Please indulge me for boldly proposing a few things as Manufactured Housing's New Year's resolutions. The only reason to consider this list is because it will mean more sales for retailers and factories, more occupied home sites in communities, more robust events as well as revenue flowing to associations, happier customers and a better America.

You are welcome to submit your own list for us to publish too! Until then, please read on and see for yourself if this list makes sense.

We could sum up the path to increased profits and satisfaction for the many this way. Growth will flow from improving professionalism and protecting home owners as well as businesses by reducing the regulatory choke holds that throttle our industry, notably in the areas of financing/refinancing.

We can grow business, satisfaction and profits via the following common sense initiatives

• Passing HR 1779 and S 1828, while working on the opportunity to revive the Duty to Serve, given FHFA new man at the helm, Mel Watt's past support.
• Full and proper implementation of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000.
• Getting along effectively between associations and industry professionals. You know the saying, “Those who toss mud may sully the target of their mud slinging, but they also lose ground in the process.” (- the Elk). Disagreements ought to be as private as possible, while praise, agreements and success ought to be as public as possible.
• Becoming and creating more Manufactured Housing Evangelists. See the Louisville Show seminar line up for this topic, the finance topics and the one below.
• Improving Manufactured Housing Image, Education, Marketing and Sales the easy ways.
• Never losing sight of customer satisfaction and protecting their value! When more pros become MH Evangelists, we will see more residents and customers become MH Evangelists too. When that happens, our industry will become an unstoppable force in American and global housing. Customer satisfaction must be at the heart of all we do.

We won't elaborate much beyond those bullets today. It is worth pointing out the fact that directly and indirectly, these bullets were among the 30 top interests of manufactured housing professionals in 2013.

Speaking for myself, for those times when I've dropped a ball or have been anything less than a gentleman, no excuses, I'm truly sorry. Mistakes are to learn from, and that is what we strive to do here, constantly improve.

It is still very much my intention to be a bridge builder and advancement advocate, and that may at times mean shinning a spotlight on what seems right and what seems wrong. The truth is painful at times, but in the ideal, we ought to share truth in a way that is sensitive to others, and treat them as we want to be treated.

Let me thank all those who make these efforts possible, and want to thank the 1000 plus pros who've connected with me on LinkedIn, and the hundreds who have sent kind words of thanks for what we collectively do. Are you on LinkedIn too? Please send me the invite to connect, at my contact info below. Thank you!

The 5 Ps of sound Principles, Plans, Processes and Profitable Professionalism – rather than posturing or personalities – is how we will achieve the break through of manufactured housing industry success. Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. Please join the thousands who gather here daily, seeking to advance their careers and profession! Please start by sharing the good, and by example and invitation getting others to dig in and be a part of the solution too.

Three years into our upturn, it is not too much to ask for yet another improved year in 2014. The bullets' above are the ways to accomplish that goal. That's a resolution that can motivate anyone willing to strive for improvement.

For those who are on the fence about going to the Louisville Show, just jump it! Registrations for attendance are running hotter than 2013, so another record year is in progress. Let' share this preview done is association with our friends at ManufacturedHomes.com, who've created this video for your insight and enjoyment!

Please stop by our booth at the Kentucky Exhibition Center (KEC) at the 2014 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show, #115, right by the main entrance to the show hall. There will be delights available for those interested in growing their MH business in 2014! ##

(Image credits, MHI and MHProNews)

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

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