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EP281 - Stop Working IN Your MSP - Make It Work For You - with Mit Patel, Darren Strong, Paul Green and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

Release Date: 04/19/2026

EP298 - Why Your Summer Holiday is the Ultimate MSP Leadership Test with Ian Luckett show art EP298 - Why Your Summer Holiday is the Ultimate MSP Leadership Test with Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I explain why your summer holiday is the ultimate MSP leadership test. It is that time of year again, when the sun is out, the diary clears a little, and MSP owners either head off on holiday or spend the whole time thinking about it. This episode is not really about holidays at all. It is about what happens to your business when you step away from it, and what that reveals about the leadership you have built.    I ask a simple question early on. Can you truly switch off when you go away, or are you still checking emails by the pool...

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EP297 - How to Use Vendor MDF for MSPs so Everyone Wins with Gemma Telford and Ian Luckett show art EP297 - How to Use Vendor MDF for MSPs so Everyone Wins with Gemma Telford and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I sit down with Gemma Telford from the Archer Agency to unpack one of the most underused resources available to growing MSPs, vendor Marketing Development Funds, or MDF. With two decades of experience across tech marketing, including roles at Ingram Micro, Sage and Palo Alto Networks, Gemma Telford brings a rare view from both sides of the channel, having worked with vendors, distributors and partners alike.    We open with a wider discussion on why so many MSP owners struggle to embrace marketing in the first place. Many...

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EP296 - Beyond the Money, What Wealth Really Means for MSP Business Owners with Ian Luckett show art EP296 - Beyond the Money, What Wealth Really Means for MSP Business Owners with Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I take a step back from the usual growth tactics and invite you into a conversation about what wealth really means for MSP owners. We are past the midpoint of 2026, and rather than waiting until year end to reflect, I wanted to offer a checkup from the neck up right now, while there is still time to make the second half count.     I talk through the MSP journey many of us recognise. You start in survive, move into drive, then into thrive, and eventually reach arrive, the point where the business works for you rather than the...

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EP295 - How Smashing Down Invisible Ceilings in Your MSP Can Help Your Culture Grow with Yvonne Matzk and Ian Luckett show art EP295 - How Smashing Down Invisible Ceilings in Your MSP Can Help Your Culture Grow with Yvonne Matzk and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I sit down with Yvonne Matzk to explore a subject I rarely get the chance to talk about on this show, the invisible ceilings that hold back talent, culture, and growth inside our businesses. Yvonne Matzk is the founder of Coachere, a coaching and consulting practice supporting leaders and the next generation of talent in the IT industry, and also the founder of the Channel Community, a free network built to help emerging talent find mentoring in a safe and inclusive environment. I loved hearing the story behind her book, Smashing the Class...

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EP294 - The Real Reason your MSP Marketing Didn't Work with Ian Luckett show art EP294 - The Real Reason your MSP Marketing Didn't Work with Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I tackle one of the most common frustrations I hear from MSP owners every single week, the belief that MSP marketing simply does not work. I hear it constantly. Someone has tried an agency, a friend who knows social media, some pay per click, or a few Facebook ads, and each time the results fell flat. The real issue, as I explain, is not the tactic itself. It is the absence of a system that connects every activity back to booked calls and revenue.    I open by challenging you to interrogate your marketing agency with one question,...

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EP293 - Intelligent MSP Operations – AI, Automation and Observability at Scale – The MSP Insights Panel Discussion show art EP293 - Intelligent MSP Operations – AI, Automation and Observability at Scale – The MSP Insights Panel Discussion

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I hosted an MSP Insights Roundtable on AI, automation, and observability at scale, bringing together three brilliant guests, Joe Burns, Fiona Challis, and Nick Horner. What struck me straight away was how all three agreed on one thing before we even got into the detail. AI, automation, and observability only work when you understand your own processes first. Joe walked us through how his MSP, Reformed, built its operational maturity by identifying repetitive tasks, spotting where human error crept in, and asking his team what...

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EP292 - Inside The MSP Growth Hub - May 2026 Intensive Roundup with Stuart Warwick, Julie Hutchison, Peter Williamson and Ian Luckett show art EP292 - Inside The MSP Growth Hub - May 2026 Intensive Roundup with Stuart Warwick, Julie Hutchison, Peter Williamson and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we take you inside The MSP Growth Hub for a look at what happened during the May 2026 Intensive event. Ian Luckett is joined by his business partner Stuart Warwick and coaches Julie Hutchison and Peter Williamson, each sharing what unfolded across two days dedicated to helping MSP owners build stronger, more capable teams. At the heart of the conversation is MSP team alignment, and why it sits right at the centre of scaling a business with confidence.     Stuart opens by explaining the theory behind the Intensive itself. The MSP...

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EP291 - The Real Lessons Learned from a £500k MSP Ransomware Attack with Ken Roulston & Ian Luckett show art EP291 - The Real Lessons Learned from a £500k MSP Ransomware Attack with Ken Roulston & Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we share one of the most honest and eye-opening conversations we have ever had about a ransomware attack and the devastating impact it can have on an MSP. Ken Roulston joins me to openly discuss the events that led to a real world cyber incident which ultimately cost more than £500,000, challenged every part of the business, and tested the resilience of the leadership team in ways few business owners ever experience.     This conversation is not designed to create fear. It is designed to create...

