No, I am not quite that old, but this month marks my 100th “The Way I See It” column. I want to thank each and every one of you who have put up with my rantings, opinions and sometimes off-the-wall ideas over the years. I truly enjoy writing this column, but most of all, I enjoy receiving feedback from you – good or bad – about my articles.
Some of the topics have been about sensitive issues. These seemed to touch a nerve and drew quick and sometimes unexpected reactions. For instance, I drew heavy fire from some manufacturers about comments I made about market share, purity, titling and registration of equipment, and warranty concerns. The good news is we were eventually able to have an open debate and reach a better understanding regarding such issues. I certainly never intend to offend anyone with my comments and appreciate the willingness to forgive in those instances when I have done so.
On other occasions, I have poked fun at government policies, politics, politicians, and decisions which, in my opinion, simply didn’t pass the common sense test or that violated deeply held philosophies of my own. We won’t agree all the time, but maybe a little levity might create more understanding, or at least, make us feel better about the issue or situation we find ourselves in.
Then there were the articles I wrote about practical ideas for use around the dealership. I recall an early column I wrote about customer relationships. Someone wrote to me afterwards and suggested I write a book about the topic. In that regard, I’ll let you in on a little secret: By the time I write an entire article like that one, you have heard everything I know about the topic and then some! Pulling off an article? Yes... pulling off an entire book... that’s a whole different matter!
And let’s not forget those wacky articles I’ve written where I challenged conventional wisdom by asking off-the-wall questions or posing preposterous actions just to see if anyone was paying attention. I love when you write that such articles did hit your “ah-ha” button and the light bulb in your own mind got switched on about the subject. These are my favorite types of articles to write. Getting us all to think outside the box, whether we agree or disagree, is a great way to explore new ideas and new ways of approaching problems and issues. That kind of subject matter is right up my alley. It gets my blood pumping and excites the few brain cells I have left that operate near 100 percent.
This month, I simply wanted to say thanks... thanks for being such loyal readers. I’d love to hear from even more of you as I start my journey towards the next 100 articles. Let me know what types of articles and topics you would like to see.
We’ve made responding easier by posting my columns as blog posts on www.naeda.com, where you can make comments. You can also reach me the old fashioned way... write a letter to the editor, call or, what the heck, send a telegram (do people still do that?) Well, anyway, I enjoy hearing from you. I admire what dealers do day in and day out and am proud to think I play a small role in providing thoughts, ideas and opinions for you to contemplate. Happy 100th! And that’s the way I see it.
PAUL KINDINGER is president/CEO of the North American Equipment Dealers Association. The association provides educational, legal, legislative, and financial services to approximately 5,500 retail agricultural, construction, large property/rural lifestyle, and outdoor power equipment dealers in the United States and Canada.