Nothing Happens by Itself
Copyright © 2021 Karl W. Palachuk
|
|
Misunderstanding the Future |
|
In general, I'm a big fan of Kevin Kelly. He's one of the founders of Wired magazine and one of the creators of the original Whole Earth Catalog.
I've highlighted my favorite Kevin Kelly book on the right: What Technology Wants. ( Available on Amazon. Yes, that's an affiliate link.) Also available on Audible and Kindle.
This book tells a very compelling argument that evolution is headed toward a specific direction. Then he applies the same argument to technology. We're all familiar with the most common trends. Everything is getting smaller (becoming "less physical"), faster, and more capable.
And while I generally agree with his newer boo, The Inevitable, there are a few points where he seems to veer away from reality. In the newer book, Kelly looks at twelve trends that are currently shaping our future.
|
|
The trend I think he gets wrong here is the concept of sharing without limits. Perhaps it's the aging hippy in him that gets carried away.
There is a clear trend to always streaming. After all, old people have huge collections of CDs and DVDs (or, in my case, record albums) while young people subscribe to services and would never fill their house with physical objects that simply represent an older version of what they can get free online.
All of that is true. But where I think he goes wrong is extending this to a world where we somehow magically evolve to not desire any possessions because our online experience will merge into the physical world.
Why do I think he's wrong? Because I think possessing things is built into human nature. In the pandemic, many people stayed home and bought more junk online than they will ever need. We fill our closets with clothes we don't wear. We buy "stuff" for our yard and house that don't serve any real purpose except to make us smile (Which is enough, by the way).
Soon we will have an entire generation of adults who have never "owned" a physical manifestation of their music collection. But they still have a music collection. They tend it and organize it. They might even loan out some pieces of it. And although they don't own the music, they very much feel that they own the online collection.
In many ways, our lives and our personalities are reflected in the things we own. People take great pride in their collections of books, or cars, or furniture, or dead bugs. And while our online personality will move some possessions to the virtual world, it won't change human nature.
If we ever needed proof of this, look to the current trend for NFTs - non-fungible tokens. There might be a billion digital copies of a graphic. But you can own the original for only a few thousand dollars. It looks exactly like all the others - but you OWN it.
Have you read any of Kevin Kelly's stuff? I would love to hear your impressions.
-- -- --
BIG Zoom call this week. Please join us. As of Friday we had over 130 registered.
Meeting: The Future of IT - Organizing Meeting
Information, background, and links to the 22-page document and previous webinar are now at https://www.nsitsp.org.
Register to stay informed. Register for this Zoom call so you'll get a reminder.
|
|
Organizing Meeting Scheduled - July 21st
Zoom meeting. Everyone's welcome.
Wednesday, July 21st
9AM Pacific / Noon Eastern
-- -- --
|
|
Join me next week - July 29th - at SMB TechFest.
I'm doing a BRAND NEW presentation: Build a Priority-Based Service Department
|
|
No Calendar Updates this Week
. . . except to say that trips to the UK and Canada are very much up in the air. With the Delta variant going wild among the un-vaccinated crowd, travel may still be more trouble than it's worth.
BUT please note: The Providence, RI Roadshow on September 16th is 100% ON!
-- -- --
That's all the news that fits.
Have a great week.
-- Karl W. Palachuk
:-)
|
|
Social Media Deep Dive:
Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn
|
|
You only missed two weeks.
Sign up today, catch up,
and join us live tomorrow!
Deep Dive Into Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn
Course 5W24
Taught By: Karl W. Palachuk
Five Tuesdays
- All classes start a 9:00 AM Pacific
Part of the "Social Media Super-Charge" Series for Small Business
Did you know that Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn have all introduced new and potentially important features in the last month?
This course covers three of the largest and most important social media in great detail. In all cases, we present a thorough training on getting the most of these applications. And, for each, we talk about how that specific medium fits into your overall sales and marketing strategy.
