MSP Mindset with Damien Stevens

Ready to build agents in your MSP? Join our build sessions today ➡️ https://compoundingteams.com/build-sessions/ In this week's episode, Damien sits down with John Snyder, CEO of Net Friends, to unpack how he used AI to improve client reporting, reduce wasted scoping time, and increase project win rates from 47% to 65%. He shares how his team moved from reports nobody read to QBR-style insights that got clients responding within minutes, asking better questions, and requesting follow-up meetings. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:38 - What they're doing with AI currently 14:04 - His AI QBR reports that get real results 43:27 - AI and Security Connect with Damien and John: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens John - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsnyder-netfriends/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

What happens when an MSP goes all-in on automation first—and then layers in AI the right way? In this episode, Brian Luckey (CIO of Integris) reveals how his team scaled capacity exponentially, saving tens of thousands of hours, increasing profitability, and transforming how work gets done across the organization. If you’re still relying on traditional service models, this conversation will show you why the future belongs to MSPs who combine automation, clean data, and AI-driven workflows to do more with less. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:56 - Saving 35,000 hours 17:55 - Changes to the L1, L2, L3 model 29:22 - Why we need to be the enablers with AI 38:33 - Fear around AI 42:17 - Start with yourself first 52:28 - Future business models 57:15 - How do I move the needle? 59:37 - Where would he start today? 1:04:55 - Where is this going? Connect with Damien and Brian: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Brian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-luckey/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset #msp #managedservices #managedserviceprovider

In this episode, Arlin Sorenson joins Damien to break down a harsh reality: most MSP owners are building jobs—not businesses. Drawing from decades of experience, scaling a $17M MSP, and working with thousands of owners through peer groups, Arlin explains why profitability, leadership, and mindset—not effort—determine whether you’ll ever get paid for your company. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:27 - Are you prepared for your exit? 13:58 - Growing his MSP 22:05 - Starting Peer Groups 25:23 - How farm life affected his business 31:40 - Bringing faith to work 49:50 - Advice to younger MSP owners 1:00:42 - Conclusion Connect with Damien and Arlin: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/ Arlin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asorensen/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

In this episode, Dan breaks down exactly how he went from $1M to $55M in revenue, what actually changed at each stage of growth, and the hard decisions that made it possible—from firing clients to merging companies to bringing on private equity. If you’re serious about scaling your MSP, this is a real-world blueprint. You’ll learn how to increase profitability, pay yourself properly, avoid burnout, and build a company that doesn’t depend entirely on you. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:24 - When burnout hit him 9:34 - Three way merger 42:53 - Prioritizing family 51:22 - Reaching 35% EBITDA at PC Miracles 1:15:18 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Dan: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/ Dan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danizydorek/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

On this week's episode, Scott Breitman, President of Dymin Solutions, shares the brutal truth behind scaling an MSP: you can’t grow if you’re still the hero. From losing his entire team to rebuilding with stronger culture and systems, Scott reveals how stepping out of operations, enforcing core values, and making tough leadership decisions helped grow his MSP to $7M+. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Starting his business 10:40 - Transitioning to an MSP 22:48 - How they standardize 48:40 - What he'd do differently in business 57:57 - You gotta be all in 1:15:07 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Scott: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Scott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-breitman-b38a524/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

What would you do if your business collapsed overnight… and your family was in danger? In this week's episode, Roland shares how he went from running a 150-person tech company in Zimbabwe to fleeing political violence, rebuilding from scratch in the U.S., and ultimately scaling a successful MSP. From near-death experiences to closing deals in the ICU, his story of resilience and faith shows what it really takes to survive—and win—in business. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Losing everything and starting over in America 44:46 - Where he's at now 1:06:07 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Roland: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Roland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolandparker/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Running an MSP can feel exhausting when every client treats IT like a commodity. But when you find the right clients, something surprising happens: joy. In this episode, Macr Mansfield, founder of Celera Networks, talks about a topic most MSP owners rarely discuss: the joy that comes from working with the right clients. After more than two decades building and scaling his MSP, he explains how alignment with clients transforms the relationship from “the IT company” into a true strategic partner. Instead of chasing every referral, he shares how defining the right industries, understanding their technology depth, and creating strategic conversations helps MSPs find clients who truly value their expertise. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - Finding the right fit customer 16:24 - Getting more of the right fit customers 29:11 - Strategic advisor for AI 42:15 - How to provide strategy for your clients 50:25 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Marc: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Marc - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcmansfield/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

