Ask Adam Savage: When to Ask for Help on a Job

In this livestream excerpt, Tested member John DuMontelle asks Adam, "How do you know when you are out of your depth on a job and must to ask for help instead of struggling through it?" Adam's been there; here's his answer! Thank you for your question and support, John. Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks, like asking Adam a question:

Tested is:

Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman

Thanks for watching!

#adamsavage

[tested]

Thank you for your question and support, John DuMontelle!
Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks, like asking Adam a question:

[MatthewMe]

I've heard the story about the failed ATM student project several times. However, this is the first time he answered the question I always had - did Adam and his friend make amends? I'm really glad to hear the relationship was repaired. Thanks for adding that bit.

[briansavage]

I think your story of failure can serve as a lesson to anyone who is suffering through any sort of failure. Acceptance and the willingness to learn and change is key. Its not unlike a criminal or an addict who has harmed someone. An apology won't make it better. All you can do is move forward, having learned from the experience. As a human it's one of the most humbling and powerful things you will ever go through.

[joepie]

Good to see that side of you Adam. We all probably have a moment or two like that. Stay well.

[kidsnosleep]

THIS is the most pure human emotion I have ever seen on a YouTube video. You can tell this failure REALLY affected him to his soul, even though he learned from it and repaired the friendship he lost. Bravo Adam, Bravo

[ehpiii_music]

Adam has been such an inspiration to me for a whole decade now. As I type this, I'm wrapping up the first season of a new Disney+ TV series as a carpenter, riding on the back of everything I've ever learned from Adam.
Thank you Mr. Savage for being you. It would be an honor to shake your hand some day.

[zmarko]

What an incredibly touching moment from you, and an incredible life lesson. And you can really see how much that impacted you. Thanks for sharing, Adam.

[chris-hayes]

As a software developer this is so true. It's too easy to bite off more than you can chew, and get stuck in the mindset "I can work my way out of this". Because when someone does help, it's humbling how some task that would take forever to figure out, can be so trivial for someone else.

[Ivanovitch]

I remember Adam mentioning this event in his book and I always wondered if he ever was able to go back and at least make amends. I love that he was able to. Because that sounded like a pretty brutal end to a friendship.

[randomosity]

My second job was as a receiver in a store, and I was the only one in the department, and my boss intentionally force fed me this lesson by not letting me ask for help at all on my second week on the job, and I quickly became overwhelmed, and the whole point was to show me what happens if I try to work out of my capabilities without any help.

[kylaina]

I listen to this story and every time I hear it, my heart aches for you because I can still hear the regret in your voice.

[saikawanderer]

The "I got this" feeling was present when latest repair to the van started. However thankfully I have already learned the hard way when I'm out of my league to ask for help. After an hour of looking under the van knew I'd need more experienced friend.

[MrTnbopp]

I love this story, ive heard him say it before and it moves me so much, Adam tells it in the most unflattering and honest way, its one of those stories that really makes you think

[louisyoung]

That was a great answer...there is a lot of knowledge in this video. 👏 🙂

Having said that...I'm waiting for the "But I really did have food poisoning, Larry" t-shirts. 😀

[scottyhughes]

Baring your soul with that story Adam, thank you for your story and your honesty, I have been there.... not knowing, but with great confidence that knew what I was doing, when actually I had very little experience, and knowhow... I have learned so much with many failures. thank you for this episode.

[motomike]

That's a powerful story. The point about uncertainty is true. When I ask someone I'm supervising if they know what they're doing on a task. The answer that worries me the most is when they say "No problem. Piece of cake."

[elinewson]

I really needed to hear this today. Thank you!

[DTI]

One of the best, most honest videos on YouTube . I have had a toe in the water of film for 30 years, and the rest of me, in the corporate world. This info applies to both. I've been a pilot and a volunteer firefighter as well. Never shut your mouth when you don't understand something. Period!!!

[richardmaclean]

There's nothing more powerful than an accomplished and respected person remembering a moment of personal failure in an honest and humble way. Thank you for that. On the advice of having to learn when to ask for help, I'd offer another perspective. Artists tend to be the center of their own process. They use that process like a super-tool to design, build, etc. As problems pop up, as they inevitably will, they roll with it and problem solve mostly as an added process. Non -artistic managers (who have a little experience) don't do it this way. We resource plan, time manage, and work to deadlines as a set of processes wrapped around artistry, talent, and a little whip cracking. The non-artistic version builds the "asking for help" into the plan. You have to be realistic about your capabilities and consider yourself as one resource of a set of resources. Plan logically and then add 20% more time to everything. Set milestones and TRULY and honestly evaluate all along the way. You're not late when the deadline passes. You're late when you miss your first milestone. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Personally, I don't use creative people to manage processes. Let them do what they do, but a true task master / project manager is worth their weight in gold, especially if they understand other's worth and can build a plan that capitalizes on those talents. I suspect Adam isn't really a "project manager" based on his answer. No disrespect intended. I'm betting he has a process where he locks himself in a room and builds amazing shit, which is awesome. But you can learn to properly staff a project without having to learn it the hard way. Just pay attention and learn from all the little problems and you'll be okay. Just my two cents.

[michaelhofer]

Learning to recognize your limitations and asking for help is the first step. Having a mentor to refer to and the mentor knowing when you need help and when you need to buck up, put up and show up. Bravado will take you only so far! Learning WHO you can ask is also important!