Closing the Chapter on Tubblog – The Hub for MSPs

In December 2006, I sat down at my computer in Birmingham and wrote the very first Tubblog post.

At the time, I was the owner of a small IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) business, and I wanted to share my thoughts on running an MSP business as a record of my journey, and to help my peers in the MSP community.

2006 was the year that Twitter launched, Google bought YouTube for $1.6 billion, and both the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 were launched.

What I didn’t know when I started writing, was that over the next twenty years, Tubblog would grow into a global hub for MSPs.

Now, after more than two decades in the Managed Service industry, and almost twenty years running Tubblog, the time has come for me for this chapter to end.

On Friday September 26th 2025, one day after my 49th birthday, we’ll be ending the production of new content for Tubblog – The Hub for MSPs and we’ll be closing the media business. 

A Journey Measured in Years and Consistency

Since 2003, I’ve been immersed in the world of Managed Services. Along the way, Tubblog has become a place where I’ve shared over:

• 2,500+ blog posts
• 200+ long-form podcast episodes
• 1,000+ videos
• 4 published books for IT business owners

I’m proud of that consistency. It didn’t come from motivation; it came from doing a little, often, for a very long time. As the self-professed world’s biggest procrastinator, consistently creating content is something that I can look back on with pride and gratitude.

The podcast, especially, has become a great source of inspiration for me. When I started TubbTalk – The Podcast for MSPs, with its long-form interviews, some people said that with attention spans dropping, nobody would make time for hour plus long conversations with MSP leaders. Yet, the podcast has built an incredibly strong and loyal following, and even spawned its own spin-off show this year as my dear friends Lenka Koppova and Vera Tucci launched TubbTalk – Wired for Connection, a podcast focused on sharing underrepresented human stories from the IT and MSP industry.

None of these milestones would have been possible without the team who supported me. A huge shout out to my Team Tubb colleagues in Lenka Koppova, Gudrun Lauret, Mark Orr, James Ede and former colleagues and friends such as Pascal Fintoni, Stephen McCormick, Kareena Barat, Holly Honeyford, Col Gray, Michelle Lucherini, Judith Burt and so many other colleagues who allowed me to get out of my own way, and focus on doing what I enjoyed — connecting with people in the MSP community.

A Legacy Beyond a Blog

What started as a simple blog in my spare time, quickly became something bigger.

I began Tubblog (or “Richard Tubb’s Blog” as it was known back then) as a way to journal my experiences running a MSP business.

In 2010, when my father, George Tubb, passed away, I made the decision to sell the MSP business.

But what I didn’t realise was that Tubblog had turned into a trusted resource, a place where MSPs could learn, share, and know they weren’t alone.

So, encouraged by the feedback from the community, including the huge honour of my peers electing me as the first chairman of the CompTIA UK Channel Community (now known as GTIA), I continued writing about Managed Services.

Over time, Tubblog became part of the fabric of the Managed Services landscape. It became a community hub where ideas and friendships were sparked.

I never imagined Tubblog would leave a legacy, but I hope it will be remembered as a place that helped MSPs build better businesses and better lives.

Personal Growth Along the Way

Tubblog didn’t just help MSPs grow. It helped me grow. Running it pushed me far outside my comfort zone:

• Speaking on stages around the world
  
• Writing and publishing books
  
• Hosting a podcast and video series that reached thousands

Each step terrified me at first, but each became a milestone I’ll treasure. Tubblog has helped me discover not just who I am professionally, but who I am personally.

Speaking up on Mental Health

One of the areas I’m most proud of is speaking openly about my struggles with my mental health. I’ve struggled with depression since I was very young, and while this journey hasn’t been easy, in the later stages of my career, thanks to the support of my wonderful wife, Claire, and amazing friends such as Gemma Telford, Polly Brennan and Dave Algeo, I felt it was important to speak up.

I’m especially grateful to CompTIA (now GTIA) who gave me the opportunity to go onstage at ChannelCon in Las Vegas in 2023 and openly share about my mental health journey, including speaking honestly on very tough topics such as suicide and burnout.

If by sharing my story I’ve helped even one MSP owner feel less alone, or encouraged someone to seek support, then it’s been worth it. I believe we’ve started moving the conversation forward in the IT industry, and that’s something I’ll continue to champion.

Gratitude Beyond Measure

What really matters to me is the connections I’ve made along the way.

I’ve had the privilege of serving an industry I love, and in return I’ve gained lifelong friendships, countless stories, and the joy of being part of an amazing global community.

To every MSP, vendor, client, partner, podcast guest, event organiser, listener, viewer or reader who’s been part of this journey — thank you. You’ve given me more than I could ever have imagined.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Of course, none of this would have been possible without mentors. I’ve been blessed to learn from the smartest, most generous people in the IT industry. They gave freely of their time, advice, and experience, and I’ve always tried to pass that same generosity along.

There are too many people to mention, but I’d like to give a special thanks to Arlin Sorensen, Erick Simpson, Karl Palachuk, Nigel Moore, Pascal Fintoni, Phylip Morgan, Raja Pagadala, Rob Hatch, and Tiana Wilson-Buys, all of whom have been incredible friends and have helped me enormously both personally and professionally.

If Tubblog has helped you in any way, then the legacy belongs as much to those mentors as it does to me.

The Future of Community

While Tubblog is closing, MSPs will always need places to connect, learn, and share. That’s why I have made sure my final Tubbservatory video (released on Friday 26th September 2025) highlights coaches and content creators who are shaping the future of the community, alongside incredible organisations like The Tech Tribe and GTIA.

I may be stepping back, but the need for connection within the Managed Services industry doesn’t go away. In fact, I believe it will only grow stronger.

What’s Next?

This isn’t goodbye. It’s simply the close of one chapter so another can begin.

Tubblog will remain online as an archive, a resource for the MSP community. But we won’t be publishing new content beyond this point.

As for me, I’ll still be a part of the Managed Services industry, but in a new way. I’ll be focused on working behind the scenes to provide mentorship and strategy for vendors with a very small number of non-executive director and advisory roles (the first of which I’m excited to be announcing shortly).

I’ll continue to share ideas, stories, and conversations beyond the Managed Service industry over on my personal website. If you enjoy tech recommendations, leadership insights and personal development ideas, I’d encourage you to sign-up for my email updates there.

I’m also going to continue writing books on non-MSP topics, with my 5th book due to be published soon. Keep an eye on my Goodreads author page for more details.

Writing, podcasting, and speaking are still very much in my blood — and I’m excited about what comes next.

My 3 Words for 2025

Inspired by my great friend Chris Brogan, each year I choose three words to guide me. For 2025 those words were Pareto, Lighten, and Broadcast.

• Pareto: Focusing on what truly matters — the 20% that brings 80% of the results.
  
• Lighten: Removing burdens and creating more space for peace of mind.
  
• Broadcast: Continuing to share ideas, insights, and conversations in ways that reach and inspire others.
  

These words remind me that this decision isn’t about stopping. It’s about creating space for the next evolution of my work and life.

With Gratitude

Nearly twenty years ago, I set out with one goal: to help MSPs run better businesses and build better lives. Looking back now, I feel I’ve achieved what I set out to do — and so much more.

If you have any memories on our journey together, please do leave a comment below or get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.

From the bottom of my heart: thank you for reading, listening, watching, and walking this journey with me.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Cheers, Ric.

You might like: