Why You Should Personally Invite Your Competition To Join The TCA
FOUR PROVERBS SUGGESTING IT IS BETTER TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER RATHER THAN AGAINST EACH OTHER.
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE, BUT YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER
Michael Corleone, in The Godfather Part II (1974), written by Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola, said, “My father taught me many things here — he taught me in this room. He taught me — keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
Of course you should not consider your competitors enemies. However, the essence of the quote is relevant. Developing relationships with competitors enables you to gain insight into what they think, and it can lead to partnerships, says Michael Dalton Johnson in his podcast interview “Why You Should Take Your Competitors to Lunch.” Through the TCA, you can establish a different kind of relationship with your competitors.
Many times you find new opportunities for collaboration and, before long, you are sending each other referrals. “I’ve had lunch with competitors who started telling me their plans and talking about new developments in the industry quite openly. And I’ve become friends and developed collegial relationships with competitors. In fact, some have actually referred clients to me that they couldn’t handle,” Dalton says. “So, there’s a lot to be gained primarily to demystify and put a face on them and see the mentality behind them and what you’re up against.”
TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
This proverb is first recorded in John Heywood’s A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546: “Some heades haue taken two headis better then one: But ten heads without wit, I wene as good none.”
With all of the talk of collaboration, “two heads are better than one” remains the hottest and best approach to problem solving. A scientific study led by Bahador Bahrami of the Interacting Mind Project (University College London and Aarhus University in Denmark) published in the journal Science confirmed that, in many cases, working together yields better results than working alone.
The study suggests that the key to collaborative success is communication. It was important for the participants to be able to discuss their solutions and gain confidence in their decisions. The Tilt-Up Concrete Association provides the vehicle for this type of communication. The value of networking is real and you can’t afford to be absent from the conversations. The ability to bounce solutions off your peers, troubleshoot with experts from across the country, and even discuss issues unique to your market with your competitors cannot be overvalued.
The other key to success presented in the study was that both participants had to reliably report their confidence. Their ability to estimate and report their own aptitude accurately would enable them to weigh one another’s contributions. The TCA plays a large role in identifying authority in the industry. Through publications and events, the TCA highlights individuals and companies with specialized knowledge and experience with specific aspects of the industry.
A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK
Thomas Reid’s Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, 1786, included this line: “In every chain of reasoning, the evidence of the last conclusion can be no greater than that of the weakest link of the chain, whatever may be the strength of the rest.”
There are certain pieces of information the entire industry needs to know. Safety is number one. The TCA has developed numerous resources related to safety including the TCA Safety Guideline for Tilt-Up Concrete Construction. These resources are free and available to everyone. Safety is a component of everything we do. From education at events to articles in our magazine, we strive to communicate the importance of safety. A bad accident can negatively impact the entire industry not to mention it could cost someone his or her life.
Quality control is another issue of great importance. Every tilt-up building constructed, regardless of the contractor’s membership status, makes an impression that is directly related to the greater industry. The TCA publishes a guideline specification for designers and owners to use in communicating the quality of workmanship they are expecting. This document is available for free to everyone and is undergoing a complete renovation this year.
The TCA recognizes the importance of these issues and works to educate the industry as a whole. Getting those around you involved in the association ensures they are also aware of these issues and committed to best practices.
THE RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL THE BOATS
In his memoir Counselor: A Life At The Edge Of History, President John F. Kennedy’s speechwriter Ted Sorensen writes that he noticed that “the regional chamber of commerce, the New England Council, had a thoughtful slogan: ‘A rising tide lifts all the boats.’” From then on, JFK would borrow the slogan often.
Much of the association’s work has a positive effect on the industry as a whole. The TCA works to promote tilt-up in general, spread word of its advantages and potential, and communicate new applications. The TCA also works on the industry’s behalf at the legislative table. Through partnerships with complimentary organizations, we monitor code development and join the conversation as needed. The more members we have, the greater impact we can make. Getting those around you to contribute through membership ensures that you are not the only one in your market paying for services that benefit everyone.
