The Heartbeat of America

  Over 200 steps later, I was at the top of a silo looking down from more than 60 feet in the air over a sand mine with a backdrop only West Texas can provide. Shortly behind me, two of the mine’s workers who, in way better shape than me, quickly got to the top of the silo like Rocky trumping up the stairway of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s hard to imagine anyone having that passion in the middle of a desert where a cool Spring day was 80 degrees and not a place of shade in sight. Even a cool breeze is ruined by a shot of sand in just the right place. I have a great appreciation for people like this that have learned trades and keep our country running. I grew up working with my hands, helping my dad work countless “side jobs” during the weekends. As a licensed master plumber, he was constantly utilizing his skills to make ends meet outside of his Monday through Friday job. In a world where most are forced to think success is governed by a degree printed on a piece of paper, these guys and gals are learning valuable skills that seem to be forgotten. They are the heartbeat of America, and we need more of them!

Have you ever wondered how your heat system is fueled in your house? Like many Americans, you may use natural gas or oil to heat your home. You can’t just stick a piece of black iron pipe in the ground and expect the gas or oil to start flowing to your furnace. There are people that have worked tirelessly to mine that resource from the earth and find a way to get it to your house. From pipeline infrastructure that would make your head explode, to roles that help provide the necessary supplies, and even the teams out there working directly to keep a frac pad operating, there were people involved in the entire process, many of them skilled trades workers who are underappreciated but quietly working to make the necessities you enjoy every day possible. Without the people willing to roll up their sleeves, day in and day out, to get dirty and make an idea come to life, we would have nothing that we enjoy and take for granted today.

If you have even occasionally glance through the latest news headlines, you may have the perspective that skilled workers won’t be needed much longer as technology is rapidly advancing. But I’ve witnessed a different story: skilled workers and technology working together to achieve a goal more efficiently. I have yet to see a machine that can replace a bearing that recently failed without any human interaction. Manufacturing, as an industry in America, needs these people to be able to do their work in the most effective and efficient way possible. Elevating workers to do exactly this is the role that technology plays in our immediate and foreseeable future. Make no mistake, skilled workers (along with the tools technology provides), are essential to continue being competitive in manufacturing.

During my most recent trip, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people who welcomed me with a quick smile and a generally good demeanor. Not all visits to manufacturing or mining facilities are like that. Something was different with these visits, and I found one thing in common: they each knew the importance of their role and were proud of it. I even saw some frustration briefly flare at the thought of someone not doing their job to the best of their ability. I could tell part of this was ingrained in their DNA, but a lot was due to the leadership at each facility and the light they shed on the job each of these people were doing. Create a culture where workers are valued and appreciated, and it helps to offset the fact that they finish every night covered in dirt, grease, and who knows what else – with very little energy to give back to their personal lives.

When you’re sitting in your house, enjoying some of the basic amenities, think of the men and women who are on the front lines helping to ensure you can enjoy that each day without delay. Even better, if you know or meet someone working roles like these, thank them. With each computer out in the field, there’s a person right behind it acting to make the data meaningful. Their work often goes unnoticed but is vital.