Fencing Professionals are Part of America’s First Line of Defense, by Tom Luby

Fencing Professionals Are Part of America’s First Line of Defense Tom Luby, Business Consultant and Fence Industry Spokesperson

CYBERSECURITY WAS THE HOT TOPIC THIS PAST JUNE AT THE US / RUSSIA TALKS HELD IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. ALL EYES WERE ON BIDEN AND PUTIN AS THEY NEGOTIATED ARMS REDUCTION AND CYBERSECURITY. IT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL FORMS OF SECURITY, INCLUDING THE KIND OF PHYSICAL SECURITY PROVIDED BY THE FENCE INDUSTRY.

Who protects our physical infrastructure, our borders, our military bases, and installations? Who protects the protectors, the cyber technicians and government leaders and diplomats here in the US and abroad? Who protects our utilities, our airports, our businesses and even our precious children at school and other critical areas of our society?

You do. Fencers everywhere, the men and women who manufacture, distribute, and install every kind of security and decorative fence and gates, access control devices and hardware all over America. From digging the holes, pouring the concrete, stringing the chain link, ornamental iron, aluminum, wood or vinyl, the folks who install all types of protective fencing are protecting America every day. Fence manufacturers, distributors and contractors alike have an increasingly important job to do, and you should all be very proud to do that critical job. You are part of America’s front-line workers.

We all admire and respect our first responders and our military, and with good reason. Firefighters, EMTs, policemen and our service men and women constantly train to save lives as first responders and defenders of our liberty and many times, thankfully, never use their training. However, the fence professional saves lives almost regularly without even knowing it.

Whether it is protecting a critical infrastructure, hospital, or airport against those who would hurt us, he or she doesn’t know which life may be saved. Fences protect children by keeping them in the safety of their own yard, rather than going into the street; our pets receive the same protection from a fence. We all know that pool fencing saves lives. So yes, the fence professional can be classified as a frontline defender of our nation as well as accomplishing the actions of a first responder.

Fencing is a fine and noble profession and I have always advised my clients to take pride in that work. Take pride in your trade and your companies and raise the bar of professionalism to a new level; a profession worthy of a fair days’ wage for a fair days’ work.

This concept of true professionalism in fencing is an underpinning component of the culture of success that I have been such a strong proponent of. I pray this higher level of professionalism can permeate into the fence culture and elevate the fencing experience across America. For decades, I have communicated the important concept of success closely tied to professionalism.

It is even more than just a positive attitude in the workplace, although that is a fundamental component of developing a culture of success. It is a more like a profound lifestyle change that potentially can deliver an uplifting and happier state of mind at work and in life in general.

One way to increase the professionalism throughout our industry is how we present our products and services. The sales staff in a fencing company needs to adopt a mentality of