Category Archives: Current Events

Going To Sage Summit 2013?

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sage summit 2013 square logo
The timing for this blog isn’t an accident. I wrote it specifically to be finished around Sage Summit 2013.

If you have questions about products and services and which Partners provide the best, look around while you’re at Summit. You’ll find enough quality VAR’s to answer any questions you might have. If you’re a customer attending and you don’t have a Sage VAR that you’re currently working with here’s your opportunity to find the best. They’ll be easy to spot; they’re usually the ones standing in booths, attending lots of sessions and you’ll usually find them between sessions talking with other VARs about software.

What factors make you want to return to a retail store, a vendor or a service provider? Is it price? Is it location or is it something even more?

One of my favorite quotations was written by Benjamin Franklin; “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten?”

What does that mean to you as a consumer or should it mean anything at all to you? My answer is “Yes it should.”

Saving money doesn’t mean buying the lowest priced products or services. It means buying products or services that offer the best value. This can be stripped down to 3 words, Focus on Value.

Traits to Look For In Your Sage Software Partner….

Do they have integrity, passion, & honesty? Or do you have to check and re-check every invoice they send you knowing that you’re going to have a less than pleasant conversation with them about the “Holy Cow” additional costs that you hadn’t anticipated?

Do you hear from them regularly to tell you about new updates, versions or maybe just an offer to go to lunch? Or, do they call just to remind you that your annual maintenance and support fees are due?

Do you recommend them to friends or business associates who are looking for ERP software?

If your “VAR” isn’t providing you with quality service like the ones that have been mentioned then maybe what you have is a Re-Seller, not a VAR.

If your software partner doesn’t appear to offer much beyond the ability to sell software I would refer to them as a Re-Seller. A Re-Seller doesn’t offer additional services, usually doesn’t have the resources to provide those services and generally has to charge you more because they have to pay an outside resource to provide those services.

Our clients deserve the best service that’s available. They trust that they’re getting the best service. It’s incumbent upon us to provide an extraordinary customer experience each and every time that we have a dialogue with them. It’s time that our clients are treated as something other than a quick buck.

If you’re losing more than your fair share of clients for “undetermined” reasons then it’s time to re-examine your business practices. Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate why you’re in business & if it’s just to make money then you’re probably in business for the wrong reasons.

However if providing an extraordinary customer experience for your clients is your number one goal, congratulations, you “get it” and not surprisingly so do your clients. Welcome to the World of VARs

Have Fun At Sage Summit 2013
July 21 – 26

http://na.sage/sagesummit.com

Bill Kizer

Bill Kizer

Saying goodbye to Tom Miller – or – what do you do when Superman retires? by Peter Wolf on February 6, 2013

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Tom Miller @ Sage Summit

Tom Miller @ Sage Summit

Tom Miller has announced that he will retire from Sage North America on March 29, 2013.

This is not new news – it’s been out there for a while now. It took me a while to figure out what I would like to say.

I would like to use this space and honor his legacy.

Personally I’ve always been the type of guy that likes to sharpen the saw by reading smart ideas by smart people presented in new and interesting ways. Yet, while reading these sources of information and inspiration, I’m always reminded of the classics – Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, Peter Drucker, Napoleon Hill – which, to me, are the fundamental sources upon which most other business philosophies are built upon.

I am not going out too far on a limb to say: Tom Miller is the embodiment of these fundamental sources of business inspiration.

He’s a living, breathing example of those classics.

I would challenge anyone to name a time where they interacted with Tom and didn’t come away richer for the experience. Whether it’s direct advice or, more likely than not, you walking away thinking you came up with a great idea even though he skillfully planted it, fed and watered it and helped it grow.

Tom has mastered the unbelievably difficult skill of helping others reach their potential. He’s not in the fish-handing-out business, he’s in the teaching-people-to-fish business.

He embodies the positive thinking, get ‘er done, 1 + 1 can equal 3 mentality that I aspire to maintain. Tom doesn’t see obstacles and problems, he sees opportunities and exciting challenges. Tom believes in the power of free enterprise and the ability of sharp business owners to find ways to create value for their customers, their partners and themselves.

And, as a software reseller, you can rest easy knowing that Tom has walked a mile (or two) in your shoes. He understands what it means to hump for sales and to motivate teams and to struggle to find talent and to keep customers happy.

He’s been there and done that. He knows your pain and, when he commiserates with you, you believe it and you feel it.

As such a staunch channel advocate, he has overseen a very difficult transition as Sage has made controversial (some would say necessary) moves to a more aggressive and more self-deterministic future that has changed the Sage channel dynamic. During this period, he has continued to advocate for Sage and the future of Sage while also continuing to provide a rich and deep set of partner services to help Sage channel partners transition to become Firms of the Future and learn self-sustaining skills in the Sales, Marketing and Consulting Academies.

Partners that have taken advantage of these – and other – programs provided by Tom’s team have come away stronger for the experience. I know that my company has.

Tom is also sharp as a tack. He understands the big picture and can dive down into the details when necessary. Present him with a problem that has been plaguing you for a while and he can distill it to its essence in a single conversation.

And he’ll have you walking away thinking you solved it on your own and the two of you just had a nice long chat.

I have only known Tom for a few brief years and – mostly due to his personal charisma and style – I consider him a teacher, a mentor and a friend. I feel fortunate to have met him, to know him and to see such a class act firsthand.

Tom epitomizes the ability of one man to create a cascading positive influence in the world.

If you’d like to leave a comment on Peter’s LinkedIn Post please click on this link  http://linkd.in/VOmvZN

Thank you, Tom.

PGA Tour + Peter Ripa + Happy Fan = “I’ll Be Back”

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Mr. Peter Ripa, PGA Tour, Tournament Director Farmers Insurance Open

farmers insurance open banners

Last year I attended the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, CA. Golf courses are known for their beauty & pristine conditions but Torrey Pines is a standout on the PGA Tour. The backdrop is the blue Pacific Ocean & in the afternoons the surrounding sky is dotted with hang gliders. Have you ever watched Tiger Woods gaze as the hang gliders come within several hundred feet of the fairways & I can’t help but think that he would enjoy strapping himself into the harness & glide through the sky over the place that we get to call home.  Hang Gliders over Torrey Pines

But I digress because this blog is about something & someone else.

At the 2012 Open I was disappointed that so many top tier players had chosen to bypass the Farmers Open so they play in Abu Dhabi where large player appearance fees are paid. The PGA doesn’t allow appearance fees to be paid and I’m not sure paying a player just to show up is a good policy. Our method avoids the occasional player who might commit to a tournament just for appearance fees & then mail in his performance.

