If you haven't spent time with Rick Robinson, you've missed out on a fascinating gent who is doing fine work lobbying for our industry. I was just reviewing some of the edits from the video we will feature with Rick, the Manufactured Housing Institute's (MHI) Vice President and General Counsel. The man has a sense of humor! We were talking about one of his books, and his quip about his novel Writ of Mandamus is a classic.

“If you like politics, you'll love my books, and if you hate politics, I kill politicians.”

For those from Homeland Security, NSA or with the TSA, please let me underscore that we are not in line at the airport, this was a joke about Rick's writing, I'm quoting from his video interview and this is not  some nefarious plot.

Seriously (? ;-), Rick is funny and you'll enjoy the insights he shares in his upcoming video interview we have scheduled for release with our upcoming July issue. Another one-liner from that video:

“I truly lived in a mobile home, in those days, my house was on wheels, and my car was on blocks.” – Rick Robinson, speaking about his early years when he lived in a pre-HUD Code mobile home.

Let's also underscore that Rick's award winning novel, Writ of Mandamus is a fine read, a geo-political thriller, and yes…don't be surprised if a politico or two bites the dust…

…you'll also learn the secrets that makes him effective on the Hill for our MHIndustry in DC.

Maria Horton, Newport Pacific

Maria Horton is another one of the industry personalities we will be featuring in July. Ms. Horton is a regional executive with West Coast MHC powerhouse, Newport Pacific.

Maria will provide insights into what they do in property management in MHCs that brings value to land lease residents and community owners alike, along with some secrets of their success. With over 90 MHCs they own or manage, these are insights that make for good viewing!

FYI, Rick Robinson is center right in the photo collage shown above and charming Maria Horton is in the glorious blue jacket in the center.

These video interviews are work, but they are also enjoyable, entertaining and enlightening.

Let me suggest something a wise man once told me.

Look at every story or message you hear as if it were a 'bas relief.' In that three-dimensional art form, there is a foreground and a background.

Too often we focus on the foreground, but the background may be as important or instructive as what is 'in your face.'

Meaning, there are powerful insights and lessons learned from each of these interviews!

I have pros tell me that if they go to a trade show, state, community or national association event and come home “with one good idea, the whole trip is worth it.” We agree! So what if you could gain that “just one” (or more…) good ideas during one of these video interviews?

Stacey Epperson, NextStep

As you will learn from our video interview with Stacey Epperson at NextStep, they have a non-profit wing and a for-profit arm too. They are teaching, preaching AND selling energy star manufactured homes! NextStep – Affordable Housing Done Right – is expanding its reach rapidly.

Think there might be something to learn? There is.

Stacey is going to be one of our July features too.

• For those who 'fear' the non-profits, watch this video.
• For those who want to embrace the non-profits as they seek to support and embrace our homes, watch this interview with Stacey!

For those who want to see a great story of how someone who hated manufactured housing now loves them, this is a must see.

In fact, this would be good to share with public officials and Congressional/Senate or state legislative staffs, as would some of the other videos we've done and have upcoming.

Mark Beliczky – The Carlyle Group

We'll catch up with Mark Beliczky from The Carlyle Group in the exhibit hall at MHI's Congress and Expo too. You'll catch glimpses of people you know – like Frank Rolfe – and also some rising stars in our industry's ranks – like Heath Sartini – in that video.

Along with the rest of our July 2014 issue, this is coming soon to a laptop, computer or web-enabled hand-held device near you!

We have LOTS more previews coming up…so please check back and stay tuned! Just the facts…no one else covers the personalities of our industry quite the same, as well or as in depth as we do here at MHProNews.com!  Who says?

Pros like you do.

While I'm thinking about it, let me thank Nathan Smith for having the courage to do that first video interview with me. Wow, did we both take a chance on that one! Fortunately, the common comment is it turned out well.

As with virtually all of our content and videos, you can still access them, in Nathan's case, at the link above. Dozens of other text and video interviews are linked here.

