Prefaces to the First Edition

This guide is a must listening material for any black man or woman even thinking about a career in construction. This guide will also be extremely helpful for any carpenter or minority who wants to excel in the field of construction and has bigger aspirations than just digging trenches or cleaning up construction sites.

The construction industry is dynamic and exciting and has plenty of opportunities to earn a good living. Unfortunately, the playing field is not always fair for people of color or minorities who would like to enter this field. I wish I could say that all you have to do is work as hard and as smart as the next man or woman and you will be given the same opportunities for advancement. That's just not the case. I have been in the construction field for over 20 years. I am what you would call a first-generation carpenter. What that means is I had no family members in the field that helped me land a job or give me any advice. I learned everything about the trade from the school of hard Knocks. I'm writing this book so you can learn from my mistakes. I want you to learn what works and what doesn't work. That way you will not be wasting valuable time and can focus on perfecting your skills as a journeyman carpenter.