Expert Stories

Independents Week 2021: A Toast to Salesforce Game-Changers

June 30, 2021 by 10K Leave a Comment

Next week we’re celebrating independence. We’re not only honoring our independence as a nation, but we’re also celebrating 10K’s annual Independents Week by recognizing the entrepreneurial spirit and freedom embodied by our independent consultants.

The 10K team has worked in the Salesforce consulting ecosystem for many years. In that time we’ve seen thousands of companies — from multi-billion dollar conglomerates to one-person startups — use Salesforce to transform their business and strengthen their relationship with customers.

But many of our customers are overwhelmed by the complexity of their system, or are frustrated with an implementation that went off the rails, or can’t find the guidance or skills they need to fulfill the ultimate promise of the platform. This is why we founded 10K – to match Salesforce experts with businesses and ultimately unlock the potential of Salesforce.

This is why we founded 10K – to match Salesforce experts with businesses and ultimately unlock the potential of Salesforce.

Celebrating 5 years of 10K

2021 marks the fifth year since 10K’s founding. Reflecting on our journey, there have been a lot of fun milestones along the way, like signing our first contract, seeing the impact we’ve had with our customers and experts, and most recently, launching our new on-demand service, 10K Task.

It’s also been incredible to see the validation of our business model in the Salesforce ecosystem, especially considering the monumental shifts of 2020. We’re thankful and excited to stay at the forefront of the future of work with the help and partnership of our customers and experts.

We’re thankful and excited to stay at the forefront of the future of work with the help and partnership of our customers and experts.

Independents Week 2021

Stay tuned to our blog where we’ll be profiling game-changing entrepreneurs within the Salesforce ecosystem. Each day we’ll introduce you to a member of the 10K Expert Community who has expertly navigated his or her own successful venture as a Salesforce independent consultant. Follow along with us at #IndependentsWeek as we give a peek into each person’s journey to independence, lessons learned along the way, and advice for others who might be interested in joining the thriving Salesforce ecosystem.

Fresh Off the Exam: Service Cloud Certification Advice From a Salesforce Expert

October 12, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

Q&A With 10K Expert, Jackie Teravainen

That Trailblazer attitude is also part of what makes the Salesforce ecosystem so special. Its community members are committed to driving the ecosystem forward through ongoing education and innovation.

That said, despite the trying circumstances of the pandemic, some of the 10K Expert Community is in the process of completing certification exams and are eager to share their insight. For first-hand advice from our experts fresh off the exam, stay tuned to our blog.

Q: Which tools or resources did you use to prepare for your certification exam and would you recommend them?

I almost exclusively used the Focus On Force study guide and practice exams to fill my knowledge gaps in areas where I was less familiar. I’d also recommend the Service Cloud Specialist Superbadge on Trailhead, as it offers hands-on learning modules and practical use cases. I retain information much better by actually “doing” versus memorizing, so I would recommend both of these resources to adequately prepare.

Q: Why Service Cloud? Was there a specific reason you chose this certification?

I had done a number of Service Cloud implementations, so it felt like a natural step forward to fill any knowledge gaps within that service offering and then make it official with a certification. I also think that Service Cloud is packed with ROI for the customer and I’ve noticed it gaining more traction in recent years.

Q: Was the Service Cloud exam what you envisioned it would be or were there any curveballs?

I had taken the practice exams to the point where I was getting 100%, so I was feeling good. But in the real exam, it seemed like 50% of the questions were curveballs. I was confident that I knew the material but then was shocked by how confusing some of the answer choices were. Having hands-on experience prior to taking the exam helped with this but nothing can really prepare you for trick questions. It just shows how important it is to thoroughly know the technicalities.

Q: If you’ve completed a certification exam before, did you notice or feel COVID had any impact on the process?

If anything, it made it a lot easier to take the online proctored exam. They loosened the technical requirements, such as needing to use an external webcam, which was helpful. I personally prefer the traditional in-person exam to minimize distractors, however, I didn’t want to sit for an exam with a mask on or be wondering if someone around me was sick. The online exam was very convenient so having the option was nice.

