EDUCATION Back to Business Locksmiths and security professionals are renewing their focus on the key to financial success: business education. By Casey Camper, CML, CPS T his year has seen a renewed emphasis on business management education in our industry, with more opportunities for training than ever before. The Security Leaders Forum, the Locksmith Business Owners Forum, and the upcoming 2014 ALOA Convention & Security Expo offer the security business owner training in a variety of topics that are essential to success. When you’re lucky enough to have a spouse who is an accountant, you soon learn that mechanical ability and business management are completely different skill sets, said by some to be controlled by opposite sides of the brain. This is sometimes referred to as the “leſt brain/right brain” syndrome (or leſt brain/no brain, as my wife constantly reminds me). As with many mechanical trades, the majority of locksmith companies are started by technicians who master their craſt and decide to strike out on their own. While they may be experts in their chosen profession, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they have the first clue about running a business. More than one locksmith business has failed, not because they couldn’t do the work but because they couldn’t successfully manage the business. “While locksmiths may be experts in their chosen profession, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they have the first clue about running a business.” Never Stop Learning An apprentice once remarked to me that just because I was born knowing how to work on locks didn’t mean that he was. His point was well taken. Pretty much everything we do is learned. And business management is just as much of a learning process as any of the technical services that we perform. Most of us find classes on technical topics, such as master keying or lock bypass tech- niques, far more enticing than seminars on inventory control or business planning — but as business owners or managers, we don’t have the luxury of ignoring those subjects. When we do, the “learn as you go” method oſten ends up becoming the “learn as you go under” plan. This year, make it a priority to take some business classes. While you’re enrolling your techs in class, don’t forget your of- fice manager. Like your technicians, they may be great at their job, but learning new methods and procedures from an industry veteran can be invaluable to their ability to do their job and improve the bottom line of your business. The 2014 ALOA Convention & Security Expo offers a variety of business develop- ment and management classes, including QuickBooks training, improving profitabil- ity, and employee management. Whether you operate a retail operation, manage a facility, or supervise a service department, you’ll find classes to help you succeed. Casey Camper, CML, CPS, has been involved in the security industry since 1974. His career includes service as a factory representative for a major lock manufac- turer, as well as more than 20 years owning and operating two full-service locksmith and security companies. Casey is a certified ACE instructor (CAI), and is currently a consultant providing advice, training, and custom installation assistance to locksmiths, security companies, and commercial clients. He was the recipient of the ALOA Continuing Education (ACE) Instructor of the Year award and currently serves on the ALOA board as southwest region director. You can reach him at [email protected]. 56 KEYNOTES MAY 2014 WWW.ALOA.ORG
