November 2015: Full Contact Project Manager

Words: Dan KamysNovember 2015

The Best Thanksgiving Ever?

Gary MicheloniBy “Coach” Gary Micheloni

Every year, we celebrate Thanksgiving in this country. We should: We are a country richly blessed, and we are a grateful and thankful people. As you read this column, try and take yourself back in time, some 70 years ago, to Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1945. There was a profound sense of relief. The biggest aspect of that Thanksgiving was a celebration that World War II was over. The war lasted just fewer than four years for America, having begun on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. So, come November 1945, the world was more than ready for a Thanksgiving! There is a famous but very old saying, “Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.” Surely, as a country, we would never forget that history and those cruel and costly lessons, would we? I was chatting with a young woman at a deli as she was filling my order, when I happened to ask her where she was attending school. I learned she was a freshman at a local college. “What’s your major?” I asked. “History,” she replied. “How are your grades?” was my next question, and she was happy to say that she was getting As in those classes. “Do you know the names of the countries the U.S. fought against in World War 2?” I asked. She thought hard, and then replied, “Germany?” I congratulated her on that answer. When I told her the names of the other two countries, she asked, “Japan?” For me, that was a sad day. Do we no longer teach that history, and are we doomed to repeat it? On Thanksgiving Day, 70 years ago, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and uncles and friends were returning home. Families who had gone without contact or with letters only for a year or more were being reunited. Tragedy had also struck many homes. More than 16 million had served in the military, out of less than 140 million people in the country – or about one in nine. Everybody knew somebody who had served or was wounded. So it’s not surprising that death and injury touched so many homes. And yet, they all were thankful. So I want to challenge you this year – right now – to honor that time of thankfulness from many years ago by thanking your family, friends, customers and employees this year. Do something different for your business this year. Send out Thanksgiving cards, and let people know how much you value them – and not just as a customer. A great side benefit to a card of thanksgiving is that not many people send or receive them, so your message in the card has less competition than it would otherwise. Plus, you do really value them, don’t you? Let them know. There are a lot of crazy things going on in the world, and we never know what tomorrow may bring. But we can take some actions today, rather than postponing them for a while. Doubtless, there were more than a few sailors on board those ships in Pearl Harbor who were planning on writing a letter home to parents or spouse or to others. But those expressions of emotion and friendship went unsaid. Business often imitates life, which can be so fickle. Here today, gone tomorrow. And yet, life does go on. Not all history is bad, for certain, and almost all history has value. But that value remains only as long as we remember where it comes from. Copyright 2015 Gary Micheloni

Coach Gary’s Corner:
Special, free video for you. Go to Google and type “MCAA Cutting-Edge Marketing,” and see the webinar I did for MCAA to update its members on what is working for mason contractors today to generate leads for their companies. Gary Micheloni is a construction company marketer, working project manager, speaker, author, consultant and coach. Write him at FullContactTeam@gmail.com.
The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Curtis Hoover
Resources
Read More
Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Steve Blye
Technical Talks
Read More
Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Linda Potter
Technical Talks
Read More
Building Solutions: The Critical Role of Cavity Space in Masonry Moisture Control
April 2026

Long before “rainscreen” became a popular term in building science, masonry cavity walls were functioning on that very principle. A brick veneer cavity wall is designed with the expectation that water will penetrate the exterior

Linda Potter
MAP Partner
Read More