Long hours on job a lesson in what it takes to succeed

Brian Peace is chairman and chief executive of Peace Software, one of New Zealand's largest software houses.

It produces code that generates bills for some of the largest power and gas companies in North America.

In 1981, while still at Auckland University, Mr Peace took a part-time job writing a payroll system for the former Devonport Borough Council.

"They had me working on an old NCR 5100 series computer with five megabyte removable platters, which came in these boxes that looked like little washing machines. That was fun."

His first boss was the town clerk - a supportive man but prone to looking over the shoulders of his staff and asking how everything was going. "As a software developer that's the last thing you need."

Mr Peace left the borough council when the project was finished and went back to university to finish his master's degree.

"I also started a consulting practice but I discovered I could only sell time - and only so much of that. That's why I started Peace in 1985 as a product and service company, believing the way to go was to build repeatable processes."

That first job taught him how to work long hours.

He also learned that to build a system for an industry or business required a huge amount of homework.

"So it's best to pick one or two - that's why Peace Software has specialised in the utility sector. It opened my eyes to opportunities in the commercial world for people who understood how to apply technology.

"I also learned to take full responsibility and accountability for everything on site, and to be accessible to the managing director 24 hours day.

"If there are issues, you must always be willing to face them. That way you keep loyalty and trust, the bills keep getting paid and you can go to the next level."