633: A Latte About Apple: Commando, Convos, and Coffee

In this episode of Command Control Power, Joe and Sam catch up after attending a confidential Apple Technical Summit. They discuss the event’s highlights, including networking opportunities and technical presentations. Sam shares his experience improving a client's old IT setup, moving them to modern managed services and security practices. Joe dives into his quest for an ideal phone solution with group SMS capabilities, ultimately considering sticking with RingCentral due to recent features supported by AI. The episode also touches on the importance and challenges of maintaining high-quality internet service at a fair price and explores the potential environmental impact of AI note-taking.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts Reunion

00:15 NDA Event and Apple Summit

01:31 Networking and Connections

03:01 San Jose and Big Basin Adventures

06:18 Technical Summit Insights

09:12 Funny Poolside Moments

11:03 Caseless Phones and Engineering Marvels

16:31 Coffee Talk and AeroPress Trivia

25:22 Billing Challenges and Solutions

28:29 Client Negotiations and Agreement

28:55 Email Security and Phishing

29:52 Security Training and Awareness

31:30 New Client with Technical Debt

33:45 Managed Services Plan Pitch

37:41 AI in Client Communication

38:32 Phone Service Saga

51:34 Optimum Fiber and Internet Deals

56:49 Concluding Thoughts and Future Topics

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.

629: Balancing Tech Support: Accessibility, Solo Entrepreneurship & Innovative Solutions with Adam Rice

In this episode of Command Control Power, the hosts are joined by returning guest Adam Rice of Ask Adam. They discuss the challenges and benefits of being a solo tech support consultant, including balancing large business clients with residential work. Adam shares his innovative equitable pricing model, designed to make tech support accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. The conversation also touches on tools like TailScale and Alectrona Patch, effective strategies for leveraging tech tools as a solo consultant, and the nuances of building and maintaining client trust in both residential and business settings.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back, Adam Rice!

00:28 Adam's Background and Living in Philadelphia

02:08 Residential vs. Business Clients

02:47 Solo Consulting and Family Involvement

06:45 Challenges of Hiring and Subcontracting

16:35 Marketing Strategies and Client Demographics

21:39 Private Equity and Client Stability

27:20 Navigating Business Without Contracts

28:33 Shifting Focus to Residential Clients

29:58 The Importance of Client Relationships

31:47 Discussing Business Rates and Models

32:54 Implementing Equitable Pricing

35:03 Challenges and Benefits of Sliding Scale Pricing

48:58 Tools and Techniques for Business Efficiency

57:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

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