You'll see what the acronym TEST means below, along with Big Number 48. Let's start with some observations about all the superior September articles you'll find, outlined below.
Before publishing an article, it's my privilege to read and edit them all. As I read Zig's article this month for MHProNews, my mind turned to exactly what this great gent did for me in sales, management and as a career inspiration. Zig did so for millions, so don't be surprised if Zig Ziglar's article inspires you too.
Then there is Tim Connor's articles on Management and Sales. Long before I met Tim in person, he too influenced my sales career. He's done so even more since I met him at a WHA association meeting, I will long be grateful to Ross Kinzler and Amy Bliss for making that happen. You should make sure that your association has Tim come and speak too; you won't regret it. Tim's two articles this month, both are a hit!
Different but still exceptional is my friend Kurt Kelley's article this month. Did you know that how you classify your employees could be a million dollar decision? Or how about my friend Nadeen Green's article on cell phones and your staff? See what this pair of attorneys know that YOU need to know!
Speaking of attorneys, HK&C Law has a bevy of legal talent that has a reach far beyond the West coast, where their work is just shy of legendary status. Are you an MHC thinking of a purchase or refi? Better read this month's column by Rachelle Menaker, JD, another top shelf gem from our friends at HK&C.
Catch the rhyme?
Ready for A Cup of Coffee?
We could just pop our buttons as we share A Cup of Coffee with…Leigh J. Abrams, of dynamic Drew industry's fame. Leigh – as you will see – is level five leadership. The importance and take aways from the must-read thoughts of this chairman of a billion a year in sales operation must be experienced. Read it at least twice.
I recall listening at an MHI meeting of MHEC execs to FMHA's Jim Ayotte. He spoke softly, politely but clearly and candidly to MHI's then CEO. He was truly making a statement. A pin could have dropped in the room. That CEO is now gone, but Mr. Ayotte's work carries on! Read the amazing insights and advice in A Cup of Coffee with…Jim Ayotte. Then send the link onto your friends, along with Mr. Abrams and the other fine articles you will benefit from here this month.
Joe Karn's is the web guru who made the LouisvilleShow.com website and many others in our industry! See what Karn's has to say about your online marketing, you'll be glad you did.
By the way, speaking of Louisville, we've had questions! The link to the online registration goes live September 3, and the rest of our updates for the site will be live on that date too! Not an oversight, timing on both ends.
“Your a winner!” when you read Beth Monicatti Blank's article this month, you'll see why her marketing insights are valued here and there. :-)
Chrissy Jackson, ACM, provides the next in her series of tips on Promoting Your Community. Jackson juggles her busy work consulting schedule with family, friends and still finds time to write articles that mom and pops to some to some of the biggest players in the industry pay attention to, so you should too.
Dave Shanklin has evolved into quite a finance topic writer, and this month is no exception. See what questions manufactured home buyers often have, and how Dave handles them.
Scott Stroud razzles and dazzles with challenges to your mind that can fill your wallet. Don't miss his column!
My articles are listed down below, along with our fine Featured Writers, please give 'em a read too, thanks so much!
Okay, all that said, TEST is short for The Exceptional September Talent that is found in all the articles just mentioned! If you have a doubt, just read them, make sure your team does too and you'll see for yourself.
As far as Big #48, that isn't my age, it is the number of issues that what we now call MHProNews.com has published since we launched in October, 2009. Wow! My thanks to our sponsors, writers and all those 1.5 million visitors in the first 7 ½ months of 2013 who made this possible, including YOU!
We are better working and sharing together. Our full line up for September follows below.
Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 4, No. 12, 2013
Alphabetically by Category
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)
• Million Dollar Decision? Paying Your Employees: Salary? Exempt? Hourly?
by Kurt Kelly, JD
Properly classifying workers as independent contractors or employees is important. For workers classified as employees, whether they are labeled salary or hourly is equally important.
