Three broad topics today, as suggested in the title, so let’s get started.

1 Unintended Consequences

We hear and read a lot these days about “unintended consequences.” Unintended consequences may occur in business, government, politics or in our personal lives. An example of unintended consequences may be the Conseco-Greentree et al. lending meltdown a dozen years ago. Some put shaky deals on the books; in time, lenders took a bath (not unlike the huge, recent sub-prime mortgage meltdown), so private money lending dries up, government officials get concerned and our Industry (or now, housing as whole) has suffered as a result.

Because housing is THE Key Driver to our Economy and jobs, this is beyond important.

When elected officials hastily pass legislation, there are often unintended consequences. A case in point is the so-called SAFE Act. Maybe this was “well intended,” and many – including “friends” of our Industry – put this law on the books. But tens of thousands of businesses in our Industry are now unsafe – some are at risk for their very existence – because of the unintended consequences of the SAFE Act.

Whoever we are, whatever we do, we should plan ahead and try to avoid those unintended consequences. Before we cast a ballot, donate to a campaign, or do anything else, we should think the matter through, then act prudently. It is easier to do a thing right, than to explain why we did it wrong and then try to fix it.

2 Manufactured Housing Professional Dialogue

Between meetings like the recent International Networking Roundtable in Phoenix and the MHI meetings just finished in Denver, where do we as Industry pros turn for discussion, networking, inspiration and more? There are Industry publications – Allen Report, The Journal, Chattel Finance News or our own ‘Manufactured Home Marketing Sales Management’ online trade journal (at www.MHMSM.com). Allen’s site has a blog that takes posts; we accept and encourage comments posted by readers here at MHMSM.com, too. But what I want to push for a few moments is:

LinkedIn Groups!

LinkedIn.com is free. I call it “Facebook for professionals on steroids.” There are half-a-dozen groups that are specifically for manufactured or factory built housing. While a certain amount of self-promotion takes place, there are also often ROBUST and candid discussions on vital topics.

There is YOUR chance to engage and sound off! Many leaders and thinkers do! But more involvement there would be better.

You or anyone else who cares enough to invest some time and brain power in thoughtful discussions can do so on LinkedIn.com in one or more groups. Here the small, medium or large all have a voice. This voice is semi-public and moderated.

While I will ask our own IT manager, Bob Stovall, to take a look at how we might provide a similar tool here for you at MHMSM.com, in the meantime, please let me encourage you to join an MH group and be a part of the discussion. Why gripe alone, when you can share your ideas with others, and test your ideas and solutions by using that wonderful – free! – tool!

3 The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Annual Meeting in Denver

• Great speakers on key topics (at least one of whom has already offered to join us at MHMSM.com as a featured writer!)
• Election of New Officers, as well as recognition and thanks to outgoing officers
• 26 Industry issues being tracked and addressed by MHI
• Political reports and MHI PAC reports and discussions
• The SAFE Act, Dodd Franks bill
• Finance coalition discussion, how the entire Industry can unite behind this critical issue
• Awards presentations, meals, networking, other group meetings and presentations

All of this and more were bullets from the MHI meeting in Denver. Let me take a moment to commend all involved in the planning, presentations, awards and more for their efforts. There is real value and potential from such meetings.

I’d like to say hi to all whom I met, and to beg the forgiveness of those who I had hoped to meet and chat with in Denver… they are busy days, and there never seems to be enough time to talk to everyone that you’d like to chat with.

We plan to defer to MHI’s own meeting brief, likely to be in their email on Friday. Then, starting next week, we plan to do a series of focused looks at the bullets noted above; at the presentations, the often spirited discussions and more that took place. You can read about some of the biggest names in the manufactured housing Industry, see their photos, meeting pictures and get the details right here at www.MHMSM.com.

You won’t find more depth of coverage anywhere on a single site.

Thanks for tuning in. I look forward to your return, and of course, your private and public comments are welcomed. # #