In this episode, Damien sits down with Kevin, founder of ITPartners+ to unpack one of the most dramatic culture turnarounds in the MSP industry. Kevin realized the culture inside his company had become toxic — so toxic that the only way forward was to fire every single employee and rebuild from scratch. That decision forced him to rethink leadership, hiring, culture, and what kind of company he wanted to build. The result? Explosive growth from $3.5M to $14M, a mission-driven company culture, and a bold goal to invest $1 million per year into community impact. Kevin also shares hard-earned lessons about escaping owner-led sales, building a real sales team, using acquisitions to scale faster, and why MSP owners must learn to get out of their own way. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - Moving from break fix to MSP 4:35 - Learning his why/culture 17:00 - Setting larger goals 28:35 - How culture affects talent recruiting 31:21 - The biggest surprise from his culture turnaround 35:31 - How he's grown so quickly 44:22 - How they handle acquisitions 1:07:51 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Kevin: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-damghani/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone at your MSP - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv Scott (CEO of Fidelis Northwest, Seattle) shares how he’s built uncommon employee retention (median tenure ~8.6 years) by hiring “diamonds in the rough,” designing a culture that protects time, and implementing a four-day (4x9) schedule without sacrificing service delivery. You’ll hear the practical hiring filters, scheduling mechanics, and leadership mindset that make it sustainable—plus Scott’s take on AI and what it means for the future of MSP talent pipelines. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - Why he hires differently 21:17 - Culture and working 4 days a week 37:16 - the Marines and what that taught him about leadership 42:06 - Not letting business define you 53:19 - Scott's thoughts on AI 1:02:00 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Scott: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-wittstock/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone at your MSP - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv In this episode, Atul shares how bringing in a COO, implementing real SOPs, and redefining culture completely changed his MSP. From being lost in the weeds to building operational maturity, firing misaligned clients, and creating a team that runs without him, Atul shares what you can be doing now at your MSP to get yourself out of the weeks. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Starting his MSP and why niching was important 9:07 - Why MSPs aren't in competition 18:26 - Keeping talent in a competitive market 30:40 - Why getting a COO is important 35:16 - Starting Tech Degenerates and why it matters 54:11 - MSP Titan Questions 👉 Connect more with: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Atul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhagat/ 🎙 Listen on audio: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/msp-mindset-with-damien-stevens/id1669572779 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5B1k3Z8qXBGBSCJeSScjBE?si=c5d185c306064520 #msp #managedservices #managedserviceprovider

