MFP Copier Blog
Are You Practicing With Purpose Or Creating Excuses?
"Most people don't have that willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk like victims."
Carlos Santana
Practice! Who Needs To Practice... Salespeople Need To Practice
Can You Imagine A Professional Athlete Operating With A Sales Reps Mindset?
Once asked why he was so successful on the basketball court, Kobe Bryant looked right at a reporter and said: “Have you seen Los Angeles at 4am? I see it often because that’s when I start training.”
It can sometimes be difficult to find differences in top athletes which are noticeable. Their level of physical imbalance is minuscule. What separates the good from the great? What separated Kobe Bryant from good athletes?
Top athletes are finely tuned machines. They spend their lives perfecting their craft as they look to gain every conceivable physical and mental advantage over their opponents.
Let's look at Tiger Woods’ daily routine. He starts the day with an hour of cardio exercise and an hour-and-a-half of weight training. He follows this up by at least four hours of golf then another half an hour of weight training.
Since the age of three, he has always practiced his golf game. As Tiger transformed the game of golf, becoming the one of the greatest golfers of all time, he still practices hard to improve his game.
What separates an average athlete from an average sales rep? Millions of dollars and their mindset.
Success is simply a consequence of practice and repetition. There's no shortcuts. It's based on pushing yourself to do better and better.
Sales reps consistently talk about their work ethic as most enjoy puffing the chest BUT are they really committed to it? How many walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to putting in the hard work and long hours that it takes to become a sales professional?
Top athletes understand the process of developing their talents will have obstacles along the way. They embrace the challenge. They embrace the suck in order to get better every single day. They understand failure is just another challenge, a roadblock to overcome.
Top athletes encourage feedback from their coaches, using it to focus on areas of improvement. Less successful athletes tend to dismiss, ignoring feedback and focus on the person providing it, rather than using it as an opportunity to reflect and grow. This sounds an awful lot like most sales reps, doesn't it?
My challenge to all those in sales and management... come up with a meaningful and purposeful plan of not only when you're going to practice, but HOW. And then, just do it.
The roadmap to success for an elite athlete is based upon hard work, personal ownership and practice. They hold themselves accountable to the process and they just do it!
Why do sales reps have difficulties doing what elite athletes are paid to do? What makes a sales professional AND how they go about doing their job any different than an elite athlete?
My answer to all of you is quite simple - MINDSET, PRACTICE AND NO EXCUSES
TO ALL THOSE IN SALES MANAGEMENT... STOP USING SPORTS AND SALES ANALOGIES!
Are you willing, able and committed to provide an environment around practicing, planning and preparation? This is what professional athletes are held accountable to do every single day!
Are you holding your team accountable to practice?
NO EXCUSE MENTALITY
Athletes with an excuse mentality fear negative outcomes and make excuses to avoid responsibility. Sounds a lot like many in sales and management, doesn't it?
According to Patrick Cohn, PhD, sports psychologist and founder of Peak Performance Sports, "an excuse mentality results from allowing circumstances to dictate your actions instead of taking control of them."
Sales professionals hold themselves personally accountable. They hold themselves to a higher degree of standards than sales reps. They have a no excuse mentality and they don't point fingers when they fail to hit their sales plan. They hold themselves accountable even if their manager doesn't.
Why do so many in sales management accept excuses?
Salespeople of today love swimming in the sea of excuses. Many of you use excuses to rationalize your actions regarding the circumstances you've created for yourself - why you didn't hit your sales plan, why you lost one of your best clients and why you don't have time to prospect.
One excuse follows another excuse which follows another excuse. You want to know what the real issue is here... lack of commitment!
When you only put half of yourself into something and then proceed to make excuses, you disrespect yourself and your manager.
Half-ass efforts gets you half-ass results
- How committed are you to the sales profession?
- How committed are you to practice?
- How committed are you to yourself?
WHY DO SALES REPS INSIST ON GETTING PAID TOP DOLLAR BUT LACK A TOP ATHLETE MINDSET?
The biggest problem with salespeople today is they’re consistently inconsistent.
True sales professionals, the elite of the elite do things just a little differently than the average sales rep. They practice with purpose, passion and pride.
Sales professionals practice with purpose. Sales professionals operate with a no excuse mentality.
GET REAL
Sales professionals set goals and invest the mental and physical energy towards achieving their goals. They equip themselves with an arsenal of effort, patience, and persistence as they know their journey is difficult. They are realistically optimistic.
Can the same be said for sales reps?
BE THE BEST
Sales professionals know, no matter what, there's always room to improve. This may involve learning a different technique, strategy, or even hiring a coach.
Can the same be said for sales reps?
CONSISTENCY
The success of sales professionals is built upon small sustainable changes. When those become second nature, they add in new challenges. Whatever their goal is they track their progress and are consistently consistent with practice.
Can the same be said for sales reps?
WAKE UP SALESPEOPLE
Imagine for a moment, how long would any professional sports athlete last on their team with the attitude and mindset of most sales reps? Not long at all, as they would be released from their team immediately.
Some can say athletes are over-paid prima donna's, however; the one thing they possess that most sales reps don't - a growth mindset.
I encourage the self-centered and the "all about me" sales reps out there to kick your complacent mindset right in the ass. Do you think a complacent mindset lands an elite athlete a new contract?
Sports athletes don’t come out of rookie training camp saying, “I’m shooting for average – average skills, average income and average performance.
When you started out as a sales rep you didn't set out with the goal of hanging on, doing enough to just “get by”, or riding it by figuring out how to survive until you can inherit another sales reps accounts. Well, at least not in the beginning, correct?
