Sign Company VP Tries to Keep Overzealous Prez in Check

YOU MAY HAVE READ Dale’s column a few months back entitled “The Word of the Year” (see ST, February, page 41). If not, I will tell you The Word of the Year is no. Well, apparently my partner has some short-term memory issues. At least twice in the past week I have had to emphatically remind him of The WOTY (as we now call it). I hope he eventually gets the idea so I can stop repeating myself.

In the past, our inability to say no has led us into some cool new products and processes that have helped us grow as a company and added more depth to what we do every day. Conversely, it has also led us down the rabbit hole of not knowing when to quit. To say we just don’t want to do this, or realize this may not be a profitable scenario to get involved in.

But now we have made our place in the world and have streamlined our processes for the type of projects we do every day. Our team is comfortable with the jobs we take on and we do not need to be sidetracked trying to reinvent ourselves. In my mind, to maintain growth we need to look for more of the work that we already have down to a science. We must look for more customers needing the products that we have full confidence in our ability to produce. The “But I saw a video on YouTube! It looks so easy!” statement that routinely falls out of my partner’s piehole immediately makes my head hurt, and I want to stick my fingers in my ears and run away screaming lalalalala all in an effort to drown out whatever he’s going to say next.

No longer do I want to hear, “What we really need is (insert expensive piece of equipment here).” Which means we will need to make room in the shop for it, run power and/or air lines to it, etc. Then there is the training time for at least one employee. This all adds up to money. All of the machines and equipment we use every day, as well as our awesome Altec LS60, are paid for. We have team members that have been running those machines for a long time and know all the quirks and possible issues — before they happen.

Don’t get me wrong: I am glad there are people out there doing the R&D and finding new ways to do things… Maybe I am just becoming old and set in my ways, but I know what I know and I will stick with that, thank you.

So I will continue to “just say no” and I will remind my partner to do the same. We can leave the research to others and coast into retirement with a solid grasp on everything that flows through our shop. I no longer want to have the conversation that starts with me saying, “You told them we could do what???”

All you sign dogs out there that love a challenge and are ready to invent new processes and take on the challenge of creating new products and techniques, keep it up. I’ll be over here watching you from my easy chair, applauding your efforts, simultaneously reminding my partner to just say no.

…Yeah, this is definitely the last time I ask for your help to write the column. — Dale

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