Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Barth. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Michael, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
A lot of my confidence today comes from my expertise/knowledge in my craft and knowing I’ve put in the time and work to become who I am. Growing up, wrestling and football were my sports of choice so confidence was necessary. I had my fair share of altercations as a teenager as well which only helped confidence become arrogance.
Out of high school and into the real world, I lost a lot of what I had gained in confidence thru accolades and my peers due to the reality of starting a new career and paying bills with no money. College wasn’t a plan for me and I was okay with that. I’ve always been a hustler.
Starting my plumbing career waterproofing homes by hand with my HS Football coach and our band of misfits, I knew I was in for a long hard road. Shortly after I found a local plumbing company that was excited to see what I was made of!
Although I could dig very well and wheelbarrow loads of stone, I wasn’t the most well-rounded employee to have. I learned quickly that I needed to shape up and no one is waiting up for me.
Slowly as I was given opportunities to prove myself, I did just that. I made PLENTY of mistakes during this time but always showed perseverance during the hardest of struggles. I gained a ton of confidence through my trade and my mentor.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been my most recent endeavor of self-care and confidence. (3yrs)
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the manager of a Plumbing company located on the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland. Pro Service Plumbing.
Our goals are to grow our ‘brand’ along with teaching the younger generation the trade of plumbing. We feel obligated as trade professionals to entice the youth to look towards blue collar professions to help fill the gap. We believe in having a good culture in the team and on the job site. My role has grown into a teacher both in plumbing and necessary skills to navigate life.
We don’t just want a team of professional plumbers but also men and women that have integrity and are looking for growth.
Recently, we traveled to South Dakota to help a fellow plumber with a project. Through social media we believe we can achieve success in many unorthodox ways.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
There are many qualities and skills that can thwart you into your journey even with success. But these will help in life as well.
In the trades you NEED
1) Integrity
2) Perseverance
3) Humility/Humble
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Huge topic as of late with my team.
Compartmentalization: a mental skill in which you are able to put certain thoughts/issues that keep you from being productive, into a cabinet so you can focus on the task at hand.
This also helps when you have a lot of things to do, breaking these down into separate tasks can make it more manageable.
If this doesn’t work, try taking 5 minutes away from the environment. Breathing techniques are insanely helpful when you need a refresher.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.callproservice.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barth_psp_plumbing?igsh=cTJrNGQ2Nm1ubmNt&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbarth1?mibextid=uzlsIk
