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Being an HVAC Creative

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Matt Bruner joins the podcast to talk about what it’s really like being an HVAC creative. Matt is a young HVAC business owner who has recently written several HVAC School tech tips and pursued creative interests in the trade.

Being creative in any industry or aspect of life requires us to be aware of what’s around us and think deeply about how things can be better. Creativity requires us to channel our dissatisfaction into finding a solution, not just complaining, similar to how children channel boredom into projects.

While the industry relies on processes and procedures to establish consistent standards, an over-reliance on processes can remove opportunities for HVAC professionals to be creative in their careers. However, creative solutions still need to be based on a solid understanding of the scientific and safety fundamentals of the trade. In many cases, processes get better when people are allowed to be creative and tweak existing models and ways of doing.

There is plenty of room for creativity in the design and installation of residential HVAC systems. Common problems, including the need for dehumidification, require creative solutions from smart people in the trade. Solving these challenges is fun for creative-minded people, especially those who acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers. The HVAC industry has so many jobs that require creativity through hands-on problem-solving.

Matt and Bryan also discuss:

  • How Matt ended up in the HVAC industry
  • “Poor” creativity
  • Institutional and self-imposed constraints
  • AI and data models
  • What it really means to “do things better”
  • Unteaching and unlearning bad habits
  • Asking the right questions
  • Self-awareness
  • The evolution of “the right way” of doing things

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