In the third-quarter newsletter, we are always eager to tell you all about the upcoming events at the ICAA Trade Show and Convention. This issue, however, it is with a heavy heart that I open with the very sad news of the passing of Ginny Cameron, CEO of the Cameron Group and long-time ICAA Board Member.
For those of you who had the privilege of knowing Ginny, there are no words that can adequately describe the impact she had on our industry, on all the people she met, and especially on those fortunate enough to call her a friend. As the saying goes, if you know, you know. And if you knew Ginny, you know she was truly one of a kind.
Ginny was a pioneer, a leader, a mentor, and a friend. She helped shape our industry and touched countless lives along the way. I encourage each of you to take a few moments to read the tribute to and remembrances of Ginny in this issue of the ICAA Newsletter, fitting reminders of a life well lived and a legacy that will endure long after her passing.
Whenever someone we care about leaves us, we are reminded of a truth that is both simple and uncomfortable: tomorrow is not guaranteed. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. We make plans, set goals, build businesses, save for retirement, and work tirelessly to create a better future. And we should. Planning for tomorrow is important. In fact, failing to plan for the future is rarely a recipe for success.
But somewhere along the way, many of us fall into a trap and begin living for “someday.” We tell ourselves we’ll slow down when we have enough money in the bank. We’ll spend more time with our families after the next project is completed. We’ll relax after we reach our goals. We’ll be happy when we finally “make it.”
The problem is that this particular “when” never seems to arrive. Many people grind relentlessly through life without ever truly living it. Lately, I have been reading and thinking a great deal about the concept of being present. More importantly, I have been trying to practice it.
Being present does not mean abandoning ambition or giving up on the future. It doesn’t mean ignoring responsibilities or pretending challenges don’t exist. It means recognizing that while tomorrow matters, today is the only day we actually have. Being present means not wishing away a difficult day, not spending every Monday waiting for Friday, and not operating on autopilot while the sand in the hourglass slips away faster each year. It means fully experiencing the life that is unfolding right now.
You get every day exactly once.
Read that again: you get every day exactly once. Every day you throw away is gone forever. The average life expectancy in the United States is approximately 76 years for men and about 81 years for women. That’s the average; many people receive far less. When you break that down into days, the average person gets roughly 28,000 days. For many of us reading this, more than half of those days are already behind us. In my own case, I’ve used nearly two-thirds. That’s a sobering thought.
What’s even more sobering is thinking about how many of those days were spent rushing toward tomorrow instead of appreciating today.
In business, we hate waste. We get frustrated by wasted materials, wasted labor, wasted fuel, and wasted money. We talk constantly about efficiency and eliminating waste. Yet many of us waste the most valuable asset we will ever possess: our time. Not because we are lazy or don’t care, but because we become so focused on what’s next that we miss what’s now.
Being present means paying attention. It means truly listening when someone is speaking to you. It means appreciating the conversation instead of thinking about the next meeting. It means finding gratitude in ordinary moments that will one day become extraordinary memories. It means understanding that success is not a destination you arrive at someday, but instead the collection of moments that make up a life well lived.
Being present also means being present with people.
In a world filled with emails, text messages, conference calls, and endless distractions, genuine human connection has become increasingly rare. Yet when we reflect on the people who have impacted our lives the most, it is rarely because of a spreadsheet, a project, or a business deal. It is because they made us feel seen. They listened. They cared. They gave us their time.
This was one of Ginny’s greatest gifts: she had an incredible ability to connect with people. Whether you had known her for twenty years or twenty minutes, she had a way of making you feel like you mattered. She understood something that many of us forget in the rush of daily life – that relationships are ultimately what endure.
The insulation industry is built on products, projects, and performance, but it is sustained by people.
As we look ahead to the upcoming ICAA Convention, I would encourage each of us to embrace that spirit. Yes, we will learn, share ideas, and discuss challenges facing our businesses and our industry. But perhaps most importantly, we will have an opportunity to step away from the daily grind and reconnect with one another: to be fully present, put down our phones, and have conversations that don’t revolve around deadlines and problems. To laugh together, share stories, make new friends and strengthen old friendships, and remember that while our businesses are important, the relationships we build through this Association are often the most valuable part of all.
Years from now, most of us won’t remember every presentation, every meeting, or every business discussion. But we will remember the people. We will remember the conversations. We will remember how we felt when we were together.
So when you arrive at our next Convention, I encourage you to do more than attend: be present. Meet someone new. Reconnect with an old friend. Share a meal. Listen to someone’s story. Enjoy the moment. Because the greatest value of ICAA has never been found solely in the programs we offer or the events we host. It has always been found in the people who make this industry such a special place to belong.
My hope for all of us is that we slow down just enough to truly experience the lives we are working so hard to build.
Be present.
Be grateful.
Be here.
Today.
