Key Takeaways
- Tools Are Only Half the Game: Physical assets like infrared cameras and digital gauges are essential, but mental and emotional growth is equally critical to long-term success
- Continuous Improvement Mindset: The Japanese concept of Kaizen (continuous improvement) applies directly to your HVAC career and personal development
- Customer Experience Matters: Small gestures like asking “Is there anything else I can do for you?” separate professionals from the pack
- Mentorship Goes Both Ways: Seasoned pros should nurture newcomers while new techs should actively seek out mentors willing to invest in them
The Danger of Standing Still
Imagine going into the hospital for surgery. You check in, get into your room, work on your psyche to make sure you’re mentally ready for the procedure. Then the doctor walks over and says a few words that stop you in your tracks: “This is going to hurt, so here’s a bullet for you to bite down on.”
Maybe that’s extreme. But it’s not too far off from where we, as an HVAC/R community, could end up if we don’t stay current on technology proliferating right before our eyes. Digital controllers, connected gauges, instruments that allow deeper diagnostics than we’ve ever had before. Staying up-to-speed on these advances is what separates the true professional technician from the herd.
The days of being the “expert mechanic” are over if you don’t keep yourself educated on what’s transpiring within the industry. Not fond of VRV/VRF systems? You better get cracking. They’re not going away. Still eye-balling the flame in a combustion chamber to check air-to-fuel ratio? Not anymore. You need a combustion analyzer to ensure you’re on the money. In every aspect of your game, you have to invest in tools, spend time reading, listen to technical podcasts, and keep learning in order to continue the stride toward mastery.
Invest in Your Human Side
The tools, the training, the equipment. Yes, they’re all part of it. But what are you doing to ensure your human side is as buttoned up as your technical side?
While you’re on the roof changing filters during a routine PM visit, are you listening to informational or educational content that can guide you toward the future you want? Is Emotional Intelligence 2.0 in your ear? Are you learning how customers expect us to deliver at a high level, and how to ensure they only call you and your company when they have a need?
Resources like Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh or The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk can help you understand what it takes to keep customers engaged in this day and age. They expect things now that didn’t even exist ten years ago. If you’re committed to being a student of the trade, that investment extends beyond technical knowledge.
Small Things Mean a Lot
Small gestures make a difference to many people:
- At Chick-fil-A, when you say “Thank You,” they’re trained to say “My Pleasure,” not “No Problem”
- Keeping your shirt tucked in and being polite during conversations
- Not smoking or vaping around a customer
- Parking in the proper place on their property
One thing a longtime friend and colleague of mine did at the end of each service call: after giving a well-described summary of his work (not a thesis, but enough to allow the customer to understand), he would ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you while I’m here?”
Ninety-nine percent of the time, the customer would say “no, but thank you for asking.” Small things matter.
Speaking of preparation, Property.com's "Know Before You Go" tool lets you pull permit history and equipment records before you arrive. Knowing what's installed, what's been replaced, and what permits are on file helps you show up like a pro instead of fumbling through discovery. That's the kind of small thing that makes a big impression. Learn how Property.com helps techs work smarter.
Blend Learning Into Your Life
These points should not be invasive or intrusive to your life. They have to be blended into it. Everyone has commitments away from work: little league, soccer, scouts, your spouse’s needs, hunting, curling (my favorite winter sport), whatever. None of these preclude your ability to have a continuous learning mindset.
You see a new controller on a job site? Dig into it before you arrive. Yes, you’ll learn more standing in front of it, but having a cursory overview never hurts. Decided to give pressed refrigerant fittings a go? Practice in your garage before you’re on someone’s equipment.
The Japanese word Kaizen means continuous improvement. What if you decided to apply that to your career, your life in general? Is that the catalyst that puts you at the top of your game?
The Complete Package
Regardless of where you are in your journey as a craftsman, investing in yourself with physical assets (tools, smart technology, infrared cameras) is only part of the game plan. Making time and investments in your mental, emotional, and cognitive growth is equally important to your family’s long-term success in this industry.
We want you to be here. We want you to stay here. We want you to be the best you can be.
If you’re new to the industry, find a mentor to study under. You’ll have to ask, but they’re out there and willing to invest in you. Developing an HVAC Ninja mindset requires finding the right master to learn from. If you’re a seasoned pro, find a youngster or three and nurture them. Help walk them into our world. Show them the proper way, and show them a few missteps you made so they don’t wind up with the same scars.
Our world is small. You’ll see and work around people in your sphere for your entire career. Be kind. Help whenever you can. Set the bar for yourself high enough that you have to keep stretching. Don’t let fear hold you back from taking on new challenges.
Complacency is a death punch. Don’t be the one that gets knocked out.
Whether you require installation, repair, or maintenance, our technicians will assist you with top-quality service at any time of the day or night. Take comfort in knowing your indoor air quality is the best it can be with MOE heating & cooling services Ontario's solution for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation that’s cooler than the rest.
Contact us to schedule a visit. Our qualified team of technicians, are always ready to help you and guide you for heating and cooling issues. Weather you want to replace an old furnace or install a brand new air conditioner, we are here to help you. Our main office is at Kitchener but we can service most of Ontario's cities
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