TWO CFA MEMBERS DIE IN DUNE BUGGY ACCIDENT
The Denver Post reported on April 2nd, 2008 that Lester Oliver Jr. (Les) of Cast In Place of Greely, CO and Mike Brand, a salesman for White Cap died from injuries sustained in a dune buggy accident on a grassy field near Ault, CO. The two were riding in a dune buggy on Brand’s property at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night when Oliver turned the vehicle too sharply and it flipped over. Oliver was pronounced dead at the scene and Brand died later at Greely Hospital. The CFA wishes the family, friends and co-workers of these two men peace during this time of shock and grief. Cast In Place of Greely was a member of the CFA for several years. White Cap joined the CFA as one of the newest National Suppliers in 2008.
ELECTION RESULTS Not Likely to Change Immigration Enforcement
by David C. Whitlock
Immigration enforcement is here to stay. The Bush Administration was successful in doubling the number of law enforcement personnel devoted to immigration enforcement. The statistics demonstrate that the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement strategy is having positive results. Arrests of immigration violators are way up, as are criminal investigations and indictments.
The new Administration cannot afford to be “soft” on immigration enforcement. The Executive Branch must be seen to be vigorously enforcing immigration law at the border and in the interior if Congress is to consider meaningful immigration reform. As a result, employers can expect to be the target of continuing enforcement efforts, and DHS will continue to use all enforcement tools at its disposal.
Because of its past successes, DHS will continue to focus its enforcement efforts upon key, “targeted” industries which have historically employ significant numbers of legal and illegal immigrants. Thus, employers in the construction industry will continue to be subject to heightened enforcement scrutiny.
One of the most effective enforcement tools that DHS use is the threat of criminal prosecution. It is likely that the number of criminal investigations and indictments will continue to increase as DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) target and prosecute employers that are knowingly employing illegal aliens.
DHS will take advantage of the No-Match Safe Harbor regulation to assert that employers receiving no-match correspondence from the Social Security Administration or “suspect document notification” from DHS are on constructive notice that they employ illegal aliens. Failure to act correctly in response to such correspondence will likely lead to criminal prosecution.
DHS will continue to encourage employers to participate in its E-Verify and IMAGE programs. As federal contractors are added to the E-Verify system, the number of employers participating is expected to approach 300,000. In order to ensure the integrity of the system and the enrollment mandates, DHS will need to focus additional scrutiny upon participating employers. It is possible that we will see more interagency cooperation and more state level participation in confirming E-Verify enrollment. For example, since OFCCP already conducts on-site audits of federal contractors, confirmation of E-Verify enrollment could be easily added to the checklist for compliance. Similarly, cooperative agreements between DHS and those states which mandate E-Verify enrollment for some or all employers would give the federal government an enhanced ability to police the E-Verify system.
Unfortunately, because immigration reform is such a polarizing issue, it remains unlikely that Congress will enact any comprehensive immigration reform legislation for the foreseeable future. Instead, we are likely to see enactment only of piecemeal, “band – aid” legislation addressing only the most urgent and critical problems. It is highly likely that Congress will extent the authorization for the E-Verify program and appropriate funds to make it more accurate and efficient.
Because Congress is not likely to enact comprehensive immigration reform legislation, more and more states will seek to regulate illegal employment. As federal contractors enroll in E-Verify, it is particularly likely that more states will enact legislation requiring state contractors and subcontractors to enroll in E-Verify also.
Given that enforcement efforts are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, prudent employers will make sure that their I-9 compliance is as good as it can get. This is so because most enforcement efforts begin with an audit of I-9 compliance. If the employer’s compliance level is fairly high, the prospects of any enforcement action against the employer diminish radically. Conversely, if the employer’s I-9 compliance is not good, DHS and ICE assume that the poor compliance is the direct result of actual knowledge that illegal workers are being employed.
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David C. Whitlock, Esq. is a Shareholder in Littler Mendelson’s Atlanta office. For over 20 years, his practice has focused upon immigration and related compliance/enforcement issues. He can be reached atdwhitlock@littler.com.
Copyright 2008 Littler Mendelson. Used with permission.
WESTERN FORMS ACQUIRES SOLID WALL SYSTEMS
Western Forms and Mercedes Homes are pleased to announce Western Forms acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Solid Wall Systems, Inc. (“SWS”) from Mercedes Homes, Inc., a Melbourne, Florida- based homebuilder, effective May 9, 2008.
