The Skilled Trades: Why Experience and a Willingness to Learn Still Matter in HVAC

I've been in the HVAC industry for three years, but my experience in leadership, training, sales, operations, and business goes back more than three decades.

That distinction matters.

I'm not going to pretend to be a 30-year HVAC technician. I'm not. What I do bring to the HVAC industry is more than 30 years of experience learning how businesses operate, how people learn, how teams succeed, how customers make decisions, and what it takes to build trust.

Those lessons have shaped the way I approach the skilled trades today.

The Skilled Trades Are About More Than Technical Skills

When people think about HVAC, they often think about equipment, refrigerant, electrical components, ductwork, thermostats, and tools.

Those things are obviously important.

But being good in the skilled trades requires much more.

You have to be able to troubleshoot.

You have to communicate.

You have to think critically.

You have to work safely.

You have to understand the customer's concerns.

And you have to be willing to keep learning.

A technician can know how a system is supposed to operate and still struggle when the real-world situation doesn't match the textbook.

That's where experience starts to matter.

My Leadership Experience Has Changed How I Look at the Trades

I spent approximately 31 years in the supermarket industry, starting when I was young and eventually working my way into leadership positions.

Over that career, I worked as a Store Manager, Regional Training Manager, and Acquisition Team Lead for new stores. I've also spent years involved in sales and leadership.

Those experiences taught me something that applies directly to the skilled trades:

People are your greatest asset.

You can buy equipment.

You can buy trucks.

You can buy tools.

But you can't simply buy a great team.

You have to develop one.

You have to train people.

You have to establish expectations.

You have to hold people accountable.

And you have to give good people an opportunity to grow.

Training Is One of the Things I Believe In Most

My experience as a Regional Training Manager had a major influence on how I approach business today.

Training isn't just telling someone what to do.

It's explaining why it matters.

It's demonstrating the right way.

It's allowing someone to practice.

It's correcting mistakes.

And eventually, it's giving that person enough confidence and knowledge to teach somebody else.

That's how knowledge gets passed from one generation to the next.

The HVAC industry needs that.

So do all of the skilled trades.

You Don't Have to Follow One Path to Build a Career

I think we've done a disservice to young people by sometimes making them believe there is only one definition of success.

A four-year college degree can be a great path.

But it isn't the only path.

The skilled trades can provide an opportunity to build a career, develop specialized knowledge, become a leader, and eventually own a business.

Someone can start as an apprentice.

Become a technician.

Become a lead technician.

Move into management.

Become a trainer.

Start a company.

There are many different directions a skilled trade can take you.

I've experienced that kind of career progression myself — not all in HVAC, but throughout my professional life.

The Trades Still Require Work Ethic

There is no shortcut around this one.

You have to show up.

You have to be dependable.

You have to be willing to learn.

You have to take responsibility when something goes wrong.

And you have to care about the quality of your work.

I've spent more than three decades watching people succeed and fail in business, and one of the biggest differences I've seen isn't always intelligence or education.

It's attitude.

The people who are willing to learn, work hard, accept responsibility, and keep improving tend to create opportunities for themselves.

HVAC Is Changing

Even though I've only been in HVAC for three years, I've already seen how quickly the industry is changing.

Equipment is becoming more sophisticated.

Variable-speed and inverter technology are becoming more common.

Smart thermostats and connected controls are changing how homeowners interact with their systems.

Indoor air quality and humidity control are becoming increasingly important.

Refrigerants and efficiency requirements are changing.

The technology isn't standing still.

That means people entering the trade today have to be willing to learn throughout their careers.

You can't learn one way of doing things and expect it to remain the same forever.

Technology Doesn't Replace Skilled People

I also don't believe new technology will eliminate the need for skilled tradespeople.

Technology can make a technician better.

It can provide information.

It can improve diagnostics.

It can make equipment more efficient.

But someone still has to understand what the information means.

Someone still has to diagnose the problem.

Someone still has to install the equipment correctly.

Someone still has to communicate with the homeowner.

And someone still has to take responsibility for the work.

That's why I believe the skilled trades have a very strong future.

Reputation Matters

One of the biggest lessons I carried from my years in business leadership into HVAC is that reputation is earned one interaction at a time.

A customer doesn't necessarily need to understand every technical detail of their HVAC system.

They need to know they can trust the person explaining it to them.

That means being honest.

Don't sell someone something they don't need.

Don't use technical terminology to confuse a customer.

Explain the problem.

Explain the options.

Do the work correctly.

And stand behind it.

Those principles aren't complicated.

But they matter.

I'm Still Learning Too

One thing I think is important to say is that I'm still learning.

I've only been in HVAC for three years.

I don't believe someone should ever be embarrassed to say they're learning something.

I've spent decades learning new businesses, new responsibilities, new technologies, and new leadership challenges.

The day you decide you already know everything is probably the day you stop getting better.

That's true whether you're an apprentice, technician, manager, owner, or executive.

Passing It Forward

What I hope to contribute to the skilled trades isn't just my HVAC experience.

It's the combination of everything I've learned throughout my career.

Leadership.

Training.

Sales.

Operations.

Customer service.

Team building.

Accountability.

Entrepreneurship.

And the importance of treating people with respect.

I want to see more young people discover that the skilled trades can provide a legitimate and rewarding career.

I want experienced tradespeople to have opportunities to become leaders.

And I want businesses in the trades to understand that developing people isn't an expense.

It's an investment.

The technology will continue to change.

The equipment will change.

The tools will change.

The industry will change.

But some things won't.

Show up. Work hard. Keep learning. Tell the truth. Take care of the customer. Take pride in your work. And help the person coming behind you become better than you were when you started.

That's what I believe the skilled trades are really about.