Tag Archives: first call resolution

The Importance of a Good Business Partner

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Matthew Achak

That’s John and I hanging out at the 2012 Oregon Top Workplace Awards dinner. That was the first year we were nominated and represented a big step for FCR. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of a good business partner. In … Continue reading →

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Perils of Commoditization

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Matthew Achak

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in business is allowing your product or service offering to become commoditized. It is inevitable that price will be an issue no matter what industry you are involved in, however a successful … Continue reading →

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Better Days (part 1)

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Matthew Achak

The great thing about life is that if you stick around long enough, you will see everything. Many years ago, a company I worked for was acquired by a larger competitor looking to break into industries in which we already … Continue reading →

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October Ramblings

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Matthew Achak

A few thoughts for today. In business as well as in life, the one quality I always strive to be is memorable. I will never be as smart, as handsome, or as tall as others, but being memorable is a … Continue reading →

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Tipping Point for Outsourcing

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Matthew Achak

(Photo Credit: Deb Achak Photography) As FCR gets closer to opening our 6th facility and hiring our 1,000 employee, I find myself contemplating all that we have accomplished over here. We have built a company that I can not only be … Continue reading →

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First or Best?

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Matthew Achak

(Photo Credit: Deb Achak Photography) In October of 1969, Sony unveiled the prototype of the first videocassette recorder (VCR), which was originally called the U-matic. To put things in perspective, in previous years people had been capturing video on film reels, … Continue reading →

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Keep at It

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Matthew Achak

(photo credit: Deb Achak Photography) I graduated from college in 1991. It was not the best time to be young, overeducated, under skilled and unemployed. In the early 90’s, there just weren’t a lot of jobs to go around. We … Continue reading →

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Maybe Withhold Your Advice

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Matthew Achak

I was born in 1969. That makes me 44, soon to be 45. Generation X. That’s me hiking somewhere in Colorado in 1996. I don’t feel 45 and I can still clearly recall what life was like in my 20’s. … Continue reading →

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Small Steps and Big Pictures

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Matthew Achak

I am reading “Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation” by Blake Harris right now. I highly, highly recommend it.  Not only is it a fascinating peek inside the brash and almost wild, wild west-ish video game wars of … Continue reading →

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More Technology That Makes Me Happy

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Matthew Achak

(Photo Credit: Deb Achak Photography) In no particular order, here are some more companies that I am loving right now: If you hate taxis and like ride-sharing services such as Uber, try Lyft. It’s a little friendlier and a bit … Continue reading →

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