Jack Blaylock is my all-time favorite client. Here's why Jack Blaylock makes the Hall of Heroes.
My first network installation for Consul-Tech Management, Inc.was at Cannon & Blaylock. They had been having several network problems. When I went out, I looked over the situation and made a few recommendations. I can't remember what the network they were using at the time was, but my boss referred to it as "Bomb-Net," in reference to how it repeatedly crashed.
Jack Blaylock took my suggestions, and then he let me go to work. Now this doesn't sound like much - after all, he was paying me for that. But in many ways, Jack truly did let *ME* go to work. He didn't prod, or interfere, or constantly ask for updates. He let me get the system in place.
I was fighting problems with the Gateway 2000 file server (see my Hall of Shame). Jack was supportive of me - he wanted me to satisfy *ME*, knowing that if *I* wasn't happy, he wasn't likely to be happy either. Finally, we got the hardware where I wanted it.
We then had problems with (at the time) DMA's (now Symantec) product "pcAnywhere." I was using a networked version, through a Netware Asynchronous Communications Server. For some reason, the system kept locking at night for some unknown reason. After fighting with DMA, Symantec, and Novell (none would listen until the FAA reported the same problem I reported) for months, we finally got this problem solved.
We also had problems with the real estate package. And the support people for the real estate package were of less than no help. The president of the company was the worst of the lot - insisting it couldn't be his package, and telling me continually what the error message we received meant. He refused to listen to what I had to say. He refused to look at my proof that there was a file being left open by his package. Even my co-workers thought I was crazy. But not Jack Blaylock. Jack Blaylock listened. And Jack Blaylock remembered to mention it when he saw the president of the software company at a convention. I was right - and knowing I had Jack Blaylock in my corner gave me the confidence to stand my ground when I knew I was right. Most young technicians would have backed down - and I probably would have too, had it not been for Jack Blaylock.
When I visit, and I do visit from time to time, I'm still treated like an old friend. Jack Blaylock gave me, and Consul-Tech, a chance to make a mark, and I'd say we did that. Jack took our suggestions to heart, made the big commitment, and demanded results by letting us do our jobs. I've had many problems that didn't matter to me - too small, too insignificant, too trivial - but never at Cannon & Blaylock. The reason is that I got my way completely at Cannon & Blaylock - I made the proposals, and they gave me the green light. They didn't fight me on my proposals, trying to save a nickel here and there by making the job more difficult, as many of my clients have done. They let me be the computer expert, and they stuck to real estate appraisals. And when I needed one, I went to them.
I refer to Jack Blaylock as "Saint Jack." It's not meant as a joke, either. He's an honorable man - friendly even when he's busy - and he let me do the job he paid me to do. He asked questions, like any good client should, but he put his confidence in me in solving the problems. He wasn't accusatory when problems ran into months - and we had the two big ones that I mentioned earlier that did. He was fair. And in my days since Consul-Tech, he's been just as friendly and just as kind. I always felt like one of the family at Cannon & Blaylock - and I still do. The reason is because of Jack Blaylock.
So, Mr. Blaylock (I always refer to him as "Mr. Blaylock" in addressing him - "Jack" is just too informal for me), I hope you know that you made a difference to a young technician. Your confidence in me gave me the confidence I needed in becoming what I've become. Thanks for all the fun - and for being such a wonderful client.
This page last updated 11/13/2006 .