The world continues to spin at an ever-faster pace, sometimes for the better, but many times the change doesn’t feel so positive. As an industry, we are continually faced with change, in fact, change is what we are all about. Without change, a move, there is no need for the moving industry. Even with such a frenetic pace, it is important to take a moment and reflect on where we have been and what has been accomplished. As an Association we have accomplished much for our membership and the larger industry. Those who have played a part in that process, leadership, board, committee, and chapter should take pride in what we have been able to achieve together. I’m not sure how many realize the number of times we have fought well outside of our weight class and have been successful. What I do know is that success results in an ever-raised bar.

Please indulge me in a personal reflection. When I speak with young people or those new to our industry, I always share my enthusiasm for the moving and storage industry and the opportunity it can provide to an individual willing to put in the work and commitment to excellence. I mention the importance of understanding who you are and developing a business model that takes that into consideration.

I reflect on my career and how each step along the path has brought me joy and satisfaction. Maybe I am just lucky that I always found joy in my work, but I don’t think so. My core belief has been that it is my responsibility to find that joy in whatever I do. What does that look like?

I started in the moving business as a helper at a company and a time that demanded excellence and did not tolerate poor or lackadaisical performance. I was determined to learn from those I worked with even if at times they were less than interested in anything more than me bringing them the next piece of base. I quickly came to believe that I had the most important job in the company, something I would never even consider sharing with my colleagues. That belief, based on my perception that I handled every piece and had the most engagement with the customer, gave me pride and satisfaction which in turn made me good at my job. I also took a mental inventory at the start of the day and always worked to ensure that I would look for the positive in the day ahead. I have seen people who are in far worse situations than I maintain a positive attitude and those who seem to have a very easy path and are never satisfied or happy. I won’t belabor the point but suffice it to say that I carried that same belief with me in each of the different jobs and increasing responsibilities I enjoyed during my career. I still believe that on at least one, maybe more, of those jobs I was one of the best! How’s that for joy on a hot August day?

August 2022 - CMSA Communicator