Service Above Self

Service to the community and giving back have been very important to me for a major part of my life.  Recently I have been thinking more about a long time friend that I lost 18 years ago in a plane crash that exemplified those ideals.   

I met Dave in 1988 and became fast friends, then coworkers, business associates in our own ventures and partners in some.  Dave may have been the most giving person that I have ever met.  He worked endlessly to help others through his efforts with the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the Little Eagles Program through the Experimental Aircraft Association. (EAA)  Additionally there was never anyone in need that he encountered that he did not find a way to help.  Dave served in the 82nd Airborne during the Vietnam Conflict and was awarded both the Purple Heart and Silver Star.  He rarely spoke of the war or his awards instead choosing to help others. 

Dave died doing one of his favorite things, flying.  He had devoted countless hours to this skill including taking children on flights with the Little Eagle Program in an attempt to get them interested in aviation.  I flew with him many times and some of my daughter's fondest moments were on flights with Dave and spending time with other kids at the Little Eagles events.  On the fateful day Dave and his longtime girlfriend were flying when it appears that he had engine failure.  Witness accounts (link to an article from the LA Times  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-30-me-pilot30-story.html) note that it looked like he was attempting to land on Interstate 15 but decided not to at the last minute as there was traffic on the road.  He subsequently went nose first into the roadside terrain and perished.  

Dave was a hero in Vietnam and was a blessing to everyone that he met.  His death was another example of his heroism, choosing the safety of others before his own.  I miss our friendship, our regular visits and his keen sense of humor but I have been impacted greatly by what I learned from Dave.  

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) says "As each has revived a gift, use it to serve one another."   Dave lived his entire life that way.  

10 Years Later

Sunday will be my 10th anniversary with Management Recruiters of Templeton.   A new chapter in my life started that day in 2011.  I have had many chapters in both my professional and personal life.  Less than 2 years before starting my new career my family relocated from Southern California.  I had been there 24 years and Andrea and Adele were born and raised there.  It was a big change for all.  

Recruiting was never my first choice for a career, much like lending wasn't my first choice when I chose it, or should I say, it chose me in 1978.  You see, at that time Pittsburgh was in a major recession with unemployment and closures of our major employers.  I took the first job that offered health insurance and started out knocking on doors collecting delinquent loan accounts in some of the worst neighborhoods in the county.  I have always been lucky to have good mentors and they helped me to accomplish much in my career as a lender.   I always keep them in my prayers as they have been instrumental in who I have become in business and as a person.  

In 2006 the beginning of another recession forced my hand and the company that I worked for went out of business like so many firms in my industry.  I struggled in opening a new firm and finally decided it was time for a change.   In 2009 we left Southern California and started over with no jobs but moved to the Paradise of the Central Coast of California, an area that we had vacationed in for years.  A friend from church introduced me to my boss and now good friend Wayne Caruthers who gave me a chance in the middle of the recession.  The first couple of years were a struggle but Wayne's encouragement, a lot of hard work and many prayers have created a situation where I now have the self fulfillment of helping others while I enjoy what I do and the people that I do it with.  Most people dream of retiring at age 65.  That is a short 2+ years away for me but I hope to be writing my 20th Anniversary post on March 28, 2031.  Thank all of you for your support and friendship!  

The First Step

 We are a year into the pandemic and have had tremendous loss of life and a devastating effect on our businesses. More than ever professionals are working from their home and spending more time at home than usual. I for one have been busy snapping cute pics of Rusty, my constant companion.

Even businesses that have remained open have struggled to get their bearings. There have been layoffs, recalls, hiring freezes, and an overall lack of direction that was most likely unavoidable. It seems like the worst of the pandemic is behind us and with the vaccines that life may soon return somewhere close to normal. I get it, the vaccines are not a permanent cure, but, they provide enough protection to gain confidence in living a normal life and operating our businesses without putting off decisions any longer. I am certain that in the long term that we will be vaccinated regularly for Covid, much like the flu.

I pray for everyone that has had a loss due to Covid. In addition I pray for all that are struggling and finally that I pray that we can once again return to normal, happy, productive lives.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with 1 step. " Lao Tzu

A Year Later

Yesterday I finally received my first injection with the Moderna Vaccine. I went to a county event and was pleased to find that everything was well organized, efficient and the staff was friendly and supportive. I remained at the facility for 30 minutes after the injection was given due to a past allergic reaction to another medication and was still out in less than an hour. So far, the only side effect that I have experienced is a bit of soreness in the arm that they gave me the shot in.

