GeoCall
In 1997, Texas811 formed a new corporation, Progressive Partnering, Inc. (P2), with Tennessee811, Arkansas One-Call System and Mississippi811. P2 developed GeoCall, a one-call operating system with integrated GIS mapping. This platform is currently used in 11 one-call centers: Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia; and by GulfSafe, the first offshore “one call” system.

GeoCall software is used to manage member information, incoming tickets, and transmitting tickets to members. The software was developed as a collaboration of the original centers and extended and expanded with additional features as new partners joined the group and infused it with new ideas. P2 does not use the standard vendor relationship model to manage the software – changes to the software are initiated and agreed upon by the partner centers.

In 2010, the GeoCall platform processed over 25% of the locate requests in the United States. But perhaps more importantly to the members of Texas811, the focus of developing this new software was to provide an extremely accurate ticket and this was possible in part because of the integrated GIS component.

A more accurate ticket is important for at least two very important reasons:
1. Safety – Being able to more accurately identify the location of underground facilities is critical to minimizing the disruption of our vital underground infrastructure. Obviously, minimizing the chances for damaging underground utilities reduces the risks to employees, the general public and property.

2. Costs – A more accurate ticket helps the members of Texas811 hold their operating costs down significantly in the following ways. First, it logically follows that if there are fewer damages to the members’ facility, there are less expenses involved in maintaining the facility. This is true no matter what utility type you are. Typically, utility companies that become members of Texas811 find that the cost savings generated by membership are much greater than the cost of membership. As one member stated, “Had I known how much digging was really going on in our area before we became a member, I wouldn’t have waited so long to sign up.” The truth is, membership pays.

The second savings as the result of the Texas811 commitment to an accurate ticket is that you are not routinely dispatched out on unnecessary locate requests. Anybody who understands locating understands that the costliest part of receiving a ticket is locating the facility. Many times the locator is required to drive many miles to a job site. Not only is there time and expense involved in driving to the site, but there is lost productivity as the result of being pulled off another job that also has to be completed. Making sure that when you receive the locate request, it requires a response, is part of the driving force behind Texas811’s reason for developing the GeoCall platform.

As a shareholder of Progressive Partnering, Inc. and a member on the P2 board, Texas811 and the other partners diligently look for innovative ways to hold costs in check and enhance the capabilities of GeoCall. Texas811 members continue to be the beneficiaries of the Texas811 Board of Directors’ willingness to step outside of the box almost 15 years ago.

When members of Texas811 have a question or concern, they know just whom to call: Jennifer Connally. Connally is the Member Services Coordinator/Ombudsman.

What exactly is an ombudsman? An ombudsman is defined as a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and internal or external constituents while representing a broad scope of constituent interests.

It was a term which Connally was not familiar with two years ago when she first saw it. She had just accepted a new position with Texas811 at the time. Texas811 President Lee Marrs handed her a piece of paper with the term on it. Marrs wanted a title that was unique and would reflect the new job Connally would be doing.

“Member services on its own was too boring,” she said. “Lee wanted something different, so he did some research and came up with the title.”

For members of Texas811, ombudsman means they have one contact to call who will get them the answers to their questions, resolve any issues and serve as a direct link to any Texas811 service or department.

“If they need help receiving a locate ticket or updating a map, they go through me,” Connally said. “Everything member-related goes through me.”

This means Connally maintains files on all members of Texas811, as well as the other state one-call centers they manage in West Virginia and South Dakota. This accounts for more than 2,200 members Connally must keep track of and serve.

“I give advice to existing members and help new companies become members,” she said.

Her days are filled with answering tons of e-mails and phone calls. For her the term ombudsman means mediator, problem solver and listener.

“I like to help solve problems and make people feel better,” Connally said.

One of her greatest rewards is hearing she made a difference for a member. “I had one member thank me for being nice and patient and for spending 45 minutes with him,” she said. “That is my job. I like helping them. It is what I do.”

As a long-time employee of Texas811, Connally has worked in various departments at the one-call center, which gives her a broad understanding of the organization. This allows her to explain benefits and services to the members.

Connally began her career at Texas811 just out of high school as a customer service representative. In her 11 years with the one-call center, she has worked in the Fax Department, e-locates, the ROW Program and GulfSafe. She managed all of this while pursuing and obtaining her degree in sociology.

