The Chairman's Corner

by Patrick Longo

August 2015

The summer, just like the year, has been moving at warp speed. If you’re anything like me, you just can't seem to catch your breath between juggling family and a busy work schedule. It is important to take a step back once in awhile and focus on what’s important and not dwell on all of the negative aspects of the daily grind. I know it’s easier said than done, but we are in a very challenging business, and it is our job to try and stay calm under pressure and not overreact. Just know at the end of the day, it always seems to work out.

Speaking of important things, I had a chance to watch the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Games being held right here in Los Angeles. Every one of those incredible athletes, parents and volunteers really seem to have life figured out. I listened to Jamaal Charles speak about how he was a Special Olympics athlete growing up because of his learning disabilities and is now a star running back in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs. Then , I heard a story about a beautiful young athlete who was adopted into the U.S. at an early age, competing not only as a disabled athlete but also as a cancer patient. Her only message was: "All she wants to do is compete" and everything else doesn’t matter.

It's important we take away these inspirational messages and incorporate them into our business and personal life. They really have the ability to keep things simple and be incredibly productive at the same time. I have never been more proud of my involvement in the CMSA and our Special Olympics foundation as we now are able to see firsthand how we are able to affect so many lives with our hard work raising money for our athlete sponsor every year. Thank you all for your continuing efforts with this charity through your chapter fundraisers.

Finally, our fall chapter meetings and fundraisers are just around the corner. Now is the time to start finding ways to recruit new members into our moving fraternity. If you have a relationship with another local mover or vendor in your area, invite them to your next chapter meeting or fundraiser. I know we all work extremely hard and our personal time is very valuable, but if you break down the amount of time it takes to attend all of our chapter events, you would be surprised to find out that it’s really not that much of a sacrifice. Especially if you are able to sit next to someone from the industry you have never met before and strike up a conversation about how this occurred today at your warehouse or this occurred in your office, and you find out he or she saying, “Wow, this just happened to us last week!”

It's a sense of camaraderie you cannot find anywhere else. A place for us all to vent about some issues we are having or celebrate small victories we have just accomplished. I like to call it our own little CMSA therapy sessions that include dinner, dessert and a speaker.

Be safe, everyone, and continue to make a difference!!!

August 2015 - CMSA Communicator