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EP290 - The Impact of Self-Awareness on You, Your Team, and Your Business with Mark Stevens, Julie Hutchison, and Ian Luckett show art EP290 - The Impact of Self-Awareness on You, Your Team, and Your Business with Mark Stevens, Julie Hutchison, and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we explore one of the most powerful leadership skills any MSP owner can develop: self-awareness. While many business conversations focus on strategy, sales, systems, and growth, this discussion takes a different path. I am joined by leadership coach Julie Hutchison and Managing Director of Mark1 IT Mark Stevens to unpack how self-awareness impacts you, your team, and ultimately the success of your business.     The conversation begins with Mark sharing his own leadership journey and the challenges...

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EP289 -  Having a Stand vs Mastering the Show – Why Most MSPs Get Events Wrong with Steve Lloyd and Ian Luckett show art EP289 - Having a Stand vs Mastering the Show – Why Most MSPs Get Events Wrong with Steve Lloyd and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of the IT Experts Podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked opportunities for MSP growth: exhibitions and events. If you have ever invested time and money into a trade show, only to come away wondering whether it was worth it, this conversation with Steve Lloyd is essential listening.     Many MSP owners know they need to get out into the market, meet potential clients, build relationships, and generate fresh opportunities. The challenge is that exhibitions can often feel uncomfortable, especially for technical founders who are far more...

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More Episodes

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I sit down with Mit Patel, Darren Strong, and Paul Green for a powerful panel discussion focused on one of the biggest challenges MSP owners face, how to stop working in your MSP and start building a business that works for you. 

  

This is a topic I see come up time and time again. Many MSP owners start from a technical background, and before they know it, they are deep in the day to day, solving problems, firefighting, and carrying the weight of the business on their shoulders. If you want to stop working in your MSP, there has to be a conscious shift in how you think, plan, and lead. 

  

Mit kicks things off by sharing something I see all the time. Most MSPs are not spending enough time planning, or they do not know where to start. The truth is, it does not need to be complicated. You need clarity on where you are now and where you want to get to in the next twelve months. From there, it is about breaking that down into simple, consistent actions that move you forward. 

  

Darren builds on this and brings it back to consistency. Without a clear plan, you end up making decisions based on how you feel in the moment. One day you move in one direction, the next day it changes. Over time, that creates confusion across your team and slows everything down. If you want to stop working in your MSP, your plan needs to guide your decisions and shape the behaviour of your business. 

  

Paul then brings in a perspective that I know will resonate with many of you. Too many MSPs are running on hope. Hoping they will find time for marketing. Hoping nothing disrupts the day. Hoping things will improve. That can go on for years. The shift happens when you decide to take control and build something with purpose. If you truly want to stop working in your MSP, you need to carve out time every day to focus on growth and the future of the business. 

  

We also spend time talking about leadership, because this is where things really start to change. I have seen it in my own journey and with the MSPs we support. When your team understands the vision and knows what matters most, everything starts to move faster. Mit shares how aligning the team around clear quarterly priorities creates momentum and builds a culture where people feel part of the success. This is essential if you want to stop working in your MSP and create something that grows beyond you. 

  

Another important part of the conversation is around speed and structure. In the early days, you can change direction quickly. As your business grows, that becomes harder. Paul explains the importance of staying flexible while putting the right systems in place. You need structure to scale, while still keeping enough agility to respond to change. That balance is key if you want to stop working in your MSP and keep moving forward. 

  

Darren then brings it back to operational maturity, and this is where many MSPs hit a wall. You can only rely on hard work for so long. Long hours and constant pressure lead to fatigue, and eventually something has to change. This is often the moment when you realise that what got you here will not get you there. To stop working in your MSP, you need systems, measurement, and accountability that support consistent performance. 

  

We also explore what is happening in the world of marketing and AI. There is a lot of noise right now, and it is easy to get distracted. Paul makes it clear that while AI is a powerful tool, it does not replace clear thinking. The fundamentals still matter. You need to understand your ideal client, communicate clearly, and build trust. When your marketing works properly, it creates a steady flow of opportunities, which is a huge step towards being able to stop working in your MSP. 

  

We finish the episode with some simple actions that you can take straight away. Paul talks about finding time every day to work on your business. Mit suggests blocking out dedicated time each week for planning. Darren reinforces the importance of accountability and making sure you follow through on what you commit to. 

  

When you bring all of this together, planning, leadership, consistency, and accountability, you create a business that no longer relies on you being involved in everything. That is the goal. To stop working in your MSP is about building something with clarity and structure, where the business continues to grow, whether you are there or not. 
 

Connect with Mit Patel on LinkedIn HERE and discover more about Assurix HERE. 

Connect with Darren Strong HERE. You can also visit his website HERE  and stream the Scale Up podcast HERE. 

Connect with Paul Green on LinkedIn HERE. You can also explore his website HERE and tune into his MSP Marketing Podcast HERE. 

 

Make sure to check out our Ultimate MSP Growth Guide, a free guide that walks you through a proven process to take your MSP from stuck to scalable, without working even more hours. It’s 44 pages rammed with advice, insights and inspiration to help you decide what support is available to you now if you want to grow and scale your business. Click HERE to get your copy. 

 

Connect on LinkedIn HERE with Ian and also with Stuart by clicking this LINK

 

And when you’re ready to take the next step in growing your MSP, come and take the Scale with Confidence MSP Mastery QuizIn just three minutes, you’ll get a 360-degree scan of your MSP and identify the one or two tactics that could help you find more time, engage & align your people and generate more leads. 

 

If you’re serious about growth and want to explore what this could look like for your MSP, you can book a Right Fit Clarity Call with us HERE. 

 

OR  

To join our amazing Facebook Group of over 400 MSPs where we are helping you Scale Up with Confidence, then click HERE 

Until next time, look after yourself and I’ll catch up with you soon!