This year’s Schnizzfest was my favorite of the twelve member conferences we have held. There are many reasons why I enjoyed Schnizzfest 2024. The primary reasons were the excitement, determination, and results of our peer members. The ratings on the content were the highest ever. Also, I was able to use my keynote address to share all of the lessons I have learned about success over the previous year.
Here are three major takeaways from Schnizzfest’s main stage.
Success formula: 90% attitude and discipline, 10% knowledge
You’ve heard this from me repeatedly, but it’s one of the most important statements in my life: “Success in life is 90 percent attitude, self-image, and self-discipline, and 10 percent knowledge.” Without it, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.
When you think about it, it’s nearly impossible to accumulate all the knowledge in your field. You simply don’t have the time. Because of this, someone will always know more than you, whether in tech, business, or life. That’s why competing on knowledge is a failing business strategy.
For instance, I wouldn’t have launched my first MSP if I had been focused entirely on acquiring knowledge. (At the time, I was barely knowledgeable in technology or being a business owner!) While there were plenty of MSPs ahead of me, I instead focused on my attitude, self-image, and discipline, which paid off tremendously in the long run.
Another example is when I launched TruMethods. I wasn’t an expert on peer groups, public speaking, or coaching. All of that I had to learn “on the job.” It wasn’t easy, but what kept me moving forward was the foundation of self-discipline I had built while running my MSP; it kept me on track and moving forward.
Ultimately, concentrate on what’s within your control, which is invariably yourself.
Securing the ideal client at the optimal price
I’ve always said that acquiring customers at the right price is critical to becoming a world-class MSP, which is true, but what’s also important is finding not just any customer who’s willing to pay the right price but the right one.
Good customers respect you and your team. They also implement your recommendations and, most importantly, pay on time. Bad customers not only do the opposite but can also destroy your company culture and kill the morale of your employees.
For example, Tyler Sanders, CEO of PACE Technical Inc., shared a story with me at Schnizzfest about how one of his customers would disrespect his employees, putting undue stress on their service desk. This led to Tyler losing a top employee. Fortunately, PACE fired the client, and luckily for Tyler and his company, the employee returned.
Remember this: Our employees don’t make enough money to be treated poorly by our customers.
Finding the right customers at the right price can make all the difference to your bottom line and your organization. It’s your responsibility to vet prospects for potential bad customers.
Heroes are leaders who choose not to be ordinary.
Sometimes, we don’t recognize the everyday heroes in our lives until we look in the mirror. There, we see all the people who’ve helped us become who we are for the better. Those are the heroes we should strive to be.
Motivational speaker Kevin Brown spoke at Schnizzfest to remind us of this. He talked about how we can all be heroes in the lives of others if we learn to own the moments that matter. Being with a group of people is an opportunity for you to add value to their lives. Will you own the moment by being present and making a difference, or will you keep your head down and miss the opportunity to give? You never know when your world colliding with someone else’s can make a significant difference in the lives of others.
Kevin shared a story about meeting an executive chef at Disney World who took the time to learn more about his autistic son’s dietary needs and made the appropriate accommodations. Kevin was amazed by the chef’s compassion and willingness to go above and beyond that he shared the story during many of his talks. But it wasn’t until many years later that he realized the moment his son shared with the chef made a difference in not only the lives of Kevin and his son but also many of the other guests at Disney World. After learning everything she could about dietary restrictions for children with autism, the chef created programs explicitly designed to meet their needs, impacting an insurmountable number of future guests.
Great leaders are heroes. They pour everything they have into the lives of others. Bring everything you have to the present moment because you never know if something you say or do will positively impact another person’s life.