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IT Pros: exclusive shows await you on Patreon, focusing on the more challenging aspects of running your practice and working with clients and employees.


637: Lost in the Cloud: Flyers, Reviews, and Resetting Reality

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts reconnect for a public episode featuring casual banter and professional insights. Discussions range from optimal microphone placement for virtual backgrounds, humorously recounting past advertising endeavors, to moving children into college. The main focus, however, addresses IT and consultancy challenges including issues with ISP connections using Unify, effective marketing strategies, customer experience, generating client reviews, and the impact of AI on IT solutions. The hosts share personal anecdotes and valuable tips for both seasoned consultants and newcomers in the field.

* The hosts discuss microphone placement and virtual backgrounds, referencing advice from Justin Esgar.

* Reflections on physical advertising: subway-style ads, banners at trade shows, flyers on community boards, and the effectiveness of old-school marketing versus digital targeting.

* Personal stories about getting clients from bulletin board flyers, local fairs, and classified ads.

* The evolution of client acquisition: from random, local encounters to digital, highly-targeted leads and the importance of being listed in the Apple Consultants Network (ACN) locator.

* The changing landscape of referrals: Google search, ACN locator, and even ChatGPT as a source of new clients.

* The role of reviews: how to ask for them, where to post them (Google, Yelp, ACN), and the impact of both positive and negative reviews.

* Anecdotes about difficult client interactions, especially around technical misunderstandings and device resets.

* Technical discussion: using Unifi’s custom SLA (Service Level Agreement) settings to reduce false internet outage alerts, and the value of tools like Uptime Robot.

* Brief mention of AI note-taking and its environmental impact, with a plan to discuss this further in a future episode.

* Closing thanks to listeners and patrons, with a reminder about Patreon benefits.

Best Of CCP - 403: I Hope You Find Honest Work One Day

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, thaey discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

628: Apple WWDC 2026 Highlights, 1Password for MSP’s & The Ongoing UniFi 6GHz Wi-Fi Debate

Cirrus Partners

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts discuss recent Apple updates, including the new liquid glass feature and macOS support schedules up to 2028. They share their insights on the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) announcements and speculate on client feedback regarding OS support timelines. The conversation also delves into technical aspects and user experiences with Unifi’s six-gigahertz WiFi, highlighting troubleshooting steps like disabling the 6GHz band for improved stability. The team also touches on seamless transitions to 1Password MSP, comparing pricing and feature benefits. Through the exchange, they offer practical advice for managing both client and personal tech infrastructures as they keep an eye on emerging technologies and services.

00:00 Introduction and Recent Show Recap

00:25 Apple's Liquid Glass Announcement

00:45 macOS Support Timeline Discussion

04:10 Liquid Glass Early Impressions

06:35 MDM Migration Functionality

09:01 FileVault and MDM Enhancements

10:33 Intel Macs and macOS Tahoe Compatibility

13:32 Client Perspectives on Mac Longevity

26:39 Mac Mini Model Years Overview

27:36 Challenges with Mac Mini Hardware

28:11 Using Mac Mini for Various Tasks

30:26 Client Support and OS Upgrades

36:23 One Password MSP Transition

48:47 UniFi System Issues and Solutions

52:46 Conclusion and Farewell

627: Proving Chemistry: Sam & Jerry's Tech Talk

Proving Chemistry: Sam & Jerry's Tech Talk

In this episode of Command Control Power, Sam and Jerry address listener feedback about their on-air chemistry and dive into a variety of tech discussions. Sam talks about his recent MacBook Pro M4 upgrade and the challenges he faced during the data migration process. The duo discusses the importance of maintaining and justifying tech expenses, with Sam sharing his strategy of integrating different services using Hudu for efficient billing and management. Jerry shares a humorous support call mix-up, stressing the importance of communication. The episode also touches on VPN solutions using Ubiquiti's Teleport and the surprising endurance of legacy technologies like the iPod. Throughout, Sam and Jerry explore the nuances of staying relevant and efficient in tech consulting while maintaining client satisfaction.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:56 Mac Migration Woes

02:11 Challenges with Migration Assistant

03:16 Time Machine Backup Struggles

07:05 Choosing the Right MacBook

10:18 Travel Tales and Personal Insights

14:42 Client Challenges and Security Concerns

17:52 User Training and Security Solutions

28:42 Microsoft Signatures and Email Platforms

29:13 Balancing Technology Costs

30:04 Subscription Services and Expense Management

31:36 Cutting Costs and Employee Tools

34:21 Old Work Stories and Company Policies

40:16 Travel Gadgets and Recommendations

48:25 Client Management and Documentation Tools

50:59 Funny Client Interaction

53:33 Conclusion and Sign Off

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