If you had a magic????

Mike C.,

Our masonry company belongs to the local builders association.
I think there are 2-3 in your area, including the Greater Cleveland Home Builders Association. Try www.nahb.com (which is the National Home Builders Association) this will lead you to the local chapters. You can also look in the phone book or search on the internet under Cleveland Home Builders Association.

Good Luck!
 
Beth,

I don't know what I was thinking - honestly I didn't expect an answer but I was hoping that you had other involvements with the PWNA and could shine the light in that area for them.

You know what they say about having only one chance to make a first impression (re: PWNA web site).

Regards,
 
Jon,

One of my truck was assembled in Canada. I don't mind even though a large portion of the French-Canadians dislike Americans.

Unfortunately money talks in this country (including the politicians).

I understand the Japanese own over 60% of Hawaii.
About 30% of New York and a large part of California along with anything else of value here. The Japanese didn't lose the war, they just lost the battle.

Clinton and his administration opened the door further to economic slide. Personally, I think we should add Mexico on as another state - the borders are just about that open anyway. I think they are more critical of who goes into Mexico then the other way around.

Regards,
 
Everett,

It is true that most companies in the past have waited for things to break before fixing it.

It is also true that most business over the past 30 years have worked on a very short return cycle (3-6 months). While that's OK for high technology business, it has kept a lot of inovativeness in the closet. Other successful companies were accepting 1-3 year rate of return. Then the Russians were at the other end of the pendulum swing and only wanted to suck money out - which they are paying for dearly now (the people suffer).

There has been a push in recent years to encourage business to re-engineer their systems continuously (the pendulum swings the other way). Personally I have seen this at several companies and I think they have thrown the baby out with the bath water when they do this. One of the companies I did work for went out of business because of it. You have to find a happy medium and to me the 20/80 rule is about as basic as you can get - look for 20% of what's causing 80% of your problems then fix it. If you have systems in place that work, don't touch them unless you can make it worthwhile in replacing it.

Good basic business philosophies will never change (safety, quality, cost and schedule) - as long as you don't go for the fake.


Regards,
 
Paul B.

I agree with your 20/80 rule , that is good advice. You touched on an important subject , systems. I believe that there always needs to be systems and procedures in place that make sense and are "user friendly." I believe that the PWNA needs to change some of theirs in relation to membership, certifications , benefits of being a member, and regional activity. At least that seems to be what I'm getting from others and my own personal feelings. I recognize that everyone won't always agree on how an organization should be run but, as Ron M. posted , if I had a wish... it would be to see systems in place to get more folks involved and feel like they do get something in return.
 
Everett,

I'm an outsider to the PWNA and not privy to the internal struggels but it seems obvious that changes are slow and needed. I'm sure there are a lot of sharp people on the board.

Sure hope you can get that message across to Mike H. and others. Once they take the right road they will see a lot of doors opening.


Best Wishes!
 
Jon,

Interesting article in business news today - the average fuel economy for 2003 cars is 20.8 MPG (6% below standards set 15 years ago). In 1987/88 the average fuel economy was 22.1 MPG.
So who's driving the trend/train? Unfortunately it's the "ME" generation with all the SUV's. The standard comment is that gas prices are inexpensive compared to the inflationary rates. Like the car manufacturers don't hear this stuff.

So where do the sheep lead us from here? Better buy up a lot of economy used cars to sell when gas prices hit $2 per gallon.
There will be a bunch of low price SUV's for sale.
- Trade: (2) 2003 SUV's for (1) Toyota Corolla 150K miles or under.
or Trade: 2003 SUV for Honda 750 MC w/side-car.

Read another interesting article last night in Time magazine about white collar workers that have been displaced and now can't afford to make the $3K/month payments on their $500K home after being unemployable for the past 6-18 months.
The recession is still in progress and most of these white collar workers are turning to owning their own business.
There was one fellow that went from (I think) $100K per year to cutting meat at $8.50/hr for a butcher.

I wonder how many will end up in the P/W business? and ...Will it elevate the P/W industry?


Regards,
(Sly Fox) ...Hmmm, I like that - it's better than the "Gray Fox" or the "Bald Fox"
 
Hey Sly Fox,

All I can say is my old Dodge Cumins deisel got one heck of a lot better milage then the new Ford Power Stroke will ever get.

Dodge, anywhere from 17 to 22 mpg.
Ford, 13.5 is best I have ever gotten.

Now tell me it is the V8 diesel and not some other reason, still I like the Ford, never over heated, power from the get go too.

Rear end has to be replaced soon under warranty, they know some had problems of the limited slip or positration not disengaging and lucky me have one of those.

Jon
 
All of the talk of the value of the PWNA is no longer a personal concern of mine..........at the recent show, I met someone who will possibly need my help on an upcoming job..........a job that is worth well over ten grand!

Networking is key............there are things that go on at those conventions that people who have never been cannot possibly understand. I got to see several people who I met two or three years ago...........some of which I have stayed in contact with. I also met alot of people that I will probably retain as friends for years to come.

You can't put a dollar value on some of the info I have gained thru these meetings.

In my opinion, you are being very short-sighted if you write off the PWNA just because you can't find a tangible way to regain your money spent. Some things can't be measured, look at the big picture.
 
Mike , very well said and right on the money. There are folks who do get the big picture and that is where the industry is heading.
I could go on forever about this but bottom line , you are 100% correct. Had a great time wish I got to talk to you more.
 
Ron Musgraves said:
Change the Air and Fuel filter,, it should get 18
Click to expand...

Ron this low milage is from day one, now over 11,000 in 5 month and still at 13.5 so it is not the air and fuel filters that need changing.

Extreme, feeling just great, see Doctor today and get biopsy results, figured will be negative since they would have called if anything else, also am allowed to get back to making money tomorrow.

Jon
 
Excellent point Mike!!!!!

That's what professional associations are supposed to do. They offer education, certifications, business opportunities, and promote the industry.

Good friendships are an excellent "add-on" that always result when like-minded people get together and are dedicated to doing these things.

Some of my best friends are people I have met through professional associations.
 
These are all great posts concerning the PWNA. Its coming down to what you put into the PWNA then you should get something out of it. If you don't do much with the PWNA like the way I've been doing, even though I am a paying member, then you will get nothing out of it. I am a paying member because I believe in it and I see the potential that it has but if someone has asked me have I got much from it I would have to say no because I haven't been actively involved. So I don't expect much in return with my minimal activity.

But don't go by me because I haven't been involved as of yet. look at the Mike Hughes, Beth/Rod, Micheal Hindeliters,Chris Detter etc. They are involved and they seem to be reaping the rewards just by NETWORKING alone.

So if people are waiting for the PWNA to offer more to become members then I say FINE, but Look at what you could be missing that the other people are getting such as the people I mention above.

The answer Is what I remember Beth among others stating numerous times in the past...GET INVOLVED. Be a doer and Maybe YOU can be the one that really benefits from the PWNA and help others to also reap the rewards.

INVOLVEMENT/VOLUNTEERING=Caring/Connections/Money/Respect. What else could one want.
 
All these post are great!!!
I guess I will answer my own question…if I had the magic wand I would promote the PWNA to customers. How? I would start with a co-op ad in magazines. From there I would do press releases and then some charity functions for customer’s organizations.

3 basic things that would only require time and not a lot of dollars.
 
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