Q: Do you have any plans in-store with your new certification?

I have several customers using Service Cloud, so knowing more of the advanced service offerings gives me more confidence to make recommendations and design solutions that can take them to the next level. I look forward to more Service Cloud projects where I can apply my knowledge and watch the product’s capabilities to transform customer service centers.

Looking for more resources to elevate your Salesforce learning and development? Check out our “Ask The Expert” webinar with Trailhead SVP Amy Regan Morehouse.

Fresh Off the Exam: Community Cloud Certification Advice From a Salesforce Expert

September 10, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

Q&A With 10K Expert, Rita Leverett

Part of what makes Salesforce so special is its community members and their commitment to driving the ecosystem forward through ongoing education and innovation. With the pandemic, however, we know unique circumstances may have made it more challenging to achieve new certifications.

That said, since the start of COVID, we’ve been so genuinely impressed by our experts’ enduring engagement and ability to adapt. That Trailblazer drive and commitment to learning is what inspired us to create our first Certification Scholarship Program at the beginning of the year.

Promoting a culture of learning is a priority for 10K. Not only is ongoing education a core pillar of successful COEs, it’s also essential in getting the most out of Salesforce. Upskilling with new certifications, especially in high-demand areas, can advance a Salesforce expert’s career and provide a competitive edge. For our scholarship program, 10K Experts were able to apply for one of the following high-demand certifications: Configure Price Quote (CPQ), Community Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Mulesoft, or Field Service Lightning.

Despite the trying circumstances of the pandemic, our certification scholarship recipients are in the process of completing their exams and eager to share their insight. For first-hand advice from our experts fresh off the exam, stay tuned to our blog.

Q: Which tools or resources did you use to prepare for your certification exam and would you recommend them?

I used a combination of Trailhead and the FocusOnForce Community Cloud study guide. I found these to be incredibly helpful and would recommend them for anyone studying for this particular exam.

Q: Why Community Cloud? Was there a specific reason you chose this certification?

Community Cloud wasn’t my first choice because I was already studying for the Platform Developer II certification, so I would have chosen that if it had been offered through the scholarship program. I have the most work experience in Community Cloud and I was confident I could pass the exam on the first attempt.

Q: Was the Community Cloud exam what you envisioned it would be or were there any curveballs?

I felt that the answer to some of the questions should have been “None of the above.” For example, there was a reference to Files Connect, and my studies referenced Salesforce Connect so I wasn’t sure if that was the same thing or not. Salesforce Connect was never listed as an answer, so that threw me off a bit. This made me a bit nervous during the exam but it worked out okay in the end.

Q: If you’ve completed a certification exam before, did you notice or feel COVID had any impact on the process?

I was planning to wait until after COVID to take any more exams, but with the scholarship program, I figured why not! I had the option of taking the exam online without an external webcam. I didn’t take advantage of this because the testing center was open and I was allowed to use scratch paper. I must have my scratch paper! Also, going in person we, of course, had to wear a mask and sit socially distanced (although that’s not too far from the norm for these exams). The atmosphere definitely felt a bit different, but I was glad to be able to take it in person.

Q: Do you have any plans in-store with your new certification?

I currently have six active certifications and one retired one, so with Community Cloud, I’m hoping to be more marketable. I also have a bit of work experience with Community Cloud already, so I look forward to opportunities that will allow me to work more with it.

Looking for more resources to elevate your Salesforce learning and development? Check out our “Ask The Expert” webinar with Trailhead SVP Amy Regan Morehouse.

What You Didn’t Know About Cloud Integration: Q&A with Marlie Andersch

August 26, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

We recently sat down with Marlene (Marlie) Andersch, CEO and Founder of rockITdata, to discuss all things Cloud integration. With nearly a decade of experience with Salesforce, Marlie took her expertise and started rockITdata two years ago, which among other things, specializes in implementations with a focus on integration solutions including Call Center, Field Service Lightning, and AWS connect solutions.

Let’s dive in.

What are the most important aspects of a successful integration strategy? Is it ever too late to create one?

