Back in November there was much weeping and wailing when Trump won the election by a landslide with the usual gang of celebrities declaring they were leaving the country in protest just like they promised back in 2016. In response one Realtor created a billboard with a giant picture of Trump on it that said “Thinking of leaving the country? I can help you sell your house.” Yeah, save the e-mail, it’s funny AND a good marketing campaign.
More to the point, I was fully and completely at peace no matter what the election outcome would be because 1) there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it, and 2) it doesn’t matter a hill of beans to how I’m going to continue to run my business and live my life.
Other than inflation kicking our asses a bit, my business did really well over the last few years AFTER we got out of the Covid fiasco and raised prices to compensate for the weakening of the dollar and the rising cost of labor. I know that’s true for many of you reading this as well. MSPs grew by a whopping 20% after Covid, due to the surge of work-from-home demand, PE and VC money flowing, and rising cyberthreats creating greater demand for managed services. Yes, there was a bit of luck in that due to how the situation played out (tech being supercritical) because not all businesses fared the same. Many event venues, hotels, coaches, consultants, speakers and event-related companies went out of business, bankrupt, or incurred significant losses after the Covid shutdowns. Most curled up in a ball and took the beating, shrinking back and incurring massive losses.
But not this redhead. I’m too much of a U.N.A. (ask my employees what that stands for…they gave me the name) to just roll over and die. Maybe you didn’t know that about me, but I’m resilient like that. A SURVIVOR.
As a kid, I survived eating Chef Boyardee ravioli and baloney-and-mayonnaise sandwiches on white bread with 100% of the nutrients stripped out and enough preservatives to mummify an elephant, going months without fresh fruit or vegetables. I survived drinking water from a garden hose, riding my bike everywhere without a helmet, and lawn darts with real metal tips on the end. I survived roaming the woods, alone, in Green Bank, Maryland, where our grandparents’ summer “shack” (too small to be called a “home”) was WITHOUT a cellphone by which I could be tracked or with which I could call for help. At that same shack, I survived sunburns from hell and bathing in a river when we didn’t have a bathtub or shower. Sleeping in the back of my dad’s van, on a hard piece of carpet, no seat belt or even a seat. Zero warning labels on anything.
I survived being homeless, being indoctrinated into a cult religion, having a mother who was emotionally unable to support me or provide any sense of safety or security, financially or physically. Abandoned by my father, I survived taking the bus everywhere in Philadelphia, alone, including through some very sketchy neighborhoods, where I was mugged once, getting punched in the face and left without any money, ID or bus fare to get home.
Later in life, I survived starting up a business with ZERO resources, support or experience; my only advantage was my willingness to outwork everyone else and teach myself the skills of selling, influence and marketing. I survived being on the road and working long hard hours for years. By the way, the stress of running a business DOES wear on you. Business owners have a statistically higher rate of suicide, depression, heart failure and early death compared to others. Running a business ages you in dog years – seven years to every one.
I’m completely sure YOU have had similar or worse situations and events to overcome. YOU are a survivor as well…and you should never forget that. No one is going to come along and give you an award, so it’s up to you to give yourself a much-deserved pat on the back, as hard as that may be for someone like you, who prides yourself on being tough and rejecting the victim mentality. But let me give you a few things to think about while you give yourself some much-deserved recognition… First, it’s good that we are met with adversity and struggle. It’s not healthy to live a coddled, protected life, safe from every offense or injury. We NEED the struggle, even though it doesn’t feel good. How much hardship and struggle should we embrace? Is the question. Too much breaks you down and harms your ability to perform. Not enough shorts your potential and growth. A big part of personal development is figuring out how to navigate that line, and the only advice I can give you is to pay attention and constantly be aware of your emotional and physical health. If it goes too far the wrong way, you need to reassess.
Second, be aware of the beliefs that may be holding you in a position to suffer unnecessarily or about how you have to make your money. For years, I thought I had to sell memberships from stage at our big events because my mentors and peers who were far more successful than me at the time told me that IS how it’s done. Had I just accepted that as truth, I would be living out of a suitcase, flying all over the country to generate sales. While you should always study what the most successful MSPs are doing, you shouldn’t feel beholden to only one path to achieving that success. All tolls are paid voluntarily for the road you choose. Ultimately, the result is what you’re after, not the activity.
And finally, it’s not just about how much money you make but how you make the money. I am 100% certain there are other ways I could apply my skills to make a lot more money, but I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much. Someone asked me why I don’t own an MSP. The answer is simple – I have a very successful, profitable business doing what I love to do. I don’t need an MSP business to make money, and I DO have investments.
However, I am constantly questioning whether I’m still doing this because I truly love it or because I’m trying to convince myself I love it to avoid venturing out into a new initiative. I think that’s healthy. So far, I’ve not found anything better.
Take a hard look at all the things in your life and make some decisions. This isn’t just a check-in or standard review of goals. What will you do with the time in front of you? What will you let it do TO YOU?
Don’t just survive; let’s THRIVE.
You’ve put in the work, conquered the challenges, and now it’s time to be recognized. Applications are now open for the 2025 MSP Titans of the Industry Awards, celebrating MSPs and IT leaders who have reached new heights of growth, innovation, and success. Apply today to showcase the victories you’ve earned through hard work and perseverance: https://msptitansoftheindustry.com/apply.
