If you want to grow your career, increase your earning opportunities, and earn the trust of your managers, you have to be willing to learn.

That sounds simple.

But sometimes the people who need to hear it the most are the people who are least willing to listen.

Sometimes—actually, many times—the most stubborn and cranky people can teach you the most.

A Trainee Who Thought They Were a Technician

We had a young carpet cleaning technician who didn’t look the part, didn’t act the part, and was struggling to learn the part.

What do I mean by “didn’t look the part”?

This person arrived at work looking like they had just woken up. They didn't wear properly fitting pants or a clean shirt. They didn't practice good personal hygiene.

Why does that matter?

Because if you don't take yourself seriously, no one else will.

That may sound mean or judgmental, but we are all selling something.

And in business, your first impression often becomes the impression people remember.

Life and people don't always give you a second chance to prove them wrong.

You can think that's unfair, but you're only limiting yourself if you're unwilling to approach the world as it is.

The longer answer starts with understanding the difference between being a trainee and being a technician.

Your Job Title Doesn't Automatically Make You an Expert

This person was a trainee who thought they were a technician.

A trainee still has a lot to learn.

A technician has a foundational level of training and skills necessary to accomplish their responsibilities as a competent professional.

This employee knew how to perform some basic tasks, but they weren't ready to provide every service our company offered.

But, as often happens in busy organizations, a spike in work caused by flooding in the area created pressure to get more people into the field.

The prior manager had sent this trainee out to perform work independently.

The result was a mismatch:

Skill level: Trainee
Responsibility level: Technician

That's a dangerous combination.

Learning by Doing Can Create False Confidence

In most skilled trades, we learn by doing.

That often means learning by failing forward.

You try something. You make a mistake. You learn from it. You get better.

That's how experience is built.

But there's a potential problem.

Experience without proper training can create a false sense of confidence.

Someone can perform a task a few times and begin to believe they have mastered the entire profession.

The prior manager was eventually let go for underperforming.

When I arrived to manage the team, one of my discoveries was that this employee needed significantly more training before they should have been working independently.

So I assigned the trainee to one of our seasoned technicians.

This technician had a record of successfully completing all of the services we offered and had previously been successful
in a training capacity.

The trainee didn't like the decision.

They clashed with their trainer.

They thought the trainer was too mean.

Sometimes the Person You Don't Like Is the Person You Need to Learn From

I sat down with the trainee.

We discussed their concerns, and I shared my own experience working with people I had clashed with in the past.

Some of those people taught me skills that eventually helped me reach the position I was in.

I explained that I had often needed to swallow my pride and become willing to learn if I wanted to move from where I was—in knowledge, skills, and resources—to where I wanted to be.

Then I shared something I believe is true for almost anyone trying to build a career:

If you want to earn, you must first be willing to learn.

The trainee seemed to agree.

So we discussed how to work with people who may not have the best communication or training skills.

I asked:
“Has the person you're training with been doing this work a lot longer than you?”

Yes.

“You see the tickets your trainer turns in. Do they complete more work, more upsells, and make more money than you did during the short time you were working independently?”

Yes.

“If you were able to hold your opinions for three to six months and commit to learning from this person, would you have a more complete skill set?”

Yes.

“If you developed a more complete skill set, would that help you become more successful on your own and potentially set you up for a career as a much higher earner?”

Yes.

We talked some more, and I thought we had reached a good understanding.

The plan was simple.

We would check in once a month on their progress, and I would also talk with the trainer about their approach to training.

I also talked with the technician about improving their hygiene and personal presentation.

I even gave them new company shirts so they could start fresh.

What Happened?

Did they improve their hygiene and personal appearance?

No.

The new shirts looked like old, wrinkled laundry the following week.

Did they swallow their uninformed pride and make an effort to learn?

No.

They continued to complain about the trainer.

Granted, the trainer could have done some things better.

But the trainee was focused almost entirely on what everyone else was doing.

They expected everyone else to change for them while making almost zero effort to do what they had been asked to do.
And that's where the bigger career lesson comes in.

Stop Blaming Everyone Else for Your Lack of Progress

If you want to get yelled at, complain without accepting responsibility.

If you want to get yelled at, complain without being willing to change.

