Bob Hope died recently, at the age of 100. I believe all Americans recognized him as an American hero with his constant involvement in and care for the life that surrounded him each day. With his efforts to support our military and civilian morale through this changing century, the slogan, "Where there is life, there is Hope," brings him to my mind. He appeared to invite, and be inspired by, change. I received an E-mail the other day with the statistics for our country in the year 1903, when Hope was born. The changes that have taken place in the last 100 years are amazing. Here are just a few items of life from 1903:
1.Average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years old.2. Only 14 percent of the homes had bathtubs.3. A 3-minute phone call from Denver to New York cost $11.4. The average wage was 22 cents/hour.5. 95 percent of all births took place at home.6. Common causes of death were pneumonia and influenza.7. There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S.8. There were only 144 miles of paved roads in the U.S.9. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Now you're probably asking yourself, how does this information belong in the SRMA Views of KIT CAR magazine? It's all about change and personality types. It seems like the only thing in our life that is consistent is change, and one of the things that separates us from each other is how we react to it. All of us who have been building kit cars for years are aware of all the changes-changes in technology, changes in quality, changes in customer tastes and wants, changes in our level of professionalism and the way we conduct our business, and changes in how outside entities try to regulate our business, raising our overhead. These changes bring out our personality types. The constant change for some seems invigorating and, for others, a major roadblock. Most people I know are resistant to change at first and need to be eased into it. A few I know take off like they are looking for new ventures all the time. Therefore, it's not if change is going to come to you and your way of life, it's how you are going to adjust to the changes that come your way. We have opportunities and challenges each business day that test who we are. Many of those challenges determine how well our businesses will do in the future. There is a common trait to personalities, the want and need to be successful. If you are going to do that, you must see change as a positive thing. In business today you have so many different issues coming at you from all directions, there is no one who has all the answers all the time.
This is where Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Street Rod Marketing Alliance Council (SRMA) come in for you. We are an association that understands your interests and your business needs. We are the reliable source working to ensure the future of your kit car industry as well as all aftermarket automotive business. When you align yourself with this association, you have the main headquarters and the rest of the membership to ask questions about your business. You also position yourself to get many different benefits that small businesses could not get standing alone. There are direct benefits and indirect benefits for you and your business. Some of the benefits would be:
1.Credit Card Grouping2. Freight Saving Plan3. Travel Services4. Installer Certification Program5. Scholarship Program6. Research, Reports, and Technical Assistance7. Business Demographic Studies8. Legislative Representation in Washington, D.C.9. Monthly Publication With Industry News