0:09
All right. Hey guys, another installment of the skilled trade rescue.com podcast. This is a special series we’re doing on skilled trades where I find real people working in skilled trades around America and I’m going to share their stories with all of you. And I’m hoping the whole goal of this series is to do some takeaways, some things that little nuggets of wisdom or information that these these technicians can share with all of you that you’ll be able to apply to your professional life in some cases personal life. So today, I have

0:49
Lavasa, hopefully I got that right. And he’s joining me from Southern cow somewhere down there. Yeah. Awesome. Well, thanks for joining us today. And

1:01
just why don’t you give up just a quick bio on what you’re doing in skilled trades these days, Chris? Right now I’m doing commercial heating and air conditioning.

1:11
I work for union shop, small union shop. We work on pretty much everything. chillers, boilers, pumps, you name it. Well, we’ll work on it in the industry. How long have you been in the trades now? Chris? Well, 13 years. Okay. What so what did you do before that? How did you What was your journey into skilled trades? I was actually in the military. Okay, that’s in the army. And I got injured in Iraq. And,

1:42
and I had a few surgeries, and they abandoned me back up, went to Germany ended up going to Afghanistan when I was out there. My the pain the hardware that they put in my foot came back through my foot. So they had a metal backing back out, do some more surgeries, and they put me out. So when they put me out, I was gonna do that for the rest of my life. I had no clue what I was gonna do. And my brother who’s an electrician said, if I knew what I knew now, I would debate that. So I had no clue what anything was, you know, I didn’t even know what a transformer was at the time. I

2:15
went to trade school and, you know, the military paid for it, you know. And so I went to school for H back then I went to trade school for plumbing. And then I went to trade school for electrical so I could get it all because he touches a little bit of everything. Yeah. Hey, man, thank you for your service and your sacrifices you’ve made man. I appreciate it. Yeah, people like you. I think it’s under recognized, you know, on the big holidays and stuff. Everybody, you know, it really talks about it, but we should be talking about it every day. So thanks for your sacrifice, man. I appreciate that. Yeah. So this is an interesting story, because I think I’ve interviewed probably, I don’t know, three or four retired military folks from all different branches. And I just find it intriguing that, you know, when you get out of the military, you have the GI Bill, which you could apply to a lot of different types of education. Correct? Correct. Yeah. And it’s really interesting that there’s two two things that I’ve noticed about military folks. One is, they’re willing to talk and share about their experience where, you know, a lot, a lot of technicians don’t. And the second thing I found intriguing is that

3:33
ex military folks, they have choices when they get out. And a good percentage of them are choosing the trades over going into a four year college.

3:44
Yeah, well, I mean, there’s a reason a lot of us go in the military to begin with, you know, for me, it was, you know, I, I was I was done with school, you know, and that was a seemed like, a good path at the time, you know, so, but, I mean, it’s, it’s good to, you know, put, you know, put your story out there and, and be able to, you know, hopefully help someone else along the way. Yeah. So what’s a typical day in the life for you? So you get up and you, you know, let’s share some stuff with the guys and gals out there that are maybe thinking about skilled trades versus, you know, going to go into college. What’s a what’s a typical day in daily life for Chris on a workday. I’m usually up by 330. I started like stylight Working early so they allow me to that’s why I like really like this company. Most of the places we work they allow us to start pretty much whenever we want so I’m usually on the road by four. I usually on site by 5am. I’ll start my day depending on what I’m doing today.

4:51
Changing out like bunch of valves a bunch of things on a water side of

4:57
air cooled unit with them.

5:00
humidity. It’s got humidity, humidity, capabilities on it. Well, it’s got a waterside. So we had to change the pump and stuff like that. And then

5:11
yeah, usually, you know, take my lunch about 10 o’clock. 1030. And after that, you know, maybe get pulled off our service call or two. And then I get off of work about 130 ish. Go go pick up my son at school.