You learned that mindset. You learned that behavior. You learned to settle. You failed to practice. You started to make excuses.
I'm positive the mind can be convinced of almost anything if you tell it the same story over and over again. So here lies the question to all of you in sales...
Are you really happy with average results or have you just convinced yourself that’s the case?
I understand and I get it. I get where you all are coming from. Every day, I walk in your shoes. I'm fully committed to helping your sales team integrate social aspects through the eyes of a practitioner into your current sales process to grow new business. I want you to get results. This is why I am passionate about doing this the right way, the genuine way, the authentic way! It's about understanding value before visibility.
Selling From the Heart is making a difference! I poured my heart into every page of this book and I think you're going to love it. You can find it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. You can click on the book image below and this will take you to Amazon.
I encourage you to find out more about Selling From The Heart.
In a world full of empty suits, I'm passionate about helping sales reps succeed by getting valuable before they get visible. I help sales teams understand the true value they bring to the market.
I appreciate getting the opportunity to share my stories. Integrating the use of social and sharing my story on LinkedIn was my “game-changer” in the highly competitive office technology world. With great pride I transform, challenge, coach and inspire sales teams to grow new business by helping them share their story and how they communicate it out by integrating the use of social inside the sales process. You can follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter and on my podcast by clicking on Selling from the Heart.
MSP & MSSP Industry Notes for July 28th, 2019
July 28th 2019
MSP & MSSP Industry Notes
Carbonite Seeks CEO Amid Security Momentum, Data Protection Challenges
- Carbonite CEO Mohamad Ali steps down to join IDG as CEO
- Company hires executive search firm to find new CEO
- Before leaving, Ali outlined strategy that would allow security and data production systems to work together. Malware blocking and instantly recovering infected systems whenever possible
NetGain Technologies announces new CEO
- Leading managed IT provider in for South Central U.S., located in Lexington, Kentucky
- Tim Burke will assume CEO
- Current CEO will support Burke through transition
- NetGain Technologies has a 35 history of providing technology services and solutions
MSP Acquisition/ Network Computing Buys Power On Technologies
- Network Computing Solutions and IT solutions provider acquires Power on Technologies (MSP provider) located in Kansas City, Missouri
- Network Computing Solutions is an end-to end IT and service provider
- Power On Technologies started as a Copystar dealer and added IT services
- Will now manage 4,000 networked devices
NetLogix Selected to the Channel Futures MSP 501 List
- Managed-service provider based in Westfield, Arizona
- Strategic IT Management, Business Consulting, IT Support Consulting, VOIP Phone Services
Softdocs' Continued Expansion of Higher Education and K-12 Client Base Marked by ECM Migrations
- Education provider for enterprise content management
- Record growth of Etrieve, companies enterprise content management platform
- Last six months introduced new ECM clients across the United States
- YTD milestones for highest quarterly revenue, best place to work in South Carolina, added to Eduventures 2019 Technology Landscape for ECM
Kudelski Security Recognized for Industry Leadership in Managed Security Services
- Kudelski is cybersecurity division within Kudelski Group
- Third year in row recognized for Gartner’s Market Guide for Managed Dectection and Response (MDR) services
- Also named in the top 10 key players in Gartner Europe Context: Magic Quardrant for Managed Se3curity Services Wordwide
- 360 Quadrants released quadrant on Managed Services helping businesses make quicker and informed decisions
- 360Quadrants covers 40 companies in the Managed Services space
- One Neck, Dimension Data and Dataprise Netmagic and Allstream named as Innovators
ARG Named One of the World's Most Elite 501 Managed Services Providers
- Managed Services provider located in McLean, Virginia
- Comes in at #82 on the 12th annual list
- Last 12 months has achieved double-digit sales growth
- Increased portfolio to include IoT, eSim and advanced security solutions
Cenero Continues Growth with New Dallas Office
- Located in Malvern, PA., leader in audio video, unified communications and IT solutions
- Alan Davies Director of Cenero Dallas office
- Looks at Dallas as high growth market
Iron Bow Technologies to Use Utelogy Platform to Extend Its Managed Services
- Utelogy and Iron Bow sign solution partner agreement
- Utelogy maker of intelligent management and control software platform for connected work spaces
- Iron Bow is information technology solutions and global managed service provider for healthcare, commercial and government markets
IT Services Provider Ntiva Expands Into The Midwest By Acquiring HigherGround Managed Services
- Provider of managed IT, cloud hosting, cyber security, unified communications, strategic consulting services in McLean, Virginia
- Higher Ground, full-service IT and consulting firm with locations in Chicago and Rolling Meadows, Illinois
- Increases Ntiva’s client base to more than 900 across the United States
- EdgeConneX in Herndon, Virginia announces partnership with Rackspace to deliver enterprise cloud solutions and their global EdgeConneX data center platform. Include the following
- EdgeConneX Data Center Services
- Multi-Cloud Scalability
- Private Cloud Services
- Managed Hosting, Data and Applications
- 24x7 Visibility and Enhanced Security
- Novatech a managed print, managed IT, cybersecurity and cloud solutions provider in Nashville, Tennessee
