Chris White,

Construction professional, Zen Buddhist student, Writer and Artist

I have spent 25 years practicing meditation while at the same time coming up through the ranks in the construction industry. During this journey of both personal and professional growth I have come to appreciate the similarities between the ideas of personal inner insights and lean construction principles. Whether or not we are in touch with it directly; there is an element of continuous improvement in all of nature. Each moment in life is a but continuous vibrant flow, or better yet “a process”. So I invite you to join me on a journey to look deeper into what are the smallest improvements that can be made in our daily activities to bring more peace and joy into our lives and others lives as well. Today is moment we have to practice, so I welcome you to join me.

C-

More about my story

Hello there.

I am Chris White.

I am a Son.

I am a Brother.

I am an Uncle.

I am a Father.

I am a Husband.

I am Meditation practitioner.

I am a Karate-ka.

I am an Electrician.

I am a Construction Manager.

I grew up in the upstate NY region and have been fortunate to have had a pretty great career in the construction industry. I started my professional journey in the paper manufacturing industry, where I spent 11 years learning the production practices at small paper mill as an laborer and machine operator. I had the opportunity to get a position in the maintenance shop as Electrical apprentice, and later become a member of the IBEW, local 236. As I climbed the “ladder of success” from Electrical foreman, to MEP Engineer, to MEP Superintendent, to Project Superintendent I was always feeling like this next step was the one that would make me happy and fulfilled. But that has not been the case, happiness was not to be found. Dissatisfaction was still there no how many success’ I have had professionally. My personal life has been very much the same pattern, always waiting on the next thing to bring me happiness and joy.

Sudden and unexpectedly i was force to come to the realization that life is not a ladder to ascend to reach happiness, that it is fragile and needs constant care in order to create the life that I wanted to live. That moment came on December 24, 2016 when my wife and I lost our beautiful infant son Sasha suddenly when he was just 24 days old. It was the darkest and most painful day of both of our lives.

So there I was smacked damn in the middle of the suffering that comes with being a human being.

But it was my meditation practice, and that still, quiet space that I was able to find a place to hold my son, and grieve, and connect with what losing him meant. Not the answer to why? But to the how? to meet that deep pain.

So here I am today, to share my thoughts on the deeper questions of how we are to live a full life, that includes all that comes with the human experience.

After losing Sasha, those things at work that everyone were getting so upset and bickering about seemed so trivial to me now. Missing schedule dates, or over submittals just didn’t resonate with me as a “problem”, or a least not worth the mental anguish and energy people were projecting.

This was actually the time frame when I was really first introduced to lean construction principles. I am not sure to this day what is was that just stuck with me when I first heard these ideas. But I haven’t stopped learning what I can everyday about the continuous improvement. This passion hasn’t waivered, in fact it gets stronger every day. Hence forth the reason that I have created this website and blog. The hope is to learn more about myself and create ideas that enhance lean construction by writing and sharing with others. There is so much to be explored when it comes to process improvement, and how it can be used to make home and work life a little better.