Broadband is getting better. We just started an ISP in Helena, offering up faster speeds than Charter and Century Link. We can get 100 Mb up/down to anyone in the downtown Helena area. Expansion on the existing range is already in motion as well.
After working four years for a corporate media whore (read: newspaper), then aquiring a job at a small, independent web application (+-7 employees) company, I've noticed a substantial difference in mangement styles, and how things get done. Management at the newspaper was just like it sounded like at Cliff's - the management didn't care about managing employees, they were more interested in revenue and attempting to look good to the community then making the employees happy with appropriate deadlines and the like. Even when faced with the impossibility of something, we were still forced to do what they wanted or face the wrath of back-stabbing upper management automatons. Too much to do, too few people to do an adequate job. Someone would quit, but they wouldn't fill the position; it would just go dark so they could attempt to save money and not implement other cost-saving measures (recycling, reduction on paper, efficency in general).
But with the smaller work enviroment, it's a comppletely different story. Everyone works as a team, and there is no backstabbing. The manager is on the same level as we are, and there is a complete sense of well being amongst everyone. They know what it takes for success, and they don't skimp on just getting by. They thrive on getting things done right, and with the right tools.
I think the smaller the work place and more tight knit everyone is, the better. When management can be on the same level (and tell better fart jokes than I can), it really makes good for the motivation and pride amongst employees.
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Broadband is getting better. We just started an ISP in Helena, offering up faster speeds than Charter and Century Link. We can get 100 Mb up/down to anyone in the downtown Helena area. Expansion on the existing range is already in motion as well.
After working four years for a corporate media whore (read: newspaper), then aquiring a job at a small, independent web application (+-7 employees) company, I've noticed a substantial difference in mangement styles, and how things get done. Management at the newspaper was just like it sounded like at Cliff's - the management didn't care about managing employees, they were more interested in revenue and attempting to look good to the community then making the employees happy with appropriate deadlines and the like. Even when faced with the impossibility of something, we were still forced to do what they wanted or face the wrath of back-stabbing upper management automatons. Too much to do, too few people to do an adequate job. Someone would quit, but they wouldn't fill the position; it would just go dark so they could attempt to save money and not implement other cost-saving measures (recycling, reduction on paper, efficency in general). But with the smaller work enviroment, it's a comppletely different story. Everyone works as a team, and there is no backstabbing. The manager is on the same level as we are, and there is a complete sense of well being amongst everyone. They know what it takes for success, and they don't skimp on just getting by. They thrive on getting things done right, and with the right tools. I think the smaller the work place and more tight knit everyone is, the better. When management can be on the same level (and tell better fart jokes than I can), it really makes good for the motivation and pride amongst employees.