Four Forms of Accountability for Engineers
Let’s talk about the accountability for engineers. Engineering covers a wide range of disciplines, such as mechanical, structural, environmental, or electrical engineers, to name a few. But all are considered professionals, no matter what their place in the organization. Engineers are responsible for many projects that can impact the public. Thus there is a set […]
Creating a Project Portfolio to Boost Your Engineering Career
If you have that information locked in your long-term memory and can access it at will, you’re set! For the rest of us, however, total recall isn’t a reality. While our long-term memory is nearly limitless, our short-term memory is only capable of managing a handful of items. Also, as time goes by, the validity […]
Why you Need to Sign up with a Recruiter if You are Looking at Transitioning From the Military
Are you looking at transitioning from the military but haven’t signed up with a military placement agency yet? If so let me tell you the top 5 reasons you need to sign up with a recruiter, even if your separation is more than a year away. Plans can change and it never hurts to have […]
What Bricklayers can Teach us About our Engineering Careers
I was recently reminded of a parable I had heard many years ago. In the story, there are three bricklayers working on a wall for a church. Someone asks the first bricklayer what he’s doing. He says, “I’m building a wall.” The second bricklayer is asked the same question and replies, “I’m building a church.” […]
Using Negative Feedback For Success
It may be the nature of most people to try and avoid receiving negative feedback. When some people do receive such feedback, they often ignore it, rationalize it or attack the source of it. Very seldom do they see the benefit of improving from it. Negative feedback is an opportunity to reflect and learn. When […]
One Small Trick for Making Big Decisions
Have you ever been in situations where you felt like making big decisions was impossible? Or have you ever gone all-in on a big decision just to find out you made a huge mistake? I’ve done both, and I’m sure I’m in good company. Paralysis by analysis is a terrible state to be in – […]
5 Tips To Move Beyond Being A Perfectionist In Your Engineering Career
Hi, I’m Chris and I’m a recovering perfectionist. It all started when, well, when I was a young child. Blame it on genetics, but I’m afflicted with the ‘perfectionist-gene’; the necessity for every action, every event, and every aspect to be just…perfect. It’s come in handy in some cases, like developing a logistics plan with […]
The Secret to Becoming an Innovative Design Engineer
I was recently listening to an interview with Ben Brenton, the Chief Innovation Officer of Snap-on Tools on the Everyday Innovator Podcast. During the interview, he said something quite profound about the way he spent his time. He said that he spends approximately four days a week on things related to customer interaction. That means […]
3 Actions That Help You Lead Your Engineering Team Despite Fear
Here’s a topic not often discussed in the offices of the majority of leaders: FEAR. We’ll talk about risk, or problem’s, or setbacks. But never fear. Why is that? Probably because the word “fear” comes with a lot of baggage. Fear isn’t something that’s talked about openly, ever. It’s a sign of weakness or lack […]
What a One-year Old can Teach Engineers about being Productive
When she was about one year old, my daughter, Charlotte, started mimicking what my wife and I did in a big way. If we did it, she wanted to do it. If I stirred my coffee, she wanted to stir her milk. If my wife went to play the piano, Charlotte wanted to play the […]