WISDOM FROM WAYNE

Dear Wise Wayne
 
Crazy year eh, Wise Wayne? I have a question; with everything that 2020 handed to us, how should I prepare for 2021 regarding my mechanical business.
 
From,
Crazy
 _____________________________________________________________

Dear Crazy,
 
I agree that 2020 was a different year. We can look back on what has transpired and give our head a shake as to which way do we turn for information. Social media and the mainstream news have flooded us with information from Day 1 of the pandemic that seems to change daily. Times like these are when we call on strong leadership from our government to guide us as they should and provide us with basic information. Has this happened? I digress to provide that answer as I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What I can tell you is based on our industry and what we see going forward. Let us start with what has taken place in the mechanical industry. We entered 2020 with our typical perception that this year was going to be much like all the previous, scour through the bid/spec. jobs on WCA, quote everything under the sun and hope for the best. That is the way it was and that is the way it is. BUT WAIT; what is this we hear coming out of China in February, a deadly virus? No problem. It is in China and our government will do the right thing and keep us safe. Next thing you know the virus has landed and its spreading. Widespread panic, which way do you turn, put mask on, take mask off, use hand sanitizer, do not shake hands, use and touch elbows. CODE RED, CODE RED. Lock up your children, head for the hills, hoard the toilet paper, fill your pantry, social distance. With all this going on around us, we still have a business to run. We weather through the endless days of ever-changing regulations and lockdowns and we keep listening to the voice in the back of our head that there must be an end to this madness.
 
December arrives and a miracle has befallen us — word arrives that a vaccine is approved, and it will be distributed before the end of the year. Great, the mechanical industry has been deemed an essential service. Customers still need our multiple skill sets, but projects take capital to happen and with most of the business world in lockdown, money is not flowing. This translates to no new construction projects being approved. Yes, the vaccine is welcome news, but the distribution will not be completed before the end of the year.
 
So, where does all this leave us? Well, we do have a very strong association; the MCAM has not been one to take a back seat. The association has been very pro-active in working with the government and voicing our concern that the mechanical contracting industry is an essential arm of the construction industry. We are a voice that is being heard at all levels of the government.
 
My wise advice to you and all members of the MCAM would be to follow the MCAM with all the latest news and announcements and engage when you feel the need. Wise Wayne will not be sitting on his hands and neither will the MCAM. The government has made a commitment that infrastructure money will be released and projects will be tendered. The MCAM will continue fight hard that our industry will receive our share of that.
 
Have a nice day.
Wise Wayne