Lessons from a master craftsman!
As 2020 neared its end, I decided to take a month-long break from research. I lacked the mental strength to get any work done. Looking back, I was mentally exhausted and handling so much uncertainty that I was no longer productive by November. So, I decided to take a break.
Around this period, my pastor, Mary, informed me that the church needed help in demolishing some structures. Since I was available, I decided to take on the task. The first few days required brute strength, i.e., demolishing walls and taking out the concrete. However, as the days progressed, I was introduced to the master craftsman, i.e., Pastor Rob. I call him a master craftsman not because of his qualifications but because of his working technique and style. His assistant, Kevin, mentioned that there was no part of the church building he had not touched before! Considering how big the church is, that is no mean feat.
Working with Pastor Rob daily had its serious moments — when the noise of a screw fastened wrong can make Pastor Rob shout in frustration. But the fun moments were rarely divorced from serious moments. His shout of frustration is not an outlet against the offending fellow (which is more often than not me) but his way of relieving tension.
While I still don’t know the perfect technique of fastening a screw (which is surprisingly hard for some reason), I picked many general lessons from this master craftsman.
Build Momentum: This lesson stands out in my interaction with Pastor Rob. His philosophy is that even though you don’t want to do anything, starting small can help you build momentum. Achieving little victories, e.g., putting a piece of wood in its right place, can give you the motion you need to get started for the day.
Ride the momentum: Once you have an amount of motion, keep it! Don’t stop; keep moving. At the end of every day, I am always amazed at the work we get done. I use “we” in a very loose context since the technique comes from Pastor Rob, the strength from Kevin, and I help in any way with fastening screws (OK, that’s not the only thing I do, but it is hard for sure).
Don’t make the detail a project: Pastor Rob has a saying, “I am paid to build structures, not fasten screws.” Granted, you need to fasten the structures somehow, but you don’t make that the most important thing you do and spend too much time on it. A simple detail is just that, a detail. Don’t lose sight of the big picture because it is easy or fun to fasten screws.
Be as accurate as possible: Nothing else matters! Keep it straight and right on the number because any little change affects the whole structure.
Keep making money: Finally, we either make money or lose money every day. This statement comes from the fact that a slow and inefficient worker costs the foreman money! Therefore, we make money when we are fast and efficient.
These lessons are useful in construction and everyday life, and that is the beauty of working with a master craftsman — you learn, and you grow. Of course, as I continue to work with him, I learn some of his techniques and his way of thinking. He has been giving me more responsibilities that tie into his end product. However, I think these lessons are some of the most important lessons I will take away from working with him.
Thank you, Pastor Rob, and keep the momentum!
