I used to work on a research vessel called "The White Holly". Captain Vince was teaching me about what it means to be an engineer and that led to a conversation about how deck officers and engineers traditionally don't get along.
To illustrate this he told me a joke:
While getting ready to sail the Chief Engineer came up to the wheelhouse to tell the Captain that they were going to be delayed. The Captain started yelling and told him all engineers are good for nothing but excuses.
The Chief responded that Deck Officers where couch potatoes who didn't add any value and didn't understand what work was.
The Captain said he could do the engineers job any day. The Chief said he could easily sit in the Captain's chair. So the Captain said 'Fine, take a seat. I'll be the Chief today, you be the Captain.'
The Captain went down below to start up the engines... after an hour futzing around the engine room he realized he had no idea how to start the engines, so he hung his head in defeat and humility and walked back to the wheelhouse.
'Chief, I'm sorry - I was wrong, I don't know how to do your job. I didn't really respect the knowledge and experience you have. I couldn't even start the engines.'
'That's ok Captain, because we've run aground.'
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In our shop, everyone is important - from sales, marketing, art and engineering. We run a tight ship and no one is here unless they have a purpose - so I try to show appreciation and respect for everyone on the team.
It's sounds cheesy to say it - but we are the most grateful for our customers. In this story - the customer is the Captain and we are the Engineers. We have started the engines - our engine room (The Active Reader) is well oiled and humming - but we need you to chart a course.
This last year we made new grounds with Penguin Group USA's Skippyjon Jones, Boomgen's Rostam, Inteligent Business Entertainment's True Office, Cognito Comics's CIA: Operation Ajax and several enterprise projects for lead qualification and marking surveys - which we can't discuss. One of our very first customers, Flickerlab, who made Skippyjon and worked on Ajax, also made a counting book for Dole.
Finishing the year on a high note - CIA: Operation Ajax made the top ten mobile app showdown for CES - and we are hoping for win in February!
We have several projects starting in January in our shop and by our customers - man - I wish I could talk about them! They are charting new courses in children's books, magazines and adult education! I'll be able to talk about them soon - and it's going to blow your socks off!
Please let me know where you want to go. This is going to be a phenominal year in interactive and enhanced books. You ain't seen nothing yet.
Happy New Year!
Dan
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