A Foresters Competitive Advantage
My friend Debbie Reynolds asks for an explanation of what makes us better than our competition...
Though I generally know most of the reasons why we are better than each of our competitors, often for different reasons depending on the individual or firm involved.
I make it a policy that I hold myself and my staff to not ever criticize my competition since I am a firm believer that once mud is thrown the profession is damaged on both sides of the fence.
I do look for the best and encourage the best in myself AND my competitors. I believe that most of my competitors are very good at what they do, and generally very good people.
Most of us are:
Ethical,
- We follow strict ethical standards set down by the Association of Consulting Foresters and the Society of American Foresters.
Knowledgeable,
- We all have BS or higher degrees in Forestry and other Natural Resource Professions.
- We know what makes trees grow and what makes wildlife thrive.
- We know how to manage the business of land and forest management.
- We know how to use technology to make us very efficient and accurate.
- We all continue to expand our education on a daily basis.
- And much more.
Though I like and respect my competitors and often help out in making them better with joint educational opportunities, I do strive to be a little better than they are whenever possible.
A few things that we have or do that give us a slight and sometimes significant edge include;
We are experts with technology.
- Laser and ultrasonic measuring equipment.
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
- Geographical Positioning Systems (GPS).
- Databases, spreadsheets and other programs.
Though we spend money where it counts like on technology and labor saving equipment we are thrifty where it counts too.
- Saving fuel and other travel expenses are a priority, camping out year around is common for all of our staff.
- We do not spend much money on flash, no fancy trucks, suits or offices, we live simply and efficiently.
- We have strategic alliances with people who help us to extend our reach and abilities whenever possible.
- No salaries are paid here, all of our professionals are paid based on what they produce, and then we coach them on how to be the very best.
And we have a multigenerational company with several older people who know how to handle just about any situation. These older professionals make it a priority to coach and nurture the young energetic professionals to be the best that they can be at all times.
In the future we will continue to help our competators to become better thus improving the profession, and we will also continue to improve ourselves just a little bit more always striving to continue to be the best that we can be.
picture credit, Josh Crane, DME ultrasonic measuring device
