Getting Specific
Four ‘High-Resolution’ Resolutions for Your MSP in 2023
It’s the end of January, that time of year when gyms and produce sections get a little less crowded. Those ‘get in shape’ and ‘eat better’ resolutions are weakening. What was resolved has now all but dissolved, and many of us are right back to our old bad habits.
As an MSP owner, you likely made some New Year’s business resolutions. That’s great! But you know what’s even better? Sticking to those resolutions and actually making the changes you envisioned when the clock struck midnight and you geared up for a big 2023.
In this blog post, we’re going to talk about why people so often fail at keeping their resolutions, and then we’re going to apply what we’ve learned to help you, the MSP owner, form ‘high-resolution’ resolutions you’ll actually stick with.
The Plague of the Vague
It’s easy to form resolutions at the start of a new year, but oh-so-difficult to stick with them. This is partly due to the fact that making a to-do list is a whole lot easier than checking off the items. But there’s more to it than that …
Research shows that less than 10% of adults stick to their New Year’s resolutions for more than a few months. Although that’s not a particularly inspiring statistic, there’s a reason why people fizzle out on their goals — well, multiple reasons, but we’re going to focus on one big one here: specificity.
More precisely, most people set goals that are too big and broad. Instead of resolving to eat salad for lunch three times a week, we aim to “eat healthy” or “lose twenty pounds.” But by choosing the loftier goal, instead of the smaller, more specific goal, we sabotage our chances of success. Why’s that?
Because of how we’re wired! Human beings aren’t good at making radical, sweeping changes. But we do quite well with small, incremental changes. So if you’re already starting to slide on some of the resolutions you made for your MSP in 2023, ask yourself:
Are my goals too broad? Are my resolutions lacking in specificity?
If your resolutions are on the broad side (they probably are), change them to be more specific. To help you out, we’ve taken four New Year’s resolutions that MSPs are likely to pursue, and for each one, chiseled it down to a more manageable and specific form.
We hope these ‘higher-resolution’ resolutions give you a clearer idea of what it means to get specific with your goals.
Higher-Resolution #1 – Leverage Automation Automate Patch Management
Perhaps you resolved to leverage automation in 2023 to propel your MSP forward. Not a bad goal, but a bit vague. Instead, how about resolving to enlist automation in one or two specific areas of your MSP business? Our suggestion: automate patch management if you haven’t done so already.
With 57% of ransomware attacks stemming from unpatched software, patch management is a critical component of your security posture, and a pivotal part of protecting your clients’ data. So don’t depend on the willingness of clients to stay on top of security updates and to do so in a timely manner. Rather, automate the process so that your clients can stay a step ahead of the latest threats without having to lift a finger.
Higher-Resolution #2 – Strengthen Cybersecurity Posture Implement End User Security Awareness Training
According to Verizon, 85% of breaches involve a human element – or more simply, people getting tricked! In short, the weakest link in your MSP’s cybersecurity isn’t a piece of technology; it’s the human beings behind the technology. End users in particular are, with their dangerous downloading and careless clicking, an Achilles heel in even the most robust cybersecurity stack.
The best way to shore up your security, then, is to focus in on the weakest link: the people. Train your clients and your clients’ end users to be on the lookout for cyberattacks, especially phishing emails, which continue to wreak havoc in the business world.
Want to get even more specific? Don’t just resolve to hold training sessions, but schedule them. You can always add more – especially in response to emerging threats – but it’s good to have sessions on the calendar to get the ball rolling.
Higher-Resolution #3 – Invest in Marketing & Sales Publish One Blog Post a Week
MSPs that resolve to prioritize and invest in marketing and sales are on the right track – and a step ahead of many of their competitors. However, committing to marketing and sales is far too broad of a resolution, and we recommend replacing it with a more specific intention. There are so many possibilities for ‘specifying’ your marketing/sales goals, so think about what your MSP needs, and go from there.
But whatever resolutions you make, make them specific. Don’t, for instance, resolve to “boost your MSP’s online presence.” Instead, resolve to “boost your MSP’s online presence through regular blog posting.” Or better yet: “Boost your MSP’s online presence by publishing one blog post per week.”
It doesn’t have to be blog posting, but it has to be something – i.e., something specific that allows you to take actual steps toward bolstering your marketing and sales efforts. A resolution shouldn’t express what you want to achieve, but rather, how you want to achieve it.
Don’t have the time, energy, or expertise to level up your marketing/sales? Consider outsourcing your MSP’s marketing and/or sales efforts to a trusted firm with experience in the IT world. Handing over sales and marketing to professionals can make a world of difference, as many of The 20’s MSP members have learned, like Randy and Bill.
Higher-Resolutions #4 – Cultivate Entrepreneurial Knowledge Set Aside an Hour a Day for Learning & Reading
Did you know Warren Buffett spends five to six hours a day reading? It’s no coincidence that one of the most successful entrepreneurs and investors in human history is such a voracious reader. When it comes to sustained success in business, the name of the game is continuous learning and self-improvement. If you want to build a large and profitable MSP, take a page from Mr. Buffett’s book and set aside time each day to read, learn, and develop new skills.
The key here is to schedule it. Don’t just resolve to “read more” or “learn more”. Instead, schedule an hour (or whatever chunk of time is realistic for you) dedicated to your own intellectual growth. Your mind is your most powerful business asset, so keep it sharp in 2023 with a steady diet of written word and other educational content.
And for some good reading recommendations, check out this blog post.
Final Thought
Setting small goals isn’t as exciting as shooting for the stars, but it’s a lot more effective. If you can scale down your ambitions into bite-sized resolutions, your chances of actually sticking with your commitments go up dramatically.
And what is exciting is making real progress. So if there’s another piece of advice we have for MSP owners, it’s to track your progress. Measuring your progress provides that crucial feedback you need to stay motivated and engaged. And it’s like
Pearson’s Law (generally attributed to its namesake, the late statistician Karl Pearson) says: When performance is measured, performance improves.
Gearing up for a big 2023? Looking to grow and scale like never before? We encourage you to check out The 20. We help small and medium-sized MSPs grow, scale, and compete with much larger companies. Learn more about our game-changing approach to MSP growth here or schedule a call.