36 SUCCESS April 2008

B u s i n e s s

SM: How did you learn about the Nerds on Site opportunity?

TM: My wife and I were discussing moving to the Saratoga area to start our family, so I was looking into different opportunities. Wanting to make the move to self-employment, I looked into several franchises, but they were not what I wanted. One day I was listening to a podcast called “Security Now” and Nerds on Site was the sponsor, so I looked into what they were all about.

SM: Why did Nerds on Site appeal to you?

TM: The whole idea behind Nerds on Site is to allow me to be in business for myself, but not by myself. Nerds on Site is in 10 countries, giving me access to the knowledge of all those

other nerds. We are all independent contractors (entrepreNERDS) but we work as a team using the branding of Nerds on Site. This allows me to walk into a business with confidence, knowing that I can take care of them. If I have a question, I can email all the nerds worldwide to get an answer or to bring them in on a project.

SM: What aspects of your past prepared you for success in this industry?

TM: I have worked in the University setting for 7 years. The great thing about it is that the students are always pushing the technology, so we were always upgrading and trying to stay ahead. This business is much different. You have a more defined cycle on when you upgrade and you don’t go to the newest product on the market until after they’ve been proven useful in the workplace. I feel I am very prepared for the business side of things because I am more aware of products on the market that can better my client’s business.

SM: What sets you apart from your competition?

TM: Team Depth. Nerds work together as a team, so when you call a nerd, you are calling on the experience and expertise of our entire team. Whether you have a pesky virus or need your entire network revamped and secured, we have nerds for the task.

SM: What services do you offer?

TM: We specialize in providing cost effective, leading edge solutions to small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s). We are the complete ON-source SME IT solution specialists. You don’t have to out-source any business process solution OFF-shore with Nerds on Site close by. Our Competencies include: network security, network design and support, IT department outsourcing, software development, needs assessments, voice over IP implementation, website design and hosting.

Success Magazine: What does success mean to you?Todd Myles: I have a coffee mug that I think says it best... “Success is doing what you love and success is loving what you do”. Success, to me, is providing for my family while still being able to spend time with them.

37April 2008 SUCCESS

B u s i n e s s

We have many strategic alliances and national contracts with companies who need on-site support for their clients. This ensures a speedy response to problems or implementation needs at a fraction of the cost of maintaining their own dedicated staff.

SM: What can a customer expect from Nerds on Site?

TM: Nerds on Site provides proactive maintenance and advice for users. Proper security setups, expert anti-virus advice, and maintenance tips ensure that your systems continue to provide the pleasure you experienced when they were brand new. We are here to help you leverage your technology to be more productive, profitable and more pleasurable.

SM: How do you ensure that you stay up to date on all the latest technology?

TM: Nerds on Site offers classes and seminars on new and upcoming technology. People hire me to give them the best and latest information on how they can be more productive, profitable, and have a pleasurable experience doing it.

SM: What is solution based pricing, and is this the industry norm?

TM: We do not have an hourly rate. We charge for the solution and not the time it takes to deliver it. Before we get to work we will provide a list of possible solutions and a range of pricing. You’ll never have to worry about how long something “should” take… or the fact that a struggling computer technician could end up billing you more when on the clock.

SM: What is the best part of being an “entrepreNERD”?

TM: I enjoy being able to help people be more productive and profitable with their technology. It causes me to stay on top of the latest products so I know what’s available for you. Technology should make your life easier but in many cases it causes you to get frustrated. I want to be the nerd that makes it a pleasurable experience.

SM: Who was your mentor during your start up?

TM: Nerds on Site does a great job in teaming you up with another successful nerd to help with questions and getting you started. I had the opportunity to be mentored by one of the first nerds. The team as a whole is great in supporting each other and I look forward to helping others succeed as nerds

SM: What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a “Nerd”?

TM: First go to http://iwanttobeanerd.com and check to see if we offer what you are looking for. Nerds on Site is a great opportunity to achieve your

goals and be successful in the tech field. Your vision and imagination are the only limits to the opportunities available from Nerds on Site.

SM: Is your work guaranteed?

TM: Absolutely. All of our work is guaranteed. We follow up every single servicing with a survey in order to ensure that the work is completed to your satisfaction!

SM: What are the benefits of using Nerds on Site as opposed to an IT person?

TM: Why hire a single technician armed with the knowledge and experience of one, when you could have hundreds of nerds and our pool of experience and expertise at your disposal? Desktop support, networking, websites, hosting, programming, VoIP – with hundreds of nerds we do it all. We provide REACTIVE service, when you need it – as soon as you need it. And what is even better is that we are able to provide the PROACTIVE solutions you need to keep things humming. We bring the experience and talent of the entire team of nerds to address your specific situation

SM: Are most of your clients residential, or corporate?

TM: Our target audience is the small and medium sized businesses (from 1pc in a home office to 100+ in a traditional office setting). I have several residential clients that came from business clients, so you never know how it will work out. Our pricing and service model is setup for the business client.

SM: What do you hope for the future of Nerds on Site?

TM: As a global team our goal is 1000 new nerds and 5 new countries. As for Nerds on Site in Saratoga Springs, I would like to see 5 nerdmobiles around town in the next year.

SM: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

TM: Diagnosing problems can be the most challenging. Technology is always changing, so the problems are always changing. That’s why we stay on top of the latest technologies.

SM: What hours are you available, and how long is the wait for service typically?

TM: Because our core client base is businesses, we are available during their working hours from 8am -5pm (but can be available 24 hrs/365 days if that’s the type of service they need). Our typical response time is 1 to 2 days unless the client has what we call Nerd Care (a maintenance contract), and then it would be next business day or sooner depending on the agreed Nerd Care plan.

SM: To what personal characteristic do you attribute your success as an entrepreneur?

TM: My father was a self employed electrical contractor and I grew up watching him build a successful business. I have seen what it takes to succeed and I have the drive and determination to achieve it.

37April 2008 SUCCESS