January gets all the hype.
Everyone charges into the new year all fired up, jazzed on goals, riding that “new year, new me” wave.
But come Q2? The energy dips. Your MSP growth momentum is waning. The inbox is overflowing. That fancy plan you mapped out in January? Yeah … By April, it’s somewhere under a pile of to-dos and half-eaten protein bars.
And this year? Oh, we’ve got a bonus round: economic uncertainty.
Inflation’s still lurking. Budgets are tightening. Interest rates are doing the cha-cha. And maybe you’re asking yourself, Should I pump the brakes? Should I just wait it out?
NO.
The Q2 Comeback
Now is not the time to pause! It’s time to get strategic. To double down on what is working and stop burning energy on what’s not.
Q2 is your quiet comeback season. You’ve got real data, real feedback, and four simple moves you can make right now to get your business back in motion without making your head explode. These aren’t flashy. They’re not going viral on TikTok. But they will make your business stronger, more focused, and more profitable, especially when things around you feel unpredictable.
Ready? Let’s dig in.
1. Identify your top revenue stream (Scaling)
You don’t need to do more, you need to do more of what’s working best.
In The Pumpkin Plan, I share how extraordinary growth doesn’t come from offering everything to everyone. It comes from identifying your “giant pumpkin”—your most profitable product or service—and focusing your resources there.
Ask yourself: What’s the one service that consistently attracts your best clients, is most profitable, and doesn’t drain your team?
That’s your growth engine.
This quarter, prune the distractions. Build systems around that one offering. Make it easier to sell, deliver, and scale. That’s how you create sustainable momentum.
Action step: Review your offerings from the past 12 months. Look at both revenue and profit. Zero in on the service that stands out and prioritize it.
2. Create a simple dashboard (Fix and grow)
One reason businesses lose steam after Q1? They don’t know what’s working and what’s not. They’re flying blind.
In Fix This Next, I introduce a business priority pyramid (similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) that helps identify your core priority at any given time. But once you’ve identified that area, you need a way to track it—simply and consistently.
That’s where a 3-metric dashboard comes in. Instead of tracking a dozen KPIs, pick three metrics that give you a clear pulse on your business. For MSPs, that might be:
- Cash on hand
- Open tickets
- Monthly recurring revenue (MRR)
Tracking these every week gives you the clarity and confidence to course-correct quickly before small issues become big ones.
Action step: Decide on three numbers to track weekly. Set a recurring calendar reminder to review them. Just 15 minutes. Watch your clarity (and confidence) grow.
3. Surprise and delight (Marketing)
When momentum lags, so does energy across your clients and your team. Want to boost both? Do something different.
In Get Different, I talk about breaking through the noise by being unexpected, original, and true to who you are. But this isn’t just a marketing move, it’s a loyalty move.
This quarter, do something surprising and delightful for someone who matters.
For example:
- Send a thank-you video to a client instead of a text.
- Surprise your team with lunch or a half-day off.
- Give a client a free upgrade just because.
These small acts break the monotony, create connections, and remind people (including you) why you love this business.
Action step: Choose one client and one team member this week. Surprise them with something thoughtful and unexpected. Watch the ripple effect.
4. Negotiate with a Vendor (Money, honey)
Want to boost your profits without selling more? Look at what you’re already spending.
Most MSPs stick with the same vendor contracts for years without revisiting them. But you’d be surprised how much wiggle room there actually is if you ask.
This quarter, reach out to at least one vendor and ask:
- Can we revisit our rate?
- Are there new bundles or discounts available?
- Can we improve our payment terms?
This isn’t about being aggressive, it’s about being smart. Vendors often prefer to offer better terms than risk losing a long-term client.
Action step: Identify one vendor where you have the most spend or longest relationship. Open the door to renegotiation. You might be shocked at what’s possible.
Reignite Your MSP Growth Momentum Now
The energy of Q1 might have faded. But Q2 is where real businesses are built.
This is when the hype dies down, the noise quiets, and the serious, sustainable moves happen. All you need to do is make the four simple moves outlined here. Each one is quick to implement. None require a major overhaul. But together? They create serious traction for the months ahead.
You don’t need more hustle. You need more focus. Let’s make Q2 the quarter you find it!
Wishing you health and wealth always.
-Mike
For more from Mike, check out Your Biggest Business Challenge: How To Diagnose It
