ICS October2010 : Page 6

Editorial Comment By Jeffrey Stouffer Words to Mull Over, Points to Ponder gems as “The only constant is change” by Heraclitus, “Fortune favours the bold” from Terence’s Phormio and Warren Buffett’s oft-quoted, “Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy.” Strong, succinct and, as is often the case with such nuggets, pretty rah-rah. A They’re popular with the pundits, and why not? It’s only natural that the entre-preneur gravitates toward that which best suits her nature, i.e., I can as opposed to I cannot. The classics also go through cycles, occasionally being dusted off and re-branded after long-dormant periods. Here’s one of the better ones that’s recently started making the rounds again: “It is better for the reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconvention-ally.” – JohnMaynard Keynes Now, Keynes was never the most sensitive of fellows when it came to his observa-tions (“In the end, we’re all dead.”), but might this be worth chewing on for a bit? For an industry long associated with the entrepreneurial spirit, the trailblazer with the gumption and fortitude to carve out his or her own path in the world, does a move toward less risky, more traditional business practices signal a maturation of the way professional cleaners view themselves and their operations? Or might it foreshadow something else entirely? Time will tell. Moving forward, it’s important to regularly revisit the reasons you got into this business in the first place, and see whether or not they still hold true. As Mark Twain said, “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” Connect with ICS, wherever you are! Now it's easier than ever to stay connected to the BEST source of the latest news and information. Find us on Twitter and Facebook. Follow ICS on Twitter > www.twitter.com/ICSMag Find us on Twitter @ICSMag. Get great article headlines, communicate with our staff and share your opinion with us. Become a Fan of ICS on Facebook > www.facebook.com/ICSCleaningSpecialist Connect, share and interact with other individuals in your industry. We’ll share the latest information and events going on around you. 6 Cleaning Specialist | October 2010 BNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior Information Single Copy Sales Ann Kalb Tel. (248) 244-6499 E-mail: kalba@bnpmedia.com For subscription information or service, please contact Customer Service at: Tel. (847) 763-9534 or Fax (847) 763-9538 or e-mail ICS@halldata.com Web: www.icsmag.com good turn of phrase is a beautiful thing; witness the lasting impact of such ® Group Publisher  Phil Johnson, Publisher  Evan Kessler Western Regional Manager  Jim Roy Editor  Jeffrey Stouffer Sr. Art Director  Rick Arvidson Art Director  Manda Chan Production Manager  Amy Levin CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Bishop, John Braun, Dave DeBlander, Aaron Groseclose, Gordon Hanks, Stanley Quentin Hulin, Howard Partridge, Steve Toburen, Ruth Travis BNP Media Company, II, L.L.C. Publishing and Sales Office: 22801 Ventura Blvd., Suite 115 Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Phone: (818) 224-8035, Fax: (818) 224-8042 E-mail: ICS@bnpmedia.com Publisher  Evan Kessler (303) 255-1263 Western Regional Manager  Jim Roy (818) 224-8035, ext. 2215 Classified Sales Manager  Sharon Ward (847) 405-4017 CORPORATE OFFICE: 2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 700 Troy, MI 48084 www.bnpmedia.com CORPORATE DIRECTORS Publishing  Timothy A. Fausch Publishing  John R. Schrei Corporate Strategy Director  Rita M. Foumia Information Technology  Scott Kesler Production  Vincent M. Miconi Finance  Lisa L. Paulus Creative  Michael T. Powell Directories  Nikki Smith Human Resources  Marlene J. Witthoft Conferences & Events  Emily Patten Clear Seas Director  Beth A. Surowiec Marketing Contact/Manager  Rick Arvidson AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Audience Development Coordinator  Christina Gietzen Corporate Fulfillment Manager  Alison Illes Audience Audit Coordinator  Kelly M. Carlson

Editorial Comment

Jeffrey Stouffer

Words to Mull Over, Points to Ponder A good turn of phrase is a beautiful thing; witness the lasting impact of such gems as “The only constant is change” by Heraclitus, “Fortune favours the bold” from Terence’s Phormio and Warren Buffett’s oft-quoted, “Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy.” Strong, succinct and, as is often the case with such nuggets, pretty rah-rah. They’re popular with the pundits, and why not? It’s only natural that the entrepreneur gravitates toward that which best suits her nature, i.e., I can as opposed to I cannot. The classics also go through cycles, occasionally being dusted off and re-branded after long-dormant periods. Here’s one of the better ones that’s recently started making the rounds again: “It is better for the reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally.” – John Maynard Keynes Now, Keynes was never the most sensitive of fellows when it came to his observations (“In the end, we’re all dead.”), but might this be worth chewing on for a bit? For an industry long associated with the entrepreneurial spirit, the trailblazer with the gumption and fortitude to carve out his or her own path in the world, does a move toward less risky, more traditional business practices signal a maturation of the way professional cleaners view themselves and their operations? Or might it foreshadow something else entirely? Time will tell. Moving forward, it’s important to regularly revisit the reasons you got into this business in the first place, and see whether or not they still hold true. As Mark Twain said, “A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”

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