Table of Contents
Preface xi
Introduction xiii
About the Author xix
Part 1 At Your Best Fundamentals: The Rules of the Game
Chapter 1 AYB Playbooks & AtYourBestxom 1
At Your Best with Subject Matter Experts 5
Sources, Methods and Credibility 6
Local and Actionable 9
Chapter 1 Replay 9
Chapter 2 AYB Playbooks Are for You, If … 11
Who This AYB Playbook Is For … 13
Chapter 2 Replay 17
Chapter 3 The AYB Mental Framework 19
It All Begins with "You, Inc," 21
3P+A = People, Performance, Professionalism & Attitude 24
Success with 3P+A 25
Curiosity: An Important State of Mind 27
Future-Proof Your Life with a Skilled Trade Career 29
At Your Best as a Craftsman 31
At Your Best as a Woman in the Skilled Trades 32
Chapter 3 Replay 34
Part 2 At Your Best as an HVAC/R Technician: Becoming a World-Class Player
Chapter 4 Career Overview: HVAC/R Technician 39
Why Become a HVAC/R Technician? 42
HVAC/R Technician: Job Responsibilities 42
HVAC/R Technician: Minimum Required Skills & Abilities 43
HVAC/R Technician: Work Conditions 44
HVAC/R Technician: Earning Potential 45
HVAC/R Technician: Your Career Options 46
Becoming an HVAC/R Technician: Is it for You? 47
Chapter 4 Replay 49
Chapter 5 Your Path to Becoming an HVAC/R Technician 51
How to Become a HVAC/R Technician 53
The Career Stages of a "Master HVAC/R Technician" 53
The PACT Certificate 57
Your Education is Your Foundation 60
High School or Its Equivalent 61
Khan Academy 62
CareerOneStop: Your First Stop for Finding Local Resources 63
Vocational, Technical School versus Community College 63
Finding the Right Type of School or Program for You 65
Post-9/11 GI Bill & Vocational Education 66
Apprenticeship: The 4-Year Degree that Pays You 67
Finding the Apprenticeship Program for You 70
Certifications for You as a Craftsman 71
At Your Best as a Union Member 72
At Your Best as a Military Veteran 73
YouTube Is Your Friend 75
Chapter 5 Replay 76
Chapter 8 Finding Work as an HVAC/R Technician 77
Your Job Search Starring Points 80
Your Full-time Job is to Find a Full-time Job 80
Your Skills are Portable 81
AYB Steps & Tools to Find a Great Job 81
"Force Multipliers" & Networking to Find a Job 83
Think Like Your Future Employer 88
Drug Testing & Getting Hired or Fired 89
Where to Turn for More Information 90
Your Local Librarian 90
Chapter 6 Replay 91
Chapter 7 At Your Best with 3P+A in Action 93
People: The First P in 3P+A 97
Performance: The Second P in 3P+A 98
Professionalism: The Third P in 3P+A 100
Attitude: The A in 3P+A 102
Chapter 7 Replay 103
Chapter 8 Getting Your Head Straight, Part 1 105
Chapter 8 Replay 120
Part 3 At Your Best as a Small Business: Building a World-Class Franchise
AYB Playbooks & Recommended Reading 124
Chapter 9 At Your Best: The Pre-Game 129
At Your Best before the Game 131
You, Inc. as a Small Business 132
SWOT Early & Often 133
Launch You, Inc. with Your Eyes Wide Open 136
You, Inc. Demands Courage 138
You, Inc. Demands Curiosity 140
Make the Web Your Business Partner 141
Small Business Administration's Learning Center 142
My Own Business, Inc. 142
Chapter 9 Replay 143
Chapter 10 At Your Best: The Kick Off 145
At Your Best from the Start 147
You, Inc.'s Customers: The Center of Your Universe 151
You, Inc.'s Go-to-Market Plan 153
You, Inc.'s Market Positioning 155
You, Inc.'s Path to Quick Wins 159
Your Timing & Action Plan 161
For You, Inc., Cash Is Life 163
You, Inc.'s Startup Financial Needs 164
You, Inc.'s Sales Forecast 166
You, Inc.'s Expense Budget 169
You, Inc.'s Profit & Loss Statement 171
Financing You, Inc. 172
You, Inc.'s Back-Office Infrastructure 173
"Licensed, Bonded & Insured" 174
Which Legal Structure is Right for You, Inc.? 176
Chapter 10 Replay 179
Chapter 11 At Your Best: Game On 181
At Your Best on the Field 183
Customer Service: Your Competitive Advantage 184
At Your Best with Force Multipliers 187
Growing You, Inc.'s Business through Networking 188
You, Inc.'s VP of Sales & Business Development 189
Getting the Word Out 190
Customer Leads & Reviews on the Web 194
Table Stakes Marketing Toolkit 195
You, Inc., Technology & Running Your Business 199
Chapter 11 Replay 202
Chapter 12 At Your Best: Halftime 205
At Your Best through Regular Review 207
Whatever It Is, SWOT It 208
Success as a Leader of a Small Team 210
You, Inc. & Your Employees and Contractors 213
Never Enough Time in the Day 214
Improve or Remove 217
Get Back on the Field 219
Chapter 12 Replay 219
Chapter 13 Getting Your Head Straight, Part 2 221
Chapter 13 Replay 234
Chapter 14 At Your Bests Going Pro 237
At Your Best Going to the "Next Level" 239
Chapter 14 Replay 241
Glossary of Terms 243
List of AYB Quick Tools 247
Afterword 249
