Being thankful for little things

With Thanksgiving Day just around the corner, a little reflection on the little and unnoticed things we have to be thankful for is a great way to spend a few minutes – or the rest of our life.

Counting our blessings and expressing gratitude for the many gifts that are bestowed upon us daily helps us put life’s troubles in perspective and realize the future is bright for each and every one of us if we allow it to happen and don’t waste energy resisting the inevitable changes to come.

From my perspective as the tech guy, I look at all the advancements made over the past few years that will allow us to do more business with less effort as the economy and out industry bounce back.

In the Masthead blog today, Editor L.A. ‘Tony’ Kovach writes about Kitchen Utensils plus What’s New for Manufactured and Modular Housing and how old habits ned to change to move forward once again.

Maintaining old habits is a form of resistance to change, but old habits cannot be broken as Tony illustrates. They CAN be overridden with a new habit and that is the goal that we must aspire to.

It takes effort – conscious effort – to override a habit. Constant vigilance is the only way of assuring that the old habit doesn’t resurface and become dominant yet again.

Resolve now to make the effort to build the new habits required by the new world we are entering. Resolve now to stop wasting energy resisting change that must come of we are to succeed in the global economy. Resolve now to make the changes that are necessary if we are to be the major housing player in the new marketplace instead of an afterthought.

But some old habits, approached with new resolve can be very good for us. Take, for instance, the reemergence of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show and the Pennsyvania Manufactured Housing Association’s HomExpo 2011.

These shows are a return to the root of the industry’s more glorious past and can prove a stepping-stone to a more prosperous future – IF we take advantage of them and ensure their success with our participation.

So while you’re counting your blessings, express a little gratitude for the hard work that went into bringing these two shows – and others like them – back to life. And if at all possible, make the commitment to support them by your attendance. Yes, some old friends are no longer with us, but these two shows present a golden opportunity for the survivors to network with the survivors and jump start the process of rebuilding your business.

When you are gathered around the table this Thanksgiving, give a little thought to wonderful industry you are a part of – the one that can be a shining star in the constellation of affordable housing in our country and around the world.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.