When most people think about their profession, they do not consider the profound effect it has on all areas of their lives. This is the not always the case, well certainly not for me. Since becoming a carpenter, I have become a much better man than I would have been otherwise. Here is a brief rundown of all the ways that I believe this line of work has changed me for the better.
Punctuality
I was never the best when it comes to arriving where I need to be on time, but that is not the case anymore. I know that many projects cannot commence until I am at the site, so it is essential I get there when I am supposed to. I remember when my son had his first dance at school. I told him that I would be home before he got ready to go so i could take a few pictures and see him off. If that had been several years back, it is likely I would have shown up when he was already out of the door, but carpentry has taught me to value time more since it can have a profound effect on others. In other words, I got to see my son in a suit with a smile on his face because I learned to place his needs above mine.
Problem Solving
Have you ever started doing something then you gave up because it didn't seem to be going the way that you planned. The story of my life. My garage is filled with projects that I have started and stopped due to lack of time, motivation and/or ability. The thing about my job is the fact that quitting a project is not ah option. I have to do exactly what was written in my contract. I cannot walk away because I am not feeling particularly good about the way things are turning out.
This is something that i have carried over into my marriage. My wife and I have been together for 12 years and there are days when i feel like tearing out my hair and moving to some far away planet away from it all. With that said, I know that her and the kids depend on me to stick it out and make things work, even when they are tough. Nowadays, I am able to address issues with her and figure them out instead of making the decision to storm out. It has made our union stronger than ever.
Constant Learning
Education has never been one of my string suits. As soon as I was done with high school and I learned a trade, I did not think learning anything else would be necessary. Yes. I actually thought that I could go my entire career without having to do things differently. Little did I know when I began that it is important to stay current in the industry. It is great to show clients that I am willing to go the extra mile and learn new things all of the time.
I am sure that my children appreciate my willingness to learn when it comes to them. I learned the basics, like diaper changing and bathing years ago, but they are getting older every second. I have had to teach my daughter how to be safe on social media and how to recognize phishing scams. My son has had to be taught about how to avoid being bullied on the Web and the importance of using really safe passwords. These are things that I have had to learn to keep my youngsters safe on the Internet and I know there will only be more added to that each and every day.
Perfectionism
Who would have ever thought that I would be talking about being perfect, not me. I used to embrace all my flaws and think of them as something that gave me character. Over time I have come to realize that this is the mindset people allow themselves to have because they are afraid of striving for more. Every tool I buy, each piece of wood and every hammer I nail has to be perfect. Otherwise, it will ruin the structural integrity of whatever I am working on.
You might want to believe that this should not apply to friendships and relationships, but it does. While it is probably not possible to be 100% perfect at all times, this should be your goal. You should strive to be the best possible friend, parent, lover, boss pr co-worker to everyone that you know. It is not worth it if you feel they are not worth your very best.
If I had never taken up carpentry, I doubt I would be who I am at this moment. It has helped me to be the greatest version of myself there is and I am eternally thankful.
Zachary Drumm's Other Sites:
tooltally.wordpress.com/
https://twitter.com/ToolTally
https://www.facebook.com/tooltally
https://www.tooltally.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment