There’s something electric about first days – they’re like first dates with destiny, but instead of dinner and drinks, you’re courting your future self. The night before, you lay out your clothes like a teenager before prom: hard hat perfectly positioned, tools meticulously arranged, boots waiting expectantly by the door. Your stomach does that familiar dance between excitement and terror, knowing tomorrow you’ll step into a new version of yourself.
The Good Shit
The pre-dawn air bit sharp against my face as I executed my morning ritual with military precision. You know that feeling when you nail the perfect espresso shot? That gentle crema swirling into liquid gold? That was my entire pre-work ritual – each movement deliberate, each item checked off with satisfaction:
Wash up, movement, miles, get changed for work, let the dog out…
The familiar weight of my jacket slung over my shoulders grounded me in reality.
The contractor lights were strung down the hallway. I met my foreman. His blank face scanned me with experienced eyes.
“Do you know electric?” he asked, straight and simple.
“Yeah, basic residential stuff – receptacles and switches,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
A slight nod. “Perfect, start throwing receptacles in. This is Ron, just stick with him.”
Just like that, I was in. The universe blessed me with a crew that didn’t make me feel like an idiot for asking “stupid” questions. “Does the ground go up or down? (Ground = down)
Their casual competence was contagious, and the gentle rhythm of work-banter created a soundtrack to my first morning.
Working indoors while winter raged outside? Chef’s kiss. The flow state hit differently on-site. For three precious hours, time melted away into a dance of wires and connections.
The Plot Twist
Mother Nature started painting the city white with some expected snow. But here’s the counterintuitive truth – sometimes constraints are gifts wrapped in inconvenience. As I watched the flakes swirl outside the work site windows, a strange peace settled over me. First day, first snow, first early dismissal – the universe has a sense of humor.
Instead of surrendering to the siren call of an unexpected “half day,” I channeled that energy into optimization mode. I reorganized my tool bags completely. I also finished the new hire paperwork. My work mindset stayed firmly in place.
“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”
Even though I was home by 10:30 today, the after-lunch energy crash? Classic rookie mistake. The 2pm slump doesn’t care about your career aspirations, and my body made sure to remind me that this new rhythm would take some getting used to. Note to self: pack fuel for the afternoon tussle.
The Real MVPs (Most Valuable Principles)
I arrived at the site by 6. I didn’t find parking till 6:20. I got to the site with 5 minutes to spare. The twenty minutes hunting for parking in the pre-dawn darkness taught me my first real lesson:
Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.
That search has now been elevated to a religious practice, built into the schedule like morning prayers.
The parking game revealed itself as an urban chess match – two-hour spots are your pawns, and breaks become strategic moves across the board. The city’s rhythm became clearer as I asked around on the job.
The Plot Twist Nobody Tells You About
Want to know what really separates the pros from the amateurs? It’s not the fancy tools or the years of experience (though those help). It’s the headlamp in your bag for those dark morning hours when you’re fumbling with lock boxes and tool belts in the pre-dawn gloom. Sometimes the simplest solutions cast the brightest light.
The Bottom Line
The first day flowed like a well-wired circuit, complete with all the necessary components – even an empty water bottle for nature’s calls (trust me, that’s essential knowledge they don’t teach in training).
Tomorrow, I’ll return with my headlamp, a refined parking strategy, a better tool set up, and the same beginner’s mind that turned today into an adventure worth sharing. Because ultimately, it’s about showing up, doing the work, and connecting your own circuits in this grand electrical symphony.
What about you? What unexpected lessons did your first day teach you? Whether you’re an electrician, plumber, or corporate warrior, we all have those first-day stories that shaped us. Share yours in the comments below – bonus points if it involves creative parking solutions or makeshift bathroom strategies, lmao
Joe DiAndrea 