Since its inception in 2001, SWS, has been a leading production builder of cast-in-place concrete walls in Florida and was featured in several publications and national broadcasts, such as the Bob Vila television show and ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. With such a recognized brand name in Florida, the company will continue to operate as Solid Wall Systems.
Western Forms, is not currently in the construction business, nor will it be in the future. Therefore, Structura Technologies, LLC, an affiliate of Western Forms that provides services to assist builders and contractors in the transition from block, wood, or other materials to cast-in-place concrete walls, will work in conjunction with SWS to develop third-party installer licensees to perform the actual-cast-in-place wall construction in Florida.
Mercedes Homes has been instrumental in developing cast-in-place concrete technology for above-grade walls in Florida and continues to recognize the value and benefits of poured-concrete walls. Their divestiture of SWS will now allow Mercedes Homes to concentrate on their core business while still offering the option of solid wall construction to their customers.
Mercedes Homes, Inc. (“MHI”) is the 30th largest single family homebuilder in the United States based upon number of homes settled/closed as reported in the May 2008 issue of Builderâ magazine. MHI is principally engaged in the marketing, sale and construction of single-family detached/attached homes generally ranging in sales prices between $100,000 to $800,000 for each home. MHI pri- marily builds in four (4) geographical regions, consisting of ten (10) separate housing markets:
- East Florida – Jacksonville, Space Coast and Treasure Coast
- West Florida – Orlando and Tampa
- Carolinas – Charlotte
- Texas – Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio
Western Forms, Inc. based in Kansas City, Missouri, is the worlds leading manufacturer of aluminum forming systems and support services to the residential and commercial concrete construction industry. Western Forms was founded in 1955 and invented the fabricated aluminum form in 1963. With its 350 employees, and 22 patents, Western Forms continues to lead the industry in innovation. Prompt delivery of Western products are available through a well established network of nationaldistributors. In affiliation with Structura Technologies, LLC, Western embraces concrete contractors and builders by providing engineered-to-order forming systems coupled with extensive ongoing technical services.
Bilco’s Permentry Offers Direct Basement Access
Consisting of a monolithic concrete stairwell and Bilco basement door, the PermEntry Basement Entrance system is used extensively in new home construction applications. It maximizes and expands lower-level living space by adding direct, safe and convenient access from the basement to the outdoors. Precast in one piece and thoroughly vibrated for maximum density, the stairwell can be installed on poured concrete and concrete block foundations. PermEntry is secured to the foundation via high tensile threaded rods and anchor bolts, and all concrete facing surfaces are sealed to ensure years of maintenance-and leak-free performance. In addition, the staircase is protected from weather by Bilco double-leaf steel or polyethylene basement door. PermEntry is a fast and cost-effective way for foundation contractors to add a direct access/egress to basements. It comes in seven standard sizes to fit any foundation depth. After the foundation for a new home is poured with an opening for the areaway, a certified PermEntry dealer delivers and installs the stairwell and the door in just a few hours. The installation includes the following steps:
- Step One: Anchor holes for the special high-strength bolts are drilled through foundation with a hammer drill.
- Step Two: Facing surfaces are coated with self-sealing butyl resin strip sealant for a watertight seal. The PermEntry precast stairwell is then lowered into position onto the foundation footing.
- Step Three: Prior to backfilling, the precast stairwell is secured to the foundation wall using built-in steel anchors. On a block or precast foundation, a permanent steel support is installed on a concrete slab underneath the precast unit.
- Step Four: The Bilco basement door is anchored to the precast stairwell and caulked. The area is then backfilled and landscaped. For steel doors, a finish coat of alkyd metal enamel must be applied to all metal surfaces inside and out. Bilco’s high-density polyethylene-constructed Ultra Series Door is impervious to weather and does not need painting.
As more homeowners today are using their basements as living space – home offices, entertainment centers or guest bedrooms – PermEntry offers a quality selling feature for new homes. The stairwell and the basement door provide access to service personnel as well as a large opening for easy storage and movement of outdoor furniture, lawn equipment and other bulky items, eliminating the need to track through first fl oor rooms. In addition, PermEntry satisfies IRC 2006 Building Code requirements for emergency egress and is a safe and dependable exit for occupants in case of an emergency. Bilco’s PermEntry is a part of the company’s complete line of basement products that includes the basement doors – Ultra Series, Classic Steel and Sloped Wall Series Doors – as well as the ScapeWEL® Window Well and stakWEL® Modular Window Well systems. The Bilco Company is ISO 9001 certified and has been serving residential and commercial building markets for more than 80 years. With headquarters in West Haven, Connecticut, Bilco has manufacturing facilities in Trumann, Arkansas, and Zanesville, Ohio, and an international network of sales offices, dealers, distributors, and representatives. For more information about PermEntry and other Bilco products, please visit www.bilco.com or call (203) 934-6363.
