Being Cheap doesn't save money

You can save money by spending less to buy a quality item or service but being cheap costs!

I have worked with computers for over 20 years.  From the very beginning I enjoyed the network more than the actual hardware of a computer.  I have had a computer open and have swapped parts and upgraded memory or hard drives.  I have replaced power supply's and motherboards.  I don't like messing with hardware.  It's not because it isn't fun.  I believe it is a waste of time. 

I have always gravitated to the Administration of the Network resources.  The Network resources include hardware and software but they also include support people and end users.  The most important factor of Network Management is TIME!

Time is what is all about.  Time is worth something.  It is the only resource that I have as much of as Bill Gates.  We are exactly equal in that respect.  That's right I have as much time as the richest guy in the world.  I don't want to waste my time and I'm sure he doesn't.  I also don't want to waste other people's time.  That time, which belong to others is valuable to me as well.  In fact other people's time well used is the best way to get rich.  So if I truly value everybody's time then I need to come up with a plan that will use that time efficiently.

So if this is what I want to maximize in my management of a computer network then I have to put plans into place to make that happen.  I wrote an article back a while ago about my philosophy of network management.  I still believe everything I wrote back then. (Link to article) 

So the point here is that if I make the decision to be cheap and don't get the software that will do the job the fastest possible way then it is going to cost me.  If I am cheap and waste my time fixing a computer that I could replace for a few hundred dollars I am wasting a more valuable resource than silicon or money.  If I am cheap and hire people that can't do the job right then I am losing the battle against my competitors. 

Being smart and wise with my money is a great thing and extremely important.  Rich people usually are very cautious about spending the money they have.  Maybe even more so than the average person.  The only people that think rich people spend wildly are poor people, or soon to be poor people.  The rich make sure they only spend the money that is required to do the job.  But most rich people spend their money on the right things that make a difference.  They aren't cheap when it comes to critical functions.  They pay for good quality and good advice.  When they are cheap they may still be rich but it probably had a cost they wish they wouldn't have to pay.  That's how they learned what to spend on.

It doesn't pay to be cheap.