Forget Rockstars- Let’s Make Construction Sexy

Chris,

I'm going to be honest with you. When I first came across your Twitter account I lumped you in with many of the "social media gurus" floating around the web and it annoyed me just on principal and kept me from giving your writing a chance.this morning I gave your blog a shot and I have to admit,I was wrong I find your writing inciteful and even inspiring. Sorry for jumping the gun. Have a great 2010 and be sure my hard hat is on.

Word.
No resting on our laurels in 2010.
I'm young but old-fashioned; I value work ethic and efficiency.
Kudos.
Best in 2010!

Seems an pretty interesting article and I think that the idea is not bad.I hope that this kind article gets posted everytime.What do you think of portable storage (containers) if it is rented for only $59.99/month or less than that?

Thanks,
Portable Storage,
http://www.moveablecubicle.com

I don't know what we all might have seen in the past 2 weeks, or maybe during the course of 2009 that grew this desire in us to see good work get done, and to see good workers be rewarded, but either way I'm really happy about how 2010 is looking already.

sd cards

Chris

I am with ya here as look at James Chartrand was faceless and worked hard so looks do not play a role ... well wait sometimes it does. I mean come on Chris, if you have a gorgeous gal like iJustine and someone who let's say is just not as attractive who are people going to listen to? It is a known fact that attractive people get ahead many times faster than those not so attractive.

I want to see where people are working hard again to achieve success. It gets lonely at 2am ya know. Reality is that with working hard and doing over and over is no different than teaching a kid how to catch a baseball in the mitt. Hours and hours and hours it takes to master it and once you do, your hand grows and time for a new bigger glove and starting over.

Hard work does not go unnoticed as esp in SM as the harder you work, the more you are around and the more you are around, the more people notice. Cannot discount looks here. The prettier the woman or hotness of the guy, combined with the smarts, yeah they are going places.

Rockstar - term that needs to die a quick one and be buried this decade.

Crush it - love Gary and it worked for him (so either let him just say it; I am sensitive to Jersey folks) or let it die and be buried in this decade. Just like shock and awe. Blahh

Amen Chris! Met with another client yesterday and she just does not get it. She actually told me she was too busy trying to generate sales to worry about her website and that consumers never read blogs from insurance agents. (Suffice it to say their business is struggling)

There certainly is much work to do.

Your a fricking blogging construction worker!

I am definitely up for some hard work! It actually makes me feel better that you need a little smarts behind the looks and a little brawn behind the brain.

You can make it look as good as you want, being popular doesn't actually pay. You still have to add value and make a contribution!

Here's to some manual labor!

Chris-

I don't think you (or anyone else) should diminish your role or any other of the 'social media rock stars' have upon people. Here's why:

A 'rock star' is just what we perceive stardom to be. If you go back, there was a time when the vaudeville acts would travel the country. There was Orson Welles and his radio shows. There was Elvis. Then came The Beatles.

Most people would agree that The Beatles were what actually conjured up the idea of being a 'Rock Star.' (except perhaps Stones fans). The Beatles music and their image came from Liverpool. (where the Titanic was built—a shipping yard—not looked upon fondly by Londoners, to this day, in fact).

Not only that, but they were the most prolific bands ever. Hands down.

I'm not trying to inflate your ego. But if you look at the mediums and the messages, there were messengers. The traveling show, the radio, the T.V... now we have the Internet...

My point is... I don't think it's wrong if I call someone making an impact on the internet or the social web a 'rock star' or Seth a 'rock star' or @lizstrauss a 'rock star' or 'Mitch Joel' a 'rock star' ...they are indeed making an impact on culture—just like a rock star... it doesn't diminish a Working Class Hero...and I think John Lennon would concur.

You're a rock star Chris! Thanks for the inspiration!

Merry New Year!!!

I get what you're saying, but there's "bang your head repeatedly" hard and working smarter as well as harder. Brute force has to be applied correctly, yes?

Where do the smarts come from? From educating ourselves. Lots online to help with that, and sometimes it costs money. We have to be willing to invest in ourselves.