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, John (CEO of Core Managed) breaks down how he scaled his MSP from 2 to 45 employees by leaning into QBRs (now TBRs), building a true vCIO process, standardizing aggressively, and investing 12–15% of MRR into strategic advisory. Instead of upselling during reviews, he focused on lifecycle management, proactive work, and retention — and the results snowballed.If you want predictable growth, better engineers, lower chaos, and clients who stay for the long haul, this conversation is a must.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:42 - Starting his MSP21:00 - Transitioning to managed services26:03 - What does he attribute to his growth33:27 - The Importance of QBRs and a VCIO1:03:41 - Losing 6 people in one year1:08:59 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Jon:Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwright3/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, Damien sits down with Hank Dallam, CEO of NetGain Technologies, to unpack how he's uniting legacy systems, decentralizing operations, and deep-rooting culture under one cohesive mission. From private equity pressures to rebuilding client success and leading through change, Hank shares leadership lessons beneficial for all MSPs.Chapters:0:00 - Intro6:23 - Figuring out where they were as a company15:52 - From leading a MSP of 30 to 11021:45 - Leading people over 5 timezones29:23 - PE doesn't have to be bad40:19 - What AI is doing for them52:22 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Hank:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensHank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hankdallam/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvHe built a $40M MSP with no funding—what’s his secret? Gray Mabry of iVenture Solutions reveals how he scaled his business from scratch into a thriving, culture-driven $40M MSP with 185 employees while taking no outside capital.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:15 - Starting his MSP8:12 - How he grew to $40M18:38 - Hiring and Culture45:05 - Rewiring the reward system48:40 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Gray:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensGray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymabry/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvTired of wasting hours on interviews that go nowhere? Adrian, CEO of GAM Tech, was too — until he built a hiring system that filters 95% of applicants before they ever sit down for an interview. In this episode, Adrian breaks down the exact tools, processes, and mindset that helped him grow one of North America’s fastest-scaling MSPs — adding 20+ people in just a few years without burning out his team or losing quality. If you’re drowning in bad resumes, wasting time on mis-hires, or struggling to build a high-performing team, this episode is for you.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:36 - Making hiring their super power27:54 - How does he get so many applicants?30:52 - Helping them get acclimated to the team37:40 - How he's handling AI at his MSP46:30 - What does he attribute to their growth57:44 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Adrian:Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/Adrian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianghira/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, host Damien Stevens interviews Elliot Edge, who made the bold leap from oil & gas engineer to MSP CEO. With no prior tech experience, Elliot acquired a small 8-person MSP doing $2M in revenue and scaled it to over $16M with 90+ employees through seven strategic acquisitions. Elliot shares the frameworks, mindset, and leadership lessons behind his success—including why he doesn’t cut staff, how he integrates lean manufacturing into IT services, and the one mistake most MSPs keep making.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:15 - Buying his first MSP and what he had to learn21:48 - How did the team respond to his leadership?30:55 - Handing 5 acquisitions in 26 months44:28 - How he keeps clients after acquisition56:00 - Why he doesn't use EOS1:07:59 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Elliott:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensElliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-edge/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat if offshoring wasn’t just about saving your MSP money—but about transforming your team, your time, and your entire business?In this powerful episode, Peter Bell shares how offshoring redefined everything inside his MSP. From reducing burnout to increasing profit margins, Peter proves that offshoring—done right—can change lives. With an average tenure of 17 years and a “profit-first” mindset (over MRR and ARR), this is a must-listen for growth-minded MSPs ready to scale while keeping their team happy and sane. Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:25 - Starting his MSP14:25 - Why MSPs often overlook profitability23:38 - How offshoring completely changed his MSP53:20 - Buying back his team1:05:01 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Peter:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensPeter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tgt-pete/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIs niching right for your MSP—or a recipe for regret? Jeff Borrello ran a successful, $9M MSP for decades as a generalist. Then, after 30 years in business, he made the bold decision to niche into manufacturing. What followed was hard-earned clarity, uncomfortable transitions, and surprising traction.In this episode, Jeff walks us through the entire niching journey—from letting go of medical clients, selling off $1M in revenue, and choosing an industry they knew little about. Whether you’re niching now or thinking about it, this episode shows what it really looks like behind the scenes.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:09 - Starting his MSP5:00 - Where they're at now10:03 - How they grew to $9M15:15 - Their decision to niche and what that's looked like48:53 - The importance of culture at his MSP58:12 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect more with Damien and Jeff:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJeff: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andromeda-technology/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone again - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv10 to 15 sales meetings—every week? Hector Ortiz’s MSP is doing it, and he shares exactly how.In this episode, we dive into Hector’s cold-call driven growth strategy that consistently delivers new logo business. From building a rock-solid lead list to hiring the right inside sales team, Hector breaks down how his company created a repeatable outbound system that converts. And he's doing it all in the ultra competitive NYC market... If you’re struggling with sales or relying too much on referrals, this episode is for you.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:17 - Starting Dega Systems10:28 - Insane growth the past 4 years and how25:23 - Standing out in a competitive market (NYC)34:42 - Building the team38:09 - Learning the importance of process41:39 - The importance of their vertical45:37 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Hector:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensHector: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-ortiz-03998a/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvHe lost 75% of his business—and didn’t lay everyone off.When a major contract was canceled with no warning, Joseph Bonanno’s MSP lost the majority of its revenue and was suddenly on the brink of collapse. But instead of giving up, Joseph doubled down on what mattered most: his people. He placed nearly every employee from the failed project, rebuilt his company with a culture-first focus, and came back stronger.In this powerful and emotional episode, you’ll hear how Joseph transformed Archetype from a fast-scaling MSP into a resilient, value-driven company where culture comes firstChapters:0:00 - Intro1:52 - Starting his business10:33 - Learning to say "no"17:35 - Changing up their hiring system27:41 - Losing 75% of revenue40:11 - Hiring great talent in a small town51:55 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Joseph:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJoseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephwbonanno/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this week's episode, Anthony Mangiluso, CEO of PCS, shares how he went from grinding for a decade to reach 10 employees to scaling his MSP to ~240—by building predictable revenue, delegating hard, and using unconventional “buy back time” moves like the "Tech Tank". And it didn't come easy... along the way, he lost roughly 40% of his revenue—and was able to build it back within a year. Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:23 - Starting his MSP9:44 - Going from 0 to 60 employees (2010-2018)29:14 - Transitioning to managed services37:31 - Going from 60 to 240 employees (2018-2024)-59:59 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Anthony:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensAnthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymongeluzo/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvStruggling to grow your MSP beyond referrals? Think you need to be a tech expert or have outside funding? In this episode of MSP Mindset, Dan Monk reveals how he scaled Fencecore from $1.5M to $10M in just two years—with no technical background, no funding, and no shortcuts. Discover how this self-funded MSP owner used cold calling, relationship selling, and scrappy hustle.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:25 - From accountant to successful MSP20:08 - Going from $1.5M to $10M33:58 - How he handled/managed people during their hyper growth42:53 - The wall at $10M47:50 - Learning to overcome struggles55:05 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect more with Damien and Dan:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensDan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-munk-39472439/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv Most MSPs say small markets limit growth. Jamie Branson proves otherwise. He built an $8 million MSP in Montana with no defined vertical and a team hired largely from the hospitality industry. In this episode, Jamie shares how customer experience, non-traditional hiring, and intentional culture building helped him attract 122 new logos in a single year. If you're struggling to scale your MSP in a "non-tier-one" market, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Getting started as an MSP 10:20 - What he attributes to their success 33:20 - Culture & hiring people who actually care 58:52 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Jayme: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Jayme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayme-branson-55b0238/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Servosity: Daily file-level verification that catches corruption before disaster strikes: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat do the top-performing MSPs have in common? For David Bennett, it boiled down to two things: obsessive standardization and learning the power of "no." After nearly burning out and almost tanking his company, David rebuilt by creating systems so dialed-in they could run without him—and reclaiming his life by setting boundaries and realigning his priorities.In this episode, he reveals how you can simplify operations, reduce noise, and grow without burning out.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:33 - Getting started as an MSP14:52 - His first year as owner and the unforeseen challenges23:37 - Overcoming thinking small (it's all in process)33:43 - What he attributes to his growth53:27 - Learning to say "no"1:06:26 - MSP Titan Questions 🤝 Connect with Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens🤝 Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhbennett/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbzzyR7yX9l9XQaZCBp0v0g

