I have been looking for software vendors for my project.
Now, there are good vendors, bad vendors, and everything in between.
Bad vendors are the ones who over-promise, look good at first, then proceed to under-deliver and reveal their true colours. They mainly care about their bottomline, and desire only to meet the minimum requirement agreed upon.
Ah, a good vendor, on the other hand, is one who is honest in self-appraisal, and over-delivers. Proud of his competency, and humble in acknowledging his limitations. Tells you what can or cannot be done, honestly. A good vendor has heart - he is interested in adding value to your business through his service. He takes ownership of the project and is proactive as if it were his own business. He values the customer relationship more than the invoice.
I have always been impressed by business people who are generous. It really sets them apart from the majority when they demonstrate a willingness to reduce their short-term profit margin in preference for long-term customer goodwill. Isn't it more valuable to merely halve your profit in order to gain an indefinite number of return visits from your customers?
Win-win, as my secondary school principal has taught us, is really the best business strategy.
