Something that has taken me many years to realise.

I am one of those people who will spend 5 years learning something until I can do it as second nature ... so what is wrong with that ... nothing ... its what you do with that knowledge that gives you the ability to create and income and allows you to justify the rate you charge or become a sucker and share the knowledge freely.

People justify a doctors rate by his education and how long he took to get it ... well it took me 7 years of theory and practical to become a master electrician ... why should I feel bad to charge a reasonable rate.

Something tradesmen/women need to understand ... you are skilled in your field ... it has taken you years to get to where you are today ... dont let people suck your knowledge for free.

Stop giving away free information on site where people are looking for someone to create a bill of quantities and a detailed quote or sucking valuable information so that they can send out the quote for cheaper prices.

Something you also need to understand ... this crap of people who do a 2 day courses and now they label themselves as technicians ... which justifies them a rate of R400 - 600 ... yet people squeal like stuffed pigs when they pay a qualified person who has completed at least 3 years of training and practical courses when you bill R600.

Customer wonder why they get labourers dropped on site ... well that is all your R600 per hour is worth.

I blame the industry for this fiasco ... we have bought it upon ourselves.

The people who should be policing the industry should be held accountable for this ... allowing sub standard workmanship and unskilled people create dangerous environments for the public.

The joke is nobody even knows who these people are ... maybe they should be exposed and held accountable ... the public should be demanding it.