Flashback to the Summer of 1997...
I recently concluded a six-year tenure as the Director of Computing Services at Dallas Baptist University. During my time there, I led the implementation of a comprehensive campus-wide information management system, successfully replacing five separate, fragile legacy systems. This new system involved literally every department in the University. It was a huge success and that same system (clearly updated many times over) is still in use at the university today (as of 2025).
(Familial update: We had our first three sons when I made this change.)
I was now working with a small startup consultancy in Dallas, Texas, named Professional EDGE. For my very first assignment, I was sent out to visit with a client located in the Dallas Infomart. They were using a CRM system named GoldMine and it was routinely crashing on them. Upon arrival, I was ushered into a large conference room where all the upper-level management were already meeting, discussing their dilemma with GoldMine.
After brief introductions, several people in the room expressed their frustration with the impact GoldMine's crashing was having on their business. The CEO then posed the question, "Mr. Neighbors, how long have you been working with GoldMine?" Looking at my watch, I asked, "How long ago did I walk into this room?"
And thus, the GoldMine Era had begun. (Yes, we resolved their issue. It proved to be an outdated software driver that required updating on most of their existing Windows PCs.)
Fast forward 10 years...
In April 2007, Professional EDGE suddenly announced their upcoming closure, the very next month. Due to Professional EDGE closing their doors, my wife, Karin, and I decided to start For Him Consulting. Upon Professional EDGE's closure, 100% of the active, current clients I had been working with agreed to simply shift over and continue working with For Him Consulting. Thus, the GoldMine Era continued.
(Familial update: We have now added our two daughters to the family.)
Fast forward 15+ more years...
In January 2023, the makers of GoldMine notified all of their certified partners that, as of May 1st, 2023, we could no longer sell licenses to new customers. Existing customers could still purchase additional licenses, but no new licenses could be sold.
Over the next several months:
I approach the company that owns GoldMine, discussing the potential of purchasing the GoldMine business unit to potentially extend its life.
I learn:
- The existing revenue stream from annual maintenance renewals is driving the price way too high.
- They intend to ride the annual maintenance renewals gravy train as long as they can.
- They are no longer developing new features or functions (the biggest motivator for customers to continue paying their annual maintenance).
- They are strictly offering bug-fix releases from this point forward.
- The core underlying code is based on obsolete technology that would be very difficult to replace.
(Familial update: We have now added our fourth son, for six children total.)
It was becoming very clear the GoldMine Era was effectively coming to an end for the Neighbors family. Five of our six children were now grown and on their own. GoldMine had served our family well for many years. I have said many times over these last couple of decades that I have been blown away that God would use a single software application to provide for and feed our family. His blessings abound.
In Fall 2023, while driving on the outskirts of downtown Dallas I saw a big purple billboard that read "ODOO" and some reference to business management software (I don't remember the exact wording). I think to myself, "Hmm, I need to find out what that Odoo is all about." However, I forget all about it.
A couple of months later, I'm reviewing the LinkedIn profile for one of my adult sons and I am shocked to see reference to Odoo. A phone call later and I learn that he's a full-time Odoo developer at his current company (that he's been with a couple of years at that point).
And THAT is how God brought Odoo into our lives.
I am a sponge when it comes to learning new software and systems. I researched and digested as much about Odoo as quickly as I could.
We soon learned what was required to become a certified Odoo partner. It is an expensive endeavor and not for the faint of heart. We are such a small business, that cash flow is practically always a challenge. After much prayerful consideration, we decided to bite the bullet and go for it.
Therefore, in late April 2024, we signed up as an Odoo partner. I then spent the next six months consuming and digesting all that I could. In mid-October, I took and passed the Odoo 17 certification exam (which focused on fifteen of their core apps, out of over seventy apps total).
I have been absolutely and utterly blown away by Odoo. There is simply no other system like it. Is it perfect? Of course not. It is software built by infallibale human beings. However, so is every other software solution out there.
With each passing day I become more and more enamored with Odoo and all it has to offer. I feel like the last 27+ years with GoldMine has been child's play. The real fun has just begun.
You are encouraged to join us on this journey.
(For those unaware, Odoo is pronounced "oh do". It's Odoo, not oh don't!)