Share And Share Alike

Wait a minute, you work not just in the channel, but also in the IT industry, so that's pretty much your daily existence, isn't it? After all, you are an IT solution providerl

Anyway, I got a better sense of the rules you live by when I had the privilege to monitor the latest Channel Elite MBA Program, which is run by CRN's sister property, the Institute for Partner Education and Development. Long story short: You get to learn all sorts of business management philosophy and apply it with a team in a simulation exercise over the course of two days. Note to my team: Sorry to be such a handicap, at least when it comes to reading balance sheets.

My main objective was to get a reality check on the types of stories that could be useful to CRN's readers, as they look to drive profitable sales growth. I definitely came away with some ideas that validated some changes I'm planning to the editorial calendar.

But one thing that struck me most vividly, as it always does at events where solution providers have the chance to network with each, is how much you're all willing to share " while still being fiercely competitive.

This clearly came out during the simulation exercise, which forced collaboration on a tight deadline. In the real world, one of my classmates offered that he meets his primary local rival for lunch every couple of months, so they each can get a better sense of where to focus their own energy.

Maybe it's because you have a common challenge: How to represent technology vendors without subsuming your own identity. Or, because so many solution providers are in the transition phase of their business existence. But this kind of business ideas exchange is only healthy for the entire channel. Have at it.