Are HVACR Contractors Creative?

Posted on October 8, 2009

Who better to help contractors get the “Big Picture” at the annual conference than a famous photographer?

Now, if you’re wondering what kind of connection a National Geographic photographer could possibly have with an HVACR contractor, you might be surprised to learn it’s one that’s actually quite strong. Dewitt Jones, one of America’s top professional photographers, has a thing or two to say about being creative, finding more than one right answer to business challenges and shaking off the fear that can often paralyze a company’s growth.

The creativity he draws on for his photography, he contends, really isn’t that much of a stretch from the creativity contractors need to run successful businesses. “For most of us, creativity is something difficult to define and even harder to implement,” he writes in an article entitled, “Seeing the Ordinary As Extraordinary.”

“[Creativity] is a word reserved for artists, and there is a very big difference between art and business,” he continues. “Art is creative; business is practical. Art is frivolous; business is serious.”

Art and creativity, however, is exactly what challenging times call for, no matter what the industry, he writes. “From my years as a photographer, I’ve learned a number of methods to help me access that creative state,” he says. “The more I practice them, the more I realized that those techniques applied equally well whether I was creating a photograph, running an office, or serving a client. You could change the challenge, but the principles were the same.”

As one of the scheduled keynote speakers for ACCA’s 42nd Annual Conference, March 7-9 in Tampa, FL, Jones will guide participants through a process for unlocking their own creative potential—even if they don’t think of themselves as particularly creative.

“I first saw Dewitt Jones speak at a meeting several years ago, and was moved, inspired, awed—I knew right away that we had to have him at an ACCA Conference,” says Paul Stalknecht, president and CEO of ACCA. “It’s impossible to describe the impact of the Dewitt Jones experience in words. I guarantee it will be something you will never forget.”

For a sneak peek at how Jones suggests bringing creativity into your contracting business, take a few minutes to read this article on his website. Then make plans now to join industry leaders in Tampa for the ACCA conference and Indoor Air Expo. You’ll see Jones make his inspiring presentation, as well as many other top-notch speakers and workshops.