Nomad Heart
Krista Rockenbach knew she was going through the motions as she was attending school to become a medical assistant. In fact, she says she “dreaded” her future — until she happened upon an ad for utility pole inspection work.
“Honestly, I scrolled past at first, but something told me to go back. So I did,” said Krista. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it the rest of the day, so I took the leap, and next thing I knew I was out there in the field.”
Krista became a certified inspector within four months of starting her new career with Integrity Pole Inspections Inc. in western Canada. “I had a great supporter cheering me on and guiding me through the journey,” she said of Nick Berger, Integrity’s founder and president.
As an inspector, Krista loves that she’s always somewhere new. “I have a nomad heart, so this job is perfect for me! I see areas I normally wouldn’t and scenery not everyone is privileged to see.” She and her dog Ralph live in a camper trailer that she tows behind her vehicle. On her LinkedIn page, she posts about beautiful vistas of “mountains and Calgary skyline to the west, trains and prairies to the east;” along with humorous posts about cattle convening around poles she’s trying to test.
Although it breeds an exhilarating lifestyle of adventure and flying free, the job is taxing mentally and physically, an ongoing challenge that “can sneak up and bite you if you’re not aware of yourself” — whether it be hard terrain, difficult customers, personal matters or just working in isolation for long periods of time.
“Awareness has been my biggest challenge to overcome,” she said. “It’s something that you have to continuously work on if you are in this type of field. Burnout is real, and it happens so fast. I’ve learned a lot about myself this past year.”
She offers the following advice for being effective in such a strenuous and demanding role:
Be strong. This job tests you every. Single. Day. You either live for it, or you crumble.
Find motivation. It’s easier if you have a teammate. You can lift each other when needed. Krista chooses to work solo, but she says it can definitely be a challenge some days.
Be brave and stand your ground. Like anywhere else, there’s those who are cheering for you, and those who want nothing more than to watch you fall. Ignore the latter, cherish those who want to see you win. But never let anyone walk over you. You have to have thick skin and a backbone.
Know that emotional intelligence and customer service go hand in hand.
Make connections and network.