The Big Red Button: A Lesson in Teaching | Steve Griffin

EVERYBODY HAS A FIRST — CHAPTER 12

After more than 50 years in the electrical contracting business, I have learned that some of my most valuable lessons did not come from complicated projects or expensive mistakes. Sometimes, the best lessons come from a simple question that catches me completely off guard.

One of those lessons came from a big red button.

I was installing a magnetic lock system on a commercial door. The system itself was straightforward: a transformer supplied power, wiring connected the components, and an electromagnet secured the door. When power was removed, the lock released. As part of the installation, we also had a large emergency release button that would immediately release the lock when pressed.

It was bright red, mounted prominently on the wall, and large enough to attract anyone’s attention. At least, that was how I saw it.

After completing the installation, I began explaining the system. I pointed out the transformer, described how the magnetic lock worked, and walked everyone through the controls and safety devices. I thought I had covered everything clearly.

Then somebody asked me a question I never expected.

“What does that big red button do?”

I remember looking at the button and wondering how anyone could miss its purpose. It was right there on the wall, bright red and impossible to overlook. To me, its function seemed obvious.

But that was the problem. It was obvious to me because I already knew the answer.

That moment stayed with me, and it taught me something that has influenced the way I approach electrical estimating, management, software development, and teaching.

The Mistake Experienced People Often Make

The longer I work in a profession, the easier it becomes to forget what it was like when I first started. Things that once seemed complicated eventually become second nature. I learn the terminology, recognize the equipment, understand the drawings, and develop instincts that help me solve problems quickly.

Over time, I can begin to assume that other people understand those same things. They may not.

A new electrician might not recognize a component that I have worked with hundreds of times. An inexperienced estimator may not understand a term that I use every day. A contractor learning new software may need an explanation of a feature that seems completely straightforward to me.

That does not mean the person asking the question lacks intelligence. It means they have not yet had the same experience.

I have found that one of the biggest mistakes an experienced professional can make is confusing familiarity with simplicity. Just because something is easy for me today does not mean it was easy when I first encountered it. The person asking a basic question may simply be at the beginning of their learning process.

What the Big Red Button Taught Me About Training

When I train someone, I have to remember that I am not teaching them what I already know. I am helping them understand something they may be seeing for the first time. That requires patience.

If I explain a process using unfamiliar terms, move too quickly, or skip steps because they seem obvious, I may leave the learner confused without realizing it. They might nod along because they do not want to appear inexperienced, even though they have not fully understood the explanation.

I do not want that to happen. I would rather have someone ask five questions than walk away with one misunderstanding that creates a problem later. In electrical work, understanding is not just about confidence. It can affect safety, quality, productivity, and the finished installation.

The same principle applies when I explain Best Bid Electrical Estimating Software. An experienced estimator may quickly understand how a feature supports the estimating process, while someone new to electrical estimating may need the steps explained from the beginning.

The Same Lesson Applies to Electrical Estimating

I see the big red button lesson in electrical estimating all the time.

An experienced electrical estimator understands many things that a beginner has not yet learned. The estimator may recognize common symbols, know where to look for specifications, understand labor considerations, and know why a small detail on a drawing can affect the cost of a project. A beginner may not know any of that yet.

If I am teaching someone to prepare an estimate, I cannot simply tell them to review the plans and expect them to know exactly what to look for. I need to explain the process, demonstrate how I approach the drawings, and help them understand why each step matters.

For example, when reviewing a set of electrical plans, an experienced estimator may immediately recognize that a detail needs clarification. A beginner might overlook it because they do not yet know what questions to ask.

That is why a structured process matters. Reviewing quantities, labor, materials, specifications, and exclusions helps an estimator develop consistent habits rather than relying entirely on instinct.

Resources such as electrical estimating reports can help contractors understand and review the information behind their bids. When someone needs to build their foundation, my Online Electrical Estimating School is another resource for developing practical knowledge.

Questions Are Opportunities to Teach

Over the years, I have come to believe that the way I respond to a question can be just as important as the answer itself.

When someone asks me something that seems obvious, I have two choices. I can make them feel foolish for asking, or I can use the opportunity to help them understand. I prefer the second option.

If I embarrass someone for asking a question, they may stop asking. They might guess instead of checking, remain quiet when they are confused, or avoid seeking help the next time they encounter something unfamiliar. That is not how I want to build a team or teach a profession.

A question gives me a chance to discover what the other person understands and where they need more guidance. It helps me explain the subject more clearly and sometimes reminds me that I have been overlooking an important detail in my own explanation.

I do not expect everyone to know what I know. I expect myself to communicate clearly enough to help them learn.

Five Lessons I Still Follow

The big red button left me with a few principles that I believe every electrical contractor, estimator, supervisor, and teacher should remember.

• Never assume knowledge. Explain important details instead of expecting everyone to recognize them.
• Treat questions as opportunities. A question is a chance to build understanding, not a reason to criticize someone.
• Teach with patience. Give people time to absorb unfamiliar information and ask follow-up questions.
• Make complicated things understandable. Expertise is more valuable when I can explain it in plain language.
• Remember your first day. I was once the person who did not know what an experienced professional now considers obvious.

The Best Teachers Remember Being Beginners

Looking back, I probably learned more from that giant red button than I did from many technical seminars. It reminded me that knowledge alone does not automatically make someone a good teacher.

I can know a great deal about electrical contracting, estimating, and software, but if I cannot explain what I know in a way that helps another person understand, I have not done the whole job.

I share many of these lessons in my book, Everybody Has A First, because I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to learn without being made to feel small for not knowing something.

Every expert was once a beginner. Every experienced electrician had a first day. Every successful estimator once had to learn how to read plans, understand costs, and ask the right questions. I try to remember that whenever I teach, train, or work with someone who is still learning.

The big red button was obvious to me. It was not obvious to the person who asked the question. And that was my reminder: what seems obvious today is only obvious because I learned it yesterday.