Tired of babysitting backups? Servosity can help: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvFrank Cox's journey is unlike any other MSP you've heard. From addiction and broken family ties to buying a failing MSP and transforming it into a $5M powerhouse, Frank opens up about his raw, emotional transformation. This isn't just about growth metrics—it's about leadership, surrender, and rebuilding from rock bottom. If you're stuck at the $1M or $2M wall, Frank shares exactly how he broke through with team trust, peer groups, pricing changes, and EOS.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:50 - From addict to changed life19:42 - Becoming an MSP owner26:12 - How he completely turned around the business41:36 - How he's doubled revenue in 2 years1:04:52 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Frank:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensFrank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-cox-6b0912259/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Spending too much time on backups? Then Servosity's co-managed backups are for you: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, Greg Zolkos reveals how company culture became the driving force behind Atlas Professional Services’ rise to a $10M MSP. While many chase tools and tactics, Greg focused on building a workplace people didn’t want to leave—and clients noticed. From firing toxic clients to crafting a values-driven culture, this is a roadmap for any MSP owner who wants loyalty, longevity, and leadership.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:54 - Growing hit MSP22:06 - How he learned to let go29:40 - How he got to $10M46:50 - Amazing client and employee retention57:45 - What he considered in his exit1:08:38 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Greg:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensGreg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zolkos/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbzzyR7yX9l9XQaZCBp0v0g #msp #managedservices #managedserviceprovider

Say "no more" to babysitting backups, check out Servosity's co-managed backup services: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this week's episode, Michael Strong, co-founder of Blue Layer IT, reveals how he built one of the most quietly impressive MSPs in the country. No cold calls, no lead funnels, no crazy marketing—just long-term relationships, radical transparency, and a people-first culture that turned into serious momentum. His story is proof that your MSP's growth doesn't have to look like everyone else's (or involve annoying marketing tactics!). Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:23 - How they've grown to 55 employees26:44 - Why he hired a Chief Strategy Officer40:44 - His why53:05 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Michael:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensMichael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-strong-2704135/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Most MSPs are leaking margin without even knowing it. But one MSP flipped the script—and turned backups into a 70% margin revenue line.Today's guest is Doug Lowenthal, CEO of MSP Fuel and former MSP owner, and he's sharing exactly how he did it. This episode was recorded as a Live Q&A session titled How to Price Backups for Profit as a team effort between Servosity and MSP Fuel.Servosity's Backup Process: https://servosity.com/backup-proces-playbook/MSP Fuel: https://mspfuel.com/Chapters:0:00 - Why listen to Doug/his history11:44 - His backup standard16:23 - Understanding your costs around backup28:13 - How to communicate value to your clients➡️ Connect with Damien and DougLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglowenthal/

Turn backups into a top profit driver, sign up for our Live Q&A ➡️ https://bit.ly/4924PD2This MSP went from $2M to $17M with almost entirely on organic growth.Jeff Gaines shares the bold, organic growth journey of Interlaced—from small MSP to one of the fastest-growing in the country. Learn how a clear niche, cultural discipline, and “systems thinking” transformed their trajectory.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:51 - Getting started at Interlaced7:52 - Getting bought and working with PE14:57 - How/Why they niched on startups24:22 - How they grew from $2M to $17M54:20 - His role at Lyra58:45 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Jeff:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbgaines/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Turn backups into a top profit driver, sign up for our Live Q&A ➡️ https://bit.ly/4924PD2In this week’s episode, Jeff King shares how he grew his break fix IT company to 130 employees, landed massive government contracts, and still ended up deeply unhappy. What followed was a bold decision to let go of enterprise dreams, move away from break fix to being a true MSP, and slowly restructure to what they wanted, a smaller MSP focused on people and being happy, not just money (which they’re doing fine by the way!).Chapter:0:00 - Intro1:21 - Growing a 130 employee break fix store9:10 - Challenges that came from a large company17:26 - Saying no to millions, misery, and break fix41:55 - Growing the MSP part of the business57:17 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Jeffrey:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJeffrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-king-03b80b4/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Turn backups into a top profit driver, sign up for our Live Q&A >>> https://bit.ly/4924PD2In this week’s episode, Jeff King shares how he grew his break fix IT company to 130 employees, landed massive government contracts, and still ended up deeply unhappy. What followed was a bold decision to let go of enterprise dreams, move away from break fix to being a true MSP, and slowly restructure to what they wanted, a smaller MSP focused on people and being happy, not just money (which they’re doing fine by the way!).Chapter:0:00 - Intro1:21 - Growing a 130 employee break fix store9:10 - Challenges that came from a large company17:26 - Saying no to millions, misery, and break fix41:55 - Growing the MSP part of the business57:17 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect more with Damien and Jeffrey:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJeffrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-king-03b80b4/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

