Robb Patterson

Last month, I shared three strategies for getting more out of your peer group experience. This month, I want to round out that conversation with a few more lessons I’ve learned both as a peer member myself and from years of watching members work through challenges, make difficult decisions and transform their businesses. I’ve witnessed countless success stories inside peer communities, and while every business and every owner is different, some patterns show up repeatedly.

A seat at the table isn’t enough I’ve spent a lot of years on both sides of the MSP peer community table, facilitating peer groups for hundreds of MSP owners and as a peer member myself. I’ve brought my numbers, shared my problems, listened to other owners challenge my thinking and left meetings knowing there were things I needed to do when I got home. I’ve learned something along the way: joining a peer community doesn’t guarantee you’ll get results.

Early in my career, I was the IT Manager for a nonprofit. Like many IT professionals at the time, I was responsible for everything technology-related and whatever else I had an aptitude for. I wanted to become better at my craft, but my resources were limited. Until I found a book by Harry Brelsford, founder of SMB Nation. I reached out and Harry responded, introducing me to Roger Otterson, a former Microsoft Small Business Server MVP.