One of my favorite things about working here was getting to know our readers. And while each dealer, builder and service pro had a unique story to tell, almost all had a few things in common: hard work (naturally), killer customer service, pride in workmanship, a heaping measure of professionalism, and a willingness to try new things. In addition, most seem to have gotten into the business after doing something else. “I used to be a schoolteacher,” some would say, or “I used to be a commodities broker.” Name a job, and a pool pro probably did it.
In talking with these ex-cops, copywriters and corporate bigwigs who’d somehow wound up in the backyard biz, I was always struck by the commitment they showed to their adopted profession, and how open they were in sharing what they’d learned with other readers. Like you, I soaked up a ton of business advice from them.
After all this time, I’ve learned too much about the business and I care too much about the people that make it tick to walk away completely. I think I’ll always be involved in some capacity. But for the most part, I’ll be spending my time trying to write a retail success story of my own.
One day I’ll be asked what I did before working at the coffee shop, and my mind will flood with memories of late nights in Las Vegas, interviews with dozens of dealers and manufacturers, frenzied work at the office in the face of deadlines and the satisfaction I gained from working at the finest magazine in the industry. But, I’ll keep most of that to myself and just smile and say, “I used to be an editor.”
