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LinkedIn; The Good, The Bad, and The Annoying

Since the beginning of September, there have been not one, but two articles published that slammed LinkedIn. Is the professional network site that bad?

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LinkedIn; The Good, The Bad, and The Annoying
Since the beginning of September, there have been not one, but two articles published that slammed LinkedIn. Both authors write their own columns on technology and business, and both seem to be fed up with the social media platform. LinkedIn is supposed to be the “professional” social network. A place where professionals and their professional persona’s, gather and expand their networks, talk shop, recruit new talent, and increase their influence. These two posts, however, have ardently stated that LinkedIn is anything but that. The mission statement of LinkedIn—To connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful—has been missed. At least, according to these two authors. Has it?

LinkedIn as it Should Be

At first, LinkedIn looked like just one of the many knockoffs of Facebook. At least, it looked that way to me. But over time I’ve come to see it as a helpful place to expand my network. I’ve also come to hate it as well. This isn’t about me hating or liking the site. Because, after all, you didn’t read this far to hear my opinion and my opinion alone. LinkedIn’s purpose was to enhance everyone’s professional experience and career in a way that only a social media platform could. Look at it this way; LinkedIn is the virtual equivalent of a networking event. You’re supposed to show up and get to know other people. If you can help someone, then fine. If you can’t, then that’s okay too. The main argument here is that this virtual networking event has devolved into a clutter of spammy sales pitches and pushy people who call themselves influencers. Has it? Some may argue “no.” And others will argue, emphatically, “yes.” I find myself stuck in the middle. Because there is no one reason to call LinkedIn completely “bad.” Conversely, there’s no one reason to call it completely “good.” Then we should look at both the good and the bad. In between both is the annoying. Before we get to that, I have to do my job and mention that you can use LinkedIn anytime you want. So long as you’re using the best internet deals in your area. There, let’s move on.

The Bad

Let’s start with the “bad,” and get that out of the way first. LinkedIn was meant to be a place where professionals go to network and find contacts. It wasn’t meant to be a place where people are constantly bombarded with sales pitches. Unfortunately, there are plenty of spammy sellers out there. One such example; When I was hired as Content Writer, I went on LinkedIn and changed my status to reflect that. Within a week I got a connection request and a message. LinkedIn gives you the option to send a note with each connection request. Part of the reason is to introduce yourself. Make an impression. Another reason is to ensure it’s not just some spambot trying to connect with people willy-nilly. This connection came with a note. It said something to the effect of “I think we can help each other out, let’s set up a call.” I didn’t want to say yes, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to have another connection. Well, the phone call turned out to be a waste of my time as this person had obviously not done their research. They’d seen “content” and assumed they could sell me some service related to content. The content marketing goals of my job, clearly stated on my profile, didn’t match up with theirs. While this is common, the next story is even worse. Living in San Antonio, we’re home to the greatest basketball team that’s ever played the game- The San Antonio Spurs. As you’d expect, there are always deals on season-ticket packages. And there are sales associates who sell those packages. These sales associates are on LinkedIn. One such associate requested a connection. And with the connection came a message. This one stated that I could get a season ticket package to give out to potential clients, or to members of my team to boost morale, or as an incentive. Again, if this person had done their research, they’d learn that I wasn’t in charge of anybody at the time. I was also not directly meeting with clients. As much as I wanted to mess with the guy, my conscience won out and I told he’d be better off trying to sell to someone else. This is the most common issue with LinkedIn- people who see a title or someone who might have some cash, and they pitch them their service. A little bit of time spent looking into my profile would have saved them this time. They could have then focused it on someone who might actually need, and be inclined to buy, their services.

The Annoying

As much as I hate people connecting with me on LinkedIn to pitch me, I’ve resolved not to be that person. After all, what I do, and how I do it, is not something that I can wrap up into a tidy little package and hand off to anybody. This is grandstanding, it’s a fact of my job. I write, and it takes a lot of time to do it. Because I’m constantly creating content every day, I need to fill the creativity well. That involves interviewing people. Without LinkedIn, I would have to dig through websites and make a lot of phone calls to get to a specific person. LinkedIn can help cut through all that by giving me a direct line to the desired connection. That rarely happens. Sigh. There have been several people that I could directly help if they would just agree to a twenty-minute interview. But they either don’t monitor their LinkedIn profile directly, or they have someone else do it for them. As a result, getting in touch with them is impossible. What should have been an easy way to network with valuable business contact turns out to be another dead end. And so, it’s back to the long way. I have to call their company and try to talk my way through a couple dozen layers before I get in touch with the right person. Or maybe I’m just going about it the wrong way?

