Starting this month, I have graduated from guest columnist to staff columnist.

Business is complicated. Formal training can help sort it out.

I saw a new drill pipe advertised designed to enable operators to reduce drilling time and be more fuel efficient.

We tend to worry more about scammers on the internet or thieves that might break in our buildings than the people we see every day who do our payroll. What are the signs?

Within our borders, we have manufacturing that employs Americans to produce products sold worldwide. There are varying degrees of raw materials and component sourcing. There are varying degrees of factory ownership. There is importation of products. It is complicated.

Looking back on your life, were there instances where you were almost killed or almost seriously injured?

Spending over 40 years in the drill pipe industry has sent me on more than a couple trips to look at drill rod problems. Even the obvious extremes give us lessons.

We make decisions every day that affect our business. We are not experts on all these things, so sometimes we need a little help.

Geothermal helps all of us in this industry. Even if you do not get involved in geothermal work, you might get water jobs because your competition is tied up on a geothermal project.

Changes can reverberate through your operations. Take some time and think through your solutions.