Blog

Greg Sykora

Last week, we lost a wonderful friend and coworker. Greg Sykora devoted nearly five decades to Willmar Electric after joining the company in 1979. Greg was a bridge to a part of our company that...

Self Driving

This past weekend, I joined my parents and my brother, Justin, for a test drive of an electric car. One of my dad’s best friends recently bought one, and the experience convinced my parents that...

God’s Lawn

As I have written many times before, I love to mow. Spending two hours in my yard mowing, trimming, and edging the lawn is a thrill for me. I enjoy it so much that I...

Nice Shorts

At Willmar Electric, we have four core values: treat others the way you want to be treated, Merit Shop, Thrifty, and Meet Customer Needs. It isn’t always easy to define or explain what “thrifty” means....

My Baseball Career

Yesterday I was left home alone, and the weather was terrible. Forced to spend the entire day inside, what did I do? I watched two baseball games in their entirety—from the first pitch to the...

A Slow Walk

During a recent vacation to Arizona, Justin and I went on several hikes with a group of six. A pattern quickly emerged: two high schoolers usually led the way well ahead, while four adults followed...

No Fighting

Someone asked me the other day if I could beat up my brother. It’s an odd question. After hearing it, I paused—long enough for the person who asked to jump back in with a clarifying...

Meringue

I was at a meeting today, and the subject of banana cream pie came up. A coworker asked the group, “Who likes banana cream pie?” Several hands went up, including mine. Then the coworker said,...

Plans are Useless

Planning is a big deal to me.  I talk about it all the time. It’s probably the most common topic on this blog. Yesterday, I was in the office of a State Senator, and on...

Spinning Out of Control

My parents came to visit me during the Olympics, and we spent several evenings watching the events. I’m not good at waiting for results to come in, so I made sure we were watching recordings...

Change is Worth It

It’s a new year, which often brings new things. Some new things are easy. Nearly all software upgrades are unnoticeable. Yesterday, both my TV and car wanted to update their software when I shut them...

Be the Difference

As we reflect on the past year, I am proud of how we came together to overcome challenges and embrace new opportunities. The hard work, creativity, and commitment of the people at Willmar Electric have...

Time for a Haircut

I get my haircut every week. (Feel free to insert your jokes about a bald guy getting a haircut here.) I also sleep with my hairdresser.  I even let her tell me when it is...

Making a Difference

Willmar Electric’s purpose statement is “People Making a Difference for People.” We talk about it often, review it during new-hire orientation, and remind new employees that if we didn’t think they fit our purpose, we...

Owning Coffee Production

I have some friends who own a coffee shop. Last week, we had dinner with them, and somehow the topic of water came up. Because their entire business depends on the quality of the product...

Finding the Source

The other day, I got up early to check the weather and see if conditions were good for playing pickleball. But the overnight rain hadn’t stopped, and the courts were definitely not playable. As I...

Next Conversation

A few weeks ago, while listening to the “World and Everything In It” daily podcast, I heard a good book recommendation: “Next Conversation” by Jefferson Fischer.  So, I bought it. It arrived the next day,...

Jealous of Walter

Recently, I was blessed with a second grandchild—his name is Walter. Meeting a baby causes a person to reflect on life. You look at a newborn and can’t help but think about the possibilities. A...

Welcoming Strangers

I have a friend named Bill. He’s a friendly person who naturally takes it upon himself to welcome strangers. He’s also an excellent pickleball player. At the park, whenever a new person shows up, Bill...

Miss Hits

I play a lot of pickleball. It’s a great sport—coed, multigenerational, and one where you don’t need to be an athlete to excel. Fast hands, long arms, and even the ability to scoop the ball...

Mending Fences

Over the course of my life, I’ve had many friendships grow distant. As I relocated or my friends moved away, we gradually lost touch. I didn’t consciously end these friendships. I didn’t leave college hoping...

Positive Intent

At Willmar Electric, we run good meetings. The people who work here often say they are frustrated when they go to meetings run by outsiders. Our meetings always start and end on time. Always. We...

Defining Thrifty

Thrifty is a tough word. Most people have a negative image of the idea of being thrifty. Many people think it means you’re cheap or unwilling to spend money.  Not me, I have spent a lifetime impressed...

