Nugget - provide good service

 


I worked hard to learn C and used it to write some code centered around their learning library and then around Write Once Read Many optical drive technology on a Microsoft AT machine (in 1987). 

Then I worked hard to learn MS Quickbasic and wrote a client program called Guardian to monitor failures and page support team members when failures occurred. That program got installed in a Exxon refinery in 1988 and my bosses told me when it paged support workers quickly to respond to refinery failures it saved hundred of thousands of pounds in alerting people before the failure grew even bigger. I was amazed my little program did that but it was a huge success and the customer was happy, and my bosses were more than happy. 

This led to me going onsite and working with the refinery workers producing templates on the VM computers to output different format reports. This was quite simple technical work but it was my first experience onsite, my first time working with really smart professionals in the refinery, my first time doing billable hours. I got to wear my suit every day. My bosses treated me as one of their onsite consultants and I got to go to lunches outside of work.

The commute was long and I had upgraded to a car I could not afford. I was worried my bosses would find something wrong because I was at home with working class folks and then when I came to work I hung out with posh consultants and smart refinery workers. 

But my bosses were delighted. They told me the feedback was from the refinery workers in the offices - they said I always worked hard to get them exactly what they wanted. I was always positive and happy. I as willing to go the extra mile and never complained when they changed their mind or needs a 5th or 6th modification because they got different requirements. 

It was amazing to me as I skirted 2 very different worlds. But basically, they were saying I was providing good service, and that was all that mattered.

Its a good lesson repeated over and over again. Good service makes you contacts and potentially in the long term makes you more money.

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