How Construction Can Help You Achieve Career Success
I don’t know a lot about construction. In fact, if I am honest, I must admit that I do not know anything about construction. But, I must say, as an introvert, I observe a lot of what’s going on around me. I live in downtown Toronto, and condos are going up everywhere. A couple of months ago, about two blocks from where I live, a demolition company was knocking down a brick building, and for a few days, I would take photos to document their progress, but didn’t think much about it. However, yesterday, around 6:20 am, when I was heading out to the gym, there were about five construction workers on the job already, and that’s when the idea for this blog post hit me – knowing a little about construction can help you achieve career success.
Tear Down the Old Before You Start Constructing the New
Before you can start to construct a new building, unless it’s a vacant lot, you have to get rid of the existing building. There are times when professionals get a promotion, they do a terrible job in the new role because they bring the requirements of the old job to the new one, even though they are inappropriate. If you want to succeed in a new role, you have to take the time to assess the situation, decide what you need, and get rid of the rest. I have also noticed, in a few situations, that the demolition crew was extra careful when knocking down a building because they wanted to save a section to use in the new building. They got rid of the parts of the old building that wouldn’t work with the new one.
Go Deep Before You Start Building the New
Most of the new buildings that are going up in downtown Toronto are high rise. And what I have noticed is that the construction workers dig a deep hole before they start building. When you are in a new role, if you want to succeed, you have to dig deep to get an understanding of the new role, as well as create a space, on which to build a solid foundation later. Several people who I have interviewed, tell me that it takes them a while to understand the requirements of a new job.
Build a Strong Foundation on Which to Build
Over the past decade, as the look of Toronto changes, because of all the new buildings, I notice the construction workers taking the time to build a strong foundation, and use the right materials that will reinforce the building when they actually start construction. This is a must, because the last thing you want is for a building to fall down because a strong foundation was not laid. When you want to learn a new subject, or master a topic of interest that will aid you in your career, you have to master the fundamentals first. Even if you are in a new job, you have to master the basic requirements of the job first, so that you know and understand what’s expected of you. Then and only then, you are able to know what you can do to dazzle and impress your superiors. You have to build a strong foundation, then use the correct frameworks, to help you reinforce what you are trying to build in your career.
Start Building from the Ground Up
In construction, they build from the ground floor up, and so it is with your career, you build on your foundational knowledge until you have the skills, knowledge, and abilities to master the job. In construction, after the building is up and they add the basics – things that are taken for granted because everyone expects them, it is time to differentiate by adding in the elements that sets the building apart from others. You have to secure knowledge that sets you apart from your peers, so that you do the unexpected – you deliver impeccable work, all the time.
You can do all of the above, yet success still eludes you.
Why?
You have to plan for success. The construction process started long before the demolition crew was tearing down the building. Perhaps someone purchased the lot. The person who owns the lot had a vision for what the new structure would look like, and had a purpose for the new building. An architect had to design the new building, creating a blueprint for the builders to follow. There was a lot of planning and brainstorming that took place. They knew what was already out there, and had an idea of how to differentiate. They also knew that they may have to alter the plan during the construction phase. They have to be flexible for the unexpected.
It’s important to have a career blueprint to follow, knowing that you may have to change it as opportunities or other circumstances arise. It’s important to take the time to think about where you want to go professionally with your career. What is your vision for your career? Buildings do not just go up, there is a lot of planning and upfront work that takes place before construction begins. Having even an elementary knowledge of construction can help you to achieve career success.
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