Boots On The Ground

Personas, customer journeys, and voice of customer all start by listening to real people. Sometimes you get a rare opportunity for a "boots on the ground" experience. These are my favorite. There's no rush to plow through a list of questions, like a speed dating event. We have room to get to know each other, share ideas, and ease into a comfortable banter. Truly understanding the perspectives of others helps us be better in so many ways. It is woven into every interaction we have.

American Home Inspectors Training (AHIT) offers field sessions in local homes to practice and cement the online or classroom education sessions. I had the pleasure and honor to experience one of AHIT’s field training classes. This one was extra special because of a drop in guest, Joe Mazza, from HGTV’s “Home Inspector Joe.” Not only did we have expert inspector instructors stepping us through the house, we had a thriving AHIT-trained home inspector turned celebrity!

The class was diverse yet they all shared the same answer when I asked "What sparked you to become a home inspector?" Answer: Career burnout

Motivated by the need for a change and more control over work/life balance, every single student shared a common desire, “I want to be my own boss.”

It takes courage, passion, and drive to make a career change. Many people sit idle because it's easier to just keep doing what you know. This group broke the barrier and each of them were steadily taking strides toward success. I was surrounded by excitement and a zest for learning a new skill. I enjoyed listening to the path that brought each of them to this New York house, learning how to be a home inspector.

Joe wasn't shy to share more about his career change, “Being a home inspector gives you flexibility and scheduling. If I want to work, I work. If I don’t want to work, I don’t work. The best part about it is that if my daughter has a soccer game, or she has a concert, I get to go to it. I just book an inspection around it, it’s that simple!

One thing is for sure, there is no "easy button" for career choice or changes. Just listen. Listen to each other and listen to yourself.