We’re officially 10 days away from NerdioCon 2024! From February 12–16, 2024, we will be in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for our third annual in-person, all-inclusive partner conference, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring industry leaders together to tackle the most important topics our teams are facing.
Each week leading up to the event, we’re publishing installments of our Nerd Icon blog series to give you a sneak peek of some of the experts you can expect to hear from at NerdioCon 2024. Our next featured speaker is Tim Conkle, Founder and CEO at The 20!
Tell us about The 20 and your current role with them
The 20 is an engine that can help your small to mid-sized MSP save about ten years of wasted effort. A lot of MSPs struggle with the business side of things, especially when they’re already busy with day-to-day operations. This can be incredibly frustrating – busting your a** to do right by your clients, working long hours, and still not seeing real growth. I know because that was once me!
Now, some of those MSPs will figure things out. A lot won’t. Joining The 20 is a sure-fire way to make sure your MSP isn’t left out in the cold. We give you a winning business model, a US-based 24/7 support desk, plus a community of MSP owners you can turn to for help.
Do you still have to put in the work to achieve real growth? Of course. But you’re no longer flying blind. And you’re no longer going it alone either. I’ve heard The 20 called an MSP “co-op” or “business development group,” but I just call it a bunch of good people who make each other better – and have way more fun than they should in the process.
As for my role, I get to do what I love – think big and aim high. I cast vision and have an incredibly talented team of individuals who ensure that we get there. This team includes former MSP owners whose companies have been purchased by The 20. Their industry experience and expertise are invaluable to what we’re trying to do.
Why do you enjoy working in IT? What makes it unique?
The people, no question. I get to work with a bunch of kindhearted, brilliant, loveable weirdos every single day, and it is just the greatest. When I go to work in the morning, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Could something go terribly wrong? Maybe. But I do know this — my people have my back, and I’ve got theirs. You’d better believe there’s magic in those relationships. There’s magic in people.
What will you be presenting about at NerdioCon 2024?
I’m going to be taking attendees through the lifecycle of building a large and profitable MSP, from those early days of growth to a successful exit strategy.
There’s a beautiful continuity to the whole process, with the groundwork you lay early on playing a significant role in the later stages of your growth journey. I figure MSPs will really benefit from hearing a firsthand account of what it takes to make it in this industry — some battle-tested insights from someone who’s been through it and lived to tell the tale.
If you got into this game because you wanted to build something great, this stuff matters. The MSPs at the top of the industry are there for a reason, and it’s important to study their example if you want to be an elite company. Success in the MSP space takes A LOT more than technical know-how. It took me 18 years to fully appreciate this — 18 years of struggling to grow my own MSP. Don’t be like me and wait 18 years to get the help you need.
What are you looking forward to most about the event?
Just sharing a little grey-haired wisdom with the MSP community. I started The 20 because I’d grown a multi-million-dollar MSP, and I’m just not a ride-off-into-the-sunset type of dude. I love helping MSP owners see the light and start thinking like real entrepreneurs, and I expect to do a little bit of that at NerdioCon 2024.
I am a NerdioCon first-timer here, but I heard great feedback from The 20 team last year, so I’m excited to attend!
What are some topics or pain points that your company can help channel partners with that you’ll be discussing at NerdioCon?
Everything that matters. I’m not being glib, either. The purpose of The 20 is to help MSPs conquer their biggest pain points to achieve consistent and meaningful growth. Chances are, if there’s something holding your MSP back, it’s something we’ve thought long and hard about. So come on by, and let’s talk about what’s keeping you from your goals.
Want to learn more about Tim and the other expert presenters at NerdioCon 2024? Visit the NerdioCon homepage to view speaker info, agenda items, and more. We’re excited to discuss the industry’s biggest topics with leaders from across the channel!
