I was having a flight of reality into the past concerning common sense issues relative to certain stigma of today about correct behavior while being ivolved with the sign business. As I began my sign life in the late 50's during the service and soon to start an apprentice training which came and went for about ten years while I tried other vocations, toolmaker, designer, air craft mechanic and so on. Finally finishing the training in the midwest. As a continuing journeyman, I was priveleged to recieve lots of info concerning the trade ( reallity upgrades, no software involved ) a part of that was dialogue to be distributed by the union. With that said.... I have a bit of that info to share with those who may be interested. This is a quote from a publication out of the SignCraft, magazine Tech series. It very similar to the handouts we would get as practicing sign painters at the journeyman and masters level.
Some"Thou shalts" and "Shalt nots"
Thou shalt conduct yourself as a professional because you are one.
Thou shalt advise the customer to the best of your ability- not for your convenience.
Thou shalt get along with your competion. You may need them some day for a favor.
Thou shalt keep up with new products and technology, and make good use of it for profit.
Thou shalt shalt keep your cool when in a disagreement with a customer. He is your source of income.
Thou shalt try to keep COPY at a minimum for a better job - not just an easy job.
Thou shalt do this job better than the last one which was very good. It is an advertisement for you as well as the customer.
Thou shalt help support local sign associations and further the profession,so we can all stay in business.
Thou shalt live and conduct business by the gloden rule. Do untoothers as you you have them do unto you - not before they do it unto you.
Thou shalt not degrde your competition as he knows what his work is valued at.
Thou shalt not cheat the customer on materials for which he has paid for the sake of a few dollars.
Thou shalt not sell yourself short. Others will do it for you if given the chance.
Thou shalt not promise an impossible delivery date and make a fool out of yourself.
Thou shalt not cheat the customer on service work. He trusts you with his money.
Thou shalt not do work that is just"good enough" because it IS NOT good enough.
Thou shalt not run a non-profit business. Why else do you work so long and so hard?
Thou shalt not work for less than a reasonable profit. It will not feed the family or pay the rent.
This is a direct copy of a Bert Rosenkrantz, next to last page in a very good book, worth having. It is full of wisdom and common sense.
Come on in, the water's fine. WilArd
Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on :
That's a keeper.
Posted by Joel Peters (Member # 622) on :
Nothing like good old time religion. Those are perfect rules to live and work by.
Joel
Posted by Wilson Ardmore (Member # 3230) on :
Forgot to mention... The book that I gleaned this gem from is or was from the Sign Craft Library called " On the business of Signs " Written by Bert Rosenkrantz. It has a multitude of smarts in just a few pages of info. It should have been a handout with every franchise or plotter sold.
WilArd
Posted by Wilson Ardmore (Member # 3230) on :
Bumping this to add fodder to Wayne Connot's, "Editorial"
Posted by Stephen Faulkner (Member # 2511) on :
Bert's book was the second most important investment I made as a start up sign maker (The first was Big Daddy Rats Beginer sign kit mail order Circa 1974).... the book is well worn... the words are always true every time I pick it up. When I find myself pounding my head... I always think back to " what would Bert say?".... Great to see this book still mentioned
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
