Hello BP,
I am writing this discussion with a goal of receiving a Mentor I hope to earn that through this post.
I'm a Carpenter not a writer so please "bear with me"
This weekend I attended a training one leadership
and what was discussed really helped me understand the differences in the generation gaps.
Ill start off by saying I was brought up with practically no father and very minimal interaction with my mother becuase she worked so much. I learned to be a man as a teenager through books. I would read read read about all the successful people in the world and what traits they expressed in life and tried my best to mimic them. Not sayin I did all the time but I did my best.
My work ethic as a carpenter is very goal driven I have a high level of urgency and quality even when there is no urgency I strive to go the extra mile show up early and be the last one to leave and stay organized as much as possible on Jobs sites. I give credit to people who practiced what they preached not everyone does this but it really makes a difference on a job if its clean I imagine a jobsite as a reflection of the GC's mind. If its focused and efficient you will see that on the jobsite when you walk in.
So what does that have to do with Mentoring.....
I hear this from all the old school guys on Jobs sites.....
Mellenials....
- Are always on their phone
- dont have work ethic
- cant show up on time
- think their entitled to everything
- have no respect for hard work
- dont want to do hard labor
Anyone hear this....around?
So recognizing this I say to myself as a leader in this Indiustry this is my "responsability" I have the Ethic of the old school hard core carpenter and the age of the mellenial.
I feel with this I have some power to influence those who look up to me.
Saying I tell myself are "if I see it its my responsabilty; My ability to Respond"
Not to say I have to do something about it however, I have the Ability to Respond if I recognize it as my duty.
I feel it is my duty to Mentor the new apprentices that are coming in because their clueless just like I was and its the people they work with that break them down or build them up and I want to build them up and build other people up.
Back to the training:
What I really apprechiated was is talked about how to lead and not manage
You can manage a business but its not efficient to be someone. Its efficient to lead someone.
Example:
Have you ever had someone who didn't trust you and was looking over your shoulder to make sure you did something right...The micro manager
What if that same scenerio was with a leader someone who showed sympathy and empathy instead of quickness to anger and shortness in temper this might seem basic to the Real Estate Invester but in the Construction industry its new and for most a big change. But I'm up for the task within my reach and hopefully who I reach out and help they do the same.
Short Term: I know that if I do this there will be more respect on the Jobsites I lead more trust more people going out of the way to work for me because they know I will do the same.
What's important to me will be important to them which is being safe, organized, diligent and have integrity all while making sure both the GC and Client are profitable.
Long Term:
One day be able to flip houses and lead a crew of carpenters and subcontractors to be trained to work like a well oiled machine working just as smart as we would hard and approach every obsticle as an oppurtunity to succeed.
I'm not saying I'm perfect I'm just saying theres huge potential for Mentoring out there. For me and for you.
I see the benefits of mentoring the next generation of people who are willing and asking, are you?
Here's some background on me.
I used to work for Google as a Project Lead for Google Books and Google Maps I'm not some MIT genius I just had an oppurtunity where someone recognized what they saw as leadership skills and put me in the right place at the right time.
While working there I got an oppurtunity to build the framing phase of a house with a volunteer group shortly after hurricane Katrina hit and fell in love.
From then on I took on an apprencticeship and worked at the New 49er stadium, San Jose Earthquake stadium, New Facebook Campus for Commercial work and I also spent a couple years building custom homes in the range of $5Mill-$25Mill.
I currently work for a GC doing Tennant remodels for large tech companies in SF.
I have combined total of 10 years of experience
Ive listened to every bigger pockets podcast 2 times (While commuting so I cant say I learned from every single one) and read all books recommended except the current book I'm on which is "Set For Life: by Scott Trench" so far so good
My Current Aspirations:
Complete SDSU construction Project Management Certificate March 2018 (90% completed)
Complete Contractors License 11/2017
Learn foreign language in 2018
My Long Term Aspirations:
Possibly go to SDSU for business
Take professional classes to improve or learn new skills.
Somehow break into the Real Estate Investment Industry
Be able to replace my labor income with Passive income completely and Invest in real estate full time when its no longer necessary to work for someone else.
Mentor where I can to who I can.
I am inviting all who have to offer a chance to give back a little to someone who is very eager to learn, me.
At this point I'm learning and just being availible to answer questions through BP is more than enough for me at the moment if you can help me with that please let me know what your availible to help me with so I dont bother you with unrelated things.
Sorry for any misspellings or improper grammar.
Thank you for your time,
John
