CE Pro of the Week: Fred Fabian, eLifespaces

“We have had many fun (and challenging) project requests, but we can’t talk about them. We all signed nondisclosure agreements regarding these aspects of our business.”

God helps us why is BS so deep in this industry that I feel like always need to be wearing my hip boots.  Is this the new line of BS that everyone used to try and impress - “I can’t tell you about our projects because they are all covered by NDA”.  So you can;t even tell us about a *feature*?  Do you have ANY idea how idiotic and ridiculous that makes you look?

“but we can’t talk about them”
Im guessing automated stripper pole.

With all due respect, 39, how do you automated a stripper pole?

Never mind, 39, please don’t send us a graphic, OK?

You have it recessed in the basement or attic (think popup TV) and automate/lift it into place.

There was a thread about it at RC or IP i think.

If they do commercial work, many projects may be covered by an NDA. 

Typically however, you can say what you have done in general, maybe not exactly where you did it.  Or you can say where and for whom, but not divulge your role, or part.

In most cases as well, the NDA may lapse as soon as the project is being viewed by the public.

I have NDAs with many clients, but most just prohibit me from putting certain things in writing.  I can verbally discuss many projects with potential clients that I can’t write about.  (kinda like MAP, huh?)

In a home environment there may be a confidentiality agreement, in that you can’t say whose home has what system, or maybe the client asks to remain private, but rarely is there an NDA that would prohibit you from saying what you have done without disclosing the location.

i.e. Saying that we have implemented many of our edge-blending video servers that restore the aspect ratios on uneven surfaces, really doesn’t violate any of that.

Have to give him the benefit of the doubt I think though, although it seems like a purposefully vague answer.

The question is: “What’s the wildest request you’ve ever had for an installation?”  We also have NDA’s that if we would describe the basis or type would give a clue or the location away, so we do not even discuss those issues.  WHen you are working for some high end clients, you will get paperwork that prevents even the minimal descriptor, so lets cut a little slack here.

Fred, welcome to our little club, I for one appreciated your answers and just think your Twitter posting is fantastic.  I wish I was that creative.  Plus, we to are Apple diehards, so continue to “Think different!”

Ric
Ric Johnson
Elite Systems Solutions
a RIght@Home Technologies, Ltd. company

@ Ric
Well said.

Wow!  Feeling like a Presidential candidate, open to public scrutiny, I can only respond with statements similar to “I tried marijuana once. I did not inhale.”  What an aggressive bunch!  
Again, I stand by the position of non-disclosure.  Tom’s question as I read it was, “What is the wildest request…” - request’ being the key word.  A customer’s request is confidential – period – no grey areas. 
Now, if you want to discuss what we think would be a wild request, awkward request, etc.; that might be fun and an interesting topic.  Leave customers out of it.

@Fred

Collin Quinn’s rough crowd had nothing on this group.

Look up a thread by Mark Sipe on a 20Mm home and see what he was dealt by some “brave” anonymous posters (sarcasm implied).

It seems many here think they’ve done it all,(some have, myself excluded) and if they haven’t ever worked under an NDA then no one else has,right?

That’s the price of fame on CE Pro I’m afraid.

Best to you and your business and God Bless.

Mark

I still think it was an automated stripper pole. Just give me a nod and a wink if i am right .

I’ve worked under plenty of NDA’s so again, sell you BS somewhere else.  A simple question was asked - “What’s the wildest request you’ve ever had for an installation?”

I am quite sure any number of examples could have been chosen to provide an answer, but instead someone tried to impress everyone by bragging about their NDA’s.

Here’s an example.  I had a request for an underwater TV so that the customer could watch TV as they were under the water in the pool.  See how hard that was?  Oh wait, I’ve just violated someones top secret confidence by stating that.  And I’ve also got some stock you can buy in the Eiffel Tower.

John, why do you have it out so bad for Fred? I do not believe his answer to the reporter’s question was an attempt to blow smoke or “BS”, but just an honest literal answer to the question. CE Pro may have published it simply as an attempt at levity - let the reader imagine what the wildest request was. I think his response shows he has integrity.