Having attended quite a few meetings recently that were stuffed full of IT consultants, I'm quite amazed by the number of people out there who seem to expect vendors, particularly software vendors, to give them free stuff and expect nothing in return. Surely everyone understands there's no such thing as a free lunch? Is it not reasonable when a vendor provides incentives that they expect some return on their investment?
Microsoft, for example, has something called an "Action Pack" that contains enough software to run a whole business on. Everything you could ever want and then some. Action Pack is available to Microsoft Partners and costs around £200 per year and contains enough software to run several servers and 10 workstations. I mean, really - that's peanuts. It is a ridiculously cheap way to get software. It's Microsoft's way of rewarding us for being a business partner and lets us get trained on using the latest business tools without having to shell out megabucks. It is a fantastic resource that enables a lot of IT people to raise their game for a very low cost.
Do I ever hear anyone say "Thanks, Microsoft!"? Well not very often. Usually, I hear grumbles that XYZ isn't included. How on Earth does Microsoft expect me to run my business without (fill in the blank) 2006?
Well, here's your answer: you buy the software. You IT consultants expect your customers to pay good money for you to supply and install that very same software yet the vast majority of you expect Microsoft and other vendors to give you exactly the same stuff for nothing.
Well that attitude stops here. Anyone in Microsoft who happens to be reading this - THANKS! I really appreciate my Action Pack subscription. Without the Action Pack, my business would probably have never got started. It has enabled me to run my business on a shoestring budget and it has given me the chance to learn new technology that I would never have been able to get my grubby little hands on otherwise. I want you to know that MAPS has made a big difference to me and it has bought you a lot of that intangible thing known as good will.