Thanks Jim. An often quoted story- the parable of the 3 bricklayers. The 3rd bricklayer had a career.
The parable has many different variations, but is rooted in an authentic story. After the great fire of 1666 that leveled London, the world’s most famous architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral.
One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.
I think we need to help the next generation view the trades as careers, or a Cullin suggests, meaningful work. The obscene cost of a 4 year degree and the vast opportunities to access information and skills at lower cost makes this possible. People are shocked to discover that some folks study on their own, pass a state bar exam, get a license- without ever attending law school.
Thanks Jim. An often quoted story- the parable of the 3 bricklayers. The 3rd bricklayer had a career.
The parable has many different variations, but is rooted in an authentic story. After the great fire of 1666 that leveled London, the world’s most famous architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral.
One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.
I think we need to help the next generation view the trades as careers, or a Cullin suggests, meaningful work. The obscene cost of a 4 year degree and the vast opportunities to access information and skills at lower cost makes this possible. People are shocked to discover that some folks study on their own, pass a state bar exam, get a license- without ever attending law school.