- Partners with Apptega to market Apptega’s intelligent cybersecurity management plarform
- Novatech merged with DynaSis in March 2019
INAP Launches First-of-Its-Kind Managed Cloud and Monitoring Service
- INAP provider of high-performance data center and cloud solutions in Reston, Virginia
- Announcing availability of Intelligent Monitoring
- Managed cloud infrastructure monitoring service
- Optimized for Bare Metal clients
- Remote execution and scripting
- Unified log management
- Patch management and automation
- Port, service and URL monitoring
Covington-based C-Forward named among premier managed service providers by Channel Futures
- Named one of the worlds premier managed service providers
- Located in Covington, Kentucky
- Provides IT consulting services to small & mid size businesses
- Founded in 1999, reached $1M revenue in 2005, Dayton, OH expansion in 2007, Columbus, Ohio expansion in 2008, $2M in revenue 2008
Jungle IT in Horsforth acquires IT operations of the managed services business of Mazars
- Jungle IT based in Horsforth. England acquires Mazars in Leed, England
- Mazars operates managed service business of accountancy
- Jungle IT celebrating 15 years in business
Acordis Technology & Solutions Recognized on CRN's 2019 Solution Provider 500 List
- Acordis based in Miramar, Florida services more than 2,000 clients (data center & virtualization, security, storage and backup, infrastructure management, managed IT, collaboration and enterprise networks, data management, digital signage & multi-functional printers
- Services wide range of industries such as government , healthcare, and non-profits
- Provides services for Royal Caribbean, Miami HEAT, Carnival Cruise Line, Ryder, Stiener, U.S. Sugar, Club Med and others
Rehan Khan CEO of Acordis
-=Good Selling=-
PDF attached for Premium Members only
This Week in the Copier Industry 15 Years Ago (Last Week of July 2004)
Egads, it's Friday night almost 10PM and I'm still working. My day started off at 5AM. I arrived at the office about 6:30AM. Had to quotes to prepare before I had two appointments that were an hour away. Closed two of the appointments and then traveled back to office to prepare some material for another appointment around 2PM. Second appointment went okay and sparked some interest in the new PRO5160. Did a few cold calls, nothing to speak of. On my way home, I received an email from a net new stating they wanted to move forward with an order. Not bad three days into the new month and 3 orders. Gotta keep going!
Enjoy these threads from 15 years ago this week!
Xerox Copying New Growth Plan
Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers
What canon says about Ricoh
Canon posts record first-half profit;
Introducing the Ricoh(R) AC104,
Software decisions
Re: Type 2018 Fax problems
Kyocera KM2030 vs Aficio 2018
Re: Introducing the Ricoh(R) AC104,
PDF DIRECT PRINT
GOBY IS SINKING MY SHIP AND FAST!!!!! Question for the experts
Re: Type 2018 Fax problems
Re: BIG $$$'s IN Telemarketing
Re: wireless adapters
Re: carrier sheets
BIG $$$'s IN Telemarketing
C2338
Fuser problems on DSc338/C3828/1238
GEM COMP for 1515's
H.323 and 4410NF/5510NF
New Biz/Stressed Credit Lease Program!!
jerry
Re: PDF DIRECT PRINT
Re: 1515MFP
Re: 1515MFP
Re: Jam Frequency
Re: wireless adapters
Re: carrier sheets
Re: New 31 PPM color
Re: How to Beat the imageRUNNER 2200
Re: 2238 Color Toner Yields
Re: 2238 Color Toner Yields
Re: Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers
Re: Comparision Ricoh 2232 vs Canon 3200 saddlestitch finishers
Re: C2338
This Week in the Copier Industry 10 Years Ago (Last Week of July 2009)
Usually I'll give a small snippet of how my sales day went in this blog series. However, I'm writing this a day early since I have a corp meeting in PA tomorrow.
Enjoy these threads from ten years ago this week!
Another Ricoh Dealer Takes on Konica Minolta
Canon and Konica-Minolta actions
Konica Minolta and Equitrac Deliver World Class Print and Cost Management Solutions t
Konica Minolta Receives Multiple 2009 BERTL's Best Awards
Konica Minolta Color MFPs Receive Gold Medal
Kyocera monochrome printer range recognised in industry-leading 2009 awards
Print Audit Adds Machines In Field Report To Facilities Manager
Idaho company cries foul over copier contract
Ricoh Printer Competetive Matrix
Printer Competetive Matrix (Ricoh)
InfoPrint Solutions Company Establishes Leadership in Digital Color Production Printi
KODAK Capture Pro Software, v 2.0 Delivers Enhanced Productivity, Focusing on Improve
Kyocera Mita America Launches High Speed TASKalfa 750c Color Multifunctional Product
RICOH SELECTS SAVVIS TO UPGRADE DOCUMENTMALL DATA CENTER
Xerox loses tax dispute with state
Parallel Print
Re: Around the World with Ricoh III
EFI Announces Partnership with Masterpiece Graphix (MGX) to Supply Coated Substrates
Paradigm Imaging Releases Enhanced Flex System!
Re: The Cleansing
Lexmark builds on unique RFID solution with award-winning monochrome lasers
RISO, INC. ANNOUNCES OPENING OF BOSTON BRANCH
Steve Haun
Re: The Cleansing
Re: The Cleansing
Re: Canon and Konica-Minolta actions
This Week in the Copier Industry 5 Years Ago (Last Week of July 2014)
Yesterday marked the end of the month for me. Thus we have seven months in the books and so far 2019 has been awesome. August brings us those "dog days" of summer and many objections due to vacations, not enough time, get back to me after Labor Day or you can't get anyone to respond. I get it, and I've adjusted my habits over the years. August needs to be one of the biggest prospecting months in the year. The time you spend prospecting in August will pay HUGE dividends moving into the last quarter. Yes, we are measured by our month to month sales, but we're also measured on our quarters and year end. Ours is not a thoroughbred horse race each month. It's not about who gets there the fasted. It's more about the strategic month, the strategic quarter and the ability have a plan in place to get you where you want to be.
