An interesting and unfavorable trend appeared this week in my normal communications around the industry. For the first time since the virus started locking us down, I am getting reactions that business has slowed down for many. This week, though, I heard from more than a few people in different areas of our industry that the communication just dropped off.
FTI’s month of tremendous content leading into GlassBuild Connect for a month is flat out awesome for the industry. So much learning at so many different levels. Two events back to back that are difference-makers.
The recent developments in the world have forced most of us to rethink many of our habits and processes. We are re-evaluating the way we do almost everything. This has been dramatic across the board, and we can all relate to the stress something like this can cause. That being said, I want to look for the silver lining. How might this be beneficial to those of us who are willing to stop and think about it?
This week, kicking off on Tuesday, is the NGA Glass Conference. If you have not looked into it yet, well it is now time you do. And of course, I’ll help you out here with some highlights.
Starting off this week with some forecasting news. There was a good economic mid-year update presented this week and some interesting nuggets came from it. The analysts see us being past the bottom now and rising. The metrics are all pointing at least in an upward direction.
Sisecam Flat Glass held its T Meetings, focused on architectural glass and design, as global and online events for the first time this year. Partnering with the Arkitera Architecture Center, also based in Turkey, the meetings hosted two prominent architects; Kim Herforth Nielsen, the founder of Denmark-based 3XN Architecture, and Patrik Schumacher, principal of Zaha Hadid Architects.
Resilience. If there is a word that accurately describes the glass and glazing industry right now, it’s that one. While I hear about other industries having companies fall by the wayside or have several actively looking to sell, for the most part our world has followed a dogged determination path to not let all they have worked for falter.
One of my best friends is a professional coach. He works with business people and athletes and helps them on the mental game. He’s given me tips and directions along the way that have made a huge difference in how I am able to operate.
It is critical anyone in business measure the bottom line and ensure the company is operating in a profitable manner. Those that are just holding on or sitting idle have the biggest threat in a pandemic, because the future cannot be forecasted exactly with so many factors out of control.
I think for all of us in the industry we may take GlassBuild for granted. It’s always been there, but it’s actually more than a show―it’s the lifeblood of the industry and the NGA. It’s what is needed to be able to have the technical chops, guidelines, bulletins and conferences.