Why my goal as a parent is not to produce more minority engineers by Tony Green

I recently received a letter inviting my daughter to participate in Alameda County’s STEM program. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM programs, if you are not aware, are designed to identify minorities who show aptitude in the math and sciences and provide them the resources needed to transition to successful careers in these fields.  Traditionally, minorities have been under represented in these fields and if the United States is going to remain competitive globally it will need ALL segments of its populace to be proficient in the technical skills needed to stay at the forefront of technology.

I recalled my participation in the Philadelphia Regional Introduction to Minorities in Engineer (PRIME) program while I was in high school and, later, in the University of Delaware’s Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (RISE) program.  The programs were designed to ensure prospective engineering students are provided resources to maximize their chances of success with success being defined as graduating from an undergraduate engineering program. 

I would be proud if my daughter chose to study engineering but only if she is interested. I recall during my time as an undergraduate I recalled many of my classmates who started off in engineering who did not enjoy their coursework and changed their majors to disciplines which interested them and lived happily ever after.

The part of me that used to work as an engineer for over 10 years has seen the lack of diversity in many engineering fields first hand. Particularly alarming are the scarcity of those of color and of women.

There is another part of me realizes the overall purpose of being a parent is to set your children up for success in things they are interested in and not what you are fascinated with since when I am long longer alive it will be their lives.

I am grateful her teachers believe she can study engineering or any hard science but if she is not interested in studying these subjects with the goal of making a living then what is the point? So I declined the gracious invitation from Alameda County. As much as I believe in the group’s mission and the benefits of the program.  Is this the right decision?

Image Courtesy of Minority Engineer Magazine @ www.eop.com

Fireworks - past and present by Tony Green

I was sitting in downtown Livermore on the 4^th of July in picnic chairs waiting as my children used their IPad’s prior to the beginning of the fireworks display.  Traditionally, I attend the yearly celebration with my family when they are not visiting their in-laws in Japan. This year’s participation was, for the most part, a “no-brainer” since they were being held in the downtown area which was walking distance from my house.  I looked out among the people who had gathered and the unseen others in attendance at many locations throughout the country asked the question,” How did it come to this?”

 

Image of fireworks exploding

Interestingly enough, Bamboo is extremely strong and grows in a series of hollow segments. You may ask what does that have to do with fireworks? Bear with me, when bamboo is dropped into a fire and the air pockets inside will heat and expand until the bamboo explodes resulting in a loud sound. This phenomenon was first discovered in China around 200 B.C.

Moving ahead to the 9th century A.D., an unidentified alchemist, mixed sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate and by accident created gunpowder. A little gunpowder in a bamboo shoot produced the world’s first firework.

As for its connection with our nation’s independence on July 2, 1776 a day after Congress voted on separating from British rule John Adams reportedly wrote in a letter to his wife,”[The day] ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”.

Sure enough, the next year, in Philadelphia, Congress authorized a fireworks display for the first commemoration of July 4, leading the way for fireworks to come to symbolize the day.

So now you know. With the history lesson behind us, the time had come for us to get out of the crowd and make my way back to my house.  I, and many of you, will in all probability not think again about how fireworks came to be, but it still does not take away from the enjoyment we get from spend time without families.

Image: Courtesy of fotolia.us

How can a man make a country cry? by Tony Green

Image of a soccer pitch with Brazilian flag

During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil various programming was shown on cable television related with the theme of soccer.

ESPN produced a show called “30 for 30” which caught my attention. The program profiles certain sport stories exposing the human side of the athletes portrayed.  One episode profiled the story of Moacir Barbosa who at the time happened to be one of the world’s best the goal keepers.  He had been chosen to handle the goalkeeping duties for the 1950 Brazilian national team which had been favored to win the World Cup the last time the tournament was hosted in Brazil prior to this year.  

Barbosa surrendered a “soft” goal in the final against Uruguay which allowed the country to win one of its two World Cup titles. The disappointment caused many people in Brazil to openly weep in despair and many others to express open hostility toward him.  Despite a brilliant career the defeat followed him like a shadow for the rest of his life.

