This is a dangerous subject about which to write. For one thing, I know very little about the subject. Secondly, most of you out there probably either know all about it and consider yourselves experts, or you are like the rest of us who know just enough to be afraid of it. What topic is it? 

“Contractors beware! If you are at all like me, you have been anticipating that the new residential construction market is just a year or so away from rebounding to previous heights.” Is it true, or is there more to this story?

I hope you had a chance to read the recent article in this magazine by Joanna Turpin regarding ‘Going Against the $29 Tune-up.’ I have to declare that this is not a subject on which I have mixed feelings. In fact, I have very strong feelings.

Often we find ourselves so caught up in the day-to-day activities in which we are putting out fires that we are unable to step back and try to figure out how to prevent the fires in the first place. There is one method that I have found that can really help to make you take the time to look at why there are fires and emergencies in your organization.

We, as contractors, have to walk a very fine line when it comes to deciding what issues/opportunities we go after. The reason for this is that we have a responsibility to our customers to make them aware of upcoming issues in order that they, the customers, may make informed decisions regarding the issues confronting them.

Do you arrive at the office each morning prepared to accomplish a list of goals you have set for yourself? Or are you the type who arrives full of energy for the day ahead and gets caught up immediately in a minor problem that sidetracks you until the day is half gone and you have not really accomplished much of anything? 

It’s the end of another year. Is it just me or does it seem that the years seem to be going by more quickly? As the year comes to an end, besides celebrating Christmas and the other holidays, we should be putting in some time planning for 2012.

One thing that is true about virtually all HVAC contractors — we all think we know what to do and how to do everything that needs to be done in our business better than anyone else.

Anytime a group of contractors get together, have you noticed that it only takes a few minutes for the conversation to get around to how low-price competitors are making it difficult to do business in their market?

The Golden Rule in business is — he who has the gold, rules! What does that mean in HVAC contractor terms?