Never diminish your worth By Chuck Morris, CTech
L
et’s face it; some of us have been around for quite a few years! That likely means we have a lot of history within the public sector, and more than likely in the public school portion of that public sector. Do not let your history be diminished by the years you have seen fly by. We have all seen them and what better way to preserve that history than to speak to someone about it (record it). When looking back on what you have gone through and what you have accomplished, you have carved a path. All of us have wandered and thought about what we could do to alleviate a certain problem. You could say we have helped to pave the way for the younger generation following us and willing to become facilities people. Willing to understand what came before them, and incorporate what they have discovered, and what they are dealing with today to form the path they envision; the path that will lead them to greater successes than we could experience. Those that follow us are from a newer generation and have a different
idea of how things can be done. Of course the ASHRAE’s and NFPA’s of the world will continue to coach us into compliance; that younger generation being barraged with so many other compliance issues as time moves forward that they will develop other methods to deal with regulations, bylaws, and legislation. Let us not forget the issues we dealt with and share them (the moments that will not embarrass us) with the new managers and directors in an effort to assist them with some insight to the issues of the day. I have been an advocate of mentorship for a very long time and the way I see it is we need to help those following in our footsteps, train them, and point them in a direction where they can succeed. I have mentored under a few different people through my life and they have had a profound influence on me; and how I interpreted whatever it was that I was dealing with at the time. Those of us who have had an opportunity to learn under the guidance of others, understanding why and what they were sharing, and developing their own ideas using the combined knowledge of mentor and mentee can only succeed!
Ph: 204.757.4534 Fx: 204.757.4618 GYMNASIUM EQUIPMENT INDOOR & OUTDOOR SPECTATOR SEATING SCOREBOARDS
CONSULTANTS SUPPLIERS INSTALLERS MANUFACTURERS
FOR OVER
50 YEARS
we have been Canada’s oldest and most trusted sports contractor, when your equipment is built by Royal Stewart Ltd., it is built to last!
240 IXL Crescent (St. Clements Industrial Park) Lockport, Manitoba Mailing Address: Box 2, Grp. 329 RR#3 Selkirk, MB R1A 2A8
www.royalstewart.com 46 Ops Talk •1Spring 679420_RoyalStewart.indd
2017
I look back on those who have become part of my life experiences and what that means to me today. There are many stages of anyone’s life where people (parents or many others) had an impact on how you grow and the choices you make. What choices did you have available to you? Not all interferences in your upbringing may have been positive, but with that being said, even those had an impact. How you were able to deal with that (with or without support) had a major impact on how you as a child growing up or as a young person entering the workforce dealt with situations that could be career changing. I suppose when we look at what we can offer to the younger generation of leaders following us, we can be honest, earnest, and straightforward, and offer a sense of determination that shows the responsibility we all carried. The sense that enabled us to do what we had to do, what we were dealt with, and as we think about that, how we actually carried out the directives, tasks, and moral obligations to see it through. I am proud of my history within the facilities management field. I am proud of the people I had an opportunity to coach, mentor, and lead. I can only hope that what I have done has had an impact on others and enticed them to look through the mists of time to find something that will enable them to deal with the new challenges that they now face. I also hope that my vision was clear enough to allow those following me to understand what it is they are actually facing and the tools are already nearby to give them the confidence they may need to face things head on and be as successful as I may have been. This is a proud and serious profession that cannot be taken lightly. Remember, look around and watch and listen. Do not take things for granted. Remember what your peers have told you, what those who came before you have done to create a pathway for you. n
3/14/14 10:32 AM
