b'res id e n t\'sArt i c l e What are We Trying to Grow? By Jim Barr, MR PreCAsident Atthe timeofthiswriting, MRCAwillhaverecentlyc ompletedits52ndAnnualTrade Convention Show &in Nashville. The convention was,stanby any dard,verysuccessful; andthe attendance wasrem pararkable, ticularly in light of the eventsof September 11. is My hatoff to all that attended; uan owever,thinwhethertheybecontractors,towards q tity. H Ikdo ischallengethestatus-quo: exhibitors, p ters or staff.athattors shouldexamine why we are doing w we Iaresen Thequestioncontrac hat thinkquestionofficers, dic and staff of thebe asking" are we trying toa doing; take ad look at the re torsisWhatreharthat contractorsM Ahard to ensure thegrow-our sales or our margins?"low-bidprocess;look fornew RC worked success of this show and shouldProfit is aject thatmarket niches that more favorsub contractorsably should be asking isbe congratulated.seem Ihediscuss for reasonsr rd our effort. oat toewa"What are we tryingSpeakingofconvention,mythat are mystifying.We can resistelower th urge to thoughts alwaysaeWeworkinanindustrythatourins in theof awander toscen marg facesoftento grow-our sales orrepeatedseveraltimes,I wouldoffers very little gratification aparting economy.Wecan also chaluour margins?guess,atmost rootingconven from doing aiswell and satisfy lengethewaywethink about job tions.Letmeset thestage.Aing our customers. Our work canprofitability and abolish the longcontractorsdangerous, group ofgathers at thebegenerally capitalheld taboo of silence on the subtrade show,perhaps,or betweenintensive,andisfr withject.It maybe time toraise the aught conventionprogrammings nume problems outofo price of pokertheeg rousurinroofing busimen to shareir experiences.control such as d ign, the work ofness. tsthe esInevitably, the conversation turnsotheres andshifting of lia Have ale trad theprofitab day. to projects underway or r bilityfromalmosteveryone ecently completed,the primary focusinvolved in the process.might asi\Insurance withItRCA on job size. The testost lev well be profitable.and Bonds erone e escala with the rhetoric (myT NRCApublishesannua Take advantage of thelstehellyinsurapologiesto thelady contractorsitsFinancialManagementa anceagencycreatedbyyour nd amongus),astheconversationPerformance Survey. T ageassociation - MRCA Insurance he avermovesfromo multi-thous netmarginbeforetaxesforalland B Our own independneandonds! sq job to the n Usually, itrespondents isin the mid-singleenturance agency will get uareext.ins the isinthesesettings that I catchdigit range.In my mind,thisisbest quote to meet your n , eedsmyselfwondering,"Areanyoffrighteningly low and hardly com andit comes timemake whento these guys making anyonmensuratewiththeriskwea claim, we are on your side. money ths "assume.For aquote or more inforistuff? free Iit is humane (Theanticipatedresponseismation,callMRCAIns ce supposenatur oruranat least the American way) tosomething like, "I\'m doing a Iand B at 888/572-2467. tendllcanonds do," along with the attendant hand wringing about competitor\'s pricingother issues. What we can and'