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1.Keep a clean worksite
2.Don’t take out loans to buy the best of everything, ie new
truck.
3.Don’t let clients down by taking on other work that you can’t
handle.
4.Show up when you say you’re going to. If you know you can’t do
something, don’t say you can or will.
5.The customer is sometimes right.
6.Tell them if they want you to do the job, it’s x number of
dollars. If they want to work with you, it’s x+5, or 2x, or ?
(only sorta kidding)
7.Good enough really isn’t.
8. Treat everyone with respect.
Good Luck!
Mad Dog (on my own since ’85)
xxxxxx
Replies
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Thought I'd put my two cents in (or maybe 3or 4).
Amen to the comment about learning the math. I'm continually amazed by people who can't even do something as simple as reading a tape: if you are weak in this area take the tape home and practice reading it on your own time. Also learn to add and subtract fractions, preferably in your head, again practicing on your own time. If you want to set yourself apart from the pack brush up on your geometry and trig skills especially if you want to understand how to frame a difficult roof or layout a footer with more than a few corners. Invest in some good tools and take care of them. The other guys have already mentioned showing up on time etc. so I'll leave those items alone. One thing more would be to make sure that you are cut out to work with your hands. I and many others would'nt have it any other way but some people no matter how hard they may try will never make a tradesman in a million years,they just don't have it. It takes all kinds and there is no shame in being honest with yourself and your employer. I'll wager most of us in the trades would be very unhappy with a factory or an office job. If you have what it takes by all means go for it.
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Greenhorns,
1. Don't tell me you can do something you can't.
2. Don't think you can fake it. You can't.
3. Do listen when someone offers advice.
4. Be on time.
5. Pull your own weight.
6. Don't whine. You're not the only one on the crew.
We all have to put up with things we don't like to
do. Nobody likes to pull down rotten soffit. Just
do it and go on.
7. Don't expect to make a ton of money. You won't.
8. If you like this sort of work, you'll do just fine.
Good luck,
Ed. Williams
*If you are going to work for someone, work FOR them, not against them. - jb
*From a framing subcontractor's perspective: 1) Please the G.C.; their success is truly yours. 2) Please the owner; let them know this is team effort. 3) Please your people; but don't be a pushover. 4) Please yourself; love what you do, but by all means make money. We can't do this just for fun.
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From a homeowner's perspective- Come to the job site on time and not looking like you slept in a gutter; listen to your boss/job supervisor and learn; if you eat your lunch on site, take your garbage with you or put it in a garbage can; don't pee on my bushes- you are not a dog and houses come with bathrooms; if the homeowner is saying something stupid, keep a straight face until out of sight/ear shot; if the homeowner is doing something stupid/dangerous or wants you to do something stupid/dangerous- let the boss handle him/her. If you really don't like the work or you don't care about what you are doing- find another job. The quality of my home depends on you.
*Care more than others think wise.Risk more than others think safe.Dream more than others think practical.Give more than others think prudent.Expect more than others this possible.Work more than others think healthy....and you will accomplish more than others.(I got this from a motivational speaker once, but I have it in my office still..)Less poetic, but my own thoughts:-communication!-the word assume=ass out of u and me-if you're female, you don't have to put up with shit to fit in. -if you're male, don't give women shit. I like the occassional dirty joke too, but, ya know,if you were my idea of god's gift, you'd know by now.-back it up. Sometimes you will have to expain why this and not this. Technology is changing the tools and the materials. Saying, "this is just the way it is," doesn't cut it.okay. I'm done ranting now.Lynn :)
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*with respect of your employer
Always think to the future. This is a very small world. (Burning bridges is for the small of mind)
Accept constructive criticism,(corrections of techniques) with thanks(they don't have to teach you, even though they may be upset that you may have cost them time and money).*don't let pride give you a learning disability*
Listen and pay attention when someone is taking time from their day to teach. It is a gift, and you may never be able repay them for it.
Concentrate on the job at hand, do it at your own pace, even if you have to take a lower wage to afford you that luxury,(Better to work an extra hour a day than rush and be unemployed)
As an employer and a human being I do not have the right to judge anyone. Don't judge your employer.
I'm sure all you employers have plenty to add...lets hear it.
Ohh err, but then again I could be wrong!
*1. Learn the math. The story problems you didn't like in school are now done in real dollars, usually the company's. Remember that the money made on a job goes into three pockets- mine, yours, and all the bill throwers. If we can keep it out of number three, there is more for one and two.2. I don't come to your house with a truck load of personal problems. Please don't bring yours to my jobsite. Hey, sometimes my truck won't start either, sometimes my old lady is pissed beyond compare, and sometimes I have to be somewhere else, but it doesn't mean you'll make less, so please don't cost me another day on the project, you have very little idea at what the wasted time really costs. 3. Companies grow when they reach a little. Employees grow when they reach a little. I think back on past projects and the people that achieved them. Very rarely were these achievements realized because WE "already knew it all" strive to grow.4. Quality counts. Don't try for "good enough" or "you can't see it from my house" if you do, you can fail. If you strive for perfection, a slight miss will still be better than most people's "good enough."5. Be happy. I hate to throw tools :)Seriously I like to have people with a good handle on the 3 R's, a desire to learn, the ability to be present for 40 hours, and an understanding of quality. all else can be taught. People are paying good money for the work we do and I don't believe in stealing, so lets give them their money's worth.Scott
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Joseph Fusco View Image
*Show up on time. Work each job as if it was your house.Treat my tools better than you treat your own. And you'd better take darn good care of your own tools.Ask questions, but more importantly, listen to the answers.If you screw up, don't cover it up...repair the error and learn from your mistake.Realize that you're only bulletproof until you take the first bullet. Translated: Job safety. Don't ignore safety to prove yourself to the gang.
*1.Keep a clean worksite2.Don't take out loans to buy the best of everything, ie new truck.3.Don't let clients down by taking on other work that you can't handle.4.Show up when you say you're going to. If you know you can't do something, don't say you can or will.5.The customer is sometimes right.6.Tell them if they want you to do the job, it's x number of dollars. If they want to work with you, it's x+5, or 2x, or ? (only sorta kidding)7.Good enough really isn't.8. Treat everyone with respect.Good Luck!Mad Dog (on my own since '85)xxxxxx
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LYnn??? Related to Lisa? *laughing*,the only one I would care to debate is the one about working more than others think healthy...would change it to...work smarter than most are capable.(the perspective is different from a hospital bed).
Like your attitude Lynn!
LAR