Member Spotlight: John Weaver
John Weaver is one of those blessed people who seems to be truly passionate about their line of work. Ask him anything about solar energy and be prepared to nerd out– this guy has some serious industry knowledge.
Additionally, it has been great fun to watch John build his independent contractor career right under our eyes. His disciplined routine, which you will read about below, has really helped him to hit a stride and become one of the lucky few who make it work on their own.
You can learn more about John’s work on his website, Commercial Solar Guy.
What’s your profession?
I am a commercial, industrial, and utility scale solar power developer, consultant, and industry reporter. As a consultant, I help people save on solar construction costs through education and project management.
Describe a typical work day for you.
Wake up around 5 to 5.30, head to New Bedford Cross Fit, then afterwards – around 7.30 – to Green Bean to work until 10 AM writing for PV Magazine. After that it’s either a drive to a site visit (a big open field or a building rooftop), a customer’s office, or to Groundwork to make a call and send emails. If I’m working locally, I like to ride my bike from South Dartmouth to downtown New Bedford.
What’s the biggest challenge you face at your job?
Understanding when I’m safe enough to find my business partner/sales manager.
On the job at a 715 kW solar project in Brewster, MA at Secure Storage.
Do you have a morning routine?
Ooh yeah :-)
What are your favorite productivity tips or hacks?
Take a nap, set the alarm on the phone for 30 minutes. Change office spaces, bring the laptop with you, ride your bike to work.
What do you listen to during the day?
Pandora – long selection of stations made over the years on random mix.
How do you benefit from using a coworking space?
Meeting other professionals serendipitously was really the number one benefit I looked for. There are a lot of places to sit and work with headphones on, but gaining access to other skills and people is really the big benefit.
What’s in your digital toolbox?
My T-Mobile unlimited 4G data plan and tethering, using my writing for PV Magazine as a reporter to generate leads, force an education on myself in the industry, and pay some of my bills, Google Drive (really the whole Google software universe and my Nexus 6 pure Google OS – Pixel3 that is coming soon I’m guessing), talking to customers via the phone, Google Maps for design, Helioscope, Excel….I really could go on forever. I’d like to add a backpack solar charger for my laptop and phone so I can go for a week or two on the Appalachian Trail and still get work done. That’s when I will have reached a local peak in life. :-)
What is the most surprising or unusual aspect of your life?
I do whatever I want now. :-)
What inspires you?
That my past self hung on just long enough and persevered to get to this point.
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