Do The People You Work With Make These 3 Mistakes?

You know the ones I'm talking about...

Part Two

Copyright © 2007 By Chancer Reese

Here is my favorites: a local indie computer guy had a contract with a small retail chain that had stores in neighboring SC.

He got a call from the main Asheville store that the Greenville store was offline. He got on the phone and tried talking the Greenville manager into a game of, "You can be my eyes and hands, while I fix your problem."

Nope the manager was in full-tilt lazy mode. It was the Computer Guy's job and by gosh, he was coming down the mountain to do it.

The Indie reminded the store manager that the cost for him leaving his shop was $100 plus travel costs and that it would be less expensive and easier for all concerned for the Indie to "walk" the manager through the troubleshooting process.

Nope...the manager wasn't having it. So after much verbal abuse, it was decided that the Indie would drive down to Greenville.

When he arrived and pulled up in the parking lot, he could see into the store's office though the their storefront. Dangling, disconnected in plain view, was the power cord to store's main computer.

The Indie walked in. He confirmed what his fee was going to be. The manager now angry, didn't give a damn and said so. The Indie walked into the office, plugged in the server, booted it up and logged on. The store staff fell silent. The Indie smiled and walked out. How do we say "ka-ching" boys and girls?

Now this is the real reason those people you work with always are having problems. Like that manager....

They don't give a damn.

Let's be honest here; folks like them are constantly having computer issues because they don't care to have it any other way.

They want what they want, when they want it! They don't care if the "machine" can perform what they want or not. They just want it now!

If they don't get what they want, then they will blame, the "machine" for being too "technical", "too wacky", or "to confusing" and in turn blame their vendors for failing to "fix" it on time or on budget.

"The machine has no brain, you will have to use yours". The computer for all its processing power can't adapt or change. Only people can. The computer does not care if you have a thriving business or not. It's only people who can learn, grow and be motivated enough to succeed.

If you are reading this, then I will assume you are motivated enough. And that you are probably interested in becoming or already are a small business owner. As an owner you can't afford to be like those people mentioned above. You can't carry these same old bad habits into your new venture. They will pull you down.

Outside computer experts and consultants (Indies) are hired guns. They may offer some common sense advice before a project begins, but they will in the end always fall on the side of better safe than sorry (i.e. they will do what they are told to do) so they can "collect the check". Just like the Indie in the scenario above.

You know the old joke goes that if three people call you a jackass...then you should go looking for a saddle. Well, the people (you know who are)that make these three mistakes often end up with overly complex, high priced computer systems that they asked for because, they were too busy acting stupid, being lazy or not caring enough to give a good damn.

Where's that saddle?

To read the first part of this article, click here: Part One