If you want to get yelled at, complain and blame everyone else.

You will make your bosses frustrated.

And more importantly, you will not grow.

You may be right about some things.

Your boss may genuinely communicate poorly.

Your trainer may genuinely be difficult.

Your coworkers may genuinely make mistakes.

The workplace may genuinely be unfair sometimes.

But being right doesn't automatically make you successful.

You can spend all your energy proving that everyone else is wrong, or you can ask yourself:

What can I learn from this situation?

That's where growth begins.

Career Growth Requires Coachability

One of the most valuable traits an employee can develop is coachability.

Being coachable doesn't mean accepting every piece of criticism as truth.

It means being willing to listen.

It means separating your ego from useful feedback.

It means asking whether there is something you can improve—even when the feedback is delivered poorly.

Before you decide your boss or coworkers are being mean, take a look in the mirror.
Ask yourself:

• Am I presenting myself in a way that makes people take me seriously?
• Am I taking this opportunity seriously?
• Am I building trust with the people around me?
• Am I willing to learn from someone who knows more than I do?
• Am I accepting responsibility for the things I can control?
• Am I responding to feedback or simply defending myself?
• Am I focused on improving, or am I focused on proving that I'm right?

These questions matter because your career isn't built only on technical skills.

It's built on trust, reliability, professionalism, attitude, communication, and the willingness to improve.

Short-Term Vision Creates Long-Term Problems

The trainee wanted the responsibility and independence of a technician without first developing the skills and habits required to succeed as one.

That's a common problem in careers.

People want the promotion before developing the skills.

They want the higher income before developing the value.

They want independence before demonstrating reliability.

They want respect before demonstrating professionalism.

But career growth usually doesn't work that way.

You earn greater opportunities by becoming the person capable of handling them.

Sometimes that means doing things you don't want to do.

Sometimes it means listening to someone you don't like.

Sometimes it means admitting that you aren't as skilled as you thought you were.

Sometimes it means taking criticism that hurts.

And sometimes it means swallowing your pride and going back to learning the basics.

Unwilling to Learn = Unable to Earn

If you want to grow your career, increase your income, and create better opportunities for yourself, become someone who is willing to learn.

Don't confuse confidence with competence.

Don't confuse criticism with disrespect.

Don't confuse independence with refusing help.

And don't confuse being right with being successful.

Take the opportunity seriously.

Build trust.

Listen.

Learn.

Improve.

Then do it again.

Because the people who are willing to learn today are often the people who become qualified to earn more tomorrow.

Three Questions to Ask Yourself

• Criticism: Is it true?
• Feedback: Is it helpful?
• Challenge: Will you see it through?

Your answers may have more to do with your future career growth than you realize.

Unwilling to learn = unable to earn.

#CareerGrowth #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership #SkilledTrades #Construction #WorkplaceCulture #Coachable #MoneyMindset

We don't speak robot, so we asked another robot friend, ChatGPT, to help us interpret this announcement from Verisk. 

The headline: Verisk Brings Its Trusted Analytics and Generative AI Capabilities Directly into Anthropic’s Claude

The proclamation, "New Verisk Model Context Protocol (MCP) connectors enable conversational, natural-language interactions, provide contextual access to Verisk’s trusted insurance analytics inside enterprise AI environments."

The query prompt for ChatGPT,

Please interpret this for a normal person, what does this mean for insurance claims and contractors working on them - New Verisk Model Context Protocol (MCP) connectors enable conversational, natural-language interactions, provide contextual access to Verisk’s trusted insurance analytics inside enterprise AI environments.

The response from our friendly neighborhood AI...(response below)..But, first, give a watch (YouTube) and listen (Spotify) to The DYOJO Podcast, Episode 132 Insurance Claim Rejection Robots 

In plain English, this means:

​Verisk is making its insurance data/tools work with AI assistants (like ChatGPT-style systems) so insurance workers and contractors can ask questions in normal language instead of digging through multiple software systems manually.
Here’s what that likely means in practice for insurance claims and restoration/construction contractors.

Simple one-sentence summary
This means insurance companies are moving toward AI systems that can instantly analyze contractor estimates and claim data through normal-language conversations — making claim handling faster, but also more automated and more tightly controlled.

