcast series, we’re recapping the highlights from each country — South Africa, Australia, Canada and Sweden — and sharing our biggest takeaways. We hope you learned a lot and were enlightened by this fun, educational series! Thanks for tuning in.
Welcome to the fourth and final episode of Humanize IT: Tales from Around the World! In this episode Josef Nord from Stockholm, Sweden, owner of an MSP called ByBrick, talks about Sweden’s “self-accountability” approach to the pandemic and discusses how business has evolved the past few months. For him, it was all about teaching his clients to better utilize the technology they were already familiar with and finding ways to engage with them digitally.
In part 3 of our Tales from Around the World series, we gain valuable insights from Penny Belluz in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Learn about her city’s reopening process and get useful cybersecurity tips on how to avoid hackers and stay safe on your home network! Plus, we discuss the future of business as well as positive takeaways from the pandemic in Canada.
Welcome back to Tales from Around the World! In the second episode of our technology podcast series, we chat with business owner Kevin Spanner from Sydney, Australia. Learn what measures Australia has taken to handle COVID-19 so well, discover the pros and cons of permanently working from home, and reflect on some of the positive outcomes of the pandemic that have changed our world for the better.
In this episode, we kick off our "Tales From Around the World" series. This first episode features Richard Bauer, an engineer from South Africa's own Cape Town. We hear about how they are being affected and some of the positive items they are seeing. From homemade pineapple beer to remote work strategies, we cover it all.
Tools allow us to either fix things more quickly or, if used incorrectly, break things in epic new ways. Bob Mohr joins us for a lively conversation regarding all the tools we amass over time. Whether you're a plumber or a technician, we all have tools we trust, and there are always new tools emerging that we must adapt to and integrate along the way.
As a business owner, you may be left wondering how to stay productive when your staff is working in different environments. This episode will help you manage a distributed workforce. And, don't miss our most hilarious Fail of the Week yet!
In this episode, we dive in and discuss the effects of disaster recovery and business continuity facing us today. With our current COVID situation, this is a particularly poignant topic, We'll help you overcome and adapt to changes so you can thrive during this time.
In this hard-hitting episode, we talk through how you can ruin a perfectly good idea by not being prepared and give you strategies to avoid this situation.
As a professional, it's your responsibility to not only deliver value, but communicate it, as well. If you don't take charge of your communication channels, you'll likely walk into a trap where you and your clients have differing expectations of each other. This podcast will help you ensure everyone is on the same page.
As business professionals, we often get so caught up in the latest and greatest technology that we forget how far we've come. In this entertaining blast-from-the-past episode, we talk about problems from a bygone era — the days of countless floppy disks and crazy hardware. No matter how advanced technology gets, it's always good to remember where we started.