Learn a New Skill: Find a Mentor in the Business

**Our honesty policy: This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. Some are, some aren't--I do some comparison shopping. The important thing is you will know exactly what we are talking about. Drop a note/comment if you have any questions on the products as these are materials and tools we use on our own projects.

My husband soaking up information from Rich, the owner of South West Set N Stone and Dust Sharkz

Is there someone in a skilled trade you know who you look to as an expert? Or perhaps there are several people who collectively may help you learn a new skill? How many times do you think someone is complimented for their mastery of a subject? By asking to learn from them you are trying to emulate them, which we all know is a form of flattery. When you find a mentor it can be as easy as someone you already know or someone you meet by chance.

A mentor will guide you past some of the pitfalls. By learning their hard earned lessons you are saving yourself time and heartache. A pro tip like “match the polish of your bullnose to the polish of the tile” makes a difference! If you did not have that knowledge and you realize the mistake too late you either decide to live with over polished edges or redo your work with new tile. Mistakes still happen, but once you find a mentor they occur less often and you get the inside edge on how a real life professional does it for real!

You never know the time or place you will find a mentor!

Perhaps you already have someone in mind. This is ideal so you can get started cultivating a win-win relationship right away. Try to give them something of value when you approach them. Is there something you can do for them while you are learning?

At the same time, perhaps you haven’t met your most influential mentor yet! In your quest to find a mentor, be open to anyone you meet. So many times an unexpected circumstance like a random seat choice on a Southwest Airlines flight or conversation in line at Home Depot could turn into a real relationship.

A Personal Experience

I found my first tradesman mentor by pure luck. We met while searching for travertine tile for the bathroom in my rental property. Craigslist helped introduce me to Southwest Set N Stone. Here I met a wonderful person, Rich, the owner. Rich had just started a small display area to sell tile on top of his already hopping tile installation service. Of all the travertine tile advertisements on Craigslist, his stood out.

Generally, Craigslist is a buy and walk away with no interaction after the exchange of money and goods. However, Rich immediately hit it off with me and my husband. It was a fortunate happenstance.

My first impression focused in on the quality of his character. He is an honest and genuine individual. I was only looking for materials at the time, but he was a wealth of knowledge who enjoyed sharing his trade skills. It was the perfect match since we were in full knowledge sponge mode, absorbing every last detail anyone would tell us.

Did we seem that lost and confused? Maybe.

The Deal

Rich offered to teach us how to fabricate a tile mosaic with some of the tile I bought. It would be easily transferable and quick to install. One Macaroni Grill meal-to-go, a few hours learning from a wonderful mentor, and we had a stunning waterfall mosaic intended for the rental property.*

In exchange for a good meal, Rich volunteered to stay late in the office one evening finishing paperwork while we worked in his shop. He graciously opened up his fabrication area, showing us how to measure off the tile, use his wet saws, and perfectly line up the tile on the mesh backing like you see with the smaller tile in Home Depot, Lowe’s or specialty tile shops. Of course, he checked in from time to time. After a well deserved reprimand for tiles out of line we ended up with a beautiful mosaic.

I’m not sure if it was pity because he could probably see we were so over our heads from a mile away, or enjoyment of watching two people grow. In all seriousness, I know based on his character he genuinely wanted to help. We were talking about a remodel two states away so it isn’t like we were going to be able to use his installation services. At the same time there was no way he could be this open and welcoming to everyone otherwise how could he stay in business? Right?

Or were we the weird ones? Maybe.

We felt like we had won the tile lottery! I didn’t know one existed but I know there is one now! Rich adopted us as his tile grasshoppers. This only helped us feel even more energized for our project. We still feel truly grateful for his encouragement in showing us how to do something new. A real life professional had shared invaluable information with our charity case. It still is awesome.

Continue cultivating your relationship with your mentor

We still check in from time to time despite his absolutely insane work schedule maxed out with many high-end projects. I still find it humbling and grateful to be in his network since we are small potatoes on his radar. He is my first point of contact when I am in need of tile, stacked stone or a countertop slab. Sometimes my husband or I call to get a reference for another tradesman in an entirely different line of business. Other times it is just to say hello.**

At one point my husband worked as the Director of Facilities at Maggie’s Place, heading up the rebuild of the Magdelane House and adjacent apartments. He coordinated the volunteer services of Rich and his crews to prep and install all seven bathrooms as well as all floor tile throughout the entire property.

What else do we give in return for his help? Raving recommendations. While I continue to give him business when a project comes up, I also give his name to any friend with a project that even hints at considering tile.*** Of course, you will feel the same about your tradesman mentor, too!

Just a note, this is slightly different than shadowing a tradesman as they work on your home. That is a subject for another post. Also remember helping a friend with their DIY remodel is another great way to learn a new skill.

*Note the word “intended”. I thought the rental bathtub was separate from the shower enclosure. Delays in other areas on top of a bathtub/ shower enclosure kit meant it did not end up getting installed at this house. 2400 round trip miles later it did get used in another bathroom.

**I am very excited to check out his latest venture, Dust Sharkz. As with any of the recommendations he has given me, everything he has said is pure gold. So I expect no less with his developed system for dust free tile removal. Having removed some tile on my own, I totally understand how the fine particles infiltrate everything. Stay tuned for more on this subject.

***It goes without saying, this blog post is such a recommendation. If all goes to plan I will finally get to return his kindness. Also note, I receive no form of compensation with this recommendation.  All of my thoughts and impressions are my own.