For champion crane operator, practice led to perfection

In 1995 I started my first job as an operator of the suspension bridge near the dock. It unexpectedly turned out to be the work of my entire life.

I grew up in a small fishing village close to the sea. Watching my family members to go out fishing since childhood, I seldom thought how the ocean, full of sea animals, connected with large, modern machines.

But it happened, and changed my life completely.

After finishing high school at the age of 20, I applied to Port of Dalian Group with the thought of not being a fisherman anymore.

50, director of the container crane operations department for Port of Dalian Group

At that time, I didn’t think too much about my future, but I did the best I could to complete every task.

The first time I went to the 40-meter-high suspension bridge, I was scared even looking down to the ground. After climbing more than 100 steps, I needed to operate the machine in a small room for a whole day.

Proficiency required more time than I expected. But I hold to the idea that practice makes perfect. Day and night, I operated the crane near the sea, whether in burning sun or pouring rain. For a long time, I couldn’t grab containers in exactly the right place on the truck.

Day by day, year by year, I never stopped trying for perfection on that crane near the sea.

At last, now I can use the long leg and cables to grab containers without any concern.

In less than 10 years, I became a skilled operator able to handle 300 containers in 12 hours.

I also won many championships in workers’ skill competitions at the port. In 2012, I established my own skill training studio for younger workers. I believe stabilization and accuracy enhance speed. Most important, practice leads to proficiency.

In 30 years, I only did one thing — operating the crane — but it’s the one thing that changed my life.