2 in 1 : Choosing a partner

As I was saying a couple of days ago I just had an awful time with my internet provider . I had to make about 4 trips to their office and I barely managed to get a contract signed after 4 visits . Their client services told me I DIDN'T needed some paperwork . And I didn't take that document with me . And when I got there the lady at the office told me that I , in fact , did need that document . And eventually you know what I found out ?

That NO . I didn't need the respective document . The lady at the office had her stuff all mixed up . Anyway this was one more proof to support my way of seeing things and that is : in most cases , most of the time , it's best to work with small companies , instead of big ones .

I mean this internet provider that I just signed a contract has a couple hundred thousands users in just one city . And still ... they suck .

Never really understood why this happens . Do they not care about every single individual and they start treating people in dozens ? Or they simply cannot pay attention to everyone and people get ignored ?

I honestly don't think it makes much difference which is which ... what matters is , that for the most part of my life , working with big companies has proven to be at least troublesome .

I prefer the little guys . They need me . They know that . I'm not just another customer . I'm a guy that puts a little in everyone's paycheck at the end of the month . And they work for that . They get things done faster . Maybe it's because they don't have so much stuff to do ... but I don't care as long as I get my things done as fast as possible .

Now why did I bother you with this ? Well ... these experiences may be of use to some of you . Sometimes it's best to keep things small . A small hosting company . One that values quality . An individual developer ... one that knows first hand that your business , be it whatever it may be , will put food on his table .

Don't rush into the first big company just because they have a name for themselves . Do some research . Maybe you can find something smaller but faster , better .

Now , in another topic somehow related ... do you remember that guy that you used to party with in highschool ? The really funny one , great friend , knew a lot of jokes and all in all he was a great company ? Remember him ?

He was a great guy , wasn't he ? Boy ... the times we've had ... the parties and the fun .

But just because he could burp the alphabet ... can he actually work by your side and fulfill his tasks before his deadlines ? Can he be trusted to take responsibility for his part of the job ?

I recently talked to a friend of mine , an old colleague of mine . We haven't talked in ages . And at a certain point in the conversation we , evidently , reach the following question :

'So ... what do you do ? What have you been working ?'

He looks at me and after he tells me he is working for a company dealing with computer assembly and repair he asks me :

'Do you remember Catalin ? From highschool ?'

'Yeah . How is he by the way ?'

'I think he is good . Haven't talked to him in some time now . About 2 years ago we agreed we would start a small business together fixing computers for start and then maybe bigger things . But he is a dick . I mean ... he is a great guy and all that but he is lazy as heck and talks a lot of crap . Never knew that about him . I never had to work with him before . We started this thing , we got a lot of clients at first  but I was the one doing all the work and eventually it blew in our faces . I couldn't keep up with all of them and he always seemed to find some excuse from doing things .'

The rest is irrelevant . I trust you know what I am trying to say , right ?