b'PRESIDENTS LETTERChris WalkerSocial mediaa valuable resource for running your businessI recently had a conversation with a(needs?)tocontrolalloutcomes. social media influencer on tile-relatedWhile that characteristic is beneficial sites.Icalledtoaskwhattopicwasfor a superior tile installation, it may most frequently being discussed online.not translate well when you are trying Right away, she responded that peopletobuildrelationshipsorcommuni-wanted information on managing theircate with clients, suppliers or vendors businessesprofitablyandefficiently.important to your business. The artist Thehungerforbusinessknowledgeand the manager typically have differ-was as prevalent as requests for techni- ent skills specific to different require-cal data installation professionals werements. Those skills are not often pos-seeking to support their complex proj- sessed by the same person. ects.PeopleareaskingforwaystoThispresentsaninterestingdilem-support the business side of their laborma.Itisalsoagreatexplanationof and getting paid for their product. Thatwhy many talented craftspeople do not product is the art being produced everywantanythingtodowithmanaging day by skilled craftspeople.aconstruction/installationbusiness. ManygreattileinstallersareartistsThey are not well suited for it. Dealing working on their particular canvas. Thewith the minutiae of logistics, training artist controls their canvas to achieveand motivating personnel while man-adesiredoutcome.Executingasuc- aging details often out of their control cessful tile project is like preparing ais a frustrating nightmare for the artist/longlineofdominoesarrangedinacraftsperson personality. complexpattern.EachdominoneedsSocialmediaprovidesaccesstoa tobecarefullyplacedtoachieveavast amount of information about run-desired outcome. If one of those domi- ning your business. It is a resource for noes is out of place, the results change.learning and improving your business Oncethepatternstartstogowrong,managementskills.Thisinformation it is extremely difficult to recover andwasnotsoeasytocomebyevena snatchawayotherdominoestostopfew years ago. As an NTCA member, the rest from falling out of sequence.you have access to the NTCA Business It is a unique person that knows whichManualandNTCAUniversity.Even dominoestoremovetostoptherestthosewhofindtraditionalwaysof from producing an undesired outcome.learningappealingwillbesurprised Itwasofferedthatthecontrolat support and interaction available at requiredforthepreciseapplicationmany online sites. You have access to of tile reflects a personality that wantsreal-time support through chat or simi-16TileLetter | July 2020'