Enjoy these threads from 5 years ago this week!
Loffler Companies Introduces New Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1085/C1100 and Canon imagePRESS C800/C700 Devices
This Week in the Copier/Office Equipment Industry 10 Years Ago Third Week of July 2004
Konica Minolta Receives 6 Buyers Lab 2014 Summer Picks
RICOH BRINGS ‘CLOUD PRINT’ TO BUSINESS-CLASS MFPS
5 Reasons Why I Like Print Audit Best Over PaperCut
Canon U.S.A. Expands imagePROGRAF Lineup with Six New Models Featuring Faster Print Speeds and More Intuitive Software Options Than Predecessor Models
TerraSky Inc. Forms a Relationship with Canon Information and Imaging Solutions, Inc., to Expand the Portfolio of Cloud-Based Offerings with Canon’s Forms and Print Services
Seminole Office Solutions becomes Ricoh Certified Services Provider through CHAMPS program
Welcome Back!
Grohe Improves How Work Gets Done; Cuts Costs with Xerox Managed Print Services
Konica Minolta Releases Automated Workflow Solution for Financial Documents
Its Time For A Print Audit
New SmarTech Report Projects that 3D Printing to Generate $1.4 billion in Plastics Sales in 2019
Epson Enhances Managed Print Service Offerings through Validated Device Support Status with ECi FMAudit(R) Software
WOODHULL BECOMES RICOH CERTIFIED SERVICES PROVIDER THROUGH CHAMPS PROGRAM
RICOH AMERICAS CORPORATION RECEIVES EMC GLOBAL INNOVATION AWARD FOR GOVERNMENT WORKFLOW SOLUTION
Nikec Solutions upgrades its file sharing software to heighten document security and control
Ryan Atlanta, GA
Toshiba e-STUDIO306LP/RD30 Reduces Paper Consumption in Governmental Office
Tinkerine and PrinterWorks Partner to Launch Nationwide Managed 3D Print Services
Bend Mapping Scanning Sales Grow by 50% with Contex HD iFLEX Scanner
Global Engineering Firm Invests More Than $700,000 In A Kofax Accounts Payable Automation Solution
Middlebury saved $2,500 by joining cooperative to buy map copier
Alisah
ONE Awesome Way to Seperate Yourself From Other Copier Reps!
Stratasys Objet30 OrthoDesk 3D Printer Selected by IDT Magazine as a Top-10 Technology Product for 2014
New Middletown schools copiers contract means big savings for district
New Ricoh/Xante Envelope Press
Re: 5 Reasons Why I Like Print Audit Best Over PaperCut
BTA Southeast & IBPI Partner to Host Consecutive Events
DocuWare and Objectif Lune Announce Connector
InnoMark Communications Targeting Efficiency in Comprehensive Production with EFI Radius Software
Portable High-Volume Production Scanners Make It Easy For Document Management Service Bureaus To Bring On-Site Scanning To Clients
Copier Reps Can Pay it Forward Also
5 Reasons Why Cold Calling is NOT Dead
Meet the Constitution legal brochure.docx
Re: RICOH BRINGS ‘CLOUD PRINT’ TO BUSINESS-CLASS MFPS
Re: The Death of the 48, 60 and 66 Month Lease
Re: The Death of the 48, 60 and 66 Month Lease
The Death of the 48, 60 and 66 Month Lease
The Labeltape Group Installs Epson SurePress to Deliver Short-Run Solution with High Color Quality to Broad Range of Customers
Masergy Featured in CRN's Annual Network Connectivity Services Partner Program Guide
Newest-version EFI Fiery proServer Creates a 7X Speed Improvement in Inkjet Graphics File Processing
Micheley
GE
Re: ONE Awesome Way to Seperate Yourself From Other Copier Reps!
Re: New Products
Re: Scan to Hosted Exchange
College Park Aviation Museum Preserves History with a Contex IQ FLEX Flatbed Scanner
History Captured in High-Res Makes for Eye-Catching Displays
Chantilly, VA — July 23, 2019 — Contex, the world leader in large format scanning, today announces that the College Park Aviation Museum recently installed a Contex IQ FLEX flatbed scanner. The College Park Aviation Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, is a top aviation destination in the Washington, DC area. Located at the College Park Airport, the world’s oldest continually operating airport, the museum boasts a vast collection of local aviation history dating back to 1909, including over 10,000 documents, photographs, and other historical materials.
The museum staff acquired a Contex large format flatbed scanner to preserve that history and make its collection — especially fragile materials — easily available to visitors, researchers, and other interested parties. The assets are also used for museum displays and marketing materials.
“Our museum collection has a large number of photographs, maps, handbooks, and newspapers, among other items, some of which are not on display because they are too delicate. With the Contex scanner, we can digitally preserve these valuable pieces and make them available online for interested parties,” comments Laura Baker, Curator of Collections, College Park Aviation Museum.
“Many museums choose Contex scanners for the important function of preserving history,” comments Steve Blanken, General Manager, Contex Americas. “In addition to producing museum-grade images for preservation, the scanner is also one of the most efficient, even with the most delicate material.”
The Contex IQ FLEX is ideal for digitizing oversized and fragile originals, as well as scanning books, textiles, and artwork. The IQ FLEX also simplifies book scanning with the use of a wizard helper. Users can scan material up to double the size of the A2/C-size glass plate, including A1/D-size originals. With an optical resolution up to 1200 dpi, the flatbed scanner produces sharp images even at large sizes.
