When I was in high school, I used to daydream a lot. So much so that I often attracted the ire of my teacher.
The high school I attended was only partially finished, with construction work continuing for the entire three years I was there.
Looking out the window at the builders instead of being attentive in class attracted me to join the construction industry when I left school at the age of 15.
With no qualifications except for a high grade in woodwork class, I couldn't wait to be free of the ongoing punishment dished out by, of all things, my woodwork teacher.
Dad said, like all dads did in those days, “You are not leaving school unless you get a trade.” So, I became a builder’s apprentice!
Here's what I learned about working in construction:
🔨 No job is ever what it seems: Looking from the outside, every job has its unseen fishhooks.
🔨 There is no certainty in construction: Inclement weather, market uncertainty, and the whims of government are just a few of the uncontrollable factors.
🔨 There is no security in construction: One day you may have a job, and the next it is gone, so often you must find work with another company.
🔨 The weather takes its toll: You are expected to work under the beating sun, in torrential rain, and even as it snows.
🔨 You will take a beating: You will lose more fingernails than you thought you could ever grow, back and shoulder injuries become the norm, and you will look 10 years older than you are.
🔨 You will get hurt: Injuries are a daily occurrence; safety measures do not prevent all accidents.
🔨 There will be lifetime damage to your body: Whether from dust, chemicals, loud noises, skin cancers, or dermatitis - the list is endless.
🔨 There is no time for perfection: The only way to make money is to build as much as you can and as fast as you can.
🔨 It is stressful: Deadlines, budgets, quality of work, and unexpected delays all add to the worries of being a builder.
We all have negatives in our jobs; therefore, it is finding the positives that matter the most and keep us going.
Building gave me a trade, something I have relied on my entire life. When buying or selling houses, when renovating our home, when helping colleagues fix their homes, and when helping construct something for the community.
Always look for the positives in your work, for the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.
Let’s talk!
Look For The Positives