When I started in the industry my father gave me a lot of good advice. One of the most important ideas he passed on to me was to respect the industry. There is usually a good reason certain things are done a certain way, and often more than meets the eye why something is designed and operates a specific way. Often you need to do some research to find this information either in old prints, or maybe from someone who has worked on the equipment before you. This could be in old notes, manuals, or from listening to the local work force. I heard the same thing from many of my co-workers and foremen over the years. You may think you have all the answers, but sometimes you find out that you don’t. If you don’t have respect for the industry it’s probably because you lack experience, or just don’t care. Either way, you won’t be very successful until you do. Remember you’re working with and around equipment that can do some serious damage to you and property. Don’t think you can always learn from your mistakes, some mistakes could be your last. Learn as much as you can about the equipment and systems you’ll be working with. I bring this up because there seems to be an epidemic sweeping through the industry where talent and knowledge is walking out the door at an alarming rate. Some of the replacement talent has a different view of the work than the old timers did. You should want to excel and do quality work. You also need to take a lot of interest in the work. I seem to run into people who are more interested in the money than the actual job. You need to get paid for the work you do, but it shouldn’t be your only motivation. This is not a good thing, and may have developed out of the sense of self-preservation rather than any thought towards craftsmanship and sense of ownership. The work force needs to have respect for the industry, and the industry needs to have respect for the work force. Both need to have respect for the customer, because after all that’s who pays the bill. If you still take pride in the work you do and strive to be the best, then you’ll survive, if you find yourself dreading the work, then you’re probably due for a change. I still like the work, but I am concerned about the future just like everyone else. I still have respect for the industry, and all that it takes to keep the lights on. After all that’s the bottom line: keeping the lights on. I’m sure there’s a few that disagree with that premise, but they have probably never done the work either, or are more interested in a different kind of bottom line.
