Re: Programmers VS Consultants

[Larry Bolhuis <lbolhui@xxxxxxx>]

<Snip>

> (I.E. A PRGRAM OR SYSTEM THAT WILL REQUIRE THE CONSULTANT
> AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SO THE PROGRAM OR SYTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE OUTDATED FROM
> DAY OF IMPLEMENTATION).

  Years ago there was a famous football player named Bronko Nagurski.  When
Bronko 
retired from football he opened a gas station.  Ol' Bronko had incredibly high 
repeat business, especially considering he had a simple gas station.  Now why do
you suppose he had such strong repeat business?  Whas it great service? Not
really.
Was it great pricing? Nope.  How about a superior location? No, not that 
either. 
It 
was because when ol' Bronko screwed your gas cap on, he was the Only One who
could get it back off!!

  While this may have worked for Bronko, it is NOT the way most consultants (or
contract programmers) get and keep repeat business.  You need to instill in your
customer the confidence that you can complete the task required. You also need
to teach them as much as they want to know.  In many cases this act alone 
proves 
to them two things: 1) They DO need you for the work because they don't
understand
and 2) You do know what you are doing becuase you are willing to explain it to
them.

 - Larry
 (Consultant and sometime Contract Programmer)


-- 
Larry Bolhuis         | What do You want to Reload today?
Arbor Solutions, Inc  | Don't throw your PC out the window,
(616) 451-2500        |  throw WINDOWS out of your PC.
(616) 451-2571 -fax   | Two rules to success in life:
lbolhui@ibm.net       | 1. Never tell people everything you know.
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