INDUSTRY MATTERS 55
Get involved now
It is a thorn in my side when people complain but they do not put in any effort to empower themselves, to take ownership, or to get involved in a community or an industry they serve.
By
Brendan Reynolds, executive director at IOPSA
People constantly complain about government or associations and they focus on what is wrong in the industry they serve or work in, but they seldom apply any effort to make a difference.
As an example, IOPSA recently had bursaries available for eight people in the industry to study plumbing. We sent out invitations to our members in that region— and received three responses. That frustrates me. Something is offered to the members on a silver platter; yet, they do not get involved. The plumbing company just has to release an employee for a couple of months at no cost, and the associated results would be of great benefit to the company and the industry at large. Yet, the response was disappointing.
Continuing professional development( CPD) is another prime example. Plumbers must earn a certain number of points annually, as set out by the PIRB. Most of the options available to earn CPD points are free of charge and require minimal effort, but many individuals still continue to complain about CPD rather than looking at the benefits of continuously developing themselves.
All professionals need to keep abreast of the latest trends, otherwise they are going to be left behind. The technology and methodology they are using are going to be outdated. Attending plumbers evenings, a webinar, or a training session, or filling out a questionnaire in Plumbing Africa and submitting it, are easy ways you can add to your CPD points.
Making an effort to earn your CPD points is one way to improve yourself; at the same time, your business stays current and you stay at the cutting edge by keeping abreast of the latest changes regarding legislation, regulations, and trends in the market. But instead of seeing this as personal growth and putting their business in a better position, many plumbers perceive CPD as a burden. If one takes a look at almost all successful businesses in the world, continuous development is a key component of success.
At the IOPSA meetings, we address topical issues. When load-shedding became a problem, we were
Brendan Reynolds conquering Everest Base Camp in May.
caught with our pants down. Nobody expected the power debacle and suddenly, the country needed solar power but there was hardly anybody that could do it.
A hot topic now is harvesting rainwater and grey water. The reality is, there will never be enough water for all of us. We cannot continue to abuse our natural resources and right now, we are seeing the effects of water shortages in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Very few plumbers are preparing themselves for what is coming in this space. It is inevitable that South Africa will need grey water and rainwater harvesting on a massive scale. Get involved now, so that when the regulations or legislation is laid on the table for public participation, we as plumbers and plumbing companies can comment constructively and benefit from a huge market shift. Water harvesting is the future.
I recently travelled to Nepal to trek up to Everest Base Camp. The people in Nepal are extremely poor and there is very little infrastructure and even fewer municipal services. Yet, the streets are clean and the roads are in good repair because ordinary people stand up and get involved. They still hold the government accountable and they certainly do complain, but they also get involved by cleaning and sweeping the street in front of their home or shop every single morning. We can learn a great lesson from this. Rather than standing on the outside and complaining about things you believe are wrong in the industry, join IOPSA or register with PIRB and be actively involved. Be the change you want to see in the industry! PA
Brendan Reynolds www. plumbingafrica. co. za July 2018 Volume 24 I Number 5