Your Most Important Partner

1. Chapter 6
Your Most Important Partner

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
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Outstanding Journeymen
• Are builders and winners
• Make a commitment to excellence
• Commit to learning about their job
• Know how to think and solve
problems
• Identify ways to work better with
others
• Maintain a positive attitude which
prepares them for new
opportunities

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
and Safety Training
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Mediocre or Poor
Journeyworkers
• Close door to their
opportunity
• Doesn’t understand the
hurtful effect of negative
attitudes

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
and Safety Training
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Personal Commitment
• Only you can make you a
success
• Two self-defeating attitudes
– We can’t do much about the
“system”; all we can do is float
along and see what happens
– The system will take care of
us—no matter what, we’ll be
prosperous, or at least
protected from poverty and
illness

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
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Self Improvement
• First step is deciding what it
is you want to improve
– Set a time table
– Set a deadline and establish a
definite schedule

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
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Guidelines for Growth
• Never stop learning
• Stay curious
• Follow good examples
• Learn to think effectively
• Watch your personal
appearance

7. Session 1 -
Union Heritage
Module 1 -Union Heritage
and Safety Training
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Be Enthusiastic
• Build your enthusiasm
• Learn to be cooperative
• Be honest with yourself!

8. Session 1 -
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Module 1 -Union Heritage
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Strive for Excellence—
Outstanding Journeyworkers
• Open doors for themselves
• Enjoy richer and more satisfying lives
• Get recognition and status
• Earn greater material rewards, security and advancement
• Strive to excellence; they are winners
• Are builders and achievers
• Look forward to their job
• Show up on time every day
• Earn respect of others
• Understand employers
• Recognize their responsibility to the union
• Never stop growing or learning and getting better

9. Session 1 -
Union Heritage
Module 1 -Union Heritage
and Safety Training
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Mediocre Journeyworkers
• Close doors of opportunity to
inadequate performance, poor
attitudes and habits
• Blame others or something else for
their failures
• May start out strong but decide that
the world is down on them
• Get reputations as “C”, “D” or “F”
workers
• Not usually hired when employers
have a choice
• Have a reputation follows them

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
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Real Threats
• Open Shop contractors
– How all of us react will
determine future of unionized
pipe trades industry
– To survive and prosper, must
prove that we are the BEST
and most economic choice

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Module 1 -Union Heritage
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Need for Achievement
• Need for basic necessities
of life—food, clothing,
shelter
• Yet, we need more—need
to be treated as intelligent
human beings and to be
part of something we
consider worthwhile

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Challenges Ahead
• “The first call for the really interesting
jobs—the challenging promotions and the
special assignments—will always go to
those who are skilled in their trade. They
will go to those who have served their
apprenticeship effectively.”

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Who Has Greatest Assurance
of Security in an Uncertain
Future?• Individuals with the
best skills
• Individuals with the
most knowledge
• Individuals with the
best attitudes and
habits
These are the qualities of
an individual who is the
most employable and the
most promotable!

14. Session 1 -
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It depends on YOU