For more information, visit a www.contex.com or send email to salesamericas@contex.com.
About Contex
As the world’s leading developer and producer of large format imaging solutions, Contex leads the market with innovative technology and advanced scan and copy software applications. Sold worldwide in more than 90 countries, Contex solutions are recognized in a wide range of industries for reliability, value, high performance, and superb image quality. For more information, please visit www.contex.com.
OMG, it's a Brother "Part 4"
It's been about three months since my trip to Itex 2019 where I had the chance to meet Peter (birth full brother) for the first time. Yup, there's been a lot to digest since Ancestry gave me that DNA hit for a full brother.
Just a few days ago I have the chance to meet Pete's daughter (my niece), she flew out to NJ with her Aunt. Such a smart girl for 11 eleven years old. We had the chance to go out to dinner and after dinner I took them over to Sandy Hook so they could have some fun with the Atlantic Ocean. Later that evening I brought them to my shop where she helped herself to some of the shell jewelry that I make. A great time for someone who was small on family.
DNA Connections
Speaking of small on family my Ancestry DNA connections to date stands at 10,100! WFT, I went from 3 to more than 10K after taking the test.
During the last three months I've always dome my fair share or digging in Ancestry. Not sure if you remember from the first blog I wrote, but I made mention that I had received a non redacted copy of my birth certificate a few years ago. Two years of search birth, death, marriage and baptism records turned up ZERO. These two people did not exist or maybe they were part of a coverup, better yet may they were sequestered away and given new identities from the Government? The thought even crossed my mind since I was born in NJ and am of Italian heritage that maybe there was some type of mob thing going on? Those crazy thoughts can go through your head when you're left with dead ends.
Thanks to Ancestry they will list DNA matches for "close family" members which could be an Aunt or an Uncle. Moving down the list are peeps listed as "first cousins", then "second cousins" they'll even list all the way to eighth cousins.
Ancestry also gives you the ability to PM those peeps and then it's up to that person if they'd like to respond.
Private Eye
Here's what I found after playing private eye and fitting the pieces of the puzzle together for who were my birth parents. When you get to a certain age you'd like to know because of medical reasons. The only thing I had to go on was the medical history of my twin. He passed almost twenty years ago.
The key person in all of this was my 92 year old aunt (my birth mothers sister) that is still living in Florida. I was not able to speak with her since she is not in the best of health. But through Ancestry I was able to connect with one of her granddaughters who did some digging for me. She also gave me my aunt's maiden name. This was huge!
With Ancestry all you need is a few names, a few places, and a few chats and the jumble of people pieces can start to come together.
Ready? So my birth parents fibbed about their last names (not their first names), can you imagine that? Lying to someone in the hospital about your names, guessing there was no medical coverage at the time and no one was asking for ID's? Thus the reason that these two people did not exist on google or anywhere else.
Birth Mother
Birth mothers last name was Casazza and not Gall as the birth certificate stated. She did not fib about her first name which is Dorothy. That real last name was a huge help because I was then able to see birth, death, census and marriage records of other peeps in the family. In a month or I so I was able to find out that my birth mother had three additional sisters. In addition I was able to find my birth grandparents (long deceased). Thus I kept PM'ing other cousins and found out more about my birth mother. She was married in the late 30's and her husband went off for WW2. They had three children (these would be my half siblings) two boys and one girl. At time my half sister is deceased and maybe another brother (can't clarify). There is one half brother alive and living in Florida. Keep in mind that these siblings were born in the forties. Thus my birth mothers husband survives WW2 comes home and leaves his wife for another woman. First STUNNER! My birth mother then gives two of the siblings (brother and sister) up to an orphanage and the other brother goes to one of her sisters. This is all happening in NJ.
It's now the 50's and my birth mother is still in New Jersey. Through others I heard she had a wicked sense of humor and was very creative. My birth mother passed about 25 years ago in NJ. The cool thing is that I do have a picture of her (at least I think i do).
Birth Father
Construction in New Jersey, born in Nebraska, first name is Nicholas, all of that is true. The fib was the last name again. Last name on my birth certificate was Conti.
I forgot to state this earlier my 92 year old aunt had her DNA on Ancestry. Now I find that amazing because you just don't see that many profiles of elderly people on Ancestry. I'm thinking that maybe she wanted to be found because she knew her sister gave up three additional children for adoption in the 50s. Me, my twin brother (Tony) and Pete. Frak, it's the only thing that seemed logical to me.
Right, back the DNA stuff. For months I was at a stale mate with my birth fathers side of the family. I had some hints, some ideas but nothing rock sold with a DNA hit. The construction worker, came from Nebraska and the first name Nicholas. Wait for it.........my sons first name is Nicholas! I tell ya it gets crazy.
K, so I have a couple of leads and those leads are pointing me to this one family in Bergen County, NJ. But with no DNA hit and the some of the last names not matching exactly it was a crap shoot. I did have some help with a third cousin who had a huge family tree and that's where I got many of my leads for possible family members. I'm thinking it was about six weeks ago and a new close DNA match of a first cousin came up on Ancestry. Sure enough that DNA match pulled together the rest of the family puzzle. My birth fathers last name was Biancullo. So, there you have it both last names of both birth parents.
Husband & Wife?
Now it gets creepy. That would be a no. Seems like my birth father had an extended affair with my birth mother in the middle 50's. Could have went on longer but getting info out of my birth fathers side of the family difficult to say the least. My birth father passed about 15 year ago in NJ. Turns out he had eight children with his wife (that's eight more half brothers and sisters), and with some digging on ancestry I believe his father had 12 brothers and sisters (not exactly sure). Thus 8 half brothers and sisters on the fathers side, 3 more on the mothers side along with Pete, Tony and me. WTF!