5:29
Jeans. The reason why I started so early I, I’m the one who’s got to pick up my son at school. So yeah, yeah, not everybody started just to let you guys know, not everybody starts their, their date and for the most part at like, seven or eight, you know, guys, but we, like I said, we take care of like here at Coca Cola, you know, they have security 24/7 We take care of a lot.

5:55
A lot of different hotels, where they have people there 24/7 Yeah, we take care of the Honda Center. We take care of all their chillers that freeze the ice, all the all the rinks that duck song, we take care all that. So we have, you know, we have access, you know, 20 milliseconds. So this company and then this company is great. They’ve like really worked with me as far as my schedule goes and picking up my kids, you know, and a lot of if you’re good at what you do, a lot of companies will work.

6:26
Yeah, now are you guys have? How big is your shop? How many how many trucks you guys run in us? So we have

6:35
five, journeyman, and four apprentices

6:39
are as well.

6:41
You know what, that’s what’s interesting. This is an interesting subject, because I have I have technicians asking me, you know, should I go to work for a big shop? Should I go and work for a smaller shop? Should I go union non union? Are you guys union? Yeah. So this is actually my first union job. Okay. So but I’ve loved it so far, you know, but I haven’t really done much with the union. You know what I mean? Yeah. Kinda like, you know, do what I had to do got into union and pay my dues every month. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it’s, it’s really interesting, because my preference because I was on both sides of it. I worked as a technician, and then I worked as a business, I owned a business and, and I think as a technician, especially when you get your getting started, I think you’re, you’re better off working for a smaller shop, because that the pond is smaller, right. So if you’re a superstar, you’re going to show up on the people that matters radar quicker than you would if you’re working for a shop that’s got hundreds and hundreds of technicians out there, it’s harder to pick up the superstars out of that big pond, right.

7:53
Hey, guys quick announcement, if you have not stopped into our website, at skilled trade rescue.com, please do that on the homepage. Here, you will see that we have the Join the movement email list. If you haven’t signed up, please consider doing that we have some amazing guests lined up for the podcast, I’m going to be getting the stories out of successful technicians and business owners in skilled trades. These are not just HVAC people, there’s going to people being from across the skilled trade spectrum. And my hope is that I’m going to be able to draw out of these people the things that have worked in their careers amazingly well. And the things that if they had a chance to talk to their younger self, what they would tell them not to do. So I want to share all that stuff with you. And if you sign up, you’re going to be the first to know when we drop those new podcast episodes. Also coming soon we have the BDS T workshop. It’s a five day automated email workshop. However, you’re going to give content to us through that workshop, you’re going to get one on one feedback from our instructors, instructors, and we’re looking to better your career. I’ve been teaching the BST process for many, many years, about two decades one on one, and I’m going to be trying to do that to the masses through this workshop. It’s totally free. All you got to do sign up. And as soon as you do that, you’ll get alerts on your email as soon as these new podcasts come in, as well as the BSD workshop. So if you check it out, I will put a link to the website on the show notes for this episode today. So check it out.

9:28
Depends on how good you are. Yeah, that’s true. Yeah. Yeah, no, I totally agree with you a small shop. It’s a better learning environment. It’s more personal. You know, it’s, it’s, it’s, I like it. I like you know, if you have a problem that you can’t figure out, which we all do, that’s what makes us grow. I mean, how was your shop with teamwork and, you know, you got more senior guys coming in that’ll you know, swoop in and help you figure stuff out.

9:59
All right.

10:00
I try I try to use all my resources before I reach for help, you know, like,

10:05
you can get nowadays you can go you can YouTube, anything, you know, like in legit like, everybody’s had that problem that you had some time in the life and it’s on YouTube. Yeah.

10:19
You can shoot anything. So, I mean, literally you could come into trade and look like a rock star just by YouTube and everything. Yeah, look, YouTube videos on everything. And that’s what like a lot of like the young guys coming in the trade, they don’t want to put in that extra step, they just want to make a phone call and say Hey, can you do this for me? I talked me through this like, dude, what research have you done before you called?