What happens when your MSP’s biggest client walks overnight? Seann Moreno lived it. He first scaled past 30 employees by learning to let go—delegating, empowering, and getting out of the weeds. But there was a fatal flaw: one client made up almost all of the revenue. And when they pulled the plug, Seann went to –$400k profit trying to rebuild from the ground up. In this candid conversation, he breaks down exactly how he eventually stabilized, rebuilt smarter, and continued to let go like he did in the beginning—result: $600k profit within a few years.Chapter:0:00 - Intro1:07 - Growing his MSP and learning to let go32:07 - Losing his largest client55:39 - Going from -$400k to $600k profit1:06:31 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Seann:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensSeann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seann/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Spending too much time on backups? Then Servosity's co-managed backups are for you: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat do you do when you’ve spent over $100K on marketing… and have nothing to show for it? Robert Choynowski did just that—until he cracked the MSP growth code.In this episode, Robert shares how his MSP, SeaGlass Technology, went from slow, mediocre growth to back-to-back years of 150%+ growth. After wasting a small fortune on four failed marketing firms, he finally shifted strategies, and then everything changed. If you’re stuck, overspending, or just feel like your growth has stalled, this conversation could be your roadmap.Chapters:0:00 - Intro00:55 - Why his marketing didn't work and his pivot24:24 - Claiming his niche and getting insane growth36:23 - MSP Titan Questions👉 Connect more with Damien and Robert:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensRobert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rchoynowski/https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Tired of babysitting backups? We're the only backup provider that tests everything for you: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat happens when an MSP goes all-in on a hyper-specific niche most people would avoid? In this episode, we sit down with Chris McHale of SPK and Associates, who reveals how her MSP scaled to 30 employees by targeting a neglected business unit inside engineering companies. And the best part? Little competition.Chris shares the tough leadership lessons she learned as a technical founder, how she avoided the commoditization trap, and why building domain expertise can unlock outsized growth and sticky clients.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:26 - Starting SPK and picking her niche18:40 - Digging deeper into her niche34:57 - How she differentiates today1:01:48 - How does her niche affect hiring and culture?1:09:43 - Co-managed and their vertical1:13:22 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Chris:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensChris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismchalekling/🎙 Listen on audio:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/msp-mindset-with-damien-stevens/id1669572779Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5B1k3Z8qXBGBSCJeSScjBE?si=c5d185c306064520#msp #managedservices #managedserviceprovider

Servosity, when all fails, we make sure you can recover ➡️ https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat if process was your greatest sales tool? In this episode, Jason Caras, co-founder of IT Authorities, reveals how meticulous operations and a culture-first hiring approach helped him scale from bootstrapped beginnings to a $34M MSP. Discover how he transformed customer trust, team culture, and sales performance by making process the heart of the business.Chapters:0:00 - Intro2:10 - What does he attribute to his success?8:03 - Getting started with his MSP27:53 - The genius way he differentiated40:09 - How their process shaped hiring1:04:49 - Exiting his MSP and mistake made prior1:18:31 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect more with Damien and Jason:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncaras/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

On today's episode, Damien sits down with Peter Bell, CEO of Techno Global Team. With 1,000 staff across 12 countries and 300 MSP clients, Peter shares what’s really happening with AI, automation, and the future of tech support. From AI killing Level 2 roles to ethics battles over voice changing, this episode is packed with insights MSP owners need now.Connect with Damien and Peter:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensPeter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/techno-pete/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Stop overlooking backups, let Servosity co-manage them with you: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvGlen Buehler, CEO of Oxygen Technologies, joins Damien on this week's show to share the real story behind one of the wildest MSP turnarounds ever. From $6M to $50M in just 3.5 years, 8 acquisitions, and every deal done self-funded. Glen opens up about how he finds undervalued MSPs, builds alignment with founders, and leads teams through culture-driven transformations that actually scale.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:21 - From $6M to $50M in 3 years with M&A16:22 - How they've been so successful with M&A1:10:31 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect with Damien and Glen:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensGlen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghbuhler/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Tired of babysitting backups? Servosity's co-managed backups puts your backup burden on them so you can focus on your business: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvMatt Lee—Senior Director of Security and Compliance at Pax8—sits down with Damien to unpack the future of MSPs. From AI risks to legal landmines in compliance, Matt brings the fire. He shares the brutal lessons from a $3 million ransomware attack and the uncomfortable truth about most MSPs’ inability to prove compliance. If you care about staying alive—and thriving—as an MSP, you can’t miss this one.Connect with Damien and Matt:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Tired of babysitting backups? We've got your back at Servosity: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvFeeling stuck at $1M in revenue?Gene Reich was too — until he realized he was meant for more.In this episode of MSP Mindset, Gene shares the journey from solo tech with a backpack in NYC to running a 30+ employee MSP and launching a SaaS company. He opens up about the identity crisis, the painful lessons, and the strategic mergers that transformed his business. If you’ve ever hit a wall in your MSP growth, this episode is your roadmap.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:26 - Starting his MSP5:28 - Getting over the $1M hurdle12:51 - Growing the company with a merger29:00 - Growing outside of his MSP52:00 - Conclusion Connect with Damien and Gene:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensGene: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genereich/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

