Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, August 13, 2021.
In Week 33 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for Mr. John Fair and Johnny Fair of Fair Propane & Fair Oil Company.
"Is there a way we can…?"
These are my all time favorite words to hear from a client. As an I.T. professional, I deeply enjoy helping business owners leverage technology to achieve outcomes once thought only possible for large corporations.
To this day I'm not completely sure why, but Mr. Fair called and invited me to attend a meeting at the Fair Companies office in Louisville, Mississippi. They were meeting with the software vendor for their propane operations about a possible expansion into other markets. And, the question on the table was, "Is there a way we can setup offices in these new locations and have remote service reps access customer data in a central location?" The vendor quickly replied, "Not possible. You'll need a separate install for each location." And, this software wasn't cheap.
Mr. Fair, leaned back, placing an elbow in one hand while resting his finger on his mouth, tapping it slowly as he contemplated the vendor's response. He then turned ever-so slightly in my direction, indicating that he wanted my perspective. I asked the vendor questions to understand the underlying technology stack and then asked whether there was any potential licensing violation in creating "virtual desktops" to access the data. A few years prior, I had the privilege of learning about a new technology called Terminal Services while working as a high school intern at Entergy Corporation through a program for minority students called Inroads. After implementing the technology, they were able to achieve the desired outcome while also saving a significant sum. This began a relationship with the Fairs that has spanned nearly two decades.
Mr. John and Johnny Fair are business men that are constantly innovating and have established themselves as regional leaders in the petroleum industry. They dramatically grew their propane and fuel businesses while graciously bringing me along for the ride. We have since had many conversations that start with "Is there a way we can…?" and represents some of the most fun and significant moments of growth in my career.
Not only have they sought opportunities to involve me in their own businesses, but they've recommended me for opportunities with other clubs, associations and boards that they belong to. As a result, I've traveled from east coast to west coast, visiting places I may not have had opportunity to otherwise. Because of their advocacy, I was made tech lead on an ERP project managing the distribution of millions of dollars of fuel per month across multiple states. Thanks to them, if you've gassed up somewhere in the southeast, there's a chance that you've touched my work.
Over the years, our relationship has spanned well beyond I.T. projects. They've shared insights from lessons they've learned in business that's grown me not only as an I.T. pro but as a business owner as well. I've developed meaningful friendships with many of their staff. We've shared important moments of life together. We've had a lot of hard conversations together. We've prayed together. In fact, one of my most prized possessions is a letter of recommendation that Mr. Fair wrote to a church for a pastorate I was considering.
These men and their team have contributed immensely not only to the growth of my business or to me as a professional, but also to my growth as a person. I'm grateful. #52WoG