January 27 From the President Editorial: Honesty in Our Industry
From the President
The past few months have been hectic but fun!
At the same time, I have had the chance to sit and really take a look at a few things which had been bothering me a little, but now really stick in my craw! But, I will get to that in a minute.
I don’t think I need to harp on much of the political scene, as I had been. It is interesting that the news media has made a general about face on much of the topic. It is also intriguing that there is the general assumption from the media that the public will forget their stance of three months ago.
I tried out a different format for our weekly newsletter that will run between the monthly eMag. Yep, changing the name. I was told that eZine was just plain too wimpy a name for an industrial electronic magazine! And, I have to agree, eMag definitely sounds a little more primal.
Last week I sent out a simple, but lengthy, email after sending out one in a new format. Let’s just say ‘yuck’ to the format, I am going to stay with text from now on! But, I would like to express my appreciation to the over 200 emails of encouragement. I enjoy doing this, it is fun and writing has been my hobby since I was 9. I am humbled when my work is appreciated and I wish I could have responded personally to all of the emails. So, please consider this my thank you.
Now, back to my ego.
Although we remain in pretty good shape over the past few months, things have slowed for us and our clients a bit, as well. Basically, yes, if you have a project and wondering if we are busy, now is the time to contact us. However, we have been developing our own websites and my work as the Web Editor-in-Chief of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (IEEE-DEIS) website has been plunging me deeper into my past work with standards and new technology. I have had to review papers and standards that I have not had a chance to in a long time and some of the updated and upcoming standards, not just in IEEE, but others that have a direct impact on RME&E.
There are assumptions that we sometimes make and, worse, misleading statements that we receive from vendors. Just as I had been mentioning in some of my recent rants concerning the media, etc., I have been finding that there are those who would take advantage of us because we simply do not have time to research their statements and end up taking them at face value. There are a few that have just plain made me angry that they would make false statements that, at least in one case, could even put our lives or health at risk!
While I strongly believe in healthy debate, including between technologies and their capabilities, I find such things unconscionable and unethical, especially when it is obvious that the people involved know better. Direct deception by those individuals and companies should send a message about how they are going to deal with you as a client, customer or partner. Using false information… sorry, that just plain isn’t strong enough… lying about a technology, competitor, or the safety of your customer or their employees is… well, I just don’t have words strong enough.
While people may disagree with me on a few technical points, or about a technology, or about some definition or statement I have made, I would like to think that I present an honest point of view. I am far from a perfect person (but I do strive in that direction). But I cannot see how someone could live with themselves doing what I have seen. Do we teach people in business, marketing, or even engineering to present false information? I don’t remember doing any such thing when I taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Have we become so money hungry that we are willing to put our fellow human beings at risk just to make a few dollars? Has it become that easy to lie, deceive or cheat?
Where are our champions?
I like to think that most people are honest, hard working and also strive for perfection. Are we now so overwhelmed, or even disinterested, that we cannot verify things when they sound a little extreme, regardless of who is saying them? Believe me, some of the stuff I am seeing has come from small repair shops to huge multi-nationals that used to carry credibility in the past. Within those companies, what has happened to the individual or group that would stand up and demand that such things are corrected to maintain the honor and trust associated with their brand or product? Have we become so politically correct, office politics are that bad, or afraid that we are not willing to make a statement, or ask a question?
You don’t have to take on the world: only the area that you influence. And, if enough do so, then we can make the world right and just.
As I have pledged before, I am going to do what I can. Expect to see some things happening and expect to see some tech tips, articles, editorials and discussions related to this topic and education related to some of the items that I see.
It is time to see the forest and to eliminate the sickness.
Sincerely,
Howard W Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP
President, SUCCESS by DESIGN®
The past few months have been hectic but fun!
At the same time, I have had the chance to sit and really take a look at a few things which had been bothering me a little, but now really stick in my craw! But, I will get to that in a minute.
I don’t think I need to harp on much of the political scene, as I had been. It is interesting that the news media has made a general about face on much of the topic. It is also intriguing that there is the general assumption from the media that the public will forget their stance of three months ago.
I tried out a different format for our weekly newsletter that will run between the monthly eMag. Yep, changing the name. I was told that eZine was just plain too wimpy a name for an industrial electronic magazine! And, I have to agree, eMag definitely sounds a little more primal.
Last week I sent out a simple, but lengthy, email after sending out one in a new format. Let’s just say ‘yuck’ to the format, I am going to stay with text from now on! But, I would like to express my appreciation to the over 200 emails of encouragement. I enjoy doing this, it is fun and writing has been my hobby since I was 9. I am humbled when my work is appreciated and I wish I could have responded personally to all of the emails. So, please consider this my thank you.
Now, back to my ego.
Although we remain in pretty good shape over the past few months, things have slowed for us and our clients a bit, as well. Basically, yes, if you have a project and wondering if we are busy, now is the time to contact us. However, we have been developing our own websites and my work as the Web Editor-in-Chief of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (IEEE-DEIS) website has been plunging me deeper into my past work with standards and new technology. I have had to review papers and standards that I have not had a chance to in a long time and some of the updated and upcoming standards, not just in IEEE, but others that have a direct impact on RME&E.
There are assumptions that we sometimes make and, worse, misleading statements that we receive from vendors. Just as I had been mentioning in some of my recent rants concerning the media, etc., I have been finding that there are those who would take advantage of us because we simply do not have time to research their statements and end up taking them at face value. There are a few that have just plain made me angry that they would make false statements that, at least in one case, could even put our lives or health at risk!
While I strongly believe in healthy debate, including between technologies and their capabilities, I find such things unconscionable and unethical, especially when it is obvious that the people involved know better. Direct deception by those individuals and companies should send a message about how they are going to deal with you as a client, customer or partner. Using false information… sorry, that just plain isn’t strong enough… lying about a technology, competitor, or the safety of your customer or their employees is… well, I just don’t have words strong enough.
While people may disagree with me on a few technical points, or about a technology, or about some definition or statement I have made, I would like to think that I present an honest point of view. I am far from a perfect person (but I do strive in that direction). But I cannot see how someone could live with themselves doing what I have seen. Do we teach people in business, marketing, or even engineering to present false information? I don’t remember doing any such thing when I taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Have we become so money hungry that we are willing to put our fellow human beings at risk just to make a few dollars? Has it become that easy to lie, deceive or cheat?
Where are our champions?
I like to think that most people are honest, hard working and also strive for perfection. Are we now so overwhelmed, or even disinterested, that we cannot verify things when they sound a little extreme, regardless of who is saying them? Believe me, some of the stuff I am seeing has come from small repair shops to huge multi-nationals that used to carry credibility in the past. Within those companies, what has happened to the individual or group that would stand up and demand that such things are corrected to maintain the honor and trust associated with their brand or product? Have we become so politically correct, office politics are that bad, or afraid that we are not willing to make a statement, or ask a question?
You don’t have to take on the world: only the area that you influence. And, if enough do so, then we can make the world right and just.
As I have pledged before, I am going to do what I can. Expect to see some things happening and expect to see some tech tips, articles, editorials and discussions related to this topic and education related to some of the items that I see.
It is time to see the forest and to eliminate the sickness.
Sincerely,
Howard W Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP
President, SUCCESS by DESIGN®
posted by MotorDoc at
9:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home