Behind the Scenes Look into the Heart of an IT Support Blogger
Merry Christmas, everyone! Since this is a holiday week, I thought we’d take a break from the fundamental series and give you a human-interest story on the writer of these blogs – me! To help you get to know me (and SDB-Consulting) a little better, I’m sharing some tidbits below with you, courtesy of a recent interview I took part in.
1. What is SDB-Consulting’s Mission and Core Values?
Here at SDB consulting our Mission is to:
“Is to Coach Managed Service Providers how to leverage the Autotask software to resolve their Service Delivery issues. We do this by Guiding them thru a best-in-class Service Delivery improvement roadmap. Which results in the Freedom they need to Grow their Business and has the added benefit of improving the quality of work-life for their Employees, increasing their Customer satisfaction, and boosting their profits. The Guidance we offer is in the form of online courses, downloadable educational information, and one-on-one instruction.”
Our core values come from an E.O.S. exercise we did last year. The Values came from the Team, and are demonstrated everyday by our passion to Coach MSPs on how to Resolve Service Delivery Issues using the Autotask Software.
The Company’s Core Values are:
Team Oriented, Quality-Oriented, Business Minded, and Financially Smart, Continuous Learning and Improvement Mindset, Strong Leadership and Self-Managed.
2. What is Your Personal Mission and Core Values?
My faith is the foundation of my core business values here at SDB-Consulting. In all that we do,we’re guided by our Judo-Christian values as we serve those who choose to engage with us - no matter their faith. I try to lead our Company just as Ken Blanchard coined the phrase, “Lead like Jesus.”
But faith alone does not explain my own professional passion. In 1990, I took the week-long “7 Habits of Highly Successful People” workshop created by the late Stephen Covey. During that week, my personal mission statement was crafted after deep introspective thinking. Even today – nearly 3 decades later - the mission remains the same, and one I reflect on each New Year:
“To have a high value placed on my life by individuals and organizations, who utilize my skills and talents to guide the individuals and organizations through adverse times, while continually improving the quality of work-life for all Employees and their bottom line. To increase this value by continually developing and marketing myself and using my organizational skills so that neither my professional nor personal life suffer due to lack of attention.”
At SDB-Consulting, we bring everything we are to the company every single day. For me, that means bringing a blend of my deep-seated Judo-Christian values, German heritage work ethic, 43 years of managing, coaching, and leading technical personnel, and a passion to improve the quality of work-life for as many Employees as I can (oh, and a little humor mixed in for good measure :).
3. How long has SDB-Consulting been in business?
it blogger
Seven years ago, two things happened that represented the start of the business: First, I studied and passed Autotask’s Certified Consultant Partner (CCP) exam, which dubbed me a Bonafede Autotask Consultant – woohoo! Second, I hammered out an agreement with Systems Engineering which allowed me to consult on a part-time basis.
For the first few years, I was an implementation consultant for Autotask and met several great IT Managed Service Providers along the way. Then Autotask changed the way they were onboarding new Customers. They shifted away from using Consultants into using training videos instead.
To my knowledge, the program has worked well, and both Autotask and their Customers are happy with the change. But there was just one small problem…it left me with nothing to do!After a year of no Consulting work, I decided to get serious, or give up the shingle. Then a series of events took me down the exciting road we are on today.
First, I read Danny Iny’s book “Teach and Grow Rich” which started me on the path of offering online training courses in IT Service Delivery Management. We are still on this path, and it’s been quite a lengthy journey!
Second, as a source of seed money, besides the savings, the idea of offering IT Service Manager Peer Groups came to mind. As we were researching MSP Peer Groups, I came across MSP-Ignite. MSP-Ignite is owned by a fellow Autotask CCP, Steve Alexander. Not wanting to compete head-to-head with him, we talked, and he suggested I facilitate the IT Service Manager Peer Groups for MSP-Ignite. I left both positions in 2019 to focus full time on growing the business and helping as many MSPs using the Autotask software as we can. No regrets, no looking back. The business has grown by 3X and next year is looking even more promising.
4. How does writing Blogs fit in with the company’s goals?
There are many facets of Blog writing that fit with a business that is offering online training courses. Blogging in the realm of IT support:
Builds a list of contacts who may be interested in the services we offer
Gives me a vehicle to test my thoughts and philosophies to see if they resonate within the industry
Exposesthe company to the industry and builds name recognition, as well as establishes our level of expertise
Allows me to give credit to where credit is due, like with my friends at Autotask, MSP-Ignite,GMS Live Expert, and HDI
5. Thank you for your time, do you have any last comments?
Of course! As a writer, I always have one more comment. I would like to thank everyone at Autotask, in the Autotask/Robin Robins/The Tech Tribe communities, the SDB-Consulting support Team, our Customers, and the MSP’s that have allowed us to do Spec projects with them to demonstrate our skills and/or test and develop new ideas.
For more information about me or SDB-Consulting, please visitSBuyze.com, especially the About Us page so you know who the “we” are.
P.S.Enjoy this poem our Christmas Elf Cathy wrote for the team to spread some holiday cheer! :)
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with SDB-Consulting‘
Twas the night before Christmas and all through SDB House, not a creature was stirring. Not even an MSP’s mouse.
The stockings were hung near the chimney by Cristina and Angelica with impeccable care. In hopes that Santa Buyze soon would be there.
With Carol in her kerchief and Cassidy in her cap, Janelle said “Hey, let’s settle down for a long winter's nap”.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, Cathy sprang from her bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window we ran in a dash, pulled open the curtains and mini-blinds in a flash.
When what to Lea Ann’s wondering eyes should appear, but a slick new sleigh from Maine (4WD and Traction Control ready) with 5 cool northern reindeer.
With a bearded driver, so Autotask quick, we knew as we wiped our eyes so fuzzy, it was none other than that guy they call Santa Buyze.
More rapid than eBooks and online courses they came,
And he zoomed and shouted as he called them by name;
“On Catherine! On Linnea! On Ray and Duncan! On the other guy we heard they are also calling Duncan!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!” Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Everyone!