I’m a teacher first and a contractor second. I can’t help it. I love to teach and I love to build.
I built a business from nothing, by accident when I was looking for a way to help put myself through University in the summer of 1989. (Mom..who knew??) I built all the furniture in our first home from scratch in a leaky garage where you had to put furniture up on skids as it flooded in the Spring. And finally, in the meantime, – with the help of an amazing wife and many many, skilled carpenters and sub trades I have built JWS Woodworking and Design Inc.
As well, I have taught thousands of the “youth of today” in areas from Science to Grammar, to Film Study to Geography and Language Arts. One common theme is that all people – at some time in their lives – are jacked about learning. How you drain that enthusiasm out of them is entirely up to you… Conversely, motivating people to learn when they see a true purpose and valid application to what you are trying to teach them, is, in fact, relatively easy and more importantly, can be pretty darned exciting in and of itself – leaving one appropriately “jacked” themselves.
Education is a profession that constantly evolves and it is exciting to see that education in the trades is starting to follow suit. As well, in the oft malighned “Millennial Generation” we have created a wonderful group of learners that is incredibly tech savvy and also resistant to stagnation. While resistance to learning new methods or programs or systems in the past was a challenge, it is completely noteworthy that the “New Generation” of carpenters we have in on our team are probably the most receptive, flexible and open group of learners I have encountered yet! Yes…the “Evil, lazy self absorbed MILLENNIALS” are good learners! In fact, I would say they are actually thirsty for new knowledge, and that will make them better at their chosen professions. Who would have thought?
Yes, on top of their busy days working, fussing over details, cleaning, organizing, installing, impressing clients with their kindness and professionalism….these guys are girls are ready to sit down and CONTRIBUTE to making their work place safer, more efficient, more quality driven! “Absurd”, you say of this supposed self absorbed new generation of employees, not so, say I!
Granted we certainly do have a NEW generation of “workers” in our midst. Ones with priorities and definitions of boundaries and life/work balance that are different from the Baby Boomer generation and certainly far different from the War generations work ethic. However, these “differences” can be seen as just the opposite of detractors from our success as businesses. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest, they are indeed vital to our growth and development.
I absolutely enjoy working with the “Millennials” that we have in our workplace. I admire their work life balance perspective and I am impressed by their flexibility and their sincere desire to learn and grow in their chosen professions. Daily, I feel fortunate to have them on our staff along with our more experienced craftsmen and craftswomen we are fortunate to have. Today we spent our training session, yet again, adapting our ongoing digital Project Management system to better suit our needs with my wonderful team. The collaboration and focus from our group was inspiring as usual. As we grow and transition into a new world of on-line job tracking, change orders and project planning, more and more clients and contractors alike, rely on digital communication in addition to traditional methods of information exchange and personal contact for project management. This is another place where this new generation shines. Their comfort level with technology and with social media and file sharing systems such as Trello and Google Docs is unprecedented and welcome in any company that hopes to stay ahead of the tech game.
The world is a changing place and change is often uncomfortable and even frightening at times, but it comes, just when you think you have figured it all out. The “New Generation” of contractors and Trades are here to remind us of that, thank goodness! But, “Entitled Millennials?” From what I have seen, not so in a workplace that doesn’t feel entitled to be stagnant.
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