This course takes each of the platforms in turn, but constantly reminds you to create an overall approach to branding and social media. Each platform has "secrets" and best practices that most casual users never see. We provide these secrets and best practices as a series of checklists. Some are specific to individual postings; some are based on a weekly or monthly schedule; and some have a larger, strategic approach.
Most small businesses "use" social media, but don't really have a strategy for using social media effectively. That strategy starts with understanding the strengths and weaknesses of various platforms. And it culminates with a unified approach to branding and how your company presents itself across a variety of platforms.
This course is taught by Karl W. Palachuk, a social media influencer who "touches" over one million people per month. Karl has been using these social media for more than ten years, and has demonstrated mastery across all of the major social media that small businesses need to be successful.
|
|
Weekly Agenda
Week 1: YouTube - Setup and Optimizing for Marketing
- “Google Properties” And Webmaster Tools
- Planning Your YouTube Strategy
- One Email; Multiple Brands
- Graphics and Branding
- Creator Studio
- Channel Settings
- Next-Level Branding
- Social Media Link
- Custom URLs
- Paid Membership Channel?
- Monetizing
Week 2: YouTube - Video Upload and Tagging
- Video Uploading Checklist
- End Screens and iCards
- Thumbnails
- Tags/Keywords
- Scheduling, Captions, and Chapter Headings
- Longer Videos
- Link to Adwords Account
- Analytics and Reports
- YouTube in the Big Strategy
Week 3: Facebook - Setup and Maximizing Results
- Facebook Personal and Business
- Graphics Revisited
- Pages and Groups
- Rules for Group Management
- Successful Posting / Cross-Posting
- YouTube in the Big Strategy
|
|
Week 4: LinkedIn - Setup and Effective Use
- LinkedIn Basics
- Three Levels of Connections
- The Greatest Profile Opportunity in Social Media
- Details and Options
- Overwhelm, Minimalist, or Super Niche?
- Sharing
- Fake Profiles Can Teach You a Lot
- Graphics and Branding
- Custom URL
- Premium Options
Week 5: LinkedIn - Optimizing for Sales
- Email Marketing – and Abuse
- Recommendations – Giving and Getting
- Posts, Articles, “Blogging” and Syndicating
- Groups
- Activities and Notifications
- All-Star Status
- Super Search
- LinkedIn in the Big Strategy
|
|
|
Only $299 per student
Delivered by Karl W. Palachuk
Karl W. Palachuk, blogger and author of the most popular books on managed services.
Includes five weeks of webinars with related handouts, assignments, and "office hours" with the instructor. All classes are recorded for download. All classes include suggested "homework" that is totally action-focused and intended to move your company's marketing forward.
This course is intended for business owners and managers. It is particularly useful for Sales Managers and Marketing Managers.
A Few Details . . .
- Each course will be five one-hour Zoom webinars
- There will be handouts and "homework" assignments
- Class webinars will be recorded and made available to paid attendees only.
- All calls start at 9:00 AM Pacific Time
|
|
All the Resources That Are Fit to Print |
|
Recent Blog Posts, Podcasts, and Videos |
|
Small Biz Thoughts Blog:
Relax Focus Succeed:
SMB Community Podcast - New episodes drop every Thursday
The Killing IT Podcast - New episodes drop every Tuesday
The Cheeky Sales Coach Podcast / Video - New episodes drop every Wednesday
.
|
|
Why Do Companies Hire Outsourced IT? |
|
Selected Recent Videos and Webinars:
Note: We started auto-posting the podcasts to YouTube. Those are not listed here as YouTube Videos since they're listed under the podcasts above.
A quick guide to my Playlists:
- Total: More than 750 videos on the Small Biz Thoughts channel
- 300+ SOP videos
- 80+ Relax Focus Success videos
Plus . . .