Rockstar has become cringe-worthy, so I like the construction analogy for sure.

Nothing wrong with hard work, it's what made this country great before a couple of generations of narcissistic entitlement freaks ran it into the ground. And BTW, construction workers ARE sexy.

Cheers,

Erick
--------
http://www.Contractor-City.com

Now if we can get rid of Crush It! Not talking about the book, I am talking about people saying it. I like that you are being orginial.

Off to do some painting, nailing and general construction.

Oh, the email stream I wish I could share with you. : )

Make sure you #crush those nails :D

Craftsmanship and the people who can build stuff will be sexy again this coming year. And those "experts" who are riding on the backs of the hard work of others will fall away as the charlatans they are. Wonder if the Columbus Crew, the Hardest Working team in the MLS will be fashionable again :-) http://twitter.com/Columbus_Crew

Wow. Way back in Jan. http://gerardmclean.com/do-you-know-how-to-do-a...

I can just see all the new Twitter bios coming. "Internet 'Construction-worker' and social media guru". ;)

Your post really hits home for me because I spent most of my life in the trades, as a Millwright then a General Building Contractor. Hard work produces lasting results no matter the field it is used on.

Ten years ago at the pinnacle of my labor career I would have told anyone I would never own a computer, now I am a self taught Information Architect with a growing business. In 2006 I decided to learn Internet Marketing to sell the Chainsaw Sculptures I was producing at the time. My passion for sculpture was quickly overwhelmed by a new found love of writing code, and playing with Adobe products like Illustrator or Photoshop. Sixteen-hour + days, 6 to 7 days a week is all is took. Funny, but that was the same way I built my construction business.

Timing couldn't have been better for a change since construction is hurting right now. Between the two businesses, my finances are still afloat despite these trying times.

I agree work hard, but remember that seeds that are planted take care and patience. Hard work must always be accompanied with perseverance for success.

You know where American went silly? We developed the desktop/laptop web first, when we all use our cell phones like extra limbs. What the hell? YOU would've been the king of the Nextel on your job, am I wrong?

I'm in for 2010! I'm bring my hard hat, my lunch pail and delivering the mail.

Point taken!! and agree fully.

100% "ALL IN" working smart is the key to 2010!

Chris- I asked a well known motivation speaker (NFL clients) the other day.....
Why aren't more people happy? His answer was "profound".. He said "entitlement" Our society has been brainwashed to believe they deserve perfect faith, family, friends, fitness (health), and finances.

Do you agree?

Anything worthy, good, pure, whole in this world "requires" massive action/work!

Happy New Year!
Brian-

So many people think that there is a "secret" for being successful in business. It comes down to a simple recipe of hardwork, and you are a pure example of that Chris! Here is to you having a great 2009!

Yup. Never been one your "rock stars," Chris. More of a jazz singer: and a hard working one @ that. Like, say, Ella or Billie. Now... back to work!

I'm so with you Chris! Putting on my work outfit with a belt for my ratchet!

I like your analogy: Pick up the hammer and build something that's not vaporware. The Big Hairy Audacious Goal this year has to be to deliver on the promise - especially for the people who really do need to focus on the bottom line and 'move needles'.

Quality: that which fulfills it's purpose.

I'm with you on this one! Maybe the rest of the world needs to get the same idea. I'm gathering up my land army to run it into a lazer target fed task force.

By the way my 3 words are SHARE MOBILIZE AND COLLABORATE with POWER, PASSION AND PERFORMANCE.

I'm definitely with you on this. Hard work rocks and Construction workers are sooo sexy. I too am from New England-CT in the house. ;)

*Goes to put on his construction hat

When I was growing up, all the folks my dad respected (or forgave) were 'workers'. As in, "He's got a nice set of buildings and really keeps them up, he's a workah". or "She talks a lot, but she's a workah." I knew what was expected to excel in my father's eyes. Doesn't matter if you are in construction or a mailman. Be a worker.

