APSP And NSF Announce Research And Testing Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, NSF will provide research and testing services for the development and maintenance of APSP standards, and general research for the recreational water industry focused on prevention of injuries and recreational water illnesses.
"This agreement will enable APSP to ensure the test methods in APSP standards for pools, spas and components are robust, accurate and repeatable," says Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP senior director, technical and standards. "This comes at a very important time when APSP is assuming ownership of product safety standards for suction fittings and safety vacuum release systems."
NSF International - an independent, not-for-profit organization that certifies products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods - has been testing and certifying pool and spa equipment since 1963.
"During that time, we have developed standards for products ranging from UV systems to water test kits," says Bob Ferguson, vice president of Water Systems. "We are proud and committed to work with the APSP for the benefit of the recreational water industry and the advancement of public health and safety."
Industry Happenings
SeaKlear was recognized by its parent company, HaloSource, for earning record sales for the division this past June. SeaKlear's sales in June were higher than its sales in any month and any year ever for the company, including 60 percent higher than June 2008 sales. "We are having a record year in sales," says Rick Lockett, senior vice president for the company's water treatment business. "SeaKlear products are in higher demand now that the public realizes they are extremely effective in providing the cleanest, clearest water while being eco-friendly."
The Florida Swimming Pool Association is offering a 60-hour Swimming Pool & Spa Service Certification Course, held in four modules at the Sarasota Holiday Inn Lakewood Ranch. Scheduled dates are: Oct. 1-3, Oct. 22-24, Nov. 5-7 and Dec. 3-5. Details and registration are available at www.floridapoolpro.biz.
Speck Pumps recently celebrated its 100th anniversary by throwing a party in Nuremberg, Germany. Nearly 1,600 vendors, customers and employees attended the event, "celebrating its past but positioning itself for the future," says Jeff Sanchez, national sales manager, Speck Pumps North America.
Old-Fashioned Hard Work Can Lift You To The Top
If you think you're already working hard at your job, think again. You can't expect to show up each day and do your job and think that's going to cut it. What you have to do is make sure that you are never outworked.
While working hard may seem like a simple enough idea (and it is!), most people just don't do it. Now is the time to start. By really pouring on the elbow grease, you can not only set yourself apart from the less ambitious around you, you can help pull your company's tail out of the fire. Here are a few guidelines for revving your work ethic into overdrive:
1. Burn the midnight oil.
Nobody expects you to work all the time, and like everyone else, you need the occasional break. But that doesn't mean you should bolt out of the office at 5:00 sharp. These days your willingness to go the extra mile - and the extra hour - won't go unnoticed. With all the budget cuts and layoffs that have happened in the past year, there is more work to be done than there are people to do it. That's your cue to spend a few extra hours each week at the office, or at home in the evenings, striving to get it done.
2. Be willing to bear the load.
If there are rumors of layoffs or pay cuts in your office, it can be tempting to do the bare minimum while you bide your time and wait for the ax to fall. But now is the time to step up and take on new projects and extra responsibilities. Volunteer to head up the new client account or to help out with any duties left behind when co-workers are let go. No, helping answer the phones or following up on new business leads weren't in your original job description, but they are tasks that must be done to keep the business running and your paycheck coming.
3. Polish up your marketable skills.
Yes, money is tight these days and your time is probably even tighter. And the thought of adding one more thing to your schedule may send your brain into a tailspin. But if there was ever a time to add to your skill set, it's now. Make a list of specialized skills that are important to your line of work and that could give you an advantage, then research continuing education in your area and online for increasing your talents and certifications. It's a great way to increase your worth to your employer and to constantly keep yourself current.
4. Be a penny-pincher and pitcher-inner.
In a down economy, every single penny counts. Just ask your boss - he or she is probably spending nights lying awake trying to figure out ways to cut corners around the office to keep the company running and you employed. Better still, don't ask your boss; come up with cost-cutting ideas yourself. It will also show him that you understand how business works and that you are constantly thinking of new ways to improve the bottom line. And don't hesitate to pitch in yourself - even if it means resorting to (gasp!) manual labor.
Make sure that when others are sleeping, you are working. When they are wasting time, you are improving. And when others are scattering their energy, you are practicing and zoom-focusing on the skills it takes to do your job right. If you infuse your talent with hard work, passion and a drive for excellence, you'll find yourself at the top of the ladder when everyone else is scrambling to stay on a lower rung.
Jon Gordon is a speaker, consultant and author of the international bestseller The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy and The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work. Jon's new book, Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, was released in May of 2009.