Torrey Pines Ocean View
I sent an email to the PGA to voice my concerns over the cost of attending & not getting to see Tiger & Top 20 players in the field. They directed my email to Mr. Peter Ripa, who is the PGA Tour Tournament Director of the Farmers Open who in turn contacted me. We scheduled a call & talked for approx. 30 minutes; he understood & empathized & asked if it would be okay if he sent me passes to this year’s event. Of course I accepted his offer but was not anticipating passes for everyday of the tournament. Peter & his staff went way over my expectations.

Please understand that two key events came to pass as a result of my email.

1. The PGA didn’t just read my concerns & put my email in the trash file, they sent it to the right person to read.

2. Mr. Ripa, understands that one unhappy fan will tell at least 25 people who will then tell another 25 and so on and the tide begins to shift against all the hard work that goes into promoting an event of this magnitude. There is no stronger voice than word of mouth & I’ve always found it interesting that most people are eager to tell someone when they’re unhappy with something or someone but will very rarely tell others when they’re had a great experience.

I’m taking this opportunity to say that Peter Ripa & the rest of his staff and the people at the PGA offices are doing an incredible job. To them I simply say thank you. Thank you for listening to a disgruntled fan with an open mind. You now have a loyal fan that is committed to the Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines Golf Course & the PGA brand(s)

Congratulations to Tiger, the PGA & Peter Ripa on a job well done! See you next year!

And Now For A Comedic Break ~ The Trillion Dollar Coin!!

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Trillion $ Coin

This Coin Isn’t Worth A Wooden Nickel Nor Will It Buy A “In Debt We Trust Wooden Coin”

Wooden Nickel

Good Old Wooden Nickel Which May Worth More Than The Magic Coin

In Debt We Trust

This Wooden Coin Just Plain Stinks!

Here’s what I know about the Magic $1 Trillion Coin.

Our government has hit the debt ceiling, and unless Congress votes to raise it, we will go into default. The Republicans in the Congress, say they won’t raise the debt ceiling unless the Democrats agree to major spending cuts. The Democrats are giving the Republicans the Finger.

Theoretically the Treasury can print a $1 Trillion coin and the Feds can exchange it for brand new cash and we can all sing “Oh Happy Day” and skip off into the sunset. It’s legal, but a bit unusual. Most countries have a (get this) a functioning government which would raise the debt ceiling to pay its bill and already approved spending by the government.  But since we don’t have a functioning government (open for debate) the $1 Trillion coin is the answer.

Are you still with me?

The Magic Coin would not increase the money supply more than just raising the debt ceiling. If the debt ceiling is raised, the Treasury will print $1 Trillion paper money, also known as Treasury Bonds and the Feds will exchange that for money. However, absent a debt ceiling increase, the Treasury can’t print the paper debt. But it can print the Magic Coin. Since the coin doesn’t increase the money supply any more than issuing paper; or to be more correct, electronic debt would do, there is no harmful effect on the money supply. It will make the US look like idiots, but political idiocy doesn’t raise inflation; otherwise inflation would be very high in the USA already.

Thanks to Macro Investor that should answer the question: What is the $1 Trillion coin? You’re on your own for the answer to the rest of the below questions.

What is the $1 Trillion coin worth?

Is it worth a wooden nickel?

Can I purchase a wooden “In Debt We Trust” coin?

Why would anyone want their engraving on the face of the $1 Trillion coin?

So I got to thinking what I would do with $1 Trillion Dollars……

Can I buy a fleet of luxury cars & Harleys? Range Rover, Maybach Mercedes with a driver, Mercedes V12,  a stretch Hummer limousine just so that my boys could have some fun with a driver and a Prius Hybrid to keep me humble?

Would I finally be able to buy 5 homes in San Diego, Hawai’i, Aspen, Spain, San Francisco?

Take golf lessons from Phil Mickelson?

Build a 25 room mansion with pool, gym, Jacuzzi, horses, ATC’s, and open it with a complete staff to children who are living in the foster care system and then build another identical home for children who are higher functioning Autistic kids. There would never be a charge to anyone for their complete care no matter how long it takes. There would be additional rooms for entire families. We would have a private jet for families who couldn’t afford to visit.

My last charitable act would to write (25) $1 Million Dollars Checks and drop one off at Ready Children’s Hospital in San Diego, Homes for Battered Women & Children, children with terminal disease and then put Gloria Allred on retainer to go after the scumbags who batter women and children

Open (4) $10 million trust funds, one for each of my sons & Marti’s two children that they can’t touch until they’re 25 and they must have a solid business plan for the money. No business plan, no money.

That’s my list and my take on the Magic Coin

Are You Part Of The Solution Or Problem?

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military at xmas time

While the holiday season is a happy one I’m always reminded of our active military who are spending time away from their loved ones to protect us and how little effort it takes to brighten their day.Have you ever been at the airport when all of a sudden you look up to see a group of enlisted men and women who have joined the Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy in their camoflauge uniforms? Do you ever wonder where they’re going? What small town/big city they’re from? Do they have children or spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends who are missing them? Will they all make it home to their loved ones? I know I do and then I ask myself what can I do to make their day a little brighter?

So here’s my challenge to you, the next time you’re sitting there waiting for your plane, sipping on an overpriced cup of coffee  round some of them up, march them to the nearest coffee concession and buy them each a cup of coffee. I guarantee you’ll go straight to the front of the line. You might say you don’t have the money and that’s fair, then at least do it for one, but just do something.

Me? I’m heading over to Oceanside this morning to go to The Breakfast Club, sit at the bar & enjoy some coffee & the first group of Marines that come through is going to get their meal paid for. I never make a big deal out of it, I’m not doing it for the accolades, I’m doing it because I appreciate what they do everyday for us.

farmers insurance open banners
I just received 20 upgraded passes to the upcoming 2013 Farmers Insurance Open which is being held January 21st – 27th at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. I don’t need 20 passes that include private seating on the 15th green at the new Tilted Kilt Tartan Terrace  so I’ve decided to give at least half of them to some Marines who enjoy golf and would enjoy watching one of golf’s premier events at no cost other than their food and drinks. Not a big deal to you and I but to them it will be a day that they won’t soon forget.

It’s not easy being away from your family and when you’re the age of some of these kids it’s probably the first time any of them have been without Mom’s home cooking, sleeping in a real bed, and and away from their childhood friends.

Now they’re on their way to a country most of them couldn’t spell before they got their deployment and they’re scared. I know they’re scared because I’ve asked them. A little constructive fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing for their upcoming trip, it keeps them aware of what their mission is.

