Thursday, May 28, 2015

Seize the Day by Discovering New Opportunities

As I sit at my desk to write the editorial for this month's Countertop Industry Insider, it happens to be my birthday. I don't particularly feel like working today, but duty calls, and I refuse to miss out on another opportunity. Three years ago, when I hit the milestone age of 40, I realized that I had let a fair share of opportunities pass me by in those four decades, and I swore never to let it happen again.

Of course, no one catches each and every opportunity that comes his or her way. We must carefully weigh the pros and cons of pursuing them. Some are not worth the effort, but many hold countless possibilities that may continue to enrich our lives for the rest of our years. However, it is all too common to let these occasions slip through our fingers never to reach fruition.

While some people seem to have a natural talent for recognizing and seizing opportunity, others struggle with the ideas and mechanics behind taking advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. However, as I have discovered, this is a skill, and like any skill, it can be developed and nurtured - but in order to do so, you have to overcome five primary obstacles: fear, failure, self-confidence, closed mindedness and perception.

When presented with a new opportunity, we are often reminded of our past failures. This can chip away at our self-confidence and give rise to a fear of making the wrong choice or being overcome by negative consequences. In many cases though, there are other factors that contribute to missing opportunities.

Most people suffer from a lack of perception and don't even notice opportunities, even when they are knocking loudly enough at the door to catch the attention of neighbors. This usually occurs because our minds are closed, and we refuse to look at situations from new or different perspectives. Once you open yourself to new ways of thinking, you will begin to notice a steady rise in opportunities.

A lot of us put so much time and effort investing in our businesses and our work that we neglect the primary reason we made it as far as we have: ourselves. If you seem stuck in a rut or your business seems to be stagnating, perhaps it's time to look inward for solutions rather than outward. The most successful entrepreneurs understand that it all begins from within, so the first opportunities they focus on seizing are those that will enhance their personal development.

Never stop working to better yourself. There is always something new to learn and new skills to master. Expose yourself to ever-expanding groups of people and situations. Nurture your ability to perceive new ideas and make new connections. Take steps each and every day to make yourself a better person. Missed opportunities will be few and far between, and you will have a better understanding of how to grab them. And, most importantly, understand that the ultimate beneficiaries will be yourself, your family and everyone else you hold dear.

We will be right back here next month with all the latest news and information concerning countertops and countertop fabrication, but in the meantime, feel free to drop me a line and share some of your ideas on business or personal development. We are always looking for new contributors to our website and this newsletter, and when you help us bring fresh, exciting content to our audience, we can help you by providing opportunities for expanding your reach with a byline or a link back to your business. Carpe diem.

