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“The first one gets the oyster, the second gets the shell.”  -Andrew Carnegie This quote jumped out when I was reviewing quotes last weekend.  In a nutshell, or oyster shell, it’s Andrew Carnegie’s take on “the early bird gets the worm adage.” No different from oysters or birds, the top sales professionals typically get the orders. …

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”  Will Rogers In other words, if you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backwards while you’re getting run over.  I picked this quote from Will Rogers for this week because it speaks to the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement. …

“There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.”  Seth Godin I guess Seth is trying to say that most people talk a lot but have trouble with the action part of the discussion.  Engineering “All-Stars” are different in that they can take that idea or solution to a challenging…

“Play by the rules but be ferocious.”  Phil KnightEven though I run in New Balance, this quote from Phil Knight recently caught my eye.  To me, it conjured up images of Bill Bowerman struggling in his kitchen with his waffle iron to make the prototype sole for Nike’s first shoe, the “Waffle Trainer.”  If making…

“We all need people who give us feedback.  That’s how we improve.”  Bill Gates As an engineering recruiter, I seek feedback during every discussion whether I’m speaking to a manufacturing client or an engineering candidate.    As a search consultant, I need and improve with feedback.  Without any feedback, I can’t provide the best service…

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like.  Design is how it works.”  Steve JobsI never thought about design as being how it works.  Yet, I guess there is always someone behind that design who made sure that it works whether we’re talking about the I-Phone or a manufacturing line. This made…

“You miss 100 percent of the shots that you never take.”  Wayne GretzkyEngineering “All-Stars” take shots.  The best take a lot of them.  They know that they’re not going to score every time but that by taking shots, they’re able to “build a better mousetrap”, solve a problem, or do something better.  This week, I’m…

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”  ConfuciusEngineers don’t necessarily fall but are always trying to identify solutions to challenging or complex problems.  They sometimes “fall” but engineering “All-Stars” always end up rising by finding solutions to those problems. This week, I am highlighting two engineering “All-Stars”…

“America was not build on fear.  America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”  Harry S. TrumanWhat do plastics, engines and ovens have to do with Harry’s quote?  It’s quite simple in that it takes an engineering “All-Star” “to do the job at hand.”  Whether it requires…

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”  Walt DisneyI recently watched a documentary about Walt Disney and how he started his animation business that ultimately grew into the entertainment powerhouse that we know today.  Not only was Walt Disney a dreamer but also a doer.  Many persons have great ideas…