FALL REGIONAL CONFERENCE TAKES US TO OHIO
Fall has come and gone, at least for those in the northern half of the country. As the snow flies and the election energy draws down, we can begin thinking about what happened to those golden months of autumn.
This fall was a great opportunity missed by many no thanks to the economy and the need to work harder. Still, some member companies took the risk and found a new energy introduced by the CFA Management Committee at this year’s Fall Regional Meeting. Held in Columbus, Ohio to be in proximity to a large percentage of the CFA membership, this event was the culmination of considerable effort of the Management Committee over the past two years. What could you have learned from this meeting if you were in attendance? What did you miss by not making sure you had representation at this meeting? Read on and perhaps this will impact your decision for the next opportunity.
The Fall Regional meeting began with a hosted event by Tremco Barrier Solutions. An educational program including an opening history by Mark Patterson, VP and General Manager for Tremco Barrier Solutions and then a presentation titled The Science of Waterproofing by Dr. James Wells followed an opening reception. The evening closed with a dinner and free discussions.
DAY ONE
Following the regular meeting of the CFA Board of Directors on Friday, October 17th, the first CFA Management Forum opened with a line-up of three keynote speakers. They joined the CFA Board and a small but mighty representation of the CFA membership. These speakers brought collective knowledge in the fields of customer relations, business opportunities and employee law to the forefront. The purpose—develop sound business ideas that each attendee could return with and begin making a difference or to insulate their company from future threats.
Headlining the event was Kevin Stirtz, known to many as The Amazing Service Guy. Joining him were Wendy Ward, Vice President for the national PR firm, Constructive Communication and James Ferber, Managing Partner of the Columbus, Ohio, Office of Littler Mendelson, the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm.
Beginning with Strategic Planning more than a year ago, CFA committees and staff have been diligently working to establish a revitalized education component to our events. The need to provide ways for our companies to grow as employers, area businesses and profitable entities is paramount in this business climate. From this seed, the groundwork for a successful first event was laid.
The Amazing Service Guy is more than just a moniker when it comes to Kevin Stirtz. It is the identity that firmly explains the message embodied in everything he does from his lectures to his books. Attendees found this keynote presentation captivating and entertaining while it gave solid advice for the way a company must go to business in today’s challenged marketplace. The goal each company has is to attract new customers and hold on to the current ones.
In the face of declining prices and the pressures of low-ball competition, how can value actually play a meaningful role? This is precisely what Mr. Stirtz spoke to giving a step-by-step road map to augment or perhaps transform a company’s business plan. His seminar titled “Never Lose Another Customer”, left each person in the room scrambling to jot reminders of ways to tweak or replace their own customer service policies. Perhaps some of these will soon be featured in our series Management Moves.
A title like Creating Success with Effective Proposals, evokes the idea that you have work to do to make sure the one shot you get is the best it can be. Whether your company regularly markets the image, quality and value by answering RFPs or not, the content that was delivered in this presentation gave new meaning to the concept of understanding what your customer really wants.
In the fast paced world of declining business (now why does that sound like an oxymoron?), companies quickly find ways to copy and blanket response for more opportunities served rather than focusing time, energy and talent on making the first impression the lasting impression. Wendy Ward detailed the necessary decisions that must be made whether presentations and proposals are a part of your regular business or perhaps will become a part of your future opportunities as the landscape of the residential industry is reshaped.
Each attendee came away from this presentation with a solid understanding of the pitfalls in their own responses to these opportunities and ways that they can turn from the “more mud on the wall approach” to refining the “consistency of that mud for optimum wall-sticking efficiency”.
The final presentation during this first Management Forum came on the heels of the successful presentation given during Summer Convention. The CFA has found a treasure trove of exceptional topics on business law in the firm Littler Mendelson. This time around, James Ferber focused on the Employee Free Choice Act and the potentially severe impact it holds for the nation if becoming law.
The challenges faced by CFA members regarding unionization are well documented and some have been the topic during our Conventions. This presentation focused on the specific details that may drastically change the landscape in which employers interact with the influence of unions and what may result for their labor force. Mr. Ferber detailed the steps that can be taken by our industry to provide input to Congress and the risks that are quite real if the present and incoming administrations proceed with current adoption plans.
Many questions were fielded throughout this presentation and many attendees left with an interest in seeing the CFA as a leader for their organized opposition. Look for more presentations by representatives of this firm at our 2009 summer meeting in Amelia Island.
DAY TWO
The normal education day during a CFA regional meeting occurs on a Saturday. Given the economic struggles, the normal emphasis on construction crews was set aside and focus was given to the two latest initiatives—Certification and Self-Insurance. Baty and Sauter conducted the three-hour CFA Contractor Certification Seminar followed by another two-hour exam.
The committee is considering a designation of “CFA Certified Technician” for those who complete the educational seminar and pass the exam. Employment of at least one “Technicial” will be a requirement to become a CFA certified company. Two companies sat for the exam in Columbus. Concurrently, many of the attendees from the first day stayed to listen as Jay Odice presented the plans for a CFA Self-Insurance program. This continues to be an area of strong interest by the Association but there is considerable work, with many questions, before commitments are made. Those in attendance of this presentation came away with another level of understanding. More details will be forthcoming as the task force assigned to the program development continues their effort.
DID YOU MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY?
As the sun set on the Fall 2009 Regional Meeting, the general consensus was one of reserved optimism. Yes, the CFA can provide meaningful business management education and great things can come from the current program initiatives but it takes the commitment of the CFA members to really decide how significant the impact can be.
Did you miss this opportunity because you weren’t informed enough about it? Did you miss it because the economy left you unable to take advantage of it? Did you miss it because the value was not as great as the business choices you were forced to make? We need to hear from you to maximize these opportunities and bring the highest value each and every event. Contact CFA headquarters and let Ed and Jim know your thoughts.
MOVING AHEAD WITH FAITH
It seems like just the other day I was reading the farewell letter authored by Terry Lavy in Concrete Facts as his term of President of the CFA was expiring. In what seems like the blink of an eye, it is now my turn to do the same.
As I step down I am both encouraged and excited about what has been accomplished and what is on the horizon for the CFA. One of the most significant projects is the Contractor Certification Program. This initiative probably has more potential to positively impact our association than any other initiative in recent memory. Another area of progress is the recent focus that has been placed on committee organization and structure. This has led to a ramping up of activity and has generated a renewed enthusiasm from the board members as well as many new participation opportunities for the general membership. During the fall of 2007, many CFA members gathered in Salt Lake City for the most recent strategic planning effort. There were a great many initiatives generated during this meeting and all of them centered on the generation of direct member benefits for companies that find the CFA a worthy annual expense. Some of these have been implemented in the form of a new Company Management Education Program featuring the Management Moves series and the technical resource series known as Tech Notes.
I am fiilled with anticipation to see and hear the new ideas and strategies that the committees are working on to further respond to the Strategic Plan as well as even newer concepts. The CFA has developed strong leadership in the industry for the generation of codes and standards. We now need to “take care of our own” and produce successful measures for evaluating and demonstrating why CFA contractors and product manufacturers can make the difference.
It should also be mentioned that over the past two years our industry and the members of our association have been tested and stretched. The state of the home building economy across the United States has had a profound effect on most of our businesses. It has been during these times that I believe the fortitude and resilience of our members has shown brightly. Our membership is made up of some of the hardest working and most determined people I know. As we move forward, our association remains in good hands under the solid and competent direction of Ed Sauter and Jim Baty. Serving alongside of them is the officer core of Dan Bromley, Tim Parrish, and Jim Bartley who are collectively leading a dedicated Board of Directors that tirelessly give of their time and their talents. I have no doubt that this group is more than capable of leading this tremendous association through whatever challenges that lie ahead. I also feel that it would be appropriate to express a special note of gratitude to a few industry leaders who have been particularly helpful by offering insight and wisdom over the past two years. Thank you to Ron Ward, Scott Smith, and Joe Carr for your example, leadership, and encouragement, not only to me but to our entire industry.
All of this also leads me to believe that over the past two years all Americans have gotten much stronger as well. Just think that it was only two years ago a full grown man was needed to carry twenty five dollars worth of gas while today a mere five-year-old can do it! All kidding aside, however, there is no debate that when the residential market returns (and it will) it is companies like the many proud members of the CFA that will stand ready to lead and succeed through the next growth cycle, armed with the knowledge built with hard work during these lean times.