When we interview someone, it is common for readers to go back – or new people finding them – via a Google or our own site search search tool, months or years later.

What's Read Hot NOW

It is not a surprise when you have a video with Jim Clayton that it would be a top accessed page for the month. Of course! But what is interesting is how our lead-in Masthead for June – as regulars know, the first Masthead for each month lists all of the featured articles – has also been heavily accessed all month. If you've missed that post and our amazingly strong line up, please click the link above.

No wonder its been hot!  With 27 featured articles and about a dozen videos, you have plenty to read and view this month.

We are on a RECORD pace for page views in June 2014, up a stunning 30% over May 2014 so far month-to-date.

We have been very fortunate with each of our videos in the sense that they have all brought comments and insights that pros like you can learn, be inspired and grow from. In a recent exchange with an MHC portfolio operator, he was graciously telling me that he logs onto MHProNews every day to stay in touch.

I thanked him, but also asked, do you have your staff reading too? In the words that flowed back and forth, he concluded by saying, 'your right, I'm going to have them reading too.'

Back in 1981, when I started in MH sales, I was starved for information and understanding. With no training program at that operation, when I discovered the Manufactured Home Merchandiser Magazine, I devoured it every month. When Jim Clayton says, Earn, Learn, Return, that means something to me. The Merchandiser is history, but we are returning what I received from them and others through MHProNews and ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com too.

If you've seen the Jim Clayton (and other…) interviews, great! But has YOUR staff, your colleagues and associates watched them?

How often do you get a chance to sit down with a billionaire in manufactured housing for 20 minutes at a time and get insights into his thinking and success secrets?

Giants or Midgets?

Zig Ziglar said something years ago that stuck with me. Paraphrasing, You either create a company of giants or midgets.

Don't miss the opportunities to share with your team and associates. Have them watch the Clayton and other interviews, with note pads in hand. Imagine what you'd do if you were paying $1000 per head to attend a Jim Clayton seminar. If you have that attitude, the take-aways are many and instructive.

More previews and industry insights coming up in July.

Let me wrap today with a thank you to HUD's new Manufactured Housing program director – Pam Danner, JD – who made a fine set of assurances as she outlined her thinking at the recent MHI Summer Meeting.

Let me also bring your attention to Shawn Fuller's impassioned Call to Action on our popular Industry Voices Guest Blog.

This MHLivingNews.com article has been an instant hit:

http://manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/Greater-Accessibility-To-Manufactured-Home-Financing-In-Sight/

Turning Defeat Into Victory

Industry friends, colleagues, clients, investors and aficionados! We are in a great industry during tumultuous but exciting times!

We've taken our body blows, but we are still standing!

Let's remember Abraham Lincoln's resolve as he took defeat after defeat, before achieving that costly but key victory at Gettysburg. Keep in mind how often in his career Lincoln 'lost,' only to keep on coming until he succeeded.

Let's also take inspiration from and make Jack Kennedy's dictum our own too.

Sometimes we idealize our leaders and heroes. These were women and men of flesh and blood, they made mistakes, they had their flaws, same as you or me.

But by drawing people and resource together, through vision and persistence, sometimes even through costly stumbling and bumbling, they achieved their victories.

We can too.

Learn, earn, return. Be inspired. Share the news, tips and views you find here with others. Sign your team up for free, industry leading email updates. Make sure you white list us, so you get your emailed updates. My thanks as always to our sponsors, team mates, fine writers and you. This site is team work in action.

Together, we advance. Let's not kill the politicos, let's convert them to the powerful vision of all that we can do for millions seeking the American Dream of quality home ownership. ##

L. A. 'Tony' Kovach ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com | MHProNews.com | Business and Public Marketing & Ads: B2B | B2C Websites, Contract Marketing & Sales Training, Consulting, Speaking: MHC-MD.com | LATonyKovach.com | Office 863-213-4090 Connect on LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach