How Who influenced you? Where did you get your ability to...(semi long post)

[turbostang]

(stemming from Dr. Dave's post on school)

Dave's post got me to thinking - I didn't really do real good in school, just average, but I got lucky and retained what little I paid attention to. A very minimal college education that honestly amounts to nothing - and made a couple lucky guesses in the career field and now make decent money. Long story short, I had very little influence from my mother (who I lived with for most of my youth) to go to school, do better, get educated etc.

I don't have ANY idea how I picked up on manufacturing / machine work / fab work - other than my dad is a brilliant fabricator via his military experience. I don't think he had any formal training either other than what he picked up in the service.

In the late 1991 I got a job working on oil field equipment starting out at a whopping 5$/hr. At that point, I had NO experience in anything other than taking my car apart and putting it back together - but I knew basic stuff. Through 12 years of working there, I ended up working, part of which was in the machine shop part of the business- with NO training, All I learned was picked up through bullshitting in the shop, watching the machinists - rarely did I pick up something that I had to be 'trained' on... and even then, I did VERY little fab work. Things like reading a micrometer and understanding why certain machine practices work and some dont, I already knew, but had no idea how.

Here I am some 20 years later and I do the work that I used to look at and think that there would be no way I could ever do that kind of welding/fabricating/machine work etc...

I look back and think of all the people I worked with that came and went and had no idea WTF they were doing, and had been doing this kind of work for longer than I have - Where did they 'learn'??

I can't help but think that some of this shit is hereditary, but I have actually worked along side of my dad in that kind of work for a VERY small amount of time - so picking it up from him probably in that manner didn't happen.

I sit back and reflect often - I see my brother in a similar light, he's a hell of what I'd call a 'house fabricator' - he's remodeled his house from one end to the other, and has NO experience (he sells cars!). It looks like something from better homes and gardens. My 2nd brother, similar - but makes things out of what Id' call junk. Things like a desk out of two tool cabinets and a top sourced from government surplus, but completely functional.

I don't know where I was going with this other than, It's fascinating what you know without bieng told or taught.

Who influenced you in your learning / job / life?

[ceyko]

My Dad, wife, US Army and then numerous people afterwards.

I think it's important for people to always open to learning things from other people.

[roliath]

My dad

[jtm98snake]

My dad here as well. When I was younger I would have hated to admit that, but today I'm extremely proud to say so.

[Denny]

I think it came from my parents. I didn't want to grow up to be like them. Don't get me wrong, they're great people, but make very poor choices and it costedus a lot growing upand put them in a bad financial situation for the rest of their lives. All my siblings have pretty much continued the trend.

I honestly think they meant well, but didn't put too much effort into investing in our future (spiritually, mentally, physically, financially, etc.). I never got help with school. Never got challenged for mediocre grades, never pushed in activities, never praised for success. They did provide a roff over my head, clothing and food. I think I was immature for my age up past high school. I'm not talking about goofing off-type shit, but rather common sense and social refinement. I had a little hope when I played sports because I seemed to fit in better, but the years I didn't even have that going for me was hard. I also moved a lot. I went to four different high schools in four different years.

Nothing about me is like my parents. Everything is first focused on my children and their well-being, THEN whatever is left, my wife and I enjoy (when I'm even home). I often look at parenting as doing the opposite of what my parents would have done.

Funny thing, though, we're in constant contact and my father is one of my best friends. I still love them to death and I think their actions (or lack thereof) is what drives me today.

[Baron Von Crowder]

I worked for my dad doing home remodeling, and he taught me quite a bit about checking my work and making it right, even if I have to redo it. I also worked for one of those old school "Harry from Days of Thunder" kinda mechanics when I was young, and he taught me to pay attention to how something is when installed, how it works, and how it comes apart, so that when I put it back together, I know what it should be.


I also got to take a ton of metal/welding/paint and body classes in high school. My senior year I had english, and gov/economics, and 6 shop classes.

[Mysticcobrakilla]

I'd have to say my dad as well. I remember him telling me that it really doesn't matter what you do for a living.... Just do it better than everyone else.