In this episode of MSP Mindset, Damien Stevens sits down with Chance Weaver, former MSP owner turned VP of AI Adoption at Pax8, to uncover the true revenue opportunity behind AI. This isn't about flipping on Copilot—it’s about becoming a trusted business consultant, building real automation, and generating measurable outcomes for clients.Connect with Damien and Chance:Damien:Chance: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanceweaver/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Lean more about how my robust backup process and secure your client’s data ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvMike Jackson bought an MSP (one man shop) with zero tech background and scaled it into a Top 500 provider in less than 10 years. In this episode, Mike opens up about the bold choices that shaped his growth, including why he deleted all his spreadsheets, fired half his clients, and rebuilt culture from the ground up.Chapters0:00 Intro1:01 - Starting his MSP13:07 - Year one as an MSP18:40 - Hitting the top 500 in 7 years26:14 - Resetting Core Values29:03 - Issues from their fast growth34:10 - Culture wins and losses47:03 - Engaging with the team during rapid growth49:35 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Mike:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevenshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jackson-1871711/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

What does it really take to go from zero to $2M in revenue in less than two years?In this episode of MSP Mindset, Damien interviews Julian Gelfand, co-founder of Always Beyond, a Calgary-based MSP that’s scaling fast—without following the usual rules. Julian shares how he skipped the "build-as-you-go" method and launched with full infrastructure, strategic leadership, and a culture-first mindset that’s helping him smash growth ceilings most MSPs never break through.Connect with Damien and Julian:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevenshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-gelfand-13117a21/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Servosity: rock solid backups done for you ➡️ https://bit.ly/43Gd3hIWhat happens when a visionary tech founder has to throw out his own business model to grow? This episode with Matthew Held, CEO of Manawa Networks, is a brutally honest roadmap through business reinvention, founder separation, and the uphill battle to learn real sales.Matthew shares the journey from a failed Uber-style IT model to building a proactive MSP that thrives on process and people. He opens up about the hard lessons, including parting ways with a longtime business partner, facing a sales function that wasn't producing, and how building structure was the only path to growth.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:23 - Starting Manawa13:49 - Biggest challenge in the beginning24:55 - What's working now + letting go of a partner41:23 - What's next after losing your partner?1:01:55 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Matthew:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevenshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewheld/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

In this episode, John Snyder—CEO of a Top 500 MSP—explains why routine conversations with customers remain essential, and why if you're not doing this simple tasks, you'll lose. He also shares discovering that his sales team was pitching the wrong service, how he's learning to clarify his vision to curb “drift,” and what it's currently taking to implement EOS smoothly across the organization.Time stamps:0:00 - Intro1:51 - How compliance unintentionally prepared them for Covid14:33 - Staying focused on customers27:26 - How do we drive value41:41 - MSP Titan Questions 👉 CONNECT MORE WITH:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJohn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsnyder-netfriends/🎙 Listen on audio:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/msp-mindset-with-damien-stevens/id1669572779Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5B1k3Z8qXBGBSCJeSScjBE?si=c5d185c306064520#msp #managedservices #managedserviceprovider

Tired of babysitting backups? Then it's time for backups done for you by Servosity - https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvFeeling stalled while competitors surge ahead? Discover how Michael Goldstein, CEO of LAN Infotech, flipped the switch with his MSP—tripling marketing spend, doubling community reach, and future-proofing with AI.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:23 Burnout as a VAR & Pivot to MSP6:18 Service Over Shiny Tech10:26 Pricing Transparency & Relationships24:32 Pandemic Pivot: Remote & Virtual Events33:49 Marketing, Marketing, Marketing44:54 AI & Copilot: First-Inning Opportunities54:24 MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Michael:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensMichael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelagoldstein/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

