Burnt Out? pro wrench questions
12-31-19, 07:17 PM
#1
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Burnt Out? pro wrench questions
what is the main drive to keep you moving forward in the cycling industry? what keeps you motivated to keep turning that wrench?
I thoroughly enjoy the conversation and the feeling of helping those who need their bikes for commuting, exercise, and the thrill. to me Bicycles make people happier, only some choose not to see that. i want to see others perspective on why they choose to turn a wrench more than any other job.
I thoroughly enjoy the conversation and the feeling of helping those who need their bikes for commuting, exercise, and the thrill. to me Bicycles make people happier, only some choose not to see that. i want to see others perspective on why they choose to turn a wrench more than any other job.
12-31-19, 07:29 PM
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Justin,
For me it is the finished product. A good working set up and one that is very ride-able. And then there is the satisfied customers. Smiles, MH
For me it is the finished product. A good working set up and one that is very ride-able. And then there is the satisfied customers. Smiles, MH
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12-31-19, 08:06 PM
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All the usual reasons to do any job. Money (but not too much
), personal and social satisfaction, the "family" of the shop, ego (knowing more about something that others who are smart don't). Then there's the less common reasons like not being able to fit into the typical work place/corporate world, being financially independent and needing involvement with the world and you love riding. Andy (of course there's many reasons)
To continue I suspect the not asked question is how does one continue to do this stuff with real world pressures to be self sufficient/successful.
), personal and social satisfaction, the "family" of the shop, ego (knowing more about something that others who are smart don't). Then there's the less common reasons like not being able to fit into the typical work place/corporate world, being financially independent and needing involvement with the world and you love riding. Andy (of course there's many reasons)To continue I suspect the not asked question is how does one continue to do this stuff with real world pressures to be self sufficient/successful.
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AndrewRStewart
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12-31-19, 08:24 PM
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I'm mostly in this for the "Burnt Out" angle.
I'm a "pro mechanic", but in another industry. From '87 to '95 I was a machine operator that did my own repairs whenever possible. That led me to get a job being paid to do those repairs that I've held from 1995 to the present.
I do the job for the money, the freedom of my schedule being set with my customers directly, and not punching a time clock. The good days are when I'm installing or training customers on brand spanking new equipment with new technology built in. The bad days are when I do a dirty, greasy, hard on the body job for the thousandth time, or dealing with a bad customer.
Always, always on my mind is the monthly billing goal we are expected to meet. Which can be stressful one month, and then have a bounty of billing the next month.
The best thing that helps me fight burnout is having several days off in a row where I don't have to see customers, machines, or fight traffic to get to those machines.
I'm a "pro mechanic", but in another industry. From '87 to '95 I was a machine operator that did my own repairs whenever possible. That led me to get a job being paid to do those repairs that I've held from 1995 to the present.
I do the job for the money, the freedom of my schedule being set with my customers directly, and not punching a time clock. The good days are when I'm installing or training customers on brand spanking new equipment with new technology built in. The bad days are when I do a dirty, greasy, hard on the body job for the thousandth time, or dealing with a bad customer.
Always, always on my mind is the monthly billing goal we are expected to meet. Which can be stressful one month, and then have a bounty of billing the next month.
The best thing that helps me fight burnout is having several days off in a row where I don't have to see customers, machines, or fight traffic to get to those machines.
12-31-19, 08:47 PM
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56's comments remind me of what my late wife said to me when we first were courting. "You're a much nicer person if you ride your bike home from work:" So getting physical relief is important to leave stuff at work.
When I was young I looked forward to learning from the older guys at the shops I stinted in. Then as I took over the management duties I looked forward to teaching the newbies. Now as I am only a few years from the usual retirement I find I'm learning from the young Andy (who is teaching a younger but still old coworker how to braze, currently)
When I was young I looked forward to learning from the older guys at the shops I stinted in. Then as I took over the management duties I looked forward to teaching the newbies. Now as I am only a few years from the usual retirement I find I'm learning from the young
Andy (who is teaching a younger but still old coworker how to braze, currently)
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12-31-19, 09:06 PM
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56's comments remind me of what my late wife said to me when we first were courting. "You're a much nicer person if you ride your bike home from work:" So getting physical relief is important to leave stuff at work.
When I was young I looked forward to learning from the older guys at the shops I stinted in. Then as I took over the management duties I looked forward to teaching the newbies. Now as I am only a few years from the usual retirement I find I'm learning from the young Andy (who is teaching a younger but still old coworker how to braze, currently)
When I was young I looked forward to learning from the older guys at the shops I stinted in. Then as I took over the management duties I looked forward to teaching the newbies. Now as I am only a few years from the usual retirement I find I'm learning from the young
Andy (who is teaching a younger but still old coworker how to braze, currently)
12-31-19, 09:16 PM
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Another thing to fight burnout is to always get better at what you do. Learn how to do the higher skilled things because doing the mundane things can drive you crazy if that's all you do. Unless maybe you're one of those "Zen" mechanics, of which I am not.
01-01-20, 08:11 AM
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I've always been mechanically inclined, and enjoy learning new things. I'm not the youngest guy on this forum, so with all of the changes in the bike industry, I have the chance to learn and wrench at the same time. Double the pleasure, double the fun! The forum is a big help, I'll read about different fixes, even tho they might not apply to my bikes. So, keep up the good advice folks, it's appreciated.
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01-02-20, 04:59 PM
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Whether it's work or just to volunteer; It's the genuine appreciation from those that are not bashful to seek legit help for a problem/situation that I can resolve or at least assist with.
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01-03-20, 02:00 PM
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interesting career question, as if any of us really have choices/options
01-03-20, 06:19 PM
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Every single repair (with the possible exception of punctured tires) presents a unique problem in some way, that and the satisfaction of doing something complicated and well.
01-03-20, 07:09 PM
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An interesting idea from rumrunn6 about choices, and a comment from myself.
As a former D-1 assistant coach I sent a note to one recent graduate asking how it was entering the working world. He responded: "coach when you are doing what you love it is not work". And I think that sums it up. When wrenching becomes work it is the point of burn out. Most of us here on the forum still "love what we do". Whether it is problem solving, or helping another cyclist, it is what we love to do. When it becomes routine going to work and coming home, it is no longer a work of love, but just another job. And that is burn out. Smiles, MH
As a former D-1 assistant coach I sent a note to one recent graduate asking how it was entering the working world. He responded: "coach when you are doing what you love it is not work". And I think that sums it up. When wrenching becomes work it is the point of burn out. Most of us here on the forum still "love what we do". Whether it is problem solving, or helping another cyclist, it is what we love to do. When it becomes routine going to work and coming home, it is no longer a work of love, but just another job. And that is burn out. Smiles, MH
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