10 Things I’ve Learned

In this installment of "10 Things I've Learned," we're going to hear from Ron Fender about what he's learned as an electrical engineer. Take it away, Ron!

This is really a rotating list, because it’s tough for a week, or even a day, to pass without learning something new. 

1.       The best results are achieved when everyone contributes and has a sense of ownership of the final product.

2.       Every contribution is valuable, even if it’s not acted on.  Every contributor is valuable, even when you don’t agree.  More often than not, that’s when they’re most valuable. 

3.       More is learned from listening than from talking.

4.       Change is constant.  It’s cliché but true.  Embrace that fact and use it to your best advantage.

5.       Never hesitate to ask a question and make sure the answer is clear.  No one is expected to know everything.

6.       Never be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out.”  A correct answer is always better than a fast answer.

7.       During design, consider what something will be like on day one and what it will be like in a year ten and beyone - design for form, function, durability, and maintainability.

8.       Never be afraid to make a mistake, but do your best not to.  When a mistake happens, learn from it, and share what you learned with others.

9.       If REVIT won’t do what you want it to do, undoubtedly, there’s a check box somewhere that is checked (or not checked) that will fix everything immediately.

10.    Electrical engineers are not allowed to pick colors, ever.