Refrigeration Mentor founder Trevor Matthews returns to the HVAC School podcast to talk about personal development and training, including tips for learning in HVAC/R.

When you’re looking at a problem in the field or in training, it pays to take a step back, cool down, and reevaluate your mindset. Trevor recommends thinking about the worst-case scenario and seeing how you can either prevent it or grow from it. It’s good to walk away for a little bit anytime you feel like you’re overanalyzing anything so that you don’t make blunders. 

Trevor has found that reading books is one of the best ways to learn about HVAC/R. HVAC/R professionals can greatly benefit from investing in themselves and setting up their own self-directed training programs. Trainers and mentors can’t be the only ones motivating HVAC/R professionals, holding them accountable, and stimulating their growth.

Many times, our own limiting beliefs of ourselves hold us back, and we need to convince ourselves that we can learn difficult things, even if it isn’t easy. We can also limit our ratio of entertainment to education; focusing more on the latter can greatly benefit your personal development.

Setting educational goals is also difficult when we work long hours and simply don’t have the time or energy to invest in ourselves. The industry needs reform, and reform that raises base rates and prevents an over-reliance on overtime might also attract some new professionals to the field.

Trevor and Bryan also discuss:

• Trevor’s new podcast
• Clearing your head
• Books about doing the hard things first
• Autodidactism and “learning how to learn”
• Subconscious cost-benefit analysis
• The industry’s addiction to overtime
• Helpful books and podcasts for personal development
• Getting rid of “tunnel vision”

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