Verbatim
If You Had Unlimited Resources, What Bold Experiment Would You Try in Your Business?
Propane professionals share big dreams that would make big impacts
Whitney Parsley is an associate at the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm Cetane Associates and specializes in M&A and corporate governance. Contact Parsley at wparsley@cetane.com. Visit cetane.com.
We all have that one idea tucked away — the one that gets shot down in budget meetings before it ever sees daylight. This month, we asked propane pros to set the spreadsheets aside for a second and dream a little bigger: If money, time and red tape were no object, what’s the one bold experiment you’d finally unleash on your business? The answers ranged from practical to downright ambitious — proof that even in a steady, no-nonsense industry like ours, there’s no shortage of big ideas waiting for their moment.
In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies, reported verbatim. Enjoy!
Building a Business Around More Than Profit
Given unlimited resources, I would hire as many engaged and happy employees as possible while remaining financially viable. If new employees were a great culture fit and had a contributing skill set, I’d enthusiastically bring them on board. I once read that the world would be very different (in a positive way) if the goal of business was to employ as many good people as possible rather than trying to capture a customer, maximize profit or increase shareholder value. As long as the business stayed financially viable, I would want the diversity of experience, perspective and thought that more employees bring. By maximizing their workforce, companies would compete more on being exceptional places to work rather than competing for customers, market share or revenue. I see it as a scenario where all stakeholders win.
Don Montroy | Bergquist Inc. | Rockford, Michigan
Try, Fail, Learn, Repeat
Truthfully, I think you should be testing out new ideas often in business — big or small. When you stick to the ‘this is how we’ve always done it’ mindset, you might be unintentionally setting yourself up for failure. Yes, you still might fail when you try something new; however, the things you learn in the process far outweigh any ‘failure’ — most of the time (but that’s always a risk I’m willing to take). Throughout my entire career and especially where I’m at now, we have the support and backing to try new things while continuing to represent the values and brand of our company, and it’s a wonderful thing to be a part of!
Steph Hennen | Lakes Gas Co. | Wyoming, Minnesota
Coming to a Shark Tank Near You
If I had unlimited resources, I would most likely add some diversification to my business. I have always wanted to sell a product that appealed to the masses, and I am a firm believer in the convenience of a propane grill (versus charcoal or a smoker). With that said, I would find or invent a unique product or accessory that made propane grilling better or more convenient. I would then ship this product nationwide and sell direct to consumers, maybe even making an appearance on Shark Tank to grow sales even more.
Trevor Beaudry | Beaudry Oil & Propane | Elk River, Minnesota
The 32-Hour Workweek
If I had unlimited resources, I’d try to build a propane company where everyone could work 32 hours a week, make the same money and get more done. I’d throw technology, automation and AI at every wasted hour, repetitive task and unnecessary process until we found out how much of the traditional workweek is actually necessary. The experiment wouldn’t really be about technology. It would be about what people can accomplish when we give them their time back.
Mike Dodd | Propane Ninja | Tampa, Florida
Why Every Option Should’ve Been on the Truck
To be able to purchase every option, no matter what, in both our bobtails and service trucks, to make our job as easy as possible. Everyone knows this — after the fact of purchasing one of these vehicles, people wished they had a certain item that may have been available, but you may have said to yourself, ‘We will never use that.’ And then that day arrives, and now you do.
Richard Strycharz Jr. | Walter’s Propane | Sunderland, Massachusetts
Investing in the Next Generation
If I had unlimited resources for my business, I would hire young people who are eager to learn and work. I would teach them the value of putting in the time to get better. They would also be subject to helping others in the community. This helps them understand the real world and how business affects them. So many young people have grown up in a predictable and scheduled environment. Many are never exposed to failure, disappointment or criticism. Adding retired businesspeople who have succeeded and failed can also impact the young people. The goal would be to make the young people professional and successful through hard work and humility. Life is not predictable. Business also has its challenges and needs to be managed by strong and confident people.
Ed Varney | Topline Management | McKinney, Texas
One-Stop Shop Status
If I had unlimited resources, I’d love to explore adding electrical services to our business. We already offer so many of the services our customers need for their homes, and with the number of requests we get for generators, electrical feels like a natural fit. It would be a big undertaking and require additional staff, training and expertise, but with unlimited resources, I think it would be exciting to see how much more of a true one-stop shop we could become for our customers.
Staci Rammel | Woodruff Energy | Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bringing the LP Gas Experience to Life
If I had unlimited resources at our company, I’d build an ‘LP Gas Experience Trailer.’ We already have a demonstration kitchen at one of our locations, but I think taking that concept on the road would be an incredible opportunity. I’d love to have a fully functioning mobile demonstration space that we could take to our different locations and community events, where customers, builders and families could see and experience propane in action. It would be an engaging way to educate people about propane, showcase everything it can do and bring the LP gas experience directly to the communities we serve.
Kirsten U. McAlpin | Conger LP Gas Inc. | Tifton, Georgia
Learning From Failure
I would want to build a ‘Failure Simulator’ that can safely replicate any and all the methods in which our products could fail (even catastrophically) so we can learn and adapt and build the safest product in the world, guaranteed.
Robert Kenney | Metsa | McCallum, Texas
For the People
What struck me most about this month’s answers wasn’t the size of the ideas — it was the heart behind them. Bigger trucks and bold gadgets made the list, sure, but so did better workplaces, bolder risks and creative ways to bring propane directly into the communities we serve.
The common thread? Given the chance to dream bigger, our industry doesn’t dream selfishly — it dreams about doing right by people. So, here’s to the bold ideas, the “what ifs” and the propane pros brave enough to say them out loud.
Keep dreaming big — we’ll be here to capture it every step of the way.
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