Don’t Grow It Alone

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Basketball fan or not, you have likely seen the billboard or heard this famous quote from NBA great Michael Jordon. What I love about it is the rationale and underlying motivation appeals to both our personal and professional lives.

“I wish I traveled more…”

“I want my business to grow faster…”

We are all guilty of it somewhere along the lines. So, why don’t we just do it? Travel more. Grow the business faster. Be the cooler, more successful people we pretend to be online.

I know the answers vary – especially personally - and I am not looking to motivate the masses here. What I do want to call out to ChannelE2E readers is this: From a professional point of view, there is no better time than now to “make it happen.” Grow faster. Grow smarter. Be more profitable!

The volume of relevant resources readily available to IT solution providers is at an industry-high and growing. I’ve been in this business for nearly two decades and I have never seen more value coming out of distribution and more investment coming in from vendors wanting to advance the skill sets of channel partners.

Combine these resources with the increasing demand for technology in business and it is without question a good time to be an IT solution provider. So why does the 80/20 rule still hold true with a vast majority of channel partners still trying to “grow it alone” versus collaborating with others to create bigger, more profitable opportunities and simplify success? Lack of awareness is one reason. Another may be lack of organizational leadership.

Many IT solution providers are going too fast and wearing too many hats to engage at the right levels with their distributors, peers and vendor partners. Yet those who do slow it down and take the time to assess and engage are better for it.

At Ingram Micro, channel partners who actively participate in one of our three partner communities – Trust X Alliance, System ArchiTECHs, SMB Alliance – are shown to grow faster and more profitably than others that aren’t involved. All other things equal, the advantage these partners have is the power of partnership and the collective insight of the community. They aren’t going it alone. They are learning from each other and leaning on each other, as well as Ingram Micro and their vendor sponsors, to grow their businesses and make better business decisions now and in the future.

American businessperson, motivational speaker and TV Shark John Daymond is quoted saying: “Align yourself with the right people, forge the right partnerships and you’ll set yourself for the long run.”