Is this a success story? To me it sounds more like a kind of self-ownage text

[adlep]

Here is the story taken out of a corporate web site:
http://www.hansons.com/Hansons_Story.htm

But, I have problems understanding it. For the first part of it, guy talks about a failure (barely getting to college), then another failure of dropping out (college is not for you), then he got into the business thanks to his dad...
I am not getting this...
Please explain?
Is this a good success story? To me it is really a self-ownage type of a writeup. It's almost like a 12 year old wrote it.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm guessing you really didn't read the whole story. He went back to school so he could open his own window company and he did and he made it successful. I don't know what in the hell you consider success but that sounds successful to me.

I decided I would go back to night school to pass the tests needed to open a window company of my own. I remember how diligent I was about this work. I walked into the testing room knowing I would ace the test...and I DID!

 

[IcePickFreak]

Yeah, the guy who owns the window company is a success story. OP's reading comprehension, not so much.

 

[adlep]

I'm guessing you really didn't read the whole story. He went back to school so he could open his own window company and he did and he made it successful. I don't know what in the hell you consider success but that sounds successful to me.

Do you mean that part?

I decided I would go back to night school to pass the tests needed to open a window company of my own.

What the hell is a night school? What tests? You need to pass a test to open a company? Does he mean a builders license?
So as far as the university is concerned, he did not go back...We went back to a "night school"...

If you write a success story, stay concise and stay on the positive I guess. Most importantly, keep the story simple?

 

[DAWeinG]

looks like an episode of The Office.

 

[vshah]

i'm glad for his success and all, but that story sounds fake.

 

[adlep]

Yeah, the guy who owns the window company is a success story. OP's reading comprehension, not so much.

I understand that he is a success story, that's not the point. The point is that the majority of this specific story could be left out I guess...

The way it is constructed now:

1. I kept disappoint my family because I was not doing well at school.
2. Finally, because of a lack of better alternative I started working for a Windows Installing Company.
3. I worked hard and made it into a successful company...

It seems to me that #1 is not really connected with the rest of the writeup. They could just omit it.
No?

He could just say:
1. I worked my way up through the Windows Installing business and I made it.
2. They key to my company's success is great customer service...

I mean, no one cares about his college problems. Now, if his major was English or Communications and he had to drop out because he could not handle it, it means that he is a moron. Especially considering the fact that his family was paying for it. Really, how hard could it be? But anyway, it is his business and I don't care about it. Why would you even bring it up?


I don't know, I am on the market for new windows so I might give them a call tomorrow regarding quote...

 

[coxmaster]

I understand that he is a success story, that's not the point.

Then why is that the first thing you ask in the title?

 

[adlep]

Then why is that the first thing you ask in the title?

Look at the post above. His story has 3 parts to it. But the first part is really not related to anything at all. Moreover, it implies that he was not a great student through the HS and College.
Again, I don't care, this is his business. But why would they bring it up?

Edit: Dropping out of college is still a life failure. I mean you tried, but because you were stupid or not motivated, you kind of wasted a lot of your family's hard earned money.
Again, this is his life and I don't care about the choices that he made.
Still, why would you bring it up in a "success story"? It isn't related to anything. As a matter of fact, it kind of shows that he started in the business out of a lack of better alternative and then got simply got lucky == not a good success story...
No?

 

[Paladin3]

It sounds to me like the OP thinks this guy should be more ashamed of not finishing college than he should be proud of working hard and building up his own successful windows company.

 

[adlep]

It sounds to me like the OP thinks this guy should be more ashamed of not finishing college than he should be proud of working hard and building up his own successful windows company.

No, this is not what I am saying. The guy is obviously very successful and he does not need college. But, I don't care about that as a potential client. This is his life and his choices. But there is no need to highlight this in the official company "success story". Why would you even bring it up? This makes no sense to me.

He should be very proud of what he achieved re: his company. But academically, the guy is a failure and I do not need to know that. I don't care. I don't need college grads to install my Windows.
That is my problem with the writeup...

Edit: From the first part of the "success story":
Phrases like:
"I was admitted on a very strict probation.",
"I passed my first year by a slim margin (as always)" (whaaaaa?),
"My dad was really disappointed'',
"I fell short of our agreement",
"I was delivering pizzas",
"I, of course, took down the number knowing I wouldn't call it." (so now he is lying to his dad)
"I remember thinking, "Who the heck replaces their windows?" (whaaaaa?)

Do not make for a very good success story. Again, this is his life and his choices, but I -as a customer who is looking for an estimate, do not need to know that...

