A lot of people can share what they do, but not very many can share why they do it.
Not Colin Knox, though. After taking some personal time after selling his last company, Colin was able to focus in on what matters, what he has to offer, and where he can bring solutions to the market. And, from that, his company Gradient MSP was born.
Colin joined us on episode 59 of the Stride to Freedom podcast. Together we discussed everything from what his company’s all about to building effective teams to remote company culture. Check out his interview and read on here for some amazing insights for leaders.
MSP Problems and Solutions
The MSP (Managed Service Provider) industry is a leaky bucket for billing, invoicing, and reconciling. Because MSPs work with so many clients and suppliers, a lot of things can slip through the cracks. With so many moving parts, financial reconciliation is very manual and time-consuming.
And this is exactly what Colin’s company, Gradient MSP, is determined to fix. Through their innovative integration platform, they help MSPs with the following:
- Simplifying information from vendors and suppliers
- Comparing data against your PSA (Professional Services Authorization)
- Identifying where you’re not billing clients for services
Through this streamlined process, Gradient has been able to recover $4 million in profit for MSPs—so far! With a product launch in 2021, they’re still in the early days of bringing this platform to MSPs everywhere.
Blitzscaling Your Company
Colin loves to study and learn about business building and management. He shared the concept of “blitzscaling” with us, a term originally coined by Reid Hoffman.
It refers to a business strategy where you go hard and invest everything you can into the initial build of a new business to dominate the market. It works only in industries with a one-player-wins-all outcome.
Gradient’s focus in the MSP industry allows them to take most market share. By investing heavily at the beginning, they can reach a critical mass that leaves MSPs with only one option on the market—Gradient.
While blitzscaling may not be for every company or industry, the takeaway is this: focus on both your business and your business-building strategy. Otherwise, you won’t be able to scale and grow to meet the needs of your customers.
Focusing on People and Company Culture
Colin is passionate about building strong teams and a positive company culture. Even before the pandemic, he believed in remote teams. Why? Because there’s a myth that physical proximity = company culture. Just because people are in the same room doesn’t mean there is good culture!
Company culture is built. And it can happen whether the team is remote or in-person. Here are a few things Colin focuses on:
- Giving employees autonomy over their roles and work
- Hiring specifically for company culture and team fit
- Using innovative technology to connect people (i.e., a virtual workspace where employees can “sit down” and have meetings)
- Ensuring everyone is on the same page through regular, timely meetings
Most companies don’t put enough focus on culture. And, because of it, they’re not going to attract or retain top talent who will achieve the vision of your company. So, focus on people—focus on your why—and you’ll be able to grow.
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And if you want to know more about us at Stride Services, contact us today. We offer back-office accounting and CFO services, including stable and efficient bookkeeping, cash flow management, and actionable analytics for growth.
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This Stride Live Webinar is hosted by Stride Services. Stride is a comprehensive financial solutions provider, specializing in outsourced bookkeeping, accounting, tax, and advisory services for Managed Service Providers.
If you’re interested in being a featured guest on our Live Webinars or if there’s a subject matter expert you’d like us to interview, please let us know!
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Show Notes + Transcript:
Colin Knox: LinkedIn
Gradient MSP: Website/LinkedIn
Colin Knox: Email
