One of the tremendous honors and privileges of editing and publishing MHProNews.com is being exposed to the wisdom of top professionals from coast to coast. As I was reading the January articles (in alphabetical order) by:
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Larry Arnn, PhD
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Keith Bennett
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Tim Connor
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Nadeen Green, JD
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Chrissy Jackson
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Kurt Kelly, JD
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Charles Marshall
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DJ Pendleton, JD
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Scott Stroud – joining us in this issue
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Ron Thomas, Sr.
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Zig Ziglar
I was struck time and again by how applying the concepts these professionals suggest would take any company or organization towards better service, fewer head aches, higher job satisfaction and more profits.
Thinking about the many dozens of others who have graced us with their expertise during the course of the years since we launched MHProNews, it is both humbling and exhilarating.
Let me challenge anyone in our industry to read the thoughts of these and our other featured writers and not walk away with one or more useable gems from EVERY article.
Then as part of your 2013 New Year's Resolution, let me suggest that one of the most profitable and beneficial resolutions you could make is for you – and your team/associates – to read every Featured Article every month. The amount of professional development, inspiration and profit building potential is nothing short of amazing..jpg)
Make notes about your key takeaways from those articles.
Then, go back and review those takeaways to see how you are doing at implementing them. About 15-20 minutes a day could revolutionize your career, your team, your location or your organization.
“Borrowing” Freely
There are some phrases or tag lines which are so good, it is a pleasure to use them. One of my favorite two word phrases is ROC USA's “Better Together.” Wow, what a powerful concept, packed into those two words!
Another favorite of mine is the Christopher's motto:
“It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
Our industry is 'better together' here where news, tips and professional views you can use meet. We are all better off doing even a single little thing – lighting that single candle – than to curse the darkness and do nothing.
Set the example for others. Read daily. Get more involved in business-building industry events.
Then encourage others to do the same, because you have set the example. For those handful of skeptics out there who may think this suggestion is about 'boosting our site,' well think again. Because we already have 800,000 to 900,000 page views monthly – far more than needed – to be 'number one' in our industry's trade media.
So this suggestion for a resolution is boosting YOU as an industry professional and making YOUR operation BETTER. Those who do this WILL reap the rewards.
Speaking of Better Together. We will be at Louisville and Tunica for their shows. Make sure that BOTH are on your calendar and that of key people in your circle of influence. Hope to see you there soon!
As a reminder, Zig was kind enough to share years of articles with us in advance, so you will continue to see him published here, even though he has now gone on to his eternal rest.
Sew the seeds of good reading, apply what you can and then reap a rich harvest in 2013 and beyond!
Let me invite you to check out BuilderRadio's podcast with me on the topic of the Sleeping Giant and more.
Without further ado, let's jump into this month's featured articles. Happy New Year 2013!
Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 4, No. 4, 2013
Alphabetically by Category
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)
• Renting to Mary Jane Medical Marijuana, Fair Housing and MHCs
by Nadeen Green, JD
On of the most difficult things for any writer/blogger is coming up with something to write about that is truly relevant for readers to read. I was struggling to come up with an idea, but then my muse did her thing (and this time my muse is DJ Ryan with the law firm of Kimball, Tirey & St. John, LLC).
• Solutions to Fair Housing Factoids!
by Nadeen Green, JD
To refresh your memory, in the December issue of MHProNews, you may have read the article Fair Housing Factoids. It had a puzzle for your to solve and we promised the solution to the puzzle this month! If you haven't already worked the puzzle, before clicking through to the answer, take a look at the Fair Housing Factoids article linked here.
• Promoting your Community: Step 1
by Chrissy Jackson
“Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges . . .” And the difference is . . .
Let’s first look at what Webster has to say about the meaning of “marketing” – (1) the act or process of buying and selling in a market; and (2) the commercial functions involved in transferring goods from producer to consumer.
• Loss Control: a $1 get you $10 Investment
by Kurt Kelley, JD
If you haven’t started a loss control program for your business, the New Year is a good time to do it. Statistics show that $1 spent on loss control saves $10.
The following video is a humorous look at one of many forms of loss control, as it applies to a manufactured home community.
FINANCING
• Fueling MH Financing in 2013 and beyond
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
Is there a short, common-sense step that every MH lender, retailer and community operator could take to fuel financing and sales in 2013? The correct three-letter answer is "Yes."