Johnstown Flood

The other day, I was asked by somebody if the recent flooding in Texas was the largest death toll in the United States due to a flood. I told them I didn’t know what the...

Different Srokes

There is an old saying that goes, “Different strokes for different folks.” I tried to find the origin of the saying and came up empty. Since I’m in my 50s, I remember the TV show Diff’rent...

Owning it Without Being Selfish

Our annual theme is Own It. During the recent company meetings, I had the honor of meeting with and conversing with many of my coworkers. Listening to several of them discuss the projects they are working...

Young and Old

Drew Janz is the third generation of his family to work as an electrician at Willmar Electric. He is currently our Project Manager in Oklahoma. He loves to tell people, “Willmar Electric has been putting...

Golf Lesson

I am a 56-year-old man.  Larger than most.  Over six feet tall, weighing over 200 pounds. A few weeks ago, a friend at a pickleball game talked about attending golf lessons. Despite never having taken...

Down Market

The stock market has been bumpy for most of this year, particularly in early April. People who checked their 401 (k) recently found that the value had sunk dramatically. The day after President Trump announced...

Sam Chapin

PHOTO: (L) Sam Chapin and (R) John Chapin This past week, my Uncle Sam passed away. It is always sad when a loved one dies. There are many things we say to comfort ourselves. We...

Wrong Recipient

The big news story this week is how the Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and other high-level national security officials accidentally included a member of the press in a group...

Safe to Dance

In the Eighties, the group Men Without Hats told us I say we can dance if we want to We can leave your friends behind ‘Cause your friends don’t dance And if they don’t dance...

Groundhog’s Day

I love February. If you know anything about me, you know I make a big deal about all things February. The greatest president of each American Century was born in February. The 1700s gave us...

Two Dead Fish

This weekend, my granddaughter got two fish. They managed to live less than two hours. The family put them in the tank, went for lunch, and returned to find that the fish hadn’t survived. All...

Win the Day

The holiday season can be busy. For me, it is a time when work is slow, which gives me a chance to pursue one of my favorite hobbies: reading. Over the holiday season, I read...

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. It is an excellent time to turn the page and start fresh. People take different approaches. Many set resolutions and goals for the new year. They plan to change their ways and...

Merry Christmas

Christmas is a fun time of year. People tend to be happier and more pleasant, and receiving and giving gifts should improve a person’s mood.  The food alone is a reason to love the season....

Group Think

Kenneth (Ken) Blanchard says, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” In some places, Jim Rohn gets the credit. Finally, Rod Collins wrote a book titled  Nobody is Smarter Than Everybody. That...

Perfecting Execution

I once heard Nick Saban talk about how everybody doing their job on the next play is the key to building a winning football team. Some consider Nick Saban the most successful football coach of...

Goodbye Spot?

When she was little, my oldest daughter Anne had a stuffed animal named Spot after a cartoon character. If Spot got lost, the whole house was turned upside down. Anne couldn’t live without Spot.  She...

Four Friends

On a recent episode of Survivor, a contestant commented about how he only had four friends in High School. Another contestant replied, “Wow, you had four friends in high school.” The second contestant was a...

Hopelessly Devoted

The movie Grease is known to everyone in Generation X. If you are a Baby Boomer, think West Side Story; if you are a Millennial, think High School Musical. If you are into Shakespeare, think...

Self Help

The other day, I listened to somebody explain how they invested in themselves by continuing to challenge themselves to learn and improve their leadership skills.  If you are a business person, your craft is that...

Do Your Job

Earlier this summer, my wife and I decided to take our love for pickleball to the next level by entering a local tournament.  Although we play a lot of pickleball, we had never participated in...

Anxious Generation

Occasionally, my blog is a book recommendation. I recently read Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. It is a powerful book. I...

Wordle-Shape

Nearly every day, I do the Wordle™ puzzle. I tried to quit once, but my wife, Sue, and our daughter, Sara, told me I had to stay in the group. Each day, after we complete...

Midyear Check-In

Recently, the calendar flipped from June to July. 2024 is half over. For me, July 1st means it is time to reflect on the year to date and assess how things are going. I will...

Not About Me

In our business, it’s natural to feel the pressure of fast-paced projects. However, it’s important to remember that we’re all in this together, supporting each other as we navigate the challenges that come our way....

