Lonesome Dove
A man of vision but with no mission.
You never know of you don’t try.Good tradesmen don’t always make good business owners. Two entirely different skill sets.
If I can do it most all can.
You never know of you don’t try.Good tradesmen don’t always make good business owners. Two entirely different skill sets.
Open or Closed shops are required to both use the Davis Bacon rates on a job specifying the scale. I’ve bid various projects which specified the DB rates be used, not just Federal jobs.I'm not in the trades but I have to keep up with pay scales. The one thing I have heard is they like federally funded jobs because those jobs have to use the Davis Bacon Wage Act prevailing wage and it is higher than the open shops, at least here in San Antonio.
There is alot of good information and advice in this thread. Not just for the apprenticeship program but in general, show up, be attentive, work hard, etc.
I'm going to throw out a different option. Learn what you can in the trades, how to read the plans, what it takes to buld and install those systems. Then in 5 to 10 years look into cost estimating. Three of my best hires have been from the plumbing, hvac and electrical trades. Two of them are still with me and they teach me something new every week.
^^^ THIS.
You can't train give-a-snot or work ethic. Last kid I hired was a SPONGE and would soak up anything I was willing to teach him. Like @Axxe55 said: first to show up, last to leave, and always look for something to do - especially if it's something that will make life easier for those above you. Conversely, spend your time on your cell phone with your girlfriend and you'll be the first out the door.
A few old sayings that have brought me my success in life:
- You're either on your way up or you're on your way out
- Do what you said you'd do, before you said you'd do it
- Always deliver more than expected
- The job is going to get done - you get to decide if it's done by you or your replacement
Experienced electricians tell me, “It’s not if you’ll get bit, but when.”
My time came as an apprentice while doing overhead demo work on a shop floor that was being reconfigured. I was up a ladder pulling out conduit for an old 277/480 run.
My journeyman, in another room, tore my safety tape off the breaker and flipped it on. I had a live lead in one hand and a ground in the other. It felt like a giant was crushing me in his fist as I convulsed, seemingly forever, at the top of the ladder.
Another worker said he thought I was clowning around until my convulsions threw me off the ladder. Doctors later said it was probably the impact with the concrete floor that restarted my heart.
For weeks, if I walked into a dark room I’d ask my wife to please turn on the light switch. 35 years later I’ll still do light electrical work at home, but I always rub the scar on my middle finger where my fingerprint was burned off while I think carefully about the safety issues first.
Experienced electricians tell me, “It’s not if you’ll get bit, but when.”
My time came as an apprentice while doing overhead demo work on a shop floor that was being reconfigured. I was up a ladder pulling out conduit for an old 277/480 run.
My journeyman, in another room, tore my safety tape off the breaker and flipped it on. I had a live lead in one hand and a ground in the other. It felt like a giant was crushing me in his fist as I convulsed, seemingly forever, at the top of the ladder.
Another worker said he thought I was clowning around until my convulsions threw me off the ladder. Doctors later said it was probably the impact with the concrete floor that restarted my heart.
For weeks, if I walked into a dark room I’d ask my wife to please turn on the light switch. 35 years later I’ll still do light electrical work at home, but I always rub the scar on my middle finger where my fingerprint was burned off while I think carefully about the safety issues first.
That is why there are Lock Out programs. Never trust tape or tags alone.