Most of them will be back here within 6 months to a year, but they will have seen things no young person should ever have to witness. They will have changed, but at least they’re back here at home. Some of their buddies aren’t going to be so lucky.Our country, while the greatest in the world is governed by lazy, over paid politicians who have forgotten where they come from and many of them aren’t in favor of giving these heroes fair compensation.

Remember, it doesn’t take much to make someone else’s day a little better. Instead of handing a few bucks to the panhandler on the corner, take an active duty person to lunch, at least then you know your money is doing something positive.This blog weas prompted by something I just read and it angers and saddens me at the same time that these are the people who are making decisions for our servicemen and women.

Cindy Williams was appointed by President Obama  As an Assistant Director for National Security in the Congressional Budget Office.

She wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members’ way this year citing that she stated a 13% wage increase was more than they deserve. See this link for 2013 Military Pay Scale Chart for the Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines

http://www.militaryfactory.com/military_pay_scale.asp

It’s always fun to help someone else and it always makes me forget about what’s going on in my life.

Happy 2013

Analytics? We Don’t Need No Stinking Analytics…….

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[FINN]

Okay, so the heading is just a bit over the top, but I don’t believe by much.

I’ve had several websites over the past few years & when I used to speak of them it was always from the Analytics perspective. How many unique visitors did the site have? How much time were they spending on it? What was the Bounce Rate? What city were they arriving from? What foreign countries, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah ad nauseum.

I realized that we had been sold a bill of goods by Google and took the current Analytics at face value as gospel. It was also, I believe, a stroke of genius on their part when they made these available to anyone by offering them at no cost.

What did those metrics really say? More importantly what didn’t they say?

“Most businesses measure only Activity Metrics which I’ve come to believe don’t tell the whole story. What we should be looking at are Outcome Metrics  which monitor impact,” according to Jonathan Becher, CMO SAP.

After reading his brief column titled “Counting What Counts: How Outcome Metrics Have Changed the Game” in the Sept. 24th issue of Forbes Magazine, I felt that I has found a kindred spirit.

This idea that maybe we were looking at the wrong metrics was the basis for the movie Moneyball in which Billy Beane, then the General Manager of the Oaklands Athletics MLB team turned the baseball world upside down with his theory. He had a lot of naysayers within, old school scouts, owners, even his own team manager.

In baseball where $10 million plus annual salaries are fairly common Beane was given a very small budget  ($40mil) to field a team of 25 active players & 15 others who make up a 40 man roster. Beane determined that baseball had been all wrong in what metrics it was using to draft & trade players & what their dollar value was to the team. Statistics such as stolen bases, runs batted in, and batting average, typically used to gauge players had been determined by Beane to be relics of an earlier time.

Instead he theorized that metrics such as OBP (On Base Percentage) SLG (Slugging Percentage) were the Impact Metrics & were far more important than RBI’s, SB’s, & BA.

Oakland went on to a 103 – 59 record, second only to the New York Yankees who finished the year with a 103-58 season at the cost of over $100 million just for player’s salaries to achieve the same number of wins.

Becher goes on to say “We live in an increasingly data driven world. Unlocking the power of the data & analytics provides insights & a competitive edge….”

This is exciting to me & I plan on looking more into the Impact Metrics versus the easily attainable Activity Metrics that we currently put so much faith into.

I now know what Ed Kless feels like when he’s attempting to teach software partners a more financially sound method of billing for their services. Many of those partners are CPA’s, a group who thrive in the thrill of Hourly Billing. I believe that it takes courage & a firm conviction to believe in something that is totally opposite of the “norm.” It makes it expodentially difficult when you exist in a world that lives on the time worn creed, “But that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

Are You Still Missing The Social Media / Blogging Train?……..

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Don’t Be This Guy, He Missed The Train

Since Sage Summit I’ve been talking to a lot of companies of different sizes & different industries about the importance of getting on the social media train. Social media is not a fad, it’s here to stay.

Consider these statistics from Econsultancy Network Statistics Quarterly Compendium

  1. Global Wi-Fi usage is up by 240% between Q2 2011 & Q2 2012
  2. 76% of marketers plan to increase their YouTube and/or video marketing
  3. 25% of corporations have at least 1 staff member who works exclusively on social media
  4. 57% of corporations have their social media team within their marketing department
  5. Most corporate social media is used for Communications, Marketing, Customer Service & Reputation Monitoring
  6. 62% of corporations intend to increase budgets for social media
  7. 90% of corporations say social media is becoming a more important part of their marketing strategy
  8. A LinkedIn profile can bring many opportunities in your direction. If you’re sure what to do ask someone who has had success utilizing LinkedIn and to a lesser degree Twitter and Facebook The other area that I’m stressing to companies is blogging and that’s because most of them  don’t have a blog because most people don’t think they can write.

    I employ a very simple methodology that proves that ALL people can write and they shouldn’t be afraid to.

    Below are my reasons why I think blogging is so important to a company:

    a. It gives the company a face & more visibility
    b. It helps build a trust relationship
    c. If your blog is about your industry it helps mark you as an industry expert
    d. Some people are leary of “Push Notification,” be careful that you don’t come off as being pushy with your sales pitch. As a matter of fact, don’t try to sell anything other than yourself and your quality company
    e. A blog can generate leads & business provided your blog isn’t one huge sales pitch

There are more reasons to blog, these are but a few. I’m sure that you can come up with a lot more of your own. While you’re contemplating a company blog ask yourself two questions;

Are my competitor’s blogging? Are my customers blogging?

If you answered “yes” to at least one of the questions then you should be picking up the phone & calling someone who is an expert in the art of setting up company blogs.

I just saw a statistic at Sage Summit that made me smile; approx. 65% of all businesses blog. I wish I could remember which company it was that shared that with me. Even it’s off 5-10% +/- that means that over half of all businesses are utilizing a fantastic tool that most of didn’t use just 5 years ago.

So, are you willing to get on the train or are you going to be left at the station wishing you had jumped on? My suggestion? Get on the train, now!

sage partners, employees,alumni linkedIn group fall meeting

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Join us for the Sage Partners, Employees & Alumni Group Fall Meeting

        Andreis Conscious Restaurant, Irvine
http://www.andreisrestaurant.com/

Come & join the members of the most dynamic LinkedIn Group for our Fall meetup.

This is a fantastic opportunity to network with your fellow colleagues & make new acquaintances.

