When you consider all the good things that can
come from a down cycle in the economy, it is hard to be depressed about it. I
am not referring to silver linings, but golden
opportunities.
It
would be business as usual for me to add a P.S. to this editor’s note reminding
you that it is not too late to sign up to attend the International Roofing Expo
(IRE), which runs concurrently with three days of the NRCA convention next
month. Most of you would agree, however, that business is anything but “as
usual” right now.
This is not a pleasant article to write, because
it has to do with failure. But don’t equate failure with being a loser. Thomas
Edison failed with thousands of different filaments before finding one able to
sustain the light of an incandescent bulb, and he most certainly wasn’t a
loser.
Unless
you are trying to make the country western singing circuit, singing the winter
blues isn’t going to help you. Staring at four walls and worrying about the
recession just makes things worse. Even in good times winter can be a troubling
season.
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) has been
on the worldwide commercial roofing market for 40 years. In this time span,
over 1 billion square feet of the material have been installed. The material
has established a proven track record of performance in all climatic
conditions, particularly in field membrane areas.
What can the diamond trade teach us about lead
management? More than you might think. The distribution and sale of these
precious gems exemplifies the importance of having a systematic approach to
qualify and grade your assets and, in turn, maximize their worth.
I am not a
talking head you see on the news or someone from academia who has now declared
a recession. Determining what caused the bank crisis and why the stock market
took such a hit and the ability to project our future economic situation are
well beyond my pay grade.
With increasing regularity, construction contracts are
providing for the resolution of disputes through arbitration, rather than
litigation through the court system. For example, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1987 and 1997 contracts
contain a provision which requires arbitration through the American Arbitration
Association (AAA).
I am privileged in ways that are beyond description.
My career has taken me throughout the United
States and Canada, working in the best industry
in the world while building relationships with many friends.
Last month’s article dealt with the art of asking
questions as a way to build knowledge of customers’ wants and needs. There is a
second part to that equation. Asking all the right questions will get you
nowhere unless you develop careful listening skills.
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