“Why do I want to pay someone else when I can fix it myself and save big bucks?”
I often ask myself this same question and many times I elect to do it myself. I have a gift of looking at complex mechanics and figuring out how it works and hence, how to fix it. Well, sorta. At least I like to think that.
It SOUNDS easy. It LOOKS easy. It MUST BE easy!
Take my plumbing project, for example. I bought a water softener from a big box retailer after speaking with the salesman, a retired plumber, by the way,
and he had me convinced that this would be an afternoon project at best. He asked if I knew how to “sweat” [soldering copper pipe with a torch] and I said "Sure, I grew up in Florida…I REALLY know how to sweat!"
So I went home with my "prize" (conditioner) in the box, put it on the floor in our basement, turned off the water and started cutting pipe. I laid out all the lengths of tubing, pipe joints, etc (and had to make 2 trips for more pipe and joints.) Then I lit up the torch (a most exhillerating feeling) and started to connect all this into a beautifully simple design that just worked and people would admire.
After applauding my creation for a moment I turned on the water. Voilà! I was DONE! This was FUN! Fortunately my spouse was around to admire the one or two drips, leaky joints, flat out jet streams and a myriad of teeny, weeny, itsy bitsy mists that found the most miniscule of holes in the solder joints. Off went the water. I drained the pipes (they have to be COMPLETELY devoid of any kind of water or NO-GO on the soldering…it won’t get hot enough. I know that really well, now. I’m practically an expert on what will prevent solder from sticking to its intended surface.)
In the end I had a working, and tightly sealed, water softener plumbing job that looks like a box of snakes with arthritis. Astonishingly, I was able to accomplish this in only 54 hours, 17 minutes (and $325 over budget.)
A Place for the Pros
Fixing computers is a lot like plumbing a water softener. If you’re a professional, it’s a snap. You can do it with ease because you understand all the bumps you can run into, and you have the years of experience we call “skill” that makes this work look easy.
At ISD, we do the “plumbing” for business networks. We know the “fixtures”, we know the “pipes”. We know the tricks of the trade and the skills that make the work look easy. We’re Microsoft certified and we love our craft. As a result, we can save you time and spare you the frustration that comes from your “learning on the job”.
The End Result
I now have a greater respect for the guys that do plumbing for a living. So much so that I hired one to come in and fix my original “masterpiece”.
I have realized that there is a place for D-I-Y (after all, I still mow my own lawn) and a place for professionals. The plumber I hired charged me for an hour and had the job done in 43 minutes flat. A bargain at just UNDER half of what I paid for just the materials I purchased (not to mention the 22 hours of labor and travel to and from the hardware store and the day and a half of “no water”.)
My old pipe "artwork" is stealthfully decorating the back wall of my shed.
By the way, the softener is working great.
Bill Artemik
President/CEO
Innovative Systems Direct
"Besides being a joy to work with, Innovative Systems Direct is a take-charge company that is able to present ideas, suggestions and assistance in EVERY aspect of our practice. They not only respond promptly to any problems or questions that we may have, but have gone over and above our expectations in IT support. "
Lori Millette, Practice Manager Dina A. Eliopoulos, MD Center for Plastic Surgery
"What I like about ISD is the response time to calls for help. They continue to provide a rapid and professional level of service that keeps our network and business running smoothly! I highly recommend ISD!"
Dr. Nonnie M. Estella Nonnie Estella, MD, PC
"Our production server is the backbone of our business. ISD ultimately kept the company from losing tens of thousands of dollars in lost productivity and profits. We are thankful that we had the foresight to have the C-LinQ system from ISD!"
Brian Springmann Vice President - Business Development Schaefer Mortgage Corp.
"ISD has made it possible for the staff and I to focus completely on patient care and have made it easier for us to assist our patients with their needs. After all, isn’t that what a partnership should be? Don’t wait, call ISD, your patients deserve it."
Lori Millette, Practice Manager Dina A. Eliopoulos, MD Center for Plastic Surgery
"The BEST! That is all I can say about the team at Innovative Systems Direct. We get excellent support, VERY fast phone response and repairs that get us back to work. Not only do I recommend ISD, the practices I have referred them to ALSO recommend them!"
Kathryn Hughes, MD, FACS, Mill City Surgical Associates
"Having ISD’s C-LinQ system prevented a disastrous failure as they were able to detect the server was failing and, using the disaster recovery technology in the C-LinQ system, were able to keep our network operational and our employees productive."
Brian Springmann Vice President - Business Development Schaefer Mortgage Corp.
"I have complete confidence in ISD. I find them easy to deal with and talk to. Problems get solved quickly and follow up is excellent. I would HIGHLY recommend their service to other medical practices!"
Dr. Frank P. MacMillan, Jr., President, Merrimack Valley Gastroenterology
"The most important thing to me is time. ISD’s rapid response has kept my company running smoothly. I feel my business is protected and secure with ISD."
Javier Fernandez, Owner, Boston Automotive
"Quality of service, easy access and a belief that what you get is worth the expense. That’s what I like most about dealing with ISD!"
Sheila Gregg, Practice Manager, Piscataqua Plastic Surgery
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