forestfireguy
08-17-2008, 06:08 PM
Guys, and ladies if any visit here.......
I'm not one to gush, but some news came my way recently about an old neighbor of mine, the guy who taught me most of what I know about this end of the business. He's a master mason, bout 45 years old, he started working with stone and concrete in his early twenties. The man is a friggin magician with anything stone, block or concrete. Well anyway heres my point, WORK SMART.....he's always been the hardest working person I ever knew, long hours, 7 days a week, whatever it took to get the job done at any cost to his body. He has had lime poisoning 4 times, his fingers look like something you'd see in a medical journal and most recently, he blew out a tendon in his hand and it coiled up near his elbow ( ended up waiting 3 months for surgery because he downsized his biz and didn't have the employees to keep up with his work, when he finally got around to it they told him he waited too long and now he cannot grip anything with his middle finger, it's just kinda there) and while waiting for the surgery blew out a couple discs in his back, couldnt even drive off the job, his foot was limp, they can correct it but he's done slinging block.......now he's done in business too. So take care of your body, those gloves we all hate serve a purpose, the stupid uncomfortable back support is useful despite being hot, sweaty and nasty. Use a machine where you can, if you can't get somebody to help you, don't be a hero trying to lift it all by yourself.........I know I've been guilty of the "iron man" complex, I think we all have, but we are all getting older....... thinking about him, 45, young family( he finally got around to it after work being his life for so long), big nut for a nice house and he's finished doing the only thing he knows......Those of you who have minimal employees or are solo operators especially, be careful it could all be over for you, one wrong lift, one too many days without gloves on, your body is fragile.....and it's the only one you get. I know this extreme, and actually pretty stupid but it happens.....it doesn't matter how good you are, or how hard you work if you arent smart about it.......work hard, work long, but do it smart, don't be a hero......
I'm not one to gush, but some news came my way recently about an old neighbor of mine, the guy who taught me most of what I know about this end of the business. He's a master mason, bout 45 years old, he started working with stone and concrete in his early twenties. The man is a friggin magician with anything stone, block or concrete. Well anyway heres my point, WORK SMART.....he's always been the hardest working person I ever knew, long hours, 7 days a week, whatever it took to get the job done at any cost to his body. He has had lime poisoning 4 times, his fingers look like something you'd see in a medical journal and most recently, he blew out a tendon in his hand and it coiled up near his elbow ( ended up waiting 3 months for surgery because he downsized his biz and didn't have the employees to keep up with his work, when he finally got around to it they told him he waited too long and now he cannot grip anything with his middle finger, it's just kinda there) and while waiting for the surgery blew out a couple discs in his back, couldnt even drive off the job, his foot was limp, they can correct it but he's done slinging block.......now he's done in business too. So take care of your body, those gloves we all hate serve a purpose, the stupid uncomfortable back support is useful despite being hot, sweaty and nasty. Use a machine where you can, if you can't get somebody to help you, don't be a hero trying to lift it all by yourself.........I know I've been guilty of the "iron man" complex, I think we all have, but we are all getting older....... thinking about him, 45, young family( he finally got around to it after work being his life for so long), big nut for a nice house and he's finished doing the only thing he knows......Those of you who have minimal employees or are solo operators especially, be careful it could all be over for you, one wrong lift, one too many days without gloves on, your body is fragile.....and it's the only one you get. I know this extreme, and actually pretty stupid but it happens.....it doesn't matter how good you are, or how hard you work if you arent smart about it.......work hard, work long, but do it smart, don't be a hero......