What the announcement is actually saying“MCP connectors”“MCP” (Model Context Protocol) is basically a standardized way for AI systems to securely connect to business software and data sources.
Think of it like:

• a universal plug/adaptor for AI tools.

So instead of an adjuster or contractor:

• opening 5 systems,
• searching PDFs,
• checking pricing databases,
• reviewing policy language manually,

The AI assistant can pull the information directly from Verisk systems.

“Conversational, natural-language interactions”
This is the important part.

Instead of using complicated menus or codes, people can ask things like:

• “What’s the average approved roof replacement cost in this ZIP code?”
• “Why was this line item denied?”
• “Compare this estimate to regional norms.”
• “Show me missing items in this contractor estimate.”
• “What policy exclusions apply here?”
• “Generate a summary of this water mitigation claim.”

The AI translates the question into database searches and analysis.

What this means for insurance claims people
For adjusters and carriers:

• Faster estimate review
• Faster fraud/anomaly detection
• Easier policy interpretation
• Less manual searching
• AI-generated claim summaries
• Automated comparison against pricing databases like Xactimate

Potentially:

• lower staffing needs for repetitive desk work
• more standardization
• tighter oversight of claims

What this means for contractors
This is where things get very real operationally.

Likely impacts
1. Estimates will be scrutinized faster
AI will likely compare contractor estimates against:

• regional pricing
• historical claims
• standard labor/material assumptions
• common overbilling patterns

Example:
“This drywall quantity is 18% above regional norms.”
That means:

• faster pushback from carriers
• more automated denials/reductions
• more requests for justification

2. Documentation quality becomes much more important
Contractors who:

• document moisture readings,
• photos,
• scope notes,
• code requirements,
• material justifications,

…will likely fare much better.

Why?
Because AI systems work best with structured evidence.
Poor documentation = easier automated reduction.

3. Faster approvals for clean, standardized claims
On the positive side:

• well-written estimates may get approved faster,
• supplements may process quicker,
• fewer phone calls/emails,
• less back-and-forth.

Especially if:

• contractor software integrates with carrier AI workflows.

4. More pressure toward “standardized” pricing
Verisk already influences pricing heavily through platforms like Xactware and products like Xactimate. AI integration likely strengthens that influence.

Translation:

• carriers may rely even more heavily on “acceptable range” pricing,
• unusual or premium contractor pricing may face increased resistance unless justified carefully.

5. Supplements may become partially automated
AI could automatically flag:

• missing line items,
• code upgrades,
• overlooked materials,
• sequencing conflicts.

This could help contractors IF the AI is balanced.
But carriers may also use it to:

• auto-reject supplements lacking evidence,
• reduce administrative review time.

The bigger industry shift
This announcement is really about embedding AI directly into insurance workflows.
Instead of AI being a separate chatbot, it becomes:

• connected to live claims data,
• estimating systems,
• policy systems,
• analytics databases,
• fraud models,
• pricing engines.

That’s the major shift.

What smart contractors should probably do now
Focus on:

• cleaner estimate writing
• photo documentation
• code citations
• moisture logs
• exact measurements
• standardized line items
• detailed justification notes

Expect:

• less human negotiation,
• more AI-assisted review,
• quicker responses,
• more data-driven disputes.

What homeowners worry about:
Lingering smoke toxins, structural risks, or hidden hazards.

How a contractor helps:
A qualified restoration contractor ensures:

• Air quality testing (removal of smoke particulates and toxins)
• Thermal and structural checks for fire-compromised materials
• Proper cleaning or replacement of insulation, drywall, and HVAC systems
• Compliance with local building and safety codes

​The goal isn’t just appearance—it’s making your home healthy and safe again.

​Recovering from a fire is never simple, but the path forward becomes much clearer when you know what questions to ask and who to trust. By understanding your insurance coverage, insisting on thorough documentation, and working with a qualified contractor who advocates for your best interests, you can avoid costly oversights and ensure your home is restored the right way. The goal isn’t just to rebuild what was lost—it’s to return to a space that is safe, healthy, and fully repaired. With the right guidance and support, you can move from uncertainty to confidence and take the final steps toward putting your home—and your life—back together.

"Opportunities don't happen, you create them." — Chris Grosser ​