By mastering our craft and trade, we start learning to think ahead. Driven by pride, the craftsperson is on a constant search to find small efficiencies at each step they take.

This becomes a habit.

That in turn becomes a practice.

And over a lifetime of building, observing, learning and adapting (BOLA), this practice makes you successful.

The determined craftsperson learns by doing.

They learn by watching others, by being curious, by asking questions, by studying up, reading books, online experiences, and attending craft conferences and expos.

They learn by trying things, seeing what worked and what didn’t, and then making adjustments and repeating the process all over again.

A meticulous craftsperson doesn’t mean moving slowly.

No, a true craftsperson combines both quality and speed.

They take away the tricks of the trade that they learn from the production jobs.

Then, with their inner focused self-required need to do things well, they see how they could apply those tricks while still maintaining the quality of work that makes them sleep well at night.

Once, they’ve mastered the art of producing great work over and over again, it’s time to take the next step, that of leading a crew.

In other words, learning the art of management and motivation.

This is the beginning of Becoming a Builder.