Preparation

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Author Message Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 1123 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 08:09 am:    100113 PREPARATION by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT, Cincinnati, OH Recently a PBS show profiled the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps has a full account. This was a federal government program started in the mid-1930s in the midst of dark and dire atmosphere of the Great Depression. Basically it recruited young men from teens upward to live in camps, and perform civil work projects that benefitted the national development. This included clearing and reclaiming land, re-planting forests, water projects, roads, trails, national parks, and even forest fire fighting. Much of the work was by hand labor-- pick and shovel-- and was difficult. BUT! it was work and the men involved [many tens of thousands in camps scattered throughout every state] relished their pay of a dollar a day [$30 per month; $25 of which was sent directly to their homes and families.] The men also were tremendously grateful just for a job, a place to live, three meals a day, in addition to the dignity of work. But oddly enough they were preparing themselves for their futures, whatever they involved. The work naturally produced muscles, strength, living and working outdoors and really learning about nature, contouring, etc.-- skills that seemed remote, but which were overlooked for the simple idea of job and pay. But these young men of the mid-30s were to easily become the backbone of combat foot soldiers and other participants of just some 7 or so years later-- in World War II. Their CCC work had prepared them for the “new work” of fighting and winning a war-- putting their minds and muscles to new tasks and enduring new risks, exposures, dangers, and work. Preparation!- Something that takes place, or needs to take place in many situations to allow for better performance of new or anticipated tasks-- the better the preparation, the better the new effort, the new work and the new results. Specifications do not begin with the CDT, just as working drawings do not start with the National CAD standard! And it is inappropriate to think otherwise. No matter the wealth of information available, if one is not prepared to receive ample orientation, see and understand the subsequent value in and work with the material, the effort will stall or quite faulty. There is need, most always, to lay basic, fundamental groundwork in some form or another. This is quite evident in that many things we do are not always with best results, as we often flounder at first [lack of proper preparation!] and struggle to get the point where we then can be insightful and productive. Unfortunately we waste time in just getting to the real starting point. Why do our armed forces train and take practice with their weapons? Why do we often hear of sham or “practice” quizzes prior to actual events? Why do athletes attend pre-season camps, and stretch, practice, swing, kicking balls, throwing, running short sprints, etc. just before their events or games-- preparation and getting their bodies ready to start the required tasks. Boy Scouts have been “prepared” since their founding! Few things go well when done “cold turkey” and without some undergirding, laying of a foundation; or making other preparations to start the “real work”. Why would the professional work of specifications and working drawings be any different? In each of the latter there is a bevy of simple tasks, levels of skills, and elements of basic understanding that need to be in place PRIOR to engaging in the actual tasks themselves. All of that requires time [prepare to do it] and effort [to perform, educate, train, and understand resources] before writing word one of a specification, or drawing line one of a working drawings. And NO! the fact that the word and line “resides” in some form in the computer is NOT preparation for correct execution of the task-- it is merely noting that some “storehouse” may have what you wish to utilize. Utilization on your part requires understanding, flexibility and preparation-- always! and with ample portions! With the experience of proper utilization, over time, and with varied circumstances, one can then be examined to test the depth of knowledge, and the correct application in specific instances. Engines and motors often need to be started and run for a period prior to adding their work load; humans use activities to ready themselves for various tasks or events; meticulous work and monitoring is done prior to a space missile launch; even surfaces to be finished require some sort of “pre[aration] work” to receive the final application. From mundane to significant, preparation is essential, valuable, indispensible, and easily translates to successful in the “end work”! James M. Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 68 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 08:55 am:    Ralph, once again you have given us some great words to remember and live by. You mention at one point being prepared for an anticpated task but I think one could also reason the the traits engendered by participation in organizations such as the CCC and armed services - team work, self-reliance, resilience, and physical conditioning - are also invaluable for those unanticipated tasks we occasionally face. Thanks for sharing your insights.