IT Professionals

Still Around And Helping Those In Need

Posted by on Nov 28, 2007 | One Comment

I was alerted here recently that one of my favorite Mac guys from the Bellingham area remains in business — just not putting in as many hours as he once had. After sharing my total distaste for my “Apple Genius” experience, I am really thrilled to see that Tom remains an active part of helping Mac owners.

What I felt set the “Mac Medic” apart from other Apple service options in that region was the immediately apparent, immense experience. This is not some newbie who picked up an iMac a few years ago and opted to make a career out of it — he has been working with people and their Macs for many years. Thanks, Tom, for reminding us that experience vs. a flashy title like “Apple Genius” carries more weight.

Because Tom can do more than most people with half of his experience in the Apple realm, he is able to teach Mac users how to kick it up a notch by taking advantage of that glorious Unix goodness that makes OS X such a great operating system in the first place. Keep on trucking, Tom, it is people like you that inspired me to get started in the repair business in the first place, many years ago when I happened into your shop some years back. We spoke only once, but you left me thinking to myself that this was the way to do business: putting people first.

  • http://cowbelltech.blogspot.com/ Fred Naatz

    Hi Matt, this is pseudo related. I remember back in the 90′s I was I Nov ell Netware Administrator. I then got to a job that had me traveling the country for a software company setting up our software and configuring Sybase, Microsoft SQL or Oracle to work as our software’s database. I learned all about Windows for Workgroups, then Windows3.11, then Windows NT, 2000 etc. I had a great life. I knew my stuff; and I had ZERO certifications. Then the dot com bubble burst; and ever since I’ve taken whatever technical writing or software testing job I could have because suddenly things changed. My experience wasn’t valued; only certifications were.

    Shame on me for not going out and getting certified; but honestly; as many others do, I had life to contend with and I simply had no time to go get certified while I was treading water learning other new jobs that did not require certifications. Oddly enough, They hired me when I had no software testing experience; and I survived for about five years doing various contract jobs.

    I just think it’s ridiculous how some companies can require a certification for I.T, but a LARGE Pharmaceutical company where I live (Indiana) doesn’t care if the person testing their internally custom created software has experience or certifications.

    It’s all very frustrating. I’m still a tech enthusiast; and I’m sure I could pass an MCSE or Cisco certification if I studied; but sometime around 2005; I just walked away from the industry. It was too unfair in many ways; and very frustrating. I also tested software at many Insurance companies; but mostly I stayed in the pharmaceutical world.

    I wish back when the dot com bubble burst I was still valued like the person in your article still is. More than likely, I played the hand I was dealt wrong. Still it’s sad to see someone with so much experience have it all squandered. I know I’m not the only one.

    Still, like your article says; it’s good some of the talent out there persevered and are still out there doing what they love.