The year with Covid has been rough for everyone. I know my business was negatively impacted in 2020. I have friends that own businesses that have struggled mightily, many to not be able to stay in business. Many have struggled with loneliness and depression. Others have lost their life savings keeping businesses afloat or paying necessary expenses after a job loss. The government has stepped in with financial support, but, how long can that continue? None of this speaks to the loss of life.

Regardless of your political beliefs it is time to get our businesses reopen and allow everyone to get back to work. In addition, preventing the spread through vaccination will save lives. The best way that I know to make that happen is for everyone to get the vaccine.

Commitment to Service

Starting off with a full disclosure.  I am a huge fan and frequent shopper with Amazon.  

I recently bought a pair of shoes that didn't fit comfortably.  Last night I went to Amazon's website and requested a return.  I was emailed a QRF code and instructed to go to a UPS Store to make the return.  The instructions said not to repack the shoes, just take them in and have the store scan the code.  Before I returned to my office I received an email stating that the refund had already been processed.

Now let's compare this to customer service with our cell phone providers, insurance companies, medical providers and more.  Billing errors are common, it is near impossible to speak to a human being and online inquires are ignored.  While it seems that Amazon is under scrutiny for being a monopoly, they seem to operate like someone that wants to earn our business.  They live to their promises, provide superior customer service and competitive prices. The same can't be said for many of the service providers that we are required to deal with that I mentioned above.  

Shouldn't our expectations for these companies be the same as we have learned to expect from Amazon?  How do we make that happen?

What can you learn from an amusement park?

I spent many summer vacations and long weekends with family and friends at Conneaut Lake Park.  It was truly a unique place.  Homes were intermixed with rides and the residents welcomed everyone.   The park sits on a lake which is a glorious place for a summer swim or jaunt around the lake while water skiing.  Many of the residents were retired and worked at the park during the summer to supplement income and for the love of seeing the joy that people experienced.  I regularly visited the park until 1983 when I moved away from the Pittsburgh area.  I returned for a visit in 2006 and was disappointed to see that the park had fallen into disrepair, many of the homes were abandoned and the lake was about empty of visitors.  As the recession of 2008 struck the park fell into a further state of neglect, ownership changed hands, property taxes were not paid and ultimately a bankruptcy was filed.  

For the last several years the park was run by a group of trustees appointed by the Bankruptcy Court.  A contingent of volunteers worked tirelessly to maintain the grounds and improve the rides etc.  Tourists returned, the park liquidated debt through park profits and the sale of pieces of the property, then, Covid19 hit and there was no 2020 season placing another obstacle to success.  Thankfully, a buyer made an offer through the court (No other bids were received.) and demolition of many of the attractions and other buildings began this week.  It is a bittersweet story as many of these held sweet memories for many of us, but as I well know, life changes and this is a story of a resurrection, love and volunteers.  

The new owner has declared a commitment to make the park an amusement and entertainment venue and it seems that he is moving ahead with alacrity.  This will create a new place for thousands of families to build their own memories and serving as an economic engine for Crawford County.  The volunteers kept this park afloat and turned it into a vibrant place with attendance growing every year of their efforts.  The passion that they displayed, the long hours and daunting challenges that they overcame and their dedication was remarkable and put the park into a position to attract a buyer with a vision to restore and improve it.  

I have long been a volunteer in the community that I live and have always found satisfaction in the accomplishments within the community.  If you are not actively involved in the community, it is easier to start than you may think.  Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis Clubs and more are all service clubs that have active projects and always seek members.  You will not only serve your community, but you will make lifetime friends as well.  

Concierge Service

Have you ever stayed at a 5 star hotel with an amazing concierge?  Your needs are anticipated and the service you receive is beyond compare. 

Are there little things at work that you would like to see improve but have not been able to make that happen?  Are you generally satisfied but every once in a while wonder what impact that you may make elsewhere?   Are you comfortable but sometimes feel under appreciated?  Is the only thing stopping you from maybe considering something else the inconvenience of the change?

What if you had someone there to minimize all of the inconvenience that fully understands your needs and handles all of the details like vetting positions and companies, scheduling interviews, debriefing meetings, getting questions clarified, providing intelligence and feedback and provides expertise in not only what to expect but helping people in your practice area.

If that sounds attractive we should speak soon about how I can simplify your  analysis of your career alternatives.  

Kids are naturally curious. How about you?

Demand for Civil Engineers is at an all-time high. Companies recognize the fierce competition & are more aggressive in their pursuits of qualified talent. For you this may mean things like improved earnings, better benefits & improved growth opportunities.

