To get the most of this clean slate many people put a lot of effort into making checklists of ‘do’s and don’ts’ for the new year. The idea of New Years Resolutions may be a traditional one, but it’s an activity I don’t participate in.

It’s not that I don’t need to loose a few pounds, I do. Or that I should eat more healthful foods, I should. It’s just that New Years Resolutions complicate life, and I find life complicated enough without any help from me.

What I find more valuable is to remind myself of some simple wisdom. One of the most simple and valuable is, “If it sounds too good to be true - it usually is.” The strength in this saying is found in it’s uncomplicated warning. A warning that can’t be stated any clearer. A warning that all of us can understand. And, sometimes, a warning that is difficult to heed.

With each new year there are thousands of people who hear “Auld Lang Syne” as the sound of the starters pistol and get out of the blocks hard and fast: beating their competition to their prey. Some of these folks will find their way into our stores, into our inboxes, or voice mail, all touting their services, products or unbeatable offers. And of course, all of which will do wonderful things for us and our businesses.

Anyone that promises me anything, whether it’s personal, professional or political, for little or no effort on my part, is waving a large warning flag, inviting my inner cynic to step forward. I find this touch of cynicism to be the safest way to avoid a ‘D’oh’ moment that I may regret later.

We’ve all felt that extreme desire when an offer or promise is made that sounds incredible. If I actually use the phrase, ‘that’s incredible!‘ it’s a sure signal that I’d better stop and think of what the word ‘incredible’ means - “impossible or very difficult to believe”, and that usually tempers my over enthusiastic impulse.

Obviously, nobody wants to pass up a legitimate opportunity, so at this point, I ask for more information; references, background, etc. But I don’t just listen to their interpretation of the facts, I do some checking myself.

The PPFA and it’s members are a great place to start this checking. The PPFA website with it’s forums, expertly written articles, product information, services and more, give me a good starting point. I know that the PPFA is an advocate for me. It’s an organization that exists for my benefit. The PPFA is group of people, you and me included, that have an amazing wealth of knowledge and experience unlike anything in our industry. It’s a national organization with a local presence.

Yearly, chapters across the U.S., Canada and Australia host events and conferences for the benefit of their membership: all of which has the purpose of improving our skills and craft. In turn these improved skills aid us in doing our jobs better and, as we all hope, increase the amount of black ink on our ledgers.

Thinking about all the good the PPFA offers I find it incredible that not more of us are tapping into this resource.

Bart Ingraldi CPF

Merto Atlantic PPFA President

bart@thegreatframeup.com