What does it take to grow an MSP to $96M in under six years?Maryann and Jason share the raw, real, and sometimes chaotic journey from launching their business with two people and two cell phones to becoming one of the fastest-growing MSPs in the country. Their story is packed with hard lessons, bold risks, and relentless focus on values, trust, and service. If you're an MSP owner or tech leader looking to scale, this episode is your blueprint.Connect with Damien, Maryann, and Jason:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensMaryann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-pagano-62293657/Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-caparoso-b8036114/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Tired of babysitting backups? Learn more here about Servosity's co-managed service ➡️ https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this week's episode, Damien digs into how Ben Debow, CEO of Fortified Data, scaled a niche, database-focused MSP to 50+ staff with near-zero turnover (accomplished this after one crucial hire), mid-market ($1 B+) clients and a culture that prizes unique abilities—all while having the time to start up a new SaaS business.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:23 - How he started Fortified Data9:51 - Who's his ideal client?13:02 - Embracing remote culture14:41 - Culture - solving the turnover problem26:44 - Culture - neurodivergent hires44:40 - Freeing up his time by hiring a President53:23 - Having an abundance mindset1:02:04 - His SaaS company1:10:41- MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Ben:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensBen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendebow/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Tired of backups stealing your time? Try our co-managed approach where we handle monitoring, testing, and help with recovery. Want that for you MSP? Click here >>> https://bit.ly/43Gd3hIIs your MSP stuck circling the same revenue ceiling? Greg Zimmerle smashed his by doubling sales in four years—all from a mindset shift. Live from Pax8 Beyond, Damien unpacks Greg’s step-by-step shift from “chaos operator” to high-growth CEO. If you’re an MSP owner hungry to scale past your current ceiling, this conversation is for you. Connect with Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensConnect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-zimmerle/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

If 99% of your backups are recoverable, but 1% aren't... you're on thin ice. We can make sure you're 100% with our co-managed process: https://bit.ly/3X1L8EDIn this episode, Anderson Technologies’ Managing Partner Farica Chang reveals how she rocketed from $12-an-hour proofreader to co-owner, doubled headcount to 30, then weathered a brutal revenue cliff when two PE-backed clients pulled back. Hear the tactics, mistakes, and mindset shifts that kept her team—and culture—alive.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:14 - Getting into Anderson Technologies8:00 - Her journey to becoming partner22:30 - From 15 to 30 team members under her leadership30:50 - Losing 50% of revenue from two clients36:45 - Learning to let go and trust the team55:03 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Farica:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensFarica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farica/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

MSPs stand on the edge of a once-in-a-generation profit boom—yet most will sleep right through it. Discover the exact shifts Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Canalys, says are days away from reshaping your margins forever.Live at Pax8 Beyond 2025, Jay joins host Damien Stevens to map the next 20-year tech era—agentic AI—plus the hidden $8.45 of services that trail every Microsoft cloud dollar. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn today’s SaaS chaos into tomorrow’s 300% multipliers, this episode is your playbook.Connect more with Damien and Jay:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaymcbain/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Co-managed backups: daily checks, immutable storage, full quarterly DRaaS testing — all done for you ►► https://bit.ly/3X1L8EDTired of feeling trapped in founder-led sales? Vince Gremillion scaled past the “no-man’s-land” every MSP dreads—while hitting 99% CSAT and out-maneuvering private equity threats. In this episode, Damien sits down with Vince, founder of Restech, to unpack the hard-won systems, culture shifts, and acquisition plays that propelled his MSP from a two-man shop to a 40-person powerhouse.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:07 - Starting Restech10:00 - Being a Human focused business13:17 - Enthusiasm vs Passion and finding the right people18:58 - Teaching by modeling25:12 - How do you stand out to potential clients?28:10 - Building a business and personal life31:44 - Hitting "no-man's land"41:38 - Showing grace your team45:50 - Dealing with loss47:59 - Growing $1M ARR in one year52:31 - How Restech is going about acquiring55:37 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien & Vince:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/Vince: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincegremillion/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset