Back when I worked in the auto industry, I was a part of what was affectionately know as... the favor network.
Back then... I had lots of friends. mostly, because I fed them with work, which equals money.
If I did you a favor, somehow, at some point, a favor was returned. I cant speak for others, but when searching out somebody to do a job, I found a person I liked, and worried about price later.... and, I stuck with that person. After time, ya start to see these people as true friends. Well, once you get out of the business.... you find out that the friends and favors quickly go away.
Not all of them.
There are a couple of guys in town, that were part of the favor network. Jimmy, manages a local MAACO body shop, Matt, is the owner. I met Jimmy back when I worked at a Nissan dealership. I think I only actually gave Jimmy two cars to work on during my brief time as the recon manager. But, anytime I ever needed a question answered, or help with anything, Jimmy came through for me. The most I've ever really done in return for him, is tell people they should go check him out for auto body work.
I met Matt just a few years ago when he started buy'n houses to fix up, and needed windows. We had never met back when I was work'n the car trade, and when he and Jimmy showed up at the window store one day, by chance, we all kinda laughed. (I had not seen Jimmy in years) Matt now buys all his windows from me, and sings our shops praises to others, and I have seen quite a few customers as a result of it. Neither Matt nor Jimmy have ever asked for a price break. I give them one, but as far as they know.... they be pay'n the same as everybody else.
A few months ago, I lowsided the 1098. During that time, I've been sanding plastic, and repairing all the damaged body parts. Steve (Red Baron) offered to help me paint her, but one thing was missing.... a paint booth.
I called Matt the other day, and asked.... "can I borrow your booth for a few hours this Saturday?"
Both he and Jimmy have scrambled around trying to figure out a way to help me out. (they are both going to be out of town this weekend)
Jimmy just called, and said... "meet me at the shop at 8 tomorrow morning, I'll show you around, give you the alarm code and a set of keys, so you can lock up when yer done."
It blows me away, how good natured some people are.
I will forever be in thier debt.
to M & J [beer]
[thumbsup] The people who say it like it's a bad thing, usually aren't a part of it. Good on your buddies, Joel.
Quote from: Sinister on August 01, 2008, 02:15:38 PM
[thumbsup] The people who say it like it's a bad thing, usually aren't a part of it. Good on your buddies, Joel.
yeah...everytime I hear it said on the news like it's something horrible... it makes me wonder.
"is it because you are more of a taker than a giver, and people have had enough of you?"
friends be'n nice aint such a bad world to live in.
Good story, but what you call the "good ol boy network" is in reality just friendship.
The good ole boy network you hear about on TV usually deals with discrimination in the workplace and such...which isn't cool.
Quote from: Triple J on August 01, 2008, 02:43:27 PM
Good story, but what you call the "good ol boy network" is in reality just friendship.
Speaking of, I need to drop off your Dremel... ;D Are you in town this weekend?
Quote from: Triple J on August 01, 2008, 02:43:27 PM
Good story, but what you call the "good ol boy network" is in reality just friendship.
The good ole boy network you hear about on TV usually deals with discrimination in the workplace and such...which isn't cool.
What he says is correct.
The "Good Ole Boy" network you speak of only works when the people withing that "system" are courteous people. They know how to give and more importantly, they know how much to take.
Quote from: OwnyTony on August 01, 2008, 02:54:52 PM
What he says is correct.
The "Good Ole Boy" network you speak of only works when the people withing that "system" are courteous people. They know how to give and more importantly, they know how much to take.
"good ole boy" network when you hear about it in a negative light is about, descrimination and keeping outsiders well on the outside because they are "not you" or it refers to someon saying "hey dont' give that person a chance, afteral lthey aren't a local, they aren't the right color, they aren't the right sex, they aren't this or that, and that is why we want to not include them"
what the original poster is talking about is called "business relationships" meaning you have them and if you are lucky they become freinds and you do favors for each other and help each other out in a business way, that is not a good ole boys network, that is just called "networking"
i'll keep calling it the good ol boy network. ;)
so now you're going to paint the 1098? or is RB coming to visit?
Quote from: Sinister on August 01, 2008, 02:52:08 PM
Speaking of, I need to drop off your Dremel... ;D Are you in town this weekend?
Saturday morning or evening is your best bet of catching me. I leave early Sunday for 2 days at Miller with the 848! [evil] Give me a call. No biggie if I don't get it back this weekend though.
