Stories

Dave Frank

Senior mechanic technician lead

My girlfriend's father got me started right out of high school in the Phoenix area at a sand and gravel pit as a laborer.

I saw the machines running around and fell in love.

I started running a Case front-end loader with a gannon box to clean out from under the stacker belts. Eventually, I learned how to run a 966 loader, loading hoppers and trucks. As I moved to other jobs, I moved up to a Cat 988B, loading dumpers and end dumps. I’ve also operated tractors, backhoes, and lube trucks. In 1990 I got my dream job, at Caterpillar Inc.

Been working at the Tucson Proving Ground ever since.

I busted my ass to get to where I am. It helps because I love what I do, and after 39 years of playing in a sandbox, I still love it.

You have to love what you do. Make it fun and enjoyable. Don't sweat the small stuff that's out of your reach. Earn their respect, and they will respect you in return, making your life easier. Listen, always be eager to help, and learn from others. Be grateful and don't make excuses. Satisfaction is key, as is a work-life balance. If you love what you do, it's not work.

This quote has always stuck with me.

“A bad manager can take a good staff and destroy it, causing the best employees to flee and the remainder to lose all motivation.”

Written by Sample HubSpot User

May 8, 2023