The Good

Let’s end this on a high note, shall we? There are some good things about LinkedIn. First of all, I use LinkedIn to check the pulse of my industry. As a content writer and someone who works in the publishing industry, I can’t afford to ignore what other people are doing. I do check other news sources for my information though. I would be remiss, however, not to keep a direct eye on my target audience. It also helps to know what’s going on in my industry. Secondly, despite all the spammers and connections who ignore me, I have made good connections. I’ve met a couple clients through LinkedIn and the experiences have been positive. They recognize my skillset and how it can compliment them in their professional endeavors. Another will always ask me for insider advice on publishing, which I’m happy to give. The fact that he keeps coming back and asking leads me to believe he needs more than just advice though. But that’s for another post. Thanks to LinkedIn, however, my professional career has been made easier. It’s no walk in the park, but a social network that makes networking easier is much appreciated. I can’t imagine growing my personal network through just face-to-face meetings. As confident as I appear to be on LinkedIn, in person, I’m awkward and socially inept. So that’s where LinkedIn helps me out. Which is nice. But they’re not the “magic bullet” to making my career take off. I still have to put in the work to make that happen. Sigh.

Why isn’t LinkedIn like LinkedIn?

LinkedIn, for all of its flaws, still has advantages. And those who are aware and know how to leverage them, LinkedIn is great. But LinkedIn has missed the mission of its mission statement— To connect the world’s professional to make them more productive and successful. I would say I’m marginally more productive and only slightly more successful. Part of that is my fault. I pick and choose how to use the platform instead of going all in. The other part is on everyone else on LinkedIn. Look at it this way; a lawnmower is meant to mow lawns. It’s not meant for cross-country driving. Although there are stories of people who have succeeded on such a journey with a lawnmower, it’s not commonplace. LinkedIn was meant to be used as just a networking site. It’s for professionals to talk shop and share knowledge. Instead, there are way too many sales people trying to use it to make their next sale. And they’re not even doing a good job of that. LinkedIn has benefits, but it will only reach its full potential if everyone uses it the right way.

UCaaS Helps Businesses; Furry Creatures Not Included

UCaaS provides a means for small businesses to communicate more efficiently and effectively. Kind of like a Disney princess.

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UCaaS Helps Businesses; Furry Creatures Not Included
UCaaS provides a means for small businesses to communicate more efficiently and effectively. Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is offered by many software companies and ISPs (internet service providers). There’s a long and technical explanation for how they do this, but given I’m not the most technically savvy, I’m not going to try. Instead, as I like to do, I’m going to use something for pop culture to help me understand it. From what I’ve gleaned so far about UCaaS; they provide communications within a company through the cloud. I take that to mean that UCaaS does something for you and you get to relax. Or at least, have one less thing to worry about. Almost as though you can sing a few notes, and someone will come to help you with something. Like a Disney Princess!

Furry Creatures are Helpful

Disney Princesses, from the very beginning, were portrayed as a friend to all living creatures. It was never really explained how they got to be such good friends, they just were. Along with this friendship, the Princess in question could sing a few notes and the woodland creatures would immediately gather around her. This strange power, again, was never really explained. But it meant the animals knew her, knew her voice, and knew the notes needed to put them at her beck and call. A group of animals would show up and create a semi-circle around the princess. She’d smile as they’d eagerly await her commands. She’d then break into song as the animals carried out some task. No instructions are given. The animals simply knew what was expected of them.

Reality Sucks

This trope, as amusing and nostalgic as it is, leads to some false beliefs. For one, I dumbly believed all animals were good-natured. Second, they inherently knew what I needed. The first one was proven false when a random dog bit me. The second one was also disproven when my own dog stared at me dumbly when I told him to roll over. That trick took a while for him to learn. Maybe it was because I wasn’t a princess? No matter, I managed to train my dog to roll over, play dead, and occasionally fetch. It was a growing experience for both of us.

Laughing At Themselves

The trope continued on in many Disney, and non-Disney, movies. And with any writing convention that’s gained trope-hood, parodies soon follow. Not to be outdone, Disney joined the trend. Back in 2007, Disney parodied itself with Enchanted. In this film, Princess Giselle is sent to a horrible, terrible place with no magic- New York City. But Giselle being Giselle, she’s still able to call woodland creatures to her when she needed help. The only problem with this is she’s in New York City. This metropolis is far, far, far away from any real forest. So she has to make do with city animals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n15UKexKf4k It’s quite entertaining. But this isn’t the only movie to spoof the trope. Check out the best internet deals so you can download and stream a wide selection of them. You’ll save time and money while you laugh!

UCaaS doesn’t use Woodland Creatures

Disney Princesses calling forth furry creatures for help does resemble UCaaS… in a way. Don’t worry, UCaaS providers aren’t trapping and forcing helpless animals to do their work. Instead, UCaaS is unseen within a business until it’s needed. Much like a Disney Princess who needed to clean a Manhattan Loft. The skill is there all along. While UCaaS doesn’t need a special tune to be activated, it does need to be properly installed. UCaaS includes a range of services; video conferencing, messaging, voice, apps for collaboration, and a way to track all the devices owned by the company. When properly installed and maintained, UCaaS blends in with the rest of the company’s network. This means employees and managers can use it without the hassle of running multiple apps at once. And isn’t that the point of UCaaS?

Types of UCaaS

UCaaS comes in one of two different setups. There’s the single-tenancy. Single-tenancy is a customized software created for a specific company. As you can guess, this is expensive. The upside is UCaaS is integrated with on-site applications, and the service is unique to the company itself. The provider uses a template and modifies it to fit the company’s needs. And there’s multi-tenancy. With multi-tenancy, UCaaS is installed and used on a subscription basis. Multiple companies can use the same software that’s hosted off-site. By setting up an account, a company is granted access to all the unified communication applications. The downside to this is that its offsite and if one customer goes down, chances are all will go down. It’s cheaper though. Which is good news for small companies that need communication services. Or it’s helpful for companies that have high turnover due to seasonal employees. Larger companies can still use UCaaS. They can either take the single-tenancy approach or the multi-tenancy approach. Single-tenancy might make more sense as larger companies would have more funds to create a customized UCaaS that’s hosted within their network. But, if they have multiple locations, a multi-tenancy may be better. Having someone else run the cloud is one less thing to worry about.

How to Pick a UCaaS?

Unified Communications as a Service are available from many different providers. A few ISPs have also created their own UCaaS to integrate within their own internet services.

What Does Your Business Need?

To find what’s best for you and your business, first, determine what your business needs. What works for one business doesn’t always work for the next. Take the time to do an honest assessment of how your business communicates and how they can do that better. Once you know that, then you can search the internet to find UCaaS that have the right services for you. There are basic packages with a few key services but look for the ones that have all the services that you require. If they have one or two that you don’t, see if you can negotiate that out of the contract. Better to pay less for what you need than more for something you may never use.

Check out their service agreement.

This does involve reading the fine print, that way you know exactly what the UCaaS provider is going to do for you. And since it’s your business, it’s better to be prepared than blindly signing with another company. This service will have access to your internal network. With that in mind, make sure they’re worthy of the responsibility. Once that’s done, you’ll also want to know what their network requirements will be. This is important because you'll want to know how much they’ll be able to access from their end. If security is a touchy subject, then move on to the next provider.

How Do they Work With You?

Check with their customers. While reviews are helpful, they’re not always unbiased. Most reviewers only write a review after they’ve experienced a problem, or felt they’ve been mistreated. This often skews the tone of the review to sound negative. Instead, ask their customers how often they use the UCaaS and for what. This puts on the focus on the real uses of the service and away from any negative reaction they may have had. And finally, the last piece to consider is the cost.

Is Your Business Ready for UCaaS?

Disney Princesses have a convenient skill for getting work done for them. I have yet to see one run an entire company though. Maybe that should be the premise of the next Disney movie? Not a bad idea. In the meantime, check into your businesses development and functionality. It might be time to consider having a system for unified communications. This will allow you to save time and frustration. If you’ve chosen the right UCaaS provider, then you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

Windstream Internet Review 2020

For those who haven’t heard of Windstream yet, consider this your first introduction. As they expand, and help more people, we'll hear a lot more.

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Windstream Internet Review 2020

Windstream Internet Review 2020

It is the year 2020 and with all the talk about coronavirus some stories are getting buried especially those about companies who are providing excellent internet and tv service.  For those who haven’t heard of Windstream yet, consider this your first introduction. If this were a movie, there’d be this cool intro where the CEO of Windstream would walk in and start talking about…something important. Or, if the movie was created and produced for younger ages, there would be a song and dance number. As a comedy, Windstream would be portrayed as the hardworking company that was getting no love in the media. What’s important to understand is that Windstream is expanding and they’re doing so at a consistent rate. Whether they ever make their story into a movie is not the point. Would make for an interesting movie though.

By the Numbers

Windstream currently has a presence in all fifty states. Of the 42,000 zip codes in the United States, you can find Windstream in 14,854 of them. If my math is correct, that’s 35% of the country. That’s not bad. The 35% of the country that can get Windstream service, there’s a range of options available. Depending on the area, customers can choose DSL, cable, fiber, and fixed wireless. Check with the best Windstream deals to find out what’s available in your area. Their top download speeds, for fiber, is 1 gigabit. That’s their fastest. Unfortunately, their fiber coverage is only 20% of their total areas served. But it’s not all bad, there are other services that you can get to make it worth your while. Windstream is also one of the top providers when it comes to downloading times during peak hours. Netflix has this handy speed index that calculates every provider and how well they handle downloads during peak hours. These peak hours are usually 5-10 pm every night. The average for their DSL connections over the last year is 3.17 Mbps during peak hours. This makes them one of the more reliable ISPs out there. That reputation for reliability has also helped them as they seek to expand. Within the last two years, they’ve merged with Earthlink and acquired Broadview Networks. Through these expansions, they’ve been able to utilize and incorporate these networks into their unique branding.

What Have They Been Up To?

Like any good company, Windstream has been busy.

Veterans and Military

In August, they were named ranked among the best companies for veterans. US Veteran’s Magazine listed Windstream on their Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies. Windstream stood out among the other 350 companies that participated. The Military Friendly Designation was also bestowed on Windstream by VIQTORY with help from the Military Friendly Advisory Council. They were ranked eighth for the 2019 fiscal year.

Fixed Wireless

Windstream has also been working to expand their fixed wireless capabilities. Unlike satellite internet and tv companies like hughesnet, viasat and directv, which can be affected by weather, fixed wireless uses line-of-sight. A receiver, installed on the home or structure, will connect with the transmitter on a tower or a tall structure. So long as the line-of-sight is unimpeded, customers can get reliable internet. This method is far more cost-effective for rural customers, and for ISP startups. Windstream utilized this technology to connect Poteau, OK. Located in Eastern Oklahoma, Poteau is like any other city; they need reliable internet to connect to the larger world. Given Poteau’s rural location, however, deploying fixed broadband to the area has been economically challenging. Windstream took on that challenge and rolled out fixed wireless technology to the area. So far, the first phase allows 900 residents to get fixed wireless installed. When the entire project is completed, about 8,800 residents will have access to fixed wireless. As fixed wireless technology expands, residents who once had their options severely limited, if any at all, now have the same opportunities as those in more urban areas. And Windstream is part of realizing that dream.

Their Biggest News

While Windstream is helping to connect rural areas, as well as residential customers, they’re all helping small businesses. To do this, they created OfficeSuite UC. OfficeSuite provides a means for small to medium-sized businesses to run their operations through the cloud. Like most UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), OfficeSuite provides a means for small business to send messages, collaborate, and meet, among other things, all through cloud connectivity. What’s set OfficeSuite apart is the fact they’ve grown by 20% year-over-year. While this may not sound terribly exciting to most people, when you stop to think about it, it’s quite mind-boggling.

What this Means for Windstream

Winning awards, accolades, and exceeding sales goals are all signs of healthy company growth. But it’s nothing new. What really matters is what Windstream is doing. And more important than that, what is Windstream working towards? Let’s see... Windstream is on target to expand and help more and more customers connect to the internet. With this as their main goal, Windstream is working hard to make this a reality. The fact that they’re winning awards and hitting sales goals is just icing on the cake. These metrics are really pointing to how many new customers they’re helping, and how they’re running their business. And it’s working. Windstream, though considered “small” is doing more than what the bigger companies are; they’re utilizing different technology and targeting unique markets. They’re doing things differently. While the bigger companies are still around, they’re expanding into more and more markets. If AT&T’s purchase of Time-Warner isn’t contested, then AT&T’s focus will shift. They’ll begin to expand HBO and other entertainment properties held by Time-Warner. Providing more and more entertainment options seems to be their top priority, rather than reaching more and more customers. Windstream is moving up into the void created by such expansion. While it probably won’t hurt AT&T too much, Windstream stands to gain a lot from AT&T’s lack of focus in this area. If this were a movie with a good scriptwriter, there’d be some intriguing scenes written about this expansion. Instead of a boardroom, there’d likely be shots of exec’s walking around, talking with sharp wit about what to do now that AT&T is distracted. That is if this were a movie.

Try out Windstream

I know I keep bringing up the movie analogy, but what can I say? I watch a lot of movies. Out in the real-world Windstream is a solid company with more than just internet to offer. They have OfficeSuite. They’re also actively utilizing fixed wireless and working with veterans and the military. It wouldn’t be so surprising to see them overtake one of the “bigger” names like AT&T internet, Centurylink Internet, Spectrum internet soon

. Even if that doesn’t happen, Windstream is one of the many ISPs available across the United States. It may not be as big as let's say a Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Centurylink or ATT but don't let that fool you.  Windstream internet deals, streaming options and customer service make it a formidable opponent to the bigger internet and cable companies in the US.  To find if they have a presence in your area, input your zip code through Konecteaze This way you’ll see the deals, and who’s providing them, in your area. And then you can stream any movie, or show, written by Aaron Sorkin that involves lots of walking and dialogue. One can easily get the impression that all company executives talk this way. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The truth is that despite no snappy dialogue, Windstream is doing above-average work and is worth taking a lot into.

The Staying Power of Retro Games

Retro games have this odd sort of draw on people, even those who do not consider themselves “gamers.” These games have achieved legendary status.

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The Staying Power of Retro Games
Retro games have this odd sort of draw on people, even those who do not consider themselves “gamers.” These games, though simplistic compared to the games available today, have achieved legendary status. And legends tend to stick around. Just ask David Kaelin of Game Over Videogames.

Game Over Videogames

In 2005, Kaelin opened his first store in Austin, TX, dubbed Game Over Videogames. The goal of the store was simple; create a store to clean and restore classic games and resell them. Since it’s inception, Game Over Videogames has expanded more than just what it sells but also to new locations. You can find the most recent games sitting next to classic ones, vintage game consoles alongside the latest generation ones. But as the gaming industry continues to evolve, more and more games are going to the cloud. Soon we’ll see a similar shift in gaming like we did with TV and movies- subscription-based services. In fact, EA launched their Origin Access Premiere service on July 30th of this year. Kaelin isn’t worried about this. While more and more games will be delivered via a streaming interface, there is still the draw of the classic consoles and games. Sure, there may be a switch in the type of controllers they sell, but Game Over Videogames will still have a solid customer base. Retro games, even for me, do hold a particular sway.

“Non-Gamers”

There are those who spend hours playing games. The complicated leveling system, loot boxes, combos, etc. takes time to learn. It’s also frustrating for first-time gamers. The graphics are stunning, no doubt, but the thought of spending all that time getting “into” the game puts me off more than anything. And besides, I’m a writer, I love writing, and to be a better writer, I read. I love reading. I read articles all day. And I have audiobooks going when I’m driving. For these reasons, I consider myself a non-gamer. Kaelin, on the other hand, argues that I am still a gamer. Why? At one point in my past, my family did own a Nintendo Entertainment System. It was second-hand, given to us by our grandparents who bought it at a yard sale. Of course, this did not make my mom happy. But that’s another story.

The Original NES

This NES came with the regular favorites, Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. There was also Russian Attack, WWF Super Slam, 1942, and a couple others. For about a year we played that NES as much as we could. After all, we lived on the northern coast of California. It rained most of the year and the city wasn’t very well developed. We were far, far—far—away from major metropolitan areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles. How better to spend our time? Well, I could have read more, but that’s beside the point. We played the NES until we got bored with it and sold it. Then I got a Game Boy. An Original Game Boy! The grey brick! I still have it and it still works! Even my mom got into playing that thing. She beat everyone in Tetris 2, putting up the highest score and staying there. When I admitted this to Kaelin, he pointed out that those gaming experiences, though in my distant past, still make me a gamer. Despite the lack of an Xbox and a subscription, I was still a gamer. The fact that I’ve played retro games makes me a gamer. I should also add that I did play Goldeneye and a few other titles sporadically from junior high through college. I didn’t get seriously into it as some of my roommates did. But pull out the classic NES, and I’m down to play.

Gamers

Thanks to retro games, and stores like Game Over Videogames, there’s a place for the casual gamer and the self-proclaimed non-gamer to get their gaming fix. More than that, stores like Game Over Videogames provide an introduction for those wanting to expand their gaming history. Younger ages can come in and find out all about these games that older people keep waxing nostalgic about. As long as retro games exist, new gamers will be curious about them and videogame resale stores will be there to answer their questions. More interesting than these games is the mythos that can surround a retro game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wjMn6yjOjQ On April 26, 2014, outside Alamogordo, New Mexico, a film crew, an excavation crew, and a slew of gaming fans showed up…to a landfill. The legend goes that a large shipment of the worst game ever made had been dumped here back in the late 80s.

ET Phone Home

In 1982, “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial” came out This heartfelt sci-fi/family movie has become one of Steven Spielberg’s, the film’s director, most well-known feature films. The story centers around a young boy, reeling from his parents’ divorce, finding a friend in a lost little alien he names ET. The little alien who just wanted to go home has become part of pop culture. The plot was reused back in 2011 for Super 8. It was produced by Steven Spielberg but directed by JJ Abrams. But that’s another story. To capitalize on the ET’s popularity, a video game was commissioned. To get it out in time for Christmas, production was rushed. They did succeed in getting the game ready and out on time.

The Myth Begins

The game itself, however, was not well received. In truth, it wasn’t bad, just difficult. Yet, many gamers at the time didn’t appreciate this level of difficulty. As a result, sales of the game tanked and soon existing copies were either pulled from shelves or sold off at deep discounts. Because of its level of difficulty, the game was dubbed as the “worst game ever made.” And copies were rare to find. This lead to a mythology around the game itself. “The game so bad that it was banished from existence.” Then news spread that a large shipment of copies was dumped in a landfill in Alamogordo, NM. Zak Penn put together a crusade to dig into the landfill and determine if, indeed, the large shipment of the worst game ever did exist. He documented the story in “Atari; Game Over.” It’s an interesting documentary, well worth the watch. George R.R. Martin and Ernest Cine even make appearances. What strikes me the most is the story of the game's designer, Howard Scott Warshaw. I won’t ruin the end for you. Just know that Warshaw did an incredible job on the game and the industry recognizes him for it. And rightfully so. Make sure you have a streaming service to watch it. Check out the best internet deals in case you don’t.

The Mythos Lives On

While ET: The Extra-Terrestrial has earned legendary status, there are other games too. Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, Russian Attack, and many more. These games may not have ended up in a landfill, but they have attained pop culture status. These were the games that I spent hours playing. They were simple but fun. It’s easy to point out the nostalgia factor involved in these games, and Kaelin agrees. For those who didn’t grow up playing them, retro games still carry clout with them. Those who wish to understand the evolution of video games must start here, with retro games. Thanks to stores like Game Over Videogames, there’s a place to get started.

Energy Deregulation and The Big 3

Energy deregulation is picking up speed across multiple markets and providing a cheaper way for customers to get electricity.

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Energy Deregulation and The Big 3
Energy deregulation is picking up speed across multiple markets. In truth, this has been going on for a while. While there are a few areas where it’s slow to catch on, the good news is that a lot of new energy providers have entered various markets. You’re still getting the same electricity, it’s just from a different provider. That provider may be cheaper, they may be more expensive. In a free market economy, you get to decide what’s right for you and your home. Or let’s look at it this way. The San Antonio Spurs had The Big 3 for quite some time; Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Each one had their strengths and weaknesses. Each one, ultimately, contributed points to their overall wins. While the Big 3 have, sadly, been dissolved, there are still plenty of games to watch this upcoming season. Check out the best internet and cable deals so you can save some cash while watching your team win. Now, were those points any better if they came from Duncan, Parker, or Ginobili? Not at all. So long as they were scoring, that was all that mattered.

Tim Duncan

The 6’11” power forward from Wake Forest University was drafted by the Spurs in 1997 as their first pick. He would remain a Spur for the entirety of his 19 seasons in the NBA. Every season while Duncan was on the roster—every season—the Spurs went to the playoffs. Playing 1392 games, he averaged 19 points per game, ten rebounds, and three assists. Fifteen times an all-star, Duncan helped lead the Spurs to five championships. Some nights Duncan was on fire, some nights he wasn’t. Every game, however, he was consistent in his playing and was always reliable. Duncan wasn’t a flashy player, he didn’t strut on the court or made a big display when he got the score. He stuck to the basics and it worked for him. This earned him the nickname “The Big Fundamental.” Tim Duncan retired in 2016.

Tony Parker

Still active in the NBA, Tony Parker got his start playing in France. In 2001 he was drafted by the Spurs. The 6’2” point guard would go on to dominate, averaging 15 points per game, two rebounds, and five assists. Despite playing for the Spurs for seventeen seasons, Parker was traded to the Charlotte Hornets recently.

Manu Ginobili

This one hurts a little as the great Manu retired on August, 27th, 2018. He’s the last of the big three to leave San Antonio. Yet, during his time for the Spurs, Ginobili played 1057 games, averaged 13 points per game, three rebounds, and three assists. His playing style was less fundamental and a little bit crazy. During one game around Halloween, a bat found its way into the AT&T Center. Gameplay was halted while the staff tried to figure out how to capture a flying bat. Ginobili solved the problem by swatting it out of the air. He’s also known for stuffing James Harden and holding the record for steals for the San Antonio Spurs. These three players had the opportunity to move to other teams. With the exception of Parker, they chose to stay with the San Antonio Spurs for their entire careers. Players move from team to team all the time. They’re offering their ability to put points on the board, much like energy deregulation. Energy companies are like players and teams, putting points on the board. Sometimes they can do it more efficiently than others. Sometimes they can do it cheaper than others.

The Big 3 and Energy Deregulation

Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili created the nucleus around which other players could attach to and excel. This style is commonly seen among many dynastic teams. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman provided the same foundation for the Chicago Bulls in the late 90’s. Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh took the Miami Heat to multiple championships from 2011 to 2014. Other players joined these triads to go on to win championships. It’s rare that a team goes all the way thanks to a single player. The point, pardon the pun, is that these teams consistently scored well in each game. It wasn’t who was playing so much as how well they played. Energy companies are acting in the same capacity. Through energy deregulation, they can provide the same services. A company may not do it with dramatic flair, but they get the job done. Much like the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs have long been looked down upon because they didn’t play with flash or drama. Thanks to their coach, Greg Popovich, the Spurs have stuck to a fundamental style. It’s not showy. But they’ve won five championships under Pop and gone to the playoffs every year. Coincidence? I think not.

How Does it Affect Cost?

Getting points on the board is ultimately what matters. Getting energy to your home is ultimately what matters. As more and more energy companies enter the market, there are more and more chances for customers to get their energy at lower prices. Let’s look at it this way. In 2013, the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat met in the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat ended up winning that year due to some, ahem, questionable officiating. It also helped that Miami had James, Bosh, and Wade. They also had other players on their roster. Let’s keep with “The Big 3” metaphor for right now. The salaries of Miami’s big three were as follows;
  • James- $19,067,500
  • Bosh-$19,067,500
  • Wade-$18,673,000
That’s a grand total of $56,808,000. And that was just for the big three! The next year, 2014, the San Antonio Spurs met the Miami Heat again in the NBA Finals. This time the Spurs ended up winning. The salaries of San Antonio’s big three players were;
  • Duncan-$10,361,446
  • Parker-$12,500,000
  • Ginobili-$7,000,000
That’s a grand total of $29,861,446. The Miami Heat paid $56,808,000 for their points to be delivered. The San Antonio Spurs only paid $29,861,446 for theirs. If you were to find out that an energy company could deliver the same electricity to your house for less, wouldn’t that be something worth looking into? You may not save millions, but it could feel that way.

The Choice is Yours

Ultimately, the choice is yours. You’re picking the team members you want to play for your team. They’ll be delivering the same electricity to your home, but they could be doing it for cheaper. This may take some research on your part, or you can visit Texas Electricity Ratings to speed up the process. There may be another provider in your area you weren’t aware of. There may be only one. But that’s because deregulation is a much slower process than signing an NBA team. Much less an NBA Championship team. The good news is that more and more companies are entering the market. If they’re not in your area yet, they soon will be.

It’s Delivered the Same Way

To switch energy providers may take some time, but there’s no need to completely rewire the house for it. The cables will remain the same. Charging your laptop will not be any different. The only difference is it’ll be coming from a different source. Much like an NBA team, the points getting scored are the same points. It doesn’t matter if Tim Duncan scored them or Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili. What matters is they’re putting points on the board. Check out the options available for your home. Energy deregulation may have given you the edge for picking a winning team for the upcoming season!