Learning from dirty jobs | Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe is a legend. He is intelligent, articulate, and educated, yet he commits to these jobs that most people would never do for any amount of money. I love this guy.

My very first job I was supposed to be a carpenter's apprentice. My boss was my carpentry teacher in high school. I was stoked and was only 16. I arrive at his house bright and early on Saturday with my ride who also worked for him for 5+ years. I had new tools and my lunch with me. He comes out and walks me over to a small field next to his home, carrying a sledge hammer. All kinds of thoughts racing through my head. "You see all these large rocks and boulders? I'm building a garage in this field and need them all smashed into smaller rocks so I can remove them. We'll be back in 8 hours." Then he and his other worker left. I thought it was a joke, but there I stood in the field with dozens of boulders the size of picnic tables. So I began. I'd love to say it was cool and cloudy but it wasn't. After 4 hours I stopped to eat my lunch, also stopping occasionally to drink water. Sure enough after 8 hours both he and his worker returned and I had cleared the field and reduced all the boulders down to basketball sized rocks. Hands covered in blisters. He thanked me and paid me what we agreed on per hour and said nothing else. On our way home I asked his other worker who gave me a ride what the deal was. "Was I ever going to learn actual carpentry or was I just going to be used for manual labor?" He told me with a smile, "Smashing those rocks all day wasn't your job, it was your audition". Sure enough the next weekend I started learning roofing, siding, building additions, remolding kitchens, ect. I worked for him for 7 1/2 years before he retired and I moved on and worked for a component manufacturer for the next 20+ years. The skills I learned with him I've used my entire adult life from hanging doors, sheetrock, trim and moldings, windows, you name it. In life you will always have those days of smashing rocks in the hot sun, how you handle it will also show you how you'll handle just about everything that comes your way.

I worked as a software engineer for 15 years. The sedentary aspect of it was absolutely soul sucking. I gave up a high 6 figure career and went into manual labour. I have never been happier in my adult life than I am now. I can completely relate when people express how satisfying it is to work a very physical job. I have met quite a few others with a similar story to mine. I have met more intelligent people in my current line of work than when I worked in an office. Some of my interactions are with people in suits who are quick to judge due to how dirty I look. I am not saying that I am the most articulate person but the moment they hear me speak, they look perplexed. Never judge a book by its cover!

Im a welder. Proud of my skill. Dude is dead on.

This guy is a phenomenal speaker. That twenty minute speech seemed like just a few.

This would have been the greatest graduation speech ever.

And here we are 10 years after this was aired, and we are still lacking and losing trade schools and jobs. College is great, but not for all, let's get back to the professions that carried this country on their backs.

Work, as my father taught me, is the essence of happinnes : it keeps you busy, makes you focus on goals and make you the driver of your own life.. but for it to work, you have to be WILLING to do it and not feel OBLIGATED to do it.

Dirty jobs aren't for everyone, but everyone should know about them. Sheltering kids from dirty work, shaming these professions will not only weaken our infrastructure, but also polarize our society in a way that will benefit no one. People often overlook the intelligence of blue collar workers. Many of these guys and gals have immense knowledge and experience in their fields, some of the wisest individuals you'll ever come across. There will always be laborers and intellectuals.

When he said "Blackberry" I had to pause and look at the upload date. This video has aged well; a decade old and still has comments and engagement from seconds ago

As a someone who works in labor and has previously worked in an office I can tell you first hand that he is absolutely correct. It's amazing how many people I've worked with in my current industry are happy with thier lives and jobs even if they aren't considered wealthy and often go home physically exhausted. The vast majority of them are the most laid back, content people I've met. Compared to my previous job it's like night and day, almost everyone was discontent and hated thier jobs. I just remember the transition being super eye opening for me and Mike hit the nail right on the head with what he said.

I love just how thoughtful and intellectual Mike Rowe is as a representative of working class people that are typically portrayed as unintelligent.

I was an electrician, dump truck driver, gardener, and missionary before I became a doctor (I went to college a bit later in life). I like to think all these experiences have made me a better physician.

One of the most simply profound and practical TED talk ever. Here's one for the working class.

The campaign for trade jobs is really needed now more than ever as far as I can tell. Even if this was more than 12 years ago it really hits hard in 2021

Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing’.

we need more Mike Rowes in the world.

My father works at NASA, with no college degree, and a criminal record. But what got him there was his life long hard work. Hard work, and respect goes far.

I started work as an apprentice tool maker right after high school and retired last year with NEVER having one day on unemployment . Blue collar !!!!

Love Mike Rowe.. Im a female machinist for 15 years now started when i was 20yrs old ..dirty jobs had it right on so many levels..huge fan of dirty jobs and mike rowe is a awesome man