Electronic billboards have become ubiquitous and most people don’t really think about them as they drive by. But the size and scale of these digital advertisements came into perspective when I encountered one of them being replaced. It took six men, an oversized semi, a multi-story crane, and a whole lot of effort to get it down without damage to the billboard or building below it.
Everything, even outdoor signs, need to be maintained and replaced. They may last for years like buildings, roofs, roads, the electrical grid, or other infrastructure — but eventually, they require care. And the more they are taken for granted, the easier it is to forget about ongoing attention and upkeep.
You may not be responsible for physical assets, but everyone interfaces with equipment or processes that require tending. Consider creating a routine schedule to update and evaluate that which is under your purview. Have you reviewed that form in the last decade or do you still ask for fax numbers? Do you have emergency protocols that are current? Is your policy manual stored on a floppy disc? Were your flashlight batteries last replaced during the Clinton administration?
Take the billboard replacement as a sign that routine maintenance is important, even when it requires significant effort to achieve.
