Looking in vs. looking out. That is, when there are issues that we face or problems to be dealt with in our day, where do we typically turn? Where does the blame go?Philosophical EngineeringIt almost seems that in our culture of the United States of America that when there are issues, it never seems to be our own fault and the blame goes to someone else. The parents blaming the teachers for their son or Read more…
When we are at work, we think about being at home or somewhere other than work that might resemble play time. When we are at home, we think about the next day’s report or meeting at work.Philosophical EngineeringOften my lack of production is due to my inability to focus on the task at hand (not my focus on my smart phone in my hand), but rather my attention to being fully mindful of what I’m Read more…
Most companies (teams really) have meetings to get on the same page. Philosophical Engineering Most people find that meetings are boring and it’s really a test of how well you can be on your phone and still look like your paying attention. However, a meeting is just like a basketball team calling a timeout or discussing the next set of plays during halftime. View your meetings like this, and more of the employees will start getting into the Read more…
With every audit, comes opportunities for improvement despite the results.Philosophical EngineeringOne can look at the “number” of items that were incorrect and measure success based on that. However, we cannot lose sight within just looking at the “numbers”. Rather, we must maintain the spirit of continuous improvement and use the numbers as guidelines for measurement. There were no major non-conformances for GMHT in the recent AS9100D transition audit for aerospace. However, there were many recommendations for Read more…
An upcoming audit to meet Aerospace requirements in accordance to AS9100D, has reminded the team at General Metal Heat Treating of one thing.Philosophical Engineering”Do what you say, say what you do.” In essence it’s really that simple sometimes, and yet to remain on task of performing just those two things of “saying” and following through of actually “doing”. This simple reminder, can define a work place culture.
Cycles can be a good or bad thing depending on what keeps going around and around. Philosophical Engineering Typically our “work” week cycles from Sunday to Saturday and “in between” from Monday to Friday we have to go to work. The sun cycles every morning and sets every evening. The clock cycles from 0 to 60 minutes every hour. And yet in these cycles, there is no “hump” to get over. Our day flows smoothly to the point Read more…
We often say we are going to get something done after a brilliant idea has struck our minds. But then what typically tends to happen is that we realize someone or something is immediately in our way.Philosophical EngineeringAnd yet, of all the “brilliant ideas” that tend to flash into people’s minds, these are but flickers of a desire that needs more fuel and resources to start that fire. I have heard many times that people Read more…
We often are most often under the impression that every 40 hours we put in to “working”, we are to earn a paycheck for every two weeks. And it’s scary to think that if we don’t have money coming… then what?Philosophical EngineeringBut what seems more scarier, is that scary feeling that our lives don’t have purpose and we are just running around chasing a paycheck every two weeks. Our lives have no meaning.We all realize we could Read more…
Once upon a time I thought that a dream job would be my “passion”. My “doesn’t even feel like work to me” sort of job.Philosophical EngineeringAnd yet when I run 20 miles training for a marathon, a sport that I am passionate about, I certainly don’t give it that big-grin-on-my-face-smile of “this doesn’t even feel like work to me!”What a bunch of bull crap believing that work shouldn’t feel like work. What should it feel like Read more…
Last week I challenged you to determine what your “meaning making process” was. This week I will try and convince you why it’s important to have one. Philosophical EngineeringThere is a perception that a good life is that of on a beach, with nothing to do. And yet, when people are at the beach, the phone tends to be out. So when we are at “work” we want to be at the beach, and when we Read more…