I know that change is uncomfortable and I am not asking you to change. I am asking that you satisfy your curiosity and see how other companies may provide more for you, then, analyze what you learn and make a decision that is in your bet interest.

I'll be happy to help you every step of the way!

Assegid Habtewold said “Curiosity is a worthwhile virtue than certainty. While the former leads to grow, the latter muzzles your growth and results in stagnation...”

Employment Situation, February, 2021 Results

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today reported total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 379,000 in February, significantly above consensus estimates. Unemployment rate fell 6.2% or 10 million unemployed persons.

Most of the job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, with smaller gains in temporary help services, healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing.

“We continue to be very encouraged by the recovery of the U.S. labor market as reflected in today’s BLS Employment Situation Report, as well as in the rapid search activity growth we're seeing in our Network of over 300 executive recruitment offices,” said Bert Miller, President and CEO of MRI. “MRINetwork reported double digit month-over-month growth in January, thanks to major bounce backs across our practices in construction, consumer, healthcare, and more."

The BLS reported 22.7 percent of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus pandemic, down from 23.2 percent in January. These data refer to employed persons who teleworked or worked at home for pay at some point in the last four weeks specifically because of the pandemic.

Analysts are growing more optimistic that hiring will continue to accelerate in coming months.

“The labor force will begin a meaningful recovery in mid-2021 as extensive vaccine distribution will push toward herd immunity, reducing health concerns and allowing for a more complete recovery of some hard-hit industries,” said Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Reflecting a similar tone, Nela Richardson, a Ph.D. economist at human-resources software firm Automatic Data Processing Inc. noted, “As we reopen the economy, inch-by-inch, that will unleash consumer spending and drive job growth, especially industries that have been most severely affected by the pandemic.”

As reported by the BLS, in February, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by a robust 355,000, as pandemic-related restrictions eased in some parts of the country. About four-fifths of the increase was in food services and drinking places (+286,000). Employment also rose in accommodation (+36,000) and in amusements, gambling, and recreation (+33,000).

Within professional and business services, temporary help services added 53,000 jobs in February.

Employment in healthcare and social assistance increased by 46,000 in February. Healthcare employment increased by 20,000, following a large decline in the prior month (-85,000). In February, job gains in ambulatory healthcare services (+29,000) were partially offset by losses in nursing care facilities (-12,000).

Retail trade added 41,000 jobs in February. Job growth was widespread in the industry, with the largest gains occurring in general merchandise stores (+14,000), health and personal care stores (+12,000), and food and beverage stores (+10,000). These gains were partially offset by a loss in clothing and clothing accessories stores (-20,000). The retail sector has added 2 million jobs from May 2020 through February 2021.

Manufacturing employment increased by 21,000 over the month, led by a gain in transportation equipment (+10,000).

In February, employment changed little in other major industries, including wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and other services.

Employment decreases were noted in local government education (-37,000) and state government education (-32,000).

Severe winter weather across much of the country likely held down employment in construction where jobs fell by 61,000 in February, largely reflecting declines in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (-37,000) and heavy and civil engineering construction (-21,000).

Of note, the change in total nonfarm payroll employment for January was revised up by 117,000, from the previously reported 49,000 increase in January.

“As job growth momentum accelerates in 2021, we are guiding our clients to develop comprehensive flexible workforce solutions that are not simply a “one-size-fits-all” work from home policy. Instead, we recommend that future models incorporate best practices from the virtual environment into a hybrid setup. We do believe that in time the workforce will largely return to in-person collaboration. In the meantime, we are consulting with our clients on the total talent access solutions available to them as they look to regrow their workforce, including contract staffing solutions that fit into an increasingly flexible world of work,” noted Miller.

Quality

"How you do anything is how you do everything" is one of my favorite quotes.  Unfortunately I am unable to give it proper attribution as the internet shows a number of people that are given credit.  

Today I read an interesting piece in ENR that expresses a similar ideal and it is attributed to Walt Disney.  "No chipped paint.  All horses jump."  This has to do with quality and the experience of your customers.  Both are outstanding ideals to incorporate into your daily practice.  Walt Disney learned, and we still see it today, that the customer experience is the most important aspect of the interaction that our customers have with us.  Provide a memorable experience and surpass their expectations and they will be back and cost will not be the driving factor in the sale of your product or service.  

Here is the link for the story from ENR.  https://www.enr.com/blogs/22-marketropolis/post/51217-client-experience-walt-disney-no-chipped-paint