This time of year, I thank God for seminars.

You know, the all-day events where you get pummeled with data on the latest, greatest concrete segmental retaining wall units or the methods with which to install ‘em.  The ones where half the manufacturer rep presenters are former installers and look like they are scared shirtless to be presenting anything in front of a big group.  The ones where you’d swear the owners and staff of a majority of your companies attending the event were holding a contest to see which company could best dress like hobos straight off a rail car.

I love ‘em.  Especially this year, with the economy as bad as it is.

Why?

• I get to get out of the house.  After almost two months of nothing but near-zero temperatures, stuck in front of a computer monitor, I start to get a little loony.  This gives me a chance to interact with people other than my family and my dogs.
• I get to find out what’s new in the world of  (fill in blank with an industry) .  Usually, it’s a new product that looks strikingly similar to an old product, with claims of it’s ability outpacing what it can actually be used for.  But it’s still good to keep tabs on what kinds of products are coming around the bend, so when clients ask about ‘em I don’t have a stupefied look on my face.
• I get to pick up a trick or two.  I just learned something a few days ago about stabilized aggregate and it’s use behind retaining walls in place of geogrid.  Didn’t know about that before the seminar.  Also, I lucked into sitting next to a friendly competitor for the day - a competitor who did an insane indoor waterfall project (one that I balked on (or maybe more accurately, bawk-bawked on)) and has done a couple other water-related things that I wanted to pick his brain about.  I donated some knowledge I had in exchange for his.  We both came out ahead.
• I can network with mfg reps and engineers; useful contacts when you’re in a tight spot and need a solution for a certain job site.  They’ll do all they can to solve my problem for me.
• And just the swag alone was worth the price of admission.
• 
• For $25 I got a lunch, two knit hats, two baseball caps, a shirt, a book and a soft-sided briefcase.  Probably $75 in goodies.  Sure, swag doesn’t pay the bills, but pictured there are six or seven opportunities to motivate via gifts of appreciation of hard work of an employee.  Or maybe just something to keep my head warm.
• It gets my juices flowing again to get out into the field and do some work.

I like that feeling.

I’m nervous, and I can’t help it.

I was hopeful that the installation of the new administration would at least give some people a reason not to put a padlock on their checkbooks and run for cover.

The stimulus package is being put together as quickly as it can be, but knowing how Big Government works, how can I be anything but skeptical that the money will find it’s way to the right places and get the economy back on it’s feet.

1.5 million jobs lost nationwide in the last three months. Locally, many large employers have initiated hiring and project freezes, locked down the opportunity for raises and all but the most desperately needed promotions.

It is ugly.

Last year when the news was bad, I wasn’t all that worried - we had a nice backlog of work before the season even started, and by August we were booked for the year. Problem was, that was about the time the phone stopped ringing. It just went dead. Sure, we expect a slowdown in late summer and early fall, but there are still site visits to make, drawings to draw, estimates to estimate. But not last year.

Like many of you, I have a family that likes eating. They like living in a house, too, and I’d like them to keep living here. But for that to happen, Dad’s gonna need to pull a Mumford the Magician routine this year.

I wish you all a little selling magic this 2009 season.

I’m not sure who I’m kidding, really.

I’m not the New Year’s resolution type.  I’m of the opinion that you resolve to change things when you’re presented with an epiphany, or when you face the prospect of something terrible with your health, your family or business, and it forces you to change.

Your doctor tells you that you’ll be taking the long, dirt nap if you don’t stop smoking, and you find yourself motivated to change.

You have a child just diagnosed with learning disabilities.  You’re most likely going to rework your life to make sure your child gets as much time and attention as he needs to have the best chance at a normal life.

Choosing January 1st seems arbitrary to me, like there isn’t enough on the line to make me really change behaviors that need changing.

Like being organized, for instance.  I’d love to be more organized, and every so often I go through these fits of flailing organization where I go through my entire office, our shop, our trucks and our processes to try to be as organized as we can be.  It usually happens after someone has to make a run back to the shop for the third straight day because we forgot a $50 tool that we can’t do the job without.  Or we forgot the keys to the skidsteer.

Have you ever thought about buying yourself a dozen tape measures, so that no matter what you’d always have one handy?  I’ve thought about it.

Hell, I’ve done it.  Pictured at right is the tub of tape measures just in the workshop at my house.  I have more at our shop.  And you know what?  Doesn’t matter - I still find myself in spots where I can’t find a tape to measure something.

Hours before this picture was taken my workshop was in a state of disaster; I very literally needed to shove things around just to give myself enough room to solder a loose wire on one of my kid’s toys.  At that point a quick survey of the workbench and surrounding area would result in finding one, maybe two tapes.

After cleaning up the workshop and bench,  there were twelve.

I’d love to be more organized.  But I might need an epiphany or a doctor’s warning to make it happen.

Have a great 2009.