Internet Access - A Tale of Two Evils

The date is 2001.

Let's pretend for a moment that your have been the only game in town for 40 years or so. You're known for arrogance, working on your own schedule and overall lack of service ethic.

Everyone in the area is waiting for Internet at speeds that are tolerable - speeds beyond 14.4 and 28.8. People may even be willing to pay big bucks for ISDN (that's right 64k, even 128k if you bind the signals together.). You keep us waiting, begging for service, you show us who is in control.

As a consumer, I was wounded by your "only game in town". I was wounded so much that I was trying to find someone else to provide land line service to me, even though there was no one else. Your operation was focused more on what you could make off me more than what you could do for me.

Now it is 10 years later...and you want to make a deal to me...BUT

A provider emerged to capitalize on the dissatisfaction I had with with you. What's ironic is that now I hate them even more than I ever hated you...I pay for channels I'll never watch, for a phone I rarely use, and for internet that is "fast" but with big strings attached.

Now I am looking at an ad for your Heavy Duty Internet and I wonder...can I trust you? Can I trust anyone?

What's funny is I'd gladly hand my money over to someone I felt was interested in what I wanted as a consumer. Instead, I spend my time searching for the lesser of two evils. I can't wait until I find it so I can banish both of you.

18 and What to Do?

I have a lot of people ask me about getting a job and what they should study and how they should prepare. I wish I had a bunch of answers that fit the mold, but I don't.

I do know what I would do if I were forced to do it again and it may surprise you. Now as a disclaimer, I can safely say that I would not EVER give up what I have, my wife, my children, my life - but I think I have somehow ended up lucky. As a result, I don't think I can recommend that an eighteen year old count on luck.

What I can say is that you need to maximize your exposure to a variety of experiences -get out of your comfort zone, move beyond the comfortable. You need to extend yourself beyond the here and now, beyond what is "expected".

One thing I have always said to myself is that there is nothing more risky than playing it safe. Nothing more limiting than allowing someone else to determine your future.

If I were 18 and could do it again, I'd pack every asset I had into a bag and drive to Alaska. I'd focus entirely on being the best guide I could be. I'd be the guy everyone requested. I'd know more about effort, failure and success than anyone else. I'd also know that some things you can control and some things you can't. The one thing you can control is your response...

In my learning as a guide I'd realize that the past doesn't matter (You should've been here yesterday) and the future is later (You should come back when the river is in shape) I would know that I need to deliver my best every day.

While we can't all go back and be guides, we can all learn about living in the present about delivering EVERY single day...

Saving $.35 to Pay $15.00

Historically I carry no cash. I'm a debit card and now iPhone Starbucks App sorta person. So today when estimating my parking time in downtown Olympia, I dug into my ashtray and found some change. I grabbed a couple of quarters and a few dimes. I dutifully placed my money into the meter and thought - an hour and 12 minutes will be plenty. So I stowed the extra $.35 in my pocket for a rainy day.

You already know how this ends....

Yep, I saved $.35 to pay $15.00 in fines for going over 7 minutes on parking....

Note to self (and to you): Put the extra change in the meter and just walk away if you're back early. Besides, you may help the next person.

There's a lesson here about risk vs. reward.

On the upside - I paid my fine online at http://www.olympiawa.gov/pay in no time, so I can forget it for now.