Hey Chris,

Love it. I've got my mindmap: Impact, Be, and Relevant. Now add actionable hard work - got it. I'm in.
"Most folks miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work" T Edison
This is my favorite quote, a value my father instilled is us, and besides when you work hard your sleep is that much more restful. Just don't go to bed with an idea rolling around in your head. If you just can't help it, make sure you have 3x5s or a way to write it down and store it until the next day. Thankfully, in Chris's case, there's no charge for awesomeness! Tks again.

Thanks for a perfectly brief post to read as I reflect on the past year and work on real goals for 2010. This speaks to the heart of why "overnight success" often comes after many, many nights of hard, smart work. I've taken some lumps this year (who hasn't?) and learned some valuable lessons. I plan to work smarter in the new year, and create my own brand of rockstar, which will (and should) look much different than everyone else's. Happy New Year, Chris!

Great Article!!!

You mean we can finally stop talking about our "passion?" OMG - thank you. That alone is a gift!

For 20 years I was in construction - landscape construction. The only thing sexy about it was the occasional awards for our projects. Hard work? - no question about it. I left the house at 6 am and when the kids were young, my goal was to be there to tuck them in at 8:00 pm. In construction, when it was a light day, we called it a "half-day" - meaning 12 hours. That's the kind of talk that kept us sane.

Nevertheless, what is significant about your point is not that this is sexy, but more accurately, that it builds respect. Customers respect construction types because they know how hard they have to work to stay employed and/or make a buck.

It's a thankless business role for the most part, unless the customer is also a hard worker who naturally appreciates the effort. That's what keeps you doing it. It just takes a few of those to make the work worthwhile.

Hard work is in my near future as I move to full-time freelancing. I'm looking forward to it.

Work is Sexy! Glad to see it in Print!

Many women will tell you that construction [workers] are already sexy. LOL (Sorry, couldn't resist)

Fine. But is there going to be lascivious whistling? I won't do it unless there's lascivious whistling.

It's amazing that often people forget that even with all the advanced tools that seemly make our lives easier, to get ahead, you have to work harder than ever before. I think a lot of social media tools lull us into a false sense of lazy. It's too easy to take the shortcut, and often, that's the direction a lot of the tools point you in. It will be interesting to see how Social Media strategy evolves over the next year as many make the transition from "we're still figuring this out" to, "ok, we know what we're doing - now what?"

Great post, Chris. It's our clients who should be the rockstars, if we've done our job!

People have great energy and most put hard work into what they do, but it's too often to tear down instead of build up. I'm all about the build up. I'm with you! Let's ride!

Perhaps 2010 will be the year that work becomes play and play is work, that our work aligns with our purpose and is a natural extension of who we are. That is my goal hopefully squeezing in a little quilting on the side.

All the best for a great year of construction and mail delivery!

Carolyn

This is true. A hard hat and lunch pail mentality has as much to do with success as flashiness and flair.

In the end those who become a success pass the persistence test. They continue to work hard when it appears that all of their hard work has yet to pay off.

I'd like to know when hard work ever took a back seat. I see people busting their asses every day. And, I also see lazy folks looking for the easy out, but that's always been the way.

I think what we're all feeling as we move into 2010 is that the newlywed season has ended. At least that's where I'm at with social media (and this is from a complete minion's standpoint). I liken the mind shift to the tail end of falling in love - once you start coming down from the high of infatuation, it's decision time. Do the hard and smart work, care and feeding that a good relationship deserves, or bail and find something else to fall in love with.

Being lucky means HARD WORK, nevertheless I see people in America waiting to be recued/bailed out by the goverment -- They want the freedom of capitalism and the benefits of socialism == this is call Utopia! it doesn't exist.

I learn (read) and Learn (read) and do (Work) and do (Work). This is the my success formula.

Sure thing boss, but it sure does sound like a lot, and I am le tired!

"Work smarter, not harder." I'm in.

