Time after time for in my 15-year Internet career I have played the part of David in the David and Goliath story. And each time, I have had a better product or service than my competitors. My products have been compared side by side with those of companies 1,000 times my size –– companies like Yahoo and Google –– and came out on top. Customers who cared about the product and what it could do for them won. Those who only cared about going with the big-name Internet company ended up with an inferior product and wasted valuable time and money.
The reason my Internet products and services were always better, was simple. I only built into them what was needed by the user, and I made them as simple to use as possible for even the most inexperienced customer. While my competitors spent time adding bells and whistles, and features that only 1 percent of the customers would ever use, I concentrated on making it better for the other 99 percent.
And how did I do this? I asked them!
I have never created anything without first asking people what they wanted. Ask them what they want, remove the things that only a few are interested in, and concentrate on making it the best thing out there for the rest. Ask them what their pain is, and figure out how to relieve them of that pain.
So here I am again. I am an independent write-in candidate in a local election, taking on two groups who are backed by political parties and incumbents in a supposedly non-partisan election. So here’s my strategy, out there for all to see. Let them put up their red and blue signs with their names on them, and let them fight it out between themselves. In the meantime, I will be asking you, the residents of this town, what it is that you want. What is it that pains you? What is it that you want to know more about? And I will represent you. Not be a rubber stamp for any party, person, or organization.
I understand that the residents of this town are busy. This is evident in the fact that only six people show up for a town council meeting. Even the mayor and other candidates in this election are too busy on a Saturday morning to show up for a special council work session that has possible repercussions for everyone who lives here.
That’s ok. I’ve spent the last 10 years in just that place. I was too busy with my own life to really know what was going on here. I have a family with three teenage children, and all the responsibilities that go along with them. As residents, you should be able to trust your representatives and assume that you will be told when and if there is something that needs your attention. You should be kept informed of the important things and not be bothered with the extra bells and whistles that don’t really matter.
But this is not happening. Decisions are being made that affect you, and many of you are not aware of them. Many are not aware of your right to have input in those decisions. And when you do find out, it’s too late. So many residents eventually showed up to protest the elimination of the Animal Control Officer position, but no one was informed ahead of time of this possibility.
So I make this one promise. I will stand for what the majority of you want, and I will find ways to remove the political chatter, and let you know what is going on that really matters to you. E-mail, text messages, Twitter, Facebook, phone calls, mail, town hall meetings, or word of mouth, you will be kept informed. My blog and website will be constantly updated, even after I am elected. These methods don’t take much money. They simply take time and ingenuity. Look at how well our police department communicated during the hurricane using these methods. One thing I have learned over the years is that you can’t compete with huge public companies with money. You win by building a better mouse trap and getting it out there for people to use.
I have created a survey asking residents what they do and don’t want to see in this town. Please spend five minutes sharing your answers. I will publish the results for all to see. Go to survey.gregoryharris.org and share your thoughts and valuable input.
I will also be holding bi-weekly mini “town hall” breakfast meetings on Sundays to hear from you directly. Text GREG to 95495 to be notified of locations and dates.
Greg Harris
16 Piedmont Drive, West Windsor
www.gregoryharris.org
greg@gregoryharris.org
