Food for Thouhgt
Hi John (pray forgive the informality😉),
I operate on the principle of 'Once bitten twice shy'.
I learned the hard way in my naive youth (as probably many others here) that not all are as pure as the driven snow🤔
Nevertheless, the above tenet served me well in my professional career. (Not so good in choice of wives!☹️ I risked a 2nd attempt, which was also a disaster! After the 2nd catastrophe I met Gisela, partners, no piece of paper, now for 28 years😊)
The last 30+ years of my professional life I spent responding to Tenders, designing complete naval ship COMMS systems and subsequently trundling around the world negotiating system changes and the final contract with the end user, Navy if refit, and/or the shipyard if a new build.
After the first couple of projects I rapidly learned the ropes, how my opposite number was thinking, and to recognise who was being 'influenced'🙄 by my major competitors - often with their governments backing, despite EU laws to the contrary🤔
After that I operated on the above mentioned tenet but also in my system calculations no longer offering with keen cost calculations from the outset but with the motto 'Discounts cost extra - the most expensive accessory!' I.e. I learned what they were hoping to squeeze out of me and built it in from the outset. It worked, I won several major contracts and 'Discounts cost extra' became a motto in our Communications Division😁
But in essence the guys on the other side of the table were only doing their jobs, as was I😉
Summary; on first encounter I treat all with cautious trust and respect.
BUT; if they try to cross me - Watch out!
Here endeth the First epistle from Admiral Doug to Dr John😁
Cheers All, Carry on happily building, boating and posting👍
We do our best to keep dubious characters out of the friendly community of our site.
This thread is 'off the beaten track' of our usual forum, but unfortunately reflects an affliction of our modern times,
Doug😎
I operate on the principle of 'Once bitten twice shy'.
I learned the hard way in my naive youth (as probably many others here) that not all are as pure as the driven snow🤔
Nevertheless, the above tenet served me well in my professional career. (Not so good in choice of wives!☹️ I risked a 2nd attempt, which was also a disaster! After the 2nd catastrophe I met Gisela, partners, no piece of paper, now for 28 years😊)
The last 30+ years of my professional life I spent responding to Tenders, designing complete naval ship COMMS systems and subsequently trundling around the world negotiating system changes and the final contract with the end user, Navy if refit, and/or the shipyard if a new build.
After the first couple of projects I rapidly learned the ropes, how my opposite number was thinking, and to recognise who was being 'influenced'🙄 by my major competitors - often with their governments backing, despite EU laws to the contrary🤔
After that I operated on the above mentioned tenet but also in my system calculations no longer offering with keen cost calculations from the outset but with the motto 'Discounts cost extra - the most expensive accessory!' I.e. I learned what they were hoping to squeeze out of me and built it in from the outset. It worked, I won several major contracts and 'Discounts cost extra' became a motto in our Communications Division😁
But in essence the guys on the other side of the table were only doing their jobs, as was I😉
Summary; on first encounter I treat all with cautious trust and respect.
BUT; if they try to cross me - Watch out!
Here endeth the First epistle from Admiral Doug to Dr John😁
Cheers All, Carry on happily building, boating and posting👍
We do our best to keep dubious characters out of the friendly community of our site.
This thread is 'off the beaten track' of our usual forum, but unfortunately reflects an affliction of our modern times,
Doug😎
Young at heart 😉 Slightly older in other places.😊 Cheers Doug