> 2003 ,Twenty Four years ago I started in this cable television industry.I have seen many things in my years. We all know that hindsight is always 20/20. We cannot change our past but we can learn from the mistakes. Greed and inexperienced workers have cost our industry greatly.So many times I have known men and women that let new found wealth go to their heads.It seems no matter who you are, money changes people. I have never known anyone that died that ever took a thin dime into life beyond the grave,and believe me I have known some wealthy people in my time.Everyone in our industry on the contractor side, wants to be the prime.There is money in being the prime,but there should be many considerations made before taking that leap.I have been a prime before.Its not all its cracked up to be.People just don't seem to realize what they are biting into.I wish the mother co.would take more time and consideration it accepting bids placed by contractors. Its not always the lowest bid that should be recogonised and sure as "HELL" should not be based on who can make the biggest payoffs under the table.In my book if you want to be a prime you should have deep pockets.If the mother co. doesn't pay your invoices after they have been qc'd and accepted,and your the "prime" you need the money to keep paying your people regardless of whether or not you have been paid. I also don't like to see all this subs subbing from subs. I see this situation to be one of the most costly mistakes in this industry. Yes it's less headaches for the prime but it is also what seems to be costing them in the long run,all it takes is bad work from one contractor or your inhouse to ruin things for your Co., on that project or possibly within this industry. If you hire people that can talk the talk but can't walk the walk,they will end up trying to fry innocent people to cover their own hide,I've seen this so many times. In my book if you make a mistake accept responsibility for it.To me CATV is a simple process,beginning to end.I will say this to all the management in this industry. If you are the Mother Co. Prime or Sub. if you at any time during a project, you at a management meeting and you feel anymosity toward someone, you have a problem. I know people in this industry that have the experience to ensue that your project flows properly from its inseption.If you work for the Mother Co. and your life has become a nightmare due to an upgrade,rebuild,newbuild or extension remember hindsight is always 20/20 ,CATV is not rocket science.It takes a joint effort by all concerened to watch the bottom line.A penny saved is a penny that can be invested in the future. I wish prosperity to all in this industry in this new year. I only ask one thing from those that read this.IT doesn't matter who you are or what you have, your no better than the next man ,if you think you are your living in the land of the lost.Judge not yet ye be judged.Do unto others,as you would have them do you. I,m not a preacher just a man that has had to learn many hard lessons.I can only think of those that were mentors in my life that have already passed on, and I wonder to myself if they could have seen the future would their lives have been lived differently,I know mine would have .I think of a friend of mine that died a couple months back.His name was Robbie Currier he was 52 yrs old.Robbie was not like the most of us.He had the mind of a tweleve year old.He was a memember of the church I belong too.He always hitch hiked around the small town where I,m from, he had a mission,he was always on the go.Here was a man who really had no worldly possesions or wealth, many times I picked him up and gave him a ride and I felt sorry for him because of his life,But when he died and I went to his funeral I realized this poor man with the mind of a tweleve year old was much richer than I was, he possesed something I didn't have. A "LOVE" for his fellow man.As I looked around the church I saw people from all walks of life,from the very rich to the very poor ,the church was packed, I have been to many a funeral in my life but I'm glad I went to Robbies, it was that day, my life changed and has become more fruitful for it. If you don't have peace and happyness in your heart then you are missing the most important thing in life.If you are like me you searched and searched for something that you will never find until you realize what you are missing is right there inside you and has been all along.Once you find it you will be forever changed.Peace be with you. "WHITFIELD"
