"Engineering Management Thought of the Week" Jeff Glass

I was struck by one of the comments that a seminar speaker made earlier this semester. Some of you may recall that Dr. David Brady, who has started several companies, manages a multimillion dollar research program, has numerous patents, and is considered one of the true gurus in his field, discussed his choice to go to Cal Tech for his Ph.D. He was absolutely convinced that based on an article published at the time, optical computing was going to be the “next big thing” and was right around the corner. Of course, we know what actually happened – optical computers are still nowhere to be found. And yet, this decision led him to the top technical graduate program in the country and on to incredible success in a variety of fields and activities. Despite the fact that he chose his graduate program based on a technology that did not pan out, he went on to a spectacular career based on that choice and the subsequent chain of events. This reminded me of the oft forgotten fact that “you can’t tell the future.” Despite your effort to choose a specific career path, it is likely that key aspects of your career success will be determined by unforeseen and unexpected circumstances. Embrace it!

The unpredictable nature of your career can be one of the most exciting and enjoyable aspects of your career if you approach it with the right frame of mind. Of course, one should begin with the end in mind as Steven Covey would say, but one should also, and in my opinion more importantly, seize opportunities as they occur and be open minded about the future. We heard a similar story from Mr. Harrison during his seminar last semester, the global supply chain officer for Proctor and Gamble, who told us that he initially had no interest in moving overseas and taking an international assignment. Yet after doing so he found that it not only secured his future career and the role he has as a Corporate Officer of one of the largest and most innovative companies in the world, but he also enjoyed it so much he could have been happy living overseas for the rest of his career. Of course, instead he came back to the U.S. for one of the top positions in Proctor and Gamble and has thrived and enjoyed that as well. So for all of you who are starting out in your careers, please be open-minded about the positions that you take. Do well, exceed expectations of your boss whenever possible, and think broadly about potential opportunities rather than considering them to be predictable or specific. “The person who will only follow one path will soon find themselves at a dead-end.”