I believe Life should be lived in such a way as to experience extremes along the way. I have been fortunate to have seen a child born, had a picnic while sitting at the base of Mt. McKinley, had breakfast watching moose eat in the lake outside Many Glacier Lodge and stayed one night in the Ahwahnee Lodge watching Yosemite Falls out our window. Yes, I have had some extremes in my life and this week was another.
Rottweiler has been flooded with requests for numerous security systems, telephone systems and card access requests for about a month now. As businesses see improvements in their bottom line they now are willing to acquire that needed system or to invest in the replacement or upgrade to that existing system that they have needed for so long. Outgrowing their ability to keep pace brings forward the realization that they must replace them putting a decision on the table.
This phenominon has caused one of those extremes. Wednesday started as any day does with the usual emails, appointment reviews and yes, my coffee. But this day would prove to be one of those extremes that I mentioned earlier. You see, what I did not know was that because of our reputation and business credentials this day was about to press me wide open and by the end of the day we would have agreements to install 6 different rather complex systems in one day, an event that I never have experienced in my lifetime.
Two card access systems, two security systems, one surveillance camera system and a 150 cat6 voice and data wire installation project all left me wondering how did we receive so much business in a day and each customer requesting installation as soon as we could schedule them. This also posed two other issues that needed to be focused on almost immediately, supplies and talent. A good estimate for this bundle of work would be approximately two technicians a full month and with technicians now in short supply acquiring the talent needed for these installations poses a challenge. The ordering of material is routine, so I thought. Unknown to me I had a hidden challenge.
The hidden challenge, the surge of system orders and the requests for material has caused product shortages. Upon the placement of the materials needed for the installations it was disclosed to us that there is now a shortage of product needed for the installations. Apparently manufacturing plants stopped producing product and started reducing inventory in 2009 due to a lack of purchases. They in turn let go or laid off their workers and the inventory continued to deplete throughout 2009. Now, due to the depletion of product on the shelf, there is now a growing shortage of available cable types. To my surprise, the 26 boxes of Cat6 cable we need for one of these jobs is not even available in Atlanta.
So now my next challenge delivers to my door, six systems delivered in six weeks to customers waiting to receive training, now another extreme challenge. And for you my friend, you definitely have to see some of the sites I mentioned earlier. God has been good to me in allowing me to see such sites.
