It’s my pleasure to join the ScanSource community through the Impact Now blog. CompTIA’s mission is to help the IT industry grow. We’re trying to help companies climb the pyramid, from new entrants to survivors to market makers to success stories.

With uncertainty over how long the economic downturn will last and how deep it will be, companies are almost certain to take a closer look at technology spending for 2009. They’ll need to be more creative in maximizing their existing assets, trying to squeeze more performance out of the technology they’ve already invested in. 

But this is also a time for the IT channel to shine. The smart use of IT can support businesses even in the most unfortunate economic climate. Companies that offer products and services that are truly original, that save time, that boost productivity, and that demonstrate cost savings, will prosper even during an economic downturn.

In times of economic uncertainty, price becomes more of an issue as a decision-making factor for IT purchases, but it’s not the only factor. Among the key selection criteria when companies are evaluating tech vendors are high quality service; vendors that truly understand their business needs; and their ability to provide customized, scalable solutions. Technology providers who focus on these core values, while helping customers understand the business case for IT investments, should see continued success in the coming year.

CompTIA is committed providing its members with research, education, training, advocacy, best practices, and networking opportunities designed to help them succeed whether economic times are good or bad.  For those of you who’ve been engaged with CompTIA in the past, thanks for your support. For those of you who may not be familiar with us, I encourage you to get to know the new CompTIA.

Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO, CompTIA

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We’re getting very excited about seeing the new products and innovative solutions our manufacturer partners have on tap!  What’s more, I’ve even heard about some great giveaways – from electric guitars and game consoles to gift cards and even some mystery surprises – that our manufacturers will have available.  We’ll also have some stars walking the floor!  From what we hear, resellers are looking forward to the show as much as we are.  But we want to hear from our manufacturer partners!  Let us know what you’re excited about and what you have in store for attendees at the show!

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As I watched the 2008 Ryder Cup, pitting 12 US golfers versus 12 European golfers, the concepts of team and leadership kept coming to mind.  I am an avid golfer and one of the things I love about golf is that it is you versus the course.  No two courses the same, no two shots the same.  However, the Ryder Cup is a team competition and though the US has many of the top players in the world, we had been unable to win the cup in recent years.  Why?  The talent was there.  Many articles have been written in the past few years about how the US golfers didn’t play as a team, but as a group of individuals.  It was said that the Ryder Cup meant more to the European team and that was their motivation.  Each year it was played, the Europeans showed up with attitude and enthusiasm for the competition.  As many of you now know, the US convincingly won the 2008 Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999!  Under the leadership of Paul Azinger this team was different – even though it was missing the #1 golfer in the world, Tiger Woods.  So, what made this team different?  In my opinion, a high-performing team is made up of: Talent, Enthusiasm, Attitude and Motivation.  If any of these are missing, a team won’t perform to its potential.  The last key is leadership, and without this, a team can’t be built or guided to the goal it is trying to achieve.

In the case of the US team, it had talent, but it had always had talent but was unable to win. Talent, alone, can’t win every time.  Read the rest of this entry »

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When I was little, my sister and I couldn’t wait to attend hardware trade shows with our dad. The pencils, erasers, bags, magnets, rulers and other knick knacks - not to mention the candy! - we would go home with were always so exciting! But those days have certainly changed. It takes a lot more than fun giveaways to attract visitors. Sure, I’m a PR person, so you probably think I’m going to talk about why our show is the one you should attend. But really, the show speaks for itself - just check out the home page of this web site. But what I will say is, with schedules so tight and budgets stretched thin, it’s tough to hit all of the many industry events out there. Resellers need to make sure they are getting the most bang for the buck. We would love to hear your thoughts about industry shows - do you go? Why or why not? Do you make it a family thing like we used to do or is it strictly business? Let us hear from you. As for me, I still do love those knick knacks!

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With all of the blogs out there, it’s hard to keep up. Here are a few on the radar of our team and our customers. Let us know what you’re reading.

http://mjperry.blogspot.com
http://blogs.forbes.com/digitalrules
http://thetricycle.com/blog
http://channelmarker.blogs.techtarget.com/author/hclancy 

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Hey ScanSource Partner Community! I’m Paul Constantine, the “VP of Solutions and Services” at ScanSource, Inc. and my job is figure out ways that we can use the resources and scale of ScanSource, Inc. to help you all grow faster and more efficiently. We currently manage a few services in my group such as Marketing Services, our Custom Configuration Center, E-Services, Education/Training and Managed Services.

I hear alot about the economy lately, on a personal as well as business level. It seems all of us, at some level have used the “recession” excuse to justify one thing or another. Times are tougher than they’ve been for sure, but our economy has fought through challenges like this before, and when you step back and look at the big picture it’s not as bad as maybe many of us think it is. Sure, unemployment is up, and lots of good people are out of work, but the unemployment rate of 5.7% is still BELOW the post-WW2 average. Yes, gas prices are taking a bigger chunk out of everyone’s wallet, but when you combine the effects of more efficient cars and higher real wages, gasoline is still taking far less of a share or our income than it did 25-30 years ago.

This mystery “recession” is a topic that has me baffled. Read the rest of this entry »

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Paul Constantine, vice president of Partner Services, will be blogging live Friday, August 8 at 10:30 a.m. ET.  Don’t miss this opportunity to speak with him and learn more about what he and his team will be sharing at IMPACT NOW Orlando.

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This year’s IMPACT NOW conference promises to be more exciting than ever. After all, the big names are lining up to attend – Wozniak, Danica and Disney. Doesn’t get much bigger.

In the technology world, few innovators loom larger than Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who started the computer company in a garage with partner Steve Jobs. Wozniak will tell you how he did it and take your questions at the conference in an interactive Q&A.

The Disney Institute’s workshops on Leadership Management and Keeping Customers Loyal will also be a highlight. Dozens of Fortune 500 companies have utilized the Disney Institute to teach their employees the secrets of building a powerful brand, building leaders and transforming customers into loyal partners. You’ll walk away with a plan for action for your business.

And if all that isn’t enough, you can meet Danica Patrick at the Motorola booth on the exhibit floor, where she’ll sign autographs and take pictures. Like last year, the floor will be packed with more than 100 vendor booths. There’s no better place to network and see the latest products.

So, what do you plan to ask Steve Wozniak? Who’s the biggest Danica fan? What are you most interested in learning from the Disney Institute? Share your thoughts!

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The location for this year’s networking blow-out bash is locked in: Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios! This will be an exciting setting for all attendees to share strategies and meet with vendor executives. ScanSource, Inc. executives will also be on-hand for strategy and planning sessions. Plus, the food and drink will be better than ever!

Last year’s networking bash at Universal CityWalk is still talked about in the channel, so you don’t want to miss this year’s party – it will be bigger and better than ever! Who are you looking forward to meeting at the Hard Rock? Tell us here!

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