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Keith Reid
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Fuel Oil News
PO Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823
A
s time moves forward things change. That happens in our personal lives
as well as the business environment. Change can be disruptive, and while
it creates opportunities in many cases it typically creates challenges as
well. Often the easy part is figuring out what needs to be done to address
change. The hard part, of course, becomes actually implementing that change.
Change can seem alien to the way we have done things for many years. And
change takes time, and there is always too little time. I'm busy today, so maybe
next week...
It's been perhaps too easy for me to write about best practices, opportuni-
ties and even essential things that an oil dealer or marketer should be doing in a
changing and ever challenging business environment. I have no doubt, frankly,
that in most cases I am "preaching to the choir." Pointing out the value of diversi-
fication, whether it is in a core competency area like propane or something more
exotic like porta-potty service in the summer months is a no brainer, up until the
point you have to figure out as a dealer or marketer how to make it actually hap-
pen. Then set aside the time, money and effort and actually do it.
This lesson was brought home to me as I began serving as the line coach for
my son's youth football team. As a former offense of lineman in youth football
through high school, most of the fundamentals remain the same today as they
were nearly 40 years ago when I first started playing the sport—firing out low, fast
and hard. Get there first with force—while being lower and maximizing lever-
age—and you win. And that still holds true.
But, the game has changed. Today there is a tremendous amount of concern
over concussions and injury in general that has led to "heads-up" football. This is
notably different from the more heads down and shoulder pad contact of my era.
Personally, I'm not all that convinced that the concussion concern is particularly
noteworthy outside of professional football, and certainly in comparison to other
youth sports. I certainly don't recall that being a significant issue during the seven
years I played. I'm also not entirely convinced that heads-up football provides
a blocker or tackler with the same degree of effectiveness compared to what it
replaced.
Regardless, the powers that be have decreed heads-up football is the way to
go so I've set my mind to learning the new techniques as competently as possible
so that I can coach them effectively. I cannot be successful if I stay in the past—I
have to change. At the end of the day, if I want to be involved in the program then
it's up to me to adapt, learn and master the new ways and maximize my effec-
tiveness as a coach and by extension the fundamentals of the kids I'm coaching.
Change isn't necessarily easy, but with the right mindset, and once set in motion, it
can be exciting and fun.
l F O N
Keith Reid
8 SEPTEMBER 2015 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com
Change