Henrrych R. Diaz

Daniel Goleman is a great reference for me, both as a writer and as a researcher. Two of his books, "Emotional Intelligence" and "Focus," brought about a radical change in how I approach problems and relate to others. I don't intend to make this a review, but the skills of active listening, self-motivation, empathy, working under pressure, conflict resolution, and critical thinking that these readings provide are invaluable in today's modern society, which is overloaded with stress and competitiveness alike.

"If given six hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first four sharpening the axe." This quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln perfectly defines my work style, as I always strive to ensure quality through rigorous planning and effective communication. Last-minute unannounced changes, foreseeable setbacks that arise and slow down - or even halt - the work, or poor communication among superiors resulting in redoing completed work are situations I have frequently experienced, and in all of them, there is always one culprit: lack of professionalism.

I identify myself as someone who is always willing to take on responsibilities, which is why superiors feel comfortable delegating critical task supervision to me. This sense of commitment has sometimes brought about conflicts with coworkers who may not understand that, at a given moment, I am the one assuming the responsibility for the task at hand and therefore have the authority to assess their performance, as they are accountable to me and not vice versa. Nevertheless, I believe this issue stems from a lack of transparency in internal communication.

When it comes to the comfort zone at work, I always seek to step out of it. The unknown is not frustrating to me; on the contrary, I see it as an excellent opportunity to gain new professional experiences and perspectives. This pursuit of being a valuable team member, combined with my fast learning ability, has led me to participate in numerous projects with diverse demands, whether they are geographical, scheduling, hierarchical, or completion deadline-related. In any case, I have always been the first to volunteer and take on the challenge.

In my previous experiences, I have developed a wide range of audiovisual and written materials for various purposes. These include creating logos, vector graphic designs, PowerPoint presentations for pitch support, political opinion articles, and video game project proposals. All of these experiences have greatly influenced my professional background, enabling me to seek innovative ways to address problems on the go. For example, I have dealt with challenges such as coordinating ductwork overlays with other trades or relocating AHUs (Air Handling Units) that impact an entire area.

I have an innate passion for continuous learning and self-improvement. I am always seeking opportunities to acquire new knowledge through online courses, reading specialized articles, or conducting independent research. As a result, I strive to wisely invest my time in specialized project management programs, industry-relevant HVAC certifications, and, looking towards the future, I am pursuing EPA certifications and theoretical courses on HVAC system maintenance and repair. It's not just about money; it's also about earning the respect and admiration of those you work with.

As someone who is numbers-driven and results-oriented, I strictly adhere to quality standards and deadlines. I have a strong aversion to irresponsibility and informality. I will voice my concerns if the contractor fails to provide water, if there are insufficiently sized ladders (forcing us to use smaller ones or borrow them), or if there are no fans during hot seasons, safety harnesses for scissor lifts, or any other safety and basic comfort equipment for the work area. What may seem obvious to some, based on my experience, I have noticed that integrity and professionalism are sometimes mistaken for being "argumentative" or "difficult."