Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Real Talk for IT Pros & MSPs) 644 The Secret Sauce of IT Nation Evolve Peer Groups
Andre Gilmore leads the IT Nation Evolve peer groups (formerly HTG peer groups acquired by ConnectWise in 2018) aimed at accelerating the growth of MSP partners. The peer groups are unique in their emphasis on both personal and professional development, creating an environment of closeness and trust where members can have honest discussions and "refuse to let each other fail."
The groups meet quarterly for two-day in-person sessions with ample social activities to build strong relationships. Each member presents their business metrics, goals, successes, and challenges, and the group acts as a "board of directors" providing advice and accountability. A key aspect is that members define their own measures of success, which could be financial goals or personal priorities like more family time.
The peer group framework includes reviewing four plans (legacy, business, life, leadership) and a member performance dashboard with benchmarking data. While a general agenda guides the meetings, facilitators have discretion to prioritize struggling members and even bring in the group for on-site support if needed. The real cost is the significant time commitment, which motivates members to maximize the value.
Key Takeaways
- IT Nation Evolve peer groups focus on personal + professional growth through trusted relationships
- Quarterly 2-day in-person meetings with social activities to build strong bonds
- Members define own success goals and hold each other accountable
- Review business metrics, get peer advice/board of directors perspective
- Facilitators can prioritize struggling members, even bring in on-site support
- Significant time commitment is real cost, driving engagement
Links from the Show
=== Show Information
- Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
- Host: Marvin Bee
- Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
- Become a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast