baddog

One thing that has always bothered me (long before I started in this industry) is the reaction people have when they feel threatened by the work of another.

When I was 18 I started working for the phone company as a telephone operator, one of two males with 400 women. While the chicks could be rude, or hang up on callers, I could never get away with it, so I strove to be the best I could be.

Then I started working outside, dealing with customers face to face. Since I had the longest hair and beard of anyone at the company, I was again, easily identifiable, so I made sure I did the best possible job so no one could complain about the work that biker did.

This work ethic followed me into the switchroom, and I soon became trained to the highest level possible in troubleshooting the digital switches.

All along the way, I heard the grumbling that I was just trying to make the others look bad, when in fact, I just really enjoyed my work, and would have been extremely bored sitting around for 8 hours a day like some of my co-workers.

When I started working in the legal field I was able to easily identify the lawyers that were confident in their abilities, as they were willing to share their knowledge with me, with no fear that I would put them out of work.

When I represented myself in my last divorce (heavily contested, went on for about 2 years), the attorney that represented my ex started off hating me, but it was easy to see that his law clerk was getting better and better in an effort to keep up with me.

Several years later we crossed paths, and he apologized for his actions/attitude and expressed respect for what I had done.

Fast forward to today.

I got an email from a "large company," and it was relayed to me that a competitor of one of my companies was complaining because emails I sent out may have given the impression that this big company was in fact suggesting that they use my services instead of the services of others.

It was easy to see that whomever was complaining was doing so because they knew that we were doing a better job of it than they were. Well, that is bullshit. In no way does it say or imply that. What it comes down to is that Brand X company fears competition, and rather than step up and provide a better product to their customers they will try to attack me via the "large company."

Well, it isn't going to work. I will continue to provide the better product, and at the very worst, the "large company" isn't going to get credit for doing the fine job they do.

Moral of the story, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, or get a fire extinguisher.

</rant>