A Consultation from a 23-Year-Old Site Representative
I received a comment on the YouTube channel I run. I’d like to share it here and invite you to think about it with me.
The comment went something like this.
"I'm a 23-year-old working as a construction site manager in my local area. Right now, I'm serving as the site representative for a public works project. My days consist of working from 6:00 a.m. until at least 9:00 p.m. There are many things I don't understand, and since I have to look them up as I go, I'm not able to work as quickly as I'd like. I don't necessarily want to quit, but lately I've started to feel like it's getting a little tough. Thinking about working in this field for many years to come, I’d appreciate any advice on how to stay motivated.”
Being entrusted with the role of site manager at the young age of 23, you must surely have some concerns. Nevertheless, I felt your comments were very positive.
While many people are critical of the construction industry, I truly believe that positive, young professionals are the industry’s greatest asset.
I’d like to answer that in my own way.
First of all, you should understand that construction management is a very demanding job. This is due to the ”breadth of responsibilities” involved. While it’s often “simplistically” described as managing four major areas—safety, quality, schedule, and cost—the reality is far from that simple.
Even when it comes to a single set of drawings, there are countless types, and each drafter has their own style. Just deciphering them requires a vast amount of knowledge—yet even that is considered nothing more than “basic, common knowledge.”
It’s just a matter of being able to read drawings—a category within the “Quality” section of the four management areas. There are plenty of other demanding tasks out there as well. IT, document preparation, CAD, process management, quality checks, negotiations, leadership, communication skills—each one is incredibly demanding.
What I'm trying to say is that the career I've chosen is that demanding.
In other words, what I want to say first is, “Just being there is already amazing enough.” In a profession where some people struggle with mental health issues, even those who are just hanging on are, in fact, superhuman.
What I'm doing right now is definitely not wrong.
I imagine that my daily life is simply getting buried under the sheer volume of work and things I don’t understand. That’s why, no matter how hard I try, I don’t feel like I’m making any progress. No wonder I’m anxious about the future.
But it's okay. We're definitely moving forward. We're definitely growing.
It’s just that they’ve grown accustomed to what could be called an abnormal environment and have become so absorbed in it that they’re hard to see. It simply means they aren’t yet mature enough to view themselves objectively from the outside.
You’re still just starting out, so you’re probably doing your best just to keep up with the moment. But if you keep taking on challenges without getting discouraged, those little fragments of experience will scatter here and there. And then, at some point, there will come a moment when they all suddenly connect into a single line.
I felt that in my sixth year. It was as if everything suddenly clicked into place. I no longer felt like anyone could beat me, and I began to enjoy my work more than ever.Your efforts had truly paid off. Please move forward with the belief that nothing you do is ever in vain.
Ultimately, I think you can’t beat people who give it their all in this world. “Be yourself,” “accept yourself as you are”—there are plenty of people who conveniently use these trendy phrases as an excuse to run away. Of course, I’m not judging them. It’s their life, after all.
But among successful people, there isn't a single one who didn't work their hardest.Ultimately, people who have experienced never giving up and gritting their teeth are the strongest. Nothing is a waste of time. What you’re doing right now isn’t wrong either.
Whatever you do, don’t let your health suffer. It’s okay to take a break once in a while. But I really hope you’ll keep pushing yourself until you’re satisfied. That comment made me feel that the future of the construction industry—with people like that—is still very bright.
