Lesson 76: History
The first time I visited South Africa, I learned the importance of knowing a community’s history:
A cocktail party was filled with guests discussing the art around the room. A couple was telling me about their roots in Soweto, and when I asked, “What is Soweto?” they went silent and quickly exited the conversation. I had obviously offended them. That night, I researched Soweto and came across the Soweto Student Rebellion. This movement was a turning point in the anti-apartheid movement where school children protested the requirement to learn Afrikaans, the language associated with the oppressive white minority. Thousands died. Upon reading this, I empathized with the couple because my ignorance about their community’s history demonstrated my lack of respect for their culture.
This experience taught me a profound lesson: a community’s history is not just a collection of facts; it shapes its identity. As I meet business owners, I sense how their identity is tied up in the history of the business. The person sitting across from me feels like a manifestation of the business, especially for founders. How can I expect to be a trustworthy buyer, and moreover an effective leader, if I do not understand the history the community this business serves?
This week, I looked at the history of the trades. Welding, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians built this country’s infrastructure. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Hoover Dam, structures big and small relied on these specialized skills. Moreover, the trades built a strong middle class during the 20th Century as people pursued vocations and carved lives out of their reliable, well-paying jobs.
As I take steps toward acquiring a trade school, I see the significance of the history of the trades and the value of these skills today. For example, HVAC technician training requires understanding how boilers, furnaces, and electricity heat homes around the country. In the 19th century, boilers were the main source used to heat homes. In the 20th century, furnaces took over as a cleaner alternative and easier to operate. The 21st century has seen the invention of heat pumps grow in popularity. You can find homes across the country touched by this history, and HVAC technicians prepare themselves to work on these systems in trade school.
My values are to act with love, humility, and wisdom. Humility is extremely important when entering conversations with owners because you have to respect they know more about the business than you. Moreover, trade schools are a community institution. Leading a training program is an act of stewardship, where you are responsible for the careers and well-being of your students. I share the ambition to train the next generation of trades people, and I cherish the lesson I learned about knowing the history of this community. It would be unfair to compare the significance of the Soweto Student Rebellion to the energy transition of homes. However, the lesson remains the same: Learning the history of the community is a mark of compassion and respect for its people.
This is Lesson 76: History. Next week is Lesson 77: Friendship.
