Putting Your Attitude in Action

One successful example is a friend of mine who came up with an alternative solution to heavy concrete cones used to hold posts and signs in parking lots. The disadvantages of concrete cones are their weight, cost, and damage inflicted if they come in contact with a vehicle.

So my friend, the inventor, designed a sturdy and highly visible plastic "post protector" that is lightweight and easily movable. Once in place, it can be filled with inexpensive sand or gravel. Another benefit is its highly visible, yellow coloring which never needs to be painted, saving recurring maintenance costs. Because of this inventor's imagination, belief, and expertise, his unique product is now available in almost every city in the country.

He accomplished turning this idea into a marketable product during the off-season of his successful maintenance business and, as a result of investing the time, has made a handsome profit. Remember, your imagination is only limited by the time you devote to developing it. Always be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to capture ideas in order to make your goals a reality.

4. Utilize "peak vision." No matter how many principles you choose to adopt for your action plan, make sure you document your ultimate goal in a vision statement.

The most successful manufacturers and applicators utilize "peak vision," for their market and industry. This vision is not some abstract thought-process; rather, it is a statement or statements comprised of ideas and goals, all mapped out for execution and completion at a particular time.

Once you formulate your peak vision, be sure to place it in a prominent place where you can see it and refer to it daily.

My goal in presenting is to give back some of the information I have gained over the last 28 years in the asphalt business and, hopefully, to inspire others to improve upon our ever-growing industry. I will be available before and after my seminar so that we can continue to learn form each other. I look forward to seeing you there.

A veteran on both the contracting and manufacturing side of the pavement maintenance industry, Guy Gruenberg, chief operating officer for Rose Paving, Bridgeview, IL, will present "Attitude is Everything: Developing Your Sales Genius" at National Pavement Expo, Feb. 15-18 in Charlotte, NC. For more information visit www.nationalpavementexpo.com.