Unseen Good Works

Blessed are those who have not seen

 and yet have believed

(John 20:29)

At last year’s Women in Manufacturing Summit, I learned about the “Dream It, Do It” initiative. This is a program launched by The Manufacturing Institute that “offers local manufacturers, schools, community-based organizations and other stakeholders the opportunity to partner with a respected national platform to promote manufacturing as a top tier career choice in the United States.” Recognizing that every region is different, the DI-DI program advances a national standardized brand that can be customized to fit the needs of the local workforce. As a follow up, I was pleased to see that in August 2013, my home state of Arkansas signed on as the 23^rd member as an avenue to address the growing skills shortage across our great state. To learn more about the national Dream It, Do It initiative, please visit http://www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/Image/Dream-It-Do-It/Dream-It-Do-It.aspx

The state of Connecticut has identified a need for more machinists, assemblers, and CNC tool operators. To gain the attention of future of engineers and innovators, and to leverage the state’s DI-DI program, October was deemed as “Manufacturing Month” to introduce middle school aged students to future careers in manufacturing. At featured events, students were given hands on opportunities to experience additive manufacturing, cutting tools, and 3-D printers. Grace Sawyer Jones, president of the local community college shared that one way to increase awareness is by exposing students to potential careers as early as possible. “It’s by having students who are looking to these fields long before they come to college. And more importantly,  the manufacturing businesses are here (in CT). Those are the parts that you bring together early in their lives, so they really have a realization of the possibilities.” To read more about the Connecticut manufacturing event, please click on http://wnpr.org/post/manufacturing-event-targets-future-workforce-connecticut-made-products?goback=%2Egde_4239561_member_5800678290263916544#%21

As an advocate for careers in manufacturing, I agree that we have to introduce the next generation of workers to the possibilities of sustainable jobs as early as possible. Many kids are not aware of the products that are machined or assembled locally. More importantly, as adults, business owners, and community leaders, we should begin to challenge these young innovators to consider the unseen good works, potential products that could be assembled and manufactured in the future from local resources. We should not limit our or their focus to the types of manufacturing that we see today, instead testing their abilities to develop solutions without the benefit of tangible proof from current technology. That’s what engineering and innovation and the next generation of job creation in manufacturing is all about: believing in what we have not seen and yet have believed to be possible. How are you engaging young people in your community to Dream It, Do It, to ignite their purposed work? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.

Good NETWorking

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

(BRIAN ANDREW "DREW" CHALKER)

People come into your life for a blessing or a lesson. I have probably blocked or delayed many blessings because of my natural tendency: my preference is not to engage in idle conversation at the grocery story, social events, airports, etc. So when I make a networking connection, I do not take it lightly as mere coincidence. By faith, I believe that when a person crosses your path, there is a purpose. It may not be obvious at first. I have learned to seek direction and clear understanding on whether the meeting is meant for a reason, a season, or a lifetime***.

• A REASON is to help you with a need by providing direction or support. The relationship ends when the work is done.
• A SEASON is to help you with a transformation by growing or evolving through some temporary period of work.
• A LIFETIME is to help you with a foundation for building up all other relationships in your purposed work.

***To read Brian Chalker’s A Reason, A Season, A Lifetime Poem in its entirety, go to

 http://www.homebiztools.com/prayer.htm

I am becoming more pro-active at networking because I understand the value of letting people know what I do. I used to think that who I knew mattered most, but in today’s climate, who knows me is just as important.  My travel schedule has increased so I have perfected the delivery of the business card, elevator pitch, and tag line to leave an impression. A closed mouth does not get fed and I refuse to miss any more blessings because I did not speak up and ask for what I want.

Last week, I was at a customer site in North Florida where my host introduced me as an engineer from Arkansas. Someone in the office volunteered that he was still waiting on an invitation to go duck hunting. I never mentioned that I was from Stuttgart, home of world renowned duck hunting. I compiled the market information I was intended to gather, and prayerfully, left a positive impression. Yet I walked away from the meeting, knowing that this was not coincidental, that one day, I will have full understanding of whether the interaction is for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. It is not happenstance that someone mentioned duck hunting in my presence. I am seeking direction on the blessing or the lesson.

Networking is no longer an option; it is a requirement for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders. What do you do to leave an impression of your good works? Let us know by commenting or sending me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.