Pye-Barker Engineered Solutions January 2020

www.pyebarker.com

1-800-282-9784

P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Drive Forest Park, GA 30297

JANUARY 2020

SHRINKING WAISTLINES AND GROWING BUSINESSES

THE REAL CHALLENGE OF GOAL SETTING

up causing problems for employees. We’re the ones who get to be excited about weight loss, but we’re not necessarily the ones noticing the sudden lack of doughnuts. In my experience, it’s best to always make sure everyone’s eye is on the prize when it comes to company goals. If you’re going to ask your team to help make a major change happen, they need to know why that change will ultimately be good for them. We certainly wouldn’t be in the position we are in today if not for this approach. Years ago, when our old president left, I knew I had to rally the troops. We held a company-wide meeting with all hands on deck. We talked about where we wanted to go as a company and all the things we could accomplish together. At the time, it felt like “sounding the horns and banging the drums” — something to rally us during what was an admittedly low moment in our company’s history. Since then, the January meeting has become a staple of the Pye-Barker family. Everyone, from outside sales members to shipping and receiving clerks, comes together in one room to discuss what changes are coming and where we’re headed as a company. Because of this sort of communication, we’ve come a long way from where we were during that first January meeting. Not only have our home operations grown considerably, but I can also now announce our team is taking Pye-Barker somewhere we’ve never gone before. We’ve acquired a Florida Gardner Denver distributor and will be bringing our service to the Sunshine State for the first time! This has also given us the opportunity to build out our service team here at home, meaning we’ll be more responsive and efficient than ever before. Getting to this historic point for our company wasn’t easy, but just like any diet or other major life change, we can now look back on these steps and be proud of all the hard work we’ve done.

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. It just wasn’t a tradition we had in our household while I was growing up. My father was definitely one of those “Why wait for January?” kind of guys, so I never ascribed much to the practice. Of course, since stepping into the president’s position at Pye-Barker, I’ve had to learn the finer points of goal setting — no matter what time of year it is. Regardless of whether you call something a resolution, a goal, a dream, a milestone, or something else, it’s going to be tough. Some people believe that changing the verbiage or the way we think about these long-term ambitions might somehow make them easier, but I’ve found that’s not really the case. Goals are hard to reach not because of the way we conceptualize them but because of all the small things that change around them. Look at the ever-popular diet example. You might be motivated by the idea of “new year, new you.” You might just have a long-term goal of losing weight, or maybe the change comes from a doctor’s recommendation. No matter how you frame this motivation in your mind, one thing is going to be the same: You’re going to miss doughnuts, cheeseburgers, or whatever your go-to comfort food is. The trick is to keep your eye on all the positive changes that will come about as you move forward, even if that weight loss may seem meager at first. This “eye on the prize” outlook has helped me the most in the past few years. Doing this is harder than you might think, especially considering how people have a tendency to notice the bad and overlook the good. Writing things down is one little trick I’ve found helpful. It’s a way to put plans in concise, actionable language and gives me a physical reminder to hold myself accountable. As hard as change can be for an individual, those difficulties are magnified tenfold for a business. After all, when you launch a new initiative, expand, or offer a new service, it’s not just your life that’s changing. Everyone on the team has to get used to new software, different processes, unfamiliar vendors, and more team members to collaborate with. Often, I think business owners lose sight of these inconveniences and wind up surprised when planned changes end

Here’s to a happy, healthy 2020,

-Eric Lunsford

1-800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

3 TIPS TO MAKE EMAILING A BREEZE NO MORE SPAM EMAIL

This is helpful when you need to send someone a quick answer to keep things moving, but you’re not interested in getting into the details then and there. In other words, you can buy yourself time until you can focus on a more thought-out response. Leo Laporte, host of the “This Week in Tech” (“TWiT”) podcast, has another suggestion: Tell people you don’t read emails. Of course, you do read emails, but the world doesn’t need to know it. This is a great way to cut down on the number of emails waiting in your inbox. Finally, set aside time to do an email purge. Look at the people and businesses sending you emails, decide which ones you don’t read anymore and unsubscribe. Depending on the size of your inbox, this can take time, but it’s worth it. You’ll receive fewer emails, which means you won’t spend hours scrolling through your inbox, and that can save you time and money in the long run.

Emails are a time suck. As you read through the subject lines, you wonder how your time can be better spent. Kevin Rose, entrepreneur and founder of Digg.com, discovered an interesting way to limit the time he spends replying to emails, and it’s extremely simple. All you have to do is end all emails with “Sent from my smartphone.” Why does this make a difference? According to Rose, he found that people have different expectations based on whether emails are sent from mobile devices or computers. Presumably, any email that doesn’t include the tag “Sent from my smartphone” is sent from a computer with a full keyboard and your full attention. As it turns out, people don’t mind short, to-the-point emails if you reply on the go. The best part is that you can add the “Sent from my smartphone” from any device. You can add the signoff manually when you need a quick fix or add it to your signature. You no longer have to waste time writing paragraphs in response. Instead, you can limit your responses to single words or short phrases.