• Your number is up…
by Nadeen Green, JD
…and if you are part of the maintenance team at a manufactured housing community, your number may be up on the screen of your residents’ cell phones or PDAs.
• Promoting Your Community “Work where you believe in the quality of the product . . .” (WOW!)
by Chrissy Jackson
Employee Referrals . . .The value of employee referrals was mentioned in the preceding section of this continuing series as a tool to help you fill and upgrade your manufactured home land lease community.
• Quirks of Financing and Refinancing of Manufactured Home Communities and Mobile Home Parks
By: Rachelle E. Menaker, Esq.
I. INTRODUCTION: OVERVIEW OF CURRENT LENDING CLIMATE FOR MHP’S
Everyone knows that interest rates in recent years – in the wake of the financial meltdown that occurred in the mid-2008 to mid-2009 timeframe – have been at historic lows. While in the past few quarters of 2013 rates have crept up slightly, interest rates are still favorable from a historical perspective.
FINANCING
• The Most Common Lending Questions Asked by Manufactured Home Buyers
by Dave Shanklin
If you don't work with manufactured home customers seeking financing every day, or even if you do, this finance article is just right for you. Let's look at some of the most common questions buyers ask.
GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS
• A Cup of Coffee with…Jim Ayotte
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1) Who, What and Where: (Your name and your formal title at the FMHA).
Jim Ayotte, CAE (Certified Association Executive), Executive Director, Florida Manufactured Housing Association, Inc., Tallahassee, FL
• A Cup of Coffee with…Leigh J. Abrams
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1) Who, What and Where: (Your name and your formal title at Drew, and your headquarters location).
Leigh J. Abrams; Chairman of the Board of Drew Industries Inc. (NYSE:DW); 3501 County Road 6 East; Elkhart, IN 46514.
• Rape, Seduction, Sex, Marriage and Manufactured Housing: A politically incorrect look
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We will pick some hypothetical communities to make some key points today. In selecting communities, you as the reader can just as easily imagine the hypothetical companies to be manufactured housing retailers, builders, finance sources or other suppliers.
MANAGEMENT
• Slow economy – and – your response is . . .
by Tim Connor
If you didn’t just land here from another planet you are well aware of the current economic issues, challenges and conditions. There are many factors that impact the manufactured housing industry the same as others but their ultimate impact on any organization is more a function of inside-out rather than outside-in conditions.
• Look Back; Think Forward
by Scott Stroud
We well into a housing recovery and factory built housing owners, managers and professionals have a decision to make: Will you take what you’re handed by the market or the economy, or will you do what is needed to make the future – your future! – what you want it to be?
MARKETING
• Make sure your customer contest is a real winner
by Beth Monicatti Blank
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Customers love a contest. You will too, as long as it doesn’t land your company in hot water. Here’s how to hold a contest that won’t be decided in court:
• 5 Ways to Cross Promote Your Website with Social Media to Build Your Business
by Joe Karns
With the recent frenzy surrounding the rise in using social media for the average small business to increase engagement and sales, many are forgetting about the importance of their business’ website.
• Working Together to Grow Manufactured Home Sales
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
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UMH Properties (NYSE: UMH) has joined others in directly supporting the evolving plan to grow manufactured housing sales by improving the industry's image.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION
• ZigOn Failing to Succeed
by Zig Ziglar
"You've got to learn to lose in order to win" sounds like strange advice, but the man who says it has earned over three hundred million dollars. Even in today's economy, that's a considerable sum of money. Here's the story.
SALES
• Why aren’t you selling more?
by Tim Connor, CSP
There is only one way to sell more – keep getting better. If you are not learning new skills, practicing proven techniques or re-evaluating your current methods I’ll guarantee you are experiencing lagging sales.
• No Pain, No Gain for Manufactured Housing
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
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I was listening to a c-suite executive at a top manufactured housing firm say these words: “We realized the hard way that…”and he went onto explain why they had to make major changes in their operation.
