There are many great reasons to be a member of the NTCA, and many more benefits to becoming actively involved with everything that the NTCA is doing in our industry. One of the greatest benefits is the friendships that are created with other NTCA members. The benefit of friendship is just as valuable as the thousands of dollars in vouchers that you get as an NTCA member and the resources that are available for you to improve your business. In many ways, these friendships go hand in hand with business improvement. I have found that I improve my business, learn, and grow the most from friendships that have been created in the NTCA.
The NTCA is one of the easiest places to become friends with someone, since – by default – you already have something in common: we all are tile contractors. And since we are all from different places in the country, there are many opportunities for friendship with NTCA members who are not your competition. Sharing experiences such as successes and failures go a long way. We all can learn from each other and call on each other in times of advice or need.
Josh Castelli of Christian Brothers Flooring and Interiors has become one of my best friends in this industry and we connect often for advice on situations we may be dealing with. Many times one of us has answers for a situation the other is dealing with because one of us has experienced something similar. In the same way, I have been able to rely on Fireclay Tile's Martin Brookes, James Woelfel of Artcraft Granite, Marble and Tile, Co., and many others because of the friendships created in the NTCA.
These friendships can take you to places in the country that you may have never been. One of my favorite things to do every year is to travel to San Antonio to visit with John and Cody Cox of Cox Tile. John and Cody have taken me to many of their job sites that are in progress while I’m there. These visits are a good chance to witness other tile contractors’ processes and how they perform their work. Of course it’s also a chance to have some fun at the annual San Antonio Executives Association Game Dinner!
I’ve learned many new ways of doing things technically and professionally from these friendships. In many ways, these friendships have been resources for information on products or installs that I’m not familiar with. Case in point are my constant phone calls to Woody Sanders of D.W. Sanders Tile and Stone Contracting about installing pavers using pedestals. Having friends of different ages is also beneficial, since you gain wisdom from those who have more experience than you do. Younger friendships can help you see the industry in a different way with new innovations and technology.
When I am done with the tile industry, my biggest take away will be the friendships that I have made. I can’t wait to travel all over the country to visit all my close industry friends. The NTCA has made all of this possible. All I had to do was get involved, and give back to the industry. The awesome thing is that your business will benefit along the way.
Best to your success,