View Full Version : A Work For A Dollar


sandropc
22-01-2006, 18:34
Received via Internet from a friend...

A WORK FOR A DOLLAR.
It is sometimes an error to simply judge the value of an activity for the time that people takes to carry out it. A good example is the case of an engineer that was called to fix a very big and extremely complex computer in a big company of services in USA. A omputer that worth 12 million dollars.

Sat down in front of the screen, it oppressed some how many keys, it agreed with the head, murmured something for itself and it turned off the apparatus (That was the step of the Buda). Him proceeded to take out a small screwdriver of their pocket and gave turn and mediates to a minuscule screw. Then he lit the computer again and it checked that it was working perfectly.

The President was shown charmed and he offered to pay the bill at once. - How much do I owe you? – he asked. They are ten thousand dollars, if you does me the favor. The president questioned, ten thousand dollars?; ten thousand dollars for some a short time?; ten thousand dollars to press a simple screw?......

I already know that my computer costs 12 million dollars, but ten thousand dollars it is a senseless quantity! I will pay only if you sends me a perfectly detailed invoice that justifies it. The engineer agreed with the head and he left. The following morning the President received the invoice, he read it carefully, he shook the head and proceeded to pay it at once, without protest.

The invoice said: Services rendered:

To Press a screw........................ 1 dollar

To Know what screw to press.......... 9,999 dollars.

Total Invoice: 10,000 dollars.



This is a lesson to all those professionals that day by day face with the disregard of who for their own ignorance don't reach to understand them. Remember: “It is won by what is known, not by what is done"

MICHEL
22-01-2006, 20:05
:craqueur: sandro... so true...

Juan Gomez-Velez
23-01-2006, 00:37
Sandro

Experience is a treasure that in our profession is unique and invaluable. We work, and as we do so we grow more knowledgeable and more capable. In Spanish, " Conocimiento y capacidad", knowledge and skill, things my friend, that I know you strive for and are gifted with. See this as a comment made by someone who sees himself as your contemporary. Neither of us was brought up among computers, years after graduation, we had to relearn most of the marketable skills of our profession. Yet, as we deem ourselves young at heart we did this, as we do everything, with smiles drawn on our faces and passion chiseled in our hearts.

Truly, we are not paid for what we draw, rather for what we see.

As always a salute to you and your unquenchable curiosity, your generosity and your painstaking attention to detail. These are things that you share with all of us and make your acquaintance both a pleasure and a privilege.

Saludos

Juan

Richard
23-01-2006, 02:00
Sandro

This is true to a T.

I have had so many question my standard rate of $1000 AUD to turn up on site with a client to view a potential site purchase. They often consider the normally 30 min - 1 hr meeting to be over priced. However I see that if they purchased a lemon as a result of not asking the right questions it could potentially cost $100's of 000's.

Makes it sound cheap.

T.McCaw
23-01-2006, 03:32
What is it that you are looking for?
Client- not quite shure
Can you discribe it?
Client - well its a secret.
I can't help you if you don't give me any information
Are you trying to catch mice or elephants?
Client - no no its a.....
Whats your budget.
Client - it's hard to say
Do you want it made out of gold or cardboard?
Client - something in between
Ok now we are getting some where. I think I can help you.

Tom