My Dad provided for our family everyday by workin' his ass off...and he was a real construction worker. I spent my summers haulin' a ton and a half of scrap metal from construction sites to the salvage yards. I wouldn't trade those days for anything in the world. Hard work gets you somewhere... too many people are expecting their big break by waiting for some "rock star" to promote them ... ain't gonna happen unless you've got the guts to crush it. Then you'll get noticed and not a moment sooner.

Working hard, smart, and visibly sometimes, Jim?

True Chris. smart and visibly as well. Doesn't pay to work hard if your going in circles and no one notices...or cares.

The harder you work, the more you will get noticed. That's the trick in my opinion. People who work hard will create their own future. Just my thoughts on that.

I couldn't agree more, and in fact, I'm glad. If you add value, you should be rewarded and that takes hard work.

When I was teaching, I was amazed at the amount of people who would talk as if it was a cake job, and that it must be so nice to have the summers off. It was the hardest job I've ever had from the standpoint of, when it really matters, you really work at it.

Yes. Hard work is underrated in America. Other countries are zooming ahead in both education and business (including heavy industry like steel and mining!).

Also, I think it is important to work hard towards something that is worth working hard for. Many times we labor for weeks or years, only to discover it wasn't worth it. It makes sense to work hard to achieve our life goals. But I don't think it is worth it to waste our lives toiling in an office cubicle with no future.

Yes and Thank you for your clarity of purpose.

David Pylyp
Living in Toronto

Chris, by framing things this way, I believe you have given even more people a "Can Do" attitude towards their own success. We aren't all good looking. We aren't all super-smart. But by golly, we can all work hard, and this idea should be a great equalizer. Thanks...once again.

I'm so glad to hear you say this. When people call each other "rockstar" or constantly tell each other to "crush it" (all due respect to Gary V.) I get all twitchy. It takes a whole lot more than swagger to get things done, not to mention do a good job. It's one thing to have a go-get-em attitude and an air of confidence, but without hard work and the accompanying blood, sweat and tears, it's all just a bunch of hot air.

Want another secret? Many will fail. We rarely talk that way. It's not a good pep talk. But 2010 is absolutely the year for it. We'll see lots of folks going back to "day jobs" this year. But then, were they working or were they hoping that typing somehow replaced working?

"...were they working or were they hoping that typing somehow replaced working?"

I LOVE that, Chris, mostly because I've become more serious about growing my web series Beyond The Pedway into a real business. I realize that such an idea requires much more than simply typing and I'm ready to keep sweating!

It's certainly not full of "rah rah", but it's REAL. Another secret is that it's OKAY to fail. If you don't ever fail, you don't ever learn.

I happily take on the challenge of working hard in 2010 - sexy or not. I'm passionate about what I do (supporting women in connecting, inspiring each other and reaching their dreams) so shouldn't that warrant extra effort and hard work?

I don't need the title rockstar (only if you insist!) just want to make sure my dreams are closer this time next year. Thanks for generating this great, productive vibe for the coming year. It's going to be a great 2010!

Count me in.

I'm with you - in the construction of my next best Self, my service offering AND my parenting tactics for two teen daughters!

Something must be in the water... Almost everyone I respect, as well as myself, seem to have all come to the common mindset that doing good work should be one of the themes for 2010. I don't know what we all might have seen in the past 2 weeks, or maybe during the course of 2009 that grew this desire in us to see good work get done, and to see good workers be rewarded, but either way I'm really happy about how 2010 is looking already.

Personally I found the recent epiphany-type-monologues you find of 43folders a strong catalyst for my own thinking about what I want to consume, and what I want to produce online from now on (It's fun to see someone declare a jihad like Merlin did as well against a particular type of website, you should really watch the video).

I have been feeling the same thing. I also feel very focussed and "strategic" in what I intend to focus on in 2010. I have been wondering why and concluded that 2009 circumstances gave me time to really think about the underlying principles by which I want to operate. What really adds value to my market and what has perhaps been more for my own benefit.

I haven't been back to 43Folders in forever. I'll go there now.

Great, here's one of the posts (a video) I was referring to specifically. http://www.43folders.com/2009/10/22/who-you-are

Cheers!

