Company Of One With Dale Callahan

You should want to grow your career. Right? It just makes sense?But wanting to grow your career is not enough - you have to work at it.Once we start our engineering career (or any career for that matter), we get busy. Work and life take over, and we are so tied up in just keeping up that we forget we need to keep growing. Last week we hit on the subject of WHY you need to grow your career.  This week we want to dive into some of the HOWs.How do you grow your career continually and intentionally?How to Continue to Grow Your Career as an Engineer (Podcast Outline) Develop a Mindset of Growth Enjoy the game of growth - always explore. Be curious. Be OK with change - it is going to change anyway. Do not be afraid of breaking things. Learn from successful people/companies Pay attention to the competition. Pay attention to innovations - LinkedIn videos, conferences, things you hear that you might discount as being irrelevant. Think strategically.  “Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” (Wa

Do you grow as an engineer or technology professional? You know the saying"If you are not growing, you are dying"It is true for your career - a lot more than you think.You see, many of us engineers think "We've got this." The technology changes going on around us are the one thing we know well. In fact, we sometimes created them.But blinders are everywhere. Today I hope to help you see why growth is so important.Why You Need to Continue to Grow as an Engineer (Podcast Outline) Why -  Recognize how critical it is to grow as an engineer Most technology professions are changing rapidly New engineers “graduate" every year with new skills Constant pressure on companies to make the best use of workforce and skillsets Companies are always exiting the old stuff and moving to the new. What part are you in? Current innovations that will change the game Major Movers in Tech Networks and sensors Infinite computing AI or Artificial Intelligence - 80% of jobs involve service industry - four fu

Do you really need a college degree to become an engineer? This subject is an often debated topic - especially in the hallowed halls of higher education. Many of my peers hotly disagree with me on this subject.  They think I am committing blasphemy to bring up the idea that we may not be adding as much value as we (or any other institution) think we are adding. Can you become something without the degree? Even something like an engineer, where the expectation is a college degree? Let’s examine the facts.Can You Become an Engineer - or anything else - without a Degree (Podcast Outline) Education is important - but... Universities do not own the knowledge - we are one path Universities and society THINK they are the only way Universities do two critical things to add value Accountability Credentialing Universities do not ALWAYS do these things Quality education Relevant education So what will disruptive innovation look like in higher ed?  The Dim Future of Higher Education  See link https://dalecallahan.com/the

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” is one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview. Yet, I often wonder if your answer matters much. After all, many interviewers are just following a script.But forget the interview and think about it for yourself. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? If you do not know - think about it.Why is this important to what you do today?Lea and I have been struggling with this question lately because there is a part of us that thinks we can just coast. Why do we have to work at anything? We are done.But recently we have been convicted of how wrong this thinking is. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? (Show Notes) You need a direction Having a goal creates energy and enthusiasm. Without a goal, you get lazy and depressed. Story of those who have sold out to retire.  Today’s decisions impact tomorrow's outcome Consider these paths: Want to be in a new job? Want to be in a new city? Want to be earning more money? Want to retire? When we serve - we are

Develop confidence. That is the challenge. The desire to develop more confidence and composure under pressure is a common theme we see in our professional graduate students. Even those who seem like they are highly confident will confess one-on-one that they are lacking. A quick look will show that everyone lacks confidence at some level. And all want to develop confidence to a higher level. Yes, even those hard-driving people who look and sound like they eat confidence for breakfast. We are all insecure. So how can you and I become more confident? It is not as hard as we might think.How to Develop Confidence and Composure (Podcast outline) First, recognize that you are not alone Everyone lacks confidence Imposter Syndrome Bill Smith story Control your inner talk Capture your thoughts Use Third Person (refer to Late Bloomers) Take back control in the moment Smile - relaxing for you and others Breathe -  In these intense moments, we tend to hold our breath Deep and slow breathes Slow down your talking Lower y

Where you go to school matters - right? With all the attention to college acceptance bribery cases involving actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, we might think that it really matters where you go to school. After all, why would they pay a ton of money if not? But when we peel back the layers of the truth and the norms, we see that most of us fight to get our kids into top schools and rarely does it happen. So with all the energy and activity around it - does it even matter? Does it matter where you go to school? (Podcast Outline) Quick answer -No Dave Ramsey answer - “Happy to have a Harvard Grad work for me.” Plenty of examples of significant success without the top degrees (or degrees at all for that matter) Do you really learn? MIT video of graduate engineers who cannot light a bulb - When it might matter Hang with elites - Senators etc Bias to college in your career path Example - Vice President with degree bias Why it rarely matters We usually do not take any advantage of the alumni network Alu

Engineering Management (EM) vs MBA? That is a question I have talked about a lot in the last few years. I have both a masters in engineering and an MBA. And since joining the university, I have been running an engineering management program (Information Engineering and Management or IEM). So I have seen them all up close and personal. I have the conversation almost daily with engineers and technology leaders who are looking to grow through higher education and considering both the MBA and the Engineering Management paths.  Should I Get a Masters in Engineering Management or MBA (Podcast Outline) Things to consider before making the decision The company I work for or want to work for - culture Knowing where you want to go Define your goal Management strictly and get out of technology Move into technical management MBA Programs - Not all the same Course work similar but varieties Economics. Accounting. Entrepreneurship. Marketing. Strategy. Project Management. Organizational development. Connections to industry

Ever heard of hidden engineering jobs?Estimates indicate that over 80% of jobs filled each year are hidden jobs.What is a hidden job? Many will define hidden jobs as jobs that never get formally posted to job boards. But it goes further than that since many jobs posted on sites like Indeed are not real. They have already been filled before they were posted.They were hidden, and once the company found the person they needed, they formally posted to meet various guidelines and regulations. But, even though the opportunity had been posted, it was already filled.So the trick to finding new opportunities in engineering and technology is to find those hidden jobs before they are filled.Hidden Engineering Jobs - How to Find Jobs that Have Not Been Advertised (Podcast Outline) The mindset of hidden jobs - creating or finding a need Have you ever made a big purchase when you were not really looking?  For a big-screen TV A car A home A vacation Jobs are the same process - advertising works Why are there jobs hidden Som

Finding hidden jobs is like finding a rare coin in your spare change - easy to go unnoticed but fun when you find it. And sometimes, valuable.Clients and students often tell me how there are so few jobs available. But when others look, they see jobs everywhere.In today's podcast, I am going to give you some examples of how to see jobs everywhere you look.Finding Hidden Jobs Everywhere You Look (Podcast Outline) Your expertise and connections lead out to certain places Friends invite you to their company  You are in a new city driving around you see company names you have never heard of. You are in your city, and you find something you have never heard of! As you see what others are doing, you see other opportunities Who supplies their core technology?  Who buys from them?  What kind of challenges are they having?  Example - EITD NASA Operation led me to know about and an obscure company that makes cryogenic cooling elements for satellites -- https://www.sunpowerinc.com/ To help you unlock these hidden op

Do you need a 6-week plan to start a side hustle?I know I did. When I start projects, I like to have some idea of where I am going. But in business startups, I have found I am often running blind.When I meet with clients who are in the startup phase, I find they are often confused about what to do next. The advice they listen to (assuming they are listening to any) is often poorly thought out and keeps them busy with things that are not important.So here is a simple 6-week plan for starting a side hustle you can do even if you are starting by working only at lunchtime or the few hours you can steal away to do your work.Your 6-Week Plan To Starting A Side Hustle (Podcast outline)Week #1 - Define Your Idea What will you do?  Who will you serve?  How will you get paid?  Use plain English - do not need a fancy slogan - this is just for you. Week #2 - Test and Get Feedback Test your ideas. Especially if you have more than one.  Do not get bogged down in details UNLESS high risk or wealth (See 139: How to Decide i

Going to start two businesses at the same time? Entrepreneurs usually abound in ideas they can offer to the market. Often you will see those with an entrepreneurial spirit starting multiple businesses back to back. When you talk to them - they even have ideas for other money-making ventures.But is being a multi-passionate entrepreneur a blessing or a curse?Opinions vary widely. So today we will take a look at all three opinions - yes, no, and it depends and find out which one is correct for you.Should I Start Two Businesses at the Same Time? (Podcast Outline) Common advice  No. You need to focus to make it work.  It depends - get clear on your goals and decide which business is the main business.  Yes - but not at the same time.  How a startup really looks - example of a lawn care company Mowing lawns is the focus so you start working with customers you have or know.  Taking payments and working with customer issues starts to creep into your time. The need to start finding new customers - so marketing becomes

Trying to decide if your startup should be an LLC or S-Corp? In the startup world, this is one of the most frequent questions I get. It falls closely in line with Do I need a business license? Should I incorporate or not? How do I find an attorney and CPA?I have dealt with parts of these subjects in past episodes. Ep 115 - What you need in terms of LLC or business license Ep 56 - Do I need a business license to sell online?  Blog Post - Do I even need a business license or LLC?But today I want to dive into the issue in another direction - a common-sense strategy for deciding when and what to do.But I am not crossing over into the world of CPA or an attorney. This is not legal advice - it is common sense advice. Both the LLC and S-Corp have legal and tax implications - but we want to visit a common-sense thinking about where to start asking questions. How to Decide if My Startup Should be an LLC or S-Corp? (Podcast Outline) When you need neither LLC or S-corp No risk of danger.  Selling online courses and onl

Where do you find the time and the money to start a side business? You never have enough of either - right?But do a reality check. Others have. Other people have been more broke and had less time and found a way.And ... they are not any smarter than you.But yet, we struggle. Families. Jobs. Friends. And even just fatigue saps us of time.So today I will unpack several common practices that others have used to find the time and money to start a side business.We will start by dealing with the money issue (wow do I hear this one a lot - no money to start).Then we will get into the time issue, how can you do a time audit and carve out minutes to make it happen.But most important - I will provide you several common mistakes I see others making in the area of time and money. Avoid at all cost.How to Find the Time and Money to Start a Side Business (Outline of the podcast) Reality check  Many have started with no money Many started with full-time jobs and made it happen  Dealing with the money issue Start small Use w

Want to know how to find a business idea for a side hustle?To some, it seems daunting - to others simple.You might be the person who comes up with 20 ideas a day, or maybe you are the person who has no ideas.Either way, there are traps in both sets of thinking.Today I will go over some simple ways to uncover ideas and common mistakes others make.How to Find a Business Idea for a Side Hustle (Outline of the podcast)  Goals of the Side Hustle What is a Side hustle? What can you expect to earn (realistically)? Two quick ways to generate ideas The Calling Exercise What do you love to do? Where are you gifted? What do others ask your help with? Search for similar services Fiverr, Udemy, Amazon, or local services pages What do you see offered that you know well What to do first Start with a service. Easiest to do and start and grow to a decent income. Use tools like Fivver Upwork Craigslist Putting flyers on doors Example from IEM - Handyman to Powerwashing Business If a hit - grow into a product Writing resumes fo

How can you use the reverse interview to stand out in your current company? In this podcast, I will should you just how to do that!Here is my outline of how to use the reverse interview on your current job What is a reverse interview? Check out my previous episodes for details on the process. A quick summary would be that the reverse interview is used to help you connect to people by asking specific questions to get them to talk. Usually, this is used to find a job or start a company. The questions are: How did you get to where you are?  What do you love or hate about this job?  What keeps you awake at night?  Why use the reverse interview with your current company? To help you do a better job. To learn how different departments and teams work. To seek to understand. Personal reasons. To find new opportunities. To get noticed and promoted. How to do the reverse interview on the job. Be targeted and intentional. Start by defining what you want to learn.  What goes on in another group? How to grow into leadersh

What I want to hear you say in an interview is how you will help me win. It is as simple as that.But while most of us understand this simple message, we think we have to talk about ourselves - accomplishments, strengths, all that stuff.STOP!Remember that you are a Company of One.You are looking for a new customer.So in a job interview, you are trying to sell a POTENTIAL customer.Customers do not care about you, your plans, or your goals except in how they help them achieve their goals.So, what you say in an interview should be you talking about yourself but making it sound like you are talking about me.What does this look like #1 - Tell me how you fit into the company culture. How do you show this? Ask me questions about my culture Show that you have met and know some of my team.#2 - Care about what I need and valueDemonstrate by Asking me directly how a person in the position you are applying for wins What is your measure of successWhat I do NOT want to hear Complaints about past employers or coworkers. Inst

Looking for a job after 50?How many of these thoughts are going through your head?I will have to start over!I am so specialized in my area of expertise that I can never find another job that needs my skills.I am going to have to go back to school to learn new skills.No one will hire me now that I am over 50.I am competing against people of a very young age who will work for less. You might be coming out of the military.You might be coming out of a long career where you have developed deep technical expertise.But you do not have to just give in. You have more to offer than you think.You Have More to OfferToo often we undersell ourselves. Do not do it.In today's podcast, I will give you specific strategies about how to revamp your thinking and position yourself for a new success. Click here to listen now.>> [01:22] Recently I have worked with multiple people over 50 who have been fired. Some are retirement eligible but, for multiple reasons, did not want to retire.>> [04:56] The first thing you

How can you make the best use of your day while on a job search?If you are out of work, or about to be, you need a solid plan to make the best use of your day. After all, every day out of work costs you money.I have had the honor of helping many professionals in job searches.But I have noticed that most people on the search really do not know what to do.How to make the best use of your day on a job searchToday I cover a step by step plan that has worked.This plan will help you find a job faster, feel better, and be more in control while on the hunt.>> [01:20] Calculate how much you are wasting per week not having a job. Get clear about the cost of your time.>> [03:28] Take your first week to get clear on the goal. Do the Calling Exercise.>> [06:05] Here is how Brian found his true calling and moved into a job he continues to love today.>> [11:46] Now you start to schedule your day using Tiger Time.>> [14:54] You need to get your blood pumping, you need to get some energy and to c

Being a Christian and being wealthy can seem like an oxymoron. I confess I have struggled with money and faith.As a Christian should I give it all away and go live a life like Mother Teresa?Or as a Christian, how do I recognize my gift of serving others through education and business?Could it be that the Bible is the best business book ever written?Today, I will share a bit of my story of how becoming a Christian helped me to grow wealth like never before.>> [02:41] I have always been focused on success thinking. Whether I am teaching future engineers, working with professionals, or helping others start companies, I am always focused on ways to help them become successful.>> [05:44] Our culture connects wealth with evil. These messages are powerful in music, movies, the news, social media, and even in schools. So Christian wealth seems an oxymoron.>> [13:05] I started to become service-oriented and think a lot about how I treated and served my customer (and my boss).>> [19:08] I begin

Overwhelmed at work? You have to learn to eliminate, delegate, and automate.I know what you are thinking...Eliminate? What can I stop doing? It all has to be done.Delegate? To who?Automate? I do not have time (or the skill) to do that.Really. Then why do some people, who are busy like you, seem to get more done? Come on - you know some of them just like I do.The number one issue professionals talk about is being overwhelmed. Too much to do, to little time, and new stuff coming every minute. What a hassle.Today we will look at a simple process for getting clarity and then getting busy fixing what is broke by eliminating, delegating, and automating some (or all) of our work.No need to be a victim - Take control and fix it.>> [01:56] Overwhelm is not a fix it once and done problem. Like cleaning out the closet, you have to continually revisit.>> [03:53] Meetings. We can't just stop doing them, we just need to eliminate some and make the others more effective. And more effective does not always m