We just completed an unbelievably great week at our HTG Q2 
meetings in Dallas.  Over 400 people in attendance.  Energy 
was high, content fantastic and the vision for HTG 3.0 
takes us through the next several years.  HTG members have 
a leg up because they are part of a community of peers 
focused on the same thing - growth and profitability.  
There is no question there is power in peers.  Check with 
the vendors who attended.  They were overwhelmed by the 
positive attitudes and willingness to engage for growth.  
Good things lie ahead for those who leverage community for 
their success.

Arlin: 

Based on the messages that I received from members of
the HTG over the past week since the On-The-Record
interview with you was published ... I have no doubt
that you have created something very special. The VARs
who are in the HTG are very lucky. 

Unfotunately for the industry, I do not believe that
P2P Groups like you have developed will be easily
replicable and thus most of them will not survive and
thrive. I say this because forming and running a P2P
group is a lot more than just inviting some people to
join a group. It takes great leadership with a strong
vision and sticking to the vision. Moreover, the vision
has to have the good of the members in mind and the
leadership has to be able to make sure that the members
understand, support and stick to the vision.

You have successfully achieved this and HTG members
will reap the benefits of being part of the HTG P2P
Group. Others will evolve and be successful.
Unfortunately ... many more will be formed and die or
just continue to exist as a buying group, social
networking group or possibly just as an inactive group
with a logo each member can display.

Congratulations Arlin.  

We just completed an unbelievably great week at our HTG Q2 
meetings in Dallas.  Over 400 people in attendance.  Energy 
was high, content fantastic and the vision for HTG 3.0 
takes us through the next several years.  HTG members have 
a leg up because they are part of a community of peers 
focused on the same thing - growth and profitability.  
There is no question there is power in peers.  Check with 
the vendors who attended.  They were overwhelmed by the 
positive attitudes and willingness to engage for growth.  
Good things lie ahead for those who leverage community for 
their success.

Joining HTG was a defining moment in my personal and 
business life.  I joined over 2 years ago and couldn't even 
begin to describe the impact that it has had in my life.  
At the time I was working as a manager at NextStep, just 
starting the process of purchasing shares in the company.  
With the help and support of my HTG peer group, I am now 
running the company and serving as President.  I know that 
I couldn't have made that transition without the guidance I 
received from HTG.  This is not a group of yes-people.  
They call you on the carpet, business or personal, to make 
you a better person and business owner.  Before HTG we were 
alone...now we are part of something bigger than 
ourselves.  I firmly believe that being an active member in 
HTG will be one of the key differentiators for our company 
surviving these troubled economic times.

Hi Erin:

Congratulations on your fabulous successes over the
past 2 years. In today's trouble times, I am thrilled
to be writing about a P2P group of VARs who are very
successfully helping one another to grow their personal
and professional lives. 

Joining HTG was a defining moment in my personal and 
business life.  I joined over 2 years ago and couldn't even 
begin to describe the impact that it has had in my life.  
At the time I was working as a manager at NextStep, just 
starting the process of purchasing shares in the company.  
With the help and support of my HTG peer group, I am now 
running the company and serving as President.  I know that 
I couldn't have made that transition without the guidance I 
received from HTG.  This is not a group of yes-people.  
They call you on the carpet, business or personal, to make 
you a better person and business owner.  Before HTG we were 
alone...now we are part of something bigger than 
ourselves.  I firmly believe that being an active member in 
HTG will be one of the key differentiators for our company 
surviving these troubled economic times.

Thanks - I started to read this when it was first published,
but got distracted.

This is an excellent idea - and we've been part of other
groups like that that either were 1 shot (exec roundtable, 1
day x 8 companies) or started from a community that morphed
(Computer Telephony Pioneers --> now a section of CompTIA)
and lost the personal touch.


We are more into Converged Communications, and network
security / data integrity, secondarily into IT - (do offer a
variety of managed services, competent in XP and Server
2003, but really not there with Vista)

Scott (Scrogin) - if there's a group for companies that are
more like us (form your own assessment at www.synertel.com,
if you have a moment to peek)... I'd be particularly
interested in talking.  

We have also been intending to join a Paul Dippell group -
was about there when the recession walloped us in October.

Ben Stiegler
SYNERTEL - Converged Communications Solutions

Good luck Ben. From the sounds of things, getting
involved with HTG might be the best thing you can do
for your company. I also suggest that you get involved
with the W3 Channel Enablement Program
http://www.businessnetwork.com/reseller/videos/imagine-if.htm


Have a great day.

My company joined HTG in a newly formed peer group that met 
for the first time in October 2008.  Our group has quickly 
become a very dynamic, engaged group.  The leadership of 
the group at the top by Arlin Sorenson and at our group 
level by Garrett Brucker is very organized and results 
driven and maybe most importantly doesn't forget that we 
are all looking for personal growth as well as professional 
growth.  This is a group of good people, helping each other 
succeed in all the right ways.

Rick:

Thanx for your comments ... it seems like everyone
involved with HTG is thrilled. I am hearing from
vendors, VARs and associations tons of great stuff
about HTG. As a publisher (eChannelLine, ConnectIT,
Trusted Business Advisor, Channel Advisor) and the
founders of the ChannelLine Advisory Council and the
Trusted Business Advisor program ... Integrated mar.com
is looking forward to working with HTG.