Right on Chris. Time is short. There is a direct correlation between what work you put into an enterprise and what the financial rewards are. I'm self-employed in two businesses: www.waldenrecruiting.com and www.socialgrow.com. January and February are the two months I make 33% of my earnings for the year in recruiting and we are launching SocialGrow Alpha on February 1st. Told my wife I'll be grouchy for the next couple of months so just let me work. I think I should have a poster of Peet's coffee on my door! Back to work. Thanks for the break!

This is a great article Chris. Great work. I'm all for hard work in Social Media in 2010. Here's to working hard towards becoming a "Trust Agent." Should we start the hashtag #constructionworker to replace #rockstar?

I like the analogy, very similar to the one in football about chopping wood. Some folks may forget with your overnight success series that you worked your ass off to get where you are at. Your success kind of laid the groundwork for overnight successes, but they can't get there without doing some WORK.

This post makes my New England ass proud..lol

Hard work every day is what it is about.

How did Michael Jordan become who is is? After being cut from his HS b-ball team?

When your from new england you work hard and you do it in any environment. Your online biz is the same thing, weather any storm and fight thru. BE THE MAILMAN!

Late here with my comments on this post as I've been working MY ass off on two new websites...

As a fellow New Englander I have to ask WHY Sr. John Paul the Michael Jordan reference? If ANYONE worked their ass off that would be our own Hometown boy Larry Bird...

Gettin' back to work boys...

Max

Very True. But Jordan going from a HS kid cut from his BB team to the best Bbal player from JUST hard work, fit the post best..lol

But Bird id awesome too.

Dammit, John! That's a MUCH better one than construction worker. "Be the Mailman!"

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.

lol

Great post Chris - Glad that by you saying "work" rather than "fame", that should change some mindsets

Not my mailman - he's a bad example...

or... Pizza man - "he delivers" (NYPD Blue, if you remember) :-)

Glad you like that..lol I got lucky, I'm running on 2 cups of expresso :)

Hi Chris

I've lived the tech rockstar lifestyle (albeit Web 0.1 Dotcom boom) made the money, got a successful business or two, but this isn't what matters in life. I'm now Chair of one of the largerst colleges in the UK. We're in a deprived area of the country and we get a lot of disenfranchised kids through the door. What still rocks my world is seeing kids and teachers pulling together with grit and determination and seeing what hard work can achieve. I've posted a link to your blog on the college intranet and tweeted to all staff and students following me. I only discovered you this year and I've found your blogs, tweets and your general attitude inspirational. Keep doing what you do!

Excellent Chris. You gotta bust it in 2010 to be anything. Hard work should be applauded and fluff be gone. That was the whole point of "I
m Not A Famous Blogger" I just do work and do it daily, but I have to be smarter about it in 2010.

You got it so right. "Smart Work" are the words for 2010. Last year, my one word was "Outside." I was successful in about half of what I did.

But, this year, I'm outlined my measurable goals, have a clear picture of what I need to do, and plan on meeting my quota, so to speak.

I'm wearing on my sexy construction hat as I type.

Hard and "smart" work - that's the key. If you have a passion for what you do, I think working hard will come naturally; also learning to work "smart" is the key.

Add smarts, planning, flexibility, and passion to your "hard work" and you've got a deal.

"Know why iJustine got where she got? Hint: it’s not her looks. She worked hard."

But the combination of hard work and her looks makes for an unbeatable combination, in my not so humble opinion!

I do think that part of iJustine's success is due to her looks, as that's a sad fact in our society. Susan Boyle wouldn't have been half as amazing in her infamous performance if she was closer to society's definition of attractive.

I love your switch from rockstar to hard worker. Everyone thinks to crush it in social media you just push a button and all of a sudden you're fabulous. You got to dig your heels in and stay up late pumping out GOOD content for your community

That's a great point, actually. People assume that since "social media" has made everything "easier", that succeeding with these tools is just as easy. But in reality, using "social media" tools isn't any different than using any other tools. You need to know how to use them, practice using them, and adapt how you're using them.

