Discussion Thread

  • 1.  Looking for ideas for a summer project

    Posted 06-24-2021 03:45 PM

    Summer😎 is here!

    I want to tackle a personal project (ideally skill enhancing) and want to see if the community could share some ideas💡 / pics🤳!?

    (like... smart home Raspberry Pi, raising an herb garden, building a desk...?)



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    Charles Ou-Yang S.M.ASCE
    Yorba Linda CA
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  • 2.  RE: Looking for ideas for a summer project

    Posted 06-25-2021 10:39 PM
    Hello Charles!

    Glad to see you being proactive and making the most out of your time. Below are some ideas that might be of interest to you AND help you in your career and personal life:
    -Learn to code
    -Learn VBA in Excel
    -Learn to use Power BI
    -Get a professional certification
    -Read Rich Dad Poor Dad, One Up on Wall Street and a Random Walk Down Wall Street

    I can see how the above are different from the examples you gave, so hopefully they are useful as well. If you have any questions about any of them, feel free to reply or send me a direct message. Let's see what others in the forum have to say!

    Have a great weekend and enjoy the summer,
    Salvador

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    Salvador Bentolila P.E., ENV SP, M.ASCE
    AECOM
    New York NY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Looking for ideas for a summer project

    Posted 06-26-2021 10:25 AM
    This is awesome. Thanks  Salvador! I know coding (Python) is more raw to analyze data than PowerBI. How would you use VBA??

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    Charles Ou-Yang S.M.ASCE
    Yorba Linda CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Looking for ideas for a summer project

    Posted 06-26-2021 10:25 AM
    Well, I have part-time work for the summer, so I have found time to work on my skills with other activities.

    • Books about leadership: The National Society of Leadership and Success recommended several books on Audible about growing as a leader, so I'm still reading the e-books and taking notes
    • Artwork: I recently took a class on Photoshop and iMovie, so I have progressed from my images to making videos (many of the latter also have voice work)
    • Studying: I graduated last month, so I am preparing to take the FE exam
    You should take a look forwards and backwards in time. If there is a career field you want to work towards, or a talent you have not had time for, now is your chance to focus on those.

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    Alexander Granato A.M.ASCE
    Student
    Bexley OH
    granato.3@...
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Looking for ideas for a summer project

    Posted 06-27-2021 02:00 PM
    Hi Charles, Here are a few suggestions. The book suggestions are not about engineering, but you will soon see the parallels and connections.

    Learn about the role cognitive biases play in human behavior. Three fun books:

    Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein

    Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

    The Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis

     
    Learn about Decision Quality and how you can make better decisions. The website has a great introductory video.

    Decision Quality: Value Creation from Better Business Decisions Hardcover by Carl Spetzler

    https://sdg.com/thought-leadership/decision-quality-defined/


    Consider taking something apart and reassembling - preferably something not mission critical in your life. I like working on bikes and that's the role of having  multiples :)

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    Mitch Winkler P.E., M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Looking for ideas for a summer project

    Posted 06-28-2021 02:20 PM
    Hi Charles, I want to suggest these books, not engineers specifically but could improve your skills like @Mitchell Winkler says:

    - Free - The future of a radical price. Chris Anderson.
    - SPARK The complete public relations guide for small business. Robert Deigh.

    Maybe you or somebody in the comunity could be interested in become a entreprenuer someday.
    Have a happy and productive summer! ​

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    Horacio Galicia-Gaona Ing., S.E., M.ASCE
    Morelia
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    Original Message


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