Appreciation post: My first solo lift with a mentor watching

I still think about this old timer named Frank who let me run my first big lift on a job site in Nashville back in 2018. He was a union guy for 30 years and he just stood there with his arms crossed, not saying a word while I set up the outriggers. When I got the load up about 20 feet, he walked over and tapped the boom angle indicator with his finger. He said, "Son, that gauge is a liar if you don't check your level first." That simple comment saved me from a bad angle on a 5 ton duct bank piece. I had been so focused on the controls that I missed a soft spot under one pad. He didn't yell or take over, he just let me figure it out with that one hint. Anyone else have a older guy who taught you the small things like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

logan2631mo ago

Is one bad angle really worth a whole appreciation post though?

wendyk631mo ago

One bad angle can totally ruin a photo. I had a selfie that looked weird and almost deleted it - but cropping it fixed everything. Sometimes it's worth a second look.