I love that spirit. For 12 years I have toiled with my head hunched over the keyboard, pecking away at a self-education. I didn't go to college, I didn't take any shortcuts that's for sure. I think that when we all start realizing that, like everything, the internet works much better when we put real, solid effort in.

Hype or no, social media is forcing people to put out competitive content to stay modern, and that is FORCING hard work ... not only for developers but for the businesses themselves who are finally taking hold of their own personality online. So damn cool man. Have a great new year!

Woo hoo! I have never related to the "rock star" analogy. Maybe early in my career when I was a public health whiz kid that fit but that was a lifetime ago.
I have no desire to be a rock star any more.
We have talked before about my being a telescope, a tool that helps find, and magnify the real stars. As a teacher, I still ascribe to that analogy but it boils down to hard work. Hard work builds and maintains trust. Hard work is what lasts beyond the hype. Sometimes it takes longer but hard work is what lasts.

This goes back to the whole concept of "overnight success". Too many people are looking for a shortcut. They do not really want to work hard. They quit when it get hard. There are few people who reach the top, and stay there, who are not willing to work hard. The good news is that there are fewer people than you think who will join you in the "work hard" campaign... which just leaves more room at the top for those who will put in the effort. (I'm in).

You are dead on. I keep a small note on my wall cork board. It says "Rome was not built in a day." Hard work is the core of making great things but we also have to remember that anything worth building takes time. Too many people these days would rather cut corners than do it right. Hard work is often brutal and can take a lot of time to see the end result.

BTW... My 2010 formula for success is DAR. Desire + Action = Results. Without Desire or Action, you have no results. One can have all the desire in the world but without the proper action (in this case construction work) the results we seek won't materialize.

As any construction worker will tell you, you're only as good as your crew. This really is the time for hard work, together with others willing to invest the same. Thanks, Chris, for bringing it to our attention and making construction SEXY!

And the key here, what really jumps out at me - is the idea of "smart" work. Sometimes that is hard work, other times it's easy work. Smart, though, says to me that we are doing what is "right" for us - not just working without thinking about it. Smart is about doing the work that is going to take us in the directions we desire to go in. Great thoughts today!

Of course, some of us actually were "rockstars" and use the name because of that. I was never a bring fan of the word to begin with, but thought it was catchy to use in a real estate sense (and gave me an opening for discussion).

If most people knew just how unglamorous the life of a rockstar can actually be, they might not be tossing it around so often. Rockstars spend more time staring at walls and wishing they were somewhere else than actual rockstar related work. Trust me, there's a reason so many bands wind up crumbling and it has more to do with the breakdown in the mind than any of the excuses you hear in magazines (different artistic directions? hogwash).

I know a lot of buyers think new construction wouldn't need an independent inspector. We always tell our buyers to get one. We've had issues that wouldn't have been caught otherwise.

It's 2:22a.m. I'm on my computer working on my calendar for tomorrow (technically today) and the week ahead. My legal pad is sitting next to me and I'm staring and my conference/speaking agenda for January and setting my goals for the new year. All of that to very briefly say: "Dude, I'm with you!"

Rock your day!

Great analogy. Most on the "outside" tend to only see other people's results and not much of the infinite hours it took to achieve it. This is especially true in fields where people view the occupation as a fun "dream job".

As a stand-up comic, people always joke with me saying "isn't great you only work an hour a night?" Although I'm usually polite with my response, I feel like grabbing them by the neck going "obviously the 5 hours it took to drive here, 8 long phone calls & e-mails to set up this booking, the 20 minute promo video I needed to produce to solicit for it, the full day I spent writing custom jokes about your town/company/etc and the 10 years it took to develop a solid hour of material I use in my act (3 or so years without much pay) - yeah, I should be lucky I get it so easy doing this job, dude!"

Do you think the fact that the message of hard work has been diminished by "rock stars" looking to just sell the story of the internet lifestyle to those who are grasping for quick riches?