I honestly feel like sometimes, people can be talented, excel at things and be creative and amazing etc but absolutely ■■■■ at running a business supporting those qualities.
Sounds familiar. My few years as a fishing guide (seemed like a ‘fun’ idea, initially) as an example:
Spent a couple of years learning what to use, where to go, doing YT videos, creating my own website, etc.
Interfaced with my clients fine (it’s really a personality job, more than fishing), etc.
But one client (kayak trip - I did both small boat and kayak trips), said, in effect, “this is a good thing you have, fun time - but you [meaning me!] suck at self-promotion”.
He was a PR type from “the big city”. It seems it’s the rare person that can do it all. I am not one.
I deliberately suck at it. I want clients that want my stuff. So I rely on the pix on my website and mostly word of mouth for promotion. It works wondrously, I’m booked till fall building the things I love to build.
I had a situation the a few weeks ago (possibly longer, it all seems to blend into one) with an old lady, she had a 2012 honda jazz and had the original tyres on there. Perished and pretty knackered. She bought 4 tyres, easy transaction, fitted them for her and made around £80 put of her in profit in the job. Not what I’d normally charge but she was a little old lady, probably the last set of tyres she was ever going to buy and I’m not into profiteering off jobs like that. Easy work, less than an hour to fit them and she made me a coffee.
2 days later she calls me, I’ve hit a pothole and one of the tyres is deflating. Hospital visit coming up blah blah blah.
Pop round there, 2 tyres destroyed. Not just one. Explain the situation and see the heartbreak. Haven’t got that cutthroat instinct so fall at the first hurdle. 2 new tyres fitted free of charge. I’m barely a tenner still in profit. Probably less when you factor in the time and the hassle. She says what a nice young man i am and is obviously grateful, as a nice genuine person would be. I’m tightening the wheels up thinking to myself, I’m not nice, I’m a ■■■■■■■ idiot. I’m going to be poor and working until i ■■■■■■■ die of it because I’m a terrible business man and that is not something I can change. It isn’t fair, but i make a living and its not the end of the world is it. But i think back to my old business partner and he would of charged her the callout on top of the tyres and probably sold her some wiper blades at the same time. He drives a 100k range rover now.
I sound bitter, i kind of am, but i sleep at night if you know what i mean. Its not good “business” but its honest and fair
And that feels like the problem with big business like we are discussing
I like to think that karma will take note and reward you…
On the other hand maybe just charing one extra tyre instead of both plus call-out would have maybe still shown good will but a pinch of commerical sense?
Dunno- I speak like that but end up under selling my art anyways!
That’s kinda how my boss thinks as well. We’re only a very small company and he’s cut back on promotions and advertisement A LOT. We live mostly off of our good name and people do the advertisement for us. The only thing he is adamant about is that we deliver a good product and offer great customer support and according to the numbers this works incredibly well. We’re doing better than ever in an industry that is not doing too good overall.
Sometimes I feel we’re going too far with difficult customers and continue to try and work things out in situations were we should probably just tell the customer that we’re sorry that things don’t work for them and they can get their money back but hey, that’s just me and I’m not the one doing customer support so…
We knew they would. RZ has no legal leg to stand on and it’s pretty clearly evident by their evasive chatter and promises of having more than they’re letting on.
And I’m with you @komemiute I was going to give the MiG-23 a chance after the successful launch and, frankly, redemption that was the F-15E.
But if this is how they will choose to conduct themselves? Nah.
Seconded, if I get any RZ product it will be after EA for sure. The Super Tucano (which ironically this may all be about) was really the main one I was interested in. There are plenty of other jets coming out from other devs that will keep me busy for a looooong time (F-4, F-100, A-7, A-1, etc).
What’s the saying? “A person that loves what they do, for a living, never works a day in their life.”
I’ve never found that, and likely never will.
Best I could do was try to engage those around me and thus enjoy the drudgery; sense of humor, teaching (only non-monetary reward was helping someone else pass the program), etc. Made getting through the day much easier. If that makes any sense.
Man, that’s a tough one. Spur of the moment altruism is a good sign of character and my gut feel is that this is not unusual behavior for you Victork2. You seem like a generally good dude, great dad, and adoring husband. But as you point out, it’s how you feed the family. I’m with @komemiute on this one. Maybe next time one on the house and the rest at the senior citizen rate that you previously allowed. I don’t think that anyone would find fault with that. Quite the contrary.
What really sours me about this situation most is how bloody polarized the DCS community is. I used to be all for critical discussions that keep developers accountable, but now it’s just a game of picking a side to point fingers at or put on a pedestal. Nuance, context, and logic be damned. Trying to discuss the objective facts and point out all the glaringly obvious biases people are operating under just paints a massive target on one’s back. The same moderators who decry overreach and abuse of power on other forums abuse their own power to silence reason in their own boards.
its not about that, it’s just a good example of people being shite at business but pretty good at the job