The VAR Guy

Are you ready — and qualified — to launch your own business? Before you quit your day job, check in with Mitch York, an executive coach who helps corporate employees become successful business owners. York offers some practical tips and some reality checks to would-be entrepreneurs in a MSPmentor Live: Podcast for May 1, posted on our sister site.

I’ve watched SAS Institute quite a bit the past two years. First, as the company built a channel program for its business intelligence software. And more recently, during a road show on business analytics. Instead of pitching products, SAS has been evangelizing customer outcomes. It’s a strategy worth noting. Here’s why.

This is only a test. The VAR Guy is testing a new site feature.

Avnet Technology Solutions today is expected to announce a U.S. distribution agreement with Motion Computing, which develops tablet PCs and other technologies for the government and healthcare verticals.

Seeking to build a channel — or join a partner program — but not sure where to start? Perhaps you should steal a page from NetEx, which specializes in Data Center Acceleration solutions for IP networks.

If you can sneak away from the office, feel free to join me at one or more of the following events on February 7, February 14 and March 30-April 1. Each event is designed for managed service providers, solutions providers and small business owners. The events have different themes and formats, but all of them will extensively cover the managed services space.

Our sister Web site, MSPmentor.net, has identified 100 of the world’s most progressive managed service providers. It’s called the MSPmentor 100. You’ll find a free PDF of the report in the MSPmentor Resource Center (registration required). You can read the PDF off-line at your leisure. Or, you can read individual components of the report online by visiting the MSPmentor 100 main content area.

Still skeptical about the managed service provider (MSP) market? Looking to learn from the best? Perhaps The VAR Guy’s sister site, MSPmentor, can give you a feel for the hottest trends — and players — in the MSP space. Check out the MSPmentor 100, which identifies 100 of the most progressive managed service providers in the world. The research project, published today, includes MSPs from across North America, Europe, Australia and other regions.

Cisco Systems is practicing what it preaches. For the past year, the networking giant has helped partners to recruit, retain and empower employees. Find your best talent, the networking giant said, and promote it. Cisco followed that very advice when the company named its new North American channel chief, Wendy Bahr (pictured).

Ingram Micro’s Infrastructure Technology Solutions (ITS) Division is now selling and supporting the complete line of IBM System Storage N series hardware, software and solutions for small-to-midsize enterprises (SMEs).