TGIF 5/13/2022 - Edition 49

This weekend, I am taking my first international trip ???? in 2+ years. I am grateful that one of the Microsoft Business Applications Global ISVs in my team's portfolio had asked me to keynote a session at their upcoming event. For anyone in Belgium, particularly in the utilities space, consider registering for their event.

https://www.mecoms.com/BOOST/

While excited, I am nervous as I just found out that to get back into the US, you need to have a negative covid test. While being stuck in Europe isn't a bad situation, I do want to get home to my family as my oldest daughter has another basketball tournament the following week I fly back.

I?hope you continue to find the insights valuable and welcome feedback on topics you would like to have included so please provide your feedback in the comments or via direct LinkedIn message. Please subscribe and share with your network. Also consider clicking on the subscribe "bell" ?? on my profile to receive notification of future posts.

??#MSPartner??

The Microsoft Build Cloud Skills Challenge starts on May 24, 2022 at 4:00 PM UTC (16:00) and ends on June 21, 2022 at 4:00 PM UTC (16:00).

There are 8 challenges available to choose from. Each challenge is based on a collection of Microsoft Learn modules. If you complete your challenge before it ends, one free Microsoft Certification exam (details of which exams are denoted in the link below) will be associated with your Learn profile on June 30, 2022. You will be notified via email when it becomes available.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cloudskillschallenge/build/registration/2022

??#Dynamics365??

If you want to see a better together story between business process and productivity tools, here is an amazing video of the power of the better together story of Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Teams. Quickly save decisions, notes, and other key sales events to Dynamics 365 without having to context switch out of Microsoft Teams.

??#ISVConnect??

If you have debated whether to extend your practice with customer experience (CX), read this insightful blog. The summary contains great descriptions of common partner scenarios that you may have come across for consideration.

https://dynamicspartners.transform.microsoft.com/blogs/dynamics365/cxplaybookwhyextendyourpractice

Every Monday at 8am PT, our GISV team hosts #ISVConnectLive where we share insights from various Microsoft Biz Apps ISVs. Our next session will be hosting Itineris?on Monday 5/16. If you are enrolled in ISV Connect and would like to be part of these Monday sessions, send me an InMail as we are scheduling out for June and July.

Please subscribe to?https://aka.ms/isvconnectlive?to see all past events and follow the hashtag?#ISVConnectLive.

??#Leadership??

Any inspiring leader should always be looking for improving their skills. This Harvard Business Review article covers 6 fundamental skills which really matter. I personally love all six basics referenced.

• Shape a vision that is exciting and challenging for your team (or division/unit/organization).
• Translate that vision into a clear strategy about what actions to take, and what not to do.
• Recruit, develop, and reward?a team of great people to carry out the strategy.
• Focus on measurable results.
• Foster innovation and learning to sustain your team (or organization) and grow new leaders.
• Lead yourself?— know yourself, improve yourself, and manage the appropriate balance in your own life.

https://hbr.org/2018/10/the-6-fundamental-skills-every-leader-should-practice

??Tip of the Week?? (credit?Ewan Dalton)

https://www.tipoweek.com/2022/05/13/630-slimming-your-ppt/

#TGIF?#BestWithBrian