We’ll have an All Star panel to talk about the topics that YOU choose.
Our Platinum sponsor, Altec, & their dynamite Events Team that is lead by April Blankenship & her 2nd in command, Allison Alonzo have secured a beautiful location for this Meetup.
They’re supplying us with breakfast & we’ll have a Webex connection for those who are interested in the meeting but are geographically unable to attend that is being setup by  Moira Goggin of Chismet Consulting.
We’re looking for raffle prizes from partners, we’re going to give you a chance to talk briefly about your product.
We’d like you to choose 3 topic suggestion for the meeting.
_____Learn about 3rd party add-ons & other Sage updates
_____Identify ways to maximize your involvement in this group. “Get The Most From Your Post.”
_____Network with Sage Partners & 3rd party vendors.
_____Keep up with trends affecting the ERP/CRM industry & technology
_____Exchange views on the Summit topics & sessions. Got ideas for sessions? We want to hear them
_____Discover ways to excel in your business & differentiate yourself from your competition
(Rank your priorities 1 -6 / 1 Higest, 6 Lowest)
We look forward to seeing you on Oct. 11th.
Have questions?
Bill Kizer; 760.518.2493
April Blankenship; 949.727.1248
Allison Alonzo; 949.727.1248
Moira Goggin; 562-989-8400
John Hoyt; 818.572.7537

Why Do We Say “Happy” on Memorial Day?

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Despite all the problems we have here in the U.S.A. Its remains the greatest country to live in. The multiple freedoms that we enjoy came at a heavy cost, the lives of those who chose to fight for our country.

To all the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force members who paid the ultimate price I owe a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to re-pay. To the 58,000 plus who gave their life in Vietnam for a war that we had no business being involved in, thank you. Thank you for going even though you were treated like an alien  upon your return to an ungrateful country.

Today you can see the enormity of all those lives by visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. It’s a humbling experience.

Iraq and Afghanistan have added thousands more to that toll with most of them in the 18 – 24 years old range. That’s too many lost sons & daughters, brothers & sisters, fathers & mothers, nieces & nephews, & grand children in the prime of their life.

I live near Camp Pendleton, the busiest military base in America and I see these kids everyday ready to pay that price. Kids from small towns to large cities, who would rather be hanging with their friends back in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New York, California & any other state in the U.S. but made the decision to keep us free another day, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Don’t think they’re not afraid, they are, but they also believe in keeping a commitment they made to their friends, family & country.

I don’t have an answer for the Happy Memorial Day greeting but I do believe that it shouldn’t be “Happy” when we honoring those who have lost their life.

So instead of getting wasted on Memorial Day do something for these kids.

 Even if it’s a simple “thank you for your service.”

SEMPER FI

Goodbye 55

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Junior Seau - (FILE) Junior Seau 1969 - 2012


Just when you think you’ve got life all figured out it comes up behind you and smacks you in the head with something else.

Oceanside, CA. is an ocean front town about 30 miles  north of downtown San Diego. Its home to a eclectic mix of different nationalities. It’s also just south of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, the busiest military base in the United States. I have come to love Oceanside and some of my favorite people live and work here.

Of course no story about Oceanside can be complete without mentioning our favorite son, Tiaina ”Junior” Seau

It’s also home to Oceanside High School, where the Pirates ran amok on the football field. One of their alumni was a Samoan Standout football player named Tiaina “Junior” Seau. Junior created mismatches and struck fear in his opponents. He went on to USC with the same work ethic and earned a ticket to the NFL. In 1990 he was chosen 5th overall in the 1st round by his home town San Diego Chargers and couldn’t have been more excited for the opportunity to play at the highest level in front of his family and friends.

He was known for his passionate playing style, he was a 10-time All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowl selection, and named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.  He was the focal point of the defense and the team as a whole.

I don’t think there is an NFL football quarterback who doesn’t have their favorite Junior story.

This past May 2, 2012 Junior took his own life leaving behind a legacy that will live on despite him not being here in body. His soul and spirit will live on through his aloha that he demonstrated while he was here on this earth. He left behind his ex-wife Gina  and their four children, brothers and sisters and the family Patriarch & Matriarch, Mama & Papa Seau who all live in Oceanside. Prayers should also go out to Megan Noderer, who seems to have gotten lost in the aftermath. She was Junior’s girlfriend and  the person who found Junior in his home on the Strand. Right below is the call that Megan Noderer made to 911, but it was too late.

http://soundcloud.com/soundcloud-6/junior-seau

There is no question that Junior was Oceanside’s Favorite Son. He was involved in his community and never forgot where he came from. He was always giving back to Oceanside, was always seen with a smile and if he met you once he’d remember you as if you were lifelong friends and he’d always called you “Buddy.”

I had the pleasure to meet Junior twice, the first time was at the LaDainian Tomlinson Celebrity Golf Tournament. My ex-father in law is a huge NFL fan  so I took him. We met Junior at the Reception afterwards and I remember him asking if I was Hawaiian.  He had a special place in his heart for the Hawaiians and Samoans. The second time was at a business lunch at Seau’s in Mission Valley, one of the attendees lived out of state and kept asking if Junior ever came into the restaurant, he wanted to meet his football hero. After the 3rd or 50th time he asked about Junior I looked up to see Junior walking our way. His familiar “Hey Buddy, Howzit” was how he addressed me and then he asked if I had been home to Hawaii recently. I introduced him to the other guys at the table and they were impressed by how “down home” Junior was and his friendliness towards strangers.

The Junior Seau Foundation sponsors three major programs each year to benefit children and was built on the following mission statement:

To educate and empower young people through the support of child abuse prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, recreational opportunities, anti-juvenile delinquency efforts and complimentary educational programs.

Shop with a Jock®  

Each December, the Junior Seau Foundation Teamed up with Target and over 250 local professional and amateur athletes to give 250 underprivileged children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Diego the opportunity to shop for gifts for their loved ones.

Scholars of Excellence Program

This program was designed to recognize young men and women who are dedicated to both personal and academic excellence. Financial assistance is granted to high school graduates who have the grades and the desire, but not the means, to attend a four year college or university. In 2011 the Foundation awarded 25 scholarships amounting to $107,500 in financial aid.

Thanksgiving at SEAU’s The Restaurant

Every Thanksgiving Junior hosts a dinner for 700+ clients of non-profit agencies, including homeless shelters, rehab centers, victims of domestic violence and military families at SEAU’S The Restaurant in Mission Valley.

