HVACR Distribution Business Columns
Getting to Yes
We're all negotiators no matter whether we judge ourselves as inept (as do I) or a real tough, effective participant in working a deal. In February, I...
Expect the Rulemaking Onslaught
For most HVACR distributors, if I asked you the question, who is impacting your business? your thoughts would immediately turn to the person directing...
Unemployment, Education and a Different Kind of Schooling Track
Long-term unemployment in the United States continues to hover between 8 percent and 9 percent nationally, and both the Republican candidates for president...
Business and Our Digital World
Each fall, my publisher, John Ehlen, and I ponder over the subjects we ought to cover in our thematic March issue. That's when we devote the entire publication...
A February Fitness Report
K. Before you read this column, give me 25 pushups. Then we can proceed. While this column generally addresses business issues related to wholesale distributors,...
Why We Should Say Goodbye to the Estate Tax
In 1789, one of America's greatest statesmen, Benjamin Franklin, received credit for writing the now-famous line in this world nothing can be said to...
The 2012 Forecast & Star Product Review
I'm back or, to put it more accurately, it's back. Our second annual forecasting and Star Products edition. Last year, for the first time that I've seen...
The American Jobs Act: What It Means for Distributors
During the presidential campaign of 2008, it seemed that a standard tagline issued by candidates was the promise of green jobs and how they would transform...
If You've Noticed Any Changes in This Magazine
Then you've been paying attention. During the past several issues, you might have noticed that we are now turning our attention back to articles that...
When Green Doesn't Mean Dollars
During the presidential campaign of 2008, it seemed that a standard tagline issued by candidates was the promise of green jobs and how they would transform...
BEWARE: It weighs slightly more than six pounds.
I'm talking about a book, a tome really, that you should be familiar with even if you've never seen or read it. In the HVAC/R industry, most know it as...
HVAC Systems & Equipment: An Industry Update
I must be on to something. There was a red blinking light on my phone, indicating a voicemail. I dialed into my voicemail and heard a message from someone...
The View from a HARDI Perspective
At the time of this writing, the headlines indicate the center of the country is experiencing a record heat wave with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees...
Our Government: New Ways to Meddle?
For the sake of argument, I'm curious if any of the following developments exasperate others as much as they do me. Granted, I may be a bit of a Chicken...
The Next Time You Get Up to Speak, Don't Forget That
The way you speak to an audience today will not be the way you address a group in the future. And prepare for something else. Politeness toward the speaker...
HARDI: The Pulse of Membership
As this article is published it is now June, and I hope it is hot and humid all over the country. This may sound a little selfish, but this is an industry...
Why Don't You Give Me a Call?
When I worked as a reporter in several different cities, I made my living literally beating up the telephone. While I would do some interviews in person...
An Experience That Scared the...Out of Me
I have just completed a somewhat scary incident that many of us never experience in a lifetime. I had to replace a complete cooling and heating system...
Excuse Me, While I Demonstrate
Today's subject is work. Is it really necessary? From what I can determine these days, it is apparently not all that essential. Taking one day in time,...
Throw Away Your Business Cards?
I got a newsletter from Bob Bly (www.bly.com) the other day, and he had some interesting comments about business cards. His advice was: Don't give one...
Thoughts on Industry Events
As I write this article, I am in Germany in the process of attending the ISH convention and meeting with the FEST (European Distributors) organization....
Professional Development and Training?
In our continuing practice of publishing a March issue focusing on a single theme, we decided that the subject of Professional Development and Training...
The HARDI Answer to Your Professional Development & Training Issues
This March issue is a little different in a very good way, I think. It contains a number of interesting articles: Talbot discussing the state of the union...
Succeeding at Succession
As most of you know by now, Talbot Gee has replaced me as executive vice president of HARDI. He is an extremely dedicated and capable individual who will...
HARDI Undergoes Positive Changes
At the time of this writing, the Bush tax cut extension just passed Congress, along with a reduced 25C extension, and I just returned from an officer...