Sincerely,

Brian Jones, Editor/Content Manager
info@countertopresource.com

Thursday, May 14, 2015

CountertopResource.com Introduces Health & Safety Watch


a-frame slabsAs many of you know, last March we created and opened a Countertop Industry Survey, and it has quickly grown to be one of the largest surveys of its kind for the countertop fabrication industry. We hope to learn a number of important facts about our audience and the information you need to make your business a success. The survey officially closes today, but we are already implementing your ideas as they roll in. If you haven’t taken the survey yet, you can do so by clicking here: 2015 Countertop Industry Survey.
One common recommendation that we have received is to bring you more information about health and safety in the workplace. To this end, I have been hard at work making new contacts interested in writing professional pieces on the topic, and I have been in contact with the media representatives of Oregon OSHA for further information on accidents and compliance requirements.
While researching health and safety topics, I was alerted about an accident that occurred here in Portland at a large fabrication shop, which will remain nameless in order to protect the company and those involved. According to my sources, several slabs fell on a warehouse worker during transport, causing serious injuries to the employee’s leg and ankle. While this particular accident was minor, it could’ve been much more serious.
From 1984 to 2006, a total of 46 fatalities have occurred in the United States associated with the handling and storage of stone slabs. Three of them, which were associated with slab racking systems, occurred in New England states during an 18-month period.
shib081208_fig2Following are just a few examples:
During the course of business, it can be easy to get caught up in production and demanding schedules, and we may forget about the safety of our employees and others who may be in our warehouses or fabrication shops. It only takes a split second and one overlooked safety procedure for an accident to occur, resulting in serious injuries or even death.
Looking at this issue from a humanitarian point of view, it is impossible to replace a human life, and looking at it from a business standpoint, some companies never recover from the monetary losses, insurance expenses, lawsuits and the social stigma that result from such incidents.
In order to provide a starting point for stone and countertop fabricators, federal OSHA released an official Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) shib081208_fig6regarding the Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling Granite, Marble and Stone Slabs in 2008. The information in the bulletin is neither a standard nor a regulation but simply a piece of advice “intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.”
According to this SHIB, safety issues occur at four key points for fabricators:
  • Unloading slabs from containers – Employees have been killed when removing wooden supports provided by suppliers to keep slabs from shifting within a container.
  • Storing slabs in a warehouse – Improperly designed or improperly used storage racks, particularly A-frame racks, present a serious danger.
  • Handling and moving slabs – Slabs are often moved using dangerous equipment, including hooks, chains, cranes and industrial trucks.
  • Loading slabs onto trucks – Employees loading slabs onto trucks are exposed to several hazards, such as being caught, struck or crushed.
The SHIB also goes on to provide several general recommendations plus specific recommendations for the storage and in-house transport of stone slabs. A few of the important general recommendations are as follows:
  • Create a safety plan, identifying all potential hazards, hazardous equipment and safe work practices.
  • Develop and implement safety procedures for loading, unloading, storing and handling slabs.
  • Ensure that workers are using the proper equipment for each job.
  • Inspect all material-handling equipment on a regular basis, and repair or replace defective equipment.
  • Train all employees on the proper safety procedures.
  • Observe employees to ensure they are following your safety procedures.
For further recommendations on safe slab handling and creating a safe workplace, you have several options available. Oregon OSHA and many other state OSHA offices offer free, confidential consultation services for small and mid-sized businesses. I have been personally assured by my state’s OSHA representatives that the consultation department is in no way tied to enforcement, and no citations or penalties will be imposed for violations discovered during the course of a consultation.
In addition, you may take advantage of the resources provided by trade associations, such as theMarble Institute of America. Finally, numerous private consulting firms are available that will provide consultation and training focused on OSHA compliance and insurance management for a fee. Be on the lookout for a new Health and Safety Watch article at CountertopResource.com next month in addition to our regular monthly information on the latest news in the world of countertop fabrication.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Countertop Businesses and Fabricators in Illinois

Illinois: Known as the Prairie State and the Land of Lincoln. 
French explorers canoed down the Mississippi River, the western boundary of Illinois in 1673, and went northward on the Illinois River. The first permanent settlement in Illinois, Cahokia, was a fur-trading post established in 1699.

In 1885 the world's first modern skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, was built in Chicago.
The Willis Tower, formerly known, and still commonly referred to, as the Sears Tower was the tallest building in the world from completion in 1974 until 1998.

Chicago is the nation's third largest city and Illinois is the sixth most populous state in the country

All of those people in Illinois need countertops, and there are plenty of places to supply them! You can find a list of countertop businesses in Illinois here.

This is a sneak peek at our efforts to compile the most complete list of countertop fabricators in the United States from A to Z. We will be working on Indiana next and hope to give you a look at that list as soon as its available. And you will find it here first.

There are still some inconsistencies to the list, but we are working to correct them and I just couldn't wait to share it.

In coming weeks (and likely months), we will be compiling lists for all 50 states, and once we get them done, we will seek input from the industry to make sure everything is in order before we release the information to the public.

We think this is going to be very popular with the countertop community and very useful for those seeking new countertops.

Let us know what you think!