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Why Your Growing Company Needs a Fractional CIO (And It’s Not About Technology)
When most business leaders hear "Fractional CIO," they immediately think about technology decisions. That's backwards. The real value of a Fractional...
When Should Your Company Actually Hire a CIO?
I've had this conversation at least a dozen times in the past with mid-sized company leaders: "We're thinking about hiring a CIO. What do you think?" My answer almost always starts with the same question back: "Why?" Not...
Why Mid-Sized Companies Need a Technology Roadmap (And Why It Should Be Independent)
Most mid-sized companies operate without a real technology roadmap. They react to problems as they arise, implement solutions when vendors propose them, and upgrade systems when they become critical. It feels like managing technology, and...
So You Have to Fire Your MSP
Nobody wakes up excited to fire their managed service provider. It's not like switching coffee vendors. Your MSP has their hands on everything: your email, your servers, your backups, your security tools, your users' ability to do their jobs. And yet here you are....
Build or Buy? What to Actually Consider.
I was in a good debate recently with an IT partner about the right path for their customer. The company needed better operational systems. Two legitimate options on the table: commercial off-the-shelf software or custom-built PowerApps. Neither answer was...
Your MSP Says They’re Doing Great. But Are They Really?
I've sat in countless quarterly business reviews over the years, on both sides of the table. I've been the Managed Service Provider (MSP) walking through beautifully formatted decks showing green checkmarks everywhere: 99.8% uptime, average ticket...
Don’t get me started on “Virtual CIO”…
Okay, you got me started. Here's the thing: "Virtual" actually fits perfectly because in most cases, that's exactly what they are - not real. I need to be clear: this isn't about the people doing this...
Fractional CIO: Building the Technology Leadership Team You Actually Need
When most people hear "Fractional CIO" they think it's about budget. You can't afford a full-time executive, so you get someone part-time. And sure, sometimes that's part of it. But it misses the bigger picture entirely. The real...
The Hidden Cost of Technology Advice: Why Companies Need Independent Strategy
You know that awkward middle stage your company hits, I call it the ‘awkward teen phase’? You're too big to keep running on whatever mishmash of technology got you here, but you're not quite large enough to justify a full IT department with a...