2023 has started and I hope you took a moment in the final hours of 2022 to look back on what a wild year it had been! We started 2022 in a lingering pandemic (who could have ever conceived it would plague us for more than two years?) with many things still challenging even for those of us who remained healthy while continuing to provide essential services to our customers and our crews. The silver lining, at least until mid-July was the longest peak season in industry history. Remaining busy and profitable (although most would suggest at a smaller margin) covers up many issues and concerns. I hope you took a moment to congratulate yourself and your team on surviving, not just physically intact, but financially and psychologically in what has been a challenging time for many.

The home buying market slowed significantly in mid-July of 2022 when interest rates, which had been historically low for several years, quickly spiked. The spike was a reflection of actions taken by the Federal Reserve to address quickly increasing inflation in our country. Regardless of why, the reality was that if you listed a home for sale on July 1, 2022, it was most likely purchased within a week with multiple offers over asking price with the possibility that there had never been an in-home visit by the future buyer. If you listed a home for sale on July 25, 2022, it languished several months on average, and if the seller wasn’t reasonable (think concessions or reductions), who knows. All of which is negative for the business of a household goods mover. All the more reason that even when things are at their best we are always looking for diversification opportunities.

Personally, 2023 has started with some lessons, at least one of which I will share with you here. I have always been an individual who believes in hard work and the not always prudent philosophy that if we are mentally tough we will overcome the obstacles placed in front of us. I will admit that for an extended period (kind of embarrassed to go any deeper), I have suffered from at least moderate abdominal pain. Generally, it happened in the evening and rarely had a negative impact on my work so I foolishly ignored and or rationalized the issue, avoiding a medical exam which would have most likely identified the problem more than a year ago.

The first week of January included our very successful MAX 4 Tariff review with 100 screens, our maximum, representing approximately 100 CMSA member companies. The second week of the year included the annual chapter military meetings with the International Association of Movers and their leadership, President Chuck White, and Military and Government Affairs VP Dan Bradly as well as a first time visit to this event from ATA MSC Executive Director Ryan Bowley. The Tuesday meeting of the Twin Counties Chapter in San Bernadino went very well with respectful and active member participation. The personal issues for me arose on the drive from San Bernadino to San Diego.

I was lucky to have Chuck and Dan with me on the night drive between the two chapter meetings. Almost immediately after heading out on our 107-mile journey I felt ill with both stomach and back pain, many say in the late stages of my illness symptoms mimic a heart attack. My first lesson, if you are having an issue, tell someone, many people want to and can help. I have been a student of the school of my problems are my own and I don’t want to burden anyone for a longtime, I obviously failed to read the email that the school had been closed long ago and their teaching had been discreated. Finally at Miramar Rd I pulled off the road and announced to Chuck and Dan that I felt ill and couldn’t drive any further, Chuck immediately sprang into action and remained a huge help until I was in the hospital.  Chuck asked if he could take me to an urgent care, to which I responded no. I guess I thought it was better to just suffer in my hotel room. I rationalize that I had probably eaten something that disagreed with me.

After being extremely ill the majority of the night and not feeling any better in the morning I took Chuck up on his offer to take me to the local urgent care which resulted in immediate hospitalization and robotic surgery to remove my gallbladder two days later. There is so much more to the story, but this was more about the lesson.

I am lucky, first my health is quickly recovering. Second, how blessed I am to have my CMSA network of real friends and respected colleagues. I want to thank Chuck White for ensuring that I got the care I needed. My staff for continuing to support me and genuinely showing care. Thank you to Tim and Linda McCarthy for driving me home from San Diego on Friday evening after my hospital stay. A special thanks to CMSA Chair Shiree Hammer with whom I remained in contact and who was in attendance at all three military affairs meetings. Thank you to all of you who care about our Association, and its leadership.

January 2023 - CMSA Communicator