Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, they discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

In this comprehensive episode of Command Control Power, hosts Joe, Jerry and Sam engage with Tim Pearson of Creative Techs, covering a wide spectrum of Managed Service Provider (MSP) operations and beyond. Key topics include the integration and optimization of MDM and RMM tools, the benefits of automation in ticketing and backup management, and the importance of tracking and reporting activities to showcase value to clients. The conversation also highlights the significance of community wisdom and peer-led problem-solving at ACEs events, the practical advantages of standardized tools and knowledge sharing, and the challenges faced in a fragmented MSP vendor landscape. Additionally, the episode touches on the complexities specific to Apple Consultants, such as managing community resources, negotiating vendor terms, and establishing industry pricing standards. A unique segment dives into the personal rituals and nostalgic value of music listening on vinyl records, sprinkling personal anecdotes and enduring record recommendations. This episode provides a well-rounded discussion blending technical insights with personal experiences, aiming to enhance MSP operations while celebrating the joys of music and community engagement.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:08 Catching Up and ACEs Conference

00:44 Tim's Background and Guitars

01:23 ACEs After Dark and Business Discussions

01:55 MDM and RMM Tricks

03:55 Integrations and Automation

10:05 Backup Solutions and Challenges

12:59 Community and Collaboration

18:05 Vendor Landscape and Tools

25:48 Community Contributions and Generosity

26:23 Challenges of Sharing Tools and Resources

28:16 Economic Impact and Business Models

30:19 Masterclass and Training Ideas

35:00 Collective Bargaining and Vendor Relations

39:56 Music and Nostalgia

47:18 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss leveraging Addigy to replicate some features of Watchman Monitoring, particularly focusing on business efficiency. Jerry initiates the topic by sharing his experience of transitioning from Watchman to Addigy due to development and costs. He highlights the useful features of Addigy, such as disk space alerts, and its Zendesk integration, while also acknowledging the development effort required to fully replace Watchman's reporting and alerting capabilities. The conversation includes a brief discussion on alternative tools like Malwarebytes. Additionally, the hosts reflect on client management challenges, specifically in dealing with tech support scams and rogue banking interactions. They close with a note on experimenting with social media marketing for new client acquisition.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:05 Exploring Addigy and Watchman Monitoring

00:59 Jerry's Experience with Watchman Monitoring

02:15 Support Menu and Deployment

04:01 Evaluating Watchman Monitoring Features

04:29 Transitioning from Watchman to Addigy

04:50 Addigy Integration and Alternatives

11:59 PC Management Solutions

17:43 Reporting and Visualization Tools

30:31 Virtual Happy Hour Begins

30:42 Client's Printer Troubles

32:04 Remote Access Issues

32:56 Bank Troubles and Security Concerns

41:34 Keyboard and Mouse Mysteries

45:05 Marketing Experiment Results

49:28 Concluding Thoughts and Patreon Plug

In this episode of Command Control Power, hosts dig into the business acumen of Benjamin Morales, owner of Cirrus Partners. Benjamin discusses his journey from being an educator in the Pacific Northwest to owning a small MSP company in Madison, Wisconsin. He elaborates on the challenges of managing a team, hiring and firing employees, and transitioning from Linux to macOS. The conversation covers the importance of company culture, and the balance between individual technical skills and management responsibilities. Additionally, Benjamin shares the lessons learned from losing a significant client due to a mismatch between an employee's personality and client expectations. Rounding out the discussion, Benjamin provides insights into his reading influences and the support mechanisms he relies on to lead effectively.

Ben's Career Journey

Transition to Ownership

Challenges of Leadership

Managing Employees and Client Relations

Documenting and Delegating

Employee Issues and Client Impact

Transitioning Business and Client Relations

Handling Employee Performance and Reputation

Debating Hiring and Firing Strategies

Navigating Pandemic Challenges

Workplace Dynamics

Effective Hiring Practices

Managing Employee Relations and Termination

Leveraging Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs)

Hiring Challenges and Solutions

Balancing Internal Transitions and Client Support

Reflecting on Leadership and Team Dynamics

Concluding Thoughts and Book Recommendations

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, they discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

Recovering Deleted Google Calendars and Client Network Saga: A Tech Support Adventure

In this episode, the hosts discuss a series of challenging client issues, including how to recover a deleted Google Calendar, the complexities of managing network loops with Sonos devices, and the frustrations of dealing with unreliable electricians. They also explore advertising on Facebook and Instagram for tech support services, share the latest updates from Apple, and review the impact of recent podcasting trends. Tune in for insights on troubleshooting, client management, and the ever-evolving tech landscape.

-One of Jerry’s clients finds out the hard way that you cannot restore a deleted Google calendar.

-Joe has some follow up about his client with two UniFi mission critical switches.

-He also mentions a helpful UniFi article about preventing network loops.

-After many years and work with Sonos, Joe has some updated guidance on network recommendations.

-Jerry has seen an uptick in business lately. He is also engaging in Facebook and Instagram advertising.