Loving Mondays

I like Mondays. It is a strange take on life.  According to an article in Forbes, “Fully 80% of people say Monday is their most stressful day at work, and 41% of people dislike Mondays...

Saving Resources

Thrifty, one of our core values, may seem simple to define. However, it’s crucial to understand that it’s not synonymous with ‘cheap ‘. We like to use the definition of maximizing resources. When we get...

Ch-Ch-Change

My granddaughter doesn’t like to get out of her pajamas, no matter what activity is coming next. It can be a regular day when going to daycare, a place she seems to love, is next...

Let Me Help You Out

Last week, my brother Justin and I were talking, and during the conversation, he mentioned how happy he was with his life. Recently, I was part of a larger conversation that started with someone complaining...

Advanced Grandparenting

I have heard people worry about the world their Grandchildren will be left to live in. This is often why people cite when acting to advance change or protect the status quo. People on both...

Covers

The word “cover” has fourteen meanings—nine as a verb and five as a noun. I’m going to discuss the third meaning of the word as a noun: a recording or performance of a previously recorded...

Aging Gracefully

I just turned 55. I don’t think of it as a big deal. 55 is a fun number, but I remember looking forward to 2020 because it was a fun number, and most people didn’t...

Super Bowl vs Golf

This past Sunday was the Super Bowl. It’s one of only two to ever go to overtime. A classic. One for the ages. It wasn’t the most thrilling sporting event of the weekend. Not even...

Context

Context.   (Warning: this blog isn’t going to be about politics. Although my example comes from the halls of Congress.) A few months ago, the presidents of three prestigious universities (Harvard, Penn, and MIT) were called...

Not Allowed

I recently had neck surgery. The doctors put restrictions on what I was allowed to do during the recovery from surgery. Immediately after surgery, they told me to limit my twisting and turning of my...

Elmo and the Mayo Clinic

I last wrote a blog a long time ago (and we have yet to get any complaints). It is a new year, and it is time to start up again. I want to start it...

Merry Christmas 2023

The year is ending, and for most people, it means reflecting on 2023 and looking forward to 2024. Regardless of how the year went, we all want next year to be better. In business, we...

Not Awesome

In the excellent movie, “The Lego Movie,” Emmet would have you believe everything is Awesome. The movie even has a song about it. The chorus of the terrific song is: Everything is awesome Everything is...

Surroundings

Recently, my two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, Amelia, looking out the front window of her house at the leafless trees along the street she lives on, said, “I’m waiting for the leaves to come back, and then it...

Results Matter

At Willmar Electric, we discuss our Foundational Principles (Core Values, Brand Promise, and Purpose Statement). In business parlance, these things are called culture. We think culture is essential. But don’t misunderstand our placing a high...

The Men We Need

Last week, my wife, Sue, wanted to look for a new backpack. So, we headed to REI. Our oldest daughter, Anne, and our granddaughter, Amelia, were with us, so we knew it would be fun....

Process!

I recently completed the “Process!” by Mike Paton and Lisa Gonzalez, subtitled “How Discipline and Consistency Will Set You and Your Business Free.” The book is part of a series focusing on the six elements...

Issues

Most people who have talked to me in the last few months have neck problems. It is a cliché to call something a pain in the neck. If something is difficult or someone is bothersome,...

Bag of Chips

At Willmar Electric, we like to have fun. So, we include a daily educational piece during the office’s morning huddle. On Wednesday, the educational piece is typically an idiom. (An idiom is a group of...

Mindfulness

I recently read the book “Mind Your Mindset” by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller. The book was interesting, especially in light of my conversation on the recent Chapin’s Commute podcast with Mike Bennett about...

Judge David

My wife, Sue, recently retired from her job as the Business Manager at Lincoln Christian School. We decided to celebrate with a road trip to four National Parks. Our research said if we drove 14...

Time Flies

Recently my son, Mike, returned to work at Willmar Electric. He worked here part-time during high school and college. After he graduated from college, he worked here for about a year. He and his wife,...

A Better Place

I remember a life lesson our Grandpa (Elmo) Chapin loved to highlight. Always leave a place better than you found it. Our Coworker, Steve Gardner, likes to put the same principle to practice when he...

War of Kindness

History is filled with a lot of wars. American knowledge of what took place and who was fighting who in the different wars differs widely depending on the war. We all know about World War...

