"A" is for AutoCAD

Confident computing

Steve, Foreman for a full service mechanical and plumbing contractor in Wilsonville, OR told Session 3 of Turbo Leadership Systems' Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

"In the spring of 2000, 19 years ago and 19 years after graduating from high school, I decided to take a computer-aided drafting class; AutoCAD, for short. I was working at Oregon Cascade Plumbing and Heating at the time. John Welborn, the owner, recommended I take the class and add to my capability as a foreman.

"I agreed to take the class, but after signing up, I was nervous because at the time I barely knew how to turn a computer on and off. I probably should have taken a basic computer class first.

"The class was over-enrolled with standing room only. After the first session, I felt lost without the most basic understanding of how to use a computer. I was way over my head; to say I was out of my comfort zone would be an understatement. I was sure I would fail the class. I wanted to quit, and probably would have but, I knew if I did I'd have to explain it to my boss. Much worse, tell my three teenage daughters I was a 'dropout.' So, I decided to stick it out and give it my all.

"In order to catch up from the previous session, I showed up for each session as soon as the lab door was open. I worked through breaks and was always the last one to leave. I was always first with my hand up requesting more help from the instructor.

"After 12 weeks of hard work, I not only passed, I earned an 'A.' Subsequently, I was assigned the new West Salem High School as the pipe-fitter and mechanical foreman. I was able to use my newly learned CAD skills laying out equipment, house-keeping pads, pipe routing, pouring concrete arches for pipe supports, pipe arrangements, pre-fab drawings, and many other applications. The West Salem High School project was very successful and rewarding.

"The lesson I learned from this experience is to never give up on myself. I learned that the harder something is to do, the more rewarding it is when it's successfully completed.

"The action I call you to take is believe in yourself and take the learning risks you may be afraid of trying.

"The benefit you will gain is you will grow in self-confidence, advance in your career, and have pride in your accomplishments."

What is one of the many things you have said you would like to be able to do? Sing in the choir? Play a guitar? Speak Spanish? Use a new computer program? What is holding you back? - Really? Are you sure it isn't fear? Remember, as Steve says, "the more challenging it is, the more rewarding it will be when you master it."