Tales From the Trenches: Wisdom from the Frontlines of Managed Services

Skipping 1-on-1s Is Costing You More Time Than It Saves

Join my newsletter here: https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] If you're telling yourself that chatting with your techs throughout the day counts as a 1-on-1, it doesn't, and this episode is going to make that uncomfortably clear. Natalie and I sit down for an honest conversation about how often MSP owners and service managers are actually meeting with their people one-on-one, and why most of us aren't doing it nearly enough. The short version of our take: more often, shorter, and let the employee lead. - What the spectrum of 1-on-1 frequency actually looks like across MSPs, from never to weekly, and what each of those really signals about your team culture - Why frequent short meetings beat infrequent long ones, and what a good 15 to 20 minute 1-on-1 should actually look like - The difference between a 1-on-1 and a status update, because this is about the person, not the tickets - How consistent 1-on-1s quietly solve your performance review problem by building a real-time record of how someone is doing across the whole year - The hidden cost of skipping them, including why owners who avoid 1-on-1s to save time often end up spending way more on retention and rehiring Interested in the Pax8 Peer Groups? You can find out more info here: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/ [https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/] Interested in the Pax8 Instructor Led Training? You can find out more info here: http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/ [http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/] 👇 Like what you see? Don’t forget to: 📧 Join the MSP newsletter for tools, tips, and templates → https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly MSP insights → https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles [https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles] 🌐 Learn more or connect with me at https://adamhannemann.com [https://adamhannemann.com] 🌐 Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann [https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann] 🌐 Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/]

MSP Hiring Guide, Who, When, and How

Join my newsletter her: https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] Hiring in an MSP sounds simple until you’re actually in the middle of it. In this episode, Natalie and I dig into one of the most common challenges we see in Peer Groups: knowing when to hire, who to hire, and how to do it without creating bigger problems for your business. This is one of those areas where a bad decision can set you back months, and a good one can unlock real growth. We talk through practical signals you can watch for, including financial readiness, utilization, and what your team actually looks like day to day. We also get into the realities of early-stage hiring, why your first hire matters more than you think, and how to avoid the trap of bringing on the wrong level of technician or role too early. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to hire, struggled with figuring out the right position, or just want a more structured way to think about growing your team, this conversation will give you a clearer path forward without overcomplicating it. If you are looking for an MSP recruiter we'd both recommend reaching out to Troy Gelsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-gelsky-bb522b93/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-gelsky-bb522b93/] Interested in the Pax8 Peer Groups? You can find out more info here: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/ [https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/] Interested in the Pax8 Instructor Led Training? You can find out more info here: http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/ [http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/]   👇 Like what you see? Don’t forget to: 📧 Join the MSP newsletter for tools, tips, and templates → https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly MSP insights → https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles [https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles] 🌐 Learn more or connect with me at https://adamhannemann.com [https://adamhannemann.com] 🌐 Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann [https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann] 🌐 Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/]

Routines for MSP Owners and Service Managers

In this episode of Tales from the Trenches, Natalie and I dig into something that sounds simple but is often missing in MSPs: routines. We break down what a strong cadence actually looks like for both owners and service managers, and why so many businesses get stuck reacting to fires instead of running with intention. From daily dashboard reviews and sales discipline to weekly one-on-ones and client check-ins, we talk through the habits that keep things from slipping through the cracks and how easy it is to lose momentum when those habits aren’t in place. We also spend time on the bigger picture rhythms that tend to get ignored. Monthly financial reviews, tracking profitability, and making sure your key initiatives are actually moving forward are all critical. On the service side, we dive into ticket management, SLA performance, and capacity planning, along with how small misses today can turn into big problems next week. There’s a strong theme throughout the conversation around visibility, whether it’s into your numbers, your team, or your client experience. The big takeaway is that routines are not about restriction, they are about clarity and control. Without them, it becomes incredibly difficult to lead, make decisions, or scale effectively. We talk about building these habits early, refining them over time, and making sure you are not the bottleneck in your own business. If you’ve ever felt like your MSP is constantly reacting instead of operating with purpose, this is a conversation worth tuning into. Interested in the Pax8 Peer Groups? You can find out more info here: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/ [https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/] Interested in the Pax8 Instructor Led Training? You can find out more info here: http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/ [http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/] 👇 Like what you see? Don’t forget to: 📧 Join the MSP newsletter for tools, tips, and templates → https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly MSP insights → https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles [https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles] 🌐 Learn more or connect with me at https://adamhannemann.com [https://adamhannemann.com] 🌐 Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann [https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann] 🌐 Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/]

MSP Account Management 101

Account management is a key process and role in your MSP. In this episode Natalie and I talk about all things Account Management. Interested in the Pax8 Peer Groups? You can find out more info here: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/ [https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/] We even have an Account Manager Peer Group. Interested in the Pax8 Instructor Led Training? You can find out more info here: http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/ [http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/] 👇 Like what you see? Don’t forget to: 📧 Join the MSP newsletter for tools, tips, and templates → https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly MSP insights → https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles [https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles] 🌐 Learn more or connect with me at https://adamhannemann.com [https://adamhannemann.com]   Looking for a Bookkeeper for your MSP? Check out https://nordicsky.us [https://nordicsky.us]

Let's Talk About Lead Generation and Finance

Join my newsletter here: https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] Over the past week I've talked to a bunch of MSPs about Lead Generation and Finance. These topics come up a lot in my travels in the MSP Peer Groups. These two things are topics that few MSPs didn't get in the business to learn. Most MSPs start as techs that start a business didn't plan on becoming a sales person, a marketing person, and a financial wizard. The reality is that you need to get good enough at these things. This is what I'm talking about in today's Tales from the Trenches. Natalie is on PTO so I'm flying solo. This week's Tales from the Trenches is all about finance and lead generation. Here is my playlist on Lead Generation and Sales: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Oa0PmgihVt9vZaDAcDQkxxNKNvFdjDl [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Oa0PmgihVt9vZaDAcDQkxxNKNvFdjDl] Here is my playlist on MSP Finance: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Oa0PmgihVuDYdh5K84EHtJrj8ZlSjA3 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Oa0PmgihVuDYdh5K84EHtJrj8ZlSjA3] Interested in the Pax8 Peer Groups? You can find out more info here: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/ [https://www.pax8.com/en-us/academy/groups/] Interested in the Pax8 Instructor Led Training? You can find out more info here: http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/ [http://pax8.com/en-us/academy/training/] 👇 Like what you see? Don’t forget to: 📧 Join the MSP newsletter for tools, tips, and templates → https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter [https://adamhannemann.com/newsletter] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly MSP insights → https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles [https://youtube.com/@Adam-Rambles] 🌐 Learn more or connect with me at https://adamhannemann.com [https://adamhannemann.com] 🌐 Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann [https://linkedin.com/in/ahannemann] 🌐 Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-hell/]