Figuring it Out

I like to golf, and I live on a golf course.  So, I own a golf cart. Often, I use the cart to drive to the course and walk while I golf. Before you get...

Anger – A Book Review

Do you get angry? Maybe you are angry right now. I know I get angry.  Sometimes I even get angry about being angry. An author I respect, Gary Chapman, wrote a book on Anger. And...

Promotions at Work

Recently the topic of career paths has been getting a lot of coverage. At least around me, it has been. A report in the Wall Street Journal said it was the most important thing the...

Safety Code

Willmar Electric is committed to working safely and efficiently.  Ensuring everyone goes home safely at the end of each day is a core part of our purpose statement of People Making a Difference for People. ...

Power of the Pen

This weekend we celebrated my father-in-law and mother-in-law’s birthdays. The family threw them a party. It included everything you would expect at a birthday party: games, gifts, cards, Sloppy Joes, cake, and ice cream. But...

Jamaican Styled Service

Recently our family stayed at the Moon Palace in Jamaica. It was the third time Sue and I had stayed at the resort. We learned a lot about customer service on our visit. Our reservation...

Hiring for Character

My wife is retiring from her job as the Business Manager of Lincoln Christian School. It means they need to hire a replacement. She has been put on the committee of people hiring the replacement....

Gambling

It was recently brought to my attention that March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month.   I don’t consider myself to have gambling issues. My gambling history is small. I join a March Madness pool with a...

Climbing Camelback

I needed to write a blog for the week. I didn’t have any ideas about life lessons to write about, so I was at a loss for what to do. Recently my wife and I...

Pull the Cord

At Willmar Electric, we take the health of our coworkers seriously. When we focus on safety, it isn’t to save money. It is because the people we work beside are important, and we don’t want...

New Year New Plan

Did you make a New Year’s resolution?  How’s it going? New Year’s resolutions are a hotly debated topic in our culture.  Many find it to be a waste of time and mock the people who...

John Chapin Day

John Chapin Day. This year I’m taking it upon myself to declare that today, January 3rd, is John Chapin Day. It is our Dad’s birthday, and he deserves some special recognition. Our Dad is a...

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. A simple phrase often said during the holiday season. It is an integral part of my family and my life.  When I say it, I mean it.  I want you to have a...

Changing Training Styles

I am currently reading a book by Ken Blanchard “Servant Leadership in Action.”  The book is a collection of roughly 15-minute essays by 40 different authors.  I found it gives me a taste of a...

Shop Local

We buy a lot off Amazon. It’s convenient. You look up what you want, read the reviews, and click on buy it now. A few days (or hours) later, the package appears on your door...

Ride-Along

I was asked to serve on the Lincoln Fire and Rescue (LFR) stakeholders committee a few months ago. Part of serving involves spending a day riding with one of the companies from LFR. Last week...

Always on the Sunnyside

A few months ago, I was asked to speak to a group of leaders from another firm. The topic was leadership style. I spoke and answered questions. I mentioned a handful of techniques and tools...

Improvement Starts with I

We just finished going through a book study on “Improvement Starts with I” by Tom Hughes. (Click on the link for more information). The book is based on five words that start with the letter...

Hairbrush

My daughter, Anne, is an excellent mom. It’s not always easy to be a good mom, but my daughter has several generations of examples to follow. She is lucky enough to have a great mother....

Digital Minimalist

I was having issues with my iPhone recently, so I stopped by an Apple store to have them check it out.  The solution they came up with was reinstalling the software on my phone.  I...

Customer Service is for Everybody

Last weekend my wife, Sue, and I were victims of terrible customer service. We ate at an upscale restaurant and were seated outside on their patio.  Shortly after we placed our order, it started to...

Trust Grandma Stuhr

I recently had the chance to drive from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Scottsdale, Arizona.   It is a nineteen-hour drive, so when I woke up at 4 am on Wednesday, I got into the SUV I had...

It’s Easy to Criticize

It is easy to criticize. From time to time, the people in our office plan a group lunch. In the past, everyone would sign up to bring something to share. Some people signed up to...

Goodbye Email – I’m Busy

I recently completed the book “A World Without Email” by Cal Newport. Newport is widely regarded as an expert on maximizing your time by prioritizing your tasks. (Check out his book “Deep Work” for more...

Establishing Deadlines

I recently needed to give an assignment to a coworker. (Since I am an owner of the company, it happens a lot.) I called the coworker and explained what I needed. She listened and then...

Project H.O.O.D.

Two weeks ago, I attended the Associated Builders and Contractors (A.B.C.) annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. However, the two most impactful events didn’t have anything to do with politics or elected officials. I interacted...

Finding a Leadership Style

I have been asked to speak to a local vendor about leadership. It is very humbling and quite an honor. I have held several positions in leadership roles, and I have been asked to lead...

Interruptions

The flag is at half-staff right now. My mom has told me it is because the USA has crossed over 1 million deaths from COVID-19.  It is a grim fact and likely worthy of pausing...

What Are You Hiring For?

Not everybody is to be trusted. Don’t believe me? Turn on your TV and find a documentary to watch. My wife, Sue, and I recently watched a couple. First, we watched “The Dropout” on Hulu....

Pack Your Bags and…

The lyrics to John Denver’s ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’ come up often at our house because we come and go a lot. The key line is, “all my bags are packed. I’m ready to...

Award Winning Team

When our Dad was the National President, ABC started the Award of Excellence in 1990.  (Volunteer leader is now called the Chair, and the award has since changed to Excellence in Construction.)  So last year,...

INCLUSION

The sign on the door to my son’s bedroom said, “The more, the better ask others to play.”  He found it in the garbage at school.  (We never figured out why a school would throw...

James Madison Takes a Selfie

I recently spent a week in Mexico. My wife, Sue, and I like to escape winter for at least a week every winter.   We don’t do a lot on our vacation. It is primarily a...

All That and a Box of Chocolates

February 10th, when I opened my Wall Street Journal (WSJ), I noticed in their Opinion section an article by my friend Ben Brubeck titled “Infrastructure Law Becomes a Biden Giveaway.” Wow.  Isn’t he cool.  Ben...

Overthinking

Doing dumb things in front of other people is embarrassing. It is frustrating to do the dumb thing because you overthought the issue. On Tuesday, I had a meeting for the Lincoln Independent Business Association...

GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME

QR codes are cool. They seem to be popping up all over the place. The most common example of QR codes in my life is menus at my favorite restaurants. It saves restaurants from needing...

One Week at a Time

Consider yourself warned. I hope you’re not stressed out. If you read this blog, you might come to hate my wife and me. It is Christmas time, and many people feel overwhelmed at this time...

Crabby Dave

“If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.” These are the opening lyrics to a familiar song whose origin is unclear. I’m sure every American knows the song. Most of us need to...

Friendliness is Free

Recently I went on a trip that involved spending two nights in three different cities. The trip was to Dallas for a trade association committee I serve on, Lawton a Willmar Electric trip, and Colorado...

Grandma and Grandpa’s House

September 2021 was highlighted by two events in my life. My parents sold their home on Lake Ida, and my granddaughter, Amelia, came to Lincoln and stayed for 17 days. The fact they happened at...

Running Out of Gas

A few weeks ago, I filled up with gas before driving roughly 60 miles to the Omaha airport. After my trip, I drove home. The next day I drove 20 miles to work and back....

Leaving a Mark

When I was in elementary school and junior high, our family lived on a few acres north of Willmar, Minnesota.  The entire property was full of trees.  (That’s right, I am so old I lived...

Mentor, Peer, Mentee

At Willmar Electric, our purpose statement is “People Making a Difference for People.” My last blog was about a friend who mentored a coworker to help them advance professionally, only to be left feeling unappreciated...

Helping a Friend

At Willmar Electric, our purpose statement is “People Making a Difference for People.” I recently had a friend go out of her way to help a fellow coworker advance within her career. The following story...

Steve’s Service

At Willmar Electric our VP of Operations, Steve Gardner, is a retired Army veteran.  Most people who know Steve are aware of his service to our great nation. He is proud of his service to...

Josh and Kody

Our company is 101 years old. We have had a lot of great events and key dates in our 101 years.   Often, I post about those critical days. I have highlighted the birthdays of past...

Bearly Credible

Our family just went on a vacation to Alaska. (Well, 7 of the 8 of us did. The 4-month-old granddaughter stayed back with her other Grandma.) The trip could be summarized in two ways. I...

