In
addition to all the attention the retail media is giving to the upcoming
national election, there is considerable talk among many of the business folks
close to me about the effect it is having on markets.
In
addition to all the attention the retail media is giving to the upcoming
national election, there is considerable talk among many of the business folks
close to me about the effect it is having on markets. Many believe that nothing
positive is going to happen until early next year when the elections are over
and everyone knows (or thinks they know) what the next administration will
bring.
That may be the truth when examining markets and the big picture, but I am not
so sure it is a good view for roofing contractors to adopt. In other words, do
not sit around waiting on the end of the election cycle to work on getting some
new business in the door. Do not assume the opportunities will improve because
even if they do you will miss out on a ton of them as you wait.
Last month this column had a look at the topic of doing something about the
lack of ongoing business in your market. The advice then was the same as now:
do not seek out excuses to explain why sales are down - get out there and do
something about it! It is important enough to repeat now, and the topic of
finding new business may come up again in the next month or two.
But speaking of the elections, this is a unique and exciting electoral cycle we
are in the midst of in 2008. We could once again witness the power of two
branches of the federal government falling into the hands of one party. That
party would then have significant impact on the third branch of the federal
government for a generation. In other words, it is an exceedingly important
election, no matter which person or party you support.
I am not going to bore you with my political stance in this election, but do
ask that you join me in becoming involved in the process. At a minimum, vote.
As a leader in your company, lead others to vote. As a leader in your
community, become involved in the political process. In the last cycle we had a
roofing contractor running for the United States Senate. He did not succeed in
his bid, but did make a significant impact on the agenda in his state and
community.
You do not need to run for the Senate to become active. There are plenty of
opportunities to contribute time and/or dollars to political campaigns. One of
the most basic things you need to own and operate a business is the freedom to
do so. That freedom is guaranteed by a process that will, for the 44th time,
bring in a new chief executive without a single drop of blood being shed. Your
involvement helps to defend that - if only by pulling a lever.
P.S. - Don’t make me come over there! If you haven’t renewed your subscription
since May of this year, I urge you to take a moment to complete and return the
renewal card on the front cover of this issue. Better yet, visit us atwww.roofingcontractor.com/renew4freeto fill out the FREE renewal form. If we
do not hear from you soon, your subscription may be cancelled, which would be a
shame because Roofing Contractor is your magazine and would not be the same
without you.