One other note my birth father was 47 years old and my birth mother was 35 years old when I was born. Just thought I'd through that in because.....
DNA does not lie. Ain't that the truth.
I think it was about four weeks ago when I had a message from someone on facebook. It was a reply to the picture that I posted on facebook of Peter and I in Vegas at Itex2019. The message was "I guess this makes me your cousin". Well that was enough for me to respond and indeed this person was my cousin. One of the peeps that I had connected with on Ancestry did some research also and pointed him to me with my contact information. Guess he did some searching like I did on Facebook. Facebook is also an incredible resource that helped me.
We messaged a few times through Facebook, and he offered to chat on the phone and gave me his cell. I called and we spoke for at least an hour if not longer. He is the son of one my birth fathers daughters, however he also got adopted out in the mid sixties. He wasn't able to find out his family until he got his non redacted birth certificate from the State of New Jersey also. His however did have the correct last name of his birth mother. Thus here's a guy who had done all of the research on my birth fathers side of the family.
One of the talk tracks that I remember is that Bergen County, NJ at one time was kinda know as the Adoption Train in NJ. Since that area was populated with many Italians, abortion for pregnancies was not an option. Thus most children were adopted out at birth or right after. Praise the lord for no abortions!
Another statement that was made is that we (Pete, Toy, me and him) were the lucky ones. Why you might ask? Well seems like the birth fathers side of the family had some issues and I'll leave it at that.
This is where I was floored.....he told me that he wasn't sure that my father was a "made man" but was a "connected guy". Remember when I started this blog and I made mention of my initial thoughts why I couldn't find them?
I can only think that I may have more half brothers and sisters out there because some of the peeps that I connected with on Ancestry have no recollection of the family names I mentioned.\
I'd also like to say that I've connected with a few cousins and many nieces and nephews and all of them have been awesome in helping me in my journey. Finally it puts the rest the mystery that I was carrying for 59 years. I can still remember me and Tony in the back seat of a car rolling down the New Jersey Turnpike. We asked where are we going (we had just left our foster home, which we thought was our real home), we were told we were on our way to meet our new parents. Looking back that was one of the best moments in my life, me and my bro going to a loving couple that would nurture and raise us to become what we are today.
-=Good Selling=-
Special Report from Ray! (Video)
Geesh, do I write the forward before or after the video?
Will, The Imaging Channel's Private Equity run out of toner and stop printing money?
With the lack of dialogue in the Imaging Channel regarding the situation, Clover finds itself. I wanted to share more thoughts and concerns for the Imaging Channel. I also believe the Imaging Channel is not alone, and other technology reseller verticals will face challenges of their own as Private Equity reexamines what they thought they knew.
Private Equity will begin auditing market realities amid Clover (4L Holdings) apparent troubles. The Investments in the declining industry of print equipment and service resellers without diversification has always puzzled me. Private Equity continues making short term bets that another P/E group will bail them out at a higher price than the one they bailed out. The time is fast approaching where the buyers will securitize the realities of the market, and investors will stop making those bets.
My friends, when a billion-dollar organization fails to get funding the examinations on those remaining in its industry will be forensic. Investors do indeed chase and gamble for high returns. However, once there is a significant failure, they will pick up their chips and go to another table. So, Caution! To those with too many chips on the table, or those who have high credit lines with banks.
Everything is excellent when investments align with markets, but when the market gets out of alignment, the investors go to another market.
The industry is heading in the direction which should scare all logical people into focusing on market realities and then change the game being played. Dealers have to develop strategies which allow them to capitalize and profit off the decline in print, and they must diversify.
The industry's obsession to continue overselling A3, to ignore competitive threats, and operate on outdated processes will expedite the ending of their relevance. The Imaging Channel must stop chasing revenue at all cost, or that too will cost them their future.
"A company becomes obsolete when they focus on delivering the past to the future instead of delivering the future to the present."
So, as your status quo, competition continues chasing revenue with no regards to profit or keeps buying each other with no diversification strategy. Be different and sell based on market realities. Become a customer-centric organization and change the game. Look for partners who have imagination and won't hold you to programs built from memories. Join new peer groups in adjacent industries and stop doing the same things you were doing in 2000. Remember, my friends; the future is easier to navigate for those who have been there in their mind first.
"Disruptions are a result of tired industries who feel more comfortable being complacent that challenging themselves to create the new relevance."
"Status quo is the killer of all that will be invented"
Send me a Linkedin invite if you wish to connect. Also, I invite all to subscribe to my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channe...A?view_as=subscriber
Ray Stasieczko
MSP Industry Notes for July 21, 2019
Each week we'll be giving you a round up of MSP activity. This is my first attempt and this and as time marches forward we'll expand and get better. Thus for the next month the content will be open for all to view, read and comment. PDF is available for Premium Members
MSP Industry Notes
July 15th, 2019
CGI is awarded major managed and IT contract for Public Transportation Administration in Stockholm.
