Postings, the intentions thereof

**ProfessionalLocator** · March 23rd, 2010, 03:14 PM

I have been chided about my posts being long, that I do not write to my audience which are locators. The truth is I, we, have two audiences, one evident, the locators, and one in the shadows.

A significant audience here is the management team of the locating firms and most particularly those of the contract locating firms. They have made their presence known as has been reported here by their commenting on the things people have posted here. They may join the list and post, never post or they may just surf in and read the forums.

My posts are written in such a way that they convey to the management the ideas for conducting good business that we locators know of first hand. How to mange and pay employees that results in a profit. I try to do this in such a manor that the writing will have some impact on those among that group that read them.

The clothes make the man.

We have all heard the saying ‘the clothes make the man’. In the business world this tends to be true. A person with a professional appearance tends to get more respect on sight than a person with an unprofessional appearance.

Our appearance here are our words. Managers tend to look at use as whiny, complaining people who only want to get more money for doing less or easier work. We suggest things that are actually working smarter than harder and making more profit for the company but are taken the wrong way often due to how we make our statements.

This is why my posts are long, I am trying to cover the many and complex issues of operating a locate firm at a profit along with contract security. The ideas we have are very good but we cannot get them heard by yelling at people, this only makes them defensive and ready to reject without thinking. I treat my posts as a sales pitch and I try to present them in such a way as the audiences on this list find them acceptable. Not so much the length of the posting being acceptable, the ideas being acceptable.

There is a third audience we must also consider, the utility firms that hire us, they can be reading as well. It would not hurt us if the considered us locators as professionals.

**MOJO** · March 23rd, 2010, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by ProfessionalLocator

This is why my posts are long, I am trying to cover the many and complex issues of operating a locate firm at a profit along with contract security.

PL -

Please don't take this as a shot, but I have to ask. Have you ever actually operated a locating company, either contract or private? I'm on board with the majority of your ideas, but I don't know that all of them make good business sense. In theory, I think you're spot on. In practicum, however...well..........

I do have to give you props though. One can tell that you've given a lot of thought to improving the professional climate. Keep it up, and keep the posts coming!

**ProfessionalLocator** · March 23rd, 2010, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by MOJO

PL -

Please don't take this as a shot, but I have to ask. Have you ever actually operated a locating company, either contract or private? I'm on board with the majority of your ideas, but I don't know that all of them make good business sense. In theory, I think you're spot on. In practicum, however...well..........

I do have to give you props though. One can tell that you've given a lot of thought to improving the professional climate. Keep it up, and keep the posts coming!

No, I have never operated a locating firm. But we learn from our mistakes and it is best to learn from the mistakes of others, let them pay the price. I have made a lot of observations on both the good and bad operations I have seen. This is what I base my statements on.

It would be interesting if the CEO or a manger of one of these contract locating firms could point out the flaws in my logic. I would like to be told where I actually got things wrong. To bounce the ideas back and forth because after review it is likely that neither party got everything right. If two such people have the proper mindset the end result is education.

**yahoo** · March 23rd, 2010, 08:46 PM

i think your postings are great! keep it coming as Mojo said!

**TheCableVine** · March 23rd, 2010, 09:18 PM

I've never complained.

**ifinditunderground** · March 23rd, 2010, 10:00 PM

If you don't like them, there's always "IGNORE". But I'm with the rest of them, you bring the site up to a new level, keep up the good work PL.

**ProfessionalLocator** · March 23rd, 2010, 10:11 PM

Thanks guys, a little pat on the back feels good.

I do hope you realized the hazards of encouraging my behavior, now you may not be able to shut me up.

**MOJO** · March 24th, 2010, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by ProfessionalLocator

To bounce the ideas back and forth because after review it is likely that neither party got everything right. If two such people have the proper mindset the end result is education.

I couldn't agree with this more. Unfortunately, you'll never get a DM, or better, to open themselves up for debate in a forum like this. As for a CEO.....good luck (OVUS may be the only exception to this). Anyway...keep it up!

**GPGrasshopper** · March 24th, 2010, 09:31 PM

PL,
Your ideas and posts add value to many conversations and relevant topics. Others have said so, and I concur; keep the ideas and the posts coming. Don’t worry too much about what others might think. At the end of the day, you must be true to yourself. The fact that you really do care about what you and your fellow locators do and your efforts to bring a higher awareness and a higher level of professionalism are commendable.
I may not be a DM or a CEO of a locate shop, but I see the value you bring to the table.

**6feetunder** · March 24th, 2010, 10:18 PM

Sounds like someone wasn't hugged enough by their dad or something. Who cares what people think about you, unless everyone hates you, then it may be time to look in the mirror. By the way my opinion about your posts is that you have some good things to say , BUT you kind of come off as a know it all. Out of curiosity what is your position at the company you're with?

**ProfessionalLocator** · March 24th, 2010, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by MOJO

I couldn't agree with this more. Unfortunately, you'll never get a DM, or better, to open themselves up for debate in a forum like this. As for a CEO.....good luck (OVUS may be the only exception to this). Anyway...keep it up!

I would not call it so much a debate as an exchange of ideas and information.

No manager of most firms in the contract locating portion of our industry would openly discuss matters here. But they do not have to use their real name in the screen name or even create an account here in their real name.