How MSP leaders unplug and make businesses stronger

Running an MSP means your name is on the line. Clients depend on you, so stepping away feels like a liability you can’t afford. But the leaders who’ve figured out how to genuinely disconnect share a consistent truth: the work they did to make unplugging possible, made their businesses stronger.

We asked MSP owners to pull back the curtain on how they recharge and how they built the businesses that enabled them to do so.

Community Chatter: When you truly unplug from your business, what does that look like? How do you make it possible?

What unplugging looks like

For some, it’s a month in Switzerland, while others prefer a trailer on the road or a beach somewhere. For at least one, it involves juggling sticks on fire.

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“When I truly unplug from my business, it usually means I am physically away from the day-to-day noise and mentally not carrying every decision, ticket, client issue or sales concern in my head. For me, that looks like being with my wife and kids, getting out in the trailer, traveling to a beach somewhere and being present, instead of half-working from my phone.”

Bryan Badger, Integral Networks

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“Every July, I take the month off and go back to Switzerland, where I’m from. During that time, I don’t work, check emails or take calls. I step away completely so I can recharge, spend time with family, and come back refreshed, clear-headed and full of energy.”

Philipp Baumann, BoomTech

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“I’m not sure I truly unplug from my business, but I do enjoy juggling with jester sticks. I have several pairs, some are plain, some glow for nighttime juggling and some that light on fire. When I juggle, I need to concentrate on what I’m doing as to not put myself or others in danger. That focus is what helps me unplug.”

Stefanie Groot, Windstar Technologies

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“I worked extended hours in roughly 90-day blocks, then take a week or two away from the office. I refer to them as mini-retirements, as none of us know what our health will be like later in life. So, I take these breaks while I can enjoy them. My wife and I like to travel and see new things. The every-quarter reward allows me to stay focused on goals in stretches, knowing I’m working toward time away.”

Scott Beck, BeckTek

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“Two of the things I’m most proud of are my volunteer work as an EMT with Morganville EMS and my synagogue leadership, where I serve as President of the Marlboro Jewish Center. Both allow me to focus on serving others and provide a different perspective than the day-to-day challenges of running an MSP.”

Paul Nebb, Titan Technologies

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You have to build for it

Every one of these leaders will tell you that unplugging isn’t something that happens by accident. It isn’t something you do when business slows down, but something you engineer.

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“Making unplugging possible is the hard part. I am still working on it, but the only way it happens is by continuing to build the leadership team, so the business does not depend on me for every decision.”

Bryan Badger

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“The ability to unplug doesn’t happen by accident. Over the years, I’ve invested heavily in developing a strong leadership team, documenting processes and creating a culture where talented people are empowered to make decisions and solve problems.”

Paul Nebb

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“As business owners, we convince ourselves that everything needs us, but the reality is that the business gets stronger when it can run without us for a period of time.”

Philipp Baumann

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Trust your team

For many MSP owners, it isn’t the yearly vacation or regularly scheduled PTO that is the hardest time to take. The hardest time to take is that first time away.

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“I was totally freaked out that the world would end and the company I had been building would implode because a client would have an issue and I wouldn’t be there to solve it. The world did not end.”

Scott Beck

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“The honest answer is that unplugging for me is not just turning off my phone. It requires building a company that can operate without me being the safety net for everything. That means better leadership, stronger processes, a real sales engine, clearer accountability and trusting the team to handle things—even if they do it differently than I would.”

Bryan Badger

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“For me, unplugging is not just about rest. It is also a leadership discipline. It forces me to trust the team, create accountability and make sure the company is not built around one person.

Philipp Baumann

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Step into something completely different

Some of the most effective ways to disconnect aren’t about slowing down, but channeling your energy somewhere else entirely.

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“MSP owners are never entirely disconnected from their businesses. Our clients depend on us, and technology issues don’t always happen during business hours. That said, I make it a priority to spend time on activities that take me outside of my role as CEO. Ironically, some of my best business ideas come when I’m not thinking about the business at all.”

Paul Nebb

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The payoff for you and the business

Every leader agrees that unplugging isn’t a reward you earn someday. It’s an investment that pays returns in the ways that matter most.

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“When I come back, I’m sharper, more creative and better prepared to lead.”

Philipp Baumann

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“I measure the success of the time away by how few times the team requires assistance from me. Now, it’s usually just to provide some guidance on higher-level things or client relationship concerns. I’ve spent the last three or four years out of the office about 12 weeks each year, and the company has continued to grow over 20% each year.”

Scott Beck

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The secret to unplugging isn’t finding more time; it’s building a business that doesn’t need you at the helm every day. It can run without you. Once you’ve built the infrastructure to support that, you can step away and not worry about being constantly connected.

Engineering your business to run while you unplug has to start somewhere, so why not take advantage of a bit of downtime. Learn 5 ways to make the most of the summer slowdown and see how you can use it to your advantage.