[Silverback]

Mostly family

My grandfater on my mother's side was a very savy business man, and all around great guy, although he passed away when I was in jr high, he's still the type of man I aspire to be.

My grandmother is probably responsible for most of my manners, social interaction, and all around good southern boy charm. (although you fucks don't deserve to see it around here)

My mom was responsible for shaping me in terms of right and wrong, school, and everyday growth, as my parents were divorced from the time I was 5 years old, and I lived with her. She is a very giving woman, and has a hard time saying no to someone in need. While I don't necessarily give openly as she did, I do feel that my direct friends benefit from my generosity because of her upbringing. Those that are close to me know they can have the shirt off my back anytime they need it.

Although my dad wasn't much more than an every other weekend/one month a summer dad when I was growing up, his work ethic is what I strive for today. When I was younger and even early in college, I loathed the man for it. I grew up feeling that for him work was more important than his children. Today I understand why, and although I faught it most of my life, I'm glad I was raised by someone who valued not only a dollar, but what it takes to earn one.

There were several teachers throughout highschool that impacted me, but mostly in the opposite way. I was a class clown, Straight A student until high school, but still Honor Roll. I had teachers who told me that I'd never amount to anything, because of my Tom Foolery in school. Those are the teachers I set out to prove wrong. There were others that were positive influences, and I remember far less than I probably should.

One person that really has influenced me over the last 10 years, just happens to be one of my best friends. Marty (bybotie). He's one of the most stand up guys I have every met, and I'm lucky to call him my best friend. While we don't see eye to eye on everything, from politics to religion, to sports, or to life, I have learned to value his opinion on everything. And in the end I think he's helped me to learn to listen to others I don't agree with as well.

[trblshooter]

I'd have to say the people that have influenced me the most are the ones that have showed me what not to do, including my family.

I don't have a close relationship with my family. I've never really liked them. True story.

[Cannon88]

My grandfather and my step-dad. Both were/are strong minded people with hard work attitudes. And my mother taught me how to be respectable and kind hearted by her actions.

[stangin4lyfe]

Hard work was taught to me by my grandmother at a very young age and has been implemented throughout my life and will continue onward through my days.
If I am not giving 100%, I give nothing at all.
I very rarely have ever failed at anything and I am a firm believer that one can accomplish anything that they truly set their minds on.
I run over lazy people with a quickness and never look back.
The rest of everything that I know was self-taught(which is the hardest way that I learn).
I do wish I would have grown up with a fatherly figure, which in turn would have definitely helped me perfect some of my expertise.
Overall though, I feel that I have grown up a good person and hope to influence others all that I can in a positive way.

[Grape]

2 main influences, the Foyt family took me in when I was very young. The other is a man i still visit and work with on a weekly basis, taught me most of what i know....as he retired to arlington from southern california. Ron can be seen on multiple covers of hotrod magazine from the 60's while his chassis business was going.

http://cacklefest.com/Albertson.shtml

My mother and father were architects who were eaten up with the car hobby, however, professional motorsports is the only way i've ever made a dollar.

[cobrajet69]

Morals, respect, self worth - I got from my mother.

Having an early childhood from an abusive father, and then a divorced set of parents at 9yo, I didn't grow up with any [positive] influence from a male what-so-ever.

So, with that said, I can only say that my only "influence" in life stems from what I believe a good person should be.


David

[Strychnine]

For me it started with my dad and grandpa. I grew up watching them in the garage, going to NSRA shows, etc. I have very early memories of playing in my room and then hearing a loud roar (dad cranking up an open header engine in the garage) and running to the garage just to stand there and listen and watch.

Thanks to them I was always the kid in school reading car mags when other people were reading comics or novels or whatever else. I think it was 7th grade or so when I distinctly remember reading a Ferrari article in Car & Driver and deciding that I would be an engineer and have a job in the automotive industry.

10 years later I had an engineering degree and a job at an engine company. I should probably write my dad a thank you note.

[turbostang]

interesting results from this thread...