When Times are Tough

It is hard to read a newspaper or listen to the radio without told how bad the economy is. Certainly, times are tough for many small business owners, painting contractors included. When times are tough, stress mounts. Leads slow down, customers hold on to their money more tightly, the bills seem to come in faster than revenues.

This can be a good time to assess why you own a business. If it is for financial freedom, you might be questioning that rationale. If it is to be your own boss, you might be rethinking that idea. No matter your reason, you should certainly enjoy what you are doing. Especially when times are tough.

Doing something that we dislike is never fun, and it can be even less fun when times are tough.

In the 24 years that I have owned a business I have been through several recessions. Each time I wonder if I care to weather another one. And each time I realize that I generally enjoy what I am doing. While that won't help pay the bills, it does help me when times are tough.

A Virtual Mayoral Campaign

For the past nine months I have written for two blogs. This is one. The other, Live Oaks, is my true passion.

Since I was a teenager I have wanted to be a writer. The vagaries of life took me in a different direction for a number of years, but I have returned to that dream. Next month I will have an article published in The Objective Standard, and I am working on other writing opportunities.

In the meantime, I am launching a virtual campaign to become Mayor of Houston. I am not a literal candidate--I have no desire or expectation to be elected. My goal is to influence the debate, a goal that I have successfully achieved in Houston on multiple occasions, as well as in other cities.

You can read my announcement here and my Statement of Principles here.

Plato, Kant, and Dewey

As an Objectivist, I am accustomed to others disagreeing with my ideas. My ideas challenge the conventional thinking and this necessarily puts me at odds with others. I do not intentionally seek out conflict—it simply goes with the territory when one holds ideas that are outside of the mainstream.

Because my ideas are foreign to most individuals, it can be particularly frustrating when I explain my position on a particular issue. Both the content and the method of my argument is often misunderstood. It is not uncommon for my arguments to be dismissed out of hand, with my opponent saying something to the effect of “nobody could seriously believe that.”

While such casual dismissals are disturbing, I do find them somewhat understandable. Few individuals have studied philosophy or explicitly identified their ideas and the validity of those ideas. Most individuals have absorbed their ideas over their lifetime, accepting an olio of ideas whose source and validity are often unknown. (This is not intended as a slam, just a statement of fact.) For example, few individuals have heard of Immanuel Kant or John Dewey, yet their ideas are widely accepted. Few individuals are familiar with the ideas of Karl Marx or Plato, yet their ideas are widely accepted.

I see the influence of these men and their minions on a daily basis. “That may be true for you, but not for me” came from Dewey. “We can’t be certain of anything” came from Kant. “Corporate executives are overpaid” came from Marx. “We need to protect people from themselves” came from Plato. These clichés and many more like them are often uttered with no understanding of their true meaning or their implications.

You might think that this is a bunch of useless theory and it has nothing to do with real life and operating a painting business (you got that from Dewey). You might think that my ideas work for me, but you run your business differently (you got that from Dewey as well). You might think it’s admirable to be so principled, but I’m not being practical (another idea from Dewey). You might think I’m an egoist jerk for insisting that I am right and most everyone else is wrong (Dewey again).

The ideas we accept as true ultimately determine the choices we make and the actions we take. It does not matter whether we know the source of those ideas, whether we have consciously considered them or not, or whether we understand their implications. The power of ideas is an inescapable fact of human life.

I recently witnessed this in action in a very interesting fashion. Members of a popular forum for painting contractors were discussing illegal immigration. I commented that I found it interesting that such discussions seldom, if ever, included any discussion of the legitimacy of our immigration laws. I stated that our immigration laws are immoral because they violate an individual’s rights. I was quickly attacked and accused of knowingly and intentionally hiring illegal aliens. I was told that my arguments were simply an attempt to rationalize my behavior (he got that idea from Marx).

In another thread on that forum I was discussing compensation methods for production personnel with another contractor. At one point he stated that my ideas might work for me, but he runs his business differently (this idea comes from Dewey). I then started another thread in which I stated that sound business principles apply to all businesses, and only the details of implementation differ.

Before long the thread was hijacked into an inquisition into whether I hire illegal aliens. My comments regarding business principles were ignored and my character was attacked. I was accused of being overly sensitive when I pointed out these facts. I was accused of making statements that could be found nowhere in any of my posts.

At the end of the day the entire experience was rather amusing. It was also illuminating because it revealed the true character of my antagonists. They may not know the source of their ideas, and they may not understand the implications of those ideas, but they are responsible for what they regard as true.

Each individual is a being of self-made soul (I got that from Aristotle). We choose the ideas that will guide our lives. We can do so explicitly through careful study and thought, or we can do it implicitly by accepting the ideas that are tossed our way. In either case, the choices we make will determine our character. The choices we make will determine the nature of our words and actions, and thus reveal our soul to the world.

All Work and No Play

It's been said that all work and no play make Brian a very dull boy. Okay, that hasn't been literally said, but the general idea is true. While I work hard, I also have numerous interests outside of paint contracting.

If you have read my blog for long, you likely know that I like gardening. In some ways, gardening is much like running a business. You plan seeds, you nurture the young plants as they grow, and some time in the future you harvest delicoius vegetables and beautiful flowers.

I also enjoy writing, another fact you likely know. Recently I have been directing my writing towards a passion that I have long held-- defending property rights.

Back in the early 1990's the City of Houston proposed to implement its first zoning ordinance. I wrote OpEd articles gave speeches, spoke to City Council, was interviewed, and more. On my birthday in 1993 I received one of the best birthday gifts possible-- the ordinance was defeated in a binding referendum. In 2007 I traveled to Hobbs, NM to help defeat a similar proposal there.

