While
in the drilling business in south Georgia years ago, being concerned citizens,
we got actively involved in the local politics.
Our two sons were attending the local school. The buildings were old, the roofs
were leaking, and there was no air-conditioning. So the local government
decided to vote for a bond issue to build a new modern school.
Some people were for the new school, and some were against it. Many felt that
what was good enough for them when they attended was good enough for their
offspring. Some felt that the kids didn’t care where they attended school.
Others believed that the minorities would just destroy a new school. Then there
were some who just didn’t want to spend the money, not unlike
today.
We wanted our sons to have the best schools possible, so we were politicking
for the new school. We had banners on our vehicles, signs at our home and
business, paid for advertising and even got on the local radio pulling for the
new school.
The political atmosphere became very heated. We lost financially as customers
cancelled drilling and service contracts. Our equipment wasn’t safe parked
anywhere. We and others had windows broken in our homes and businesses, and
suffered damaged equipment.
A few friends no longer were friendly. We then realized that mixing politics
with business doesn’t work if you want to stay in business. Being an outsider,
and considered a Yankee from Oklahoma,
probably didn’t help, either.
Today I constantly receive political information from good friends, both
Democrat and Republican, for and against today’s issues. I have advised friends
that I do have my opinions and I do vote, but I don’t discuss politics.
Political opinions matter.
It is wise to keep your politics to yourselves because you will lose valued
friends and business, and therefore income. Only share your political feelings
with those friends who you know feel the same. My wife, Bess, and I don’t
discuss or share our political differences with one another. We both have our
own personal political ideas. We go to the voting precinct together, but we may
vote the same, or we may vote differently.
Our United States will survive – maybe for the better or maybe for the worse –
but it will survive. All we can do is vote for our choice, fully support the
winner and pray. If we don’t, everyone loses.
During our 53 years of marriage, Bess and I have learned that we can agree on
some things, and we can differ on other things. But we don’t discuss our
differences in politics, and I have learned to leave the toilet seat
down.
On a lighter note, Bess and I have been traveling the northeastern United
States, and we see that the drillers who are drilling geothermal loops are
thriving, while most of those who are waiting for the telephone to ring aren’t
doing much.
I’ve suggested it before, but I’ll say it again: If you want your business to
survive, set up, update and monitor a company Web site, and learn about
geothermal loops. Another advantage is to get
IGSHPA-certified.
Contact the air-conditioning people in your area, let them know that you can
install geothermal loops, and then remain accessible. More importantly, don’t
let your drilling and individual state licenses expire.
Send me some funny drilling stories or stories about your special or unusual
jobs. Occasionally, I may write about them.
ND