Why Knot Focus On NHLA’s True Value – Beyond Financial Gains
I have a son who has been serving a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lima, Peru; he comes home on April 9th. I wish I had written him monthly letters as I have to you, but time seems to get away from me, especially since we talk once a month. My letters to him are similar to the ones I write you. They don’t offer a lot of advice but share many experiences, focusing on the foundation we need to build on solid ground—what I think of as ‘the Rock.’ If someone asks me what my priorities are, my answer is always the same: Family, Faith, Forests, and a little Fun after all that. I know I share those values with you.
I can more clearly see their values,
what they value based on their experiences, and what they spend their money on.
Those priorities even come into play in everyday life—sometimes in unexpected ways. I’ve only ever won two arguments with my wife: the first was choosing whole milk over 1 percent (if you grew up milking a cow, you could never drink that white water either), and the second was about whether to buy our kids a car when they turned 16. To be honest, when you have seven kids, you know you won’t be able to help pay for their college, so you need to come up with a plan B. The best you can do is teach them hard work and hope they figure it out. I convinced my wife to buy each new driver a cheap $5,000 car and get them to pay for their gas and insurance. Within 6 months, they all had jobs. The value of the car was not much, but the experience of a job was worth more than the money they earned.
As three kids are now out of my house by choice, I can more clearly see their values, what they value based on their experiences, and what they spend their money on. Chas gave up two years of earning wages and was paid $10,000 to learn Spanish and serve a mission. He doesn’t want to come home. He is making a difference in people’s lives, and he is learning about himself and his relationship with God. As we grow up, we all learn different values, and we prioritize them based on our experiences.
When people tell me they don’t see the value of being an NHLA member, I often think it’s because their priorities are simply different. Not everyone has had direct experience with the NHLA—not due to any shortcomings from the staff, but often because the opportunities to engage haven’t been fully explored or requested. Without that firsthand experience, it’s natural for their focus to shift to other areas of need. However, much like a parent, the NHLA has a wealth of experience and support to offer when given the opportunity. The NHLA can’t run your business for you, but we offer resources to support every aspect of your operations—from the moment a tree is cut down to management, administration, sales, logistics, and other essential areas. Being an NHLA member is similar to buying a car for a 16-year-old; the true value isn’t in the car itself but in the experiences, lessons, and growth that come with it—things that are worth more than money. Membership allows your values and priorities to influence the entire hardwood industry. Having an association that shares and supports those values is essential to help you—and your entire value chain—grow and remain stable.
The true value of the NHLA lies in the experiences, support, and shared values it offers—often working behind the scenes, much like a good parent, to help your business thrive. It’s not just about immediate, visible returns; it’s about long-term growth, stability, and influence within the hardwood industry. So, why knot consider the NHLA’s value to be something greater than just financial gain—an investment in your future and the future of the entire industry?