- The value of the contract is about 900 million Swedish Krona ($900 million US Dollars)
- Includes IT management, proactive end-point management, consultancy services, end-user and cyber security services
lot Managed Services Market will grow at a CARG of 20.% in terms of revenue for 2018-2026 according to Persistance Market research
Microsoft has selected Aryaka as one its first partner for managed services provider program. https://www.fiercetelecom.com/...ice-provider-program
Vion a cloud service provider launches Vion Cloud Enterprise
- Better able to provide clients with the public cloud experience they want behind their firewall
- Allows clients to manage multi-cloud environments from a single cloud platform
- Simplifies the entire multi-cloud management experience
Logically Strengthens Senior Management Team
- Names Karl Noone as Chief Financial Officer
- Noone responsible for finance operations, accounting, financial planning and recruiting
- Previously served as SVO & Corporate Controller for Global Capacity
- Logically is Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) for small & midsize organizations
ThinPrint Launches Cloud Partner Program for Micrsoft CSPs
- New partner model is designed for cloud service providers to integrate ThinPrint’s ezeep for Windows Desktop into their services portfolio
- ThinPrint is being presented at Micro Inspire 2019 in Las Vegas
- Goal is to enable Mircosoft Cloud service providers to easily add professional printing support to their services
Great America Launches Enhanced Private-Label Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) Solution Collabrance MSSP Offering help IT Solution Providers
- Collabrance Master MSSP to provide end-user clients with different cyber security components the seek
- Help progressive IT providers differentiate in the IT channel
- Portfolio includes several components designed to help IT providers offer subscriber clients cyber security
Fujitsu and GE Research Join LF Edge as Premier Members to Propel Open Source Innovation
- Launched in January 2019, LF Edge is comprised of five projects
- Akraino Edge Stack
- EdgeX Foundry
- Home Edge
- Open Glossary of Edge Computing
- Project EVE
Support emerging edge applications across areas as non-traditional vide and connected things that require lower latency, faster processing and mobility
Joins a growing roster of 70 plus current members
TPx Receives 2019 Unified Communication Product of the Year Award
- Award honors most innovative communication products and solutions
- Integrates several functions and third-party applications into a single function app
- UCx desktop and mobile apps, users are able to call, chat, video conference, start interactive meeting from anywhere
DataBank Deploys Expansion if its Pittsburgh Data Center
- 1500kW of 2N critical UPS IT capacity
- Supplements 400kW of N+1 IT load capacity on first floor N+1, including upgraded rooftop heat rejection equipment
- New 1500kW of IT load supported by two new 2500kW generators with 2N redundancy
- Utility power delivered through new 2N transformers served by DQL 23kVA primary utility service
- 250 Tons of N+1 cooling
- Customer space including office, conference and break rooms
Square Clover Launches Desktop Defenders, Endpoint Detection & Response for SMBs
- MNS offering. Desktop Defenders features advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) for SMBs
- EDR software provides immediate resolution to ransomware attacks, can restore a PC in minutes
Apiphani Selected as Enterprise Cloud Partner
- Selected by Dallas-Based Hunt Consolidation to host and manage their SAP Business Warehouse and Business Process & Consolidation
- 3 year contract
- Migration with included an inflight upgrade of the underlying HANA database and managed services
Align Ranked in World’s Most Elite 501 MSP Providers
- Winners are most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet
- Align is a global provider of technology infrastructure solutions
- 32 years offering IT services
- Headquarters in NYC and office in London, Chicago, San Francisco, Arizona, New Jersey Texas and Virginia
One Neck Ranked in World’s Most Elite 501 MSP Providers
- Winners are most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet
- One Neck placed in the top 20
- Offers full suite of hybrid IT solutions including cloud and hosting solutions, managed services, enterprise application management, advanced IT services and hardware
- 12 years offering services
Cloud Carib Ranked in World’s Most Elite 501 MSP Providers
- Winners are most elite, innovative and strategic IT service providers on the planet
- Ranked 150 out of 501
- Highest rated in both the Caribbean & Latin America
- Solutions range from complex bespoke dedicated cloud offerings to hybrid cloud services
Navisite and Alert Logic Provide New Managed Threat Detection
- Fully integrated portfolio of Managed Threat Detection and Remediation services for enterprise cloud clients
- Solution designed with a focus on intelligent threat detection
- Cyberattacks are more frequent
- Clients in need of help in mitigating risk if breach
Alaska Communications Awarded Multi-Million Dollard Contract
- Build high-capacity network in Alaska also to provide network services to major international telecommunications and its client
- 10 year contract and opportunity to extend for another ten years
- Alaska Communications is the leading provider of advanced broadband and managed IT services in Alaska
Acquisitions
- CompassMSP (Jacksonville) acquires GreenPoint (New Jersey)
- Techaisle survey found that 35% of MSP’s sees mergers or acquisitions in the next three years
-=Good Selling=-
Practice! Who Needs To Practice... Salespeople Need To Practice
"I know I'm supposed to be there, I know I'm supposed to lead by example. I know that. And I'm not shoving it aside like it don't mean anything. I know it's important. I do. I honestly do. But we're talking about practice, man. What are we talking about? Practice? We're talking about practice, man!"
Allen Iverson
What a fantastic quote which reminds me of a past blog... Can You Imagine A Professional Athlete Operating With A Sales Reps Mindset?
The roadmap to success for elite athletes is based upon hard work, dedication, personal ownership and how it's all applied. Athletes understand they must commit themselves to all facets of training. They take extreme ownership, holding themselves accountable to the process.
A growth mindset is such a critical component to the success of an elite athlete and a sales professional.
What separates an average athlete from an average sales rep? Millions of dollars and their mindset.
PRACTICE... the separation point between elite athletes and average sales reps.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
Will Durant
Think about what it takes to move from being ordinary to extraordinary. Think about what it takes to move from being a sales rep to becoming a sales professional. It starts with transformation, accepting you can do better and developing the mindset to do better.
