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Best Of CCP - 165: Interview With Matt Woestehoff of Foundation in Minneapolis

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Recorded July 19, 2016

CCP welcomes Matt Woestehoff Director of Business Development and Operations of The Foundation in Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Quoting Matt's Bio On The Foundation website: "Presenter, listener, growth engineer. I work with companies who understand the value of thinking ahead. We build a strong technological base so that you can Get Back to Work. We help acquire, deploy, and manage iPads, build network infrastructures to support thousands, and help entrepreneurs build their dreams. Born as Apple fan-boys, now recognizing brand-agnostic solutions for any business need. That said, we tend to work with creative agencies. Why? Because we get it. It's what we do."

You can reach Matt via email: matt@fndtn.com

On Twitter Follow The Foundation @thefndtn 

623: When Updates and Integration Go Awry: A Case Study

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In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts tackle a series of tech frustrations including missed live streams, troublesome iPhone camera features, and challenges with Apple TV and Hulu apps. They dive into a detailed rant about modern tech devices failing to work seamlessly, share personal anecdotes of encountering pop-up errors and software compatibility issues, and discuss potential solutions. Special segments include difficulties with remote work, the quirks of Notifications and Permissions in macOS, and the ongoing struggle with the Malwarebytes and Addigy integration. The discussion wraps with user interaction nuances and a nostalgic thank you to a decade-long listener.

00:00 Introduction and Apologies

00:19 Technical Difficulties and Live Stream Issues

00:34 Joe's Haircut and Visual Gags

01:31 Camera Control Button Rant

08:24 Dinner and Hulu Troubles

09:40 General Tech Frustrations

12:51 Coordination Problems in Tech

17:01 Malwarebytes and Agy Integration

17:50 Confusing Security Popups

19:00 User Reactions and Issues

20:23 Malwarebytes and Agy Coordination

20:40 Jerry's Experience with the Issue

25:01 Apple's Notification System

36:22 Remote Desktop Control Challenges

39:26 Listener Appreciation and Conclusion

619: Mac Misfires, Backblaze Blues, and the Cost of Bad Support

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In this episode, the hosts of Command Control Power discuss their personal lives and tech experiences, including outdoor activities and everyday tech issues. They delve into a peculiar issue one encountered with a MacBook Pro during an update, which turned out to be related to Dell Display Manager. The conversation also covers Backblaze backup anomalies, Apple's migration assistant quirks, and problematic customer service interactions with vendors like Microsoft and RingCentral. To wrap up, the team reflects on the importance of considering user behavior in quality assurance for tech products and services.

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

00:54 Unexpected MacBook Pro Issue

03:33 Dell Display Manager Mystery

05:27 Annoying Software Bugs

08:48 Client Troubleshooting Story

17:55 Apple Watch Repair Misunderstanding

23:48 Backblaze Exclusions and Concerns

25:13 MacBook Air Story and Backup Issues

26:32 Backblaze Deduplication and Support

28:15 Trust Issues with Backblaze

30:48 Considering Alternative Backup Solutions

33:53 Client Concerns and Backup Costs

41:48 RingCentral and Phone Services

49:39 Quality Assurance in Tech

52:18 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Invitation

616: Backblaze Blues, Alectrona Patch Updates & the MacBook Air That Took Flight

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Cirrus Partners

The hosts of Command Control Power discuss recent issues with Backblaze, including failed updates and poor communication, which have eroded trust among users. They delve into the technical struggles with Apple's update processes and highlight improvements to the Electronic Patch software. Jerry shares a personal story about accidentally leaving his MacBook Air on top of his car and the ensuing repair saga, illustrating the importance of awareness and preparedness in the IT field. The episode wraps up with a reflection on the frustrations and foibles that come with managing tech in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:12 Backblaze Recap: Communication and QA Issues

01:32 Backblaze Update Problems and User Confusion

03:03 Backblaze's Compromised Credentials and Communication Breakdown

05:41 Inconsistent Communication and Crowdsourcing Solutions

18:18 Apple's QA Issues and Update Problems

33:01 General Frustrations with Technology and Education

35:45 AI Tools for Coders

36:14 Introducing Trona Patch 3.0

36:50 Customizing Patch Notifications

37:23 Client Reactions to Patch

39:39 New Features in Patch 3.0

46:51 Balancing Notifications and Updates

50:39 A Funny Anecdote

51:02 The MacBook Air Incident

55:04 Restoring from Backup

01:00:49 Final Thoughts and Thanks

615: Boutique Consultancy: Balancing High-Touch Service and Growth

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Boutique Consultancy: Balancing High-Touch Service and Growth

In this episode, the discussion revolves around the concept of boutique consultancy, highlighting the benefits of providing a personalized, high-touch service over rapid, automated responses. The conversation delves into the comparison between boutique firms and large-scale competitors, focusing on client satisfaction versus cost-saving strategies. Drawing parallels to Apple's business approach, the discussion extends to the evolution of consulting within the tech industry, emphasizing the importance of intelligent strategy over mere ticket resolutions. The conversation wraps up with practical insights into asset management, device lifecycle strategies, and the challenges and experiences of running a consultancy.

00:00 Introduction to Boutique Consultancy

01:31 The Apple Business Model as a Muse

03:14 The Role of Consulting in Managed Services

08:00 Challenges and Strategies in Client Management

09:22 Team Size and Economic Factors

12:03 Contract Structures and Pricing Strategies

21:25 Analytical Skills and Personal Background

25:51 Personal Time and Future Plans

28:36 Balancing Work and Family Life

29:13 Holiday Plans and Skiing Adventures

30:56 Generational Differences in Technology

33:25 Sustainable Business Practices

36:43 Lifecycle Management of Devices

42:01 Challenges and Strategies in Hardware Sales

47:16 The Importance of Client Relationships

49:31 Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements