2010!!

Well it is 2010, and November at that. I find myself up at 4am, for a multitude of reasons. So since I seem to write here about one time per year - here goes!

I dont really have a solid topic for this blog and my two previous posts seem to be more like rants. I thinks it time for a change to this modus operandi.

This year has been marked by a blessing in my life - my first child. If someone were to tell me how much my ideals and priorities were going to change I would not have believed. As a matter of fact I think a few people did try - credit where credit is due.

I cant take much if any credit for the following because they are a summary of thoughts from a few places. Some personal, but the majority from a very honorable man to his daughter on her first day of college. I hope I have the opportunity to have such wise advice for my daughter when that day comes around.

1 - You are never alone - and there is never trouble that is beyond
help.

2 - Your father loves you (so does your mother) - your heavenly father
loves you.

3 - Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come - as long as we have
today, it's never too late.

4 - Question with boldness, read what they tell you not to and challenge
everything!

5 - Arrogance leads to darkness - over confidence is a weakness suffered
at the worst possible times.

6 - Sunlight is the best disinfectant, however sanitizer is a must.
(Especially in New York city.)

7 - Always know where the exits are - they may save your life if a
situation goes bad.

8 - Respect others, they are most likely afraid just like you - As a
matter of fact the more arrogant and forceful someone is the more afraid
they usually are.

9 - The worst thing in life you can do is dishonor yourself, or your
family - and then go living a life without setting it right.

10 - Marry for love, marry for laughs, but most importantly marry with
GOD. Without GOD life's storm are too strong to stand.

11 - The lord lives and he is personal. He loves you and he is always
there to help - we have to train ourselves to hear him.

12 - Exercise your faith like a muscle - the more you use it the louder
HE becomes. Serve him in all things.

13 - Stand where HE asks you to stand - stand where you do have a
purpose. (What is your purpose in life? Most people don't know - it's ok
if you don't so long as you believe in what you are doing - do you?)

14 - Remember who you are and remember what you agree upon.

15 - We are all meant to be happy - but remember "No pain - no gain".

16 - Life is hard, and then it gets harder and the you die - but life is
precious and every single second you have should be enjoyed!!

17 - Always say what you mean and mean exactly what you say.

18 - Turn the other cheek and always forgive and forget, but never
forget so much that you put yourself in the exact same situation again.

19 - Question authority - including everything here - if you don't
question instructions you can't fully understand them. Different people
use different words to convey what they mean. Make sure you understand
what they really mean.

20 - You have everything you need - and you have everything you need to
be happy - may you figure that out sooner in life than I did. Do
not underestimate the power and beauty of youth - most people don't
recognize it until they are gone.

21 - People are for the most part good and want to do the right thing -
give them the opportunity.

22 - Shadows are darkest at noon - and it is always darkest and coldest
just before dawn.

23 - Its never wrong to do the right thing.

24 - Learn to love and understand others that you don't know or really
don't like. Knowing and understanding your enemies helps you to better
combat them.

25 - Read the scriptures everyday - they are alive and he speaks to you
through them.

26 - There are no coincidences in life.

27 - Love - Learn - Laugh.

28 - Sleep hard and sleep less.

29 - Pray on your knees

30 - To whom much is given, much is required - you have been given the
world and are only limited by your own imagination

31 - Only date those who love you as much as I do.

32 - Only date those who will treat you as I have tried.

33 - Never want anything too much - you will always pay too high a price
for it (one way or another).

34 - If you really ever must shoot - shoot to kill. A wounded enemy will
likely seek revenge, and usually in a way you won't recognize until it's
too late.

35 - Labels are meaningless.

36 - Someone you meet today is afraid, suffering - find them and comfort
them.

37 - Never let the sun go down without saying you are sorry for your
wrongs.

38 - Your Dad misses you - Call him, call him now!

39 - Why haven't you called him yet?

40 - Life goes by far too fast - keep a journal. Write what you think,
write what you question, write what you know!