When you talk to me about integration, unlike someone on the IT side, I approach it from a business angle instead of a technical one. Therefore, the most important aspect of your integration strategy is to make sure that you have buy-in from ALL parties involved, including the customer, the business, and IT.

Everyone involved should understand the end result and ultimate objective and be on board before the integration starts. This helps manage expectations and maintain flow throughout the process while minimizing “surprises.” However, with that said, it’s also imperative that people understand that working within an agile environment means that things can change, and you yourself should be willing to be – wait for it – be agile.

And as far as whether it’s ever too late to create one, the answer is no. It’s never too late to pivot, especially if you utilize an agile methodology.

Are there any common obstacles I should be aware of throughout the process?

While I wouldn’t necessarily call all of these obstacles, I would say the following are things you should consider in order to avoid any obstacles.

Understand your data. What are the sources of data and where will it end up?

What is the why? If you don’t understand the “why,” then that will absolutely become an obstacle. Don’t just do an integration because you think it’s the right thing to do. You need to make sure you know who the audience is that you’re trying to reach and the main objective you’re trying to accomplish once you reach them.

Dirty data. If you find yourself in a situation where the data is dirty, you have to understand where you are in the process of cleaning the data i.e., which sources will be important to either consolidate or eliminate. Prior to a data integration, defining “how” to clean and ”when” it needs to happen is imperative for it to be successful. If the data isn’t clean then an integration is pointless and can pose a huge problem.

The culture of the organization. This goes back to the first point I made. There needs to be buy-in across the board for any integration to be successful. This will either create speed and efficiency or more than likely if there isn’t consistent buy-in, then things will be slow and ineffective. This is a large and common obstacle I see, where a business is trying to figure out how to get something done but there’s a roadblock from IT or the business. For instance, the end objective is not agreed upon, and bureaucracy and office politics rear their ugly heads. Avoid this if you can.

What are the benefits of integrating applications?

Hands down, it’s the ability to share common data, therefore, creating improvement processes for the business.

When looking for a Cloud integration partner, what should I look for in the vetting process?

Contrary to popular belief, going with the big guys isn’t always better. You’ll find that sometimes there are a lot of great, hungry smaller consulting firms that can give you a better experience because they tend to be faster, more efficient and sometimes less expensive. Not to mention you’ll find a lot of the people at these smaller firms came from the bigger ones you may be initially inclined to hire, so you’ll be paying for the same expertise but for a fraction of the cost.

Should I use an integration middleware tool or custom-build an API integration?

It depends on four things: scope, timeline, complexity, and cost. Ultimately, you need to have the data to make decisions, though sometimes it’s not that easy and you have to pull different data fields and it’s expensive and you don’t get the value. That’s when you might consider using a custom API integration.

Everyone can get from point A to point B, it’s just a matter of how you want to get there. Do you just want to get there as cost-effectively as possible or do you want to ride in style, get there quickly, and are less concerned with your budget? If it’s the latter, then you might consider a middleware tool, but again, beware that you’re going to pay for it, and for good reason. With a super simple integration, middleware is a legacy app best suited for those more concerned with time and efficiency than cost.

How do I choose a middleware tool?

This is more or less the same as above. It depends on requirements and how difficult it is, what your timeline is, and how much money you’re willing to spend. When you choose a middleware, sometimes it’s easier to hire a firm that can come in and do a vendor analysis that can give you several things, including recommendations (as they understand your requirements) and in some situations, a suggested roadmap to help you get to where you need to be if it’s a relatively complex project.

10K Advisors Congratulates Its 2020 Certification Scholarship Recipients

July 7, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

In May we announced the launch of 10K’s first-ever Certification Scholarship Program, exclusively for the 10K Expert Community. With the application window now closed, the entire 10K Advisors team would like to extend a sincere thank you to every person who applied. We’re incredibly proud of every expert in our 10K Community and their commitment to ongoing education to keep driving the ecosystem forward.

Our Goal For The Certification Scholarship Program

In a recent 10K survey of 300+ Salesforce program owners and stakeholders, 86% of respondents said certifications are important when looking for experts. Nearly half of the respondents said they were “very important.”