STEP 5 – FIND A SOLUTION

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation from a class we developed at Willmar Electric. I outlined a five-step process.   This is the fifth and last installment. If your job is to manage people and...

STEP 4 – FOCUS

Last month I blogged about the five-step process for productive confrontation. I have already outlined the first three steps of trust, respect, and self-awareness.  Step four is keeping your focus. If your job is to...

STEP 3 – SELF-AWARENESS

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process. In my last two blogs, I talked about trust and respect. The background for the series is that if your job is to...

STEP 2- RESPECT

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process. I would like to expand on each step. The background is if your job is to manage people and help them grow professionally,...

STEP ONE – TRUST

Last month I blogged about productive confrontation.  I outlined a five-step process needed in any feedback loop. Of course, how you give feedback makes all the difference in the world.  So, I came up with...

Art of Neighboring

I recently finished reading “The Art of Neighboring” by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon.  The book hit home with me on two fronts. I could relate to the book’s theme of building genuine relationships right...

Productive Confrontation

Last week I was tasked with doing training on productive confrontation to our field leaders. So, I researched the topic and reflected on things I had learned about the subject previously.  One of the first...

Power of Association

I was lucky enough to have the honor to serve as the 2016 National Chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).  When you research ABC on their website, you will notice their mission statement...

Muddy Rain

Yesterday a coworker, Sylvia, asked if I knew what muddy rain was and if I had ever seen it.  I told her I didn’t, and I hadn’t.  She explained that “muddy rain” is when high...

Baby Above Self

Last week my daughter, Anne, and son-in-law, Jon, had a daughter.  Her name is Amelia, and she is our first grandchild.  She is a treasure to everybody in the family.  My wife, Sue, and I...

Gate to Gate

Gate to gate is an airline term.  It is how they measure on-time arrivals of airplanes.  I have been told airlines typically added 20 minutes to every flight to account for taxiing to and from...

Communication Going Deeper

Recent SWOT (Strength/Weakness/Opportunity/Threat) analysis at Willmar Electric told the leaders several things.  Most notably, communication is essential. Not really a news flash.  If you didn’t already know the importance of communication, you likely are part...

Merit Shop in Action

Merit Shop is one of our core values.  It would be impossible to call ourselves a Merit Shop if we didn’t do individual evaluations. At Willmar Electric, evaluations are a two-part process.  Part one is...

Rushing to Judgement

A few days ago, while getting ready for work, I noticed something my family members call the “license plate” sunrise. Let me explain. In 2004 our family moved to Nebraska.  It meant getting Nebraska license...

Click Over 2020

A lot of people like to make cheap jokes about 2020.  A trend is to refer to it as the “year that shall not be mentioned.” Clearly, 2020 was a lousy year globally and personally...

Elmo Chapin Day 2021

Today is January 6th.  My coworkers at Willmar Electric know that today is Elmo Chapin Day.  Every year we celebrate our Grandfather’s Birthday by explaining to those who didn’t get the chance to meet him...

Getting What You Paid For

I heard a podcast this week with the author of “This is Marketing,” Seth Godin.  One of the topics he discussed was the price.  He pointed out if people buy your product because it is...

Encouragement

On November 9, 2020, the Lord called to Heaven Jay Tornquist.  Jay is likely the best friend I ever had. I considered him to be an older brother. We worked side by side at Willmar...

Beautiful Inside

It is Halloween time, and it reminds me of one of the great stories in my family.  It provided us with an excellent life lesson. It was in October 2016.  My youngest daughter, Sara, was...

Thank You John Chapin, I Love My 401K

I have been told I should be careful how often I check my retirement savings. It is a long-term investment, and patience is key to keeping your sanity. I recently checked my 401k and was...

Lean VS Organized

What Plates Should We Use?

One of our core values at Willmar Electric is to meet the needs of our customers.   We believe in providing our customers with quality electrical construction without delays. What quality means is widely debated.  Some...

Being Polite, Listening, and Solving Problems

At Willmar Electric, our brand promises are to be on-time, organized, and approachable.  The most difficult to define of the three elements is approachable.  The dictionary definition for approachable is “friendly and easy to talk...

Watch the Clock

Our Brand Promise is to be On time, Organized, and Approachable. I think we do an exceptional job of reaching all three of these objectives in everything we do. Recently we had two excellent examples...

