We Can’t Do It

The Wisconsin Towing Association’s Education Committee has been working hard to bring training and educational seminar opportunities to its members. Back in March, I sat in a planning meeting for the Wisconsin Towing Association’s annual tow show and the topic of possibly having a heavy-duty workshop before this year’s tow show came up.

One of the members had researched getting Miller Industries to help with the workshop, but stressed there were a lot moving parts to make it happen. Miller had specific guidelines for equipment, help, cost, etc. and, he added, there was not a lot of time for planning.

I was so excited to hear of this opportunity to bring a high-quality heavy-duty workshop to Wisconsin, but as the discussion went on, all I heard was skepticism. We can’t do it because of timing, cost, where will we find the equipment needed, it’s a lot to ask members to take off from their work to organize — it went on and on.

I finally said, wait a minute. You guys are towers and face making hard decisions and finding solutions to seeming impossible recoveries every day. You can do this.

Suddenly, the mood in the room changed. Thoughts and suggestions started being thrown out on how to make the workshop happen. Having problems is not bad, they are the best guide to continue finding a solution.

It took a lot of hard work to make it happen, but from all of the positive comments I heard, it proved that when the thought process went from, we can’t do it to yes we can — and we did it — the workshop was a huge success.

“Plant seeds of expectation in your mind; cultivate thoughts that anticipate achievement. Believe in yourself as being capable of overcoming all obstacles and weaknesses.” – Norman Vincent Peale