It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was in my 20s, working for a local municipality in their newly established PC network department. For years, we worked to transfer all functions from the mainframe to the PC network. There was constant animosity from employees who had spent their careers working in the mainframe environment.
Of course, I was young and naïve. I had been assured that these employees would be retrained for the new system, so I believed there was nothing to worry about. However, the truth was far from that. Many lost their jobs just weeks after the mainframe was replaced—to my total shock. That experience taught me a lesson I will never forget: You must always be prepared and approach what you are told with a critical eye. Being overly optimistic can quickly bring you face-to-face with reality, and often, it won’t be in your favor.
I also learned that simply “going along to get along” can have consequences far beyond yourself. In other words, you can be partially responsible for bad things happening to good people—so work hard not to be that person.
I’m sure there were many reasons why the mainframe went the way of the dinosaur, but what truly drove this rapid shift was a highly marketable model that offered more choices, less downtime, and fueled innovation. At the time, so many companies were competing in this market that it was a golden age for consumers—driving prices ever downward. It was the best of times.
Fast forward 30-something years, and those small upstarts have become behemoths, controlling vast swaths of the market. They dictate what limited choices consumers have and increasingly push a monthly paywall model. “You will own nothing. Your support will be terrible. We will rarely accept responsibility. And we will simply buy out our competitors.” I am sure IBM and Xerox once felt invincible, but they were not. Today, it’s much harder to break into the industry, and I sincerely hope that oversight and entrepreneurs with integrity—who won’t sell out for a dollar—emerge.
I share this with you so you know that Litefoot Technology is working to bridge that gap in support. While the industry standard declines, we strive daily to be better. We work hard to find the best options in today’s market without selling half-truths or pretending that bad things are good. Our goal is to truly serve your business—not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because we hope it keeps your business with Litefoot for years to come.
God bless.
Vincent L. Brannan
President
LiteFoot Technology
5901 Shallowford Road Suite 135
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-785-6769
423-305-5038
Vince@litefoottech.com