Transform your thinking from sales rep to sales professional. I encourage you to think of the sales profession as a work of art and handle it with care.
Immerse yourself in your work, become fully engaged. Transform your mind to one of growth. As this happens, you improve your ability to grow. As you grow yourself you grow your career. The opposite is to disconnect, settling for complacency.
PRACTICE IS THE DIFFERENTIATOR
Sales professionals practice, sales reps find excuses
A basketball game isn’t won on the court. The game is won in the days, weeks, months and off-season work leading up to the 48 minutes of actual playing time.
Elite athletes win with preparation. They watch film, memorize plays, hit the gym and eat properly.
This all leads me to asking all of you...
- How well are you preparing?
- How well are you practicing?
- How well are you planning?
The lie you tell yourself, "But, I practice on the job."
Kobe Bryant saw Los Angeles at 4:00 A.M. Michael Jordan was the first person on the court and the last one off. Magic Johnson was the true definition of a work horse. It was his work ethic, growth mindset and his commitment to practice that made him one of the best basketball players of all time.
I'm concerned with how many in sales struggle so much with practice. I'm concerned how many sales managers fail miserably at holding their team accountable to practice.
Why has PRACTICE become a nasty eight letter word?
What are you doing to become the best you can be? In sales, you don't have the luxury of an off-season to condition your mind or body. You don't have 3 months off to prepare for the season long grind.
CONSISTENT PRACTICE
Consistency, this separates elite athletes from good athletes. The ability to go out there, day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out for years is simply incredible.
The same can be said for top sales professionals versus average sales reps.
- Consistent practice
- Consistent planning
- Consistent prospecting
What makes elite athletes and top sales professionals so consistent?
It's methodical preparation in every aspect of what they do including physical conditioning, practice, technique, tactics, mental aspects, nutrition, sleep, and on-going learning.
Consistently great performances comes from consistency in practice.
Unfortunately, I see a disconnect between elite athletes and those in sales. Elite athletes have great coaches. Can the same be said for sales people?
How many sales can honestly say their managers make great coaches?
PRACTICE HAVING A GROWTH MINDSET
If you aren't willing to help yourself and practice then how can you help your clients do better business?
LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR
Many of you are portrayed as egomaniacs with a “do whatever it takes to close the deal” mentality and "I'm above this thing called practice." There's always some truth to stereotypes.
Ego can also hinder one from sales growth.
In today’s highly connected, digitally driven and socially empowered business world; highly assertive, a know-it-all mentality combined with super-charged egos will be the kiss of sales death.
“A huge ego is a sales growth buzz-kill”
Top performing sales professionals, the true superstars – sell from the heart, are the open-minded, curious, collaborative, vulnerable, open to learning and practice. These sales professionals have humility and operate without any deception whatsoever. This is a direct conflict to the behavior of ego-driven salespeople.
PRACTICE BECOMING BETTER LISTENERS
Seeking to understand goes a long way. Too many of you listen just long enough to spew out crapola. Listen with intent to understand and learn. Practice at genuinely being interested in helping your clients for their reasons not yours.
- Listen for clues and look out for problems affecting their business
- How could you fix these problems?
- What potential implications could this have to them?
PRACTICE BECOMING BETTER AT PROSPECTING
Point blank... how can you call yourself a sales professional when many of you simply believe prospecting is beneath you? This blows my freaking mind.
I get it. Prospecting is a challenge. Many of you aren’t very good at it. Why? Because you haven’t cultivated the right habits and you've failed to practice.
"Sales reps have hypnotized themselves into believing what they aren't doing doesn't work"
It deeply saddens me that most sales reps lack the fundamental skills necessary around practice and prospecting.
Ask a sales rep the hardest part of their job and if they're honest they'll will utter the word, PROSPECTING.
If one fails to practice at the single most important aspect of their job then how can one achieve a consistent level of success?
A true professional continually practices the art of prospecting as they keep their sales and relationship funnel full of opportunities. They divide their time between selling, prospecting and taking care of their clients. Those professionals who crush their quotas are fully dedicated to prospecting. The primary differentiator of today’s successful sales reps is their ability to prospect.
PRACTICE, THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
Elite athletes and sales professionals who achieve extraordinary results put in more hours of practice than the average. While their performances, outcomes and what they do are remarkable, there's no mystery how this was developed. They practiced beyond the average ordinary individual.
If you want to reach the next level in your sales career, it’s imperative you spend more time preparing and more time practicing. It’s foolish to say it is all about working smarter, not harder. If you really want to win in sales, you have to work harder and smarter.
Don't be an Allen Iverson!
I understand and I get it. I get where you all are coming from. Every day, I walk in your shoes. I'm fully committed to helping your sales team integrate social aspects through the eyes of a practitioner into your current sales process to grow new business. I want you to get results. This is why I am passionate about doing this the right way, the genuine way, the authentic way! It's about understanding value before visibility.
Selling From the Heart is making a difference! I poured my heart into every page of this book and I think you're going to love it. You can find it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. You can click on the book image below and this will take you to Amazon.
I encourage you to find out more about Selling From The Heart.
In a world full of empty suits, I'm passionate about helping sales reps succeed by getting valuable before they get visible. I help sales teams understand the true value they bring to the market.
I appreciate getting the opportunity to share my stories. Integrating the use of social and sharing my story on LinkedIn was my “game-changer” in the highly competitive office technology world. With great pride I transform, challenge, coach and inspire sales teams to grow new business by helping them share their story and how they communicate it out by integrating the use of social inside the sales process. You can follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter and on my podcast by clicking on Selling from the Heart.