Last week I received an email with the headline, “Have a Safe Work Week” from blogger extraordinaire John Sonnehalter. John was promoting North American Occupational Safety & Health Week, which ran May 2-8. I had great intentions of blogging on this topic during the designated week. 

After decades of quiet avoidance, I recently found the courage to enter a public steam room. Finally, I was prepared to overcome adolescent memories of a sauna experience gone badly. 

I recently attended my first-ever security industry trade show, ISC West, which took place at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas March 24-26. The show, which connects security product manufacturers with integrators/installers/security officers, was encouraging on several levels. 

After the shouting “against” and the cheers “for” the recent passage of healthcare reform dies down, we must eventually get down to recognizing it’s no longer just a debate to argue over, it’s the Law of the Land and must be compiled with. So what does it mean for those of us who make our living in the wall and ceiling industry? 

A year ago, I told a co-worker that Twitter was a fad. It would not last, I pronounced, because it was fluff and provided no clear benefit. Who cares where tweeters are eating lunch? 

Last week, I experienced a different kind of March Madness. I spent three days in Manhattan at meetings focused on e-media trends and developments. My head is still spinning. 

What have you done this week to inspire your customers and employees to be excited about your products or services? 

One of my favorite scenes from the 1995 film Braveheart takes place on the battlefield before the hand-to-hand combat takes place. In a rousing speech, Scotsman William Wallace challenges his troops to stay and fight. His words whip them into a frenzy. 

As I listened to President Obama’s State of the Union Address and his bold meeting with the Republican Caucus a few days later, I found myself silently thinking, “Jobs, jobs, jobs. We need more jobs.” I sounded like the folks who chanted “Drill” “Drill” “Drill” at the Republican Convention. 

I was recently confronted by someone who believes this whole “global warming” thing is just a big lie. They said that we shouldn’t waste any time, effort or tax dollars on reducing our carbon footprint because “CO² is nothing but plant food …”