General Consultant Discussion

From Jeff Roth about the SLA event coming up soon (I already posted about it too - I think it's a worthwhile investment of your time (and money)): While we still have a few precious weeks of summer remaining, it is not too soon to think about attending the Sage Leadership Association's retreat in Chicago where Joe Abraham will be our featured speaker. Joe is the founder of BOSI Global, a group of entrepreneurship initiatives including bosiDNA.com, BOSI Fast 50 and The BOSI Growth Fund. He is the host of the soon-to-be released TV show ""The Entrepreneurs"" on local Chicago TV, and the author of Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery That Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths. Joe has spoken to our group in the past and he's really great. Check out the details at: http://sageleadership.org/retreat/. I will be there and I hope to see you there too! We will take a ""deep dive"" on issues that an make us better leaders! The link contains the agenda and information on registering for the event and for making hotel arrangements. There is a deadline so please be sure to sign up and reserve your hotel room soon!

We joined SLA and I'm looking forward to participating in some of the events. I'm down with the idea of beginning to execute an activity rather than taking the information home only to sit on it (see: https://90minds-com.socialcast.com/messages/17464538?mini=true) but Entrepreneurial DNA seems a little hokey.

I'm not sure i could be enthusiastic with anything like this tied to Sage. I've seen enough punative behavior that I could not.

... but it isn't tied (directly) to Sage.

Anything with the Sage name is tied to Sage. From Sage Linkedin group ""not affiliated"" receiving Sage legal letters to Sage attempting repeatedly to get me fired. Good luck

I don't know. I just work here.

SLA has zero to do with Sage. They are actively trying to go by ""SLA"" to distance themselves from that perception.

http://sageleadership.org

Google sage site:sageleadership.org and 33 results are returned. Is that the point, @WayneSchulz ?

I was wondering the point too... Yes, their name has ""Sage"" in it because it used to be associated with Sage the software publisher. They broke all ties a while back though (I think it's been a few years - not sure). They are trying to go by ""SLA"" and I was told that they are considering a complete rebranding to be more inclusive to non-Sage partners (or even Sage partners) that are put off by the name. But ... even if they were associated ... does the same logic mean no one should go to Sage Sales Academy or Marketing Academy or Sage Summit? I'm not getting it but I'm guessing there is a story here that I'm missing.

This has been a fun tangent but can you address the hokiness (I checked the spelling) of Entrepreneurial DNA, @PeterWolf ?

@BrianRice I read a lot of these types of ""sharpening the saw"" materials. Now a days, they all seem to angle for some type of hook to pin their books, websites, whitepapers, services, etc. on. In general, I get why they do this and understand it and I'm ok with it - for the most part. If they go to far with it and stretch analogies, the sessions and materials can turn plain stupid. I haven't dug under the covers enough with Mr. Abraham's stuff to know if he has or hasn't taken a bad turn. But several people that I trust have spoken with him and heard him present before and given him the thumbs up, so I'm looking forward to it.

I suppose I am going to require more evidence before booking my flight. Thanks, @PeterWolf.

Let me spell things out - sage generally does not allow their brand to be used in anything that is not related to them. Therefore if the organization has a domain - sageleadership- I'm making a broad assumption that the organization has some ties to Sage based on significant personal experiences.

@BrianRice Did you watch his TED talk YouTube video on the link? http://sageleadership.org/retreat/ Seems pretty legit to me but each of us needs to make that decision on their own ...

@WayneSchulz - I agree that it's odd but I've been told that there are no ties to Sage any more and that within six months they will be re-branding.

There might not be a formal tie to Sage, but Ed and Christine Kless are active organizers. So it's close. Change it to something like ""Technology Leadership Assn"" or ""Tech Leverage Assn"". DO get ""Sage"" out of it regardless of its true affiliation. It does no good, and probably a little harm.

To be clear I'm talking strictly about any organization that has ties to Sage via name, web URL , etc -- I'm sure that this is very high value and that Christine and Ed do a great job (no argument there). My issue is that with the Sage name involved (and perhaps it is being removed soon) that you always have that hanging over your head with everything you do.

I've said the same thing to their board about removing the ""Sage"" part of their name. Their goal is to be more inclusive and invite other types of firms (not just Sage resellers) to the party. The ""Sage"" piece will always be construed as Sage Software and a lot of energy will be wasted on combating that vs focusing on whatever message they offer.

Many will remember our name was originally ""sage re-sellers"" and when we started a web site we chose a non-Sage name (90 Minds) to eliminate the possibility that they could influence the group by claiming a branding infringement, etc.

I think the point is that the SLA, regardless of name, is a worthy group to get involved with and have a great program planned in the fall.

@PeterWolf I watched the Ted talk ... not very convincing. Sounds like a lot of stretching analogies bordering on plain stupid (to borrow your words).

Unlike Epicor, Sage has less control over their name because ""sage"" is a word in the dictionary. It's like the 'Ask' browser telling people they can't have 'ask' in their URL. If somebody had the time and money, I'm sure they could fight Sage's cease & desist orders on certain domain names. However, we all know, it wouldn't be worth the money and the unspoken punishment as a VAR would hurt if you depend on them

@WayneSchulz - It seems by your postings you have had some issues with Sage pertaining to it's branding. Based on your experience, would you consider VeraSage Institute as being related to Sage as it has the word Sage in it's name?

Doug I'm not sure but was under the impression that Verasage had nothing to do with Sage and the use of Sage in part of their name was completely unrelated.

I believe that Sage appears in the name verasage is purely coincidental.

I wonder if Sage would considered the name VeraSage an infringement on their brand. It seems by Wayne's posts that Sage is very particular. I don't believe it should be an infringement, just curious if Sage would take interest. I used to have the domain mas90consulting.com. Sage's legal dept sent me a letter telling me I couldn't use it (after using it for 6 years). Apparently another (envious) reseller complained.

Can we not assume that Sage does not consider it a violation since Sage uses Verasage as a vendor for the Firm of the Future?

I didn't know that Sage uses VeraSage as a vendor. That is quite interesting as Ed Kless is an employee of Sage and a Senior Fellow of VeraSage (but they are not affiliated in any way ).

I don't think Verasage is a paying gig for Ed. Either way, I don't think it's uncommon for people to work with other businesses that they know, like and trust.

I don't have an issue with Ed being with VeraSage. My point is that it may be difficult to convey the message the organization is in no way affiliated with Sage.

Verasage is also not (to my knowledge) actively soliciting partners to join.

VS was founded by Ron Baker, Dan Morris, and Justin Barnett back in 2001. The three of them are CPAs who wanted to change their businesses and the industry as a whole. It's designed as a think tank, so there is nothing really to join and no one is solicited (there are no membership fees). There are many more CPAs and attorneys in VS than there are technology consultants. Fellows are added by Baker once a year or so based on whoever he thinks might be a good fit. The name comes from veracity and sagacity...in other words, true wisdom.

Thanks for clarifying this John.