41 - there is order in all things - stay in that order when you can -
stay in the flow! It is always easier to swim with the current, unless
its headed for danger.

42 - Important to remember - easy and right are often on the opposite
ends of the coin.

43 - You will find very few real friends in life - cherish them. Things
will change and you will fall in and out of each others lives, but when
you do come back it will be as if you never left.

44 - The hardest thing to do is to admit failure - to admit weakness.
Only the very strong do!

45 - The weak will never ask for help.

46 - Fasting is prayer. Fasting without prayer is dieting!!

47 - Why haven't you called your father yet?

See you in 2011!! Happy belated Thanksgiving!!

Reality check!!

Anyone?

So I am looking at Craigs list to see what people are posting for jobs. While I realize that there is a recession; certain skills are not going to be around for long at this rate.

Exhibit A:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Program languages-Java, .Net, ASP, PHP, Visual Basic, HTML
Operating Systems-Windows XP, Server 2003, Linux
Data Base- Access, SQL
Basic networking knowledge
Must be self-motivated, quick learner, communicate English well, well organized, have own transportation (local travel a must)


* Location: West Babylon
* Compensation: $40,000-$50,000 ( - What the web says the pay should be just for .NET )
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Does anyone else see a problem with this???

Really, you want a Java/.Net, ASP, PHP VB, HTML 'programmer'? Who wrote this ad?

What gets me is the $$. Even at top billing 50k on the island is going to barely cover rent, forget about a mortgage.

Why does this bother me. Not because I am looking for a job, but because this behavior will dry up any chance of averting another tech 'drought'.

Low/No paying job do not draw talent.

Its time for a revolution in this industry!!

Don't worry, I will be like Jerry, 'Who's with me?' Except, in this case when there are no programmers left then we get to write the ads.

Mine:

Programmer: languages- .Net, ASP, Visual Basic, HTML
Operating Systems- Any web browser
Data Base- SQL
Advanced networking knowledge
Self-motivated, quick learner, communicates English very well, Super organized, have own transportation (local travel a must)


* Location: Anywhere you need programming
* Compensation: $400,000-$500,000
* Principals only. Recruiters, please contact this programmer.

CAR

Customer Service - Public service announcement...

I am the first person to admit that in todays day and age companies are exchanging quality customer service for quantity customer service!!
Being in a management position for an industry related (web) media outlet I had the 'pleasure' of having to assist an unhappy individual on the phone this week.
Now normally I am in a very good position to get some one help with out any assistance from any other parties as I have access to all the tools and basic information it usually takes to help my end users. However with the state of things today, I know many individuals are resistant to give any, even basic information over the phone. Now the odd part here is this person actually called me. Most people are more affluent with email. (As am I) After his initial fluster and outrage that he had to spend a moment providing me with just his name and what the error seemed to be. He lashed out at me and refused to even provide me with a basic screen capture.
What is all that about? I don't know. After a few very unsuccessful attempts to get him to give me the screen capture, or even an email so I could look up his account information he abruptly hung up on me. Leaving me no follow up options.
So, why so angry? Well, from what I can tell based on an article I read in February in Wired magazine, customer service is a numbers game. As if waiting on hold is not bad enough. Now you have to deal with people that don't understand what your saying, while you struggle to decode what they are asking of you! Further more, in the real 'boiler room' customer service warehouses, it seems that they are required to more or less get you 'handled' and off the phone. The final fix is a bonus for them, not a goal. Starting to understand where the anger is coming from...
Well, I can offer 'Dave' this. My conversation was short and highly unproductive, but as a person in a management position, I will continue to aim for the 9/10 happy customer rate that I do pride myself on achieving. Nothing makes me happier than getting an email that not only says thank you, but 'that was fast!'.
For the rest of the world, I am one person working for one company. I can only hope that with the growing rate of technology and the obvious importance that we all know customer service plays, one day soon maybe the focus will shift back to quality.
Of course, it may be a long time from now, and who knows if the impatience that is common today will allow for anyone to even recognize that this needs to happen, but I suppose stranger things could happen.