I'm pretty sure my road to surveying wasn't really much different than a lot of other folks. I'm a legacy. Pops was a surveyor....So when I quit HS in the late sixties I wound up on a survey crew.
I don't want to make it sound like it was some sort of indentured tenure, it wasn't. Pops probably gave me some loving direction like "gitta job"...and when that didn't come to fruition as quick as he would have liked...that's when I wound up on a crew.
I had plenty of experience by then however. I had been dragged out in the field every weekend by my father since I was a trike motor, but the emphasis was surely not on educating me. I was just there to help. I really wasn't sure how much I did, or didn't know. I just wanted to help, or at least not hinder the crew. I don't really ever remember thinking about absorbing any knowledge as I worked. I just didn't want to get yelled at. And, most importantly, I remembering WANTING to do things right.
Then there was a warm spring morning that something happened that gave me some confidence. The regular party chief was going to be gone for a few days and one of the guys from the office became our substitute boss. And he didn't view the task in a favorable light. He yelled at us and reiterated how worthless he thought we were. I guess his abilities were far better applied indoors than out. But as he pointed out several times, we were going to HAVE to work together...so listen up!
One of the on-going projects we had was a road job. We had already staked it, several times. Now we were into the grading, and my least favorite chore...blue tops. I remember thinking this is gonna suck. A job I hated, with a new boss that hated us. The day was going to last forever....
After we arrived and had everything set to go, I grabbed the Philly rod and headed off for the BM we had been using. When we started the job we had run levels up and down the project and the PC cussed a bunch. We reran everything and apparently determined some of the BMs on the plans weren't proper. Somehow the PC figured out this one MH was good one. And we had used it almost exclusively every time we revisited the site. That was the BM I headed toward.
But the "new" PC didn't see think that was right. And he let me know what he thought. Silly me, thinking again....Long story short; we started blue topping off of a BM that was no good. We were digging holes half a foot deep to set hubs...in an area that previously had been fairly close to grade. Something wasn't right, and I knew it. Right before lunch I had to tell the new PC that I thought we had a problem. He blew up, yelled at me, and pretty much made sure I wasn't going to make a peep for the rest of the day. Then as lunch drew near we checked a couple of other BMs noted in the field book. He grew increasingly quiet. Then we had to check this...and shoot that..
As we ate our lunch the PC sat quiet, then read and re-read the notes and scoured the plans. After lunch we got back out there and I was instructed to give him a shot on the REAL BM (that I had pointed out to him earlier). We spent a couple of hours digging up what we had done that morning, filling the holes in and setting blue tops that looked a whole lot better. The dick-head never said a word to me about it.
That was a solidifying moment in young Paden's career. I remember realizing I knew more of what was actually going on out there than that stupid tech-turned-party-chief-for-a-day. I was blessed with a little confidence in my abilities. I realized I knew more than he did about the project, and given the chance, probably could have done a better job of party chiefing than him. It was a good feeling. Being "right" is a good thing. And when you're "right"...things get done like they should.
So if I could tell a new hire ONE THING....I'd tell them to speak their mind. Although I spoke my mind long ago and it was ignored, I still spoke up. It's important to let your thoughts be known.
I'm glad nowadays there is a little more "education" hopefully being bestowed on the new and inexperienced members of our work force. And speaking up and communicating back and forth is really where knowledge is transferred. Yelling and belittling hired hands only gets you despised.
Speak up, even it gets you yelled at...you might learn something. B-)
I would explain to them that whenever you come across a problem or are accused of messing up:
FIRST: ALWAYS ASSUME THAT YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE AND CHECK YOUR OWN WORK FIRST!!!
A good Supervisor listens to his people. I've kept out of trouble more than once simply listening. A lot of times their concern was unfounded but I listened and never dump on someone for speaking up, I tell them that's what I expect. Let me know if you think something isn't right, if it is right, don't worry about speaking up.
In the future, when you are Chief, if you start on the block corner and measure 205' west per the Deed then set up there, turn 90å¡ (per the Deed) and you are looking at the front wall of a 115 year old house STOP! More investigation is required. I doubt a 115 year old house is actually encroaching under a number of theories.
I'll take an honest ignorant man over a smart dishonest man any day of the week. A survey business must be operated on trust. You violate that trust and it is nearly impossible to be restored. Be honest. The skills and knowledge will follow.
The first thing my party chief told me when I started, "Never lie about what you find or observe."
And, go study something that will make you real money.
That is exactly what I tell all the new guys...both of those things. Generally, I think they hear the first one, and pretty much are too stubborn to hear the second.
'The good days outweigh the bad', and 'eventually it will all make sense'
Check. Then double check. Then check again from another way.
Whether a form board for new construction or a title survey on an existing house, always double or triple check that you are on the right lot. I wish I could say I've never surveyed the wrong lot, but... once....
Don't screw up more in the morning than you can fix in the afternoon. - My Dad
paden cash, post: 357072, member: 20 wrote: WANTING to do things right.
That, my friend, is one of the most important keys to success.
B-)
Great post!
Finding the correct monument is secondary to learning what buttons to push to get the distance or position to it.
Read Cooley every time the monuments and occupation don't fit the deed.
Everybody makes mistakes. It's just part of being human. What differentiates between them are the ones that are self aware of their potential to make a mistake and quickly own, correct and learn from them, and the others who remain unaware and hide or deny any responsibility and seek to cast blame on others. One builds trust while the other tears it down.
I agree speak up. It is nice to know that the newbie cares and is actually thinking about what they are doing. The next thing you know they might even use a little initiative. The crew member that will not just learn what you show them, but actually want to improve upon a proceedure is on the road to success.
Be a student, not an expert.
The minute you think you're an expert some new piece of information will prove you wrong, and I'm okay with that.
Dave Karoly, post: 357112, member: 94 wrote: Be a student, not an expert.
The minute you think you're an expert some new piece of information will prove you wrong, and I'm okay with that.
I use to have a boss that always told me, "the more you open your mouth, the more chances there are for you to stick your foot in there...".
Take your time and do it right the first time
I guess Paden's experience is common across several disciplines where the "qualified" knows, but the "unqualified" doesn't.
Ignore local knowledge at your peril. I'd say it separates the foolish from the wise.
Good story, thanks for sharing.
Learn the old, manual method of collecting data - we can make mistakes a lot faster now! You need to know how to recognize them faster.
Always document your work. Nothing is worse for me in the office than trying to track down a problem with a survey, asking the crew what they did, and having them tell you they don't remember. I'm a big fan of old school, pencil and paper field books - a good set of notes is well worth the time spent.
