Wim Kerkhoff (Culture Core Group): Founding 2 MSPs and a SaaS company

Key takeaways

Wim Kirkhoff's journey into the tech world started with his dad's early adoption of computers for construction.
Transitioning from hands-on tinkering to running multiple MSPs was a wild ride filled with lessons.
Agile methodologies can massively improve project efficiency in MSPs, but it's all about mindset.
The importance of letting go and trusting your team can be a game changer for business growth.
Building community and providing education are key strategies for MSPs to thrive in a competitive market.
Profit sharing plans and transparency about finances can significantly boost team motivation and performance.

Summary

Wim Kerkhoff's Journey into Tech

Wim Kerkhoff's story begins with his early fascination with computers, sparked by his father's investment in a 286 computer for their construction business. As a young tinker, Wim explored programming and computing extensively, moving through high school where he found traditional courses unengaging and opted for advanced programming instead. This early exposure laid the foundation for his career in IT and software development, eventually leading to numerous projects and ventures in managed service provision.

Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur

The transition from employee to business owner for Wim happened in 2006, motivated by both personal factors, including his relationship with his future wife, and professional dissatisfaction with his current job. He reflects on the importance of having a reliable network which provided initial clients. This leap into entrepreneurship became the foundation for establishing his MSPs, Crafty Penguins and Improving IT, while he also navigated the challenges of delegating tasks and elevating his staff.

Challenges in Scaling MSPs

Wim's journey wasn't without significant challenges, particularly in scaling his businesses. He candidly discusses mental health struggles, communication issues within teams, and the overload of responsibilities that can come with managing multiple companies. The importance of transparency, trust, and team empowerment is emphasized, along with the need to nurture a company culture that allows employees to thrive and take ownership of their roles.

The Importance of Agile Methodologies

A significant topic was the adoption of Agile methodologies within project and service management for MSPs. Wim emphasizes the benefits of shifting from traditional waterfall methods to more adaptive approaches that can improve project efficiency by reducing waste and fostering collaboration. His latest venture, Top Left, is positioned to help MSPs visualize their workflows and enhance productivity using Agile methods, ultimately aiming to streamline processes that can lead to improved project delivery.

Building Community and Providing Education

Wim highlights the importance of community and education in the MSP space as essential strategies for thriving amidst competition. Addressing the knowledge gaps for project management and agile practices, he advocates for creating spaces—both in-person and online—where MSP professionals can connect, share best practices, and foster growth. By hosting meetup events and developing resources for MSPs, he aims to create a supportive environment that enhances operational efficiencies and cultural understanding.

Show notes

Our guest this episode is Wim Kerkhoff tells us how he runs Culture Core Group, a collection of three companies: two MSPs (improvingit and Crafty Penguins) and a SaaS Project Management software company for MSPs (Top Left)! Wim has a lot going on, and has done it well by delegating and elevating himself. We chat about everything from his early tinkering with computers to the challenges he's faced scaling his IT services businesses. We talk candidly about mental health challenges - an underdiscussed topic in the 24/7 world of IT.

Title: Wim Kerkhoff (Culture Core Group): Founding 2 MSPs and a SaaS company

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Wim kicked things off by sharing his early fascination with computers, thanks to his dad who introduced him to the tech world with a 286 computer. Fast forward to high school, where he was bored out of his mind and decided to focus on programming instead of the usual subjects. This led him to a tech startup right after graduation, where he discovered that software development wasn’t his jam, but the product side of things lit a fire in him.

As our conversation flowed, we explored Wim's journey from being an employee to a business owner. He shared how he took the leap into entrepreneurship in 2006, motivated by a mix of personal and professional factors. We also dug into how he learned to let go of control in his businesses, fostering a culture where his team could thrive and take ownership of their roles. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t always easy, but the payoff has been huge. It’s all about building that trust and letting your team shine!

Finally, we wrapped up with a discussion about his latest venture, Top Left, a software tool designed to help MSPs visualize their workflow and improve ticket management. Wim’s insights on agility in project management were eye-opening, especially for those of us who’ve been stuck in the waterfall mindset. In this episode, we not only learned about the nuts and bolts of running an MSP but also how to cultivate a thriving team culture and adapt to the ever-evolving tech landscape. If you’re an MSP owner or just curious about the world of tech, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Takeaways:

Wim Kirkhoff's journey into the tech world started with his dad's early adoption of computers for construction.
Transitioning from hands-on tinkering to running multiple MSPs was a wild ride filled with lessons.
Agile methodologies can massively improve project efficiency in MSPs, but it's all about mindset.
The importance of letting go and trusting your team can be a game changer for business growth.
Building community and providing education are key strategies for MSPs to thrive in a competitive market.
Profit sharing plans and transparency about finances can significantly boost team motivation and performance.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Crafty Penguins
Improving IT
Top Left
DataTel
Agile MSP