DAY # 198 -- Launch: T-11 Days!

UPDATE: Thursday, 22-Dec-2005 9:24 PM

Another very tough day. Very tough. I am learning what it's like at a typical household. I've got kids at home, a sick wife and problems with servers. Great timing. For about ten days I have managed the situation, but today "cracks" started to appear in the system. I started to break down.

For about 10 days my work hours have gotten extended from about 10 hours per day to about 14 on average. And now I am ready to call in HELP! However, there is none to depend on, so I have to strive forward.

I didn't think about the situation from the IR perspective. For many people out there being an IR perhaps is a second income and that means that there is something that they need to do full time.

Can it all be managed? I have been doing just that with full-time work, managing work around the house and getting many things done. I haven't watched more than about 2 hours of TV for that time, and the one time that I did try, I fell a sleep.

The bottom line is that all of this *can* be done, but all of that depends on a question that I will ask in the QUICK START KIT of Maxsimo.

This week has not been an easy one as the server went down on two occasions. The worst part of it is that the company that we lease the software from also does the hosting and they tell me that they have *no responsibility* for keeping the account active. That is all my.

However, I am afraid that his is *gross negligence* as we've been 'out of touch' for about 40 hours this month. Being unreachable for 40 hours for an online business is akin to a dagger in the jugular --a quick death sentence. The CEO of the software provider does not see it that way and when I asked "Are you satisfied with the services that you have provided" he said "Yes".

I have two problems with his attitude. ONE: that type of behavior has sunk many companies in the past. Perhaps, at this time his business model is flawless and he's doing great. However, times changes, and when they do and competition is on the horizon, watch out --customers will flee in droves. That leaves me with a decision --what will happen IF I stick around?

The answer is the SSDD -- same stuff, different day. I used "stuff" to be gentle. Anyway, the problem will get worse. My second problem is with *ME* -- I have been a "pushover" dealing with this guy. I have sucked up to him "big time" since our data one their server. I have sucked up to him because without the software we're out of business.

Today all of that ended.

IF I plan to eventually become the CEO of Maxsimo Card Services, Inc. and institute the business model that I have developed over 18 years, then I better take charge, I better take aim and nip the problem right where it exists.

In order to do that I have taken some measures. However, I am not going to discuss it here or anywhere for that matter. MY PRIMARY GOAL is to make sure our IR's are doing great. In order to make sure of that I have to get some things correct in the coming days, and I'll focus on that. Going after this "******", (reserved for my own private amusement) I can do on my own time, when I have time. However, what I have in mind can be done in a days work and I have told him already what will come his way as I said in the last paragraph of my last chat session that remember always "the pen is mightier than the sword" --always. I will prove that to him.

Well, some closing thoughts. What I have experience in the past two weeks is something of interest to any business leader. The way business environment works, as long as one is careful, when ONE DOOR CLOSES, another ONE OPENS. And if one is careful, quick and motivated, that "new door" can be far greater an opportunity than what 'closed earlier' --that is the way it is and has been for two decades now. Well, even longer if I take my paper route days into account.

And with that positive thought I'll end my day. Hopefully get some extra sleep and be back to battle the "TO DO LIST" once again. Sam out.

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