MEANT TO BE A MECHANIC

SERVICE TECHNICIAN KRIS BRACKBILL

He has the deep industry knowledge required to hit the ground running, and his familiarity with mills, plants, and refineries makes it that much easier for him to adapt to niche challenges in the field. Of course, it wasn’t just his work history that impressed us. “What I like about Pye-Barker is their willingness to reach for the future,” Kris reflects. “They don’t just do things the same way because they’ve been done that way for years.” The fact that he shared our passion for innovation made him real Pye-Barker material. Service technicians need to be adaptable and think outside the box, a philosophy Kris embodies. In fact, Kris has been trying his hand at a new hobby. “I’ve always wanted to be a gunsmith, though I have no formal schooling,” he says. “Still, I enjoy fixing guns and customizing them.” When he’s not using his mechanical skills to help clients or modify firearms, Kris enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and going to the mountains.

Whether you need a new pump installed or emergency maintenance on a blower you’ve had for years, our service technicians are here for you. Having recently expanded this vital part of our team, we want to introduce you to one of its newest members. Kris Brackbill may only be going into his third month with Pye-Barker, but he’s very familiar with the mechanical needs of just about every kind of plant out there. backs him up. Since he was young, he’s worked on cars as a hobby, which he still does to this day. But it’s Kris’ resume that really speaks for itself. “I’ve been a millwright/ mechanic for 16 years,” he recalls, “working in many different industries like power plants, pulp/paper mills, oil refineries, and food processing plants.” “I was always meant to be a mechanic!” Kris tells us enthusiastically, and his track record

With his many years and wide array of experiences, Kris is an ideal fit for our team.

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com

DRYING MORE WITH LESS AN INNOVATIVE DESIGN DELIVERING HUGE SAVINGS With almost any application involving compressed air, few investments are as critical as a dryer. Inefficient models can drive up energy costs, and ineffective ones will expose the rest of your line to damaging moisture. When it comes to protecting your equipment and processes from contaminants while keeping your power bills low, look no further than Gardner Denver. THE RPC SERIES With cutting-edge technology and innovative design, the RPC energy- saving series of refrigerated air dryers from Gardner Denver has raised the bar when it comes to efficiency. Equipped with a patent-pending heat exchanger and a no-air-loss condensate drain, this line delivers a stable, third-party certified ISO Air Quality Class 4–5 dew point for less power than conventional energy-saving designs. SAVINGS The RPC series offers significant cost savings compared to other dryer systems in their class. In fact, at 80% load, the RPC was found to save $2,642 annually compared to the ZEKS cycling design. But it’s not just kilowattage you’ll be saving on. Like you’d expect from Gardner Denver, the design of the RPC has been kept simple and elegant. Because its heat exchanger has its media encapsulated, there’s an overall reduction of system components, lending a smaller footprint and easy maintenance. With more free space and faster repairs, this dryer pinches pennies wherever it can. PLUG AND PLAY RPC dryers are designed with ease of installation and operation in mind. With stamped air inlet and outlet connections on the back panel and demand drain and power connections located out the backside of the dryer, this may be one of the easiest units to place in your line. And, of course, the control panel makes the most of monitoring technology, helping you spot issues before they begin and track your energy savings over the course of the dryer’s operation. Contaminants are a necessary evil when it comes to compressed air, but you don’t have to spend a fortune eliminating them. Thanks to the RPC’s innovative design, it’s never been more affordable to reliably protect your processes and equipment.

LAUGH OUT LOUD

1-800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

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P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Dr. Forest Park GA 30297

CALL US NOW! 1-800-282-9784

INSIDE THIS 1

ISSUE

The Real Challenge of Goal Setting

3 Tips to Make Emailing a Breeze Meet Kris Brackbill!

Have a Laugh on Us! The New Energy-Saving Refrigerated Air Dryer

Yurts: Glamping at Its Finest

The allure of the great outdoors calls to many, but pitching a tent and cooking over a fire isn’t for everyone. If that describes you, consider the yurt: a small, permanent structure often outfitted with electricity, plumbing, and other modern amenities. Expertly nestled in remote locations, they provide comforts of home in the midst of nature. Here are just a few around the United States available for rent. TREEBONES RESORT, CALIFORNIA For those new to the glamping scene, this is a great choice for an easy transition. With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean, the Treebones Resort in Big Sur has an array of spaciously comfortable yurts to choose from. The resort has heated pools, a cozy lodge, and even a sushi bar. About an hour up the coastline, you can find a few shops, restaurants, and art galleries if you decide you’ve gotten your dose of nature for the day. SPRUCE HOLE YURT, COLORADO Nestled in the San Juan Mountains about 10 miles north of New Mexico, this yurt is a snow-lover’s paradise. Skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking trails are plentiful in this backcountry location. At the GLAMPING IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS YURT SWEET YURT

end of a chilly day, come home to comfy beds, cooking supplies, and decor made to feel like you’re camping — but with sturdy walls to keep out the cold. FALLS BROOK YURTS, NEW YORK For the glampers who truly want to get away, hike just under 1 mile into the woods of the Adirondack Mountains to discover rustic yurts beckoning you to cook over a fire or bundle up with a book. At night, the yurt’s domed skylight offers excellent stargazing. For those keen on winter activities, skiing and snowshoeing trails start right outside the front door. In the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming.