Mark Mason Quotes

#1. I think that people can get caught up in the "gee-whiz" technology of surveying, which is constantly changing, and forget about the legal aspects and the professional responsibility that surveyors bear - something that hasn't changed much at all in hundreds of years.

Mark Mason

#2. Sometimes I imagine a surveyor 100 years from now reading my plan, retracing my boundaries, and finding the monuments that I set. It's an honor to make a mark in history like that.

Mark Mason

#3. Some surveyors live for the work, putting in weeks or months at a time in remote locations. With a young family and hobbies that I'm passionate about, that isn't the path I've chosen. Like in many careers, you need to make your own decisions and follow your own path.

Mark Mason

#4. I'm required to do every job well enough that I'd use it as evidence in court - that doesn't come cheaply! Property is a critical asset for individuals. Maintaining the cadastre (legal survey fabric) is an important job and a valuable service.

Mark Mason

#5. Building smart processes to streamline the workflow can make the work easier and the results more reliable, which keeps my head above water and my clients happy.

Mark Mason

#6. I automate some tasks and delegate many others. Doing research, job organization, data processing, field surveys, and plan preparation can be tedious, detailed work.

Mark Mason

#7. In general, salary for land surveyors is often similar to that of a professional engineer or lawyer - surveyors are often "comfortable" but not "wealthy."

Mark Mason

#8. Some land surveyors delve into land development advocacy, working with local government on behalf of clients in order to facilitate progress on a project. Others stick to strictly surveying. The approach depends on the individual firm and the needs of the local area.

Mark Mason

#9. If you're looking for an adventure, an intellectual challenge, and a close-knit community of professionals, consider land surveying! It's not for everyone, and I'd recommend working as a surveyor's assistant or office staff before committing to the necessary schooling.

Mark Mason

#10. It's important to know that, unlike lawyers, land surveyors put the public interest first. That means we're not biased by our client - this means that the property line will be drawn in the most equitable position, regardless of which neighbor is paying the bill.

Mark Mason

#11. I'm lucky enough to split my time between the field and the office. Some land surveyors in larger outfits can work mostly from behind a desk, managing many field crews at once.

Mark Mason

#12. Learning how to weigh evidence and fairly re-establish a boundary can be as much an art as a science.

Mark Mason

#13. Completing a large or difficult survey can be a very satisfying thing, especially if there have been hurdles or setbacks along the way. In our work, we get to "tick" off jobs quite often, so the sense of completion can also be rewarding.

Mark Mason

#14. Land surveyors start as employees, and move up to partnership in a firm or to ownership of their own enterprise if they wish. Some wind up working for government, private corporations, or public enterprise.

Mark Mason

#15. Land surveyors can spend as much time reading legislation, bylaws, and engineering documents as we spend in front of an instrument in the field or calculating coordinates for a subdivision. We are mathematicians, historians, project managers, advocates, engineers, and even chainsaw operators!

Mark Mason

#16. I've met very few professional land surveyors who regret their career path, and even fewer, who are out of work, even during economic slowdowns.

Mark Mason

#17. A lot of people don't think much about what land surveyors do. In a nutshell, we are the interpreters and providers of landmarks and records that directly impact real property.

Mark Mason

#18. When I got my commission, other land surveyors told me to ask for advice from my peers when I was struggling with something.

Mark Mason

#19. Keep trying until you find Mr.Right. Perhaps you have to think it through before you even look for Mr. Maybe.

Mark Mason

#20. I liked the idea of working outside, using my body and my mind together. I haven't been disappointed! Land surveying can be very physical work, but there is a strong intellectual and technological component as well.

Mark Mason

#21. Legal land surveyors are few and far between and can find themselves in demand.

Mark Mason

#22. It's easy to be hard on ourselves, but the important thing is to turn a mistake into a learning experience.

Mark Mason

#23. Conversation can be a learning experience for everyone. I never hesitate to reach out when I'm in over my head, and I'll never hesitate to return the favor.

Mark Mason

#24. This is the worst thing about waiting for someone. You have to look good all the time because they could turn up at any minute and see you before you've seen them

Mark Mason

#25. I was attracted to the direct connection with history that land surveyors experience in the form of plans, field notes, and from surveying monuments from decades or even centuries in the past.

Mark Mason

#26. The most difficult days have been the ones I've had to spend correcting a mistake. We're all human, and we make errors in spite of the pains we take not to. It's important to take ownership of the situation and to work to make it right.

Mark Mason

#27. People sometimes are under the impression that finding their property corners should cost as much as changing their oil or blowing out their sprinklers. What they don't realize is that land surveyors are required to stand behind their work for the rest of their lives.

Mark Mason

#28. Professional land surveyors take on a lot of responsibility, and should be compensated appropriately.

Mark Mason

#29. Land surveying has been a positive influence on my life, and I'd encourage anyone who hasn't considered it to give it a chance!

Mark Mason