My company joined HTG in a newly formed peer group that met 
for the first time in October 2008.  Our group has quickly 
become a very dynamic, engaged group.  The leadership of 
the group at the top by Arlin Sorenson and at our group 
level by Garrett Brucker is very organized and results 
driven and maybe most importantly doesn't forget that we 
are all looking for personal growth as well as professional 
growth.  This is a group of good people, helping each other 
succeed in all the right ways.

Thanks - I started to read this when it was first published,
but got distracted.

This is an excellent idea - and we've been part of other
groups like that that either were 1 shot (exec roundtable, 1
day x 8 companies) or started from a community that morphed
(Computer Telephony Pioneers --> now a section of CompTIA)
and lost the personal touch.


We are more into Converged Communications, and network
security / data integrity, secondarily into IT - (do offer a
variety of managed services, competent in XP and Server
2003, but really not there with Vista)

Scott (Scrogin) - if there's a group for companies that are
more like us (form your own assessment at www.synertel.com,
if you have a moment to peek)... I'd be particularly
interested in talking.  

We have also been intending to join a Paul Dippell group -
was about there when the recession walloped us in October.

Ben Stiegler
SYNERTEL - Converged Communications Solutions

The only additional comment I could add to all of the other 
great reasons to be involved with HTG is that I am still in 
business today strickly due to our involvement in our p2p 
group.

Jeff Penland, 
CNS Inc. 

You've heard it said hundreds of times, 

Our involvement in an HTG group is the catalyst for 
sustained profitability.   In the early years of HTG I was 
confronted with the reality of running a lifestyle 
business.  Once re-engineered to focus on profitability, my 
HTG group held me accountable to execute on the new 
strategy.  Mission accomplished.  We have exceeded industry 
average profitability for the past four quarters, including 
Q1-2009!.  Had I continued to run my business as a 
lifestyle business, I doubt we would have had the legs to 
withstand this topsy, turvy economic environment.

Arlin's mantra, 

Congratulations. 

If you are at the HTG event this week, I would love it
if you would talk with some of the HTG members and come
up with a couple of bullet points as to exactly what
the magic is in the HTG formula that is allowing you
all to do so well. I know it is the structure, peer
support, accountability and some best practices ... but
how is it that such a diverse group of people are all
telling me that the HTG formula is the 

Our involvement in an HTG group is the catalyst for 
sustained profitability.   In the early years of HTG I was 
confronted with the reality of running a lifestyle 
business.  Once re-engineered to focus on profitability, my 
HTG group held me accountable to execute on the new 
strategy.  Mission accomplished.  We have exceeded industry 
average profitability for the past four quarters, including 
Q1-2009!.  Had I continued to run my business as a 
lifestyle business, I doubt we would have had the legs to 
withstand this topsy, turvy economic environment.

Arlin's mantra, 

Our involvement in an HTG peer group for the past couple of 
years has helped our business tremendously, and me 
personally. Through this, we have not only positioned our 
company to thrive throughout the upheaval we see around us, 
but have built lasting relationships that go beyond purely 
business. Partnering doesn't begin to describe the depth of 
these relationships. No more 

Hi Brad: 

You have summed up the essence of the P2P network very
well. You are all very lucky to be a part of the HTG
... and I think that Arlin is very lucky to have all of
you. A group like this takes a strong leader and a lot
of luck in terms of timing, people who join and the
chemistry that is created. 

Congratulations to all of you. 

I am really looking forward to getting heavily involved
with the HTG and helping to bring all of you more value
that will help you successfully grow your businesses. 

Cheers.

Peer2Peer activities and membership is what separates those
who win in the business world today vs. those who struggle.
 Just by showing up you already have an advantage.  HTG
provides TBA's that competitive advantage in the marketplace
over those that would rather struggle and fight.

The next distinct advantage after just showing up is those
who execute and get things done have another advantage. 
Lots of people show up, it takes someone special to search,
plan and then execute.  HTG is a group of IT VAR's who execute.

I have been a member of HTG since the early days.  My
previous company understood the benefits and now my new firm
Bulletproof InfoTech immerses ourselves in the HTG experience.

We execute, we share and together we all win.

You have two choices, get involved or watch from the
sidelines...you choose!

Stuart Crawford
Calgary, AB
http://blog.itsuccessmentor.com

Hey Stuart: 

I fully agree with every word of what you wrote. The
problem is that while there are a lot of Peer2Peer
networks for VARs ... most of them are just: buying
groups; or for lead sharing; or out-of-town office
addresses; or 

Our involvement in an HTG peer group for the past couple of 
years has helped our business tremendously, and me 
personally. Through this, we have not only positioned our 
company to thrive throughout the upheaval we see around us, 
but have built lasting relationships that go beyond purely 
business. Partnering doesn't begin to describe the depth of 
these relationships. No more 

Peer2Peer activities and membership is what separates those
who win in the business world today vs. those who struggle.
 Just by showing up you already have an advantage.  HTG
provides TBA's that competitive advantage in the marketplace
over those that would rather struggle and fight.

The next distinct advantage after just showing up is those
who execute and get things done have another advantage. 
Lots of people show up, it takes someone special to search,
plan and then execute.  HTG is a group of IT VAR's who execute.

I have been a member of HTG since the early days.  My
previous company understood the benefits and now my new firm
Bulletproof InfoTech immerses ourselves in the HTG experience.

We execute, we share and together we all win.

You have two choices, get involved or watch from the
sidelines...you choose!

Stuart Crawford
Calgary, AB
http://blog.itsuccessmentor.com