no new cards this week either...

This reminds me of a small event in my dad's life. He owned a small machine shop from the early 1950's until he died in 2011. Around 1962 he developed a small niche market product that was extremely useful to a small segment of industry. It provided him with a steady order flow for almost 50 years.

At one point, a Fortune 25 company bought one of his customers. They sent in a new purchasing manager, and on review of their outstanding PO's, my dad's company came up. Hotshot PM, asked where else they could get substitute materials. His staff assured him that nobody else made anything comparable. Eager to show his new employees how it was done, called the contact number for my dad's company. Dad answered.

PM "Can I speak to the president?"

Dad "You are."

PM "Why is the material on our PO ??? late? We are having to slip our schedule."

Dad "I have other orders to fill."

PM "Can't you send the work to another plant?"

Dad "I have no other plant."

PM "Why haven't you been working overtime?"

Dad "I've been working 80 hours a week to try to catch up."

PM "Aren't your employees working overtime too?"

Dad "Yes, all 3 of them. But they don't want to work more than 50 hours because they have families."

PM "Just how big are you?"

Dad "Myself and three men."

PM "OMG What are we going to do if you die?"

Dad "Not my problem."

This company continued to be a good customer for many years.

This reminds me of a small event in my dad's life....

Thanks for sharing rburgh, great story!

This reminds me of a small event in my dad's life....

Thanks for sharing rburgh, great story!

BINGO!

It is a great story, absolutely.
and it sure sounds like your dad had his people working hard but within reason.

wonder what would've happened if he had stopped answering the phone?