10:44
A little bit of struggle? I feel like if you struggle through some you’re gonna remember it for the rest of your life. Yeah. Yeah. That’s, that’s for sure. So, your apprentices?

10:57
What’s the average experiences on your apprenticeship side with your outfit? Um, they’re all young first and second year apprentices? So you know, very good trade, not not much of a, you know, mechanical background.

11:13
But, you know, they’re, they’re willing, a lot of them are willing to learn. I mean, you get some of them that, you know, just, they, as soon as things get tough, they’re like, Oh, I can’t do it. You know? Well, what if I wasn’t here? What are you gonna do? Like, are you just gonna sit here and look at it? I mean, we’re, we’re whatever we’re doing, we’re, you know, breaking pipe, you know, you can do it. Okay, go get a cheater bar. And, you know, do it that way. Obviously, ways to do things, you just, you’re gonna start thinking outside the box, especially in the trades, nothing’s nothing. This I’ve learned is nothing straight line distance, you got to

11:50
jump through hoops to get anything done. The easiest was job can, you know, turn into, you know, a nightmare? Yeah, no, I definitely know what you’re talking about. So what are some of your biggest career successes, Chris, that come to mind? Like, like moments in your pathway over the last, you know, 13 years or more recently, that, you know, made you really think, wow, you know, I’m really loving this and, you know, really gave you the juice to keep going and learning more in skilled trades. What I’ve learned, like, for me, is like helping, you know, helping train the younger guys.

12:33
You know, seeing those younger guys come up, and they’re at different companies, their field supervisors, and they’re this and it’s like, okay, like, and that’s helped me, you know, and they’ll come back and say, like, Hey, dude, like, you helped me a lot when I was starting out. A lot of a lot of guys won’t help, you know, and teach. But I mean, I love you know, I’ll teach a guy, you know, whatever. I know, the guys above me, didn’t want to teach as much, you know, they don’t want a job. But, yeah, I feel like, you know, if you can, if you can step up and take my job by means, you know, like I did, I did what I was supposed to do, I taught you, you know, enough where, but

13:08
I mean, that’s kind of where I’m at. I love teaching the younger guys. And, you know, seeing like the light bulb, click like, oh, you know, I’m starting to get it now. Like I can, I can do this on my own. Yeah, you know what teaching others Chris, I’m sure. That’s probably one of the most rewarding things. Talk about the ultimate win win. Because I’m sure you know this, you know what, when you’re teaching the younger bucks coming up, you know, you’re teaching them stuff.

13:37
And especially if they’re willing to ask you questions, it makes you better, right? And what you explained about it, you know, I’m a little older than you. But I think as you go on, if you continue this, this training, attitude, I think you’re going to have, in your later years, you’re going to have even more people coming, coming back and saying, You know what, Chris?

14:03
You were the right guy at the right time, because you took the time to teach me and I’ll never forget that, you know, there’ll be there’ll be a few people along your career path that really contributed and that’s, that’s super rewarding, you know, makes you better and you get the reward of knowing that you help these people. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. So what are some of the biggest challenges that you’ve got that you’ve been faced with in your skill train journey?

14:31
Um, I mean, starting out it was just you know, learning you know, learning everything because I you know, I mean, I didn’t know what three phrase was, I didn’t know what single phase was, you know, and my first my first job was a mom and pop shop. They gave me said go do it.

14:50
struggle is real. You know, my, my first ever problem my head I was on the roof for about three and a half hours. And it was just off on the smoke.

15:00
Then I couldn’t I couldn’t wrap my head around, you know, there was a break in the in, you know, in power somewhere. And it was off because it was off by the smoke

15:10
was holding it out. And you’re just like, I learned a valuable lesson that day, you know? Yeah. It’s very important to know how to read a schematic. Oh, yeah. You know, very, very important. That’s what I tell a lot of the apprentices coming up now it’s like, you know, as long as you like, the electrical is probably one of the biggest parts, you know, in the H vac industry. If you can, you know, know, electrical and read a schematic. You can get your way through this journey. Yeah. Yeah, I think I read somewhere might have been one of the ASHRAE journals. But I think about 60% of all the failures of air conditioning, refrigeration equipment are ultimately due to electrical issues. Yeah, yeah. The electrical systems are easily the weak link the refrigeration systems. I mean, they fail to but they feel a lot less than the electrical. Yeah.

