Job Talks - Plumber - Josh Explains the Benefits of Being a Plumber

Summary

Josh, a plumber with a passion for real estate, shares his journey in the plumbing industry. He explains how plumbing and electrical work are essential skills in real estate development. Josh finds joy in problem-solving and customer service, particularly in maintaining water systems and performing preventative maintenance. He emphasizes the versatility of plumbing, from residential renovations to clean new construction, and highlights its potential for self-employment. Josh encourages young people to consider plumbing as a foundational skill for a variety of career paths, offering opportunities for growth and independence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Josh is a plumber who chose the trade due to his passion for real estate and the practical skills it offers in that field.
• 😀 Plumbing provides an opportunity for problem-solving and customer service, with Josh finding it rewarding to fix issues people have been dealing with for years.
• 😀 A key responsibility in plumbing includes maintaining healthy systems, such as water treatment systems, to ensure clean and safe drinking water.
• 😀 Preventive maintenance is a major aspect of Josh's work, especially when dealing with water systems, water softeners, iron filters, and ultraviolet lights.
• 😀 Josh enjoys providing advice to homeowners during service calls, helping them identify potential future issues and suggesting replacements before they become problems.
• 😀 Plumbing is often seen as a dirty job, but Josh highlights that the majority of plumbing work (around 80-85%) is clean and non-messy, particularly in new construction.
• 😀 The trade offers many opportunities beyond getting dirty, including the potential for self-employment with minimal startup costs (a van, garage, and business sense).
• 😀 Plumbing provides a solid foundation for expanding into other areas, such as becoming a real estate developer, contractor, or starting your own business.
• 😀 Specializing in plumbing gave Josh the chance to become a developer and contractor, proving how valuable plumbing can be in broader career development.
• 😀 For those interested in real estate or entrepreneurship, learning plumbing or electrical work offers a versatile and practical skill set with a range of future career opportunities.

Q & A

Why did Josh choose plumbing as a career?

Josh chose plumbing because he had a passion for real estate and saw plumbing, along with electrical work, as practical trades that could be applied in real estate.

What does Josh enjoy most about his job?

Josh enjoys problem-solving, particularly diagnosing and finding solutions to unique issues that customers face. He also values the customer service aspect of his job.

What is Josh's main responsibility as a plumber?

Josh's main responsibility is maintaining a healthy plumbing system for customers, including tasks like water treatment system maintenance and preventive plumbing services.

How does Josh approach water treatment systems?

Josh tests and maintains water treatment systems such as water softeners, iron filters, and ultraviolet lights, ensuring they provide safe, clean water, especially in rural areas where water quality could be a health hazard.

What role does Josh play during plumbing renovations?

In plumbing renovations, Josh is responsible for replacing fixtures and handling the plumbing aspects of larger renovation projects, such as bathroom remodels.

How does Josh explain the cleanliness of plumbing work?

Josh explains that plumbing work is often perceived as dirty, but only about 10% of it involves dirty tasks. Most of plumbing involves clean tasks like new construction and service maintenance, with drainage accounting for only a small portion of the work.

What is the breakdown of plumbing work that Josh typically handles?

Josh breaks down plumbing work into two main areas: new construction (50%) and service calls (50%). In service calls, 50% of the work involves potable water systems, and the other 50% focuses on drainage.

What opportunities does Josh see in the plumbing industry for self-employment?

Josh sees plumbing as a great field for self-employment. With minimal startup costs—just a van, garage, and some business sense—someone can start their own plumbing business and even become an employer.

How has Josh applied his plumbing skills to other areas of his career?

Josh has used his plumbing expertise to transition into real estate development, custom home building, and contracting, showcasing how plumbing skills can be foundational for other entrepreneurial ventures.

Why does Josh believe plumbing is a good foundation for a young person’s career?

Josh believes plumbing provides a practical, versatile skill set that opens doors to various career paths. It’s a solid base for those interested in fields like real estate, development, or running their own business.