By Darren Lum

What do you need to start in the trades?

You know, the saying that it starts from within? It’s true.

There are three things to remember when starting anything new, particularly when it comes to an area of work that is a contrast to what you’re used to: Attitude. Attitude. Attitude.

That said, it doesn’t hurt to have an open mind, courage to admit ignorance and, most definitely, show up.

Fellow Gen Xers know this already. My parents never let me forget it. I can still remember pretending to sleep in on Saturday mornings when my father would come to my room to drag me from my “slumber” to go to Chinese school. Arguably, I was the worst student in the school. My father didn’t mind. He just didn’t want to have to lie when his siblings in Hong Kong asked about their nephew and how he was doing with language lessons.

I have had my series of physically demanding jobs, whether it was as a bike messenger in Toronto, or, most recently a dogsled guide in the Highlands. (Carrying a 70 pound dog is harder than it looks.) Also, with my first marathon behind me I’m not adverse to difficult practices. The training that I did in the lead up to the 42.5 kilometre race in Cornwall taught me that showing up for my runs no matter the weather was integral to my achievement. (Under four hours by the way. Wahoo!)

Showing up when the bugs are numerous. Showing up when the humidity and heat are unbearable. Showing up. Period. There’s a lot to be said for consistency.

Back to attitude …

Having a receptive attitude isn’t only applicable for the trades, but, really, anything in life.

There are a vast amount of opportunities for the intrepid, the person that welcomes discomfort. Where there is discomfort there is growth. (I’m at least 10 feet tall now after a little more than a month working.)

With this in mind, come to work ready for whatever the day brings, which means having the necessary tools to do the basics when called upon. This includes a tape measure (and how to identify fractions), cordless drill, cordless driver, carpenter’s square, pencils, marker, and a utility knife. Don’t forget personal protective equipment such as a mask to filter the air, safety eye wear and ear protection, green tag work boots and work gloves. Remember a tool belt or pants with plenty of pockets to carry the tools required of the specific job site will be handy, too. Screws have a way of cutting through shirt pockets.

Although I had limited working knowledge of how to use the variety of construction tools, I recommend tackling a few DIY tasks around your own place to familiarize yourself with the tools you bring to the job site. It’s helpful to know the difference between a drill and an impact driver, which I’ve learned is the former bores holes while the latter drives fasteners. YouTube is a wonderful resource, but nothing beats real world experience and hands-on opportunities. The torque available with an impact driver took me aback when I used it the first time. The power!

Be sure to take care of yourself.

This means receiving ample sleep for recovery, nutrition and hydration before, during and after and also ensuring personal safety at the job site, which means more than wearing the necessary articles of clothing, but also moving around the job site, and heavy machinery like excavators with caution, yielding and being visible to the operator. At the end of the day, I am responsible for my own well-being.

Although my road to becoming a proficient contributor at a job site will have bumps, it will be little bit smoother because of the supportive co-workers and encouraging site managers who are looking out for me to learn and to come home at the end of the day.