“It has been fun moving up the ladder here,” Connally said.

With this wealth of experience, when Connally talks about Texas811 services she knows what she is talking about. She has been involved with and seen first-hand many aspects of the organization.

Her job can be demanding and time consuming and requires meticulous record keeping, but the details and need for precise organization never seem to dampen Connally’s enthusiasm for the job. She admits that some days the phone seems to ring endlessly or the emails keep pouring in, but she loves what she does and the people with whom she works.

Texas811 has four damage prevention staff members who travel across the state speaking to existing and prospective members. They forward all prospective members to Connally who researches the company, explains member benefits and discusses why membership is part of the law and the right thing to do.

Other days, Connally works with existing members to help them make their job and interaction with Texas811 easier and better. She recalls spending time every day for a week talking with a woman at one member company who was new to the job of handling the locate tickets.

“She was new at the position and found much of the information in her database was out of date,” Connally said. “She called everyday looking for support as she sorted through her new job. I talked with tech support, forwarded information to her and assisted her in making the changes she needed.”

She remembers a similar situation at another company. “This company’s damage prevention guy was ill and not coming back,” Connally said. “Another guy was taking his place and not sure how one-call worked. I was there for him to explain the process.”

Connally assures all members that no question is stupid. She would rather have someone call or e-mail her with a question or issue rather than be frustrated or worried that they are doing something wrong.

“My job is to do what I can, the best that I can, to make members happy,” Connally said.

For Connally that may mean on any given day she is juggling five or more things at once, answering dozens of phone calls, weeding through a multitude of e-mails and contacting other departments at Texas811.

“I have great people working with me in all the departments that really understand what is going on and help me help members,” she said. “I know I can count on others such as GIS or tech support to help me out.”

Just as Texas811 allows excavators to make only one-call to start the digging process rather than multiple calls to several utilities, Connally is a one-stop call for members seeking answers or support from Texas811.

“Rather than having to call GIS to update a map or another department for a different issue,” Connally said, “everything goes through me. I help make the process easier and give members peace of mind that they have someone there to help them when needed.”

With her multi-colored spreadsheets, drawers full of organized member folders and phone in hand, Connally is ready everyday to serve the members of Texas811. She will spend whatever time is needed and work to find the solution to support the members and make them feel their voices are being heard.

“I am happy to be there for them,” Connally said.

Recently, I asked a friend of mine who’s an avid deer hunter what he did during the off season. He looked surprised when I asked the question and said, “You’re joking, right?” Well, since I’m not a hunter I figured he cleaned his gun, put it away in the gun safe and then went fishing or played golf ‘til next season. He continued by saying, “It’s like anything you’re really serious about doing, sport or otherwise. It may not be ‘in’ season, but there’s never an off season. Oh, I might take a little time off and go on vacation, but I never let it go. There’s too much to do between seasons in order to get ready for opening day.” When I asked him “like what,” he gave me an earful. “Well,” he replied, “I hunt several locations around the state and regulations are subject to change from one year to the next. Game trails tend to change over time and then road and trail maintenance is always a given. Plus, if you don’t keep your shooting lanes clear you’re just relying on luck; and you wouldn’t believe the trouble we have from four wheelers tearing things up. Yeah, I always have something to look forward to and it keeps me sharp on how the deer are moving, too.” Then he added, “If you ain’t on your game, you ain’t in the game!”

Later on as I thought about what he said I couldn’t help but make a comparison with a lot of other hobbies or pastimes, and even professions. The more I thought about it the more I saw a connection to the current slow down or “off season” period many areas are experiencing with underground construction. The current decline in construction we’re in isn’t so great for the economy and hopefully we’ll soon see a rebound. An upside to this is that we’re seeing fewer damages to underground utilities occurring. But even though there are fewer hits, this isn’t the time to relax vigilance toward damage prevention efforts. A slow-down in work can tend to lull us into complacency or casualness, and it’s times like these when we need to remind ourselves what the “game trail” looks like, and whether we’re carefully planning our moves or stumbling ahead on our past experience and good luck. Of course there’s nothing wrong with luck when you’re hunting or fishing, but when it comes to near misses with underground gas lines or other utilities, luck shouldn’t be a part of the equation. So whether it’s open season, between seasons or a slow season, so to speak, I encourage all stakeholders in the Damage Prevention Community to stay sharp and use their hard-earned knowledge and expertise to protect underground utilities that all of us rely on.

