Yup, computers are everywhere. It was the early nineties and personal computers were really taking off in offices. I felt so strongly that computers were the future that I helped a small insurance agency computerize. This small agency actually did most of the hard work by hand but they learned of a custom software package that filled this niche. I met with them and we looked at what the software would support, it was actually a nice little package which could support a number of different products, agents and payment structures. I thought it was a bit pricey but we agreed on terms and so both the accountant and I were to go back for another visit to teach her how to use the new software.
Dorthy and I drove there and again met with the developer at the agency. While she was learning about how to use the software I was discussing what hardware we would need and learned about the installation process. This wasn’t installing SAP or Oracle, we were only going to be there for two days.
Before we were sent, nobody had actually explained one of the tiny little detail. I only knew that we were staying at a local hotel. Between the driving and the workshops it was a full day but eventually it came time to check into the hotel. I simply walked up to the reception desk told them my name and company and they gave me a room key. I didn’t know any better so Dorthy and I went to the room, unpacked, had dinner and went to bed. Well, I am not entirely certain who was more surprised the next morning. I received a wake up call from my father, but it was Dorthy who answered the telephone. She clarified that he did indeed did get the correct room and handed the telephone over to me.
I cannot remember most of that conversation but my father, the boss, did explain that he did reserve two rooms one for each of us and that it was not necessary to share. Actually nothing did happen, but that could have been due to me being the boss’s son, and that the boss’s son wasn’t so experienced.
Yup, smart enough to set up the IT infrastructure single handed but not smart enough to know that the office doesn’t force the staff to sleep together on business trips.