Finding Gratification in the Art of Carpentry

As it is with most of us we get up early and head out for the day, seeking to earn a solid wage for a day's worth of work. Without much thought most people simply consider this the standard practice for a job. Now think for a moment and ask yourself if you've ever had a #job that wasn't work in traditional sense but rather, was art.

I hold empathy for those who hold a job in which the work is mindless, tedious and boring. We have all been there at one time or another as we first stepped into the world of #employment. Sometimes employees are forced to bite their lips and manage monotonous tasks. Sometimes they feel unchallenged and uninspired. And sometimes employees do the bare minimum, sabotaging their own levels of promise and ability in the process. As carpenters, our job sites can be a blank canvas where we build structurally sound, healthy and safe, #energyefficient, environmentally friendly structures that directly affect the lives of others. We help bring services, shelter and security to the very communities we helped build.

What we do can truly be defined as art, with value that far surpasses aesthetics, and while our roles within producing the art can vary, inspiration and pride should be growing and flourishing within all of us. Many with jobs do not get to experience the adrenaline rush and satisfaction that comes with building something from nothing with their hands, and being an asset to everyday life for so many! When you are on a job site, are you an indispensable craftsman armed with confidence to get the job done right, on time and on budget? Are you in a zone of knowing what needs to be done and tackling it, all while mentoring others who see you as a highly trained, eminently skilled #leader? Are you working your way up the ladder with these visions in mind?

In September, the Chicago Regional Council, our Apprentice Training Center, and our contractors, employers and board of trustees formally recognized 194 apprentice graduates at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. In November, nearly 200 registered attendees participated in the Carpenters' Apprentice Open House in Elk Grove Village. Both of these events enjoyed significant increases in graduation and attendance numbers over the preceding year. Like all of us, each of these new journeymen and potential new apprentices has a story to tell as to why he or she considered or is considering a #career as a union carpenter. Some may say wages, some may say benefits such as health care or a pension, and others may simply be attracted to a career path alternative to college. And yet, when our careers in this vocation begin to sunset and we reflect on all we accomplished while holding a level of dignity and #financialcomfortinretirement, where we as union carpenters may feel the greatest gratification is in the work itself. That's because we were among the fortunate souls who worked in a career in which the job was not work in the traditional sense. Our work was an art, and we were the artisans behind the construction. We worked diligently and passionately to perfect our skills and advance our knowledge, immersing ourselves in blue-collar creations that sprung from nothing and ultimately may have meant everything to someone else.

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other," said John F. Kennedy.

Strive to make the most of yourself and your abilities wherever you may be in your career.

(Written by Don Scott while employed as Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters' Communications Director) #GetHired #JobSeeker