In this ongoing series, we profile MSP (managed service provider) executives by asking them questions big and small. Have a question you think we should ask? Want to be profiled next? Let us know at blog [at] auvik [dot] com.
Jason Caras
Co-CEO, IT Authorities Inc.
Year IT Authorities was founded
2006
Number of employees
92
Percentage of business that’s managed services
70%
Your favorite conference and why
The Inc. 5000 because those are the companies that are making the biggest difference. You get to rub elbows with other companies that are growing quickly and contributing to the economy. They’re all rainmakers.
Where you get your industry news
Google
Your regular coffee order
Large dark with cream
What’s on your smartphone home screen
My two children
How you run a meeting
On time, to start. Then I like to empower others to shine. I don’t like the meetings to be about me, but about the other folks there.
A typical work day for you
Couple of hours with my kids in the morning. Drop off my daughter at school. Grab breakfast at the gym. Get into the office around 9. Usually in meetings from there until about 3. Work out at 4. Back home for dinner with my kids.
Someone in computer networking whom you admire
My business partner, Jason Pollner. He’s super intelligent, very measured, patient, very detailed and super organized.
The one trait you look for in new hires
Coachability. Well, I look for culture fit first. Is that a trait of theirs – no? So a trait of theirs is that they’re coachable.
Your best personal productivity tip
Having tools to hold yourself accountable as to whether you did what you said you would do. I use an app on my iPhone called Streaks. It gives your visual clarity as to what you did or did not do. That’s what life boils down to – you either did it or you didn’t.
Peer or business networking groups you belong to
CEO Council of Tampa, Leadership Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Professional Alliance, Business Breakfast Group
What you’d be doing if you weren’t an MSP
Public speaker and author. I do a lot of speaking now, particularly talking to kids in detention centers and the juvenile justice system on how to transform their lives.
A geeky secret you have
I don’t know. I love gadgets — that’s about it.
Podcasts — yes or no?
Personally, no. I think they’re great but I don’t personally listen to them. I listen to audio books — mainly on leadership and personal development.
What you wish all software vendors knew
Our customers expect consistency.
Best piece of conference swag you ever received
I don’t go to a lot of conferences so I don’t know.
A book you recommend for MSPs
I haven’t been impressed with anything specifically for MSPs that I’ve read over the years. Traditionally the MSP market has been focused on small MSPs catering to small businesses. That’s not necessarily our market. I find there’s not a lot out there about how to swim upstream and establish a higher level of enterprise business. On general business topics, I’m a big fan of John Maxwell on leadership.
The Terminator movies — science fiction or the future?
Definitely the future. We’re seeing it now. It’s crazy.
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