Wednesday, 29 November 2006
The Best Laid Plans
An old proverb states: "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." I got to experience this first hand as I was making my way to the University of Florida to give a talk to civil engineering students. I live in Vicksburg, Mississippi which is a 12-hour drive to Gainesville, where the University of Florida is located. Yet it took me 15 hours to get there by plane due to equipment issues, weather delays, etc. It's hard to predict the obstacles you may encounter on many of life's journeys, and this was a perfect example.
Despite all the difficulty I encountered in getting to Gainesville, I was able to meet my commitment to speak with about 30-40 civil engineering students the next morning. My talk was on the necessary characteristics of successful engineers and the importance of having a plan to be successful in your career and in life. A lot of civil engineering, and a lot of life, is looking at the future and predicting it, which is hard to do. While the future may remain a mystery, it's important to try to get your finger on the pulse of what is coming and plan accordingly. As civil engineers, we must look to the future to make sure that our profession of tomorrow is fully prepared. While a plan is just a plan and merely predicts what may happen, having no plan at all is a far worse alternative.
I told the students there are three capabilities that are necessary to properly plan for a successful future in our field. The first is technical capability acquired at the university level. The second is excellent skill in human relationships and team building. Students learn about teamwork through social outlets, including their ASCE student chapter involvement, fraternities and sororities, and athletics. The last critical component is leadership and vision. It is important that students learn to lead early on in their careers, to always look to the future and to motivate others along the way.
Do you have a plan for your future as a civil engineer? I'd like to hear about it!