| I would like to depart from my traditional articles to | | | | around the U.S. with most of its operations focused on |
| describe a great leader who was also a great friend. | | | | either underground or overhead utility construction. The |
| This departure is partly selfish, but I welcome an | | | | company motto says it all, "The World's Best Ditch |
| opportunity to describe a person from whom I learned | | | | Diggers." That is what they do — dig ditches |
| many management and leadership lessons. | | | | and install pipes and cables. As you might expect, the |
| In the early 1990's I met with the owner of the Fishel | | | | majority of the workers in The Fishel Company are |
| Company so that he and several of his executives | | | | blue collar, hard working outdoor types, or as John |
| from around the country could evaluate a system I | | | | Phillips the current company president once described |
| had developed for process improvement. The meeting | | | | them, "These people are absolutely the salt of the |
| took place in Phoenix because The Fishel Company | | | | earth! There isn't one of them you wouldn't enjoy |
| has a large presence in Arizona. | | | | having as a relative or next-door neighbor. |
| The Fishel Company has about 30 branch offices | | | | |