Question For Long Time Tradesmen...

TaStroh

I wanted to know how how most of you started out, how you moved up, and the time frames you went from each skill level. This thread is mostly geared to the carpentry trade, but any advice and input is welcome.

Celtic

You shouldn't have said that....


It all started when I was wee little lad and ate the seeds in some fruit(cherry to be exact)...my diaper wasn't on too tight and I expelled that seed along with some "nutrients" for it to blossom ~ and blossom it did!

About three years I/we had plenty of cherries.

Many years later I evolved from eating just the cherries to having those cherries made into a variety of cakes, pies, tarts and assorted pastries and other delicacies.

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Patrick

And so It all Began

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Double-A

I'm more interested in how it all will end.

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

KillerToiletSpider

Massive obesity?

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A flush is better than a full house.

Celtic

I think it already has

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Celtic

My metabolism is too high

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A W Smith

I knew when I was seven years old I wanted to do this. 45 years later i am still learning.

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

Slyfox

My shop teacher took me to work with him during summer vacation "i was in the 9'th grade" at Pagen Construction and 29 years later i'm still in the trade
and don't regret a minute of it.

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Double-A

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

kevjob

started with my dad when I was 14

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Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

KentWhitten

Something struck a chord in me when I was small, like 5, 6, 7, can't remember. I just like houses. My mother actually gave me the shove off the bridge so to speak and told me to get busy. I think she regrets doing that, sending me into construction. I had an interest in architecture, but I needed to know how it went together. I know there's more of you out there that feel the same way, just needed to know how it worked is all.

Got focused, met 2 fine mentors, then struck out on my own and never looked back. Finally tired of it though, my back hurts.

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If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

oldfrt

Building Tree houses in the back yard at age !0.
Forty-five years later,now building one for the kids.

I guess I didn't get too far!

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https://www.facebook.com/pages/John-...94183374011504

Kingfisher

Summer job in high school for 2 summers. First 2 years as a helper, 3 as carpenter then I got my res. builders license. Stayed at the same job for 2 more and was the lead man, worked there for 6 more second only to the owner/boss. It was a SC historic restoration/preservation company and I have a great understanding of all the trades from supervising them for those years that I find invaluable. Then 3 1/2 years with my brothernlaw in only new construction in FL. Hold my FL gc license too now and I am 37 and have been running my own company finaly for 1 year. Sure I had paper companies before this and did about 20 hours a week in side jobs through some of them while I work full time. But this is all me and I have worry lines and sleep less nights to prove it LOL

Is that what you were looking for or the time I ate all those watermelon seed

thom

I started at the top and worked my way down.

Got an MBA then did a stint in a suit, then taught marketing, didn't fit teaching so I quit. Was looking for another "Suit" job when a friend asked if I'd help him straighten out his construction company. Did it for 6 months, got him organized, then left.

I had fun during that 6 month stint so I started my own. Hired talent that, as part of their job, had to teach me the trades. Became a competent carpenter, electrician, plumber, etc. Been doing it as a GC since 1979. I am licensed and reasonably competent in all the trades, though I never quit learning.

Putty Truck

I started in prison when I was 18. I got out and discovered that the only ones who would hire me were constructors and bikers. The biker's pay is pitiful, so I became a constructor. I wised up and went through the plumber apprenticeship, journeyman, and contractor's license.

Beats the pen by a long shot.

silvertree

Quit high school in my freshman year(3 rd year as a freshman) had long hair and was a juvenile delinquent . Loved to build stuff so I got hired as a laborer for an alcoholic GC who was also a great old school carpenter. Knew right away that this was for me. Lots of labor jobs later I picked up skills and worked my way up to being a layout guy for a commercial builder. Went to night school and the library and read books on running a business, sales production and never stopped learning. No regrets, tradespeople are the smartest and most interesting bunch of crazies I have ever met. The ones that say they aren't crazy are the craziest of us all .

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

KillerToiletSpider

I ain't crazy.

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A flush is better than a full house.

silvertree

That didn't take long.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

Chris Johnson

16 years old, bored on a Sunday morning hangin out at the pool hall, buddy asks me to give him and his dad a hand installing a tile floor...the rest is history, here I am, have had a lot of fun over the past 21 years and looking forward to the next 21 educating myself and working with new construction products

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Chris