| Author | Message | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 115 Registered: 4-2002 |
I've been in the car business for 3 decades. It's been an interesting trip. Bottom line: If you will never see your customer again, do what you will. If you have to live with the guy, be fair. In rural areas, small town dealers have to be 'white hats', as bad reputation will kill them. Big city, 'black hat'. The guy probably came from far away, you won't have to deal with the screwing you gave him. I'm speaking, of course, in broad generalities, I'm sure you can offer exceptions. Me: Small town, too much of a sense of ethics, so 'white hat'. Oh, well. At least I sleep at night. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 304 Registered: 8-2001 |
Ansel Adams once told me that one should teach someone at levels above themselves to force them to grow to a higher level. I have been taught similar things in management schools. Generally I have been disappointed with people more than the other way. However, when I have managed organizations, I generally have gotten people to go to higher levels. It is a rocky road, but left me with a sense of satisfication. Another thing I was talking to an executive at Intel today about. Some people, Bill Gates seems to be this way, the more power they get, the more they need. To me power is something I can take or leave - not something I feel I need to complete myself. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Junior Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 136 Registered: 7-2002 |
well the only problem I can see with being a white hat guy is that you expect others to be white hat guys as well. I am too trusting of people at times because I expect the best from someone until they prove me wrong...which is quite often. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 302 Registered: 8-2001 |
Jim, why would you not wear his shoes? Rob, maybe painful, but a good way to learn and grow. Not bored - rarely bored. Lately I have been watching good people get crushed and could not do anything. Makes me wander if my approach is the best approach. Of course noone is completely good or bad. But they can be mainly good or bad in an area of their life. I have been called a renaissance man. Sometimes I wander if that means I am a dinosaur and should be living in the 1500s. | ||
| Jim Schad (Jim_schad)
Junior Member Username: Jim_schad Post Number: 133 Registered: 7-2002 |
Well there is a difference between taking advantage of an opportunity and deliberately screwing someone over. You should always treat your customers with respect and attempt to give them more than they expect. Short story on ethics: My father-in-law is very wealthy and he was laying a pipeline across some land and he paid everyone the same overide fee. Everyone but one guy agreed and this one guy kept saying he wanted more money to allow the line on his land. So my father-in-law said no because it would not be fair to the others. So he just built the line right around the guys property line and cut him out of the deal. The guy came back saying he would take the lesser fee, but it was too late by then. I have another "friend" who owns a mortgage company. He drives a new mercedes, lives in a nice condo etc but he is a crook. He changes % rates at the closing table when customers have no other options and screws you in real estate fixer-upper deals. He appears sucessful but I would not wear his shoes for one minute. | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 907 Registered: 8-2001 |
Yeah, it's mostly shades of grey. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2003 Registered: 12-2000 |
I don't think there are all "black hats" or "white hats". I think most hats are gray and those appearing to be white or claiming to be all white you should run like hell from. Kinda like the saying applied in many ways that I'm not afraid of those that openly hate me, because I know who they are, I worry most about those claiming to be my friends that really aren't. Hypocrisy and illusion are everywhere today in religion, politics, and business. I feel a 300+ thread coming on us, Dave, were you really that bored today? Man these are painful. | ||
| Willis Huang (Willis360)
Member Username: Willis360 Post Number: 906 Registered: 8-2001 |
It doesn't seem to pay to be a white hat or nice guy, unfortunately.  Before my dad passed away, I used to watch, for years, where he helped friends, collegues, and family in their businesses then get ignored and cut out once the businesses takes off. He was a great troubleshooter and manager but I think his "mr. nice guy" demeanor was his undoing. | ||
| Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Member Username: Davewapinski Post Number: 301 Registered: 8-2001 |
Thanks for the earlier comments. I have turned problem organizations and projects around by looking after the people and customers. More than one executive has said to me, �Dave, the black hats are winning again.� It does seem that the black hats win more often than the white hats. Once heard it said, �Good conquers evil only if good is very careful.� My favorite company is Southwest Airlines. They spend money looking after their people. Bad from a straight accounting viewpoint, but they make money where others cannot. I do not know if it is true, but I have read that they got some of their first routes in a poker game. My kind of company. My second favorite company is FedEx. They drive technology to meet business goals. They even got Cessna to design and build a plane to meet their business needs. As I have watched many black hats succeed and many white hats get crushed, I have wandered if it is good to be a white hat. Since there is so much experience on Ferrari Chat, I have wandered what has been the experience and thoughts of the chatters. Dave |