By Rick Howard, Rick’s Pool Service
When I started in the pool industry in 1978, the only real knowledge I had was the ability to learn. Albert Einstein once said, “Wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it”.
As I learned the industry, I took as many opportunities as I could to learn from experts and professionals in the pool business. I have traveled around the country attending training classes and visiting factories, the most recent being one in St. Petersburg, Florida.
We are a part of an expanding and evolving industry. This is not your grandfather’s or even your father’s industry today.
Pool shows give us the most concentrated focus on learning, giving you the opportunity to speak directly with manufacturers and product developers. All shows, especially the Everything Under the Sun Expo, offer a variety of learning/classes covering all aspects of the pool industry, from the operation of your business office, to design and build, meeting governmental requirements, chemistry, water sanitation, equipment programming, pool leaks, to down and dirty repairs, and many other classes. Many manufacturers offer hands-on training at the show in the learning labs as well. The FSPA has a commitment to ongoing education and training.
My advice is to invest your time in joining professional organizations like the FSPA! My investment in the FSPA has been invaluable in working with like-minded professionals who share their knowledge and are also open to learning. But you should also attend the pool shows! I strongly encourage my staff to attend and learn. It is interesting that we tell our customers that we may miss a visit as we are attending classes to stay current with the industry and most of them seem impressed as we stress the importance of staying up-to-speed with the changes in the industry! Always keep learning.