Junior Seau Foundation Around Town

Junior’s footprint can be found all over San Diego as it worked hard  to empower and educate young people in the community. From funding athletic fields in La Mesa to underwriting a van to transport special education students enrolled at the Stein Education Center in Chula Vista, his Foundation has focused on making a direct impact in the community and will continue to do so even after . The foundation continues to allocate funds for programs that inspire young people to face life’s challenges with enthusiasm, hope and dignity.

I wanted this to be right so that is why it’s 2 weeks after Junior’s passing, Junior and his spirit of aloha, a smile that could light up an entire stadium, and that now too familiar phrase “Hey Buddy” will be missed

Junior was only 43, far too young to leave this earth, again another sad reminder that we don’t know when our time is up here. Make sure that you tell those around you that you love them. Give them a hug just because. Do something totally unexpected for someone, but do it now, don’t wait because then it might be too late.

Below is a link to the 911 call from Junior’s house. Credit goes to Oceanside P.D. Fire Department & the dispatcher for doing their best to keep Junior’s girlfriend somewhat grounded.

http://soundcloud.com/soundcloud-6/junior-seau

Who Should Attend Sage Summit 2012 & Why

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Bill ~ Trent ~ Trevor Kizer

Gary ~ Connie ~ Jennifer ~ Erick @ Sage Summit 2011

Robert Schayes, Himanshu Palsule, Bill Kizer, Pascal Houllion Sage Summit 2011

Mark Kauffmann & Her Girls

Sean Leanne Tuohy Wayne Schulz Bill Kizer

Summit 2011 Twitter Meetup

There has been much discussion about the value of attending the Sage Summit 2012 Conference. I am one of those who have found Conferences to provide me with great value and I’ve learned a great amount of useable information. The technology industry changes daily and there’s no way to know about those changes if we don’t talk to the source. You can find the source(s) and other partners who have utilized those changes very successfully by attending events such as the new and improved Sage Summit.

Look at the business partners who consistently make the Top 10 list. Go to their website and see what they’re doing that you’re not. It’s probably a safe wager that they’ve been involved in Summit, BPAC membership, etc. It’s time to be accountable to ourselves for our failures or successes. It’s time to stop blaming others when we fail.

First, there is the long term value of creating lasting relationships with other BP’s or third party solutions and there are many knowledgeable partners and company representative who will gladly share that knowledge with you.

There has been a shift at Sage to offer more transparency and seeing the Management attend different social events & the Trade Show is a testament to this new shift. Don’t be surprised to find yourself engaged in open and honest dialogues with top management.

How do you put a price tag on product information you receive at Summit? What about face time with Sage executives? Truth be told, you can’t put a price tag on these items. The sessions alone that Sage is offering this year are numerous in count, while covering all Sage products, upgrades, changes and of course Social Media.

Too often we get caught up on doing business as we’ve always done it, not knowing that there are better ways of streamlining and making our individual businesses more cost effective. But if we don’t go to Summit and attend sessions, talk to other BP’s, then we’re going to stay in that same spiraling vortex & will get the same results. One of my favorite quotes is:

“If you keep doing what you’re doing you’re going to keep getting what you get. If you want something new you’re going to have to try something new.”

~ Author Unknown

I have spoke to BP’s who have concerns that they have never “pulled” any new business from attending Summit and other conferences occasionally or even those who go each year. Then there’s the camp that has bought booth space, collected business cards & found that most of those cards belonged to other BP’s & not potential new deal opportunities. Where’s the ROI they ask?

First, if you’re heading off to Summit with the sole intent of closing deals then you’re going to be disappointed. It’s kind of like going to a Barnum & Bailey Circus expecting Shakespeare; or going on vacation to Northern Minnesota in January wearing shorts, flip flops & sun tan lotion looking for a sun tan. You’re going to be disappointed by unrealistic expectations.

Unfortunately most companies don’t look at non revenue generating items as having any value. Unless there’s a dollar amount involved most BP’s don’t “get it.” To the partners who don’t get it, there are three questions you need to ask yourself.

What value am I adding to the equation?
What Solution can I provide?
What am I adding to the success of my business?

Come to Nashville & see the changes that are happening at Sage. You’re going to be surprised & more importantly you’re going to go back to your business with a new attitude & isn’t life itself about how you approach it? I think so & I hope to see each of you in Nashville

The Passing of Steve Jobs

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Thank You Steve


 “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”
Steve Jobs

Do you remember your first Apple Computer? I do, it was very small, the screeen was in black and white and the only attraction that I had for it initially was playing Pong. I can still hear the ponging of the white “ball” as it careened (okay, careening is a bit of a stretch, how about as it slowly bounced) off the walls. I won’t say I was addicted to the game but there were plenty of down times at work that were filled with the game.

The only other attraction for me was that I could write to my heart’s delight on it and write I did. My only error was that I hadn’t learned how to save it within a folder to provide a small level of security. I remember reading a tutorial that used the phrase “Desktop” and how you were taught to think of your virtual Desktop as your real desktop and virtual folders represented the folders that I kept stuff in. It was on that little machine that I learned how to save my personal writing onto a big, cumbersome disk known as a Floppy. They certainly weren’t convenient and didn’t store much data but that’s what we had at the time and if you had an Apple girls thought you were pretty cool and smart, my other reasons for having one.

When I look at the laptop that I’m writing this on right now and think of all of the advances that have been made since then I can’t help but think about Steve Jobs and the impact he had on the world. How much do we owe him for that project that was started in his garage along with Steve Wozniak?

(Link to Steve Wozniak’s interview after learning that his friend had died http://bit.ly/qpQDOE )

How many people’s lives will each of us have affected when we leave this world? Maybe one hundred, more or less. Steve’s passing will have affected most of the world and I don’t think that’s much of a stretch

I don’t want this to be a long drawn out blog, the intent was just a few lines to say thank you to Steve Jobs for all the positive changes he made while he was here on this Earth.

Rest In Peace

The Real Heroes & Warriors

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How many times have you watched a sporting event and  heard the color commentator refer to a player as a “Real Warrior?” or they refer to athletes as Heroes. They’re playing a game for millions of dollars and most athletes have lost sight of what’s important.  How else do you explain that an athlete is willing to sit out an entire season because he is being “disrespected”  because they’re aren’t enough zeros in their paycheck?

I was in a charity golf tournament this past Monday at the El Camino Country Club in Oceanside, CA. The charity is the Wounded Warrior Project and I spent the day amongst real Warriors and heroes who aren’t in it for the Big Bucks.

I met Noreen, wife of a retired serviceman herself, who just got back from deployment at Guantanamo Bay where she was a leader amongst the MP’s. Did I mention she’s only about 5′ tall and weighs around 100 pounds? Afraid? Scared? Not this girl. Hero? You bet. Warrior? All day everyday. Her husband Andy Tabar is a great guy and a regular at the Cigar Grotto.

