News & Views for Australian SBSCs : Interviews

Meeting Mr SBS FAQ...

sbscaustralia — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:08:11 GMT

This week I met Wayne Small from SBS FAQ for a coffee and a chat in the Microsoft cafe. Wayne and I have known each other for a few years now.... since I first started at Microsoft.... I vaguely remember bonding over a few beers at the very first Partner Roadshow I ran. Now days Wayne is spending less time hobnobbing with Microsoft types and more time working on balancing his business Correct Solutions and his new baby SBS FAQ.

I asked Wayne some questions about what he's focusing on in 2007 and his SMB Focus event that will be held this November....

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So I hear on the grapevine you’ve swapped working like a madman for time spent doing the things you love? Tell us about it.

Yes – that’s right Lorna. After starting Correct Solutions over 10 years ago now, and having the experiences of growing a flourishing SMB IT Reseller business, I’ve decided to transition onto the next stage of my personal growth. I’ve got some great business partners in Correct Solution that I’ve met through the community and I’m taking a back seat in the business to allow me more time to get to know my family – before they grow up. I’ve got a 14yr old daughter and 8yr old son, who are amazing me day by day – and I don’t want to miss a bit of it. I’m still committed to my customers with Correct Solutions and will be keeping a good hand on the pulse of the SMB IT Reseller via direct interaction with our customers. I’ll be spending some more time focusing on community issues and doing what I can to build a bigger, more knowledgeable SMB reseller community. You’ll see my writings in more places as I aim to share my experiences with others in various ways.

So will your fellow SBSCers see more or less of you this year?

Good question – I’m aiming to be more available this year than I have been via online forums and work I’ve been doing on my website www.sbsfaq.com Look out for more information on both the technical and business side of the SMB IT reseller on there. I hope to be travelling a little less than the previous years, but still expect to be involved in events from various vendors including Microsoft. I’m hoping I can help the vendors better understand the needs of the SMB IT Reseller and via that help us all grow our business to the next level. Also – keep an eye out on the reseller magazines – I’m fortunate enough to be given the chance to start a regular column with Australian Reseller News through which we’ll discuss the issues that affect the SMB IT Reseller.

I’ve heard talk that you’re running an event for Small Business Partners this year? Are my sources correct?

Yes, Lorna – I’ve just announced Australias first SMB IT Reseller conference called SMBFocus. It’ll be held on November 23^rd/24^th this year which is a Friday/Saturday combination. I picked that combination primarily so that it reduces the time an SMB IT Reseller will be away from their office and yet still allow them to fully network with other peers. This conference will feature some of the big names in the SMB industry both from home and abroad and is aimed to give the SMB IT Reseller skills that they can take away to help them build their business stronger and more profitably. Check out the website www.smbfocus.com for more information. I’d also encourage all readers to register there for the special offer that will be available to those that pre-register before the registration opens in July.

What Christmas present did you get that you’d wish would magically disappear?

Hmm – that’s a tough one. I guess the 6 pack of underwear from the mother in law would have to be it ;-) She didn’t get me the Ferrari that I so longed for – oh well – next year maybe :-)

What’s the best thing about being an SBSCer?

I think the best thing about being and SBSCer is the fact that now – we have a way to differentiate ourselves from the run of the mill IT reseller. We have a badge that we can show to customers that will give them the level of service focused on the SMB customer. What I’d like for next Christmas, Lorna is for the customers to better understand the value that we bring to the table. I know that you’re working on this and I’m looking forward to seeing the results :-)

Now that you actually have a life outside of work, what’s your favourite way of spending it?

Well – I’m getting along to the gym a bit more and feeling healthier for it. I think this is one of the areas that the SMB IT Reseller often forgets – life outside of work :-) I’m also spending more time with my family and finding out just how amazing children are growing up.

You’re on a few Microsoft Beta programs….. I know you’re sworn to secrecy and if you tell us you’ll have to kill us, but just between you and me…. what do you think is the most exciting thing on the Microsoft product horizon?

