Joshua N.’s Post

Week XIII ✅✅ I had my first couple days off last week to spend some time with family and put into action some project ideas that had been lingering in the back of my head for a long while now. Towards the end of last week, I realized how important having breaks are every now and then. Because you tend to return a bit fresher mentally and indeed I did when I got back to work. It’s towards the end of the year and I’m noticing some very interesting things at work. Plans are already in motion for upcoming launches and tests next year, with set release dates. It’s very fascinating to see how much work is put into projects beforehand and exciting to be part of it. This week was a bit quieter since some projects were concluding while some were beginning. So mainly reviewing and reflecting was done. Despite the change of pace, I still picked up some valuable lessons and observed the inner workings. Hope you have a good weekend!🙂

Week XI ✅✅ I watched a great movie called "The Founder" a while back, which tells the story of how McDonald's started and grew into the huge company it is today. This movie has been on my mind for various reasons since I watched it, but this week, I thought about it even more. The main lesson I took from it was about taking risks. This reflection began when I considered buying a course that could improve my technical skills in the long run and maybe help at work. Right now, the benefits aren't very clear, but I believe it could pay off in a few months or years, potentially creating opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise. The main reason it feels risky is the time I'd need to invest to become proficient, which is more valuable than anything. As Mark Zuckerberg said, "The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." This was a fairly busy week as we're starting some new projects in the office, so my focus has been on that. Nevertheless, I hope you have a great weekend.🙂 #internship #tech #thoughts

Week X ✅✅ How does one master time management? 🤔 Lately, I've been pondering this question because it's more important than ever to maximize our time, especially for personal growth outside of work. In an attempt to find a method to manage time, I laid out my hours in a day, with the aim of identifying when I’m supposed to be “free”. I usually wake up between 6 to 6:40 AM, at the office between 8:00 to 9 AM and return home between 4 to 5 PM, assuming everything goes as planned So, from around 5 PM when I finish work to night time at 11 PM, I have roughly 5 to 6 hours of free time each day. Now, that's enough time in my opinion, to achieve a lot, but it didn't always seem that way until I listened to Andrew Huberman's Podcast. He mentioned a simple method I had known about for a long time now: timetabling. Surprisingly, it's been effective for me so far. One key thing I've noticed is that the timing of creating the timetable is crucial. Planning tasks for an entire week led to procrastination towards the end. But when I schedule tasks early in the week, especially in the first 2-3 days, I'm more motivated to do them all. So I usually end up creating it twice a week. I still have a lot to learn about this subject, through more research and trials I will find the most effective methods to make the most out of my time. It’s been a good week, it’s hard to believe it has already been 10 weeks. Have a good weekend! 🙂 #internship #time #tech

Week VIII ✅✅ As the weeks pass, I’m realizing just how important having social skills is, especially in the engineering field. I used to underestimate them, believing that completing tasks was all that mattered at the end of the day. But I am slowly realizing that this isn't always the case. Identifying and solving a problem is very important, there's no doubt about that, but being able to communicate how you identified and solved that problem so someone else can do the same is invaluable. In a recent experience I found this to be especially true. I encountered an issue and reached out for advice from a senior engineer. As I explained the problem, I observed the specific questions he asked and the systematic approach he took to diagnose it. Questions like "when did it start?" and "what specific actions were taken at certain times?" were key to finding out the issue. With the information I provided, he was able to quickly pinpoint the problem and explain it in a way that ensured I would know what to do if it happened again. What's really fascinating is that this entire knowledge exchange took place through text. 🤯 In the coming weeks, I'll focus on intentionally improving in this area, as I see its daily importance. I believe working on this alongside technical growth will make me a well-rounded engineer. Hope you enjoy your weekend. 🙂 Twitter: https://lnkd.in/ezx2kWYR #internship #thoughts #communication #tech

Week VII ✅✅ For most of my life, I believed that a leader had to be the smartest person in the room. If you had a problem and asked them, they’d usually have the answer. However, recently, I've started to notice other qualities that I think might be even more crucial for a leader than just being intelligent. One of these qualities is the ability to explain things clearly and provide precise instructions. I came across these traits during a recent meeting where we discussed restarting some projects that had been on hold for a while. In that meeting, I observed that the managers were good at understanding the situation and giving clear directions about what needed to be done, ensuring everyone knew their roles. This might seem simple, but I have come to appreciate that it's not easy because working with people can be quite challenging, mainly because of how unique everyone is, and finding a way that works for everyone can be a tough task. Another vital quality is setting examples, and I believe it’s closely tied to having integrity and self-discipline. As Albert Einstein once said, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.” This concept resonates with my own experiences because I've noticed that people are more likely to take advice or follow instructions from someone who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk, achieving the desired outcomes themselves. Lastly, there's the ability to understand others. Leaders who are able to see things from other people's perspectives and understand their feelings. From what I've seen, leaders who exhibit understanding earn the trust of their teams and I don’t think there is anything as valuable to a company than an employee that feels heard. This week, I've made some subtle yet impactful observations that I believe will greatly contribute to the improvement of my soft skills. Weeks like these are really valuable, expecting that there would be a lot more of them in the future! Hope you have a good weekend!🙂 Twitter: https://lnkd.in/ezx2kWYR #internship #thoughts #leadership #tech