Currently, RRC staff and the regulated industry agree on the need to make some changes to clarify the intent of the rules, simplify some of the requirements, and streamline the process to the extent possible.

A public workshop was conducted by RRC staff on August 18, 2010, for discussion of proposed rule changes; approximately 250 individuals attended and offered comments & suggestions. The Top-Ten Discussion Topics from this 2010 meeting were:
1. Calling 911 – when an excavator damages a facility and when an operator arrives on the site of an accident and 911 hasn’t been called.
2. Penalty Guidelines – possible increase in penalty amounts for repeat offenders, major occurrences, no call before digging, mismarking, etc.
3. Excavation Depth – possibly to eliminate or change the minimum depth of excavation
4. Tolerance Zone – considering changes to the tolerance zone or to work allowed in a tolerance zone
5. Locate Ticket – permissible size of an excavation project on one locate ticket; ticket life; ticket ownership (general/subcontractor)
6. Positive Response – definition of positive response and delivery methods
7. TDRF Reporting Requirements – requirements and time frames for completing the Texas Damage Reporting Form
8. No Facilities Where Marked or Unknown Facilities Found – who and how an excavator notifies when unexpected situations are encountered in the field
9. Requirement to Investigate & Collect Damage Data – what information must be collected and when for completion of the TDRF
10. Incorporate Certain Referenced Requirements/Standards into Chap. 18 sections – which citations to incorporate from Utility Code Title 5 Chapter 251, such as required map updates, notice requirement, exemptions, etc.
The individual stakeholder group meetings for November and December 2011 were scheduled as follows:
• November 28th: One Call Board of Texas and notification center management
• November 30th: Locating Services
• December 6th: Gas & Liquid Pipeline Operators, American Gas Association, Southern Gas Association, TX Gas Association, TX Oil & Gas Association, TX Pipeline Association, TX Pipeline Safety Coalition, TX Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, TX Alliance of Energy Producers.
• December 7th: Excavators – Larger Contractors & Road Construction, Associated General Contractors of TX, TX Dept. of Transportation, TX Association of Counties, TX Board of Professional Land Surveying, TX Society of Professional Surveyors, TX Railroad Association.
• December 9th: Excavators – Underground Facility Operators & General Excavation Activity, Telecommunications, Electric, Cable, Fiber, TX Association of Builders, TX Cable Association, TX Electric Cooperatives, TX Farm Bureau, TX Fence Association, TX Nursery & Landscape Association, TX Public Power Association, TX Telephone Association, Association of Pool and Spa Professionals – TX Chapter, Damage Prevention Councils of TX.
• December 15th: Excavators – Municipalities & Cities, Water, Sewer, Drainage, TX Municipal League, TX Public Works Association, TX Water Utilities Association, TX Rural Water Association.
The meetings have been very useful and have begun a very valuable conversation about the need for enforcement and the reason we are working and cooperating together – making Texas a safer place to live and work.

The statistics are staggering during this past wildfire season. All fifty states plus Canada, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have sent personnel to assist in bringing the raging blazes under control.

The wildfires swept across every corner of the state, even in some southeastern towns where rainfall usually keeps such disasters at bay.

In 2011, Texas lost more than 3.9 million acres to wildfires, which accounted for almost 48% of the total loss nationally.

Although the news accounts reported on the amount of property damage and loss of lives, the firefighters and first responders saved tens of thousands of lives, homes and other structures. Four of the largest wildfires in the history of Texas occurred this past April.

One was a 315,000-acre blaze in three West Texas counties that narrowly missed the Fort Davis Historic Site, a frontier Army cavalry fort, and the McDonald Observatory, a major astronomical research facility.

The pictures included in this article certainly tell a story of devastation and the almost unimaginable power of nature. Eerily, some of the photos show an unsettling beauty even in the face of such destruction.