16:02
That’s cool. Even when the refrigeration side there’s so much new stuff coming out. Like you know, I feel like that’s a year you’re getting, you know, new refrigerant or new, they still call it blends and drop ins. And there’s so much out there, you know, and you got some guys thinking that you can just drop in refrigerant with other refrigerant. And I mean, these refrigerants have different boiling, you know, boiling points and you drop in another refrigerant with another refrigerant. It’s like, Oh, you just created a mess. Yeah, yeah.

16:37
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17:29
Yeah, no kidding. So, what without getting too specific, I don’t want to, you know, cause any discomfort for you. Down in California right now, you’re probably in one of the highest costs areas to live, right. We’re bouncer umat. Again, what’s major city?

17:48
La, la. Okay. So what are what’s your shop? Or what are you hearing? Apprentices starting out at? So guys, and gals that are, you know, just deciding that they want to jump in?

18:03
Starting out from not knowing anything, what are the shops?

18:08
I believe, I believe like a first year apprentice makes like, 27 and then after two, like a fourth year apprentice makes like 37. Okay, and once you journey out, you’re making pretty good money as in what?

18:27
It’s like 53 bucks an hour. Okay. Does that include all your Benny? Is that your full package? Or that’s just what’s showing up on your paycheck for everything? A package? Okay, okay. Yeah, that’s what I’m, you know, it’s really interesting. I’ve been talking about this a lot, that

18:49
most of the news media is talking about the Bureau of Labor Statistics, right. And they’re talking about, you know, journeyman level HVAC trades, right? I don’t know, where they get their data, but they’re saying that, you know, like, they haven’t regionalised but they probably say something in the range of journeyman, making, you know, 30 bucks an hour. And I’m like,

19:15
you show me a shop that’s paying 30 bucks an hour in to a journeyman in California and I got a bridge for sale, there’s just no way.

19:24
My brother is a he’s a service manager at a non union shop. And they’re paying guys right out of the trade like 22 to 25 bucks an hour and that’s not right. You know, and that’s, that’s right out of that’s right out of school. Yeah. And that’s what that’s kind of where the trades going. Because, you know, it’s so hard to keep guys nowadays, you know, find good guys. You just got to take a risk on a lot of these guys that you know, you just got a good people, you know, you interview them. They don’t know much, but they seem like good people, right?

20:01
You have to take. Yeah, I used to say that all the time you give me somebody with a good attitude who wants to learn? I can turn that person into a into a really good tack, right? But you give me somebody who doesn’t really want to learn. It’s just a waste of time.

20:21
So what are we going to do? Chris? So, you know, when we get a little long in the tooth, what are we going to do to start attracting more more young folks into the into the trades? I mean, what do you think about that? I guess,

20:36
the biggest thing they need to realize is like, so I mean, my wife, she’s an RN, you know, she has a lot of money in student debts. And, you know, I’m making more than her, as, you know, in the trades, and, you know, I don’t have any student debt. I don’t have any student loans. You know, it’s, it’s, in even you’re finding like, I mean, even women, you know, it’s a good, it’s a good thing. You know, I mean, the trades are the way to go, like,

21:10
I, my, my oldest, she just joined the military. And I told her, if you’re not going to go the military, the best way to go is, you know, join a trade, do something, do something, and, you know, get out there where you don’t have to go in debt, you know, all this money to make big money, because that’s kind of how it is. You got to you have to go in depth. A lot of money to make big money if you’re gonna do something like that. Yeah. Besides?

21:38
Well, if you don’t mind me asking, so you went in, you got your technical training in three different principles. So HVAC, plumbing and electrical? Yeah, correct. Yeah. So what’s it?

21:53
What does it cost? What are you remember? Like, the numbers? Like, if you had to pay for the HVAC trade school? What What would it cost out of pocket if you had to pay for it? So they have, I mean, the trade schools do an amazing job with getting you help, you know, I mean, like, because you look at it, like a lot of like the tradesmen coming out, like, you know, they’re guys that have come from, like, tougher backgrounds, and stuff like that. So there’s not a lot of money there. So there is a lot of help, there was student, you know, student loans, or even like, grants, and stuff like that, they do a lot to help you. So each, each one was around, I’d say, like, 35,000 each one, like after grants and stuff like that, I think it was probably around like 15,000 each. Yeah. Which really isn’t too bad, considering you’re gonna pay, you know, a lot of money to go to college. Well, and you know, one thing I talk about a lot, Chris is,

22:58
let’s just say HVAC, because that’s what we’re both familiar with the most. And, you know,

23:03
you go that track. Two things, the big differences. One is you can work while you’re going to school a lot of times, right? So that’s a big deal. You know, whereas, versus college, you can work where you’re going to college, but what are you doing, right? You’re doing your barista over at Starbucks, or you’re working retail making, you know, minimum wage, you’re not working toward your future, you know, you’re just kind of working at a job to, you know, get you by, yeah, whereas, like, in, when I tell a lot of these apprentices, you know, cooling is, is great, but that’s just your foundation, learn your theory in school, you know what I mean? What you’re going to do on the job, you’re probably not this kind of a disconnect there from school and what you’re really going to do out in the field, so your real bread and butter, and what you’re really going to learn is just get your hands in there and do it. Yeah. Oh, that’s, I mean, that’s where I’ve learned most of mine, you know, from other guys in the field. You know, a lot of guys have their own tricks of the trade and you collect things along the way. But in the beginning, just don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to get dirty. Yeah, yeah. One of the I interviewed a guy a few weeks ago, and

24:19
he was a military guy, super smart guy. I think he was Marines, if I remember correctly. Anyway.

24:25
He was telling me that he did a lot of research. I mean, he took a deep dive into going into college out of the military versus going to skilled trades. You went for the selected B, because he he found out that he liked it. Right. And he wasn’t he was an IT guy in the Marines, communications or something, whatever. Anyway, and the reason why he decided to go into skilled trades is a lot of the high tech skills. They’re easily outsourced.

25:00
first. So, you know, you go, you go to a four year college and you get a marketing degree or communications degree or you get a computer science degree or whatever, and you go out into the market, and you’re finding out that

25:15
a lot of those types of services can be outsourced over the internet, to other countries. And those other countries are, you know, subs heavily subsidizing even more than we do the education of these people, and they’re willing to work for 10 bucks an hour us.

25:34
You know, so, stuff that you do, you know, you’re not outsourcing a compressor change out?

25:42
Well, well, the I mean, you you have, you have a lot of like, on site, guys, that they, you know, they, the Eagles alert, the word engineer has become very loose these days. You know, the engineers that, you know, when I first started in the trade, the engineers that I’m dealing with now, are not the same. Right? You know, like you talk to an engineer earlier in the day when I first started in the trade, you know, they’re very intimidating, they know what they’re talking about. And along, you know, my journey through this trade, it’s gotten, you know, the quality of engineers, Guy and lower. Yeah. Yeah, that’s, that’s really interesting. Yeah, I actually have noticed that too, because a lot of the a lot of the engineering students are pushing out now. They have they’re really heavy in theory, but they’re not getting exercised and real problem solving as much. Yeah, yeah. That’s, that’s interesting. You brought that up. It’s like, Yeah, this looks good on paper. design looks good. But let’s go put it in and see, you know, what I mean, really doing? And it’s like, okay, this isn’t gonna work. Yeah. Hey, how are the benefits working for your shop? I mean, you guys get medical and dental and all and all that stuff? Yeah, we get everything. For me. I don’t, I don’t really like I have the military with my, my retirement. So it’s not really like a big thing for me. But other guys, they say it’s, you know, it’s really good.

