Looking for room to grow

Growth is something we are all interested in.

Interest in professional growth led me to take the position as editor of Wisconsin Builder magazine.

For the past four years, I worked for the Waukesha Freeman, a daily newspaper covering Waukesha County. I started as a government reporter and then grew into the position of editor of the business section, where I spent much of my time monitoring one of the state’s fastest-growing counties.

But, of course, that wasn’t enough.

I wanted to prove to myself and to others that I could handle a growth in responsibility, and I wanted to work for a growing, dynamic company. (Note: No hiring condition forced me to say that. It is just my own opinion.)

I guess it’s no surprise I found a growth opportunity within the construction industry.

I spent a lot of time around various forms of construction while growing up.

My neighbor happened to be the man who built my house. His son — who was about the same age as me — and I often hung around my neighbor’s job sites looking for ways to be helpful.

I started a job at Menard’s as soon as I reached working age. As a hardware associate, I told professional builders where to find screws and do-it-yourself builders where to put screws.

One summer, I decided I had grown strong enough to do a real construction job. I installed computer walls and office furniture (cubicles) for 12 to 14 hours a day inside large office buildings. It was then I grew to realize I am probably more useful writing about construction than actually doing it.

Now that I find myself in a position to do just that, I have chosen to write about, if you haven’t guessed it already, growth.

After all, growth, in my opinion, is the most important thing for a business publication to cover. Stories documenting growth of a business, growth of a project and even growth of a professional give readers insight on how to further develop their own opportunities.

I mean really, what better reason to read a trade publication then to find ideas on how to grow your business?

So looking to the future, I hope to grow relationships with many of you. And I’d like for that growth to not be done on a one-way street.

I invite all of you to contact me with story ideas or opinions about how the magazine can grow to serve you better.

Let’s face it, if I’m going to be successful in this position, I’m always going to have to be looking for room to grow.

— Lawrence Silver, Editor