Re: Hi

EXCELLENT Larry and you are so right !

I have always operated that way but I wonder if that might not be more ones
general personality ? NOT bragging or being Mr. Big Head or anything but at
my previous employer where I really started to make progress in my "IT
career" I came into a shop that had virtually no interaction with the user
community. I did not realize that at first. I had been there about a month
and had been in our QC labs trying to understand a problem so I could get
them a fix. Just doing my job and they said "You aren't like the rest of
them on the other side of that wall" and I said "What do you mean" and they
said, "You came through that door on your way back here, right ?" And I said
yes. And they said, "Well no one else from that department ever comes back
here; thanks !" I said no problem and left. I was a bit stunned but my eyes
were opened and I also recalled some previous comments from some in my group
and it all added up.

But I have always tried to be helpful and to makes sure folks understand how
technology can help them do their jobs and not be the burden that some think
it is (if it is done properly of course).

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: consult400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:consult400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Larry Bolhuis
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 3:20 PM
To: Consulting on the iSeries / AS400
Subject: Re: [Consult400] Hi

You must look to your advantages to survive. Those off-shore programmers 
are 'somewhat' removed from the daily workings at your shop. If you stay 
at your desk from 8 to 5 and then go home, so are you. I once left a job 
but stayed in the company golf league. About 1 year after leaving one of 
the assembly foremen said to me at the first tee, "Hey, the 'new guy' 
(one year into the job) found my office today! I didn't recognize him at 
first! It was like meeting him at Meijer I didn't place him right away!" 
That guy had absolutely no clue what went on in assembly, or machining, 
or heat treat or.... He wasn't respected by his co-managers. At one 
point he retired one of my programs ('It was too complex and hard to 
maintain') and replaced it with a simpler one. The next morning he had 
nearly every foreman in the place in his office because he had 
quadrupled the effort required on the floor. 'Too bad, I can't afford to 
spend the effort required to maintain that complicated program. Deal 
with it." He didn't last long.

Use your proximity to your customer whether internal or external to 
react more quickly, to see problems that need solving, to suggest 
improvements. Know your customer, know his needs, know his problems. You 
must decide if you are going to be Low Cost or High Value.

- Larry