After 20 plus years as a woman in The Restoration and Cleaning Industry I have come to realize a few things about men in our industry. And I believe that that statement is also true in reverse.
Men are courageous, ambitious and committed to their work. They as a general rule don’t like doing paperwork, saving receipts and leaving the football game on Sunday to suck water out of a basement. They LOVE to BBQ, spend time with their families, enjoy a cold beverage after a long week and they are fiercely independent.
You know what else I have learned about men in our industry?
They really appreciate and value the women in our industry.
Sadly this was not always the case.
I will never forget the first time I showed up on a job to do a walk thru with the insured and the adjuster on a loss. My boss (a man) got out of the truck first and the adjuster (a man) immediately shook his hand. Then when I stepped out with my clipboard in hand the adjuster looked at me and said shouldn’t you be in the office and kinda laughed a little I think to soften the blow. He never once reached out to shake my hand that day.
This was in 2003 not 1953 and I couldn’t believe what had just happened.
I remember being a little ticked off but proceeded to go into the house and school him pretty good as I knew my way around contents and he had no clue. The next time I showed up on a job with him he reached out immediately shook my hand and said glad we are working together again. He became one of my biggest fans sending me every job that landed on his desk for many many years. He even started calling me when he needed advice on other jobs that I wasn’t working with him on.
Today when I show up to train a group of men wether it’s at an industry event, one of our hands on classes or an onsite private company training event not only do I feel appreciated and respected, I feel valued.
There are women in pretty much every role in restoration as CEO’s, Managers, Field Technicians, Estimators, Editors, Publishers, Innovators, Trainers, Authors and Owners. There are even restoration companies that are all women employees!
I think the shift in perspective happened when it was no longer about being a man or a woman and it became about being good at what you do. It gives us as restorers an ability to have a more wholistic approach in our work and for our clients.
Guys look you are different than us girls. That’s a good thing!
Our differences we should celebrate not try to down play or eliminate. It means we can bring our unique abilities, strengths and perspectives together and serve our communities better than we ever have.
It is so great to see women recognized for their contributions to the industry. In large part this has been accomplished with the help of our very own Michelle Blevins editor of R&R and Violand Management Associates for creating and supporting the Women in Restoration Award.
As a woman I appreciate very much the men we get to work along side. I am grateful for each and every one of you.
The last thing I want to do is move a 25 cubic foot refrigerator down a flight of stairs or climb on top of a roof to write an estimate. My son Travis on the other hand happily will do that part of the job while I handle inventory of the non salvage in the kitchen. Not that either of us can’t do these tasks but we each have different strengths and talents so we take advantage of that.
And that my friends is the beauty of having women and men united on the front lines.