Edit: Bill Gates and Zuck dropped out too, however they did so on their own terms. This guy did not know what to do with himself and started assembling windows by accident. So he made it by accident - I guess...

 

[KaOTiK]

Him stating his failure with school makes his success look all the better, that is why he included it I'd imagine.

 

[goog40]

Edit: Dropping out of college is still a life failure. I mean you tried, but because you were stupid or not motivated, you kind of wasted a lot of your family's hard earned money.

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, etc... Total failures huh?

 

[adlep]

Him stating his failure with school makes his success look all the better, that is why he included it I'd imagine.

Yes, but it also give an impression that his profession wasn't his "first choice". He kind of did what he had to do in order to make a living and got lucky. Many college dropouts stories are similar except the part where they run a multimillion dollar business.

He should of finish by saying that after all these years after finally making it in the business he went back to college and got his degree...Now, that would be a kick ass success story and the part 1 would be very relevant. Otherwise, just don't put it there.

 

[IcePickFreak]

I understand that he is a success story, that's not the point. The point is that the majority of this specific story could be left out I guess...

The way it is constructed now:

1. I kept disappoint my family because I was not doing well at school.
2. Finally, because of a lack of better alternative I started working for a Windows Installing Company.
3. I worked hard and made it into a successful company...

It seems to me that #1 is not really connected with the rest of the writeup. They could just omit it.
No?

He could just say:
1. I worked my way up through the Windows Installing business and I made it.
2. They key to my company's success is great customer service...

I mean, no one cares about his college problems. Now, if his major was English or Communications and he had to drop out because he could not handle it, it means that he is a moron. Especially considering the fact that his family was paying for it. Really, how hard could it be? But anyway, it is his business and I don't care about it. Why would you even bring it up?


I don't know, I am on the market for new windows so I might give them a call tomorrow regarding quote...

*Looks at thread title* Is this a success story? To me it sounds more like a self-ownage/major douche text...




The other info is saying that he wasn't happy doing something he didn't want to do. Then he got into the window business, found his niche (look for pronunciation tips on that word here http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2110826&highlight=niche), and then started his own business within that niche.

 

[KaOTiK]

Yes, but it also give an impression that his profession wasn't his "first choice". He kind of did what he had to do in order to make a living and got lucky. Many college dropouts stories are similar except the part where they run a multimillion dollar business.

He should of finish by saying that after all these years after finally making it in the business he went back to college and got his degree...Now, that would be a kick ass success story and the part 1 would be very relevant. Otherwise, just don't put it there.

Guess what? Most peoples current professions aren't their "first choice".

The story would have been rather blend and a lot shorter if he just say my dads friend and gf's brother both worked at the same window company and it went from there.

How would it have been a success story then? Most people get a job through someone they know, whoopeedeedo.

 

[adlep]

Guess what? Most peoples current professions aren't their "first choice".

The story would have been rather blend and a lot shorter if he just say my dads friend and gf's brother both worked at the same window company and it went from there.

How would it have been a success story then? Most people get a job through someone they know, whoopeedeedo.

I get your point guys, but still it could be worded differently I guess. All of those keywords like I quoted above kind of threw me off. I do not deny his success, but I would skip all the personal stories and focused on the company more. That part at the end about his father telling him that how proud he is was nice too, but for crying out loud don't write:
"I passed my first year by a slim margin (as always)"
This is too personal.

 

[Mike Gayner]

This thread smells like self ownage TBH.

 

[wiredspider]

I bet all window companies have the same windows, it seems like everytime I called one of those companies to get an estimate, they always have a spiel about how the company got started or owners, etc. Basically a bunch of BS to get you to buy their overpriced windows. One company even had a whole powerpoint, we just wanted our estimate! Sheesh, I don't call you to my house to show you my family albums so I don't want to show up to my house with a powerpoint of the owner and his family...

 

[TallBill]

Without looking at his balance sheets it seems highly successful.

 

[Fayd]

Do you mean that part?


What the hell is a night school? What tests? You need to pass a test to open a company? Does he mean a builders license?
So as far as the university is concerned, he did not go back...We went back to a "night school"...

If you write a success story, stay concise and stay on the positive I guess. Most importantly, keep the story simple?

night school is generally university classes taught at night to people who are to busy during the day to attend standard classes.

they're either taught at academic universities (standard fare. think state schools, private schools, etc) or at commercial universities (univ of phoenix, national univ, etc).

yes, he did go back to school. apparently to garner a certificate necessary to run a business, or some such. i dont know, i didn't read the article.