10 Things I Miss By Not Working for Someone Else

Working as a Structural Engineering sole trader has many benefits. I do love working for myself and being the master of my own destiny. Also, I am very fortunate that the area I work - St Albans Hertfordshire, is jammed full of friendly Architects, Builders, business owners and a wealth of construction opportunities to keep me busy.

BUT

It's been 7 months now, and there is a list of things which I miss about not working for someone else:

1. Free Stuff!! Pens, pencils, rubbers, free Blackberry, paper print-outs of my holiday insurance documents etc. etc.
2. Paid Holiday. That lovely feeling whilst you are on holiday, that you are still clocking up the hours. It's a tough life - relaxing.
3. Office Banter. Nothing beats a Monday morning catch-up session with your work mates over a coffee or 2 [free of course], or to share a juicy bit of gossip. It's good to share ideas and your worries.
4. Work Parties! Get togethers, Christmas Do's and lunch-times down the pub. Socialising is a great way to get to know your work colleagues, and of course feed the rumour-mill.
5. Holiday and Birthday Cakes. It's only free if you don't go on holiday or have a timely 'sickie' on your birthday, every year. Swings and roundabouts this one.
6. Professional/Institution Fees Paid! More free stuff for us engineers and technicians.
7. Protection from the Crowd. If you surround yourself with less than competent staff, you can look ace, and it's funny when others c0ck it up... and not you this time ;-)
8. Training and CPD. You are given countless opportunities both on and off company time to learn and to grow. Lunch-time CPD seminars with a free lunch! Who cares if you have no interest in what is being presented. It's paid for by the business.
9. Expenses Paid. Travel, meals and safety equipment, all paid for by the business you work for.
10. Being Thanked. My favourite one this. I miss being thanked for doing a great job and seeing, and hearing appreciation from colleagues, bosses, and graduates for the hard work that I put in.

If you can think of anything else to add, then please comment below.

Look out for our Friday Blog Post as usual tomorrow.


Engine[er]

I got Ideas, lots and lots and lots...

As an Engineer this is a subject which has always both tickled me and confused me over the years. Many times have I heard this very same statement repeated by entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs in waiting. "I'm the ideas man/woman", "I think about what it is that we need to do, and someone else should worry about how we do it!".

Well it goes without saying that without the 'completer finishers' or 'specialists, then not much would get done. Of course this is not the whole story as a good ideas person and manager will get the very best out of a 'specialist'. If we use the single business owner or entrepreneur as an example, then to begin with, you are the manager, you are the specialist, you are the co-ordinator, and the implementer etc. There is no-one else to hide behind. Exciting hey? Perhaps. This does mean that implementing your strategies and delivering on promises is the only currency that you should concern yourself with.. in the beginning.

As a structural engineer, you are very fortunate if you can begin designing structural elements on your first graduate assignment - day one. It does happen, and happens quite often - I am just saying that you would be very lucky to. My experience is that for the first 24 months as a trainee design engineer, I was generally filing, visiting sites with my mentor, tracing details and learning how to use CAD. It wasn't until I pushed my boss hard that I managed to wiggle my way into my first designer role.

All these experiences have been incredibly formative for me. Humble beginnings and thankful for all the knowledge which was freely passed over to me. All I had to do was turn up, look eager and make awful coffee. I got better at making coffee though.

 My route to Engineering has been a long one and I appreciate that this is not for everyone. My opinion though, is that if you don't pick a route long enough for you to learn a thing or two about your chosen career then you are doing yourself out of an education! Check this post out by Seth Godin - see if it rings any bells or speaks to you some how.

Giving your career enough time to mature,and taking every opportunity to learn from the expert practitioners of construction materials and gravity defying structures gives you an incredible advantage.

Then one day, you get to practise 'conceptual design'. This is as close as you can get to being creative from a strictly technical engineering point of view. All those years of experience, poured out during project conception to enhance the buildability of the projects that you lead. You become the ideas man/woman.

In this role, there are no nooks and crannies to hide, you are surrounded by experienced, battle hardened contractor/managers and of course - other Engineers. You have to be at the top of your game. Whether you are an Engineer or a fledgling entrepreneur - it is important to do your learning first!

My question is to those who wish to jump straight in and practice business management, lead an industry, come up with the next billion dollar, highly scalable, all-singing-all-dancing, glow-in-the-dark, mutha of a corporation is quite simply this; What are you doing about it? What have you done about? Who have you impressed and why should I believe your words... as actions, like the span variable in a bending moment equation IS the only thing that really matters. Isn't it?

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Engine[er]