By Keith Johnson, Pool Works
As a member of the FSPA, I’ve always looked for the true value of membership. There are many solid reasons to belong to the Association, but for me, the single greatest benefit has always been the networking opportunities.
My relationship with the FSPA began about 25 years ago when I was pursuing the largest pool builder in my area, hoping to earn his business handling new pool start-ups and pool schools. At the time, I owned a small retail store and a pool service company. During one conversation, he told me point-blank that he only did business with companies that were members of the FSPA. I joined my local Chapter immediately.
Before long, he began using my company, and that relationship became my first real networking success. It generated nearly ten new pool accounts every month. Once I became involved with the FSPA, I met more suppliers, subcontractors, builders and business owners throughout my area. We shared ideas, discussed challenges and learned from one another. I gained valuable insight into how other companies operated, including my competitors, and those relationships helped shape the direction of my own business. Networking quickly showed me who the true professionals were and opened doors to opportunities I never would have found on my own. As I became more involved in my local Chapter, I eventually moved into leadership and began attending state Board meetings. That’s where the networking opportunities became truly exceptional.
If you’ve never considered serving in your local Chapter, I strongly encourage you to do so. At the state level, you develop friendships with successful business owners from across Florida who aren’t your direct competitors. Those relationships create an environment where ideas are shared freely and everyone benefits. Over the years, I’ve built friendships with owners of retail stores, service companies, renovation firms and pool builders from around the state. We’ve exchanged ideas on everything from operations and marketing to staffing, insurance, software and vendor relationships. Many improvements we’ve made in our own retail operations came directly from conversations with fellow members.
Years ago, several retail store owners and I even formed a cooperative advertising program that proved successful for everyone involved. I’ve also developed lasting relationships with larger service companies, where we routinely share marketing ideas, operational strategies and even recommendations for quality subcontractors. Those conversations have saved me countless hours, prevented expensive mistakes and introduced me to better ways of doing business. Most of the top pool builders in Florida are FSPA members. Although I had built the occasional pool over the years, a few years ago I made the decision to expand that side of my business in earnest. The first thing I did was reach out to many of my builder friends through the FSPA. They generously shared their knowledge on contracts, engineering resources, construction practices, and countless other aspects of the business. That willingness to help one another is something I’ve experienced repeatedly throughout my years in the Association.
Networking has created opportunities I simply couldn’t have found anywhere else. While we all learn from our own successes and failures, networking allows us to learn from the experiences of others as well. You can avoid costly mistakes, discover better processes and implement proven ideas that strengthen your business long before you would have figured them out on your own. The cost of FSPA membership pales in comparison to the value of the relationships you’ll build.
Today, I make a point of mentoring others and sharing ideas, just as so many members did for me over the years. That’s one of the greatest strengths of this Association, we help each other succeed. Whether you own a retail store, operate a service company, specialize in renovations, or build pools, networking can help take your business to the next level. If you’re looking for the greatest return on your FSPA membership, get involved. Attend meetings. Volunteer. Serve in leadership. Build relationships. Because at the end of the day, networking is where the rubber meets the road.
