I just got back from a week long sales trip to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It was a long week with lots of planes, long car rides, and new customers. The good news is our product was well received at every stop. There were a few skeptics of course, but when people saw our demo system they were impressed. I tend to shoot straight with people and add a little dash of humor to keep them smiling and people seem to respond well.
It is really amazing the bill of goods that people have been sold about Zigbee. I guess we all want to believe deep down inside that "things" will be easy! No matter what it is, we are conditioned to be believers - - -even when we know better.
I had one customer ask me if our system would support 65,000 nodes. He is an engineer who is currently using Zigbee from one of our competitors. Currently he would be happy if he could get 10 working well. I told him in theory, we could support 65K nodes. I also told him that I wanted to be there when it happened, as I was sure it would be a train wreck like we had never seen before. He laughed, but I had the distinct impression that if I had said sure it would. that he would have believed. Like most of us he wanted to!
One thing that was of particular interest was the fact that I did not see one single customer who was using Zigbee (or planned to) in what I would call a classic application. Tells me we best keep our pocket knives handy. We will be trimming a lot of square pegs to go in round holes if we are to be successful!
I have a weeks worth of action items to work on next week, so it will be a busy week.
Ah yes the joys of pressing the flesh!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Rural Life
Barb and I went to the lake this weekend as we do most weekends. It is Nice to get away to a simpler environment and decompress. Friday night we went up the road to a little town called Anderson. Anderson has a population of less than 1000 souls. We have passed through several times and noticed a restaurant that is always busy. It is call the "Fish Creel". We had asked our neighbors and they said that the food there was not to good, but the crowds would indicate otherwise, so we decided to try the place out.
We arrived at 6:00 which was definitely the rush hour for the Fish Creel, as there was no place to park. We ended up walking about 100 yards to get there so we just knew it must be good.
The first thing we noticed was that there were more tables for 6, 8, and 10 than there were for 4, and that there were no tables for 2. It soon became apparent that everyone knew everyone else. There was a great deal of table to table visiting and hugging going on. I overheard a lot of conversations that revolved around checking on every one's family status. You know the kind I am speaking of: "hows aunt Bertha", "I hard Purvis's daughter go saved last Sunday", I saw you uncle Bob in town last week, and he was looking better".
The neighbors were right, the food was awful, but it was clear that was not the draw of the place. When your in the Fish Creel restaurant you are among friends and family who care and are glad to see you.
Dr. Steven Covey would say they were getting their "emotional bank accounts filled". I guess he is right, but in rural America they were just being good friends and neighbors.
I know "visiting" is a big part of my daily sustanance. I think we could all stand a lot more of that kind of contact.
Have you visited with anyone today? It sure makes the bad food go down easy!
We arrived at 6:00 which was definitely the rush hour for the Fish Creel, as there was no place to park. We ended up walking about 100 yards to get there so we just knew it must be good.
The first thing we noticed was that there were more tables for 6, 8, and 10 than there were for 4, and that there were no tables for 2. It soon became apparent that everyone knew everyone else. There was a great deal of table to table visiting and hugging going on. I overheard a lot of conversations that revolved around checking on every one's family status. You know the kind I am speaking of: "hows aunt Bertha", "I hard Purvis's daughter go saved last Sunday", I saw you uncle Bob in town last week, and he was looking better".
The neighbors were right, the food was awful, but it was clear that was not the draw of the place. When your in the Fish Creel restaurant you are among friends and family who care and are glad to see you.
Dr. Steven Covey would say they were getting their "emotional bank accounts filled". I guess he is right, but in rural America they were just being good friends and neighbors.
I know "visiting" is a big part of my daily sustanance. I think we could all stand a lot more of that kind of contact.
Have you visited with anyone today? It sure makes the bad food go down easy!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Harley Davidson, the economy ride - -
Well I guess I have heard it all now. I was on my way to work this morning and heard an ad for Harley that went something like this - -"Tired of the high price of gas? Harley's average 52 miles to the gallon." I own a Harley, and yes it does get really good gas mileage, but give me a break. Owning a Harley is one of the most expensive hobbies a person can have. If I am not mistaken it ranks right behind collecting fine art.
You start by paying way to much for the motorcycle, which is really just a place to hang expensive chrome and leather. Then you have to dress the part. Who would have guessed that you can easily spend $600 or $800 just to look like you are a bum who can't afford new clothes, and that is before the boots!
The only place you don't overspend is on a helmet. You just can't look Harley cool in a DOT approved helmet. No way! What you do is buy a plastic Nazi helmet that offers the same protection as aluminum foil. But not to worry, remember you have on those really heavy boots. Just remember to land on your feet when you leave the beer garden and run into the side of the 18 wheeler.
Let's face it, a lot of folks buy a Harley because they can't afford the most expensive hobby in the world - -owning a boat!
When you buy your Harley, you are thinking about a lot of things, but saving money on gas - - no way!
Nice try though, I will have to give you that. Hope you didn't spend the entire add budget on that one. At least hold a little something back for the "free" Budweiser do rags! We really like to wear those when we are buying chrome and leather.
You start by paying way to much for the motorcycle, which is really just a place to hang expensive chrome and leather. Then you have to dress the part. Who would have guessed that you can easily spend $600 or $800 just to look like you are a bum who can't afford new clothes, and that is before the boots!
The only place you don't overspend is on a helmet. You just can't look Harley cool in a DOT approved helmet. No way! What you do is buy a plastic Nazi helmet that offers the same protection as aluminum foil. But not to worry, remember you have on those really heavy boots. Just remember to land on your feet when you leave the beer garden and run into the side of the 18 wheeler.
Let's face it, a lot of folks buy a Harley because they can't afford the most expensive hobby in the world - -owning a boat!
When you buy your Harley, you are thinking about a lot of things, but saving money on gas - - no way!
Nice try though, I will have to give you that. Hope you didn't spend the entire add budget on that one. At least hold a little something back for the "free" Budweiser do rags! We really like to wear those when we are buying chrome and leather.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Terrorism- - The Real Deal
I took a few days off for the 4th. I spent 5 days at the lake with no computers! Lots of time to read and reflect. This generally leads to more "Ravings", this time was no exception.
I generally think of terrorists in the same way I think of gang members in a big city - -uneducated people living in poverty with no hope for a better life, with no regard for life - theirs or others. A situation where crime and violence is the way you make a living and survive. I tend to think if only they had a way out they could turn their lives around - - -
Maybe gang members fit this image I have, but terrorist, well last week reminded me of what we are really up against. The terrorist attacks in England were carried out by Doctors and medical students. Good jobs, educated, all the creature comforts! These "people" have a hatred for us and our way of life that is beyond anything we can comprehend. They really are convinced that we are the devil and we must all convert to Islam or be killed.
On the 4th we celebrated Independence Day. If we intend to protect our way of life and our right to live free, we must take stock of our enemy. Political correctness be damned, we must be prepared to defend country and our way of life.
I don't know the answer, but I do know we are not taking the threat seroiusly enough! This is not about politics, it is about survival!
I generally think of terrorists in the same way I think of gang members in a big city - -uneducated people living in poverty with no hope for a better life, with no regard for life - theirs or others. A situation where crime and violence is the way you make a living and survive. I tend to think if only they had a way out they could turn their lives around - - -
Maybe gang members fit this image I have, but terrorist, well last week reminded me of what we are really up against. The terrorist attacks in England were carried out by Doctors and medical students. Good jobs, educated, all the creature comforts! These "people" have a hatred for us and our way of life that is beyond anything we can comprehend. They really are convinced that we are the devil and we must all convert to Islam or be killed.
On the 4th we celebrated Independence Day. If we intend to protect our way of life and our right to live free, we must take stock of our enemy. Political correctness be damned, we must be prepared to defend country and our way of life.
I don't know the answer, but I do know we are not taking the threat seroiusly enough! This is not about politics, it is about survival!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Reunion
My wife and I attended her reunion this weekend. It was one of those things that was not class specific. Anyone from 1932 (when the school was founded) to the class of 1975 were invited. The school is small so they group classes to try and get people to participate. Barb graduated in 1966 so we had already attended her 40th last year. This was a bonus for her. Most of the people in this community don't "wander" to far from home when they graduate, but several people had travelled some distance to spend time with old friends. (and in some cases I do mean OLD).
We are fortunate to have grown up in the South in a farming area. Roots run deep here, so you always feel at home when you come back. There were maybe 125 people in attendance, and it was a very nice experience for Barb. I guess I should note that I did not go to this school, or live in this community growing up. I knew a few people, but not many.
Barb's class had a classmate to pass away recently so they had funded a scholarship in her honor. Barb made the presentation, and did a great job.
You know you are in the South when dinner is a buffet of Fried fish, fried chicken, and fried chicken livers. My kind of people, my kind of food!
We are fortunate to have grown up in the South in a farming area. Roots run deep here, so you always feel at home when you come back. There were maybe 125 people in attendance, and it was a very nice experience for Barb. I guess I should note that I did not go to this school, or live in this community growing up. I knew a few people, but not many.
Barb's class had a classmate to pass away recently so they had funded a scholarship in her honor. Barb made the presentation, and did a great job.
You know you are in the South when dinner is a buffet of Fried fish, fried chicken, and fried chicken livers. My kind of people, my kind of food!
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