There are some bad apples in the industry, but it's not PM's job to draw attention to them.

The caller's name was Don. Unlike some who have engaged me in similar conversations over the years, he was not irate and irrational. Don was an industry stalwart who had held industry leadership positions and spoke in a reasoned tone. That's why I was glad to chat with him for the better part of a half-hour and listen to his complaint about me and PM.

Don said he ran a bath remodeling and plumbing repair business, and was a flat rater whose prices were above the norm in his mid-size market in the nation's heartland. Nonetheless, he was annoyed with a competitor in town who he thought took advantage of an elderly customer. This firm belonged to one of the organizations that gets a lot of ink in our magazine, which is why he took us to task.