Bigger ain’t always better (or How I came to own a PUC) Pt I of ?

Bigger is not always better. That sounds kinda cliché, but think about it. Some years ago DOS evolved into Windows and we are still searching for lost documents and recovering crashed systems.

But I’m not going to spend the day ragging on Microsoft. I’m keeping this local.

The last couple years, I‘ve been doing some banana-fetching for a rather small (read one-man) operation. He does some pretty phenomenal programming. The first few years in business he landed some nice contracts and did the job asked for in the time allotted for a cost that stayed within budget. When his clients wanted him, they could place a local call or send an e-mail, and get HIM. But then he hit a dry spell. Some of his clients, with their ever-increasing budgets, moved on to larger, out-of-state companies. Bigger is better. More cost, less accessibility, larger disasters. Some of those big boys missed the target. Now, some agencies are coming back to my boss with requests to “please fix this!” I wonder if his business will eventually grow? Then what? Hmmmmm?

We’ve seen it happen too many times to our favorite businesses. The small restaurants grow and by the time the wait staff is finished annoying us, all we can think to tell them is-- “City sanitation is hiring: Go Now!” Small mom-and-pops are run out by box-marts and the selection grows right along with the crowds and tension. Our town has been on a push for more growth over the last several years. Bigger is better, right? Some of us aren’t crazy about increasing traffic, taxes and other annoyances that come with growth. One local editor, a fellow from elsewhere, tells disgruntled locals if we don’t like it we can get out. Ain’t that rich?

A couple (small) shops I have visited recently for various repairs have come under the same “growth is better” delusion. On two occasions in two businesses in the last month, I have been promised parts would be ordered and I would be called when they arrived. With both orders, I had to follow up after a couple weeks by calling, reminding the people of who I was and what I wanted and what they had promised (they acted like I was calling from Saudi Arabia asking for a custom camel saddle.) I’m still waiting for one order from a guy who-- while I was in his shop-- was telling me how he had bought out another business and is expanding. Geez, man, how much money do you need? How many customers? How many headaches?

But these businesses and institutions that I have been ranting about are all run by Individuals. Like You and Me.

The problem is we are not content to remain static. Most of us are forever climbing after that bigger paycheck, larger home, greater collection of higher priced toys. I have not been immune to this silliness, but I am learning (finally.)

This is where the PUC comes along. Stay tuned.