Week VI ✅✅ My main takeaway this week is the importance of being proactive. It has been a month and a week now, and I have covered most of the foundational information needed for the upcoming days and weeks. I am reaching the stage where instructions will be more direct, as opposed to the detailed explanations I required at the beginning. However, this stage arrived earlier than expected. I found myself in an interesting position, tasked with setting up the installation of specific firmware to run a test. Once initiated, the only requirement was to check its progress regularly in the background. For the first three days this week, during which the installation process took place, this was the only task I had been assigned. There was a temptation to remain idle, but I chose to take a proactive approach. I tackled it in two different ways. On the first day, after starting the update, I spent my time reading through my notes and company materials to refresh my knowledge and ensure I didn't lose valuable information. The following day, I informed my manager that I had some extra time available in between checking the progress of the update. I was then given another task to do that required my constant attention for the rest of the week. I believe these were the appropriate steps to take in order to maximize the benefits of this internship. It's crucial to continually find ways to always learn, stay engaged, and make progress. I view it as a personal challenge: How much knowledge can I gain from this internship to prepare myself for future roles that will demand even more from me? I think this was a really productive week with a valuable lesson at the end. I'm excited for the next one! Have a great weekend!😁 Twitter: https://lnkd.in/ezx2kWYR #internship #thoughts #tech #learnings

Week V ✅✅ And just like that, an entire month has gone by. It feels as though it was just yesterday I started. This month, I've learned some important lessons that have already started to improve how I handle my work: - I've learned that solving problems efficiently needs a thorough understanding of the issue at hand. Without this, attempting to address any problem can lead to unnecessary frustration 😓 . - If a method doesn’t work at first, trying it repeatedly without modification would not lead to different results. This realization struck me when I was tasked with configuring a Gas and Electric meter for testing purposes. I attempted to set the required hourly bills for the meters using the same command repeatedly. After three unsuccessful tries, I decided to revisit my notes, make necessary adjustments to the command, and, to my relief, it ended up working. - I've come to appreciate the value of note-taking. Throughout the month, I made the effort to record the instructions and information given to me. This simple practice turned out to be one of my most beneficial decisions. Although it seemed tempting to rush into the tasks to showcase efficiency, taking those extra five seconds to document instructions pays off immensely. It not only makes tasks easier but also reduces frustration, as I can look at my notes whenever needed, so I don't have to keep asking for help. - Lastly, my experience taught me to pay close attention to instructions, especially during tests. Tests need to be really precise to get the correct results. I found out the hard way when I missed a small step while setting up some units, which made that particular test inaccurate. So much has been learnt this month, but I understand this is just the beginning of a journey that’s far from over. I’m not sure what to expect next week, but I’m up for it! 🙂 Twitter: https://lnkd.in/ezx2kWYR #internship #placement

Week IV ✅✅ How much confidence does a person or a group of people need to start a business in a niche market? 🤔 Well, I got the opportunity to ask the Technical Director at EDMI Europe about this during my interview, and his answer was interesting. I asked, "What makes this company different from others that create similar products, especially in this market where there are numerous competitors?" He said, simply, that this company stands out by its focus on prioritizing customer satisfaction. I was expecting him to talk about how products are rigorously tested or the use of high quality parts and experts. But no, their main goal is to build trust and relationships with the people who buy their stuff. This made me think. I realized that I unconsciously have the same idea. For instance, when I shop online, I feel safer buying from Amazon because they've hardly let me down with deliveries or refunds. Even though I can find the same items on other websites, due to the "relationship" I have developed with Amazon, it's usually my first choice whenever I need something. There's a popular saying: "There’s no need to reinvent the wheel." Perhaps this is what goes through the minds of those who are brave enough to enter such markets. Maybe their main focus isn't plotting a way to surpass another company, but to add an extra meal to the menu that they believe would be loved in the region or adding an extra feature to satisfy the user groups of an application. This week, I gained insights into the internal workings when unexpected events occur in the field. I observed the amount of meetings and discussions required to prevent such occurrences in the future. Despite undergoing numerous testing stages, the possibility of unforeseen events remains. But when such happens, a good company would have strategies in place to help understand and fix the situation. In summary, this week I learned a lot through observation and asking questions. I am also delving deeper into the testing process. I believe I’d be going more into that next week!🙂 Twitter: https://lnkd.in/ezx2kWYR #Internship #placements