The Value of Mentoring - In and Out of the Oilfield

Last night, we had dinner with a former coworker.  It’s always a pleasure to hang with oilfield people...especially those that have been all over the world, excelled, and love doing what they do.

My friend is from Louisiana, and he has always included me in his business wherein we had mutual customer relationships, all over the nation.  We don’t see each other often, but when we do, we have a great time. It might be in this corner of the oil patch, or that corner in the northeast, or in California, but we have a great time.

Tonight, the topic around our dinner table focused on women in the oilfield.  We talked about him about hiring women as salespeople;  though it seems my friend has hired plenty of women salespersons, he seemed somewhat worried about the how “old guys” in the patch would treat them.

I was shocked at his worry.

As a new employee, either you have integrity and character, or you don’t.  It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, you have to hold the lines and walk with professionalism.  I realize there are blocks to ascertaining such in a person,  some imagined and some real.  I realize there are certain questions you cannot ask a new employee, but there should be methods of verifying via letters of reference, etc.  I mean, someone, somewhere, has to have a measure of knowledge about your potential employee.  It’s your job to check them out before you present that offer.  And then?  Mentor, mentor, mentor.

I believe that new salespeople need mentoring, no matter the industry.  You cannot impute knowledge, value, or negotiation.  Ditto about proper conduct.  These are learned skills. And in the oilfield, even more so.  It's a tough world out here in the patch.

Seasoned, successful people should be the ones to mentor.  A company shouldn’t  just randomly assign mentors.  It’s a matching process.  Factors need to be considered such as personalities, selling style, and individuality.  I also believe a person can have more than one mentor.  There should be some commonality and “clicking” between a new employee and their mentor - it’s got to be a good fit.  A good sign of a great mentoring relationship will be mutual respect.   Another could be shared values.  A good mentoring relationship would be give and take on both sides - so, rewarding to both mentor and mentoree.

A mentoree can have a formal mentor, and an informal mentor.

A mentor will help you gain trust.  A mentor can help define roles and responsibilities, establish short and long term goals and help the mentee meet them.  A mentor will help the mentee identify and solve problems, and be more creative doing so, while learning in a safe and supportive environment.  In short, a mentor can help an inexperienced employee develop and progress and succeed in their environment.

It’s a win-win deal for the employer, the mentor, and the mentee.

But, I digress.   There remains a huge percentage of men vs. women in the energy industry. That gap is starting to narrow somewhat, and I’m glad to see it.  No matter the gender, I love it when new people enter this industry and grow to love it, themselves.   I have been in the oil and gas industry for almost 30 years.  I love this industry, and I tell everyone, though I’m 3rd generation oil and gas, this industry chose me.  I'm so very thankful it did.

I love the people, the technology, and the sense of family.  And I love that what I do helps people live well. 

May it be so for all of the newbies out there. 

May it be so. 

Carol Anderson Would Be Proud

Today was c.r.a.z.y.

I overslept a tad.  Had to rearrange breakfast pickup for customers.

Went to a doctor’s appointment, then went to the office.  

Worked on several things simultaneously, getting ready for an AADE National Board Meeting.  Went to lunch w/ coworkers, then went to chiropractor, then from there to orthopedic surgeon to do the preop paperwork for my upcoming knee surgery.

Went home, changed to dressier attire for the Wildcatter’s meeting at the Petroleum Club, attended event, then met friends for supper.

By now, it’s 8:30 p.m.  I’ve fed the dogs, and decided to pick up poop before I run back to the office.  Poop.  You know, dod poop.  Out in the back yard.  In the dark.

When I’m almost through scooping poop, I realize - I have on my brand new Cabi “Editor in Chief” jacket.  Taffeta collar and all. 

YEAH - THIS CUTE LITTLE NUMBER.

 And my fanciest flats.

And I’m shoveling poop.

I bet Carol Anderson would be so proud.

WAIT.  What's that smell?

You Really Can't Live Well Without Us...

(another repost from my old blog)


You know, the energy industry is either boom or bust, feast or famine. I’ve been doing what I do for 25+ years, and I don’t think we’ve had a time when we could just “cruise.” To top it off, media hates the oil and gas industry. All they can talk about is the price of a gallon of gas...something that is regulated by many different things. Sometimes, it’s wearing to be in a field that is always in the negative limelight.

