Wellhouse
When I retired, there were a few questions that everyone seemed to ask: how did I feel about stepping into retirement (frankly, terrified) and what was my first project going to be (the rebuilding of my dilapidated well house). Yet, there was one question that genuinely made me pause and reflect deeply on my career: over all these years, what achievement was I truly most proud of?
Looking back over so much time and so many events, early in my career, I transformed a “non-functional” prototype processor into an adapter card that enabled hundreds of hobbyists to experiment with Motorola’s latest processor in their home computers. It didn’t hurt that this put my design weeks ahead of our engineering consultant. My little triumph even found its way into the pages of Dr. Dobb’s Journal of Computer Calisthenics & Orthodontia.
And then, there was the sweet success of funding my Corvette with the royalties from my first commercial software. Or perhaps the innovation of weaving an element of AI into the second iteration of that software. Achieving neural net implementation in assembly language, now that was definitely a highlight. But still, that wasn’t my pinnacle.
There was my short involvement as a movie consultant. Hmm, I never met any of the actors and I count myself fortunate that my name doesn’t appear on the credits. Definitely not counting that as a career highlight.
What about the time I stepped into an unexpected adventure, rescuing a fellow engineer who found himself in a tight spot in Italy? It sounds more thrilling than it was—he was simply under pressure from an Italian company to fix a problem with one of our products before they’d let him leave. I managed to solve it over a weekend, which was a boost for my ego and greatly appreciated by him, yet it hardly feels like my greatest accomplishment.
Or possibly the time I led an engineering team to tackle a problem that had baffled the Air Force for over two decades. Our success was crucial to fulfilling a NATO treaty, making it an interesting chapter, but not the crowning achievement of my career, and it’s something I can’t fully discuss anyway.
It was in pondering these questions that I had my “ah-ha” moment. My career is filled with noteworthy accomplishments, yet all of these achievements seem modest in comparison to the pride I feel for the engineers I had the opportunity to mentor over the years. It’s not that these engineers wouldn’t have succeeded without me, but I’d like to think that I played a part in their current success. The guidance, inspiration, and challenges I provided helped to bring out the best in them.
Thirty years from now, all of my designs will have been superseded by newer technology. Technology has already made my software obsolete. However, the bright spot in this is knowing that those engineers I’ve mentored will continue to inspire and guide the next generation. While my designs may not last forever, the impact of my mentorship will.
This might be why so many teachers are willing to face challenges like lack of discipline, low wages, and difficult parents, all for the chance to make a difference in the lives of a few exceptional students. My respect goes out to all the teachers who remain committed to their profession.
Reflecting on my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with many incredibly bright and motivated engineers. Ask me again, and without hesitation, I’ll tell you that my greatest achievements are not the projects or the accolades, but the engineers I’ve had the pleasure of helping and encouraging to become better at what they do.
© 2024, Byron Seastrunk. All rights reserved.
For great accomplishment; There is no statement about your derivation and implementation of the Bert & Ernie communication method. That was a real translator for lobotomized engineers that end up in program management. Maybe a future topic? Or maybe thats what AI is.
Actually you helped me develop the Bert and Ernie translation method and I learned a great deal about creating presentations that managers would actually read. But you’re right it would make a great future post. Looks like I’ll have to give you partial credit on that post. Appreciate all the help along the way!
I’ve finally read your blog Byron lol. Extremely grateful to have worked with you and you’ve made a huge difference in my life and definitely overachieved in my career than what I ever thought I could in huge part to you and your contributions. Probably the biggest contribution I think looking back was your brutal honesty, challenging my assumptions, and recognising good work when it is done, not just checkin in some boxes and incomplete. Reading this article, can agree, lots of other younger engineers reminisce the valuable lessons only your experience can provide, not a guide or a how to wiki can teach. As I’ve grown in my career, and worked on more and more projects, realising how rare of a good mentor is to have on the program, and now, realising how lucky it was to have learned from you earlier on in my career that has helped propelled me and kept me in engineering.
Byron, I can’t think of a better way to look back and reflect on everything you have accomplished. I definitely feel lucky to have worked directly for you and learned so many valuable lessons early on in my career. Not all of my learning experiences were pleasant, but it was those uncomfortable conversations that helped me learn and want to be a better engineer. I appreciated our last years together even more learning all about 3D printing and sharing some other non-work related hobbies. I hope that I am one of the fairly bright and motivated engineers you think of when you look back on your career at Elbit. Thanks again for all you have taught me over the years and you’re welcome for not telling you this in person before you left. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
Of all the gifts I received on retirement, it’s the 3D print from you that has a position of honor in my house. Thanks!
Congratulations on your retirement. I must also add during the time I’ve known you some things that stood out to me.
Your willingness to help.
Attitude was always exceptional.
Willingness to share experiences good or bad, lessons learned.