Training, Important?

Paul Burns

Now that I am pushing 50, I know and have met LOTS of contractors that still do things the way they were taught by 1 or two people.

I am posting this for NO personal gains or intentions, whatsoever.

But I have lots of friends that are either still doing the way that they were taught by 1 or 2 contractors 30-40 years ago, or they were FORCED into other jobs because of physical limitations or problems. I mean, does that make any sense to you all?

And in this information age especially. I mean, I get e-mails, snail mails, and all kind of useful stuff EVERY day. I mean why do only 2-3% of paint contractors belong to the oldest, biggest, painters organization that there is? Am I the only person that thinks like this?

I know that I'm not, cuz I have sat across the table from many of them (at least 100 companies) and exchanged ideas, systems, etc.. And I have done that on more than one occassion, and in more than one organization.

But you know, it is my theory that whether we talk about painters, or doctors, lawyers, accountants, whatever, they are almost the same. I call most painters including some of my best friends as belonging in the 95% group. My theory as far as ALL business people go is that only 10% are really GOOD at what they do for a living. But I could be wrong, they could 95%ers also!

I mean, why is that? Do 95% of the people reading this think that my theory is wrong? If so, by how many percent?

My own friends, when I would invite them to go to this thing or that thing, or whatever just say, nah...... I don't want or need to know any more than I already know. I jus can't figure it out. HELP me!

I know that none of like to change, but we are talking about people that have people's lives in their hands. You should have seen this one lawyer I had. No, I've had at least 3 of them, that anyone on this BB probably could have done a better job than they.

I mean, what's up with that? Of course I wasn't going to jail, but lots of people do. And most of the time it is just becuse their flippin lawer didn't know how to do their own job properly.

Why??

Paul
p.s. What some of you are thinking is WRONG. This stuff is important. It will be important whether I am dead as it was before I was born. It SHOULD be discussed.

mdshunk

I think there's something good in that post, but I'm having trouble understanding. I'm not trying to be foolish at all when I ask this... could you sum up what it is you really intended to say? Please. I'm trying to understand, because I want to be on board with what you're saying, I just don't get it at this point.

Paul Burns

I remember driving by the oldest painting orgs. headquarters in NO VA where I grew u as a painter. And I read the sign out front and started laughing. I was thinking to myself; You have got to be kidding me, that must be some kind of JOKE or something.

I look back now and just thing DANGIT, if I only knew then............... And now I am too old to do a lot of the things that I would have wanted to accomplish.

At least I had the excuse of being in a non-information age back then. But man, these days, geeez.

I have books and tapes all over my house. And I would be hard pressed to find 2 of them that I didn't at least double my iinvestment on. Most of them are like 1000 X's ROI (return on Investment)

Paul

Paul Burns

MD, are you like me and know people that are doing their jobs as they were taught by just 1 or 2 people many years ago?

Do you see a problem with that?

Paul

bcf

I also think that you are one to something, but am really lost when it comes to what exactly that is. I do think that most people find out just enough to do their job, either knowing there is a better/faster/easier way to do it, and are just afraid of the self sacrifice to get there, or they are just so blinded by their enviroment that they don't see it.

But, what is you're point? Or are you just bitching about people? Either way, it's alright, as I can agree with that latter, but is seems like you're post is gonna stir up a lot of talking.

__________________
Matt Ehrenzeller-General Manager
A Great Divide Fence Company
www.agreatdividefence.com

Paul Burns

mdshunk, This is a copy/paste e-mail that I sent a friend a little while ago.

Hey man, I started painting when I was 17 years old and immediately set my sights on the best in company (as far as painters go) and I would surpass them within months. If the boss gave me a raise, I stayed longer. If they didn't, I moved on to another company and did the same thing over. I was fortunate in that way because I got to work for LOTS of different companies and they all had their OWN way of doing things. 90% of what they did, I thought was wrong, but 10% from each company was golden systems, ideas, etc. So by the time I was 21, I had gathered enough 10% from different companies to get a whole 100% of great systems, and into business for myself I went. So see, you have 5 years on me. Hell, you are in your PRIME!

IOW's if I had of just learned from 1 or 2 of those companies, instead of 15 or so, I would only have known 10% of what I knew when I did go into business.

Paul

Paul Burns

Like I said, I've been posting for 10 years and 90% of them are posted to get people thinking. Because when they think, they talk back, and once in a while, I find a diamond!

Paul Burns

This will tick you off, does me anyway.

I mean the whole point of these posts is to open people's eyes as to how far down this country is going.

This is called; "Change first" (for Ken AFP)

This guy postedabout working in a retail store growing up and how is boss taught him to give customers the change first, because it makes it so much easier to accept the change first and then the bills on top. But today, almost EVERYONE (the 95%ers) will plop that change right on top of the bills and it starts sliding off right away. Especially like in a drive thru McDonalds or something.

Watch, and I will bet you that 95% of the time that you pay with cash, the person behind the counter will give you the CHANGE LAST!!

It ticks me off, every time since I read his post. I mean a system that easy, and easy to train, but somehow got lost, and now everyone does it WRONG!

Paul

Paul Burns

Okay, what I am saying to contractors because that is my little world and something I may be able to help with is that we are not just talking about ourselves here.

We are talking about Nathan's (I love your baby's name btw, SERIOUSLY), yours, and everyone elses grand kids. And I'm talking about your family. And I'm talking about your employees and your clients. And mine too!

I mean if this industry doesn't so something to turn people around, EVERYONE loses! The clients LOSE if the paint contractor was not trained right by the 1 or 2 that he/she learned from. Our employees get screwed if they are trained wrong, and if their employers were trained wrong and therefore can't pay them a decent wage with insurance etc..

Those are the things that I am getting at.

Paul
p.s. Th opposite is also true. Instead of everyone losing, everyone can win, instead!

Brushslingers

Yes, training is important.

Would you mind terribly, keeping one open thread instead of five? Thanks.

__________________
Benn

Paul Burns

Benn, are you a moderator of this BB?

Paul

mdshunk

Yes, I agree with what you're saying now. You feel it's important for a person to get good training from a broad source. I guess. I'm very happy you're enthusiastic about it and all, but your posts do come across as a random series of disconnected thoughts. I'm not trying to be a jerk, honestly. I'd really like to encourage you to be a more effective communicator, because I believe that motivated people (such as you are) have the power to change the world within their grasp. Maybe I should butt out of the painter's forum, but I can find gems in all the forums, and I think you'd agree that browsing all forums is a good idea.

Brushslingers

Nope i'm not, just asked as a courtesy as you keep opening new threads on the same subject, the information people are coming here for is going further down the list while new threads open.

__________________
Benn

Paul Burns

md,

It could be that while I am typing an answer to someone else, you or somebody else has asked another question and my replies get caught in the middle.

I mean if want ot call me stupid, just say it. I can take that. I am not a highly educated person by any means.

But I try to be nice to others, and often TRY to just not say anything if I don't have anything positive to say.

I have a feeling and have been told that it is the people that "pick on" other people that keep people from posting on these BB's. That is probably why there are 10% posting and 90% just watching.

I know, this is all jumbled. Maybe I just think too fast!

Paul
p.s. geeeez! Oh, I remember now, you were the one that wanted me to work on my spelling and/or puncuation when I was coming here a year or so ago. I knew those stilts, or scaffold looked familiar.

Paul Burns

Show me the 5 benn. I'll ask they be removed as to not confuse you.
Paul

mdshunk

No, no, no... I wasn't trying to pick. Believe me, if you were sitting right next to me, I'd be patting you on the back. I think that there are some real gems in what you're saying. At one point in time, many people were having a lot of trouble understanding my posts. I started to compose my posts offline in Word, and rereading them several times over a few hours and re-wording stuff before cutting and pasting them on the board. I was just seriously just trying to help you out, because I think that you're onto something really nice. I wasn't trying to flame you or anything like the guy's that pick on folks' spelling and such. I just know that when a post is hard to read or understand, it goes overlooked for the most part. Composing your thoughts clearly and concisely causes more people to read what you're saying. I believe people need to hear what you're saying. I DO NOT think you're stupid.

Nathan

I did merge the two training threads together. I'm starting to get confused so I thought this might be easier.

Thanks.

__________________
Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Nathan

Paul (aka Pawl)

I agree that we all need to pursue training for our whole lives and that if we ever give up on that we loose and so does everyone who depends on us.

That is why I think this site is SO important. It is a free resource and training ground for people to come and ask questions, give knowledge, share ideas, and more. I think being involved in a site like this can really help your business and family.

I'm also working on more online tools for people to learn and it's a long term goal I have. I'm working on www.BuildPedia.com . It's going to take a few years for me to build but I want it to be a free training ground for both experienced contractors and people looking to get into the field. I'm hoping to film some how to videos, have articles, and more.

Anyways... that is what I'm trying to do anyways.

__________________
Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Brushslingers

I agree totally, I make my guys read this forum and we talk about it at least once a week as a compliment to other training via books, etc. If they know how to problem solve, the whole company profits.

__________________
Benn

Blaster

Hey Paul you have really got me thinking about alot of stuff. I think our minds have been trained a certain way and it is hard to get past that sometimes. We are so used to (raised/taught)thinking one way, that when someone goes against that, or brings in a new way, we shut it out. New ideas or thinking is most often not accepted, at least at first. I worked for a nation wide stain manufacture until 5 years ago. They tried some changes that were really good for the company and people that worked there. I would say 90 percent were against the new ideas. They were comfortable and did not want change, even though it would have made their jobs better. The company gave in to the workers. It's to sad, that's partly why I left.

I hear what you are saying


Blaster