Mike Weil
It's All About Jobs
Here we go again. More ink is spent on the topic of climate change than on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The initial spillage of copy was mostly in...
What Will You Do to Gain an Edge?
There's a lot of change afoot. But the fact is, there's always a lot of change afoot. From technology to legislation, to environmental consciousness,...
Happy New Year No, Really!
The close of 2009 is upon us and, perhaps, we can all take a moment to sigh with relief. It was, afterall, a turbulent time — professionally, economically, and socially. ...
Get Ready for the Perfect Storm
In October of 1991, a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the Atlantic coast off Gloucester, MA. It became known as the Perfect Storm so called...
The Economy: It's All Good, Right?
It's almost official. Apparently our very good friends among the economic thought leadership of the United States have declared that the recession is...
Time for Clear Thinking
Sometimes, as a trade magazine editor focused on the comfort conditioning industry, I get asked for advice by people who are in the market for a new furnace...
Discomfort as a Lifestyle?
Everybody is talking about it the state of the economy, the toughness of the market, the Obama stimulus plan, and its billions of Federal dollars that...
Is the Stimulus Package Working?
Show me the money. That's what Cuba Gooding Jr. said to Tom Cruise in the film, Jerry McGuire, as Cruise's character negotiated to retain his job. It...
Happy Birthday!
June, 1944. That was the month that marked the beginning of the end to the Second World War. It was in June that the Allies began Operations Neptune and...
Social Networking: Is It For You?
Trust me, social networking didn't start in the business world. Just ask your kids. Resentment still runs high that adults are now running amuck on, among...
Downsizing Training Budgets?
It's in the newspapers and trade journals every day sales are down, markets are bad. Everyone is talking about how right-sizing is important to the survival...
The Giants Among Us
In December 2008, we began an editorial series entitled, Green Giants: Leaders in Environmental Stewardship. By way of background, this is a three-part...
Welcome to 2009. Start Your Engines
It's 2009 and time to start revving those engines. In this new year we're faced with many tough issues that range from economics to politics, and includes...
The First Word: Weathering the Storm: You Don’t Have to be Alone
As I write this column, it’s a bleak day here in Cleveland: gusting winds howl around darkened streets, rain and sleet pound the windows, and a dismally gray Erie rollercoasters over the breakwall, throwing gray-white spray onto the shore. Can you spell g-l-o-o-m? ...
The Last Word: It's CO Season Are You Ready?
As the leaves change colors and crisp fall nights descend upon us, the spectre of carbon monoxide (CO) hangs over homes all across the country. The familiar smell of dust burning off heat exchangers is a grim reminder that we’ll soon see more news stories about families severely injured or killed by this silent killer....
Its Only Natural Or Is It?
Mom used to say things like, s only natural that oil and water dont mix, or Common sense tells us that running with a Popsicle in your mouth isnt smart,...
Where Have All the Technicians Gone?
It’s been over a year since I’ve gotten up on my technician shortage soapbox. In that time, there certainly has been a lot of ink spilled in the pages of this magazine and others in the industry on the topic. ...
Last Word: Higher SEER? Enough is Enough
As the United States continues its quest for greener living, pressures continue to mount on the HVACR Industry to deliver systems that consume less energy and leave a smaller carbon footprint. One way government will likely continue to exert pressure is to force manufacturers to make equipment with higher SEER ratings....
Leaving Footprints in the Sand
Thirty-nine years ago this month, an Ohio man stepped onto the surface of the moon and uttered these words, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” At the moment he uttered that famous phrase, it was broadcast to 450 million listeners worldwide....
Good for the Community; Good for the Soul
Volunteerism. It’s about people helping people and, in the process, helping themselves. It’s about working together for a common goal, it’s about enrichment, togetherness, and community....
The Evolution Revolution
A very good friend of mine and a columnist for this magazine has a saying that he uses to urge contractors to keep themselves on the cutting edge. That saying is “Evolve or die!” Obviously I’m talking about Charlie Greer. This saying isn’t new — Greer has been using it for years, but this month it strikes a chord for me, especially when I think about the current state of the economy....
Is Your Head in the Sand?
Ostriches are the largest birds on earth. They’re renowned for their big necks, their inability to fly, and the incredible speeds at which they can run (sustained at an amazing 30 mph). When threatened, they do one of two things: they run away (very quickly), or they lie flat on the ground. In the latter case, from a distance, it can appear that this giant bird is burying its head in the sand....
The First Word: What Makes Great Leaders?
Last month (CB Feb., pg. 10) I wrote about making a choice to NOT participate in a recession. That’s a great idea, but how do you do it? It takes more than just the idea. It takes leadership. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. For some, it comes naturally. For others, it doesn’t. But great leaders have some common traits....
Recession? Don't Participate.
It’s February, and here in Northeast Ohio, the weather is dismal. We’re just entering a seriously frigid cold snap — high winds, sub-zero wind chill factors, snow and ice, all the stuff that makes life as a commuter miserable....
Its a Green, Green, Green World
Who would have thunk it? A world gone mad over a color. It’s green. From an artist’s perspective, color is a wonderful thing. It’s one of the loci to all great paintings, drawings, or photos — even if the color is only black or gray. But as a writer, color takes on a slightly different meaning....
