There are plenty of articles about how badly Symantec has been handling this situation and I am not going to get into that. You can go on crn.com to read all the articles about what Symantec said or is doing (or not doing) to the channel, etc.

I want to focus on the obvious that just doesn’t seem to be part of anyone else’s analysis.

Here’s the big lesson: vendors (HW/SW folks) will go direct at the first possible moment they can. Given, of course, they have an efficient mechanism to do it. Or another way of saying it is, (more…)

I had the pleasure of meeting Gene Simmons at a marketing conference not too long ago and I was blow away. I only knew him from his image in the rock band KISS but what I learned from him was amazing.

First of all, he is a consummate entrepreneur and shrewd businessman. Early on he learned (more…)

Everyone needs time to recharge. I had a lot of time to think and just veg. It did wonders for me. I hope you will have the same opportunity.

Here are my Why’s…..

View From Our Balcony in Cabo San Lucas

On Our Balcony

Let me know what you think. Send me an email at RVela@StreetSmartVAR.com.

You can also get more specific info by subscribing to our online marketing course go to www.StreetSmartVAR.com or if you are reading this on our Blog site see the right hand side of the page for a web form.

Everyone needs down time, especially me. At least that’s the way I feel.

For me the last few years have been good. I am honestly very grateful to the man upstairs for all that I have.

I’ve built (and continue to build) two businesses simultaneously, both growing nicely.  I have people in place that I trust and that I have confidence in. So what is a person to do?

GO (more…)

What is this coveted “holy grail”? Some describe it differently but it’s the desire of a VAR, solution provider, systems integrator, etc. to be viewed as their client’s trusted advisor.

I know that phrase is very over used but let’s focus on the actual meaning (you can call it something else if you like). What does it mean?

Essentially, you want your client to (more…)