Oh – that’s a hard one Lorna – Microsoft are working on a number of amazing new products, but I guess that my favorite right now is the Windows Home Server product. It’s in beta now and is due for release before Christmas (based on published accounts). This will revolutionize the way that home users store and share their data, protect their home computers. A close second behind WHS is Cougar – the next version of SBS. It’s due out sometime next year and if you thought SBS 2003 was cool with it’s Remote Web Workplace and the like, then you’re in for some big surprises – can’t say anymore than that or else the powers that be will be unhappy :-)

Meet Mr SMB Nation himself....

sbscaustralia — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 06:11:32 GMT

I'd heard on the grapevine that Mr SMB Nation himself, Harry Brelsford was heading down to Australia this year - so I spoke to him to get the inside scoop for Australian SBSCers.

You’re coming to Sydney this year. Tell us what SBSC partners can expect to see from SMB Nation?

Good eye as we’ve not started to widely promote that event yet but we’ll have final details soon. I can tell you that we’re looking at an event primarily focused on a “boot camp” test preparation to become a Small Business Specialist including on-site testing! So in that sense we’ll be speaking towards future SBSC partners.

It’s part of a worldwide traveling tour with SUPERSTARs to pump up the SBSC volume. We’ll also have some value-added community sessions so that folks take away rich technical and business content beyond just the exam cram sessions.

Why become an SBSC?

Interestingly – the reasons to become SBSC vary but the outcome is all good. Some folks like the logo branding. The ability to print the attractive blue logo on your business card or place it on the Web page has been a big hit. Other folks appreciate the ability to add another credential to their consulting resume. Fair enough – in the consulting field, you typically try to earn as many credentials as possible. Already and more so in the near future, as Microsoft rounds out its programmatic efforts, I think a compelling reason to become SBSC will be to participate in the special offers and exclusive training events.

Once you’re there, what’s the best thing about being an SBSC?

I think it’s the affiliation with a like-minded group of fellow small business technology consultants. It’s the old “benefits of membership” thinking where people want to belong to a “club.” I’ve personally witnessed that people take great pride in BEING a Small Business Specialist!

You’ve just released an update for the Small Business Specialist 70-282 Exam Preparation Guide! Why should Partners download it?

While the domain test objectives for the 70-282 remain intact from the initial exam release date several years ago, it is a fact that the exam was refreshed just under a year ago (Microsoft always reserves the right to refresh its exams). However – the exam refresh necessitated that we offer a complimentary update document for our 70-282 “red book” to make it more current. So Partners would want to download it to update their baseline knowledge of the 70-282 exam and to supplement the “red book.” And did you know that our update contains information on how to join our popular 70-282 MSN study group!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Depends on when you asked me but I’ve always wanted to be in the convergence zone between business and technology. As a kid in Junior High, I was peddling LED digital watches from Texas Instruments! Oh sure – there was the time where I wanted to run a ski resort in Alaska, but then I realized I’d probably end up an unmarried hermit! Seriously – I wanted to be in the technology\business leadership caste!

What makes you get up and come to work in the morning?

Hmm….I think it’s the rewards from hard work. Our family likes to work hard and play hard. For example – as I write this, my wife is on her Seven Summits tour and currently at 16,200-feet on Aconcagua (read about it at http://www.alpineascents.com/aconcagua-cybercast.asp ) where we hope to summit the SMB Nation flag! It’s that ability to provide for my family that get me up on the morning.

How does Harry relax in the evening?

Lately I’ve been slowing down, not logging on and riding my bike! Fitness in 2007 – that’s the idea!

How big is your 'geek gland'?

Interesting question. As a young buck – I was all about digging deep into technical stuff at 2:00am in the morning. Today – I’m more likely to explore business models and other business technology stuff. For example – I found myself the other night getting deep into CRM 3.0 in the product area trying to get the inventory quantity to reduce by one when a sale is made (that’s where I found a connector to either Small Business Financials or Great Plains is required).

How proactive would you say you are in building a relationship with Microsoft?

It’s a big party of my role as the CEO of SMB Nation. I try to have lunch in Redmond once a week.

If you could suggest one thing that Microsoft could do to improve the SBSC program what would it be

Recently our SMB Partner Community magazine ran a readership survey where we asked what Microsoft could do to improve the program. My favorite suggestion was to offer more partner points to refer new people into the Small Business Specialist Community. I totally concur!