Abandon Nest

Analyzing the last six months on the job, I realize that there are three very important lessons that I’ve learned about the business world and engineering in general. Today, I’d like to go over them broadly. Perhaps someday this will help you to cope better with new assignments and jobs. Do you have any lessons you learned from a co-op or internship? Let’s hear them. Here’s mine:

• Look further than the specifications - If you’re an engineer, you can’t just look a spec and accept it at face value. First, you need to understand why the specification reads the way it does. Then, you have to evaluate if everything in the spec applies to your project. Only at this point can you make a determination of how to form a plan to evaluate compliance of your project with this specification.
• Communication is key! - Every day I write on this blog to my adoring fans (that’s you). I communicate how tos, insight, and advice on everyday things. However, in the work force communication is even more paramount. Without the ability to communicate, you won’t be going anywhere, and may even end up on the fast track to failure. In an ever expanding global world, you need to be able to communicate with international colleagues, and that can be difficult at times. Work on your verbal and written skills, and you’ll be ahead of the game.
• Connection between work and business impact - This is something that really isn’t taught in school. For every action that you take at a company, there should and will be some sort of business impact. You may be spending money or you may be saving money. Maybe you’ll gain greater market share as the result of a change. Perhaps your safety factor will change. No matter what you do, the result of your design and analysis will always be a net change in the business somehow. A lot of people don’t pick up on this and it affects them deeply.

After 6 months in the corporate world, these are the things that I’ve learned. Have you worked in a corporate environment? What kind of things has it taught you? Let me know, and let the readers know too!

Hello readers! I generally try not to do this, but today I’d just like to give a simple link out that I think is very, very insightful. It’s from StevePavlina.com and is entitled 10 Reasons You Should Never Get a Job.

It is most definitely a great article. I’ve read through it three times now so that I completely understand each and every reason and I would recommend it to any person, young or old, who is looking at their future and trying to decide what to do. Happy reading.

Well, as you can probably guess my life has been quite busy lately. That’s why I haven’t been posting the last four days. However, I’m not here to grouse about that. Instead, I’d like to go through how I dealt with my busy schedule and how you can use my three principles to make your life better. Here goes:

• Prioritize - This is the first thing you’re going to have to do when you become busy. You need to first look at everything that needs to get done, then decide which items are the most important. Of those, what is super critical and absolutely must get finished on time and what can be held off for a while is really up to you (well, you and your boss) The super critical things absolutely must be done, without any doubt, first. They are of highest priority and you work on them until you have them complete or they cannot be pushed forward anymore.
• Short Things First - Now that you’ve prioritized your to-do list, it’s time to order it even more. Look at the things that you believe have the same priority and estimate how long each will take. Move the items that will take less time towards the top of that priority section. This way, you’ll be getting a lot done right off the bat without having to worry too much about the rest. You’ll know it will get done in time, but at least you’re making progress.
• Rest - Some people seem to forget this ultra-important step. If you’re busy all the time, you need to take a few moments for yourself to rest and relax. Without this period of time, you’ll eventually lose focus on the overall scope of work that needs to be done, causing you to fail miserably (or just fail… but I’m trying to sound dramatic here.) Sit down and take a load off for a few minutes of every day. Drink a tall glass of iced tea, read a magazine, and don’t think about all the work you have left to do. It’ll get done, but for that moment you’re not worried about it. You’re thinking instead only of making yourself feel better. Don’t skip this!

So, next time you get busy, you need to prioritize, time things up, and relax a little bit. Things will work out if you work hard, so don’t get stressed. Take it steady, and you’ll easily get through busy periods. Good luck!