Ken Rusk

how to become a plumber

How to Become a Plumber: The Step-by-Step Path (No Debt Required)

Here's a number worth sitting with: $37,000. That's what the average four-year college graduate owes in federal loan debt before they've landed a single job in their field. Before they know if the degree pays off. Before the first paycheck that actually covers the bills.

A plumbing apprentice doesn't start that way. On day one of an apprenticeship, they're earning a wage. Not a hypothetical future wage - an actual one, that week. Read More »

A construction worker smiling while working on windows of a building

What Does It Mean to Take Pride in Your Work? The “Stand Back Moment” Explained

Something happens at the end of a hard day of physical work that has nothing to do with a paycheck. You don't feel it after closing an email chain or wrapping up a meeting. You feel it when you step back, look at what you just built, and think: I made that. That feeling is what taking pride in your work actually looks like. Most career conversations never get around to discussing it honestly.

I call it the Stand Back Moment. And after thirty-plus years building blue-collar businesses, I can tell you this: it's one of the few rewards in work that no manager can give you and no layoff can take away. It lives in the work itself. Read More »

A corkboard with the word VISION on it in magazine clippings

What Is a Vision Board? (And Why Ken Rusk Draws His Instead of Cutting One Out)

Most people carry a version of the life they want somewhere in the back of their minds. A certain kind of home. A certain kind of financial freedom. A certain kind of morning. The problem is that keeping that picture vague is almost the same as not having it at all. A vision board is supposed to fix that. But the way most people build one and the way I teach it are two very different things.

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A blue collar worker standing at a job site holding documents

The Highest-Paying Blue-Collar Jobs (And What They Actually Pay)

Most people assume the big money is in corporate America. They picture corner offices, MBA degrees, and a long climb up someone else's ladder. They don't picture the guy in a hard hat pulling down $106,000 a year installing elevators.

That guy exists. He did an apprenticeship instead of college. He built a skill the market desperately needs. And by every financial measure, he made the right call. Read More »

An electrician working

Are Electricians Blue Collar?

Electricians are considered blue-collar workers because their daily tasks involve physical manual labor. Electricians can be classified as skilled labor since most professionals learn the necessary skills for the job through training programs and apprenticeships.

Why are Electricians Considered Blue-Collar?

Electricians are classified as blue-collar workers because their work involves manual labor in out-of-office settings such as residences, restaurants, and factories. Read More »

Steps to Help You in Choosing a Career Path

“What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” It’s a scary question, isn’t it? Fortunately, you’ll never have to answer it! Choosing a career path is just one step towards the opportunities and life that you’ll eventually experience. You can always switch gears when you need to – but it’s still important to take that first step.

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to make the first decision toward choosing a career path, read on to learn some steps you can take to remove some of the guesswork from the equation. Read More »

Importance of Being a Mentor for Success

Leadership in the Blue-Collar World: The Importance of Being a Mentor

One person’s success is rarely the result of just their work alone. It’s the culmination of experiences and learning from everyone in their lifetime. Parents, teachers and peers are often credited with helping guide others towards achievement. However, being a mentor is another way that anyone, including those in the blue-collar world, can help shape their own path towards accomplishing their dreams. Read More »

How to Grow Your Career in the Blue-Collar Industry

How to Grow Your Career Prospects as a Blue-Collar Worker

Where are you right now? Where do you want to be next year? In five years? Chances are, your goals and dreams for yourself grow bigger as you look farther ahead in time. We all think of ourselves as constantly learning new things and expanding our horizons, but what steps actually help you grow your career prospects and bring you closer to your goals?

Expand Your Skillset

Regardless of your chosen career, you have developed a core set of skills that are necessary for your daily job. These skills may be extremely focused and specialized, but you continue to hone them until you can do your job faster, more accurately or with fewer mistakes. Read More »

Everything You Need to Know About a Career in Welding

A career in welding is both stable and full of opportunities: there’s a high demand for welding skills all over the United States. In addition, fewer people are becoming craft professionals, so there’s never been a better time to enter the industry and demand high wages. Even better, a college degree is not required to be a welder. It’s a perfect option for those who prefer to learn a trade through creative exploration and hands-on projects instead of a four-year degree.

What Does a Welder Do?

In its most basic form, welding is the process of creating structures by joining two pieces of metal together using high heat.  A typical day for a welder might start with reviewing blueprints, preparing materials, and putting on protective gear before starting on their projects. There are numerous techniques to weld metal. The most common methods use electricity, gas, or a combination of the two. Once the welder finishes the general build, he or she completes the process by smoothing out imperfections and applying any protective finishes or decorative touches. Read More »

Building a Mental Foundation for Success

I know a thing or two about foundations - I’ve been working on them since I was 15! Without the proper systems in place, many foundations face serious water damage due to rainfall. Other foundations just weren’t built right to begin with. 

Regardless, I’ve seen my share of cracking walls and flooded basements. I’ve even seen homes about ready to collapse because of the condition of the foundation. Read More »