MSP Mindset with Damien Stevens

On this week's episode, Scott Breitman, President of Dymin Solutions, shares the brutal truth behind scaling an MSP: you can’t grow if you’re still the hero. From losing his entire team to rebuilding with stronger culture and systems, Scott reveals how stepping out of operations, enforcing core values, and making tough leadership decisions helped grow his MSP to $7M+. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Starting his business 10:40 - Transitioning to an MSP 22:48 - How they standardize 48:40 - What he'd do differently in business 57:57 - You gotta be all in 1:15:07 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Scott: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Scott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-breitman-b38a524/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

What would you do if your business collapsed overnight… and your family was in danger? In this week's episode, Roland shares how he went from running a 150-person tech company in Zimbabwe to fleeing political violence, rebuilding from scratch in the U.S., and ultimately scaling a successful MSP. From near-death experiences to closing deals in the ICU, his story of resilience and faith shows what it really takes to survive—and win—in business. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Losing everything and starting over in America 44:46 - Where he's at now 1:06:07 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Roland: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Roland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolandparker/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Running an MSP can feel exhausting when every client treats IT like a commodity. But when you find the right clients, something surprising happens: joy. In this episode, Macr Mansfield, founder of Celera Networks, talks about a topic most MSP owners rarely discuss: the joy that comes from working with the right clients. After more than two decades building and scaling his MSP, he explains how alignment with clients transforms the relationship from “the IT company” into a true strategic partner. Instead of chasing every referral, he shares how defining the right industries, understanding their technology depth, and creating strategic conversations helps MSPs find clients who truly value their expertise. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - Finding the right fit customer 16:24 - Getting more of the right fit customers 29:11 - Strategic advisor for AI 42:15 - How to provide strategy for your clients 50:25 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Marc: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Marc - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcmansfield/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

In this episode, Damien sits down with Kevin, founder of ITPartners+ to unpack one of the most dramatic culture turnarounds in the MSP industry. Kevin realized the culture inside his company had become toxic — so toxic that the only way forward was to fire every single employee and rebuild from scratch. That decision forced him to rethink leadership, hiring, culture, and what kind of company he wanted to build. The result? Explosive growth from $3.5M to $14M, a mission-driven company culture, and a bold goal to invest $1 million per year into community impact. Kevin also shares hard-earned lessons about escaping owner-led sales, building a real sales team, using acquisitions to scale faster, and why MSP owners must learn to get out of their own way. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - Moving from break fix to MSP 4:35 - Learning his why/culture 17:00 - Setting larger goals 28:35 - How culture affects talent recruiting 31:21 - The biggest surprise from his culture turnaround 35:31 - How he's grown so quickly 44:22 - How they handle acquisitions 1:07:51 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Kevin: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-damghani/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone at your MSP - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv Scott (CEO of Fidelis Northwest, Seattle) shares how he’s built uncommon employee retention (median tenure ~8.6 years) by hiring “diamonds in the rough,” designing a culture that protects time, and implementing a four-day (4x9) schedule without sacrificing service delivery. You’ll hear the practical hiring filters, scheduling mechanics, and leadership mindset that make it sustainable—plus Scott’s take on AI and what it means for the future of MSP talent pipelines. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - Why he hires differently 21:17 - Culture and working 4 days a week 37:16 - the Marines and what that taught him about leadership 42:06 - Not letting business define you 53:19 - Scott's thoughts on AI 1:02:00 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Scott: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-wittstock/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone at your MSP - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv In this episode, Atul shares how bringing in a COO, implementing real SOPs, and redefining culture completely changed his MSP. From being lost in the weeds to building operational maturity, firing misaligned clients, and creating a team that runs without him, Atul shares what you can be doing now at your MSP to get yourself out of the weeks. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Starting his MSP and why niching was important 9:07 - Why MSPs aren't in competition 18:26 - Keeping talent in a competitive market 30:40 - Why getting a COO is important 35:16 - Starting Tech Degenerates and why it matters 54:11 - MSP Titan Questions 👉 Connect more with: Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Atul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhagat/ 🎙 Listen on audio: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/msp-mindset-with-damien-stevens/id1669572779 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5B1k3Z8qXBGBSCJeSScjBE?si=c5d185c306064520 #msp #managedservices #managedserviceprovider