What the pictures don’t show is the spirit of Texas found in its people. That never-say-die, never-give-up attitude that Texans are known for and thrive on. Even in the face of seemingly impossible odds, there is still resolve, hope and confidence that order will be restored. When disasters such as these massive wildfires damage utility systems, the utility companies launch massive round-the-clock efforts to restore services as quickly as possible. The logistics associated with these restoration efforts can be daunting.

The key to getting things back to normal is restoring vital services as quickly as possible. Utility companies send their personnel into the affected areas almost immediately. They mobilize outside resources to assist with the monumental task. And one of the best things that companies can do after disasters is get back to business. People rely on these vital services to meet their needs and the more quickly companies can get back up and running, the more people will appreciate the good work the companies do all the time.

Yes sir, after the headlines were written and the horizon was no longer lit with the glow of fire, utility men and women began the process of putting Texas back together. Utility by utility and shoulder to shoulder, the work began to restore some resemblance of normalcy to families and communities that would rebound and live, thrive and dig in for the next volley that mother nature would throw their way.
A special thanks to all the firefighters and emergency responders who fought bravely to save as much as they could. And a special thanks to all those utility men and women who worked around the clock to restore the feelings of “We’re going to be ok.”

Fighting against impossible odds without losing hope is heroic indeed. In Texas, it’s who we are!

Crisscrossing the country are more than 320,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines that serve as underground highways transporting the nation’s energy.

Pipelines are a critical component of our nation’s energy infrastructure. They safely and reliably transport 25 percent of the country’s total energy consumption that is delivered to more than 70 million United States consumers.

“In general, pipelines are the safest means of transportation out there,” said Al Davis, who has been in the pipeline industry since 1977. This is not just a bold statement, but a fact backed up by the National Transportation Board statistics which indicate that pipelines are indisputably the safest way to transport natural gas and other energy products both for the public and the environment. Admittedly one of the factors for this safety is federal regulation. He said, “As an industry, we are one of the most regulated out there.”

Transmission pipelines are rigorously regulated by three federal agencies including the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Transportation Security Administration’s Pipeline Security Division. As part of the regulatory process, pipeline personnel regularly check for visible signs of leaks or corrosion during regular aerial and foot patrols, use special equipment to inspect and clean the inside of pipelines, and test valves and gas samples to identify early signs of corrosion.

Today, with the regulatory standards and technological advances that allow companies to monitor pipelines 24 hours a day from state-of-the-art facilities, serious pipeline incidents are increasingly rare. According to statistics from the Interstate National Gas Association of America, incidents have decreased 30 percent in the past 20 years while the amount of gas delivered has increased by 30 percent.
However, no matter how much has changed since the first lines were built more than 150 years ago, accidents do happen and there are steps that can be taken to prevent them.

“Anytime you are disturbing soil, contact your one-call center,” Davis said. “Talk with the pipeline companies before doing any work near a pipeline, particularly in a pipeline right-of-way. All of us are willing to come out and work with you.”

Safety of Pipeline Right-of-way
A pipeline right-of-way is a strip of land over and around pipelines where some property owners’ legal rights have been granted to the pipeline company through what is known as an easement.

“The easement allows the pipeline company to place their lines through the property, but not own the property,” Davis said. “There are easement restrictions that require the owner to maintain the land in certain ways. These are federally regulated agreements that provide for the safety of the pipelines and people around them.”

Davis said it is important for everyone to be aware of the presence of pipelines in an area whether it is a homeowner, excavator or just someone out enjoying activities such as hunting or operating a recreational vehicle.

“You can see if a power line is in a right-of-way, but if you are out on a four wheeler or hunting or mowing, you will not see an underground pipeline and face different dangers,” Davis said. To help alert those living and working around these pipelines to the possible dangers, pipeline rights-of-way are well marked.

“Any transmission line is required to be marked,” Davis said. Markers and warning signs are placed in bright colors, usually yellow or orange, along different intervals on the right-of-way and wherever the pipeline intersects a street, highway, railway or waterway.

These markers display a 24-hour emergency telephone number, the type of material being transported and the name of the pipeline company.

Davis said he could not stress enough the importance of the signage. In fact, he told a story about how a pipeline marker helped a wayward motorist who became lost in the Mississippi countryside find her way onto a pipeline right-of-way. She was rescued because she found a number on a marker and called.

