WHY IS CHANGE OR PROGRESS SO SCARY?

Why does our industry fight change? Throughout my career in this industry the one thing I have noticed is the fear of change? Without progress we all would still be trying to make the wheel round. Without change we would still be using asbestos as a primary additive to our homes (that's really scary!!).If you watched the Nascar race in Homestead Florida you would have noticed progress AND change. The pace car was a new Ford Electric hybrid that is soon to be available. It was not that long ago when Detroit would not make a vehicle that would use less gas due to the fact that the oil companies would sell less fuel. That was similar to what many swimming pool dealers said about salt chlorine generators not long ago, if we sell those we won't sell any more chemicals and we will essentially put ourselves out of business. How wrong were they?If every member of this network put a bit of energy into trying to change for the benifit of the industry I think everyone would be better served from the consumer, to the supplier, to the installer, to the service technician and of course to the dealer or builder that initially implemented the change.Now that's progress!!What do you think?Justin Gregoli

Unfortunately so many people in our industry do not spend the time or effort to change. Change will only happen when the cost and pain exceeds the effort in making a change. Even then we tend to fight change and revert back to business as usual because to truly make a change you have to be fully committed. In my 23 years in the pool industry I have always tried to do everything a little different than the rest which has been a key to my success.
Now as a promoter of change, in the way pool builders manage their organizations thru Pool Pro Office I am shocked at the lack of willingness in our industry to even explore opportunities. They tend to stick their head in the sand and hide
Once they finally decide to get out of working in their business and start working on their business will this change. We can assist pool builders in increasing their sales and referrals, reduce costly mistakes and personel costs and still provide their customers with the best project management available.
In todays economic outlook in our industry pool builders should be looking for new ideas to achieve greater success thru the use of computer technology.
Do you manage your pool company or does it manage you? Good question for all

Mark Richter

Replies

Mark Richter January 6, 2009 at 4:50pm

Unfortunately so many people in our industry do not spend the time or effort to change. Change will only happen when the cost and pain exceeds the effort in making a change. Even then we tend to fight change and revert back to business as usual because to truly make a change you have to be fully committed. In my 23 years in the pool industry I have always tried to do everything a little different than the rest which has been a key to my success.
Now as a promoter of change, in the way pool builders manage their organizations thru Pool Pro Office I am shocked at the lack of willingness in our industry to even explore opportunities. They tend to stick their head in the sand and hide
Once they finally decide to get out of working in their business and start working on their business will this change. We can assist pool builders in increasing their sales and referrals, reduce costly mistakes and personel costs and still provide their customers with the best project management available.
In todays economic outlook in our industry pool builders should be looking for new ideas to achieve greater success thru the use of computer technology.
Do you manage your pool company or does it manage you? Good question for all

Mark Richter
Justin Gregoli December 23, 2008 at 6:54am

Tom,
Can you enlighten us on this? Maybe in the Green Movement group? I, for one, would love to hear what you have going on.
Justin
Tom Lilly December 22, 2008 at 1:59pm

James & Justin,
I like the direction this is taking. I have recently launched a company with creating a "Killer App" for Green technology as one of it goals. We would very much to be a part of this project. We could function as manufacturer, logistics and R&D to facilitate dealers/builders who are interested in the same goal.

Tom
James Kantorowicz December 3, 2008 at 6:20pm

Justin great question I believe its mostly based on fear of not knowing the end result of a perceived risk.

As for the pool industry linking together I think it would be a great marketing endeavor. I always thought a few of us should link together and offer something like a totally green pool package featuring the latest energy efficient technologies in one bundled package.
- Justin Gregoli > James Kantorowicz December 4, 2008 at 6:58am
  
  James,
  Now we are talking!!!!
  I would love this "test" project to happen. With all the available "Green" equipment, chemical and accessories available this can absolutly be done. I will certainly lend my time and any effort to such an endeavor.
  Justin
David Bauer December 2, 2008 at 11:07am

Because change isn't always seen as progress. Sometimes we are told from outside forces that we need to change for the sake of change for appearances sake.

Best example I can give is when the auto industry was forced to add the catalytic converter in 1974. They drastically decreased performance (especially horsepower) and fuel efficency went down and there was a minimal affect to the
enviroment because of it.

What bothers me about the drain issue is the unaddressed issue of the service industry's responsiblity toward replacing defective drain covers and improperly sizing pumps on residential pools. We've skirted around the issue for years, and it may soon rear it's ugly head. It seems to me a lot of these entrapment and entanglement issues have been in residential pools.
- Justin Gregoli > David Bauer December 2, 2008 at 11:38am
  
  David,
  Great response!
  I see all change as progress as long as we learn from the change. If after 1974 we realized the catalytic converter was a failure and we replaced it with some thing else or even just went back to the old way while thinking of a better way, that's progress.
  
  You are dead on about the drain topic. This issue may very well stain our industry if it isn't handled well, and currently it has been handled very poorly from the politicians all they way down to the service tech.
  Justin
MIke P November 17, 2008 at 10:56am

Because of the unknown, That is the only reason I can come up with.
- Justin Gregoli > MIke P November 28, 2008 at 10:32am
  
  That is not good enough. The unknown is everywhere. When you leave your house in the moring you are entering the unknown, do you not leave your home? We need to change and make this industry better.
  - MIke P > Justin Gregoli December 3, 2008 at 9:15am
    
    how do we change the industry? All read read in the trade publications nothing but negative articles about how the industry is down. I think we should start with them. If they could spread some good news every now and again. Just maybe the industry would have more of a fighting chance.
    
    I do realize that everybody is down but maybe if they would report the good we could feel a little better. All I am saying put a positive spin on the story they don't have to lie to us. Help us find the silver lining.