The TECHtrepreneur · Trade school initiative
Give back to the trades.
Encourage the next generation.
Put a book in the hands of someone who may build the next great service company.
If The TECHtrepreneur gave you a few ideas, a few reminders, or a fresh perspective on your own journey, consider passing that encouragement to students at your local trade school.
One book. One business card. One note. One classroom visit.
Help a student see where the trade could lead.
Keep it personal. Keep it local. Keep it simple.
Why this matters
Most of us can remember someone who gave us a shot.
The story in The TECHtrepreneur begins in a trade school classroom, where Russ unexpectedly discovers HVAC and starts down a path that eventually leads to business ownership.
Technical education can open the door. Encouragement, mentoring, and real-world exposure can help a young technician see where that door might lead.
01 / Encouragement
Encourage the student.
A book from a local contractor sends a powerful message: someone in the industry believes your effort matters.
02 / Partnership
Support the instructor.
Trade instructors need employers who reinforce professionalism, business thinking, customer care, and long-term career possibilities.
03 / Opportunity
Build your future bench.
Some students may someday become helpers, apprentices, technicians, leaders, partners, or even friendly competitors in your market.
The idea
Start with one classroom and one instructor.
You do not need to create a scholarship program or build a formal recruiting campaign. Begin with a few simple steps.
1
Contact the school.
Ask the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or skilled-trades instructor how many students are currently in the program.
2
Sponsor the books.
Purchase a copy of The TECHtrepreneur for each student—or start with a smaller graduating class or advanced class.
3
Make each copy personal.
Tape your business card inside the front cover and write a short note encouraging the student to finish strong.
4
Show up once.
Offer to visit the class for 20–30 minutes to share your perspective on the book, the trade, and what employers really look for.
Inside the cover
A personal note can turn a book into an invitation.
Let the student know there is a real contractor in their community who respects what they are learning and is willing to help them get some real-world exposure.
- Congratulate them for choosing a skilled trade.
- Encourage them to finish the program and master the fundamentals.
- Remind them that technical skill is only the beginning of a great career.
- Invite them to call, text, or email to learn more about real-world field work.
Sample note to the student
Congratulations on choosing the trades.
The skills you are learning can provide a great career, a way to support a family, and—if you choose—even a path to business ownership someday.
Finish what you started. Learn the fundamentals. Ask questions. Take pride in your work. And remember that being a great technician is about more than fixing equipment—it is also about taking care of people.
If you ever want some real-world work experience or simply want to talk with someone already in the business, my card is inside this cover. Feel free to reach out.
Wishing you a great career in the trades!
— A local contractor who is cheering for you
A simple class visit
Offer something more valuable than a box of books: your time.
Tell the instructor you would be glad to sit in on a class session and share a contractor’s perspective on the book.
Tell a few stories about your career, the mistakes you made, the people who helped you, and what you wish you understood when you were sitting where those students are sitting now.
Your presence helps students connect classroom learning to the real world—and gives the instructor a local employer relationship they can build on.
Conversation starters
What could you talk about?
- How you got into the trade and what your first job was really like.
- The difference between being technically competent and being professionally valuable.
- Why communication, reliability, appearance, attitude, and customer trust matter.
- What you look for when hiring an apprentice or entry-level technician.
- Why continued learning matters long after trade school ends.
- What happens when a great technician eventually decides to become a business owner.
Start where you are
You do not have to sponsor an entire school.
The point is creating a meaningful connection between a local contractor and the students preparing to enter the trade. Choose a starting point that fits.
5 books
Recognize top-performing students or graduating seniors.
10–15 books
Sponsor a small advanced class or evening class.
One classroom
Give every student a copy and visit the class for a discussion.
One program each year
Turn it into an annual community outreach and recruiting tradition.
The bigger opportunity
Help a student see that the trade can be more than a job.
A trade school teaches students how to work on systems. A good employer teaches them how to work with customers, coworkers, and real-world expectations.
A mentor can help them see an even bigger picture: a skilled-trades career can lead to craftsmanship, leadership, financial stability, community impact, and possibly business ownership.
Encourage someone’s next chapter
One classroom visit.
A lasting connection.
One book. One business card. One note. One classroom visit. That may be all it takes to influence the direction of a young technician’s career.