jeff kushner
Well-Known Member
One of the nice things about this forum is the sense I get that many other members are, ah, eh, more mature......like me.
In getting here, one of the real values I've found to getting older is the appreciation of "quantity of life experience" and many here are likely thinking "what took you so long jeff".
Some of you know, I guess for a living. I work as a chief estimator so in effect, I really do get paid to guess. Those guesses of course are predicated on all available knowledge of the playing field, the client, costs, the competition etc.....but in the end, it's my gut feeling that we follow. I also like smart people, the ones that don't think an excuse is a reason.
Here's one;
I have a guy, Bobby who I work with is retiring next week. He's 82 years old and my Senior Estimator. We first met in '86 & we hated one another, I was the 20-30sum year old Division head with a high degree of "dickage", he was the aging "old man" of nearly 50 and "Keeper the old ways" to me. We clashed a few times, once on the roof of one of the more secure buildings in DC while Secret Service agents tried to figure out what to do! LOL I was too young to give way and he was too smart. It took time but because we were forced to work together, things changed. Within 2 years I had respect for him, add 2 more and he had respect for me. We've worked off and on ever since, for nearly 35 years, more than some folks entire careers.
I've had many, many good estimators work with me over the past 40 yrs. Bobby''s been by far the longest and because I have my own exit strategy, I've planned ahead. Working right next to him is our Future....Brandon(no, not THAT "Brandon"). Brandon is 33-34 and came to work for me when he was 18 and will take over next year as I hand him the reins. I will provide backup for him and will leave in 3 years to go live my fairy tale with Kerry.
Together, Bobby and I have been successful, beating everyone else in the DC market on occasion & building some of the coolest buildings in DC. He's the smartest Refrigeration man I've ever met in 40 years in the trades, period. We've met Presidents together, worked in places that cannot be discussed and we've gotten our butts handed to us countless times when we lose and have argued politics like we belonged in the Capitol building.
I have benefitted far more that he will ever realize......we all have different teachers in life...............but how many do you have for 35 years?
Yeah, it's been an honor not many get...........
jeff
In getting here, one of the real values I've found to getting older is the appreciation of "quantity of life experience" and many here are likely thinking "what took you so long jeff".
Some of you know, I guess for a living. I work as a chief estimator so in effect, I really do get paid to guess. Those guesses of course are predicated on all available knowledge of the playing field, the client, costs, the competition etc.....but in the end, it's my gut feeling that we follow. I also like smart people, the ones that don't think an excuse is a reason.
Here's one;
I have a guy, Bobby who I work with is retiring next week. He's 82 years old and my Senior Estimator. We first met in '86 & we hated one another, I was the 20-30sum year old Division head with a high degree of "dickage", he was the aging "old man" of nearly 50 and "Keeper the old ways" to me. We clashed a few times, once on the roof of one of the more secure buildings in DC while Secret Service agents tried to figure out what to do! LOL I was too young to give way and he was too smart. It took time but because we were forced to work together, things changed. Within 2 years I had respect for him, add 2 more and he had respect for me. We've worked off and on ever since, for nearly 35 years, more than some folks entire careers.
I've had many, many good estimators work with me over the past 40 yrs. Bobby''s been by far the longest and because I have my own exit strategy, I've planned ahead. Working right next to him is our Future....Brandon(no, not THAT "Brandon"). Brandon is 33-34 and came to work for me when he was 18 and will take over next year as I hand him the reins. I will provide backup for him and will leave in 3 years to go live my fairy tale with Kerry.
Together, Bobby and I have been successful, beating everyone else in the DC market on occasion & building some of the coolest buildings in DC. He's the smartest Refrigeration man I've ever met in 40 years in the trades, period. We've met Presidents together, worked in places that cannot be discussed and we've gotten our butts handed to us countless times when we lose and have argued politics like we belonged in the Capitol building.
I have benefitted far more that he will ever realize......we all have different teachers in life...............but how many do you have for 35 years?
Yeah, it's been an honor not many get...........
jeff