When Warren Buffett speaks, people listen. We recently posted a video interview with Warren that had many insightful statements and quotable quotes. Perhaps none is more important than this pearl from the Sage of Omaha, who told Clayton Homes' CEO:
“Kevin, it seems like the problem of your industry is resale.”
– Warren Buffett
Another key statement in this video was the need for an industry image campaign. While months and years have clicked by, we have no campaign in action – yet.
But we do have a plan that addresses Warren Buffett's critical insight along with Kevin Clayton's own statement that we need an image/marketing campaign.
Let's be clear. Neither Messers. Buffett or Clayton have been informed of the details of the MH Alliance/Phoenix Project by it's proponents, so we are NOT saying the endorse the plan itself.
What we are saying is that these leaders see the clear need for such a plan!
And as a survey of the landscape of the MH World reveals, no other plan is being promoted at this time. There is a grass roots level advancement of understanding and support for the MH Alliance/Phoenix Plan building.
That the Kevin Clayton video post last week was a hit is beyond a doubt. Only one person privately questioned it's wisdom, while there were overwhelmingly positive comments, both private and public. There was also the most sincere form of flattery- imitation! – when others took our lead and posted or linked to the Kevin Clayton Interview too.
First a Dream
The Kevin Clayton video naturally touches on Jim Clayton's book more than once. First a Dream is in part a rags to riches tale, part of the grand possibility that makes America a great country. I've spent some time this week with business pros who have that dream. It is a critical part of success.
The Dream – a vision or a goal backed by a plan, needed resources and sound actions – leads to it's realization. The Dream is what draws people to America, and keeps us as one of the wealthiest countries on earth.
Before coming to California, I took a taxi ride in Texas with a man from Bangladesh at the wheel. He has been in the U.S. for over 20 years. He said he came with virtually nothing, but in 4 hours of arrival he had a job picking crops in Michigan. With hard work and the dream, he put his 4 children through college and has a nice home in the Fort Worth area. This man shared how MDs and engineers are his offspring. He said in America, anyone willing to work can succeed.
First, the Dream. Then, action!
Many of you reading this are not part of a national company owned by someone else. You own or work for an Independent manufactured housing business who began with a dream.
Elitism exists in the U.S., no doubt. But elitism is not what made us a country of innovators and success stories.
Would you agree with those who may argue that we all have to get "knighted" by the "powers that be?"
Or are we indeed the land of the free and the brave! Where a woman or man can have a dream – a plan – and then does what it takes to make it come to pass.
Individually and collectively, we need to look at the wisdom that Berkshire Hathaway's leader has offered our Industry:
“Kevin, it seems like the problem of your industry is resale.”
– Warren Buffett
– Warren Buffett
But the reverse is also true!
We can fix the resale issue, and thus profit from it. The lack of a resale marketing system for manufactured housing, especially chattel MH, is a key road block for more and better lending. The lack of an effective resale mechanism is a road block to attracting more upscale customers.
We can fix the image issue, and thus profit from it.
We welcome associations and companies large, small and in between on this quest to fix what ails manufactured housing.
We don't need to wait for the big boys, but we certainly welcome their or any other MH Pros involvement in a doable plan for Industry turn-around and revitalization. To learn more about the MH Alliance, please send tony@mhmsm.com an email with MH Alliance in the subject line, and we will include you in an upcoming GoToMeeting (small group webinar) briefing.
Who says we need to fix the resale and image issues? Warren Buffett. Myself and many others, we just happen to agree on this point. ##
post by
L. A. "Tony" Kovach