- Training, Courses, Seminars on Managed Services
- Product Reviews
- and more
|
|
Small Biz Thoughts Community News
SmallBizThoughts.org
|
|
Next Meeting Thursday: Review what your insurance company offers in cybersecurity training |
We are having a very informal "workshop" after the regular weekly meeting on Thursday (July 22) to share what our insurance companies are offering around cybersecurity.
In prep, please dig out your insurance docs (might be titled Business Insurance, or Liability Insurance, or maybe even your umbrella policy.
We're going to have a bit of "show and tell" to discuss what various companies are including - often with zero fanfare - in our insurance policies. Sadly, this has become an important piece of your business.
New Members: Be sure to join us!
The meeting link is always at the top of your dashboard.
|
-- -- --
Gil Cargill on the SBT Roundtable
On the first Thursday of the month, we hold a special event - The SBT Roundtable.
Our August 5th guest will be one of my favorite sales trainers - Gil Cargill. Gil is always educational and entertaining.
The link is always at the top of the community dashboard.
-- -- --
|
|
Members get free access to the SMB Roadshow!
Grab your discount code in the Community and register for free. Strangers pay full price; members always free.
As American Express reminds us, membership has its privileges.
-- -- --
Members get free classes! New members - remember that you get massive discounts on our classes over at Great Little Seminar. Monthly subscribers save $200 per student. Annual subscribers attend for free. Grab your discount code in the Community and then head to GLS to register for class.
If you need something, please post a question in a forum or email Kara (your Community Manager) or me.
:-)
|
|
My Local Pub
My favorite rule: No bad attitudes!
:-)
|
|
What's Here?
This calendar lists two kinds of things: LIVE in-person events from any organization that focuses on the SMB consulting community; and MY events, whether live, webinar, etc.
If you have live events on your calendar that may be useful to others in the SMB Community, please let us know. We'd be happy to list them.
Of course: Everything here is subject to change based on Covid. Click the links for the latest details. Please send updates so we can post them.
|
|
July
Channel Strong Tour
July 19
Reston, VA
Channel Strong Tour
July 20
Baltimore, MD
ASCII Success Summit
July 21 & 22
Chicago, IL
Channel Strong Tour
July 21
Cherry Hill, NJ
Channel Strong Tour
July 22
King of Prussia, PA
Channel Strong Tour
July 23
Mahwah, NJ
Retail NOW 2021
July 25-27
Nashville, TN
Channel Strong Tour
July 26
Burlington, MA
Channel Strong Tour
July 27
Salem, NH
Channel Strong Tour
July 28
Newton, MA
SMB TechFest
July 28-29
Anaheim, CA
Join me LIVE (online) - July 29th.
Channel Strong Tour
July 29
Hartford, CT
Channel Strong Tour
July 30
White Plains, NY
Black Hat USA
July 31-August 5
Las Vegas, NV
|
|
August
IT Nation (Connectwise) Evolve Peer Groups
August 2-6
Englewood, CO
ChannelCon Reception for ChannelCon
August 2, 202
Naperville, IL
ChannelCon Reception for ChannelCon
August 2, 2021
Scottsdale, AZ
Lori Tisinai's Summer Security Soirée
August 3rd
Chicago Yacht Club
More Info: Details and signup page coming soon
ChannelCon Reception for ChannelCon
August 3, 2021
Hamilton, NJ
ChannelCon Reception for ChannelCon
August 3, 2021
San Antonio, TX
ChannelCon Reception for ChannelCon
August 4, 2021
Carlsbad, CA
ChannelCon Reception for ChannelCon
August 4, 2021
Tampa, FL
Defcon 29
August 5-8
Las Vegas, NV
SMB Roadshow - Manchester, UK
August 10th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Cardiff, UK
August 12th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
XCHange+
August 15-17
San Antonio, TX
SMB Roadshow - London, UK
August 17th
Tentative . . . but count on it!
More info: https://www.smbroadshow.com
Join me Live!
