What's the Big Idea? With Ron Davis
August, 2007

Associations Offer an Aggregation of Answers

If you had just one really great idea that you could share with the alarm industry, what would it be?

That was the tagline I used for a decade of audio interviews I conducted
with industry leaders and put out on a quarterly audiocassette called “Audio Insight” until about five years ago when I retired from the company I founded, Security Associates Int’l. Since then, I’ve had many requests to continue the interviews, particularly a compilation of answers to that one signature question.

Now that concept continues with this new monthly column. My goal is simple: Search, seek out and gather the industry’s greatest ideas by some of its greatest thinkers, and then add my humble comments and thoughts.

IDEA OF THE MONTH …

We start off with a casual conversation with John Lombardi, president of CIA Security in upper state New York. He is active in the industry and one of the more progressive thinkers on the Executive Committee of the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA).

Lombardi’s great idea is: “In an information technology age, information and education is of the utmost importance. You can accomplish much of this by joining an association that will provide education, camaraderie and the combined experiences of members who can help educate you.”

This idea has great significance for today’s security professional.

Key Questions to Those You Meet

One of the best “learning experiences” you can have is to tap into other people’s knowledge (OPK). OPK is the treasure of thoughts, ideas and experiences that make up the entire alarm industry. Joining state, local and other professional organizations provides an abundance of networking opportunities you just can’t beat.

You say you want some great ideas? Then just ask one of the following questions to virtually anyone you meet at these meetings:

1. What’s new and exciting in your business?
2. What’s the most significant thing you’ve learned in building your business?
3. If you had just one really great idea you could share with me … (I know, I know, but it still works)?
4. What is the most significant thing you’ve learned about (fill in the blank, i.e. recruiting new people, new products, financial opportunities, etc.)?

I’m sure everyone reading this can think of a half-dozen other questions. The problem with most people is not that they don’t want to learn, but rather they don’t take opportunities that already exist to learn. Everybody you meet, everywhere you go, there is a thought that can help you better manage your business. All you’ve got to do is search for it, look at it, mold it to your business and apply it to what it is that you do! Good hunting …

The industry's trade associations provide a wealth of opportunities to improve your business. Here, the author (center) networks with SSI Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine (left) and Allstate Security Industries President Dale Elliot at the recent Central Station Alarm Association
(CSAA) Forum.

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