Page 4 - CMA PROfiles Summer 2016

president
message from the

Matt Krig, CMA President, 2016

Schools Out for Summer

his means quite a few things around here—some It’s painful, enraging, mysterious and intriguing all at
want to celebrate, others scratch their head on what the same time. I can’t help but wonder which one of us will
T to do and others want to run away. The annual spring just never get it. I question how these people will ever find
graduation special typically goes like this: “Can you fix a career, purchase and maintain a home and car, find their
this or update our broken/worn/neglected/abused kitchen/ way through life’s challenges and potentially raise a family
TV/vanity cabinet? Oh! And can it be completed within of their someday. It’s possible the joke will be on me one
8 days before our big graduation party? Our budget is day, when they are all making gobs of money doing nothing
around $300—is your work warranted?” while the rest of us labor away. Here’s to hoping for all our sake!
Yikes! Eighteen years to prepare for this moment and sud- Speaking of graduates, I am now one of them. I recently
denly, the pressure is on you. Then they hit you with the potential completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program.
referrals that could happen… I strongly recommend this program, but caution anyone consider-
“We have a handful of wealthy friends coming to the party, ing it as it’s a huge commitment of time and energy. It’s a little
who we think will be remodeling or building a new house soon, stressful, on top of the demands of operating a small business, but
they will be so impressed with your work you do for us that they’ll if you really want to change something, you have to do something
want to use you too! Plus, we will think of you when our youngest different and step outside your comfort zone.
is finally out of college and we can afford our dream kitchen.” The reward is well worth the effort though. You’ll become
Reality check! That means they plan on downsizing to a a much stronger business person, all around. This program
2-bedroom condo with cheap box cabinets in order to prevent focuses on completing a strategic plan for growing YOUR own
our children moving back home. It’s time to find a college kid to company. While studying accounting, valuation, marketing and
employ as summer help to clean the shop, assist with deliveries negotiations, you will be mapping out your company from ma-
and introduce them to the real world. chines to people, strategizing and creating a time based priority
Each year, around this time, we like to hire summer help and list of your needs.
they usually are college age kids with the occasional high school I met so many fascinating people from all over the country
graduate. We pay them well and expect them to consistently who own a variety of companies. It really was an eye opener to
work hard and grow a few skills along the way. We don’t expect see the obstacles and opportunities present in running a small
them to know anything coming in, but hope they will possess an business are universal—whether you make gourmet croutons, top
attitude that’s willing to show up, pay attention and follow basic secret IT and cybersecurity work or run a yoga studio. Each of us
directions, maybe work off of a to do list (if we are both lucky). face the same struggles and must address our weaknesses in the
Ideally, they will retain and repeat what they were taught the same areas.
day before. Lately, we have had to lower these expectations, sig- One great bonus takeaway, beyond the education, were the
nificantly. I considered hiring a physician to conduct basic cogni- contacts with potential trade contacts, such as a large commercial
tive tests as well as logic, reasoning and hearing on our applicants casework shop, a company producing modern workspace designs
to make sure they have a pulse and are breathing fine. It’s hard to and some specialty builders in a very exclusive resort town.
explain the odd feeling that comes over someone while dealing As always, please contact me if you want more information
with these young adults. on the program and here’s to a great and memorable summer!

4 PROFILES • Volume 16 • Issue 3, 2016 • www.cabinetmakers.org