I met men and women who have voluntarily deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq because they believe it’s their duty. They leave the comforts of their home and surroundings for the privilege of spending the next year in a desert that gets hot and dusty. I’ve talked to plenty Marines who tell of the camel spiders.

Some of the Marines present had gone back to the Mid East 9 times!! You want to know why? Because they love the freedom that we enjoy and sometimes take for granted. This isn’t a part time job for these heroes, it’s their career and they carry that pride out there for all to see.

Don’t be mistaken by their sometime gruff exterior; these are men and women who feel the pain each time one of their own doesn’t come home. They feel the pain when a comrade comes home with appendages missing. These are the Marines that I’m getting to know.

One of the Marines was telling about how each and every month he received a package from Gregg & Dee Dee Engels, owners of the Cigar Grotto in Oceanside. He had built a humidor out of an ammo container and when he received his monthly cigars from Gregg he rolled them out for all of his comrades to share in a brief moment of surcease. He could have kept them to himself but not Russ. He wanted to share with his buddies.

I am now wearing a Wounded Warrior Project wristband which I will do until next year’s tournament and I get to pay a daily fee for the privilege of getting to wear it.  I consider it a privilege to do something for these wonderful men and women. I’m following the lead of Mike O’Neal & Andy Tabar who have both worn the wristband the past two years. Thanks for setting a great example, Guys.

Let’s take a minute to recognize some folks who work their behinds off making sure that everyone has a great time and more importantly that money is raised for the Project. First and foremost Gregg and Dee Dee Engels the owners of the Cigar Grotto located at 220 North Coast Highway in Oceanside, 1 block north of Mission. They are incredibly giving people and they would do anything for the Marines, their family which just grew by one with the addition of grandson Giovanni. Just go into the shop sometime, pick out a great cigar from the humidor, grab a seat on the leather couches and start looking around at the walls. There aren’t too many bare spots. There’s the typical family phones, Buffalo Sabres photos because they’s Sabres fans; but what struck a chord in me was the number of flags that have flown over a platoons tent somewhere in the Middle East. The flags are given to Gregg & Dee Dee in appreciation for everything that they do. He was given another one at the dinner Monday night and he was so choked up that when asked to say a few words, he simply bowed his head and said “I can’t.” Marines send back photos of them and their buddies in the desert all smoking a cigar that somehow got to them from the Grotto. Since I separated from my wife I have spent many an hour talking to both Gregg and Dee Dee about life and I thank them for including me to some of their family events.

No charity event could happen without a Title Sponsor. For the past three years Christian Eiroa of Camacho Cigars has given to this tournament without question. His support of our military is second to none without asking for anything in return. He’s provided us with cigars, cigar cutters, golf hats,  golf towels all while taking a behind the scenes role. As Dee Dee said to me, “When I was putting together our first Wounded Warrior tournament Christian stepped up and asked one question.” What can I do to help?”

Rookies Sports Bar is owned by Steve and is a great supporter of the Golf Tournament. Steve has the greatest staff in addition to 90 something tv’s to watch your favorite game. They’re located at 2216 S El Camino Real, Oceanside. Most of the volunteers at the Tournament are Rookies employees. They’re friendly & adorable and it was awesome to see the turnout to help the tournament become a success.

Jason Boyer, photographer extradorinaire and owner of Boyer Photography donated his time to take photos of the tournament. Jason is talented, very friendly and just became a father for the 3rd or 4th time. Thanks for your time and congratulations!  Boyer Photography / tel: (877) 496-3716 /email: info@boyerphoto.com /

Support these businesses because they’re supporting YOUR Marines. Please come out next year and if you see me coming towards you in June, July, & August know that I’m going to be asking for your support to the men and women who make tremendous sacrifices for each of us everyday.

Semper Fidelis
Latin For “Always Faithful”

Post Script 10/18/10: After all the bills were paid, we showed a profit of $20,000 and a check was present to Wounded Warrior Project.

 

You Can’t Fix Stupid

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After 11 years of continuous paying automobile  premiums without Geico ever having to pay out a dime, it happened this morning. I was on my way to visit a prospect to perform a Process Review with one of the sharpest technical consultants in Southern California. Our meeting was @ 9:00 a.m. and traffic on the 15 South was stop and go, single digit speed. Moira was coming in from Long Beach and called to tell me that traffic on the 5 South was in the same condition and she was  going to be late.

I was behind a small foreign car, listening to Sports Radio and the next thing I know I’m banging into her rear end bumper. We pulled right over and I was concerned for her and her “occupants” which were two small heads in the back seat. The “occupants” turned out to be just a lot of stuff.

I asked if she was okay, she said yes & then asked the following, “Where’s the guy who shoved you in to me”? I looked around and realized that the pinhead  who’d hit me had just kept going!! He probably left the scene because:

a. He had no insurance

b. His registration wasn’t current

c. He in all likelihood didn’t have a current license.

d. He probably had a warrant for his arrest for DWS (Driving While Stupid). To memorialize the words of comedian Ron White, “You Can’t Fix Stupid.”

The other driver and I exchanged information, and we off to our separate destinations. My SUV only had a bent front license plate, but her car is going to need some major surgery. I still had time to stop by Einstein Brothers for bagels for the front office crew and the Business Review went very well.

I have to put a plug in for Geico because of the service I received yesterday while I was busy doing the Process Review. During the day I received calls from Geico, who set up a doctor’s appointment for me, set up an appointment with a body shop in the event I need any work on my vehicle and reserved a rental car. They setup an appointment with an adjuster and I didn’t have to do a thing.  So, thank you Geico, now dump the naked gecko.

What kind of person causes an accident and just keeps going? I’m not sure but I can tell you this; kharma is a force not to screw with. One day he’ll get his recompense and he won’t even know why or what just smacked him upside his head. I could only hope to be there to see him get his just return.

Drive Safely.

Insights 2010

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Tammy Mathews, Bill Kizer & some short guy at Sage Insights 2010 ~ Denver, Colorado

Photograph Taken By Wayne Schulz

Like a lot of other Sage Partners, Employees & Exhibitors I just returned home from Sage’s Annual Partner Conference. It was held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver and I’m happy to report that I think this was the best Insights that I’ve attended.  It was refreshing, positive and had the feel of a large family reunion without the drunk uncle.

