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"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 fight the impulse to clap our hands when we hear the words.   I've always wondered...

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 Springs for a national board I serve on.  The hotels varied widely...

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 the same time made me reflect on my childhood. Like everybody else in the...

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. The following day I drove 370 miles to Willmar for meetings. When I was 38 miles from the office,...

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 in a world before middle schools were invented). Next door to our house was a...

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 a few months later when the mentee moved on from...

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 drove the home point of the critical role a difference-maker plays...

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 our country, but it doesn’t seem to be his identity.  He neither sits around...

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 owners. I have pointed out awards we have received and projects we were awarded.   But...

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 think I will just sit here and wait. If you have been out to eat at a sit-down...