Media Star or Building Professional? You Choose
Fitzpatrick--Here’s another thing about home improvement “experts.” While you’re running your media empire of TV shows, newspaper columns, magazine articles and homeshow appearances, when do you actually have time to practice these skills you are supposed to be “expert” in?
The home improvement industry evolves rapidly, with new products, laws, codes and concerns emerging daily. You can hardly keep up if you’re actually immersed in the industry, actually doing the work, let alone if you spend all day talking and writing about doing the work.
If you scan this blog, you’ll notice that I post more often than Peg. That’s because Peg works at her job fulltime, every day, while I’m a part-timer.
Four years ago I injured my neck and was diagnosed with four degenerated cervical disks, the result of viewing plans for hours at a time on a flat surface. (Poor office ergonomics injure as many people as heavy labor does). This means I suffer a moderate amount of pain continually which is aggravated by most of the things you do as a designer--drafting, keyboarding, craning your neck over large sets of plans. Each year since the injury I’ve taken on fewer and fewer jobs. This year I will do only one; my own house. (More later).
And I already feel like I’m out of touch with the industry, even though...
I’m required to take ten units of continuing education each year (for NKBA).
My husband and I own a commercial floorcovering company and every night I’m regaled with tales from the front lines of multi-million-dollar building projects.
I attend at least two trade shows a year.
I attend at least two home shows a year.
I receive eight design and/or building magazines, all but two of them professional journals.
There is no substitute for being on a jobsite every day, interacting with actual clients and actual materials on actual projects. That's what makes an expert.
The home improvement industry evolves rapidly, with new products, laws, codes and concerns emerging daily. You can hardly keep up if you’re actually immersed in the industry, actually doing the work, let alone if you spend all day talking and writing about doing the work.
If you scan this blog, you’ll notice that I post more often than Peg. That’s because Peg works at her job fulltime, every day, while I’m a part-timer.
Four years ago I injured my neck and was diagnosed with four degenerated cervical disks, the result of viewing plans for hours at a time on a flat surface. (Poor office ergonomics injure as many people as heavy labor does). This means I suffer a moderate amount of pain continually which is aggravated by most of the things you do as a designer--drafting, keyboarding, craning your neck over large sets of plans. Each year since the injury I’ve taken on fewer and fewer jobs. This year I will do only one; my own house. (More later).
And I already feel like I’m out of touch with the industry, even though...
I’m required to take ten units of continuing education each year (for NKBA).
My husband and I own a commercial floorcovering company and every night I’m regaled with tales from the front lines of multi-million-dollar building projects.
I attend at least two trade shows a year.
I attend at least two home shows a year.
I receive eight design and/or building magazines, all but two of them professional journals.
There is no substitute for being on a jobsite every day, interacting with actual clients and actual materials on actual projects. That's what makes an expert.
permalink
