Took me 8 years to figure out I was landing my boom way too fast

Been running cranes since 2016, always thought getting the load down quick was a sign of skill. Last month I had this old timer watching me place a steel beam on a job in Austin, and he just goes 'you know you're jarring the whole rig every time, right?' Didn't even realize I was stressing the hydraulics and the cable. Now I slow it down for the last 3 feet and it's way smoother. Anyone else learn basic stuff way later than they should have?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomasb4111h ago

Man that hits close to home. Eight years is a long time to be doing something wrong without even knowing it. The way you describe it makes me think about all the little habits we pick up without anyone telling us better. It's kind of wild how one experienced guy just dropping a single sentence can change everything about how you see your work. Props to you for actually listening to that old timer instead of brushing him off. Real skill is being able to take that kind of advice and run with it.

skyler_johnson3210h ago

Whoa, hold on a second. I get what you're saying, but I actually see it a little different. Eight years of doing something a certain way doesn't mean it was all wrong (you know?). Sometimes the way you figured out on your own works just fine for your specific situation, even if a pro would do it different. That old timer's advice might have been great for him and his world, but it could be a total waste of time in yours. I think people get too caught up in thinking there's only one "right" way, and it makes them second-guess everything they've built on their own. Sometimes the best skill is knowing which advice to just nod at and then ignore.

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michael80310h ago

Yeah, it's funny how that goes. @skyler_johnson32 I had a neighbor who spent ten years painting his fence the wrong way, used stain meant for decks instead. Looked fine to him until someone finally told him.