Quote from: sbrguy on August 01, 2008, 03:03:43 PM
what the original poster is talking about is called "business relationships" meaning you have them and if you are lucky they become freinds and you do favors for each other and help each other out in a business way, that is not a good ole boys network, that is just called "networking"
Was this directed towards me? (not saying it defensive so that i can come at you offensively). In a business relationship where you do each other favors and some what go the extra mile for each other only works (or only works well) when everyone is courteous, willing to give and knowing how much to take.
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 01, 2008, 03:52:40 PM
so now you're going to paint the 1098? or is RB coming to visit?
Steves in town to do a low rider show, and yup.... the red bike will be a somewhere between flat and satin black. [evil] noooooo stickers, I be fly'n stealth. [laugh]
Quote from: bobspapa on August 01, 2008, 06:05:35 PM
Steves in town to do a low rider show, and yup.... the red bike will be a somewhere between flat and satin black. [evil] noooooo stickers, I be fly'n stealth. [laugh]
so by sunday night... we should have pics ;D
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 01, 2008, 06:11:25 PM
so by sunday night... we should have pics ;D
and by next month it will be finished ;D
on topic....
i always considered the people that help you out because you help them network contacts
the good ol boy thing has never been set in a good light. it's what others have said about keeping others from getting ahead and putting your own people forward no matter what their shortcomings are.
I like this type of thing - call it good ole boy network, friendship, or an exchange of favors. It's nice to hear that people can be nice to one another and not get somehow screwed in the process. It upholds my belief that deep down most people are basically nice.
I think Joel will back me up on this when I argue that "good ol' boy network" is generally correct when discussing the automotive industry because it is mostly male, highly misogynistic and generally filled with assholes. Nice people like Joel usually don't last too long in that industry. If you are talking with someone who has worked at a car dealership for 15 years, there is a high probability that you are talking with a complete asshole who will take of himself first. This means that so long as you are in club the and doing the favors, you are "friend." Different from networking in that you can be easily scratched off the the good list for reasons that are not at all business related. Won't go to the strip club with the rest of the guys? Out of the club. Won't go smoke weed on break? Out of the club. Won't take your turn with that hooker being passed around during that "business trip?" Out of the club. For Joel to run into someone from this industry and have that person be nice all over again is indeed rare and very cool.
sac
Quote from: SacDuc on August 01, 2008, 06:36:59 PM
I think Joel will back me up on this when I argue that "good ol' boy network" is generally correct when discussing the automotive industry because it is mostly male, highly misogynistic and generally filled with assholes. Nice people like Joel usually don't last too long in that industry. If you are talking with someone who has worked at a car dealership for 15 years, there is a high probability that you are talking with a complete asshole who will take of himself first. This means that so long as you are in club the and doing the favors, you are "friend." Different from networking in that you can be easily scratched off the the good list for reasons that are not at all business related. Won't go to the strip club with the rest of the guys? Out of the club. Won't go smoke weed on break? Out of the club. Won't take your turn with that hooker being passed around during that "business trip?" Out of the club. For Joel to run into someone from this industry and have that person be nice all over again is indeed rare and very cool.
sac
not all.... but most of the lifers are douches. Its a business, where people are always trying to make the beast with two backs each other. The customer lies to the sales guy, the sales guy lies to the customer, the sales guy lies to the shop, the shop lies to the manufacturer, everybody lies, and over time, nice people turn to the darkside. Good people are rare. You get make the beast with two backsed with enough.... the desire to make the beast with two backs back is strong.
funny story.... a guy I worked with years ago (a salesman), has been in the industry forever..... super nice guy. I dont think I ever heard a person say anything negative about him... ever. A few years ago.... a local guy who shares the same last name and skin color, killed his ex wife, their three kids and her mom. Poor Vern now has to spend his time telling people... "that aint me and or, we aint related", even to the people who know him [laugh]
I work with a guy named Scott Pedersen.
That made our trip to Modesto fun. :-\
Quote from: red baron on August 02, 2008, 06:58:40 AM
I work with a guy named Scott Pedersen.
That made our trip to Modesto fun. :-\
[laugh]
but he was a hit with the chicks
You lowsided the 1098?
Quote from: ducpainter on August 02, 2008, 09:31:29 PM
You lowsided the 1098?
i missed that story too & looked for the details....
i found nothing...
...i don't think he wants to discuss it :-\
more of a dumping in the dirt than a good ol lowside
[laugh]
Quote from: bobspapa on August 03, 2008, 09:32:44 AM
more of a dumping in the dirt than a good ol lowside
[laugh]
whenever you're ready to talk about it, that's fine.
take all the time you need... [laugh]
this is along the same lines as the thread you started where we posted where we lived, and what we had to help each other. thought it was a great 'network'. too bad that thread is nonactive.