OPERATIONS: GARY RICHIED – Page 6
This first article of the year is being written on the last day of January while we are experiencing the coldest weather that Chicagoans have had to endure for a very long time, maybe ever. With the actual temperature reaching 30 below and wind chills of over 50 below we had to limit the work we could do to inside only jobs for the sake of the service provider’s safety. This is another thing that has not happened for a very long time, if ever. Tomorrow we hope to resume a full schedule, with temperatures in the double digits, in an effort to catch up on the backlog that this weather caused.
While January was not everything that we had hoped for, we are off to a good start on our interstate business, with our local relocations and international business lagging a little behind, and the demand for office work pretty stagnant. This is pretty much the norm for this time of the year and unfortunately it looks like it may continue for the next couple of months. Although I know we would all like to be a lot busier, this provides a great time for us to sharpen our skills through additional training of our service providers, and for our office staff to review improved procedures, and how best to apply them.
Frank Russell, our Reebie Van Foreman of the Year for 2018, and Sirva nominee for the AMSA Lifetime Achievement Award, has been named Allied Van Lines Driver of the Year. I cannot begin to tell you how honored I was to be the one to announce this recognition of Frank’s to everyone in the company when I got the news. Business associates from both van lines, and many fellow agencies called or emailed me to extend their congratulations on our first Reebie driver ever to receive this distinction. I look forward to seeing him up on the stage at the Operations Conference this year, where everyone in attendance can show their appreciation to him for the truly outstanding job that he does for our customers.
For the first time in a few years we will have all veteran employees in the office of our Operations Department. Given the great success that we had last year, when pushed to the limit, I am anxiously awaiting the challenges this year will present now that we all have at least one year under our belt, to see what we are really capable of.
The motivational quote for this month is from Dr. Albert Schweitzer “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve”. While he speaks of what is necessary for an individual to be happy, it is definitely the main requirement for the success of any service business such as ours.
Please take the opportunity that is presented on St. Valentine’s Day to make the most of telling and showing those that you love, that you really and truly love them.
Peace and Prayers
Gary