-Joe is a fan of a podcast on NPR called The Brian Lehrer Show

-And now for Jerry’s favorite part - Joe’s product announcements.

-He does have some interesting thoughts on AirPods Pro hearing tests.

THANK YOU TO OUR PATREON SPONSORS!

In this episode, the hosts discuss various topics from a recent travel experience in the Netherlands and Belgium, highlighting amazing Trappist beers and unique beer brewing technologies. They also dive into the new features and implications of the latest Mac OS release, Sequoia, including the practical uses of Apple's new password app, send later in iOS messages, and the game-changing iPhone mirroring feature. Additionally, the episode features insights on managing client expectations with updates, blocking the latest OS to ensure stability, and a personal account of a sudden client shutdown. The show wraps up with tips on data recovery using Backblaze and a super-fast external drive.

00:00 Introduction and Recent Trip to the Netherlands and Belgium

00:28 Exploring Trappist Monasteries and Belgian Beers

01:57 Travel Experiences in Bruges, Belgium

03:09 Challenges of Bringing Beer Back Home

05:32 In-Flight Entertainment and Raw Dogging

07:53 Sequoia Release and Technical Discussions

13:17 Managing Software Updates and Client Experiences

26:38 Daily Driver Adventures

27:06 Apple's Seamless Integration

28:01 Send Later Feature in iOS

28:26 iPhone Mirroring and Instagram

29:30 Supporting Clients Efficiently

30:02 SMS Messages on Mac

31:31 New Passwords App

33:38 Screen Capture Limitations

36:06 Hiking Directions in Maps

39:07 Client Stories and Business Practices

42:35 Data Recovery and Backblaze

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50:15 Wrapping Up and Teasers

Join us as we welcome back Ben Greiner, founder of Forget Computers and Apple champion and growth advisor at Addigy. In this engaging discussion, Ben reflects on his over 20-year journey in the Apple MSP world, the evolving landscape of IT management, and his role at Addigy. Ben shares insights on the integration of Apple-focused services into larger Windows-managed environments, the importance of compliance, and how Apple's advanced tools are setting new standards in the industry. This episode is filled with invaluable tips for MSPs looking to expand their Apple service offerings and successfully navigate the merger and acquisition landscape.

The hosts reflect on the 10 years in between Ben’s appearances.

Ross Matsuda, another CCP guest, also worked for Forget Computers.

Early on, Ben created Robot Cloud. This has since morphed into Vision Bot at Ntiva.

Ben talks about adapting to client needs.

Ben advises to look at the management tools that only focus on Apple products like Jamf, Kandji, and Addigy.

We get into how Ben switched from Jamf to Addigy.

Switching MDMs was harder than switching communication tools.

Most small MSPs are under one million in revenue a year.

Ben talks about how the 10,000 Small Business program by Goldman Sachs helped his business grow.

Forget Computers was acquired by Ntiva. Ben takes us down that road.

Apple vs Windows Support - it is difficult for Windows MSPs to make the shift to support the Apple platform.

Standardizing Apple Device Management

Proactive vs Reactive Device Enrollment

Ben works with existing customers to help them grow with Addigy.

Ben brings up the shift to Declarative Device Management

Compliance Standards and Challenges - is Windows really better built for business than Apple? Or has that paradigm shifted?

Jerry wants to know more about the 1Password acquisition on Kolide.

What is the future of Device Management and Security?

You can find Ben Greiner on LinkedIn.

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, they discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

This podcast episode explores various tech-related topics, including the limitations of CarPlay devices, Apple's privacy policies, and the challenges of finding a lost iPhone. The hosts discuss their experiences with a CarPlay after-market device, Tesla's lack of CarPlay support, and the impact of privacy prompts on user experience. They also provide tips for finding a lost device and discuss alternative password managers.

Jerry and Sam discuss issues with Zoom’s SMS campaign requirements and RingCentral’s lack of shared SMS functionality. Jerry also shares his frustration with RingCentral’s call handling limitations and the need for an unused extension to utilize advanced features.

For Joe, clients bypass Smith.ai by pressing extensions, leading to increased costs. Apple Intelligence may help manage notifications upon returning from being off the grid.

The hosts discuss the need for digital detox and features in Apple’s notification system. They also share their experiences with managing notifications and the potential benefits of AI-driven prioritization.

Sam has had an initially successful rollout of pricing emails to clients and he talks about the positive response he has received.

Jerry shares frustration with clients ignoring service recommendations despite positive feedback. After some input from Joe and Sam, he considers personalizing emails and including recommendations in newsletters to improve response rates. Joe also mentions the importance of using a personal email address instead of a bulk email service to avoid being filtered out as spam.

A customer’s easy acceptance of a significant rate increase led to a discussion about the importance of maintaining a consistent network stack. Despite the challenges, we discuss the value of following established procedures to ensure successful outcomes.

Joe wonders if Mercury being in retrograde has had any affect on clients being able to follow simple instructions.

Joe brings up the dangers of deep fake audio and how to protect against it. He even brings up a story of how Ferrari thwarted a deepfake attempt. They suggest using context knowledge or a safe word to identify potential scammers.

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