In Jim Collins’ epic business book, “Good to Great,” he highlights having the right people on the bus and having them in the right seat.

When I was asked to write an article about offering advice to my younger self or the younger generation, my first thought was, “Oh no, this is going to be tough.”

For some people, it’s all about reaching the summit, but for Braxton Harris Jr., it’s the journey to the top that drives him. It has already been quite a rewarding journey — with plenty more on the roadmap ahead.

In an era when distributors are increasingly focused on differentiation through value-added services, First Supply has made a bold statement with its training initiatives. 

No, I disagree; it’s all about the people. One of my very favorite songs was sung by Barbara Streisand and the lyrics that resonated with me are: “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”

“I love the smell of a warehouse in the morning!” I used to say back when I managed branches. 

Contractors must understand business costs and how to turn a profit to succeed. To accomplish this, columnist Richard DiToma says that technicians must be trained to deliver excellent service and gain customer trust.

"It’s tricky to balance what people want to hear with what I feel I need to say," says Carmen Fiordirosa, president of Gerber Plumbing Fixtures/ Globe Union North American Group. "To me, the best starting point is to come from the heart."

Does your company have a chief financial officer? Most likely. Does your company have a chief people officer (or chief human resources officer)? Most likely not.