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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
Why do people suck at their jobs??
I am a remodeling contractor, so I am constantly exposed to total incompetence and people that just generally suck at their jobs. My frustration has subsided somewhat by working for myself and being able to choose who works for me, but I mostly have to pick between the best of two dumbasses.
I had a meeting set up for this morning with a new insulation contractor to look at my house and then one of my jobs down the street. He sounded very interested. In fact, he was too eager and decided to stop by yesterday while I wasn't at home without letting me know. Now, I don't claim to know everything about construction and try not to tell people how to do their jobs, but I have no idea how you could estimate an insulation job without seeing the inside of the house. After 20 minutes of waiting for him this morning I decided to call and see where he was. He told me that he looked at it yesterday and had some questions. Uhhh...yeah. I would think so. I also reminded him that there was another job that I wanted him to look at and that I was a busy guy and couldn't just sit around all day waiting for him. He apologized profusely, which is a common attribute for contractors and something that we know how to do very well, but it isn't a good start for someone that I may work with for years. I like to maintain long-term relationships with my subs to ensure quality and cut down on the headache factor. I guess I'll give him another shot, but I'll be making some more calls today.
This is pretty much how most of my day goes. I'm constantly tracking down who didn't do what I told them to, who didn't show up because their babies Momma's car broke down, etc. It used to be way worse. That was all I did at my last job. At least I have a few who care about what they do, but they too will let me down someday.
I love what I do and take great pride in my projects and keeping customers happy, but the construction industry is very lacking in true craftsmen/craftswomen who really care about doing good work. I wish that hard, blue collar work may once again be considered a respectable career path for the youth of America. There's no shame in getting dirty or working with your hands. There are almost no educational opportunities for kids that are interested in learning a trade. You pretty much have to convince someone to give you a job hauling trash for $8 an hour and hope that you can learn some stuff along the way. Maybe someday we will value craftsmanship and quality over more square footage and granite countertops, but I don't expect it to be in my lifetime.
Oh well. Done ranting. Off to hear what the next dumbass has to tell me.
Why do people suck at their jobs??
I am a remodeling contractor, so I am constantly exposed to total incompetence and people that just generally suck at their jobs. My frustration has subsided somewhat by working for myself and being able to choose who works for me, but I mostly have to pick between the best of two dumbasses.
I had a meeting set up for this morning with a new insulation contractor to look at my house and then one of my jobs down the street. He sounded very interested. In fact, he was too eager and decided to stop by yesterday while I wasn't at home without letting me know. Now, I don't claim to know everything about construction and try not to tell people how to do their jobs, but I have no idea how you could estimate an insulation job without seeing the inside of the house. After 20 minutes of waiting for him this morning I decided to call and see where he was. He told me that he looked at it yesterday and had some questions. Uhhh...yeah. I would think so. I also reminded him that there was another job that I wanted him to look at and that I was a busy guy and couldn't just sit around all day waiting for him. He apologized profusely, which is a common attribute for contractors and something that we know how to do very well, but it isn't a good start for someone that I may work with for years. I like to maintain long-term relationships with my subs to ensure quality and cut down on the headache factor. I guess I'll give him another shot, but I'll be making some more calls today.
This is pretty much how most of my day goes. I'm constantly tracking down who didn't do what I told them to, who didn't show up because their babies Momma's car broke down, etc. It used to be way worse. That was all I did at my last job. At least I have a few who care about what they do, but they too will let me down someday.
I love what I do and take great pride in my projects and keeping customers happy, but the construction industry is very lacking in true craftsmen/craftswomen who really care about doing good work. I wish that hard, blue collar work may once again be considered a respectable career path for the youth of America. There's no shame in getting dirty or working with your hands. There are almost no educational opportunities for kids that are interested in learning a trade. You pretty much have to convince someone to give you a job hauling trash for $8 an hour and hope that you can learn some stuff along the way. Maybe someday we will value craftsmanship and quality over more square footage and granite countertops, but I don't expect it to be in my lifetime.
Oh well. Done ranting. Off to hear what the next dumbass has to tell me.
But, you know, it's not just blue collar work that suffers from lack of quality, trustworthiness and honor in this country. Look at the financial community -- just for starters...
Hope your day gets better.
My day is fine. Like I said, this is everyday. I'm used to it. I really have to go to work now. Bye.
What can truly motivate a man to work well? I think I have 2 answers to that.
If you are headed to the California sometime, let me know ;-)
Maybe when I'm old and not broke I can take on a young man or woman and show them the ropes, but it would be better if they could just go to school to learn the basics.
I think back to the guy that gave me my first construction job and realize what a good opportunity he gave me. At the time I thought he was a moron, but I know better now.
There are others as talented and caring as you, Matt, I hope you find them and show the dumbasses how it should be done. Quality workmanship and good work ethics should be applauded and paid well for to keep that craftsman crafting.
I've just seen seen someone unhappy and unsuccessful in college (much like what you described), and I wouldn't want to see that happen to any of my kids.
atleast thats the way i see it
I was the high school guidance counselors problem child- I knew I didn't want to go to college, and saw no need to. That irritated the hell out of people whose job is to get you to go to college, because that's what good high school graduates do and it looks good for them. My college bound classmates (most of whom were using college as a 4 year excuse to not join the real world) basically said I'd never amount to anything, which gave me a pretty good motivation to prove every one of those (bad word) wrong.
I've had my current job (started as a sandblaster, now I do a wide variety of jobs) since I was in school, as well as woking for my uncle for 8 years doing all types of construction including building several houses from the footings up, and a 7500 square foot church. And most of the time, it was just me and him.
Working 2 vastly different jobs was a lot of hard work, and a hell of a lot of hours, but I learned a lot of things (and got a few scars in the process) that no amount of classroom time could teach. I also didn't have a horrific amount of student loans to pay off, either. Made for interesing conversation at the class reunion.