Most of the time, things I do range from mundane to bone headed.
But on occasion, I stumble into an opportunity to do something great.
Once, GM Truck & Bus hired me to design an electrical control system for heavy truck brakes.
They wanted to free up room behind the dashboard for fancy pants electronics.
Within a couple weeks, I figured out that what they wanted wasn't compatible with a high G environment.
So I proposed an alternative which addressed their larger goal, instead of what they hired me to do.
I used miniature pneumatic controls to remotely operate valves on a manifold elsewhere.
Things went swimmingly.
We even improved reliability, serviceability, & aesthetics.
Employers & co-workers were pleased, money was made (by me), & we were a brilliant technical success.
(But the project died without ever going into production.)
What struck me here is the importance of understanding why one does a task is as important as the task itself.
This is because one can when when a task should be done differently, or not at all.
We all, no matter how inept we are most of the time, have our moments when we may look back, & say....
"I done good!".
So, fellow posters, tell me of your triumphs.
No matter if they're odd, small, boring, or ultimately useless (like mine)....it's all good.
But on occasion, I stumble into an opportunity to do something great.
Once, GM Truck & Bus hired me to design an electrical control system for heavy truck brakes.
They wanted to free up room behind the dashboard for fancy pants electronics.
Within a couple weeks, I figured out that what they wanted wasn't compatible with a high G environment.
So I proposed an alternative which addressed their larger goal, instead of what they hired me to do.
I used miniature pneumatic controls to remotely operate valves on a manifold elsewhere.
Things went swimmingly.
We even improved reliability, serviceability, & aesthetics.
Employers & co-workers were pleased, money was made (by me), & we were a brilliant technical success.
(But the project died without ever going into production.)
What struck me here is the importance of understanding why one does a task is as important as the task itself.
This is because one can when when a task should be done differently, or not at all.
We all, no matter how inept we are most of the time, have our moments when we may look back, & say....
"I done good!".
So, fellow posters, tell me of your triumphs.
No matter if they're odd, small, boring, or ultimately useless (like mine)....it's all good.
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