ASCII Success Summit
August 18 & 19
Raleigh, NC
IT By Design Build IT LIVE 2021
Aug 30 - Sept 1
Jersey City, NJ
IT Nation (Connectwise) Evolve Peer Groups
Aug 30 - Sept 1
Gold Coast, Aus
|
|
September
IT Nation Connect APAC - Tentative - Stay Tuned
Sept 1-3
Gold Coast, Australia
CEDIA Expo
Sept 1-3
Indianapolis, IN
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Live Event
Sept 2, 2021
Boston, MA
SMB Roadshow - Vancouver
Sept 7th
Vancouver, BC
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Toronto
Sept 9th
Toronto, ON
Join me Live!
SMB Roadshow - Montreal
Sept 14th
Montreal, ON
Join me Live!
Managed Services Summit Live
Sept 15th
London
SMB Roadshow - Providence, RI
Sept. 16th
Providence, RI
Join me Live!
IOTSSA Cybersecurity Expo
Sept 16th
Charlotte, NC
Midsize Enterprise Summit+
September 19-21
Dallas, TX
Channel Live
Sept 21-22
Birmingham, UK
ASCII Success Summit
September 22 & 23
NY / NJ area
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Event
San Diego, CA
Sept 23-24th
IT Partners
Sept. 29-30
Disneyland, Paris
|
|
October
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Live Event
Oct 6, 2021
Raleigh, NC
DTX 2021 (Digital Transformation)
Oct. 6-7
London, UK
DattoCon 2021
Oct 11-13
Seattle, WA
SMB TechFest
October 13-14
Anaheim, CA
SMB IT Professionals National Conference - Australia
Postponed!
. . . Maybe next year
Sherweb Accelerate
Oct 18-20
Hollywood, FL
More Info: https://info.sherweb.com/accelerate.html
Channel SEC London
October 19th
London, UK
Kaseya Connect IT
Oct 19-22
Las Vegas
Channel Company NexGen
October 24-26
Anaheim, CA
Join me Live!
Acronis #Cyberfit Summit
October 25-27
Miami, FL
ASCII Success Summit
October 27 & 28
Orlando, FL
I'm hoping there's a trip to the Gold Coast in my future. Stay tuned.
|
|
November
Channel Partners Evolution
Nov. 1-4
Las Vegas, NV
Managed Services Summit Live
November 2nd
Amsterdam
Kaseya Connect Europe
Nov. 2-4
Amsterdam
ASCII Success Summit
November 3 & 4
Houston, TX
IT Nation Connect North America
November 10-12
Orlando, FL
IT Nation (Connectwise) Evolve Peer Groups
November 15-19
Sydney, Aus
Managed Services Summit North
November 16th
Manchester, UK
ChannelPro SMB Forum - Live Event
Nov 16, 2021
Los Angeles, CA
Women of the Channel Summit West 2021
November 16-17
Palm Springs, CA
Acronis #Cyberfit Summit
November 18-19
Schaffhausen, Switzerland
|
|
December
Women of the Channel Summit East 2021
December 6-7
New York, NY
ASCII Success Summit
Orange County, CA - December 8 & 9
Acronis #Cyberfit Summit
December 8-9
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
James Kernan's Millionaire Mastermind Event
Dallas, TX
Dec 9-10th
-- -- --
If you know of in-person events we should list, please let us know.
|
|
January
Send us your updates!
|
|
February
Acronis #Cyberfit Summit
February 17 - 18, 2022
Singapore, Singapore
Xchange+
February 27 - March 1, 2022
Dallas, TX
|
|
March
Cloud Expo Europe
March 2-3, 2022
London, UK
|
|
April
Send us your updates!
|
|
May
Send us your updates!
|
|
June
Send us your updates!
|
|
Note: If you know of any in-person event for SMB Consultants, please send info to karlp@greatlittlebook.com. |
|
Check out all my "Channels" |
|
Share on YOUR Social Media: |
|
Small Biz Thoughts is a subsidiary of Great Little Book Publishing Co., Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