My only negative was the size of that damned convention center. I made the mistake of wearing new shoes to walk endlessly throughout the monolithic Center. It seemed to me that the halls were about 6 miles long and of course sessions covered every square foot available. At the end of the first day my feet were killing me, I developed blisters and I promise that I will never scoff at another woman when they complain about walking in heels. I think that I was the only person there who actually missed the Gaylord hotels, especially the Nashville property where everyone gets lost at least once and when you get lost in the Orlando Gaylord at least you had the alligators to keep you distracted while you wandered aimlessly. If my calculations are correct I walked a total of 493 miles in 4 days! Not really but it seemed that way.

Now that I’ve whined about the walking, let’s get to the good stuff. The keynotes were succinct. As usual Himanshu was dynamite. Tom Miller held his own even though he had to follow Himanshu. I always enjoy listening to Laurie Schultz. I especially enjoyed Sue Swenson’s opening day keynote.

The sessions that I attended seemed to be more relevant and timely. Ed Kless had a 3 part (that’s 3 straight hours) session titled “Firm Of The Future” and I don’t think that anyone left. There were more sessions on Social Media which seemed to be well attended. The Social Media Session that was moderated by Dennis Frahmann was phenomenal and I could have sat through another 2-3 hours. The panel was well picked and there were a lot of good questions. There were several hands on sessions that also looked packed.

Rob Johnson was giving out signed copies of his new book Kick Your Own Ass. I wrote about my misadventures with the book on the group website http://www.sage-li-group.com.

The difference in 2009 versus 2010 was papable, the chatter I heard was how far we’ve come as a company & how the future is looking brighter than ever. We’ve got a long ways to go, but it looks like we’re headed in the right direction.

I’ve included some of the comments that were posted in the Discussions area of Sage LinkedIn Partners, Employees & Alumni Community: :

Peter Wolf

    Peter Wolf, President at Azamba Consulting Group

    1. Content / conference itself: I’m finding that overall the mood is upbeat and positive. A lot of folks are seeing an uptick in prospect and client interest again – in some cases this is early stage proposals and in others this is signed orders.

    I feel that the Sage executives are an open, forthright group and they are keeping their committments to their three (?? is it more ??) key initiatives. Kudos to them all and to all the other Sage people that help make that possible.As anyone who has watched Seinfeld knows… anybody can MAKE committments – it’s keeping them… that’s the hard part. They seem to be doing a great job from what I can see. As always, it’s great to re-connect with people that we haven’t seen for a year and to put in some face time to all the new friends made via Social networking over the last 12 months. I tip my hat to Bill Kizer and crew for establishing this group – it really helps keep the conversations going (good and bad) throughout the year. 2. Venue / food / layout. These things never seem to bother me although I have found that they are typically a “common enemy” for a lot of people. ;)

    I have a booth (#520 – shameless plug) and appreciate that the booths are placed closer together than last year (where there was a football field separating one side from the other in any given row). It makes the flow seem more energetic which is great.

    John Hoyt

    John Hoyt, Partner, Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP – Consulting Group Enterprise Solutions

    The Conference:
    Overall rating – Excellent.
    There was no special motivational speaker, which is great. They always have the same message, and the fact that we are at Insights means we are already motivated. Sage management motivating us is sufficient.The keynotes at all levels were concise and to the point, and I hope everyone else got the message as I did. The management team, at last, has a focus and are all on the same page. I support their efforts wholeheartedly!     I took advantage of most of the sessions by Ed Kless, and these were invaluable to me. We cannot get too much of this information, but the interaction of the other people in these was key. I’m not convinced that updates on product roadmaps add much beyond the quarterly update presentations we get. I would like to see drilldown deeper into details that we cannot cover during those. I know there were sessions on BI and SQL, so these may be what I am looking for. The trade show was comprehensive, but I had a difficult time getting to everything. To exhibitors – I really don’t need gimmicks. Just present your product, so I can quickly understand what you have, and move on.The Venue:
    This layout and the logistics for me were far superior to the Gaylords. I want to escape to a separate hotel, where the facilities, food and drink are different, and probably better.

    I did not mind the food – it had more flavor and spice than in previous years. It’s never going to be haute cuisine, but that’s not why we’re here, and it is adequate. I would have liked champagne during the cocktail hours, but that’s just me!

    Wayne Schulz

    Wayne Schulz, Schulz Consulting http://www.s-consult.com

    I thought the numbers of people were down but those who attended were much more experienced and open about sharing.

    I’ve never been to a competitor’s conference but I’m pretty sure at those events that the regular folk like us don’t have a chance to talk to the top VP’s and President…… of course I couldn’t think of anything to actually talk to Jodi about other than how glad I was that we weren’t at the Gaylord Opryland this year (which was flooded in about 8 feet of water ) but I guess you have to start somewhere ;-)

    Here’s what I’d like to see in future conferences:

    1. I guess we still need road map sessions – but it seems that new streets and highways get built faster than the maps can be updated …

    What I’d like to see is a session on “why we did this” where Sage product folks could explain the real rationale behind some of the product feature decisions.

    I saw a glimpse of this in the hands-on training classes and it was very helpful to understand the reason behind why a particular feature may or may not have been added.

    2. One Powerpoint Keynote/Session Rule…

    Sage Executives are best when they’re not on script. Skip the bulk of those Powerpoints — or mail them out after the conference.

    I realize you have to create some standard message type content for a keynote but I find myself listening most closely to the speaker when they’re not on a script.

    I think both Ed and Rob do this for their “classes” — which are really more like learning events….. the last time I went to Ed’s session he announced that he had 30 minutes of presentation (thankfully usually only one PPT) and then the class could vote on what they’d like to talk about (it’s always related to the overall theme of the session).

    I think it works — at the Firm of the Future there had to be 60 people who sat through 3 concurrent sessions without leaving. As best I could tell just about every single person in the room participated….

    Oh and for some reason these sessions also product almost zero rants about policy and/or Sage — nearly all the discussion is about how to improve…. there’s a big lesson in these session formats imho.

    3. Let the product people get more involved in keynotes. Scott Zandenberg (sp) was great (loved his opening cartoon about change in the install base). The hands-on classroom was excellent when they went off-script and talked about why a change was or wasn’t made to the product.

    My feedback to everyone at Sage was that I think most people realize that product and technology related issues are tough to change. The one thing I am looking for Sage to work hard to improve is communication — providing us with the type of product and Sage communications that increase our enthusiasm and confidence for the products.

    Hugh Johnson

    Hugh Johnson, VP Sales & Marketing at Suntico

    As a first-timer I was delighted to meet so many great people from Sage and the Sage partner community in North America. There seems to be a strong cooperative spirit among many of the partners which is impressive. Almost everyone I spoke to commented about a pick-up in business or at least in sales enquiries in 2010 which is very encouraging.

