Page 37 of SaaS & Class
“So, Brent,” started one of the resident billionaires, Wes Abrams. “Adam tells me you teach business technology?”
“Y-yeah?”
What did a billionaire care about what I taught?
“So we build business apps, but those kids are going to be in the workforce sooner than later. If you have time, I’d love to find out what kind of challenges you’re facing, and what you think might carry over. I’d like to be proactive and build for challenges that are just now emerging.”
“Really? Why?”
He nodded. “Of course. And the reason is that I’m a businessman. If I want to keep selling apps and services, then I need to make sure my products are what people want. Understanding and anticipating changing needs and user demographics is a key part of that.”
“You don’t use customer feedback and focus groups for that?”
“Oh, we do. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle, and I want the big picture. So I look for other areas to get information. Besides, I’ll make it worth your time.”
“Wh-what?”
“How about enough for a new computer lab for your students?”
I gaped at him. “You can’t be serious.”
One of his eyebrows went up. “Why not?”
“Thirty machines in just my class, and at current prices… that’s like seventy-five thousand dollars!”
He burst into laughter. “That’s barely a tax write-off, and it’s great PR.”
“You’re serious?”
He nodded. “I am. When was the last time you got new machines?”
“Four… maybe five years ago.”
“Then you’re due for an upgrade. We can make a gentlemen’s agreement. I don’t need to know about specific students, so it’s probably fine to discuss your observations.”
I liked my lips. “I’d need to talk to the district administration…” I trailed off.
“For legal stuff?” Wes asked.
I sighed and shook my head. “No. Maybe… but… The district people would probably try to push back on a donation like that.”
Wes tilted his head to one side. “Why?”
I sighed. “Several things. They’d complain it’s unfair to students at Beachside. We both had our labs upgraded at the same time, so we’d be running newer machines for no better reason than I met you. Then…” I blew out a long breath. “There are always people trying to get a piece of the pie whenever a big donation comes in. You’d probably spend as much in legal fees as your donation if you wanted to make sure it only went to the computer lab and not half to football.”
“What if I just ordered the computers directly?”
“That… would probably work.”
“Great! You talk to the district people and find out if there are any issues from you talking to me, and I’ll get my team working on a donation. We’ll hit both high schools to shut up the people who’d complain about your lab being newer.”
“Just like that? A hundred fifty, maybe two hundred thousand dollars in donations, just to talk to me?”
He shrugged. “I look at it as an investment. If I pay attention, then the ROI should be worth it.”
“It’s just a lot of money.”
He burst into laughter. “That’s what I make, me personally, not Abramsoft, in a day. At Abramsoft, it’s a rounding error. And like I said, it’s good PR and a tax write-off. That’s one thing about having as much money as I do: you learn how to maximize it.”