Earlier this year it became apparent that zoning advocates will make another attempt in Houston. I launched a blog and resurrected the organization I had founded to fight zoning in the 1990's.

So, while fighting City Hall is not exactly play, it is something I am passionate about. It is something that gives me immense satisfaction, particularly when the good guys win.

You’re So Purdy to Me

Because all work and no play make Brian a very dull boy, the following was written for my amusement, and now I offer it for yours.

From the moment that I held you,
And dipped you in the pot,
The truth was crystal clear,
A Wooster you are not.

Your hairs so soft and subtle,
Your handle hard and long,
If I could play the guitar,
I’d probably write a song.

You’re so Purdy to me,
I love to paint with you,
If you were a woman,
Oh the things that we could do.

I’ll use you in the latex,
No oil you will touch,
Please stay soft and subtle,
I don’t ask for much.

I promise that I’ll clean you,
Keep each hair squeaky clean,
Just keep on laying it on,
If you know what I mean.

You’re so Purdy to me,
I love to cut the walls,
If you weren’t a paint brush,
Oh we could have a ball.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008

Dream On

One of my favorite Aerosmith songs is “Dream On”. It’s a song that inspires me, that reminds me that dreams can come true.

At the same time the song reminds me that living solely for the future and the achievement of those dreams can sometimes be folly. We must also enjoy the journey and celebrate the steps along the way:

Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good lord will take you away

Dreams are our vision of the life we want to have. They provide motivation. But a dream without action is just a fantasy.

The actions necessary to achieve our dreams can be dull and frustrating. It can take years, or even decades to achieve our dreams. We often face many challenges and set backs along the way. We may often want to give up and declare our dreams impossible.

While we are singing for the long-term, we must also sing for today. We must dream for the long-term, and enjoy the victories of each day. So dream on until your dreams come true.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008

Mother’s Day

On this day, I’d like to honor someone I’ve known all of my life. Someone who coddled me when I was an infant, and spanked me when I was a brat. Someone who nurtured me when I was sick, and cheered me on the basketball court. That someone is my mother.

There are many things I can say about my mother, but the one thing I am most appreciative is the way she raised me. She taught me solid values. She taught me to think for myself. She hasn’t always agreed with my ideas, but she has always respected me.

While my mother was always concerned about my welfare, she was not a smothering woman. She gave me the freedom to fall out of trees, wreck my bike, and do other things that would lead to a law suit today. In other words, she let me get hurt, and in doing so, she taught me that life isn’t always easy. But no matter how bad things may seem, they will get better if we work at it. That has served me well in my business.

My mother still lives in the small city where she grew up. She is comfortable there. I “escaped” when I was 18—that city offered no opportunity or future for me. Ironically, it was my mother who essentially made me leave. She taught me that life offered more than our city offered, and she gave me the confidence to go out and find it.

My mother does not have internet access, and she may never read this. But on this Mother’s Day I send her my sincere thanks and love.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars has become one of televisions most popular programs. And for very good reason.

The program shows a group of celebrities competing in a dance contest. Each celebrity is paired with a professional dancer. Each week they must learn a new dance, and they practice up to 6 hours a day to prepare.

The celebrities are usually very clearly out of their comfort zone. Many look like they have never danced before, but they approach their task with the same zeal and passion that made them stars in their chosen profession. Witnessing someone get out of his comfort zone is both fascinating and inspiring.

But there is more to the show than that. Unlike some reality shows, there is a tremendous camaraderie among the contestants. They share a common value—learning a new skill—and support and encourage one another. They demonstrate, in words and actions, that individuals can compete against one another while remaining friendly and considerate.

The entire spirit of the show is one of benevolence and enjoyment of life. The judges provide expert critiques of each dance, but do so with humor and grace. They openly voice their admiration for the challenge undertaken by the celebrities.

In an era when depravity and decadence fills the airwaves, Dancing with the Stars presents a refreshing change. The participants act with civility and respect. They share their excitement and celebrate their achievements. If that is not worth watching, I don’t know what is.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008

One Bad Apple (Don’t Spoil the Whole Bunch)

I know this will date me, and perhaps raise a few eye brows, but I once saw the Osmond Brothers live, in concert. And I enjoyed it. (I was only about 10 years old, and it was the first “rock” concert I ever attended.) Their hit song at the time was One Bad Apple.

As Donnie so eloquently sang, “One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch girl.” (Lest I be accused of some kind of sexism, the same applies to boys. But I doubt Donnie would have had thousands of young girls screaming his name if he sounded like he was singing to another boy.)

I don’t generally look to Donnie Osmond for intellectual inspiration, but there is truth in those words. Simply because one apple is bad doesn’t tell us anything about the other apples in the bunch. Tossing them all out is potentially a waste of a lot of apples.

You may wonder what this has to do with painting. Since you asked I will tell you.

Many painting contractors like to categorize an entire group of people by the actions of a few members of that group. For example, they declare that lawyers are bad customers, or Asians hire only on price. In effect, they declare the whole bunch bad because of one (or maybe several) rotten apple. They are wasting a lot of apples that aren’t rotten.

Sure, you could “save” a lot of time by tossing out the whole bunch of apples. You wouldn’t have to go through them and identify which are good and which aren’t. If you toss them all, you won’t have to go through this effort. But how will you make a pie? You’ll have to go to the store and buy another bunch of apples. That takes time and money, so how much are you really saving?

Certainly some customers are rotten. But there are also some rotten contractors. We don’t like it when customers make blanket judgments about contractors, and it’s no better when contractors do it to customers.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2008