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Just realized that being a 'master mechanic' means nothing if you can't explain things to customers
That meetup got me thinking about how I learned. My first shop job in 2018 the lead mechanic would just hand me a tool and say 'fix it.' No context. I wasted hours on a sticky brake cable once because nobody told me to check the housing ends for burrs. I eventually learned by making every mistake twice. Now I work at a co-op and I force myself to explain the 'why' behind each step. It takes longer but the people I teach can actually think through problems on their own. The popular opinion in shops is that speed equals skill, but I'm starting to think that's backwards. Has anyone else had to unlearn the 'just get it done' attitude to become a better mechanic?
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gavinw451mo ago
Ha, so you got the classic "here's a wrench, figure it out yourself" training method too. Love it when the "mentor" just disappears for 45 minutes while you're staring at a bolt that won't budge.
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