From Microsoft Trainer to MSP Mentor: Building & Scaling a $7M IT Business

What does it take to build, scale, and successfully exit a $7 million IT services company? In this episode of Unveiling Journeys, Tiffany sits down with Tim Thomson, entrepreneur, business coach, and former MSP owner who spent over two decades building a thriving managed IT services business before successfully exiting in 2022. Tim shares his journey from growing up in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada, to working for Microsoft, launching an IT company from scratch, and eventually becoming a mentor helping MSP owners scale their businesses faster and smarter. Bio: Tim Thomson is a technology entrepreneur, advisor, and former MSP owner who spent 25 years building and scaling businesses, including growing his managed IT services company to $7 million in ARR before exiting in 2022. Through Cyber Trends Inc., he now helps MSP owners and technology vendors accelerate growth, improve operational maturity, navigate AI adoption, and maximize business value through strategic planning and M&A guidance. Passionate about mentorship, Tim is dedicated to sharing his hard-earned experience to help other entrepreneurs grow faster and avoid costly mistakes. We dive into: ✅ How Tim built a $7 million managed services company from the ground up ✅ The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to scale ✅ Why ego is the most expensive item on your balance sheet ✅ Lessons learned from real-world business challenges and exits ✅ How AI is transforming the future of managed IT services ✅ Why "just start" may be the most powerful business advice you'll ever hear Whether you're an entrepreneur, MSP owner, business leader, or someone looking to build your next venture, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and hard-earned lessons from someone who's lived it. Connect with Tim Thomson: 🌐 Website: https://cybertrends.ca 💼 LinkedIn:   / timthomsoncti   📧 Email: [email protected] 👉 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss out on future content. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and we’ll see you in the next one! 📞 Book a Call: https://aspensagefund.com/contact-us/ 💼 LinkedIn:   / thankfulinc   📘 Facebook:   / tiffspacecadet   🌐 Website: aspensagefund.com 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more real stories of transformation. Chapters: 0:00 – Tiffany introduces Tim Thomson and his entrepreneurial journey 1:29 – Building and exiting a $7M managed services company 3:35 – Growing up entrepreneurial and working for Microsoft 5:29 – Coaching MSPs and leveraging AI for business growth 8:47 – The Hockey Canada project that changed everything 11:20 – Why relationships matter more than technical expertise 12:55 – Lessons learned from 25 years in business 14:02 – Why Tim keeps showing up and giving back 16:14 – New MSP workshops, AI, and future initiatives 18:46 – Tim's biggest advice: Just start 20:13 – Final thoughts on entrepreneurship, growth, and legacy #MSPGrowth #EntrepreneurJourney #BusinessCoaching #ManagedServices #LeadershipDevelopment #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessScaling #TechEntrepreneur #UnveilingJourneys #SmallBusinessGrowth