Monday, June 28, 2010

This ain't your sand box painting company


About 17 years ago, my sister called my wife (Wendy) and made the comment that she felt sorry for me in the fact that I now had to paint houses. She didn't understand why I didn't get the gene that allowed me to make a better living or do better in my career.

That attitude caused a rift between me and my sister which I have since forgiven her for, although she remains unapologetic about her own attitude.

I concede that the painting industry was rife with downtrodden alcoholics and drug addicts. And unfortunately, it had that reputation. But I strongly argue that what makes you "professional" is not WHAT you do, but THE WAY YOU DO IT!

I found a group of professional contractors who were more professional in their business dealings than many corporate types. And I am glad I found them. They are mostly part of a great organization, the PDCA.

Many of these contractors are from multiple generation companies, and strive to bring top-notch, professional personal service to their clients. They are not your "station wagon bandit" variety painters. Nor are they the type to short cut the laws of their local areas. They are top professionals.

I have seen first class customer service programs, cutting edge employee morale programs, high tech systems approaches to the administration of their businesses. Many are on the cutting edge of technology, among the first to use, develop and sell estimating software. One of the leaders in our industry, Nolan Painting...just outside of Philadelphia, was once ranked as one of the best companies to work for in the whole state of PA! Of ALL companies! This company became an employee-owned one. A leader in thought of corporate structure in the construction field. Did I mention that this was a house painting company? Not a large industrial or commercial contractor? They are to be admired for constantly staying on top of issues in the industry.

And there's Joel Hamburg from Portland area who is leading the cause of being a "green" painting contracting. From processes to actual products being applied. He is a leader in the environmental front.

Rick Holtz swore he didn't want anything to do with the painting business  (H.J. Holtz and Son, Inc. ) his father (Dick) inherited from the grandfather. I knew Dick as one of the kindest southern gentlemen (from Richmond) I had ever met. He was running his second generation painting business out of his laundry room. Once his son Rick got the corporate bug out of his system, he returned to his roots and took over the family business. He grew it to where they ran the business out of a commercial property, a former ice cream plant. They even had a sophisticated spray booth, perfect for those problematic wooden shutters, iron furniture and other items.

Alas. The time for me to close down my business, Anderson's Famous Painting Co has come. In the midst of trying to reinvent my business, I had a skiing accident. The accident caused me to to re-evaluate my priorities and my talents, abilities and passions. I am glad it happened. And I feel blessed to have met some of the finest people, families and business owners on the face of this earth. What I will miss the most, is not the painting or the changing of the color of walls. But I will miss the camaraderie and fellowship I found through the PDCA.


I am glad my sister's cutting remarks motivated me to seek out a better way to do things.
Margaret, you got it wrong.
Professionalism isn't WHAT you do...it's the WAY you do what you do.

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