With Salesforce, we know change is constant and continuous education is a must. Perhaps this is why, since the start of COVID-19, Salesforce has seen a 37% increase in sign-ups on its Trailhead learning platform and learner engagement increase by more than 50% (measured by the number of badges earned on Trailhead).

While our foremost goal is to match our 10K Experts with customers who need their existing skills, we also want to help these experts expand their skill sets in the areas where we see the most customer demand and to give them a competitive edge to stand out.

Applicants were able to apply for one of the following high-demand certifications: Configure Price Quote (CPQ), Community Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Mulesoft, or Field Service Lightning.

2020 Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

Ryan Mitchell – Community Cloud

Rita Leverett – Community Cloud

Jackie Teravainen – Community Cloud

Wendy Murry – Community Cloud

Susan Connor – Configure Price Quote (CPQ)

To learn more about what it means to be an independent Salesforce expert in the 10K Community, check out our 2020 Independents Week series.

10K Independents Week: How to Build a Salesforce Business You Love With Wendy Murry

July 1, 2020 by 10K Leave a Comment

It’s Independents Week at 10K Advisors! We’re celebrating the 10K Expert Community and our mission to give people the freedom to do the work they love. Stay tuned to our blog for Q&As with some of our brightest independent experts as we explore what it takes to build a business, how to overcome doubt, and advice for other Salesforce experts with an entrepreneurial spirit. You can follow the conversation every day this week at #10KIndependentsWeek.

Wendy Murry | Murry Consulting

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your business?

A: Murry Consulting is a project management consulting company focused on helping businesses of all sizes in leading strategic projects and transformations within their organization.

Since I started working in the ecosystem, I’ve realized many organizations spread their project managers too thin across projects or don’t have project managers in-house, so I focus on serving as an extension of the company’s leadership team to help manage their initiatives. My focus is on partnering with clients to understand their goals and guide them during the project journey while managing developers and other consultants.

Murry Consulting was established in 2017 when I partnered with a company moving from an Association Management tool to Salesforce Sales Cloud, Community Cloud, Pardot, and numerous AppExchange products. The transition was a major undertaking – this company literally put their entire business on Salesforce products! Managing the transition required detailed and methodical project management, especially because the company also contracted with two technical implementation partners. There were many stakeholders I needed to keep informed, solicit decisions from, and keep on schedule.

Q: How long were you working in the ecosystem before you determined the mission and goal of your business?

A: I’ve been in the ecosystem as a Project Manager and/or user since 2009. It was early on in my Project Manager journey that I had the opportunity to lead several projects with custom development that extended the Salesforce platform to meet the specific needs of my then employer. I was later a user of Service Cloud through my role supporting a large organization’s customer support team.

Q: What was your first “ah-ha!” moment before taking the first step to start your business?

A: I was talking to a colleague about starting a Project Management consulting business. She turned and asked me, “Wendy, how long have you been thinking about opening your own business. What is stopping you?”

I realized I was the only person stopping myself from branching out on my own. I was afraid of failing. This same colleague made the initial referral to my first customer, too! When she made the introduction, I jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back on the decision. It was the right decision at the right time and she helped me to get into the right mindset.

Q: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

A: My first year in business I would have tried to diversify my client base instead of focusing 100% on one client. I had one primary client that consumed the majority of my time. In hindsight, diversification would have helped me to grow my customer base and provide opportunities once my first project was completed.

Q: Can you offer any words of wisdom for Salesforce experts looking to start their own business?

A: For anyone nervous about being on their own, ask yourself “What if?” multiple times. What is the worst that can happen if I fail, then what? What if I can’t meet my financial obligations, then what?

If you can work through all of your “What if?” fears and in the end, live with them, you don’t have anything to fear in starting your own business. Even better, what if you are wildly successful?

Also, hire a team of professionals to support you – lawyer, accountant, insurance agent, etc. to set up a real business entity. I have found this team critical to helping me set up my business and rely on them to protect my investment in my business and myself.