Since you, me and everyone of our living friends, associates and acquaintances has both strengths and weaknesses, isn't it amazing how often some focus on the bad rather than the good? Isn't the better path to be aware of a weakness or problematic habit – address it – while gladly embracing all the good a person brings to the table?
Some of us are grumpier or more prickly than others! The native Americans had a maxim: we should not judge someone until we've walked a mile in their moccasins. That doesn't mean we ignore flaws, just that we should be as understanding as possible, because we each have ours too.
Which brings us to what's needed and what's good in manufactured housing.
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Challenges and Opportunities in Manufactured Housing today
Our industry has been on a slow, steady 4 year up tick.
That's good, but we must not lose sight of the fact that we are at roughly 30% of our traditional new home market share – that's not good – when based on the market, we ought to be well above that 21% traditional new housing starts mark. We must not be tempted to 'settle for' the results we now experience.
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Ross Kinzler spoke about the “lost decade,” see the chart above, and that it ends only when we make it end.
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Scott Roberts shared a concrete example of how we can do better, he's doing it.
How can more of us advance past where we are today? Zig Ziglar provided a clue when he said, “don't get cooked in a squat,” meaning, don't limit yourself though the wrong thoughts, words and deeds.
Another answer is actually a question. How did we advance before, in days gone by?
Solutions are Hiding in Plain Sight!
We don't publish an Industry Voices OpEd, featured article – or for that matter, a Daily Business News, Industry in Focus or other blog post – that we don't think brings readers like YOU something thought provoking or of real, practical value! Our experts and articles are here for your insight, inspiration, enjoyment and to give you more tools to advance your career, location or organization.
These articles and videos often present elements of the SOLUTIONS needed to advance in manufactured housing. They are from pros who have “the know how” needed.
We can and should be doing better!
Was the Federal Government once more Manufactured (or Mobile…) Home friendly?
Please read A Cup (…Glass…) of Beer with… Barry Cole, and read the download in his column to get an amazing insight into the question! Then think about passing along the download in that interview onto your state and federal officials.
Want to see more Manufactured Housing Developments?
Do you want to see more MHCommunity developing take place?
> Listen to the Dick Jennison video interview. It's happening…
> Check out Paul Bradly's new article…he'll tell you how they did it…
> Circle back to A Cup (…Glass…) of Beer with… Barry Cole, and look at that tie in…
Tired of the local fire “Sprinkler Issue” Hassle?
> Then check out Bill Matchneer's latest article!
Do you think we have failed to move the ball in DC? Hey! Think again!
> Please see Marc Lifeset's brief but insightful legal update! Its found linked below, along with all of these other topics and articles for our Jumping July…
Marketing Magic!
> Ken Segall of Apple marketing fame gave us an exclusive video interview, and thanks to our sponsors we're sharing his marketing insights with you! It is easier than you think, in fact, it's Insanely Simple…
> Would you like to get the Seniors and the Tattoo generation to come on board with our homes? Check out Jason Brady's article, or Joe Karns on his topic, both are linked below…
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Non-Profits, plus Management, Sales, Legal, Regulatory, Inspiration, Events, Reports…
We don't have to agree on everything to see that the not-for-profits are bringing positive attention to our industry. It would tickle me if you really, really got a good look at the volumes of research they're doing, sharing and their work that is opening doors for us here and there.
Plus all of the Management, Sales, Legal, Inspirational, Events and other reports you'll find among our 27 new featured articles for YOU and YOUR TEAM/Colleagues in our Jumping July 2014 issue!
“Inside MH” – Video Interviews!
Every video interview we bring you ought to open your eyes to something you may not have known, thought about or that could bring you practical benefits. All of those below – and we have plenty of them – should be worth the few minutes they take to watch. If you have your note pad or tablet/smart phone in hand to take notes, I'll bet you'll find there are one or more good takeaways from every video.
While we like doing all of these video interviews, I want to bring your attention this month especially to Dennis Hill. Our industry has a wide array of talents and 'legends,' Dennis Hill is one of those 'hiding in plain sight' professionals whose work has earned our industry billions of dollars, and that's no joke.
We Provide, You Decide!
The page views for our Read Hot June set new records! The 9 month rolling average prior to May, 2014 in page views has been: 1,250,899. That already means you and thousands of pros who check in here daily makes us the run-away #1. In May 2014, we had an amazing 1,567,662 page views. That is many times more than all other like resources combined in our industry, but think of it like this.
That's like 48,989 32-page magazines, read cover to cover!
The stats, per Webalizer.
But in June 2014, we shattered that with a brand new record 2,013,332 page views!
That's like 62,916 32-page magazines, read cover to cover!
Again, stats per Webalizer.
In an industry our size, that's amazing.
It's happening in part because more and more of you are sharing what YOU learn with your team, colleagues, investors, public officials, educators, non-profits and others. But we are still just 'getting started.' We can, should and must do better.
Knowledge shared is knowledge multiplied. 15 minutes a day invested in reading here on MHProNews, and 7 minutes daily on ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com would be like a BA for all those MHProfessionals who do it.
Bottom line, Together, we advance further and faster.
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With no further adieu, please dive into our amazing line up for July 2014!
Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 5, No. 10, 2014
Alphabetically by Category
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)
• Community Management: The $20,000 Dog
by Kathleen Bianculli
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It’s exciting. You just purchased a manufactured home community. It has fifty (50) sites, forty eight (48) of which are occupied by home owning tenants paying $300/month in rent.
• With this ring…
by Nadeen Green, JD
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June is now just a memory as we continue into the summer of 2014 – the month often associated with weddings by which happy couples are traditionally pronounced “man and wife” but which today such rituals and celebrations may result in “husband and husband” or “wife and wife.”
• Same Sex Harassment in California
by William R. Hart, JD
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In Hart King's continuing efforts to bring recent developments in California employment law to our clients who employ workers in the state, we provide this summary of a recent case decided in the First District Court of Appeal.
FINANCING
• Is It Really Progress? Manufactured Housing Finance, Dodd-Frank and the CFPB
by Marc Lifeset, JD
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”) amended the federal Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), directly impacting the manufactured housing industry in a number of ways.
GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS
• “We Need Everyone to fell like its for Everybody” – Dennis Hill video back story to Tunica and the Successful Return of the Louisville Manufactured Home Show – Inside MH
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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Every video we do brings unique insights that a motivated professional could put to work to improve their career, location, organization or investments in manufactured housing.
• Has everyone written off new manufactured home community development outside of the Dakotas?
by Paul Bradley
When I talk with friends about new manufactured home community (“MHC”) development, the conversation usually devolves to zoning and planning regulations that don’t permit MHCs or make their development impractical.
• A Cup (err…glass) of Beer with…Barry Cole
1) Who, What and Where (Your name, formal title in your company and where you are based).
Barry Cole, Manufactured Housing Insurance Services (MHIS) Orange, California.
• Following-up on Dirty Laundry
by Stacey Epperson
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Earlier this year I wrote about “Dirty Laundry,” the tendency to keep the two million pre-1976 mobile homes in the United States out of sight and out of mind. By now, you might have concluded that I don’t intend to keep this hidden.
• Stacey Epperson, CEO of Next Step, Discusses Affordable Housing and the EnergyStar Manufactured Home Solution – Inside MH
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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Next Step is a unique organization with a not-for-profit as well as for profit divisions. Stacey Epperson is the President and CEO of both, and she comes to the topic of affordable housing from the background of someone who began her career as an intern at HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development).
• Taking Inventory in Manufactured Home Communities Today
by Maria Horton
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As we enter the second half of 2014, we find ourselves taking inventory of goals met, goals yet to be achieved and pondering our new goals for the coming year.
• “Manufactured Housing Industry Cohesion!” – Paul Bradley, ROCUSA on Cohesion, MHCs they admire, the Value they bring Owners, Residents and the Industry – Inside MH Video Interview
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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Breaking the Stereotypes! Proven Strategies for Profitable MHC Advancement! If there are two phrases that suggest what this interview reveals, those would certainly both apply. ROC USA's President, Paul Bradley opens up on a range of topics that ought to attract interest among MHPros from coast-to-coast.
• “…I kill politicians.” – Attorney Rick Robinson on Manufactured Housing Lobbying, Writing the Industry “Then and Now” and more – Inside MH Video Interview
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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We enjoy doing and bringing you all of our video interviews, but some are funnier than others. Put this video with Rick Robinson, JD -Vice President at the Manufactured Housing Institute and General Counsel – in that upbeat, humorous category!
• Inside Manufactured Housing, video interview with Richard “Dick” Jennison, President and CEO of MH Institute at 2014 Congress and Expo, Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas NV
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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The Manufactured Housing Institute’s (MHI) 2014 Congress and Expo was widely seen as a big success this year, and you'll hear the details of the records set straight from Richard “Dick” Jennison, President and CEO of MHI!
• Inside Manufactured Housing Video Interview: a Behind the Scenes look at the Industry with Kathleen Bianculli of American Insurance Alliance, LLC
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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We caught up with fabled Ken Segall, author of Insanely Simple, the marketing whiz who was part of the legendary Steve Jobs/Apple success story.
• Ken Segall, Author of Insanely Simple and Apple Marketing Guru, An Inside MH Video Interview
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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We caught up with fabled Ken Segall, author of Insanely Simple, the marketing whiz who was part of the legendary Steve Jobs/Apple success story.
• Mark Belicky-Carlyle Group, Maria Horton-Newport Pacific, Frank Rolfe and more at the 2014 MHI Congress and Expo
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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This 137 second video gives you a snapshot of the personalities and the energy that was found at the 2014 Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Congress and Expo in Las Vegas, NV.
• Are Voluntary Sprinkler Standards Still Needed? Ask the State Executives!
by Bill Matchneer, JD
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I attended the MHI Summer Meeting in Indianapolis to assist the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) with the compliance effort for the new Dodd-Frank valuation rules I worked on while I was at CFPB.
• Why Don’t States Do More to Promote Affordable Housing?
by Doug Ryan
Since 2005, CFED has promoted manufactured homes as a viable housing opportunity, particularly for low- and- moderate-income families. We have focused on making manufactured housing part of the housing mainstream through research, policy development and finance reform.
• HUD Code Manufactured Homes and Attached Garages, a Regulatory Update
by Lois Starkey
I am following up on a communication I sent to manufacturers in January regarding attached garages. As you know, late last year it was brought to MHI’s attention that HUD (and the Pennsylvania SAA) began scrutinizing the activities of some manufacturers who were shipping homes that are intended to have attached garages installed on-site.
• Louisville 2015…The Road to Success
by Ron Thomas, Sr.
The numbers really add up. Think about all of the exciting brand new homes. Think about the 1,561 plus customers who visited in 2014. Think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars to be made at 2015 The Louisville Manufactured Housing Show. It all adds up to a marketplace bonanza you can’t afford to miss.
• Time to Pull Ourselves Together
by Bob Vahsholtz
There’s work to be done. Those of us still involved in housing need to pull up our socks and get the wheels turning in the direction of industrializing the housing process.
MANAGEMENT
• The 6 critical factors of employee performance
by Tim Connor
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During my many years of working with clients worldwide I have come to believe that there are 6 critical factors that determine employee performance and long-term organization success.
MARKETING
• Tattoos, Technology and Manufactured Housing Sales Growth
by Jason Brady
Before we bought out ManufacturedHomes.com – which was previously a part of SearchCore – one of the big draws for that operation was their tattoo website.
• Increase Your Exposure Online With This FREE Google Plus Authorship Plugin
by Joe Karns
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By now I'm sure you already know the many benefits to running a blog strategy around your business. However, there is an easy (and FREE) way to get more visitors to notice your blog posts in the Google search results.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION
• ZigOn Community Values
by Zig Ziglar
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Ed Shipman is a throwback to those people who believe in free enterprise, independence, hard work, faith, commitment and responsibility.
SALES
• Creative selling vs. same stuff, different day
by Tim Connor, CSP
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Any time is a good time to sell creatively. Uncertain economic times are an excellent time to sell creatively. And, poor economic times require that salespeople sell creatively.