27:13
Benefits. Union, you know, the benefits are real. I mean, you’re paying for them, you know, so yeah, I mean, they’re good. Even the dental and all that stuff is really good. And I mean, it comes out and it comes out anyway. So you might as well use it either for me like, I don’t use it, but you still gotta pay for it. Yeah. What’s the demand? Like right now for technicians? Or is your shop looking to hire? Always?

27:39
Always. And the thing is, is like, it’s, you know, I mean, we we don’t I mean, we’ll, we’ll give guys we’ll bring him in, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. But, I mean, what am I sharp, you can’t have you can’t have, you know, soft skin. You know, you gotta have thick skin because they’re gonna get rid of you. If you’re not, you know, if you’re not pulling your way. Yeah, you know, it’s a lie. It happens a lot happens more than you think. Because, I mean, these guys work in or, you know, they don’t the biggest thing for us is showing up on time.

28:14
If you can’t be on time, you know, it’s that’s a big deal. You got a customer waiting on you. It’s, you know, you got journeyman waiting on you as an apprentice. I mean, I’m always at least like at least a half an hour early every morning to get my waited you know, get out of my truck. You know what I mean? What my boots on get, you know, get myself mentally prepared for the day if you don’t? A lot of things can go wrong and don’t Yeah, I had I had a guy told me the other day if you’re not 10 minutes early, you’re late. You aren’t

28:48
even 10 minutes I feel it’s too it’s too it’s too short of a time so rushing around with only 10 minutes Yeah, yeah, that’s a good it’s has to do with with work ethic you know, you have to have the right attitude how’s your how’s your work life balance so like when you you know when you’re done working your shift you you pick your kid up at the school and stuff I mean that’s what I’m that’s what my that’s what my day really starts

29:18
I got I got 14 I gotta get your wife’s working. She worked in the crazy hours or she worked in

29:27
so she works if she’s my wife get it tough so she works on the other side of LA at the VA hospital and

29:35
so on the way to work it’s not too bad with traffic but on the way home I mean, she works 10 hour days and she’s not home till like sometimes 738 at night for an hour and a half. Yeah, yeah, that’s that’s a that’s a tough go that LA traffic is legendary in a better way. That’s why I went to I don’t I don’t see much of it. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah, so

30:00
Uh, how’s your balance, though? I mean, like, are you guys, when you turn it off from work? I mean, are you able to, to immediately jump into your personal life? You know, is that is it?

30:14
It’s taken me a long, long time to really like, how do you know, leave work at work and leave home now? Yeah, you know what I mean? Because I see it in a lot of guys, you know, they’ll bring their home life to work and it affects them at work, or they’ll bring their work life home, and it affects them at home. You know, so it’s, it’s gotten a lot better over the past couple of years where I’ve been able to shut it off, you know, like, whenever I’m doing, you know, like, whatever it was another day, I’ll handle it.

30:48
You know, now I’m coming home. It’s time to be dad, and it’s time to spend, you know, spend my time with my kids and my wife. And, yeah, that side of it. That’s definitely a discipline. You know, you’re, I’m glad you see that. I tell everybody, I’m a recovering workaholic. Yeah. And you know, that out of all the challenges I’ve had,

31:11
it’s being able to, you know, shut it off. And I recently,

31:19
I was retired for two years. And then I decided I was going to go back because I had a lot of energy, and I really wanted to contribute and stuff. So I, I’m, I’m actually working now full time in facilities for a big electronics company. And

31:35
it’s kind of weird, because I have no employees, I have no say I have no, you know, leadership responsibilities or anything, I just show up, do my stuff. And then at the end of my 12 hour shift,

31:49
I turned it all off. And I leave, and it’s, it’s a huge difference. And, and it took me my wife and I were talking about it took me, you know, 35 years to get to that be able to just shut it off and say, I’m done. You know?