It has always been a pleasure and a privilege participating and serving in the CFA. I am grateful to the association for the opportunities that I have been given and I will cherish the experiences always. Thank you.
Brad Schrock, CFA President, Custom Concrete Company Inc. bschrock@customconcrete.comFALL REGIONAL WAS FIRST CLASS!
I am writing this letter to the membership on a plane going home from the Fall Regional Convention that was held in Columbus Ohio. As I reflect on the conference, there are four topics that stand out for me, quality education, CFA certification exam, captive insurance and what a great group of people CFA members are.
First, the quality of the education featured at our first Regional meeting was first class. The 4 hours of education was geared towards the owner’s and managers of our members companies. It cost $ 75.00 and was a great value. The first half of the program featured sales and marketing topics. Wendy Ward at Construction Communication gave a great presentation of effective proposals. Kevin Stirz “Amazing Service Guy” talked about tools and steps to retain customers, exceed customer expectations, increase revenue with current customers and increase networks. The last topic was presented by James M. L. Ferber Attorney at Law. He spoke about “The Employee Free Choice Act” (EFCA) that will most likely become law after the elections and how if can dramatically affect our businesses if a union should try to organize our labor force. Fellow CFA members this intense education was worth the $75.00 fee and cost of travel (If you cannot make the next regional meeting consider sending a top manager, it pays).
Secondly, two more members took the CFA Certification exam. This program is continuing to gain momentum. Committee work is in progress to help certified companies market and promote the certification to your customers.
Third, the captive insurance program (self-insurance) initiative is moving forward. The consensus among members and the board is we want to continue to develop the program so our members can control their insurance costs. We need your help to do this. You can help by serving on the captive insurance committee and we desperately need five years of your insurance history (contact Ed Sauter at CFA) and we need this history by the end of January.
Finally, I must comment on what a great group of people CFA members are! It has been a joy to talk, catch up and network this weekend.
Thanks also to the Latorre’s and Tremco Barrier Solutions for the hospitality.
Dan Bromley, CFA President, ABI Corporation danb@abi-corp.comCFA FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY SURVEY
Just how bad is it? Many of you know – you are experiencing it on a daily basis. But how bad is it elsewhere? I recently completed a survey of foundation construction activity of members to put some actual figures on the state of the economy.
The good news – I had a record number of respondents for a CFA survey. Forty-eight of our members responded which is over 25% return of current paid members.
The bad news – If that many of you had the time to respond it means you aren’t nearly busy enough; The fact that 48 responses represents more than 25% of our paid members means that membership is off by over 30%; and, worst of all, the figures confirm what most of you already know. Its bad, and getting worse. It’s not bad for everyone everywhere. There are a few pockets within given regions that are performing reasonably well and there is one region of the country – Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois – where the drop in construction activity is much less than in other regions. This is most likely an anomaly due to the fact that these three states are in the heart of corn country, and corn has been at record prices.
I took the respondents and divided them into regions of contiguous states that had some basis for the grouping. The figures are as follows. You can draw your own conclusions. The figures show the reduction in construction activity in a given group of states relative to the base year of 2005.
It is apparent that the lower Midwest is fairing the best. Drops in construction activity in the two Midwest areas were 15% and 28% respectively. The balance of the CFA areas represented had drops in construction activity ranging from 39% to 48%.
Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA esauter@cfawalls.orgCERTIFICATION DEBUTS
It’s been in the planning process for over two years. Countless meetings, conference calls, consultations, dry runs – but now its for real. The Concrete Foundations Association will roll-out the CFA Certified Foundation Contractor program at this summer’s Annual Convention.
The details of the program will be covered in an in-depth article in the next edition of the Concrete Facts. This introduction will cover some of the basics posed in the above questions.
There are several reasons why a company should consider company certification. First, some building code jurisdictions require, or will soon require, that companies working in their areas be certified. A second reason is to separate your company from the competition. You can promote what the program entails, what you went through to obtain certification, and what it will mean for your clients. The CFA will be promoting the availability of the designation and benefits of using a certified contractor to builders, code officials, and homeowners. We will also produce materials that the certified contractor can use to help promote the program. Becoming certified is not an overnight proposition. If someone requires certification for a project, it could take several weeks or months to meet the requirements.
An overview of the roll-out requirements include:
- Identification of the jurisdictions in which the applicant conducts business.
- Evidence of minimum stipulated insurance coverage (ongoing).
