Welcome to the August 2016 issue of BIC Magazine. I hope you are having a great summer.
As a reader of BIC Magazine, odds are you spend 45-60 hours a week on the job. It is no secret Americans work longer days and weeks with shorter vacations than workers in other developed nations. I’ve always found mid-year is a good time to take a break, get some rest, review goals and prepare mentally for the second half of the year.
Recently, we at BIC Alliance have been pushing really, really hard to make strides in a challenging environment. Our award-winning publication is looking better than ever with fantastic content. Our website has been racking up record levels of traffic. Service companies from the upstream sector have been joining our alliance to reach downstream markets. Our recruiting firm has been helping talented workers find better and new opportunities. And our investment group has been finding funding and investors for groups seeking capital and/or exit.
I am amazed at the steadfast determination and dedication of our management team and staff. They cram an extraordinary amount of productivity into a workday. At our company, we have a running joke: We only work half days and we also have flex time — you can choose to work any 12 hours a day you want!
We, like you, work hard and like to joke, but we have a serious creed as well: No success at the job makes up for a failure at home. Success at home usually involves some kind of break from the job; it means not focusing on your career, at least for the moment. With a spouse, it might be a chance to reconnect. With your kids, you might create or deepen bonds. With your family, you will experience life and create memories. With yourself, it might be only a necessary recharge for your batteries, or it might go so far as helping you keep your sanity. I believe we are created with taking breaks in mind; that is, we are programmed to perform better when we periodically rest.
This is absolutely necessary to prevent burnout and to give much needed time to your family and to worship as you choose. If you believe in God, it is appropriate to note taking that day off isn’t just recommended but commanded: “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but on the seventh … you shall not do any work.”
When folks think of a break, we naturally think of a vacation. However, taking a break might mean just having a little quiet time during the day. I like to get up early and have quiet time in the house. During this time, I can plan my day, think about life, study scripture and pray. I know it allows me a chance to be more productive overall, even though I may not be “accomplishing” much during this break time.
Most of our staff takes vacation during the summer months; it is one of the reasons a single issue of BIC Magazine covers both June and July. I too have just returned from taking a family vacation. I haven’t felt more relaxed or rested since the last time I took a big break. I feel ready to take on the second half of the year.
I hope you take the time to rest, reconnect with your family and recharge for work. We hope the information, products and services discussed in BIC Magazine will help you take on the second half of the year.
In this issue of BIC Magazine, we feature U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland, ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge Plastics Plant (BRPP) Plant Manager Jennifer Dunphy, Bradley Corp. President and CEO Bryan Mullett, D.E.F.I. President Arthur Braren and Dynamic Air Shelters National Sales Manager Chris Priddy.
We also bring you information about turnaround safety and excellence, project productivity, hurricane preparedness and response, maintenance and reliability, chemical transportation safety, mutual aid and more.
As always, we invite you to share this copy of BIC Magazine and others with your friends and colleagues or refer them to BICMagazine.com to read the publication online.