“There was a lady who decided to take a short cut and ended up driving near a pipeline easement. She was lost and did not know where to go when she saw the pipeline marker and called the number,” Davis recalled. “She could not tell us where she was, but because we knew where she left from and where she was going, we were able to locate her using the markers and her cell phone.”

Tampering with pipeline markers is a federal offense punishable by fine or jail, Davis said. “Hunters often think the signs make good targets, but it could put people in danger if they are not able to see the number on the sign,” he said. When out on patrols of the area, Davis said workers often find signs that were “pulled up, run over with a four wheeler or had their signage switched with another company’s sign.”

There really are common sense solutions to working and living near these pipeline rights-of-way. Some land owners believe they can still use their property as they want, but there are things they can and cannot do. This is spelled out in their agreements with the pipeline company. “One thing our patrols will look for is a permanent structure such as a barn or shed in the right-of-way,” Davis said. “Some owners will try to put a fence or mailbox up near the area and not think about the risk of driving a post into a nearby pipeline.”

Markers and warning signs only indicate the general location of the pipeline and are not to be relied on for the exact position. This is why it is vital that anyone working or digging near the pipeline call the one-call center or the pipeline company to determine the specific location prior to disturbing the earth. Know What is Below.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that the pipelines are buried 15 to 20 feet, when in reality most are not,” Davis said. There are factors such as erosion and other destruction that can affect the pipeline’s depth.

“Simple activities such as mudding, riding, hunting or driving with four-wheel-drive across the soil can create deep holes that lead to erosion that damages the coating on the pipes,” Davis said. “Same thing with heavy equipment crossing the right-of-way during logging or construction activity: it can scratch the pipe. The pipe may not give way then, but can lead to future damage.”

Davis’s best advice is to know where the pipelines are and understand that this is not the place for recreational activities. If you must cross the area with heavy equipment, work with the pipeline company to minimize any risk.

Davis and other pipeline companies communicate this message through a series of public awareness programs as mandated by RP 1162. Under this awareness program, they reach out to four main stakeholder groups including the affected public (landowners and businesses on the rights-of-way), emergency responders, excavators and public officials. Through meetings, trainings and forums, they can talk to the stakeholders about how to increase safety and measure the results of their outreach efforts.

One particular group Davis has seen as a target audience for education on pipeline rights-of-way is real estate agents. “I have seen real estate agencies tell landowners who are about to buy a property that they can pull and dispose of the pipeline signs,” he said. “We have worked with real estate associations in the area to formally educate them on how to disclose easement agreements to potential buyers.”
It is not just pipelines running through the countryside, but also those offshore, that should be properly located and marked before any type of activity can occur. Pipelines can be hit if there is a dredging operation, spud barge or other anchor dropped in or around these underwater infrastructures. “The key is to be aware, file proper permits and know where pipelines are located,” Davis said.

While pipeline incidents are statistically decreasing. The leading cause of serious pipeline incidents is third-party damage from a contractor, farmer, landscaper or the do-it-yourself homeowner. This can and should be avoided. Be aware. Know what’s below, and call before you dig.

As both of my regular readers know, I was raised by my Uncle Alva and Aunt Beulah, and they’d got a letter from my dad. He was coming to see us for a few days. It had been almost two years since the last time I saw him. So when I got home, I sat on the front porch looking up the gravel road hoping to get a glimpse of him driving down the hill.

It was almost dark when he drove in the yard. I never really knew how to act when he came in. But he hugged me and I helped him get his stuff in the house and we all stayed up late talking. The next day we decided we’d go fishing on the river.

Anytime you’d go fishing on the river, it was an adventure. The best fishing holes were accessible by boat and that was an all day trip. My dad didn’t want to take the time to go that route, so Uncle loaded up his 1949 Chevy pickup and off to the river we went.

Of course you couldn’t drive to the best fishing hole on the river either. That’s what made it the best fishing hole. You had to want to go there to get there. So we got out of the truck and began walking down the trail to the Roe hole.