• Access More Third Party MH Financing in 2013
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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Many who will read this column are doing 'captive' finance, 'buy here, pay here,' rent-to-own or other “in house” finance programs. Those who do it well, good for you. Yet virtually everyone who retails manufactured homes – in land lease communities, in developments or on privately owned sites – wants to access more Dodd-Frank/CFPB compliant MH Financing in 2013.
GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS
• Time to Give Up or Time to Fight On?
Interview with Dr. Larry P. Arnn
The following is adapted from an interview of Dr. Larry P Arnn by Hugh Hewitt for the Hugh Hewitt Radio Show, conducted on the day after the election, November 7, 2012.
Hugh Hewitt: My guest is Larry Arnn, the president of Hillsdale College.
• Beat the Heat and Boost Your Bottom Line!
by Keith Bennett
Nestled between the cold of winter and the heat of summer is the biggest event of the manufactured housing year, the 2013 Tunica Show! While well over 2,000 professionals attended the Tunica Show in 2012, we expect even more in 2013 for a variety of reasons that all have to do with one thing: boosting your bottom line.
• The Incredible Value of Bridging the Gap
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
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A magazine called the Magnificat, inspired the following paraphrase. Bridge building may be costly. But building a bridge frees those trapped on both sides of the river or gap.
Some years back, I ran across a study done on the millions of dollars saved daily because of the investment in a certain bridge.
• PACs: Who has 'em and Why do they Matter so Much?
by DJ Pendleton, JD
NSWER: Everyone, and because losing isn’t an option and everyone can't be a winner. Money in politics. The phrases, quotes and analogies run rampant when discussing money in politics. The association of the two is fundamentally and inextricably intertwined with one another. The reason is simple: it costs a lot of money to run for elected office.
• Housing's Sleeping Giant
by Scott Stroud
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30 years ago economists referred to China as the ‘sleeping giant’ because of the power the Chinese population would wield if it opened its doors to the commercial world. Well, today, China is no longer asleep – the country is a dominant force in the world market.
• United We Stand!
by Ron Thomas, Sr.
Industry unity is so important these days. So it is gratifying to see how the manufacturers, exhibitors and speakers are going all out to make the 2013 Louisville Show a business and industry building experience for you and hundreds of other owners, executives and professionals! We are pleased to announce that we are running nicely ahead of the successful 2012 show in every possible measure!
MANAGEMENT
•Leadership’s 7 Deadly Sins Or, Why Leaders Fail
by Tim Connor, CSP
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During my 30+ year career as a global speaker and trainer, I have worked with hundreds of leaders in a variety of industries around the world. I have also read every book written on the topic of leadership. By combining my practical experience with the insights of others over the years I have come to the conclusion that there are seven major reasons why leaders fail regardless of their roles, positions, industry or experience.
•The Fifteen Keys to Growing Your Business in an Uncertain Economy
by Tim Connor, CSP
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Far too many businesses have unnecessarily failed during the past few years and many more will follow in their footsteps. Will your business be one of them? It doesn’t matter if you are a start-up or have been in business for over thirty years. It doesn’t matter if you have sales under one million or over five hundred million.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION
• ZigOn Breakfast with Fred
by Zig Ziglar
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It has been said that many people think communication is taking turns talking, but that leaves out an important ingredient–the heart. A high jumper broke a world's record. Somebody asked him how he did it and he responded, "I threw my heart over the bar and the rest of me followed."
SALES
• Cooked in a Squat
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
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One of my favorite Zig Ziglarisms is his expression, "cooked in a squat." Too many professionals limit themselves – get cooked in a squat – by failing to believe they can do and accomplish more. Henry James put a similar notion differently, "It is time we started to live the life we imagined."
•I Am A Customer
by Charles Marshall
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a customer. I am the person that makes the economic engine turn. I am the reason you take home a paycheck. I am the reason you are able to feed your family, pay your mortgage, go on vacation, buy a car, and contribute to your church or synagogue.
•It’s not the Product; It’s the Experience.
by Scott Stroud
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t’s not that I’m pessimistic, but I rarely expect an exceptional experience as a customer.
I travel a fair amount, mostly in the service of clients who hire me to speak at their company or group meetings or to consult on their sales or marketing processes.
