Ring! Ring!

Me: I.T. Department, this is Daniel.   

Caller: Hi, Daniel.  This is Kevin. Have you got a minute to help with a small issue? 

Me: Sure, Kevin. I have a few minutes.  But I DO have a webinar in about 10 minutes. 

Kevin: Great!  I’m trying to upgrade my computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10.  But the install fails every time.  Something about the migration phase.   Have you seen that, before? 

Me: Yes, I have.  Depending upon the error code, it could be a device driver conflict.  Or it could be a file called desktop.ini causing issues.  Or, it could be something else, completely.  Without that error code, I really can’t point you in the right direction. 

Kevin: OK.  So, where can I find that error code? 

Me: It will be right there on the blue screen that explains the installation failed at that migration point of the install.  Just write it all down or take a clear picture of it with your cell phone.  When you have it, send it to me, in an e-mail, and I will try to find you an answer. 

Kevin: I have to go through the install, again?  You can’t like just remote into my machine, find the error and fix it for me? 

Me: I could, but that is not free support.  I have to charge for my time to do that. 

Kevin: I don’t have the money to pay you for that.  But I can get you some GREAT visibility in my restaurant!   

Me: Kevin, I’ve been to your place.  It’s not a restaurant. It’s a neighborhood bar.  Your menu top choices are microwaved pocket sandwiches and frozen pizza.   

Kevin: But I can’t afford to pay for your services and I need this done before it expires. 

Me: Then pay for it, Kevin.  If I came into your bar and told you I can get you great exposure in return for free booze … how are you going to respond? 

Kevin: Well, I have to pay for the booze I serve, so I would tell you to get lost.  But this is just your TIME, dude.  It’s not like you would be out anything for doing this. 

Me: ‘Dude’.  You can always buy more booze.  But if I give you my time … how do I get more of it?  Your time is the one and only true non-renewable resource you have.   Giving it away on something that someone will not appreciate or value is a waste of time.   

Kevin: You’re a prick, you know that, right Dan?  I need this done, and you won’t help out a friend. 

Me: Kevin, we are not friends.  If we were, you would understand this is how I make my living and pay my bills.  If you were to give free drinks away to your ‘friends’ you would soon be out of business.  If I give away all my time doing what I do, I will soon be homeless and broke.  You and everyone I ‘helped’ would be nowhere near to help me.   Good bye, Kevin.  Good luck with your computer issues.   

Kevin: F(*& you, man! 

Me: Oh, and Kevin, another piece of ‘free advice’ for you:  Who ever you HIRE and PAY to do this for you … Make sure they will be responsible for fixing your POS registers.  That management software might not run correctly on Windows 10.  So a full system image backup, before hand might save your backside. 

Kevin: Oh.  I had not thought about that. 

Me: And THAT, Kevin, is why I get paid to do what I do.   

Lesson Learned

Those of us in the information technology world are not immune to people wanting us to work for free or in exchange for “exposure”. Many of the tools we use to help keep your information secure cost us money. Not to mention being a small business owner trying to earn a living ourselves. It has taken years to hone our craft and develop the skills that make what we do appear effortless. I’ve been in the field for more than 30 years. While I do my best to help where I am able, my time is limited and expecting free support is unrealistic.