Everybody Said Yes to Something They Were Unsure Of

Everybody Said Yes to Something They Were Unsure Of

EVERYBODY HAS A FIRST — CHAPTER 13

I have learned something important throughout my more than 50 years in the electrical contracting business: some of the biggest opportunities in life begin when you agree to do something you have never done before.

That does not mean saying yes to every job without thinking. It means recognizing that growth often requires stepping outside your comfort zone, asking questions, and being willing to learn. I have experienced this firsthand, and one particular project taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.

It is a lesson I also share in my book, Everybody Has A First. Every electrician, electrical estimator, and contractor has a first time doing something unfamiliar. What matters is how we approach that challenge.

The Estimate That Opened an Unexpected Door

I was working on an industrial lighting estimate when an opportunity came along that was outside my usual experience. The project involved more than simply installing electrical equipment. It eventually led to building an industrial control panel, something I had never built before.

I could have said no. I could have told myself that I did not have the experience and that somebody else would be better suited for the job. Instead, I agreed to take it on.

I did not say yes because I already knew everything. I said yes because I believed I could learn what I needed to know and find a way to get the job done.

That decision led me into unfamiliar territory. I had to work with engineering drawings from Sweden, understand how the panel was supposed to operate, and figure out how to turn those drawings into a working piece of equipment.

There is a big difference between looking at something on paper and building it in the real world. An electrical contractor has to bridge that gap every day.

Learning by Building Something New

Once I committed to the project, I had to work out how to build the control panel. I arranged a temporary panel-building area and began figuring out the tools, materials, layout, and assembly process needed to complete the work.

I did not have a ready-made solution for every problem. I had to improvise, think through unfamiliar details, and keep moving forward without pretending I knew more than I did.

That experience reinforced an important lesson for me: confidence does not mean having every answer before you begin. Sometimes confidence means believing you can work through the questions as they arise.

In electrical contracting, we regularly face plans, equipment, and job conditions that are different from anything we have handled before. A good electrical estimator needs to recognize the difference between an unfamiliar task that can be researched and understood and a task that requires expertise or resources the company does not have.

I believe in taking on challenges, but I also believe in being responsible. If I need technical guidance, I seek it. If I need to learn a new process, I study it. If I make a mistake, I work to understand what went wrong.

That is how experience grows.

When the Panel Would Not Work

After all the effort that went into building the panel, the moment finally arrived to start it up. I expected the equipment to work, but it did not operate as it should.

It is frustrating to reach the end of a difficult project and discover that something is wrong. You begin reviewing what you have done, checking the wiring, and trying to identify the problem. The drawings may look clear to you, yet something in your interpretation may not match the designer’s intention.

That was the situation I faced.

The engineering drawings were from Sweden, and I had misunderstood part of the panel’s labeling and arrangement. The instructions used directional terms corresponding to right, center, and left, and I had interpreted those labels incorrectly.

The problem was not simply that I could not build the panel. I had made an assumption about the drawings that turned out to be wrong.

I needed to get to the bottom of it.

Asking the Right Person Made the Difference

Rather than continuing to guess, I sought help from the Swedish engineer who understood the design. By reviewing the issue with the person who had created the drawings, I was able to understand the intended arrangement and correct the wiring.

Once the misunderstanding was resolved, I could move forward with the necessary corrections.

That experience taught me not to confuse an assumption with a fact. Even when you have spent years in the electrical business, you can misunderstand a drawing, a label, or an instruction. Experience is valuable, but it does not make anyone immune to mistakes.

I learned to pay closer attention to unfamiliar terminology and to ask for clarification before allowing an assumption to become an expensive problem.

I would give the same advice to any electrical contractor or estimator: when something does not make sense, stop and verify it before moving forward.

A short conversation can prevent hours of rework. On a larger project, it can protect the schedule, the budget, and the relationship with the customer.

What This Taught Me About Electrical Estimating

The lesson applies just as strongly to electrical estimating as it does to panel building.

When I prepare an estimate, I may encounter unfamiliar equipment, unusual installation requirements, complicated drawings, or a scope of work that requires additional research. The easy response is to avoid the opportunity. The responsible response is to investigate it, understand the risks, and decide whether I can estimate and execute the work properly.

An electrical estimator should never treat an unknown as though it were already understood. If something is unclear, I want it identified before Bid Day, not discovered after the contract has been awarded.

Saying Yes Does Not Mean Ignoring Risk

I want to make one distinction clear: saying yes to an opportunity is not the same as blindly accepting every challenge.

Before taking on unfamiliar work, I recommend asking yourself a few questions:

The Lesson I Still Carry With Me

When I look back at that control-panel project, I do not remember it simply as a job that involved unfamiliar equipment and a difficult start-up. I remember it as a turning point in how I think about opportunities.

I learned that I did not need to know everything on the first day. I needed to be willing to learn, pay attention to the details, admit when I had misunderstood something, and ask the right person for help.

That mindset has served me throughout my electrical contracting career and in the work that eventually led me to develop estimating software.

Every new challenge offers a choice. I can allow uncertainty to make the decision for me, or I can examine the opportunity, understand the risks, and decide whether I am prepared to take the next step.

My advice is simple: do not let the fear of being inexperienced automatically close a door. Learn what you need to learn, ask questions, and take responsibility for the work you accept.

Everybody has a first. The first time may be uncomfortable, but it can also become the experience that prepares you for the next opportunity.

That is one reason I value an organized estimating process. Good Best Bid Electrical Estimating Software helps contractors organize their estimating work and develop more consistent bids. However, software cannot replace judgment, careful plan review, or the willingness to ask questions.

I also encourage estimators to understand their electrical estimating reports so they can review the information behind a bid and make informed decisions.

If you want to improve your estimating skills, structured training can also help you approach unfamiliar work more confidently. My Online Electrical Estimating School is a resource for learning and developing practical estimating knowledge.

The goal is not to pretend that every job is easy. The goal is to develop a process that helps you understand the work, identify what you do not know, and make sound decisions before committing your company.

• Do I understand what the customer expects?
• Can I obtain the drawings, specifications, and technical information I need?
• Do I have the skills, people, tools, and resources to complete the work?
• What could go wrong, and how can I reduce that risk?
• Who can help me resolve questions that are outside my experience?
• Have I allowed enough time and money to do the work correctly?

These questions do not have to stop you from taking an opportunity. They help you determine how to approach it responsibly.

Throughout my career, I have found that the best results come from combining the courage to try something new with the discipline to prepare properly.

That balance is important in estimating and in running an electrical contracting business. I discuss this broader principle in The Art of Balance in Electrical Estimating.