President's Update

Improving From Day to Day

Writing this message to our membership three months in advance of its release can present a few challenges. How can I possibly predict what will happen between the time of writing and when it goes to print? What will the weather trend be? Will I still be waiting for that big equipment package I placed what seems to be eons ago? What happens between the time of writing and print is anyone’s guess, but one thing is for certain, our everyday thoughts and actions are what make us who we are today, tomorrow, and well into the future. The daily interactions we have with colleagues, our families, and our staff continually forges who we are, how we are perceived by others, and perhaps most importantly how we improve from day to day.

We spend so much of our daily professional lives watching things grow. Optimizing conditions on the ground to maximize the performance of a living ecosystem is our nature and as we all know, that is the easy part. Optimizing conditions for those around us is equally as important if not more important, for these relationships with our employees and colleagues are the bedrock of any successful operation. Building and maintaining adequate social currency with those key stakeholders will ensure that they’ll be there for you when you need them. It’s the people with whom you surround yourself that have the greatest influence on who you become and how you travel through each and every day. Give them good reason to reciprocate your benevolence and you’ll never be stranded.

If you don’t take care of yourself now, somebody will have to do it for you later. We pressure ourselves to be the most indispensable person in the room while conversely reminding ourselves that no one is irreplaceable. This tortuous mindset undoubtedly comes with the unintended side effects of far too many hours worked, multiplying gray hairs, and elevated blood pressure. For this sake, take the time to schedule that blood test, visit the dermatologist, or commit to that appointment with a therapist. Take the time build the best version of you there is.

By the time this publication arrives in your hands we will have emerged from spring and will be running headstrong into another growing season. May this be your best season yet.

Tom Fisher

PTC President