    As an exhibitor I did not get to go to many of the sessions but that is OK. I thought the exhibitors were well looked after, and there was plenty of productive trade-show time.

    I learned an awfull lot, made some excellent contacts, received some very generous offers of assisitance and as a result I am refining my market entry strategy for the US.

    I loved Denver.

    Gary Feldman

    Gary Feldman, President at I-Business Network, LLC and Owner, I-Business Network, LLC
    Insights was and remains one of the best events of its kind, especially for a software company in the market Sage serves.     1. The content was as informative and substantive as ever. I really appreciated the number and quality of the external experts (the CRM road ahead was especially good). The keynotes and other presenters are packing a lot of content (even Himansu) into a small amount of time. Tom Miller was a perfect example of too much information in too little time. The one area for improvement is the motivational aspect of the conference as a sales event. Sage could punch up the energy level with a master of ceremony that can ignite the energy at the begining of the conference. The painters and singers was an attempt at this. A truly dynamic presence could invigorate during the show and beyond.2. The Denver convention center is a fabulous facility. The Wells Fargo auditorium is really nice (although the seats are a little cramped). The tradeshow layout was good although I beleive the Sage booth should be in front of the door as the main attraction. I think half way between the narrow isles and football field seperation would allow for more traffic and better visibility.

    I do like the Gaylord combined facility and hotel as it allows you to go back to the room during short breaks. Not all Gaylords were equal and the DC facility was beautiful, but more cramped than the others. I hope we have the problem of too many people for the small hallways!

    Although the number of people was down, the quality of the conversations was up this year. Well worth the time to increase our knowledge and social capital. Continue reading →

The Value of Insights

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There has been much discussion about the value of attending the Sage Insights Conference. I am one of those who have found Insights to provide me with great value and I’ve learned a great amount of useable information. The technology industry changes daily and there’s no way to know about those changes if we don’t talk to the source. You can find the source(s) and other partners who have utilized those changes very successfully by attending events such as Insights.

Look at the business partners who consistently make the Top 10 list. Go to their website and see what they’re doing that you’re not. They’re involved in Insights, BPAC members, etc.  It’s time to be accountable to ourselves for our failures or successes. It’s time to stop blaming others when we fail. It’s time to stop blaming the economy.

First, there is the long term value of creating lasting relationships with other BP’s or third party solutions and there are many knowledgeable partners and company representative who will gladly share that knowledge with you.

How do you put a price tag on product information you receive at Insights? What about face time with Sage executives? Truth be told, you can’t put a price tag on these items.

Too often we get caught up on doing business as we’ve always done it, not knowing that there are better ways of streamlining and making our individual businesses more cost effective. But if we don’t go to Insights and attend sessions, talk to other BP’s, then we’re going to stay in that same spiraling vortex & will get the same results. One of my favorite quotes is:

“If you keep doing what you’re doing you’re going to keep getting what you get. If you want something new you’re going to have to try something new.”

~ Author Unknown

I have spoke to BP’s who have concerns that they have never “pulled” any new business from attending Insights occasionally or even those who go each year. Then there’s the camp that has bought booth space, collected business cards & found that most of those cards belonged to other BP’s & not potential new deal opportunities. Is it worth the expenditure, they ask?

First, if you’re heading off to Insights with the sole intent of closing deals then you’re going to be disappointed. It’s kind of like going to a Barnum & Bailey Circus expecting Shakespeare; or going on vacation to Northern Minnesota in January wearing shorts, flip flops & sun tan lotion; you’re going to be disappointed.

Unfortunately most companies don’t look at non revenue generating items as having any value. Unless there’s a dollar amount involved most BP’s don’t “get it.” Here’s an example of one who does.

“It has always been MY rule that if I am serious about selling Sage products I need to attend Insights. I need to “breathe” the air, sense the mood of the Sage community, and get enough inspiration to see me through another year.”

~ Arlie Skory; Managing Partner at Skory Employer Solutions LLC ~

To the partners who don’t get it, there are three questions you need to ask yourself.

  1. What value am I adding to the equation?
  2. What Solution can I provide?
  3. Am I participating in the success of my business?

Come to Denver & see the change that is happening at Sage. You’re going to be surprised & more importantly you’re going to go back to your business with a new attitude & isn’t life itself about how you approach it? I think so & I hope to see each of you in Denver.

Note: Re-print of my 4/19/10 post on blog.sageerpsolutions.com

Paul Johnson’s Partner Letter

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Sage Partner Community Update from Paul Johnson, EVP Sales

Dear Sage Partner:

 First and foremost, I want to thank you on behalf of the entire Sage organization for being a valued business partner. We recognize and appreciate the commitment to our business that you make everyday. These challenging times have brought out the best in the Sage partner channel and for that we are immensely grateful.

In recent days, several of our competitors have used the business closure of one of our large partners to try to stir fear in the marketplace about the stability of the Sage partner channel. As a Sage partner, you know as well as I do that our partner community is diverse, vibrant and strong. As the market leader, we have seen these competitive actions in the past and expect we will see them many times in the future. We will be responding to the media directly in the coming days, but I wanted to first reach out to you with useful information that can help you respond to our customers. This update is part of a measured approach that builds on the programs we are delivering to help you be successful in this increasingly competitive market. Continue reading →

Win One For Amy!

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Imagine you’re a professional golfer, in fact you’re considered the #2 golfer in the world. You’re playing in the U.S. Open on one of the toughest golf courses in the country. You are in the top five & have a real chance to win one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the United States. 

Today is normally the day that the winner is decided but rain relays have delayed the finish. 
You just celebrated your 39th birthday & the U.S. Open fans greeted you by boisterously singing “Happy Birthday.”  Continue reading →

I Refuse To Listen To Negative News

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Spring is here, unless you live in Minnesota where the thermometer still hovers around arctic cold & way below freezing. I love to talk to my friend Kristen Baas @ Falcon Leasing around winter time. We get to compare temperatures & I’ve usually got her beat by a minimum of 60 degrees.

It also means that I’ve seen a change in the business climate & like the temperature here in San Diego it’s getting warmer. Am I being naive to think that things are going to change immediately? Of course not but let me tell you the exact moment my attitude changed. It changed the moment that I turned off the television & quit listening to the “experts” & the naysayers. I even went as far as to cancel the two daily newspapers I’ve been receiving for years. Too much bad news. I don’t like bad news so now I just ignore it. Continue reading →