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, John (CEO of Core Managed) breaks down how he scaled his MSP from 2 to 45 employees by leaning into QBRs (now TBRs), building a true vCIO process, standardizing aggressively, and investing 12–15% of MRR into strategic advisory. Instead of upselling during reviews, he focused on lifecycle management, proactive work, and retention — and the results snowballed.If you want predictable growth, better engineers, lower chaos, and clients who stay for the long haul, this conversation is a must.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:42 - Starting his MSP21:00 - Transitioning to managed services26:03 - What does he attribute to his growth33:27 - The Importance of QBRs and a VCIO1:03:41 - Losing 6 people in one year1:08:59 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Jon:Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwright3/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, Damien sits down with Hank Dallam, CEO of NetGain Technologies, to unpack how he's uniting legacy systems, decentralizing operations, and deep-rooting culture under one cohesive mission. From private equity pressures to rebuilding client success and leading through change, Hank shares leadership lessons beneficial for all MSPs.Chapters:0:00 - Intro6:23 - Figuring out where they were as a company15:52 - From leading a MSP of 30 to 11021:45 - Leading people over 5 timezones29:23 - PE doesn't have to be bad40:19 - What AI is doing for them52:22 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Hank:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensHank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hankdallam/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvHe built a $40M MSP with no funding—what’s his secret? Gray Mabry of iVenture Solutions reveals how he scaled his business from scratch into a thriving, culture-driven $40M MSP with 185 employees while taking no outside capital.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:15 - Starting his MSP8:12 - How he grew to $40M18:38 - Hiring and Culture45:05 - Rewiring the reward system48:40 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Gray:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensGray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymabry/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvTired of wasting hours on interviews that go nowhere? Adrian, CEO of GAM Tech, was too — until he built a hiring system that filters 95% of applicants before they ever sit down for an interview. In this episode, Adrian breaks down the exact tools, processes, and mindset that helped him grow one of North America’s fastest-scaling MSPs — adding 20+ people in just a few years without burning out his team or losing quality. If you’re drowning in bad resumes, wasting time on mis-hires, or struggling to build a high-performing team, this episode is for you.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:36 - Making hiring their super power27:54 - How does he get so many applicants?30:52 - Helping them get acclimated to the team37:40 - How he's handling AI at his MSP46:30 - What does he attribute to their growth57:44 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Adrian:Damien - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens/Adrian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianghira/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this episode, host Damien Stevens interviews Elliot Edge, who made the bold leap from oil & gas engineer to MSP CEO. With no prior tech experience, Elliot acquired a small 8-person MSP doing $2M in revenue and scaled it to over $16M with 90+ employees through seven strategic acquisitions. Elliot shares the frameworks, mindset, and leadership lessons behind his success—including why he doesn’t cut staff, how he integrates lean manufacturing into IT services, and the one mistake most MSPs keep making.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:15 - Buying his first MSP and what he had to learn21:48 - How did the team respond to his leadership?30:55 - Handing 5 acquisitions in 26 months44:28 - How he keeps clients after acquisition56:00 - Why he doesn't use EOS1:07:59 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Elliott:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensElliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-edge/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat if offshoring wasn’t just about saving your MSP money—but about transforming your team, your time, and your entire business?In this powerful episode, Peter Bell shares how offshoring redefined everything inside his MSP. From reducing burnout to increasing profit margins, Peter proves that offshoring—done right—can change lives. With an average tenure of 17 years and a “profit-first” mindset (over MRR and ARR), this is a must-listen for growth-minded MSPs ready to scale while keeping their team happy and sane. Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:25 - Starting his MSP14:25 - Why MSPs often overlook profitability23:38 - How offshoring completely changed his MSP53:20 - Buying back his team1:05:01 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Peter:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensPeter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tgt-pete/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIs niching right for your MSP—or a recipe for regret? Jeff Borrello ran a successful, $9M MSP for decades as a generalist. Then, after 30 years in business, he made the bold decision to niche into manufacturing. What followed was hard-earned clarity, uncomfortable transitions, and surprising traction.In this episode, Jeff walks us through the entire niching journey—from letting go of medical clients, selling off $1M in revenue, and choosing an industry they knew little about. Whether you’re niching now or thinking about it, this episode shows what it really looks like behind the scenes.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:09 - Starting his MSP5:00 - Where they're at now10:03 - How they grew to $9M15:15 - Their decision to niche and what that's looked like48:53 - The importance of culture at his MSP58:12 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect more with Damien and Jeff:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJeff: https://www.linkedin.com/company/andromeda-technology/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Never recover alone again - Servosity co-managed backup and recovery ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv10 to 15 sales meetings—every week? Hector Ortiz’s MSP is doing it, and he shares exactly how.In this episode, we dive into Hector’s cold-call driven growth strategy that consistently delivers new logo business. From building a rock-solid lead list to hiring the right inside sales team, Hector breaks down how his company created a repeatable outbound system that converts. And he's doing it all in the ultra competitive NYC market... If you’re struggling with sales or relying too much on referrals, this episode is for you.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:17 - Starting Dega Systems10:28 - Insane growth the past 4 years and how25:23 - Standing out in a competitive market (NYC)34:42 - Building the team38:09 - Learning the importance of process41:39 - The importance of their vertical45:37 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Hector:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensHector: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-ortiz-03998a/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvHe lost 75% of his business—and didn’t lay everyone off.When a major contract was canceled with no warning, Joseph Bonanno’s MSP lost the majority of its revenue and was suddenly on the brink of collapse. But instead of giving up, Joseph doubled down on what mattered most: his people. He placed nearly every employee from the failed project, rebuilt his company with a culture-first focus, and came back stronger.In this powerful and emotional episode, you’ll hear how Joseph transformed Archetype from a fast-scaling MSP into a resilient, value-driven company where culture comes firstChapters:0:00 - Intro1:52 - Starting his business10:33 - Learning to say "no"17:35 - Changing up their hiring system27:41 - Losing 75% of revenue40:11 - Hiring great talent in a small town51:55 - MSP Titan Questions Connect more with Damien and Joseph:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensJoseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephwbonanno/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvIn this week's episode, Anthony Mangiluso, CEO of PCS, shares how he went from grinding for a decade to reach 10 employees to scaling his MSP to ~240—by building predictable revenue, delegating hard, and using unconventional “buy back time” moves like the "Tech Tank". And it didn't come easy... along the way, he lost roughly 40% of his revenue—and was able to build it back within a year. Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:23 - Starting his MSP9:44 - Going from 0 to 60 employees (2010-2018)29:14 - Transitioning to managed services37:31 - Going from 60 to 240 employees (2018-2024)-59:59 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Anthony:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensAnthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymongeluzo/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvStruggling to grow your MSP beyond referrals? Think you need to be a tech expert or have outside funding? In this episode of MSP Mindset, Dan Monk reveals how he scaled Fencecore from $1.5M to $10M in just two years—with no technical background, no funding, and no shortcuts. Discover how this self-funded MSP owner used cold calling, relationship selling, and scrappy hustle.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:25 - From accountant to successful MSP20:08 - Going from $1.5M to $10M33:58 - How he handled/managed people during their hyper growth42:53 - The wall at $10M47:50 - Learning to overcome struggles55:05 - MSP Titan QuestionsConnect more with Damien and Dan:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensDan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-munk-39472439/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Daily File Verification, Done for You ►► https://bit.ly/4lh8HUv Most MSPs say small markets limit growth. Jamie Branson proves otherwise. He built an $8 million MSP in Montana with no defined vertical and a team hired largely from the hospitality industry. In this episode, Jamie shares how customer experience, non-traditional hiring, and intentional culture building helped him attract 122 new logos in a single year. If you're struggling to scale your MSP in a "non-tier-one" market, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Getting started as an MSP 10:20 - What he attributes to their success 33:20 - Culture & hiring people who actually care 58:52 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Jayme: Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens Jayme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayme-branson-55b0238/ 📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset

Servosity: Daily file-level verification that catches corruption before disaster strikes: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvWhat do the top-performing MSPs have in common? For David Bennett, it boiled down to two things: obsessive standardization and learning the power of "no." After nearly burning out and almost tanking his company, David rebuilt by creating systems so dialed-in they could run without him—and reclaiming his life by setting boundaries and realigning his priorities.In this episode, he reveals how you can simplify operations, reduce noise, and grow without burning out.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:33 - Getting started as an MSP14:52 - His first year as owner and the unforeseen challenges23:37 - Overcoming thinking small (it's all in process)33:43 - What he attributes to his growth53:27 - Learning to say "no"1:06:26 - MSP Titan Questions 🤝 Connect with Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevens🤝 Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhbennett/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbzzyR7yX9l9XQaZCBp0v0g

Tired of babysitting backups? Servosity can help: https://bit.ly/4lh8HUvFrank Cox's journey is unlike any other MSP you've heard. From addiction and broken family ties to buying a failing MSP and transforming it into a $5M powerhouse, Frank opens up about his raw, emotional transformation. This isn't just about growth metrics—it's about leadership, surrender, and rebuilding from rock bottom. If you're stuck at the $1M or $2M wall, Frank shares exactly how he broke through with team trust, peer groups, pricing changes, and EOS.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:50 - From addict to changed life19:42 - Becoming an MSP owner26:12 - How he completely turned around the business41:36 - How he's doubled revenue in 2 years1:04:52 - MSP Titan Questions Connect with Damien and Frank:Damien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dstevensFrank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-cox-6b0912259/📺 Watch on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@mspmindset