- Listing of operations performed and equipment operated in the course of business.
- List of other trade associations and civic organizations in which you are involved.
- Employees or owners who have passed the basic knowledge exam.
- Certification of adherence to established standards of practice.
- Business and customer references
- A business practices statement (liens, licenses held or denied, financial information).
- An approved safety program
- Continuing education (after the first year)
The first opportunity for certification will be at this summer’s Convention. Forms will be available for completion prior or after the Convention and a preparatory seminar will be held during the event. It is highly recommended that applicants obtain and familiarize themselves with the study guide. The guide is a compilation of existing and new materials related to the foundation industry. The exam is open book but the detail nature of many of the questions will require the examinee to know where the information resides and how to read the tables and charts. The examination will consist of 80 multiple choice questions.
The seminar, conducted by Jim Baty and myself, will cover concrete basics, codes, and foundation fundamentals. The seminar was first offered at the CFA spring meeting in Coralville this past April. It is not required (although it counts toward your education requirements) but it will help you understand the contents of the exam and should improve your chances of passing.
If you have an interest in participating in the program, contact the CFA office for the application forms and details of the program. They will be available in early July.
Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA esauter@cfawalls.orgTHE UN-COMFORT ZONE… What’s Pushing Your Buttons?
by Robert Wilson
What motivates you? That’s the question I’d like to ask in this inaugural column on motivation. Are you motivated by fame, fortune or fear. Or is it something deeper that fans the flames inside of you. Perhaps you are like Jeanne Louise Calment whose burning desire enabled her to do something that no other human being has done before. A feat so spectacular that it generated headlines around the globe, got her a role in a motion picture, and landed her in the Guinness Book of World Records. A record that has yet to be beaten.
Jeanne Louise, however, did not initially motivate herself. It was someone else who drew the line in the sand. But, it became a line she was determined to cross.
In motivation we talk about getting outside of one’s comfort zone. It is only when we are uncomfortable that we begin to get motivated. Usually to get back into our comfort zone as quickly as possible.
Born into the family of a middle-class store owner, Calment was firmly entrenched in her comfort zone. At age 21 she married a wealthy store owner and lived a life of leisure. She pursued her hobbies of tennis, the opera, and sampling France’s famous wines. Over the years she met Impressionist painter Van Gogh; watched the erection of the Eiffel Tower; and attended the funeral of Hunchback of Notre Dame, author, Victor Hugo.
Twenty years after her husband passed away, she had reached a stage in life where she had pretty much achieved everything that she was going to achieve. Then along came a lawyer. The lawyer made Jeanne Louise a proposition. She accepted it. He thought he was simply making a smart business deal. Inadvertently he gave her a goal. It took her 30 years to achieve it, but achieve it she did.
Are you willing to keep your goals alive for 30 years? At what point do you give up? Thomas Edison never gave up, instead he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Winston Churchill during the bleakest hours of World War II kept an entire country motivated with this die-hard conviction: “We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches… in the fields and in the streets… we shall never surrender.”
Many of us give up too soon because we set limits on our goals. Achieving a goal begins with determination. Then it’s just a matter of our giving them attention and energy.
When Jeanne Louise was 92 years old, attorney François Raffray, age 47, offered to pay her $500 per month (a fortune in 1967) for the rest of her life, if she would leave her house to him in her will. According to the actuarial tables it was a great deal. Here was an heir-less woman who had survived her husband, children, and grandchildren. A woman who was just biding her time with nothing to live for. That is until Raffray came along and offered up the “sucker-bet” that she would soon die. It was motivation enough for Jeanne, who was determined to beat the lawyer. Thirty years later, Raffray became the “sucker” when he passed away first at age 77.
When asked about this by the press, Calment simply said, “In life, one sometimes make bad deals.” Having met her goal, Jeanne passed away five months later. But on her way to this end, she achieved something else: at 122 years old, she became the oldest person to have ever lived.
In future articles we’ll examine further the ways in which motivation works. How to motivate ourselves, our employees, customers, volunteers, friends, loved ones and children. I would like to get your feedback on which of these areas of motivation are of most interest to you. I’d also like to hear your stories of how you may have overcome adversity and what pushed you to go the distance. Please email me with your suggestions and stories.
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Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a motivational speaker and humorist. He works with companies that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert’s programs please visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com.
Robert Wilson www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com (Speeches & Seminars) www.graffitiguy.net (Comedy Roasts) 404-255-4924 robert@jumpstartyourmeeting.com
