Why Join an Industry Association? By Desiree Grace The Benefits and Opportunities of Membership—a conversation between the CFO and CCO. CFO Mr. Skinflint said, “I think we can cut these association dues. It’s expensive and I don’t really see the benefit.” CCO Ms. Savvy responded, “The benefits to our organization and our people are numerous. I know you have not been to an event or conference, so let me tell you about the many benefits. “ Introduction It is competitive out there--companies and professionals are continually seeking avenues to enhance their skills, expand their networks, and stay abreast of industry developments. One powerful way to achieve these goals is by joining an industry association. These organizations provide a wealth of resources and opportunities that can significantly impact both personal and professional growth. The association can help us do these things that we cannot afford to do solo.  Networking Opportunities Building Connections One of the main bene...

For years we've discussed the reasons for joining trade associations and the benefits of attending association meetings: Attending these meetings is essential for building valuable connections, staying updated on industry trends, and enhancing professional growth.  These gatherings offer unique networking opportunities, access to exclusive insights, and skill-building sessions led by industry experts.  Being active in associations also strengthens credibility and influence within the field, making it a powerful way to stay competitive and inspired. (It's a great way to get out of a funk or selling drought.) Plus, they're a heck of a lot of fun! You can count on off-site adventures and cocktail hours to keep things interesting. Plus, I've made some lifelong friends along the way. Most recently, I had the honor of attending the AHTD Fall Meeting. If you missed it, here is a quick video recap with Nikki Gonzales  from the Automation Ladies Podcast. Frank Hurtte is a huge ...

AHTD TRIP Day 3 As can be expected from AHTD functions, we had great meetings and a fabulous showcase yesterday.   This included  a full day of presentations with strong insights from some leading experts in our industry as well as from experts on topics that impact our environment. Mike Foster, who is a cybersecurity expert, gave an eye-opening presentation that left us all with a checklist of things to review tied to our IT systems.   Last night was the product showcase. I brought nearly 100 business cards and I'm down to my last three.  Note to self: Use my QR code to exchange cards. If you are looking to join AHTD or wonder if it's the right fit for your organization, feel free to drop me a line .   Frank Hurtte, Founding Partner of River Heights Consulting, shares his personal experiences with 28 years of "in the trenches" training and 17 years as a consultant.  He serves as a personal coach to industry leaders across many lines of dist...

Sleep is essential but… Dr. Matthew Walker is the foremost expert on the subject of sleep.  According to his research missing an hour of sleep can be harmful to your health and mental well-being.  I recently read his groundbreaking book, Why we Sleep , and armed with detailed explanations as to the importance of sleep, I was forced to make a hard  decision – sacrificing sleep versus spending an extra couple of hours engaged in some incredibly interesting conversations. You can imagine which I chose... Last night a small group of automation experts shared their thoughts on the impact of “reshoring” on the automation industry.  Here are some questions to ponder: ·          What regions will be most positively impacted by reshoring?  ·          Will the flow of manufactured products change from an east-to-west flow to a south-to-north supply chain? ·       ...

AHTD Report Day 2- AHTD is a networking extravaganza. Tuesday marked the official launch of the AHTD meeting.  The morning was devoted to a Board of Directors meeting which only involves a dozen or so members.  However, many attendees showed up early to engage in informal meetings with Supply-Partners and other distributors.  I couldn’t help but notice dozens of distributor groups huddled together to do some benchmarking.  Much sharing of information on the condition of the market and supply chain issues.   The official meeting started at an opening reception where the record crowd munched on appetizers and chowed down on the latest industry gossip.  What was the gossip? Business continues to hold up nicely. Supply chain issues are still a part of the business.  Could this be the new normal? Finding qualified workers is a major deal and the AHTD Future Leaders Program is overflowing with smart folks who will carry the industry into the fut...

AHTD Association Meeting Report – Late night meetings   My Assistant and Marketing Expert, Jenny has heard thousands of stories tied to my experiences/exploits at AHTD.  This year, she challenged me to share timely updates on what’s going on during my stay at AHTD (which is at the LaQuinta Resort near Palm Springs).  This is the first of several such reports.    One of the most valuable parts of association meetings comes not from the great presentations but from the informal conversations held during “off hours.”  I have always enjoyed the comradery of these evening chats.  When I was a younger man, the meetings went well past the witching hour.  These days, I target 11:30 as a hard stop.  If the conversation is brisk, I can be enticed into sacrificing sleep for business.   Last night I joined a group of young leaders in our business for “one more” and found myself listening intently to a discussion centering around eCommerc...

First a personal proclamation:  I am a proponent and advocate for membership in distributor associations.   After fourteen years of working for the manufacturing side, I attended my first such meeting back in 1991.  The first meeting was scheduled by the owner of our company.  I expected to have fun, make some new friends, and maybe learn a few pointers on the nuances of running a distributor.  I did; however, I also observed a couple of negative things that were, quite frankly, disgusting to me.    The negative points -the boondoggle thing Some distributors saw these meetings as a tax-deferred vacation.  They came to play, not to work.  As a young, and perhaps idealistic, distributor of 37, I was determined to grow my business and make a difference in the industry.  I saw several people whose only real involvement in the meeting was participation in the cocktail hour and going out to dinner with friends.   While I ...

My assistant came back to the office today with a distinct look of disgust.  Apparently she did some last  minute dress shopping over lunch.  She went on to explain how infuriating it is when a salesperson tries to cram a “hideous mess of a dress” on to anyone willing to buy.  She further explained how she had met this salesperson before and was given a song and dance about how great an outfit looked, when clearly it was just meant for a mannequin.  This trip, she tried to avoid this salesperson and with good reason.  While I laughed at her fitting room trials, I couldn’t help but think about how it’s not just mall employees who push their way in for a buck. Tips for the New Guy – Don’t sell a square peg for a round hole Want to ruin your career?  Just establish a reputation as a guy who “force fits” the wrong product into customer applications. Customers will never forget or forgive you for it.  I call the practice selling square peg...

Way back in 1994, I had the opportunity to briefly meet with George Gilder, a best selling writer, techno-Utopian intellectual, and Presidential Advisor. Mr. Gilder had just written a book called Life after Television which predicts a future where everyone has the technical capacity to produce and distribute their own TV and radio programs. A couple of weeks ago I met somebody who is bringing this vision to life. Eric Dudas (of Fasteners Clearing House) has created Fully Threaded Radio. Fully Threaded Radio is a bi-weekly radio program devoted to the fastener industry. This hour and a half show is designed to be downloaded to your I-pod or listened to via your computer. If you are part of the fastener industry - I recommend you make this a regular download. And if you are part of another industry, let it be known, it's about time we move the wholesale distribution channel into the 21st Century. And by the way - listen to me on Fully Threaded Radio Episode 9 . I cover two topics: H...