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The Service Roundtable’s Hall of Leaders
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Frank Blau |
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Frank Blau is truly a giant in the plumbing world. He introduced flat rate pricing into the service trades. He founded plumbing’s first contractor alliance. He lectured and taught nationwide for decades. He wrote the most popular column in Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine. Frank is an industry icon. Despite his stature, Frank is imminently approachable. He’s among the first to take the time out to help anyone who asks, provided the individual is willing to “take the medicine.”
Frank has provided counsel to thousands, if not tens of thousands of business owners over the years. Yet, Frank won’t waste time on people who aren’t willing to help themselves, who won’t “take the medicine.”
Frank is an agent of change. He’s willing to spoon out medicine to anyone who needs it, but you have to be willing to swallow it. Those seeking Frank’s help better be prepared to DO something.
A contractor stood up at a contractor meeting and called out to the audience, “I’d like anyone who’s ever received help from Frank to come to the front of the room.”
Nearly 200 people in a room of around 205 people made their way to the front. Each could tell a story of how Frank had personally touched their life, had gone out of his way to help them, had given of himself and asked nothing in return.
All wanted to express their thanks, admiration, and appreciate to Frank. And Frank’s response? Tough, old, gravelly Frank Blau blubbered like a baby. The definition of a “heart of gold” is Frank Blau.
Frank is not without his critics. That’s not surprising. Pioneers always have arrows in them. Unfortunately, too many of the arrows are sticking in the back of the pioneer. People, it seems, are often jealous of the pioneers, the innovators. Yet, it’s the pioneers, the visionaries who persevere and make the world a better place. Frank is just such a pioneer and visionary.
Frank probably did more to advance the use of flat rate in the plumbing industry than any other individual. Frank’s advocacy of flat rate arouses the ire of the flat earth contractors who consider it sacrilegious for anyone to price the way the public wants.
The latest craze in flat rate is the use of handheld computers. Here again, Frank was ahead of his time. Back when people thought “palm” mean your hand, holding a basketball, or a tree, Frank was using 128K Sharp Wizards with his flat rate system.
Frank is also an innovator in pricing for profit. Frank had the audacity to state in no uncertain terms that plumbers should be able to earn a decent living. Frank says that since plumbers contribute more to society than say, attorneys, they should be able to earn as much as an attorney. Frank told skeptics it’s possible and whipped out his W2 as proof. He’s helped raise the standard of living of a broad swath of people in his industry.
Of course, the thought that a plumber should earn a decent living for putting capital at risk, for delivering quality, responsiveness, and professionalism in a service industry that everyone needs is beyond the grasp of some, whose standard of poverty reflects the limits of their self-image.
Frank’s always given back to his industry. He was active in his trade association and pushed it to form a special subgroup for service contractors. When he couldn’t elicit action, Frank and George Brazil formed a contractor alliance focused on service. It’s hard to imagine today how revolutionary this was. It was the first plumbing alliance. Of course, this too drew its share of critics. Innovation always does.
Today, Frank is retired. He is the millionaire next door, who owns a large block of land in rural Wisconsin where he practices quality deer management. Yet, he still finds time to help contractors.
Frank’s life is a demonstration that “the way it is” is not “the way it has to be.” If people tell you that something can’t be done, that you cannot make a decent living, that it’s impossible, don’t listen. Frank proves it’s only impossible if you think it’s impossible.
Frank’s career is also an illustration of the value of giving of yourself. There is no way that others could have given enough back to Frank to match all he’s given, but Frank doesn’t see it that way.
Industry giants all give far more than they could hope to receive. Yet, none of them see it that way. All of them consider themselves blessed. It’s something to think about.
For all he’s taught through his writing, his seminars, and his one-on-one counsel, Frank Blau is a true Servant Leader.
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© 2008 Service Roundtable |
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