I my dad's office they were analyzing market research data. A database query that takes seconds (or maybe less than a second) today was started on Friday afternoon. On Tuesday morning the database was finished processing :)
Amazing story. How did you get known to the other parking companies? Did you ring them up or something?
I suppose the secret is quickly delivering software that does what someone wants.
Yes. Back then cold calling was welcomed. Everyone picked up the phone with excitement of who's calling. All I had to tell them is the name of the company and how they can benefit for the software. Honestly conversion rate was close to 100%, its just some locations had headquarters across the country and I didn't feel like flying in winter time lol.
Oh man, you just wet my eyes! What a trip into the past!
I wrote my first paid project in dBase in 1982 when noone knew what "computer mouse" was. I answered the ad in newspaper and initially they wanted me to help them organize text files. I told them about dBase and that was my first project - a simple database to manage their parking lots. It was such early days of programming, we had basically zero agreement! Just half piece of paper that they pay me 10% in advance and short list of features to get remaining 90%. And funny thing is - no copyright agreement! So while I made few months of rent for their project, I ended up paying off my first mortgage by just offering the same piece of software to many other parking corps! It was incredible feeling! Like creating money out of thin air - they sponsor my plane/hotel and I just told them what PC (with DOS) I need to be ready. Then in just few hours of installation and training, I was on my way home with nice check. I frankly don't even remember how much it was back then...
Good times!