GTIA Channelcon preview & A shot of purpose

👋 Welcome to the grind

I’m John Harden, and after years in the MSP world, I’ve got a few thoughts—and I’m not shy about sharing them. You might’ve seen me breaking things down on LinkedIn. This newsletter is where I connect the dots: fresh posts, honest takes on what’s really going on in the industry, and clips from recent webinars and livestreams. If you're building an MSP, navigating change, or just want a voice that gets it, you're in good company here.

Coffee Chats Recap: Mountaintops Over Sneakers: Purpose-Driven Leadership with Mark Caswell

Ever feel stuck staring at today's overwhelming problems? Mark's "mountaintops over sneaker tops" mindset will change how you lead and live, so discover why this episode is a must watch

(Watch the episode)

🔍 What we learned:

In this insightful conversation, Mark Caswell, a seasoned leader across industries from aerospace to MSPs to faith communities, emphasized the power of leading with purpose and investing in people. Mark shared how focusing on the bigger vision—what he calls "mountaintops over sneaker tops"—transforms daily burdens into stepping stones for yourself and those you mentor. “If you can lift your eyes up and look at the mountaintop, suddenly those little hard things become little, right? Contextually. You just sort of walk around them,” he explained. His approach is to help each person find their purpose, create environments where curiosity thrives, and keep teams aligned to a mission that matters.

💡Biggest Takeaways:

• Mountaintops Over Sneaker Tops: Don’t let daily hurdles consume you. “Staring down at your shoes, everything looks like a problem, but lift your eyes to the mountaintop and those become just pebbles on the path.”

• Purpose is the True Force Multiplier: Success comes from building communities and businesses where people are rallied around meaningful goals, not just P&Ls.

• Curiosity Unlocks Growth: Whether switching industries or roles, genuine curiosity bridges gaps and fosters adaptability. “Get wicked curious about the next thing.”

• Scaling People Development: Replicating a culture of purpose isn’t about cloning yourself; it’s about empowering others to lead from their own gifts toward shared aspirations.

✅ Recommendations:

• Regularly lift your viewpoint: when the day feels tough, pause and realign to your “mountaintop” vision.

• As a leader, spend more time helping individuals discover their own purpose.

• Don’t just solve today’s problems, but connect work to a larger mission. Foster and model curiosity every day, especially for teams navigating change or challenges

Huge thanks to Mark Caswell for sharing heartfelt stories and practical wisdom and reminding us that with the right perspective, the pebbles on the trail are easy to step over. Stay tuned for more Coffee Chats where we unpack the superpowers that drive purpose, people, and progress. Until next time, keep your eyes on the mountaintops and maybe water your flowers to Def Leppard.

AI Snuck In. Now It’s Time to Get in Front of It.

This Tuesday at ChannelCon, I’m tackling a topic that’s probably already landed on your doorstep: your clients have adopted AI, and they didn’t wait for your input. The session is called The Next Wave of MSP Threats & Opportunities with Shadow IT & GenAI, and it’s not about future trends or what might happen. This is about what’s already happening in your client environments and what you can do about it.

Chances are, someone in one of your accounts uploaded a spreadsheet to ChatGPT or started using Claude to draft emails, and they didn’t think twice. That’s Shadow GenAI, and it’s the new version of Shadow IT. Except now, the risks are deeper: data leakage, hallucinated legal advice, and business decisions made by tools your clients found in a Reddit thread. Not great.

But here’s the flip side, it’s also a massive opportunity. This session isn’t a fear-fest. It’s a practical game plan for how MSPs can regain trust, take control of the AI chaos, and turn it into something profitable. We’ll be walking through the DOMAIN framework, a step-by-step approach to operationalizing AI internally and then using that knowledge to guide your clients with confidence.

I’ll be covering everything from how to map unsanctioned AI usage inside your client base, to how to introduce policies that don’t feel like handcuffs, to ways you can start monetizing AI guidance as part of your offering. Whether you’ve already started down this road or you’re just trying to catch up, there’s a path forward that’s both manageable and meaningful.

Even better? The deck is packed with handouts, training templates, and plug-and-play resources: like editable AUPs, QBR slide templates, and a full ChatGPT training pack you can white-label for clients. So even if you’re not in the room, you’ll leave with something you can use the very next day.

If you’re going to be at ChannelCon, make time for this one. And if you’re not? No worries, grab the deck, dig in, and let’s get ahead of what’s already here. The MSPs who win in the AI era won’t be the ones who panic, they’ll be the ones who translate the noise into real business value.

🎙️ I’m Live Next Week

ChannelCon Buzz, The Power of GTIA, Community & A Surprise Guest! (Thursday July 31, 9am ET)

Get ready to unlock the power of community with Dan Wensley, CEO of the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA)

Join me as I dive into the dynamic world of IT communities with Dan Wensley. We will cover the crucial role GTIA plays in enhancing industry connections and insights directly from ChannelCon, and stay tuned for a special surprise guest that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

What we’ll cover:

• Why Community Still Wins: Dan, what is the #1 thing people overlook about the impact of real-world connections in tech?

• GTIA’s Role & Influence: How is GTIA pushing boundaries for its members this year?

• Future of Community & Collaboration: What does next-level collaboration look like in our industry and what is the biggest takeaway from GTIA?

Thursday, July 31st, 2025 at 9:00 AM EST on LinkedIn Live. Bring your coffee and energy!

Drop your questions in the comments, tag a friend to join, or share your favorite ChannelCon memory!

🎧 Register here 

🔗 Stuff Worth Clicking

• Blame a leak for Microsoft SharePoint attacks, researcher insists

• Dashlane Revamps Partner Program to Drive Growth in Credential Security

• SysAdmin Day 2025: Industry Leaders Spotlight the IT Heroes Driving Digital Transformation

📬 Hit Me Back

This week we zoomed out with Mark Caswell and got grounded in something bigger than just the daily grind—purpose. So now we’re curious:

⛰️ What’s your mountaintop right now? The vision that helps you step over today’s pebbles?
🌱 How are you helping your team stay curious and aligned to something that actually matters?
🤖 And in the middle of AI chaos, how are you keeping your leadership anchored in clarity, not panic?

Whether you're mentoring new leaders, navigating industry shifts, or trying to get ahead of Shadow GenAI, we want to hear what’s working—and what’s keeping you grounded.

Drop a reply, share a story, or tag someone who lifts your eyes when you’re stuck staring at your sneakers. Let’s grow together.