Welcome to 2009! Ok, so doom and gloom up front: It’s going to be a tough year. We’ll still move forward, we’ll still make a lot of money, it’s just going to be tougher all around.

In this podcast I describe the practice I’ve put myself through during the past 4 months since coming back to work @ OWN full time. It runs about 17 minutes and really good stuff starts at 5:20 mark.

But is that such a bad thing? No. It’s when we are tried the hardest that we perform at our very best. It’s also the judgement time for those who spent their more fortunate times without regard for how to design a business that performs. I have been talking to people all over the world and the response is unanimous: It’s getting tougher but we’re doing well.

I believe we’re very lucky. Yes, lucky. This is the time to take a hard look at ourselves, punishing look at those that are no longer with us, and gain some strength from the whole affair. What can we do today to be stronger tomorrow so we can rock out in 2010 and beyond? Opportunity knocks every day.

Play VladCast:

Listen to my attempt. For some reason, people love this format. As Susan likes to remind me: I love your sensual voice Vlad! I’m going to say what’s on my mind, and much like V… I hope you talk back and give me ideas. I would love to be fortunate enough to have enough time to talk and argue with each and every one of you. No such time, for any of us, I’m afraid. But hey, shoot back from your office chair and let’s see if we all can’t help one another out.

I’m taking the first step. Hear it out, tell me what’s next: vlad@vladville.com

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: Vladcast13.mp3

Vladcast #11 was the most popular Vladcast ever (yeah, four people!) – kind of ironic when you consider that it had nothing to do with IT and technology. I am not sure how, but I confused a lot of you into thinking I’m some motivational guru – far from it. But I did get asked at one point just who motivates me and if you’ve seen my SBS Show and Vladcast projects you’ll see that I am very motivated by people that are successful and willing to share their formula for the greater good. That in turn is what I do with the Vladville and OWN each and every day. But I am not a great motivational speaker so I wanted to let someone else, far more eloquent than I am, explain to you just what I believe. Hope you find the 7 minutes very inspiring.  

Play VladCast:

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: VladCast12.mp3 (6976 KB)

Vladcast on determination. For all those of you that asked where I get the energy to do what I do and how I get this done. You might want to turn your speakers down a little though, this is the raw, uncensored Vlad. All you gotta remember is that if you gotta be a monkey…  (if this makes any bit of difference in your life please let me know)

Play VladCast:

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: Vladcast11.mp3 (4175 KB)

VladCast 10, a short 9 minute brief on what I’m doing on the community / community related side. Update on Shockey Monkey, progress of Thieving Weasel, the explanation of Orlando ITPRO TV and just what the whole idea behind it all is. You have a face for radio never rang truer. 

Play VladCast:

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VladCast 9, a slight departure from the usual format, is an interview with Microsoft Partner Area Leads Vijay Riyait and Dean Calvert talking about the PAL program goals and objectives. Do you know where your PAL is?  

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Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: Vladcast9.mp3 (17812 KB)

VladCast 8, live from Los Angeles, California…. recorded quick, at about noon, cause I had to be in a data center soon. Yes, I’m that white. 

• Los Angeles
• Sloooooooooooow week
• WWPC: Whats there?
• Humility

Play VladCast:

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VladCast 7, after a pretty bad flu, is finally on the air. I checked my stats, got almost 2,000 regular listeners (RSS) so I’m pretty happy with how its growing – talk about loving the voice! So what’s in store this week, 10 minutes of Vlad Audio Goodness:

• Vlad in LA from 7/4 – 7/7 (Beverly Hills, dinner anyone?)
• WWPC: What it really is
• Susanne Dansey the MVP
• Centro, Cougar, 2008: Getting a dual core w/ 4GB DDR complete system for under $500
• Comparison between iPhone and Windows Mobile 6 in both consumer and business settings

Play VladCast:

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: Vladcast7.mp3 (3829 KB)

VladCast 6, The summary of experiences at Jeff Middleton’s ITPRO conference in New Orleans and the Microsoft TechEd – Why they matter to an SMB ITPRO!

Also a look ahead at Microsoft World Wide Partner Conference in Denver and about six minutes of how you can make this conference a success for your business.

Warning: This is the heaviest VladCast I’ve ever produced, just shy of 20 minutes. This might not be something you want to hear if you’ve had a rough day, it discusses adult situations in a serious business setting and dispells some of the myths you may have heard about the WWPC and TechEd. So if you’re content living in your little box, this is a podcast to skip. If you’re striving to improve yourself and your business… this is the best 20 minutes of your day.

Play VladCast:

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: Vladcast6.mp3 (6471 KB)

VladCast 5, the SMB ITPRO world condensed into a loud 5 minute podcast:

– Less than two weeks left to get to SBS Migration Conference
– Interested in Cougar? Ask your SBS group leader for a beta invite.
– Changes with Longhorn
– Susan’s Patch-week: WSUS3, WSUS v2 Client
– Contest: Post the authors name, book title and why you’d read it!

Play VladCast:

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: VladCast5.mp3 (1883 KB)

VladCast 4, the SMB ITPRO world condensed into a loud 5 minute podcast:

– Bow down to Shockey Monkey: Signup
– Dell to offer Ubuntu Linux
– WSUS 3.0 for SBSers: Susan, Susan, Andy
– Much ado about nothing: SCE, Forefront
– Blog of the week: UK SBS Guy

Play VladCast:

Add feed to iTunes  / File Attachment: VladCast4.mp3 (2012 KB)