As a best selling author, ( Okay, that's a lie ) what else would you like me to lie about? I probably have some other columns already sent in that the editor could use but let's go to the public and ask them.

If you have a subscription to WCT magazine, what would you really enjoy seeing in my column? ( Or anybody else's column for the matter )

If you don't have a subscription to WCT magazine, I can usually take care of it. If you had a subscription to WCT magazine and failed to renew, ve haf peeples for dat too.

Let's have some suggestions: Come on people, we only have a few days! PM me if you like. I normally read everything everyday.

My tech that was trapping small mammals in Thailand all winter is going to work on an article about the experience.

I'd like to read about the different challenges/experiences that business owners face as the business grows to the next level. For example, expanding services...hiring first employee....when the calls overheat your one line...adding a second office...franchising...

If you could do it all over again...what would you do different?

C'mon guys. I realize that DaveK's posts were outstanding, but what if my publisher asks me to do this again? I'm sure you all have opinions on what constitutes a great article.

Now tell me, ( And I'm being serious here ) how many writers, columnists, or authors, have every called you up and asked you what you want to read? I've been the subject of several articles, but I don't ever recall anyone ever calling me up and saying, "Paul, what do like to listen to on the radio, or TV , or what would you like to see printed in the newspapers"?

Well here's your chance. Let's hear what your really want to read. ( And if it's something you would prefer not to discuss with everyone in the world, that's what PM's are for )

Thanks, Paul

Hmmm maybe an article about how the industry has changed over the last decade or however long of a timeline. Possibly give an example of how a certain job would have been ran in the past, but with the advancement of certain technologies how it's typically done today, and then go into details about why it's a better option for the customer, and why or how it benefits the technician.

Just a thought.

Interview different business owners. Wasn't this done in the past? I liked that.

The pest control mag does a state if the industry report...which is interesting. There is a survey published of the largest 100 businesses...services...number employees... sales.

Interview Kirk...and Jim about where they see the the future innovations in trap building.

Interview nwcoa about what the group is doing to influence regulations around the country.

well Paul, I think back to a thread I started about market research, you said that a guy would have to be dumb to answer those questions. Well, that's the stuff people want to know. You got to tell the readers something they can't get. I could pay for a subscription and read about moles, or I could go to the mighty mole trappers thread and read 23 pages of interactive mole advice. If in paying for information, I want something I just can't google magic an answer. Idk what's the winning topic, but if it can be answered with "use the search" or "you can find it In The archives", its a dud.

tell some secrets, teach something no one else can.

I agree with Throw Back. You figure if you let out bits and pieces of info for new guys struggling to do this service the right way, sales of the magazine may increase. Especially with the economy the way it is, lots of good quality people out there who may have lost a full time job and wants to do an appreciated service to help support their families until something else comes along, or is just so sick of all jobs leaving the country and wants to have some control of his/her life and do nuisance control full time (sorry, venting).

Like mentioned; area market research, sample contracts, inspection sheets, things that I'm sure you all struggled with when starting up your own business.

Thanks Throw Back!

Write a how-to on hiring female summer interns. Which schools offer wildlife degrees, or NWCO courses, who to contact, how to vett the applicants, appropriate company attire for the ride along helper, wife conditioning,etc.
There was at least one guy in New England who did this!

Phil ain't kidding. I wouldn't be surprised if I still had the issue it was printed in. We actually had an application from a coed for the same type of job. Lucky for me, we didn't need anybody. My wife would have killed me.

Seriously though, if the right female applicant were to apply, we would certainly give her an interview. My daughter has done an excellent job for over 20 years.

Only 9 days left Paul, you better put your pencil to the paper!

I'm not at all hiring yet, but my wifey is my hiring manager, keeps me from just hiring a friend.

I think Davek has a good idea asking nwcoa to talk about what they are doing to better the industry.

Just so there are no rumors about this, I have no problem conducting/publishing an interview with NWCOA. Please understand that any interview will not appear in WCT Magazine until the Sep/Oct issue at the earliest. This is due to production timelines for print materials.

To help with the interview, I invite interested individuals to send questions they would like asked to editor@wctmagazine.com. Questions must be related to NWCOA and their activities. For example, a question regarding who is on the governing board and their duties is appropriate. A question asking how much money does each of the board members make with their personal business is not.

Questions will be accepted from now until May 15, 2014. Paul and I will review the submitted questions and use them as a base for conducting the interview with NWCOA.

Anybody have any ideas about which Paul he was referring to?

How about how much each board member gets paid by the club to be a board member? Would that be accepted and addressed? I can understand the personal side of it for sure, but lets let potential members see where the dues and fees go. Maybe people will see the bang for the buck, and decide its worth joining.

Mike,

As written no, I would not use that as an interview question. Leading questions/statements with a negative perspective don't make good interview questions and so won't be asked. The goal here is to learn about NWCOA, not bash them.

Rather, if there are questions as to whether or not board positions are paid positions, special compensation given to board members, concerns if the organization represents only a specific type of operator, or how dues are spent (all of these suggestions are based on Mike's comment above) I would accept them for consideration.

Sounds fair enough to me. I didn't mean to come across as a doo doo disturber, but more to offer some transparency to members and prospective members of the club.

Interview a former operator that sold business to a pest control company...thoughts a year or more after the deal.

Why not interview the national pest management association?

Interview wildlife services...

Interview national wildlife rehabilitators association

Choosing a successful service area...

Interview http://www.hhs.gov/ on importance of wco to protect human health

Determining your value in the market.

Annual review of all the equipment you can't live without.

Maybe DaveK should be writing for WCT.

We are on a roll now!

Do a nice piece on Robb's life.

How the heck is grubstake made?

sqs, that's a match made in heaven! Eric would welcome some great writing and Dave would welcome the chance to avoid real work.

Since there is a lot of very positive talk about interviews, and I just happen to know DaveK personally, who is in favor of DaveK being one of the interviews. ( Okay, that's if we have them )

P.S. I have been interviewed twice in two different magazines and I can tell you that outside of all the calls from Hollywood for personal appearances, my life hasn't changed a bit.

I have got my column in with time to spare. Nah nah, nah nah, nah nah.

No way! Just kidding Dave lol

Easy breezy bee suit review.

What is a pest? What is a pesticide? What common sense people think is a pesticide...and what the laws say is a pesticide?

Why more competition is good

Building a company to sell.