How do you treat your peers?

[jaylectricity]

I guess we need to define the term "peers".

Peers is defined in the dictionary. You also defined it pretty well in your post.

Great replies so far, everyone.

 

[LarryFine]

Excellent. we would all do well to emulate that.

Aw, shucks. And, thanx.

Who says I was admitting anything? Maybe I was bragging.

Maybe?!

 

[K8MHZ]

The best teacher is his own best student.

 

[jaylectricity]

I'll have to assume that the people that voted for the "I don't like the way the other options are worded" choice also don't appreciate those with more experience than them, nor do they want to pass on their knowledge.

So...if you don't like the wording...tell us what you are all about. You already said you don't learn from your elders and pass on info to your youngers. So tell us where you stand.

This poll is anonymous, so you don't have to out yourself...but if you want to, you should.

 

[zappy]

When you are not afraid of competition you are not afraid to teach others.

Thats deep!

 

[zappy]

I try to remain humble in all areas of my life. I try to remain open-minded and teachable. I try to pass on any knowledge and/or experience (good or bad) to any who will have it.

Very wise.

 

[Karl H]

In my experience, if you don't educate your crew one on one your just
shooting yourself in the foot. I get guys from other crews, that work under
foremen that don't teach and they are so counter productive compared
to my guys, that are very adaptive and not afraid to ask before they" just
guess", when faced with a new challenge.

 

[TOOL_5150]

i voted on this a while ago. I chose #1. I am greatfull of the knowledge that others have passed to me. I wouldnt be where I am today if not for others. i have no electricians in my family, and all my learning for the most part is hands on with other people and self taught out of the book. I appreciate the members and the forums I belong to. It is a wealth of free knowledge from others across the world, who I may have never been able to talk to if not for the forums. I have a helper that I am sure I bore daily with code articles and tidbits of information.

Basically, I have definately benefited by others passing along their knowledge, so I feel I should pass my knowledge to others asking for help. Not because I have to, but because I want to.


~Matt

 

[realolman]

I'll have to assume that the people that voted for the "I don't like the way the other options are worded" choice also don't appreciate those with more experience than them, nor do they want to pass on their knowledge .........

.

I voted for the don't like, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate and don't pass on. It means I didn't like any of the other choices.

Lots of fine people out there with more experience... enough jerks too. Some who couldn't pour yellow liquid out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel.

I think it all depends on the individuals every where you turn... above, below, or beside.

I'm thinking you must have had some reason or experience for posting this. You feeling like some older guy doesn't tell you enough? You thinking some younger guy doesn't appreciate you

Something happen you'd care to tell us about?

 

[growler]

How do you treat electricians with more or less experience than you?

/anonymous poll

I guess we need to define the term "peers". If another EC is playing by the same rules as me, hiring legal workers, paying payroll taxes, worker's comp, insurance, health benefits, etc. then he's my peer and I have no problem imparting knowledge I may have that he doesn't. On the other hand, if he wins a bid over me and he's hiring day workers off the side of the road and not paying any of the bennies he's not a peer and he gets nothing from me.

Goldstar has a good point. Are you talking about electricians that are working with or for you, or are you talking about the competition?


If someone is working with or for you then helping them and training them can be benifical to you. If they are in direct competition with you then it's every man for himself. I wouldn't waste any time trying to help out the competition, I'm talking about direct competition as in bidding for the same jobs. I like being a nice guy but I don't go that far.

 

[nyhockey]

When I came into the buisness I LOVED working with the "OLD GUY", he had a trick or two.
Now I have that same feeling when ask a question by a kid

 

[jaylectricity]

Goldstar has a good point. Are you talking about electricians that are working with or for you, or are you talking about the competition?

I have never met another electrician that I felt was "the competition".

I feel like they are my compadres, my brothers...guys that I can talk with to learn new things.

So you guys have competitors?

 

[jaylectricity]

And to further that...when I meet the inspector in a new town, I feel gracious to glean them for info.

 

[jaylectricity]

I voted for the don't like, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate and don't pass on. It means I didn't like any of the other choices.

But you did like one of the choices. You liked the first one. I think I made my point with this poll...either you liked the first choice, or you didn't like any of the other choices.

 

[readydave8]

When we're talking about knowledge one part of it would be knowledge of the NEC, I have often wished my competitors knew more, than we would be bidding the same work. I have heard several say "I always follow the codes that I know'" , what kind of motivation do they have to learn?

My peers and betters were and are very generous, I've learned a lot and when I was starting out some established electricians would refer work to me when they were too busy. I try to do the same for the ones coming up now.

Also I'm still making mistakes and learning from them. In fact some days I learn a whole lot. Other days things go pretty well.

 

[growler]

I have heard several say "I always follow the codes that I know'" , what kind of motivation do they have to learn?

This is a common mistake in the electrical field, people thinking that they need to learn the code or even that it's possible to learn the code. The only thing that's possible is to learn to read and interpret the code as it exist at any given time.

Even if someone memorized one code addition it would be useless in the next code cycle.

 

[growler]

I have never met another electrician that I felt was "the competition".

I feel like they are my compadres, my brothers...guys that I can talk with to learn new things.

So you guys have competitors?

Electrical work isn't some sort of cult or commune, it's a business and like any other business it is competitive.

It probably doesn't have to be as cut throat as it is but it will always be competitive.

 

[satcom]

This is a common mistake in the electrical field, people thinking that they need to learn the code or even that it's possible to learn the code. The only thing that's possible is to learn to read and interpret the code as it exist at any given time.

Even if someone memorized one code addition it would be useless in the next code cycle.

So true, the code is not something you study, but something you refer to.

 

[growler]

So true, the code is not something you study, but something you refer to.

I have to "refer" to the code all the time, trying to remember it is out of the question for me because I'm never sure which code cycle I'm remembering.

 

[brian john]

I have never met another electrician that I felt was "the competition".

I feel like they are my compadres, my brothers...guys that I can talk with to learn new things.

So you guys have competitors?

I only have one brother.

I'm no commie so I have no COMRADES

and after 25 years in business I have plenty of competitors.

I try to help out anyone I can, and have helped a few competitors when I thought my input would assist them.