Dare To Change Presented by Gary Whitcher GIS/CAD Developer BSD Consulting, Inc.

Dare To ChangePresented by Gary Whitcher

GIS/CAD DeveloperBSD Consulting, Inc.

Introduction

• Gary Whitcher• Vocational Drafting in high school w/some

college courses• 35 years in the oil and gas industry.• 15 Different Companies• 17 years using AutoCAD daily. • Developing since 1992.

Early Work History

• Board Drafting (1980)• Lettering• First evaluation

Reaction

• AutoCAD (1983)

Why am I telling you this?

• We’ll get back to that in a moment.

LEADERSHIP

• Is either a role/position or action.• Lead or drag others.• Just like Aretha Franklin sang, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”

• Starts at the bottom.• Starts with YOU!• Having the word “Lead” in your title does

not make you a leader.

Industry Changes• What is the one constant in this industry?

CHANGE!

• Price of oil• Price of natural gas• Regulatory changes• Latest business school mindset• Technology

Technologytech·nol·o·gytekˈnäləjē/Noun

• The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. "advances in computer technology“

• Machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge. • The branch of knowledge dealing with engineering or applied sciences.

tech·NO·logy• The application of whatever the latest business school mindset is.

Technology (cont’d)• Not as much of an issue today but there are still some

holdouts.• Technology will run over you if you do not embrace it.

Tech-NO-logy

1. Management wants what management wants.

Rules OF Tech-NO-logy

2. It is the stupidest thing to come down the pike, See Rule 1.

3. Creates more work, less productivity, and adds cost to projects. See Rule 1.

4. Good News! It will only last until the next stupidest thing comes along.

(remember the constant change thingy!)

How does this involve me?In 2012 the avg. life expectancy was 78.74 yrs.

Started working Age: 24Retirement Age: 67 Working Life: 43 years

Hours Worked: (2080 hrs./yr. x 43 yrs.) 89440 hrs. That is a lot of hours!

Ok, Now What?It is your responsibility to be better at your job tomorrow than you are today. No one can take your experience and industry knowledge from you. They also cannot grow your knowledge for you.

You can be a leader!

• Your knowledge or experience is not confined to your immediate space.

• Leading sometimes IS done from the rear.

• You might be surprised at how much you don’t know..

• Don’t be afraid of change.

• Don’t Be afraid to share knowledge/information.

Don’ts

• Don’t dismiss “soft skills”.

Do’s and Don’t’s

• Don’t be afraid to fail.

Don’t be the office curmudgeon.

• Don’t be afraid to ask if help is needed.

“I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison

Do’s and Don’t’s

• Self Study.• Be the “go to” guy.• Look for a mentor that can raise your knowledge.

Do’s

• Be the last one to turn off the lights.• Volunteer for the projects no one else wants.

Be willing to take the “short straw”. It shows above all else, you are a team player

• Become a mentor to “green” employees.• Lead your peers/team, don’t drag them.

• Maintain a positive attitude.

• Be confident in you abilities. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance

Attitude A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995

It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to. ~Annie Gottlier

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill

Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching? ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

Passion

• Never work a day in your life.• Start the day eager for work.• Will make you a better employee.• Will help with problem solving.• Will make you happier.• Guess what?

Your passion may not be doing what you are today.(It may not even be in this industry.)

Summary

• You can dare to change.

• The beginning of your career does not have to match the end of your career.

• Be proactive.

• Always seek to improve.• The same people you see on your way up is the same

people you will see on your way down.

ConclusionWhat do I do with this information?

Or you could do absolutely nothing and watch the world go by.

Don’t go back and say “Gary said to leave my job to pursue happiness and live in a commune!”. Look at work situations for opportunities to grow.Create scenarios where new technology can be implemented in a small amounts if timid.

Constantly evolve and know that change is coming.

If your interest lie in another department of your company, speak to those in that department. Look into what requirements are needed to fulfill the position you would like to pursue.Don’t’ underestimate your knowledge or your capacity to gain more of it.

- Just for the record…I didn’t..

Thank You

Gary WhitcherGIS/CAD DeveloperBSD Consulting, [email protected]

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