32:04
Yes.

32:06
I mean, it’s definitely you know, it definitely helps you like,

32:10
because, I mean, I’ve worked for a few few companies, and it doesn’t matter where you go, you’re gonna work with people you don’t like, you’re gonna work with people that give you a hard time. You know, sometimes the boss is gonna ride you and you’re gonna get upset and it doesn’t matter where you go, it’s gonna happen. Yeah, you know, it’s just to be able to leave that at work and be like, Okay, I’m gonna go home and take a deep breath. My biggest thing I’ve found is my ride to work and my ride home. I just quiet you know, no music, nothing playing just open the window, you know, zone out and take that time to depress. Yeah, exactly. And just get ready for, you know, for crazy kids that are gonna you know, want to want to jump all over dad or whatever, whatever we’re doing. Yeah, well, how old are your kids are young. My oldest, like I said, my oldest, she graduated high school early. Join the Coast Guard. My second, my other daughter. She’s 13. And then my, my oldest son, he’s 12. And then I have my youngest is eight. Oh, my goodness. You are busy. Yeah, well, my youngest, he’s a he’s a rock star. He he does he fights competitive. Muay Thai, jitsu. And over the over the past year. He’s gained already like 6500 followers on Instagram. And he’s won like 19 jujitsu fights. He’s three in Oh, and Muay Thai fights. He’s, he’s doing really good. And he’s doing it like all over. You know, he’s been to Hawaii and competed New Mexico, Vegas and Diego all over and competed. So how old are we? is 888 years old?

34:00
Wow. You know, any kid any kid below 1415 that has had that’s passionate about something. It sounds like you. You won the lottery without one. Oh, yeah. Trains literally, I had I have a whole like training facility for him down in my basement. And he trains about three to four hours every day. Wow.

34:23
Yeah, we’ll go to training and then from training a bunch of his friends from the gym will come over and they’ll train for like another two hours. Three hours in my basement.

34:33
That’s awesome. That’s so cool. You’re making so many memories, dude. Oh, yeah. You know, the whole Instagram thing. We just started that so we can you know, we can record his journey. You know what I mean? Like, from the beginning and then it just took off. You know, within six, seven months, the kids got 6500 followers on Instagram and it just blowing my mind. I’m like

34:57
crazy. Well, listen, we’ve been

35:00
On here for about a half hour or so, I want to let’s just put it out there, what? What parting words would you give the

35:11
the high school or soon to be high school graduate

35:17
about, you know, consideration of skilled trades? What would what would be your words of advice for that particular individual or parents of that particular individual?

35:28
About skilled trades?

35:31
What I what I try to tell all my apprentices no matter what job you’re doing, never be too big for the job.

35:37
I don’t care if you’re sweeping, I don’t care if they have you taken out the trash be the best you can, whatever you’re doing, you know, and the trades, kind of like look at like, oh, that’s, you know, that’s what like people that like, don’t have money to go to college or whatever, and, and don’t be too big for it. Because, you know, you’re gonna find out real quick, you know, the college life might not be for you. And the trades is, you know, it’s it’s a dying art. It’s really dying art. And it’s you get to meet new people. Every day, you’re not going to the same place every every day. It’s I love it. You know, I love working out in the trades, meeting new people doing new things. They’re always coming out with new technology, new stuff. You know, it’s not only working with your hands troubleshooting, you have to use your brain. You know, you have to, you have to use your brain. Yeah. Well said, man. That’s, that’s awesome. You’re an inspiration, Chris. I appreciate it.

36:38
I’m glad you had me on today.

36:43
So that is it. I hope you enjoyed this episode. I very much look forward to continuing to connect with you. Please don’t hesitate to send me messages on LinkedIn. I’m on there all the time. Or you can reach out to me on my email. I’m at M Kenya at process Tiller academy.com And until next week, when I give you the next installment I wish you a great week, and I will connect up with you again soon. Take care.