Are You Too Old School? When Legacy Wisdom Helps… and When It Holds You Back

If you’ve been in the trades for a decade or three, you know what works—and what doesn’t. Legacy wisdom is built from lessons learned the hard way. But sometimes, the “old school” way can hold you back just as much as it helps.

Here’s what’s worth keeping—and what’s worth updating:

• Keep: Pride in your work, showing up early, standing by your word, teaching the next generation.

• Update: Your job tracking (ditch the paper calendar for an app), your marketing (referrals are good, but a Google review lasts forever), and your pricing (know your numbers, not just your gut).

When does old school hurt? When it keeps you from adapting. “We’ve always done it this way” is a recipe for stagnation. But mix your hard-earned wisdom with a willingness to try new tools, and you get the best of both worlds—a crew that respects you, and a business that can keep up with the times.

The future of blue collar work belongs to those who build on their past, not those who get stuck in it.