Reflecting on what we didn’t do in the past is a common source of regret. We often say to ourselves, “If I only knew then what I know now.” At the AHR Expo this year, a group of inquisitive high school students visiting the show asked me a question that caused me to reflect on my past. They wanted to know, “What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started in HVAC?” The question completely caught me off guard, so I went with my instincts and named the most important things I could think of.

What’s strange is none of the advice I gave the students was technical. In fact, it was old-fashioned and what many consider hokey. That’s what makes it so powerful. Most of us know these principles; we just forget them with everything else going on. See if you agree with the four things I shared with this young group in Chicago and capture what you would add.

Be Dependable

The first thing I shared was the importance of being dependable. This single trait sets the stage for a career. If you can depend on yourself, nothing will keep you down. If others can depend on you, you’ll have no limits in this industry. The opposite is also true. If you can’t depend on yourself, any obstacle will stop you. If others can’t depend on you, you’ll have a limited place in this industry.

A quote I love that spells dependability out nicely is, “Do what you say you will do when you say you will do it.” You will outperform most in our industry if you follow this single piece of advice.

As a teenager working part-time for my dad, I wasn’t very dependable and lacked initiative. Thankfully, this season of my life didn’t last long. That’s because my dad’s lead installer called me out one day in front of everyone. I was goofing off more than working, and he had seen enough. That kick in the pants was exactly what I needed to turn things around. I knew he was right and I’m grateful he cared enough to say something.

There are many in our industry who are just like I was in my teenage years. You know if you’re goofing off or not. Don’t wait for someone to point out your faults in front of everyone. Instead, take the initiative and prove you’re dependable. Look for the next thing that needs to be done on a job and do it. If you do what you say you will do when you say you will do it, I promise you’ll be the last one laid off in slow times.

Do the Right Thing

The next thing I shared was the value of doing the right thing, even if it means standing alone. Doing the right thing is having the courage to challenge yourself each day to do your best, even when you don’t feel like it. Someone who does the right thing is honest with themselves. They are aware of who they want to be and make changes to align with their ideals.

Doing the right thing doesn’t have to be a huge spectacle. Often, it’s simple things like showing up for work on time, doing your job, picking up your mess, being respectful, helping others, and being kind. These are all things that each of us can do if we just put forth the effort.

I’m grateful for the culture my dad worked to maintain in his company. I saw him and his guys practice doing the right things. He made sure our focus was on taking care of the customer and being thankful they chose us to do their work. That meant offering products and services they needed and performing work like we would want it done in our own homes. There were no high-pressure sales tactics, just serving the customer well and doing the right thing. We took care of them, and they took care of us. I’m sure this approach set the foundation for us to move into duct renovation and combustion testing. Once we found out about these services, we knew they were the right things to do.

It’s easy to forget our work if we’re busy gossiping, creating drama, taking too many breaks, constantly checking social media, or extending a lunch break for 30 minutes. People who do the right things don’t fall into these traps. Their focus is crystal clear. If they stumble, they change their ways once they’re aware of the condition. They understand doing anything less than their best compromises their integrity.

Study One Hour Each Night

The next thing I encouraged the students to do was study for one hour each night. When you’re starting out in HVAC, the sheer amount of information to learn and apply is overwhelming. It’s easy to think you must learn everything at once instead of creating a plan to learn what’s most applicable.

One year out of trade school, my dad’s lead technician took a job with the state. Suddenly, I was on my own with a lot to learn. Being in a small family company made learning a matter of survival. I’m grateful I read a quote around this time that said, “If you will study one topic for one hour a night, you will be an industry expert in five years.” I don’t remember who said it, but I took the quote to heart.

After work, I grabbed a service manual or book from school and sat on the floor of our small duplex with headphones on while listening to music. It’s like I went into a trance as I read and took notes. Since I needed to learn specific skills and concepts, I was picky with the content I studied. It had to be something I could use the next day, so I would remember it. Thankfully, the compounding effect of one hour a night showed up quicker than I could imagine.

Each of us has two choices with our time — we either spend it or invest it. If you choose to prioritize and invest your time, the results will eventually come. To start, grab a notebook and write down what doesn’t make sense to you. Then go get the answers. As you find them, dedicate a notebook page (or notes app) to a single question, answer, and resource. You will get a greater sense of accomplishment from finding the answers on your own. Once you master a topic, move to the next and then refresh yourself each season as you change back and forth from heating to cooling.

Forgive Yourself

The last piece of advice I left the students with was to forgive themselves because they will make mistakes. I encouraged them to be patient and know that making mistakes is one path to learning and eventual mastery.

Within the first few months of running service calls alone, I brought a blower assembly back to our shop from a home that was 45 minutes away (one way). I thought the blower motor was bad and didn’t have a replacement in my van. Unfortunately, the blower motor wasn’t the problem — it was a control board. I beat myself up for a month over that incident and still remember it like it was yesterday. However, my dad didn’t berate me. Instead, he joked and then encouraged me. He said, “I bet you’ll remember this one. Now go back and make it right.”

I made that 45-minute drive back and apologized to the customer. Then I told them what happened. I assured them we wouldn’t charge them for my mistake and didn’t hide my blunder. It was tough to own that mistake, but I knew I would not make it again. That’s part of the learning process. You try, make a mistake, analyze what went wrong, and then move forward to ensure it won’t happen again.

To be great in the HVAC industry, it’s crucial to strive for daily improvement. Don’t think you have to be perfect. Perfectionism keeps you from learning and makes you someone who gets defensive and blames others instead of owning their mistakes. You’ll never learn if you constantly blame others and circumstances for things that go wrong. Instead, look for small incremental progress in your skills each day. If you mess up, get past your ego, and figure out what went wrong so you can learn from the incident. Vow not to repeat it.

The Power of Mentoring

Looking back on these conversations with high-school kids at AHR, I realize there are so many other things I wish I had said. As you read, I’m sure you thought, “You should have said this!”

Reflection often provides clarity we don’t have in the moment, just like I didn’t have when I was with those students.

I owe a big thanks for the interaction with the high school students to Bryan Orr of Kalos Services/HVAC School fame and Ty Branaman with the ESCO Institute. This situation would not have happened without them. I could not have predicted how much I would enjoy the experience.

All of us have experiences, knowledge, and wisdom we can share with others to help them improve. I’m sure you noticed how much those I worked with in my younger years influenced me. Sometimes it was a kick in the rear, seeing their good examples, or a pat on the back to let me know I’ll be okay. Each incident slowly shaped my views and beliefs.

Those good examples taught me traits I could share with this incredible group of kids. Why not capture what you wish you knew when you were starting out and share it with the younger generation in your company? Remember those things you wish I had said while reading the article? Now’s your time to capture those ideas and share them with others. You might surprise yourself with how much you have to offer once you accept the role of a mentor.