The Eb and flow of work

It's been an interesting few days. Many years ago, when I first realised that being an engineer meant a life of learning, re-learning, exploring, researching just so that you could provide useful design solutions for your all important bosses and clients... I actually thought that our profession was fairly unique that way. That was until today.

I have begun to realise that when you take the plunge and decide to work for yourself, you accept a huge responsibility to never ever stop learning. Those who fall into the trap of believing that you have arrived, and have nothing else to learn, BEWARE. It's not that I think that I am anywhere near that point... not at all. I do have a warning to be well heeded though.

When we stop learning we can easily stop caring for others professionally. Should we find ourselves at our peak, looking down, observing all those still working hard to achieve personal and professional goals, then something else has to fill that void. We begin to substitute our own goals for vain attempts to maintain our superiority in the market place by whatever means. For example, moving the 'goal posts' is a common occurrence OR even a little bit of scaremongering by tapping into the paranoia surrounding the perceived scarcity of work! When I see this kind of behaviour, I can almost taste the fear in them. We are creatures that abhor fear.




There are times that when paying attention to your competitors in business can be an advantage, but whilst you are doing this - who is concentrating on YOUR individual futures? These futures are which makes us unique as a person and a business.

So tell me, if you find yourself working hard to keep yourself in business at the expense of those close behind, who is watching your flanks? Who is planning your new strategies?

My conclusion can only be that being committed to learning, having your own unique plan AND being adaptable to change makes for a potent skill set in business. Alternatively, being committed to self interest; spoiler tactics and resisting change.... will more than likely leave you without work and broken.

I do not offer evidence to any of the above, just a new and motivational way of thinking ;)


Engine[er]

Location:In bed, home :)