Welcome to the Impactful Engineering newsletter, where you’ll gain access to actionable tips, strategies, and the mindset for an exceptional career. Every newsletter you will learn a new skill, key mindset, or overall perspective that will empower you to reach your goals and increase your impact.

Regularly Fixing What Ain’t Broken Will Allow You To Embrace The Future Of Your Career

What you will learn!

What: Continuous learning and development

How: Use your continuous learning to identify opportunities for improvement

Recap: Going forward

​

Limping along on systems that “get it done” seems to be something that many do within an engineering company, especially one that has been around for some time.

This leaves too much on the table for an Impactful Engineer, so let’s discuss how we overcome this complacency.

​

What: Continuous learning and development

Accepting the status quo in work processes in this day and age will cause you to fall behind. This is not to say that we need to run around changing everything all the time, because that will also lead to falling behind as you steal the focus from yourself and others.

What we recommend is a stream of continuous learning and development in parallel with current work practices. As you immerse yourself into the areas within your job description, also be thinking about how you can proceed outside your job description to learn more and make improvements for yourself and those around you.

​

How: Use your continuous learning to identify opportunities for improvement

Let’s apply our Impactful Engineer mindset on how we can help ourselves and others identify opportunities for improvement and implement them at all levels.

​

Practical Idea: Seek Conversations With Those Coming Behind You

Example 👇

We mostly hear about seeking the guidance and mentorship from those ahead of us. This makes a lot of sense, do that. But we can learn a lot about emerging technologies, a new way of thinking, and some golden insights from those that are aspiring engineers as well. Start getting curious about what they think about current processes and how to “fix” them.

​

How to approach 👇

When you are in a situation where you are the teacher, the mentor, etc. take the opportunity to get curious about what the other person thinks. Remember to step back from your point of view and “way of doing it” and solicit feedback. My favorite thing to say is “this is how I’ve always done it, but we are focused on getting a certain result. If you can achieve that result, efficiently taking a different path, I would recommend you do that.” This leads to innovation and possibly a scenario where you get the benefit of “fixing what ain’t broken.”

​

Practical Idea: Test The Waters With New Tech

Example 👇

With the way tech changes so rapidly, it’s a great idea to explore how that tech will augment your career. Be sure to take yourself out of the grind of work every once in a while and see what's out there.

​

How to approach 👇

You don’t have to be an early adopter of every single new thing that you see come around. In fact, you will most likely destroy your efficiency at work doing that. However, take some time to investigate new software applications and tools that you believe have a place in your work processes.

For example, you can take AI tools that have recently made some breakthroughs as far as application of generative artificial intelligent tools like ChatGPT. I have personally used the ChatGPT plus version (super affordable) to build tables for which to convey summarized information in a clear fashion to Clients. It was slow to learn at first, but I iterated with low priority, less critical tasks until I got a few prompts that are very helpful. Now I can quickly analyze PDF’s and other documents for pertinent information and summarize in a table to present to a group to make decisions. It’s quite helpful.

Is it my go to tool for everything? Is it groundbreaking? Probably not. But as the technology improves, I like to think I will be at the cutting edge and be able to move quickly towards those things that will have a big, cumulative effect by learning every step of the way.

​

Practical Idea: Challenge traditional mindsets

Example 👇

Traditional mindsets backed up by “this is how we’ve always done it” and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” can hinder innovation and growth. We advocate for a shift toward improvement and openness to change.

​

How to approach 👇

Identify areas within your projects where you're sticking to outdated methods simply because they've worked in the past. Challenge these practices by proposing new, innovative solutions that could improve outcomes

​

Recap: Going forward

Embracing new technologies and challenging traditional mindsets are crucial for career growth in engineering. By being open to change and taking the time to learn and invest in yourself, engineers can not only improve their efficiency but also stay competitive in the rapidly evolving workplace landscape.

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well.

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life.

Podcast Episode 42: If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It