I go places (outside the oilfield), and people ask what I do. When I tell them, they frown. And then, tell me, “You are EVIL.” I’m always nice, but inside, I want to scream, “Do you know you really can’t live well without us?” So, I decided I’d show you a little bit about my industry. It is, after all, an industry that I dearly love. And who knows, maybe you'll see it a little differently after today.

Way past the basics of energy for your house, and gas for your vehicle (car enamel, dashboards, antifreeze, safety glass for that front window, additives, oil, tires and fan belts, etc.), there are some of the menial things essential to living well that you utilize every day... and they all are derived in some form or fashion from the oil and gas industry.

Got an IPod? iPhone? The casing is plastic. Plastic is made from...wait for it...petroleum.
What about that laptop or desktop? iPad? Tablet? Sweet. Oilfield, baby.
Cameras for those great picture moments? For sure, oil.
Play a guitar? What makes up your strings? Oil. Oh, yeah, baby, sing it. Right through those speakers. That, by the way, are also made from a petroleum product.

Wear makeup? Most makeup has a petroleum base.
Perfume? Eyeglasses? Even your soft contact lenses? Oil, baby.
Seal it with a kiss...because your favorite lipstick probably is made from petroleum.
Need cold cream to take that lipstick off? Thank the oilfield.
How about nail polish? Oil. Don’t like the color, need nail polish remover? Oil.

Does your kiddo draw with crayons? Yup. Oilfield.
Play with Legos? Oilfield. Model cars, trains, planes? Oil and gas, baby.
Baby dolls, trucks, trikes and bikes? Oil.
Huggies? Luvs? Passies? Made from oil...to help you take care of that precious baby. And when you put him or her in that life-saving carseat? Rest assured, it’s made from Oil.

Are all your clothes white? Or that unbleached fabric? Because if they have any color to them at all, the dye has some petroleum product in it. Speaking of clothes, the detergent you wash them with - is a petroleum product.
Go fishing? Fishing rods, line, nets, boots, lures, life jackets, oars. Cooler. Water skis. Wakeboards. Tow rope. Fishing BOAT, for God’s sake. All petroleum based.
Shower curtain? Shampoo? Hand Lotion? Oil and gas. Again.

How about that cellphone? Coffeemaker? Those cool little appliances that help you make it through the day, from drying your hair to making a grilled cheese? And do you play those old LPs or CD’s throughout the day? All petroleum based.
.
Scotch Tape? Electrical tape? Duct tape? Glue? Paint brushes? Paint rollers?
Bicycle/motorcycle helmets? Trash bags? All that, and more are made from oil.

Do you use a toilet seat? Yeah. Seriously. You’re sitting on oil, baby.
How about those credit/debit cards? P.l.a.s.t.i.c. - made from o.i.l.

Are you a golfer? You couldn’t be without those little white balls! Petroleum. Shooter? Parts of your gun are made from oil. Tennis player? Rugby? Any sport known to man? I bet the oil and gas industry has some part in it.

Wax your floor? Yup. Is it linoleum? Yup again. Use a mop? Burn a candle? Oil.
How about when you write a check? Use a ballpoint pen? Oil.

What if you fall and get a booboo? Need a bandage? Oh, yeah, honey, it’ll get better with oil. Are you diabetic and need insulin injections? The syringes...are made from oil.
Take antihistamines? Aspirin? Cortisone? Wear dentures? Use a toothbrush, comb, brush, hair curlers? Glycerin, insect repellant? Gotcha. All made from Oil.

Anyone been in the hospital lately? The shunt they put in your arm to start an IV---oilfield. The Christmas tree contraption they add to that so you can get 4 different meds by 4 different delivery systems – made from oil, and the technology came from the oilpatch.

And what about the very process of running a camera into an artery? That process originated in the oilfield, as well, if I’m not mistaken. These and numerous other medical advances were fueled by the injection of oilfield workers into another field, bringing their knowledge and can-do with them.

I could go on and on, forever. But I’ll leave you with this: When your future’s so bright you gotta wear shades, remember this -  you wouldn’t be sporting that badass bling without the oil and gas industry. So next time you see your favorite oilfield worker, don’t trash them. Give them a hug.

And maybe even a pair of those bling bling shades.