The trail wound through a serious thicket of saw briars and cane. Uncle Alva was in the lead busting the brush, my dad was a few steps behind him and I was bringing up the rear. As the trail wound closer to the river, I heard Uncle Alva warn us, “Be careful at the bend. The bank is slippery and looks like it’s caving in.” I couldn’t see him, but I could still hear him cutting through the cane.

I stopped and looked at the spot he was talking about and it really did look spooky to me. The water was about four feet below the bank. Over the years trees had fallen into the bend of the river and had become home to turtles, snakes and eels.

Just then I felt the ground crack under my feet. I jumped. I went nowhere. As I slid down the bank, my life flashed before my eyes. Of course that didn’t take long since I’d just finished the first grade. I thought for sure it was over for my kind.

I knew my dad was just in front of me and that Uncle Alva was in front of him cutting the trail. As I slid down the bank, I hollered, “Uncle, help me!”

My feet had barely hit the water, when I felt a strong grip around my arm. I looked up into the eyes of my Uncle Alva. He pulled me out of the water and set me safely on the trail. We picked up the stuff I’d lost and almost without a word, the three of us began walking toward the best fishing hole in the county. The fishing was good. We had a great time and too soon the afternoon was gone and we headed back home.

All afternoon long, I kind of felt guilty that I’d called for my uncle to help me when my dad was so much closer to me. I just couldn’t shake the feeling.
My dad left in a couple of days and the following weekend I went to see my friend Dillard. He was in his favorite chair on the front porch just a rocking. He asked me why the long face. I told him the story and that part about me feeling guilty for not calling out to my dad when I fell.

He thought about it for a minute and said, “Son, you love your dad, and always will. But in desperate situations we always reach out to people who have been there for us in times past. You yelled with your mouth, but the name came from your heart. You called for your uncle because you knew he’d be there for you.”

We sat in total silence until it was time to go in for supper. I looked up at him and nodded as if I got it. All I understood then was that when I grew up I knew I wanted to be the name in somebody’s heart.

The sunshine on my face created a warm feeling that was enhanced by the cool breeze and smell of the salt air from the ocean. The water, the bluest blue I had ever seen, stood out dramatically against the white sandy beach in front of me. There were pink houses and palm trees. It was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. It was our first day and I was standing in front of the hotel soaking up the beauty surrounding me.

A gentleman and his wife standing next to me engaged me in conversation; her comment heightened the surreal feeling. “How long have you been here?” I asked. They responded that they had been there for a week and were on their way to the airport that morning to go home. “Don’t do what we did,” his wife admonished. Eager to learn what to avoid, I inquired what they had done. “We loved this so much that we spent the entire day yesterday bemoaning the fact that we had to go home today. This morning, we realized that what we had done was lose the enjoyment of the day because of our attitude. We should have just enjoyed the day,” she said. I promised myself that we would enjoy every day we had there to the fullest.

That was 35 years ago but their regret showed so dramatically that I continue to live by their advice today. They reminded me of how often we waste our lives with “What if’s” and “If only’s.” How tragic that we put off living with phrases that start when we are children: “When I grow up,” “When I turn 21,” “When I get married,” “When the kids leave home” –– “When I retire.” We dream as if there were some magical rose garden in our future instead of enjoying the present. In the process, we miss it all and life is gone.

Soon after, I read an article that along with this incident helped me to live more fully. The sentence that stood out to me was: Every day is a new life to a wise man. Life is about our ability to live in the present, recognizing we can’t change the past and can only deal with the future in the future. What we have is today. We each have only so much psychic energy. When we spend it on things we can do nothing about, we then have none left for the important things. I was taught if something is worth worrying about then it’s worth doing something about. If we’re not willing or able to do something about it, we should spend our energy elsewhere.

How do you implement being in the moment? Whether at work or play, it’s not about physically showing up and having our minds elsewhere. It’s about taking control of our thoughts and focusing on where we are, what we’re doing, NOW. Giving NOW our full attention and doing it to the fullest. That’s how winners get the most out of life.
That creates zing in your life.

During Oprah Winfrey’s last show, she spoke about people she had interviewed throughout her career who had taught her the importance of the answers to the following four questions:
1. Do you see me?
2. Do you hear me?
3. Do you understand what I am saying?
4. Does what I say matter to you?

Lawson Magruder, a retired 3 Star General, tells the story about the “little green book.” At the beginning of his career, the Platoon Sergeant asked him if he was coachable. He then handed Lawson a “little green book” and instructed him to get to know his men. The Sergeant coached him to interview each member of his platoon and to fill his “little green book” with information about his people. Lawson did that during his tours in Vietnam, Somalia and other assignments. Can you imagine the number of little green notebooks he filled during his thirty-two years in the military? The magic of caring.

Now contrast what you’ve read thus far with another true story. I observed an employee talking to his supervisor about the need to be with his father who was having heart surgery later that day. After the employee left, I asked the supervisor why he never used the employee’s name. He said, “Because I don’t know it.” My question to him was, “How long has the employee worked for you?” He responded, “About six months.” I was shocked and dismayed that this supervisor did not take the time to even to know his workers’ names. His last question was, “Do you expect me to know the names of the 100 employees under my supervision?” As the comedian Jeff Foxworthy so proudly states, “Sometimes people have STUPID written on their forehead.” The employee turnover rate for that work unit approached 200%. I wonder why?

The connection between damage prevention and caring for your employees should be obvious. Most managers think that money, employee benefits and job security are the factors that motivate their employees. Numerous studies have shown them to be wrong. Employees of all ages want to be valued. They want to know that their manager cares about them as an individual instead of just another member of the team. It is hard to understand why managers continue to think they need to throw money at employees to motivate them when they need to be “caring” for their employees, which costs nothing but time. Perhaps they don’t know any better or they’re just too lazy to do what needs done. Again borrowing Jeff Foxworthy’s terminology, would you agree that the most stupid thing any of us can do is to continue doing something that we know is not right?

Let’s look at working safely. I could list numerous studies completed in a variety of industries, including my own in the construction industry, which show employees work more safely when they feel that their manager cares about them as an individual.

Showing people you care is easy. Consider the fact that your most valuable asset is right before your very eyes. Take the time to get to know your people. Interview your people and use the “little green book.” Learn about your people, their goals, family and hobbies. Show that you care about their job performance. Empower them with challenging and meaningful work. Provide daily recognition for a job well done and coaching when their performance calls for improvement. Author Terry Paulson offered an intriguing option in his book Optimistic Advantage. He discussed the CEO who met weekly with each direct report to have them answer the question – “What did you do right this week?”

Readers, I am asking you to recognize the magic when you consistently show people that you care! Cut the above paragraph from this article and post it where you will see it every day to serve as a reminder. Remember the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

It was six men of Indostan to learning much inclined, who went to see the elephant (Though all of them were blind), and that each by observation might satisfy his mind
The first approached the elephant, and happening to fall against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to bawl: “God bless me! But the elephant is very like a wall!”

The second, feeling of the tusk, cried, “Ho! What have we here so very round and smooth and sharp? To me ‘tis mighty clear this wonder of an elephant is very like a spear!”

The third approached the animal, and happening to take the squirming trunk within his hands, thus boldly up and spake: “I see,” quoth he, “the elephant is very like a snake!”

The fourth reached out an eager hand, and felt about the knee. “What most this wondrous beast is like is mighty plain,” quoth he; “‘tis clear enough the elephant is very like a tree!”

The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, said: “E’en the blindest man can tell what this resembles most; deny the fact who can? This marvel of an elephant is very like a fan!”

The sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope, than, seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope, “I see,” quoth he, “the elephant is very like a rope!”

And so these men of Indostan disputed loud and long, each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong, though each was partly in the right, and all were in the wrong!

Admittedly there is more than one moral to this story. But one obvious lesson for us to learn is that it is not enough to gather knowledge. It is equally important to learn to share and pool our knowledge.
Instead of fighting among ourselves, it is time to put our experiences and observations together in the best interest of keeping our families and communities safer. That likely means we must exhibit the willingness to sit down at the table of understanding with the intent of seeing the entire truth.

How was it possible that these six blind men could be so right and yet be so completely wrong? Because they would not consider one another’s perspectives, they settled for being half-right. Such half-knowledge is not just useless, but also dangerous.

From another great writer, we are reminded that none of us are so blind as those of us who will not see.

Won’t you at least consider the possibility that there is another part to the elephant?