Are You Ready to Go Inside When Summer is Over?

The world is full of business books. I went to the books category of Amazon and searched for “business books” and got over 100,000 results. Even if football is canceled and no new TV shows...

Accountability is a Beautiful Thing

We love to play games at the Chapin house. We realized that we had outgrown our small game table as our family had grown. So recently, we got a new table that will accommodate more...

Lean vs Thrifty

At Willmar Electric, we try to use Lean Principles in our day to day operations and one of our core values is being Thrifty. Often people equate lean with being thrifty.  A few days ago,...

Leading by Inclusion

To protect the people involved, I have changed the names of those involved to Tom, Dick, and Harry.  (Consideration was given to Huey, Duey, and Luey, as well as Larry, Curly, and Moe, but in...

Thumbs Down To Reading Instructions

I don’t like instructions. Don’t get me wrong.  I understand the role of instructions in our world.  I also understand people should use them. I just struggle with them.  But, not in a rebellious way. ...

Reckless or Righteous

In 1972 Stealers Wheel’s Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan wrote, “Stuck in the Middle with You.”  In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, claimed the song was a parody of Bob Dylan paranoia.  The chorus says, “clowns...

Do I Raise the Average?

Motivational Speaker Jim Rohn has been credited with coining the phrase, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Please don’t take Rohn’s advice too literally.  Hanging out with...

Waiting on Somebody Else to do the Right Thing

Later this month, we will cross over the second anniversary of moving into our new house.  We love our new home.  We have loved it since day one. It is located on a local golf course and...

Embrace, Quit or Improve

The best golf advice I ever received was “if you’re a boogie golfer approach each hole with a plan to bogey the hole.” In case you not familiar with the term bogey, it is finishing...

Mike Chapin Doesn’t Need a Job! (A Timely Repost from 2012)

Mike Chapin doesn’t need a job!!! (Since 1920) Tomorrow my son, Mike will start as a pre-fab laborer.  He marks the 5th generation to work at Willmar Electric.  But before I go into that story, let me...

100 Years!

On April 20th Willmar Electric will turn 100 years old.  We had planned several parties to celebrate the milestone and the many people who made it possible. We have no idea how many people have...

Puzzles over Books

I can remember when I was young, and the name of the town Abilene, Texas, came up. My Dad would sing this song by Bobby Bare. Abilene, Abilene prettiest town I’ve ever seen Women there...

Thank You Associated Builders and Contractors

An open letter to all the National and Chapter staff of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). As our country and industry go through these troubling times, I couldn’t be more thankful for my membership...

Talking About My Generations

People love to talk about generations. My coworkers at Willmar Electric are no exception. Baby Boomers vs. Millennials seem to be the hottest divide right now. The term Baby Boomers wasn’t developed because a certain...

Get Out of My Way

Have you ever had somebody get in your way? Of course, you have. We all have. It is very annoying. I am an impatient person. When somebody is in my way, I tend to want...

Meeting Customers Needs

Yesterday I got some great feedback from our customer on the Lincoln Christian School remodel project. The Development Director, Mark Powell, says everybody from Willmar Electric has been great to work with on the project....

Red Dirt, Twang, and Genuine People

I know George Jones is dead. I realize it was reported widely on April 26, 2013, when he died. I remember because I spent the day listening to his songs on Spotify. However, when he...

Watch What You Say: Your Children Are Listening

Sue and I, try hard to make sure we don’t miss chances to impart wisdom on our children. The older they get, the more those sessions involve their help in breaking down the situation to...

Good Customer Service Involves Results

My back has been hurting for about three years. In 2016 I was too busy as National Chair of ABC to do anything about it when the pain started. For another 18 months, I just...

Sue’s Secret Recipe is Simple: Execution.

I have a great wife. She has many wonderful qualities. People hold in her in high regard for several reasons. She is pretty, smart, organized, and a great conversationalist. She is so wonderful I could...

What does Lean help us achieve?

Did you know we have a 10 Year Target at Willmar Electric?  Well, we do.  Our 10 Year Target is to “Choose the jobs we want and make money doing them.”  On the surface this...

Do You See What I See

Every day at Willmar Electric we start our day off with a huddle. Immediately after the huddle, we break out into a time of what we call “Lean and Clean.” The huddles typically last about...