Scaling from Setbacks: How Chris Kraiss Built a Thriving MSP

Now That's IT: Stories of MSP Success

What if getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to your career? In this episode of Now That’s IT: Stories of MSP Success, host Chris Massey sits down with Chris Kraiss, founder of ClearPath Technology, to discuss his journey from corporate IT to building a thriving MSP—and the setbacks that shaped his success.

Chris shares:
✅ How getting fired pushed him to launch his own MSP
✅ The moment he realized he had to fire bad clients to grow
✅ Why mentorship and partnerships were game-changers for scaling his business
✅ The importance of company culture in attracting and retaining top talent
✅ His real-time insights on leadership, fearlessness, and strategic growth

Whether you're an MSP owner, IT leader, or thinking about making the leap, Chris’s story is packed with real-world lessons on resilience, business strategy, and scaling with confidence.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to turn setbacks into success!

N-able also produces Beyond the Horizon. Hosted by industry veterans, this podcast delves deep into the findings of the annual MSP Horizons Report, providing actionable insights to transform your IT business. Listen & Subscribe Wherever You Get Your Podcasts.

'Now that's it: Stories of MSP Success,' dives into the journeys of some of the trailblazers in our industry to find out how they used their passion for technology to help turn Managed Services into the thriving sector it is today.
Every episode is packed with the valuable insights, practical strategies, and inspiring anecdotes that lead our guests to the transformative moment when they knew….. Now, that's it.
This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers.

Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice.

The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors.

The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe.

All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Chapters

1. Scaling from Setbacks: How Chris Kraiss Built a Thriving MSP (00:00:00)

2. Personal Loss and New Beginnings (00:01:13)

3. The Start of an MSP Journey (00:02:17)

4. Building Confidence in LA (00:06:03)

5. Firing Clients That Don't Fit (00:12:40)

6. Leadership and Team Culture (00:16:48)

7. Finding Purpose Through Spirituality (00:22:06)

8. Future Growth and Final Reflections (00:27:51)