Fast forward to 2014 and the scene of Julio Cesar, the 2014 goalie of the Brazilian national team, opening crying after his interview after Brazil survived penalty kicks against Chile would seem extreme upon initial glance. However, given the history of soccer in the country and the impact of the result to a nation of millions maybe I’d fold up like a cheap tent under such intense pressure.

The ‘beautiful’ game stands as a symbol as a global celebration of culture and competition.  Yet, as passionate as many fans are about their team and their countries and the game is, by far, the planets most prominent sport. The importance cannot be overstated of keeping mind that futbol is still only a game.  

Not as green as I thought by Tony Green

Image of grease in a cooking pan

Any new position whose technology touches any part of your everyday life is sure to change your view on some things once insider industry knowledge has been obtained. 

Before I started working at a company who manufacturers equipment for the waste water treatment industry I never thought about where the cooking grease goes after I pour it down the drain. Now I know the fats, oils, and greases go into the waste water treatment system where these by-products cause massive problems once the material re-solidifies.

I usually pour my used grease down the drain after running hot water on the pan. Once down the drain the greasy substance was out of sight and, in my mind, no longer my concern.  The reality was  the leftover product of my cooking would become some else’s predicament. Frankly, I should have been aware that grease, and any other fatty oil, does not disappear once melted. From my studies in college I was well aware once cooled the oil would return to its gelatinous form.

Frequent readers of this blog know I am a strong supporter of alternative energy but in this instance I had fallen short of observing green living practices. In short, I was not as green as I thought.

Maybe I should reach out to my locality and ask them about recycling grease to use as biodiesel, in the same fashion plastics and organic materials are recycled.

Until then since the placing my used grease in the trash does not seem like a viable option, what should I do?

Image courtesy of fotalia.us

Why I would want a personal logo for myself by Tony Green

Tony Green logo

Once in a while, entertainers have tried to describe themselves as an image or a logo. Remember when, his royal badness, Prince decided to refer to himself as “the artist formerly referred as Prince” and had a logo created which his marketing people pushed out to his listeners. Wasn't that the last we heard of Prince?  But I digress.

A business logo is the symbol which represents your company's identity. Its image will, over time, become the most recognizable representation for your company. A logo is designed to bring your company to a prospect or customer’s mind. The image attempts to capture the essence of what the company is about.

Companies create logos with the help of graphic artists under the direction of the marketing department who manage their companies’ brand to ensure a constant message is communicated, which with any luck will differentiate them from their competitors.

Now think of the concept on personal level. My thinking was a person represents an image to any one he/she meets.   Every person is their own brand regardless if they realize it or not. In my case, I'm technical/mathematical, but sharp, detailed and to the point with a clear creative side. Why not try to create an image to describe what I am about?

Does my decision to get a personal logo to put on my updated website as well as this blog seem a little less crazy?   More importantly, how did I do?

A thought on volunteering by Tony Green

Image of volunteer 

The reasons people volunteer for non-profit organizations include trying to find new job or taking the opportunity to give back to the community.

One of the largest obstacles for many people to volunteer as much as they would like is the amount of time required in some non-profits. If you are employed full-time or running a business, there are limits to the time available regardless of how worthy a cause might be.

Once a commendable organization is identified and the proper contacts are made after a certain period of time the volunteer activities begin.  The beginning or working with a non-profit often start where you do not know anyone and, in many instances, a road-map of how to complete the required tasks does not exist.

Once the volunteer gets up to speed organizational issues similar to those at work or in a family, in many cases, needs to be addressed, such as individual agendas and personality clashes between members.  

The result is that over time the volunteer become less involved.  Eventually the honeymoon” ends and after less and less participation they drop out of site. Ultimately, more new volunteers are required to replace the ones who have decided to do other activities with their spare time. Why?

In my view, the primary factor which keeps volunteers motivated and involved is the feeling of being appreciated. Various methods exist for communicating appreciation to a volunteer such as buying gifts or public recognition but simplest way I have noticed is a sincere thank you.

In the long term, more folks might be led to volunteer, which in the long terms moves the cause forward, isn’t that why a person volunteers to begin with?

Image Courtesy of  http://www.helplife.org

The texting world we live in by Tony Green

My daughter texting as if there is no tomorrow

Texting has become a very convenient method of keeping in touch. Last year, I decided to purchase mobile phones for my children in spite of the data charges I might incur on my phone bill.  I thought, as a responsible parent, I should be able to communicate with them in real-time if needed. 

After one of our typical texting exchanges my daughter paid me a complement.  She mentioned the text messages I send to her were, for the most part, grammatically correct. The interesting point was she was not trying to flatter me in attempt for favors to be named later.

I told her this was by design. I am of the belief that even when texting on a casual basis proper English should be used.  I explained to her complete sentences are preferable regardless of if you are texting your friend, composing an email or

writing an essay for an English class.

In my view, it is too easy, especially when you are still learning the nuances of the written language, to include these abbreviations in your professional /academic written communications.

Perhaps, I am showing my age since while I view myself as being technology savvy I still did not grow up in the texting age. My only point is in the world we live in there are various methods of messaging which depending on the time and place are appropriate. The key is able to keep in mind when to use each communication method.  JS. Or for those of use using proper English and not texting vernacular, just saying.

It is what it is by Tony Green

Note: this posting was intended to part of a blog based on my experiences as an employee in a Japanese company which was never launched.

Image of Yen Note

In a past position my sales team and our CEO were discussing what the customer’s reaction would be to an impending price increase and how we might present our case so the higher cost was more palpable. At one point he said, “It is what it is”.

Indeed, there are instances in sales where it might be better not to try and spin the situation and just be honest and work with your customer to get where you need to go.

Most customers appreciate when salespeople are being sincere with them even though they are discussing unpleasant things. Conventional thought dictates getting the ugliness out on the table benefits both parties.

From my time as a gaijin employee the saying would need to be adjusted to be consistent with reality. The perfect phrase escapes me but some ideas I had were,” “It is what we would like it to be” or “It is what we think it should be” or “It is what wanted it to be.”

When some form of customer issue existed management wanted to ignore the issue hoping the problem will go away. Stated another way, if a direction which been established and the market place changes resulting in different tactics becoming appropriate the inclination is to start the hoping things will work themselves out.

While this works on occasion typically it makes the long term solution more difficult.

I understand the concept of cultural difference and how entrenched these can be at many companies, however, at the end of the day people are people and most folks want to know the truth and have the facts presented in an upfront fashion. This leads to identification of the true problem and begins the required dialog ultimately generate solutions agreeable for both parties. The most important party of all, our customer, would be included.

I have learned from my brief time in sales a companies’ customers are the end game. In the end, it is what it is. Isn’t that the way things should be?

ObamaCare – why are we forgetting this is about affordable health care? by Tony Green

Doctor examining young girl

The first portion of the Affordable Healthcare Act or ObamaCare was enacted a few months ago.  As designed, Americans without access to reasonably priced health insurance can enroll with federal and state run insurance exchanges to select plans where financial assistance is available to help cover the cost. In light of bipartisan bickering people seem to overlook the reason the Affordable Health Care Act was drafted and legislated. The reality is many people cannot access to health care for themselves and their children. This, in the end, costs everyone since medical providers are required to care for insured patients and in many cases the expenses are absorbed by those who have health insurance. 

Is health care a right? The rest of the world thinks so. Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan all have national health insurance programs. Interestingly enough, the exchanges which were recently rolled out are similar to the Japanese systems on providing health care for its citizens.  

Japan’s National Health insurance created in 1958 by its National Health Care Act which was designed for people who are not eligible to be members of any employment-based insurance programs. All Japanese citizens, permanent residents, and any non-Japanese residing in Japan with a visa lasting one year or longer are required to be enrolled.  

The program is administered by local governments. Patients are free to select physicians or facilities of their choice and cannot be denied coverage. When the insured person uses a medical facility or hospital which accepts the National Health insurance, the patient pays a portion of the cost. The medical facility will then send invoices for the remaining amount to the National Health Insurance Federation, which reviews and pays the medical facility or hospital.

Hospitals, by law, must be run as non-profit and be managed by physicians since for-profit corporations are not allowed to own or operate hospitals. 

The United States is the single major power without universal basic health care for its citizens. The United States takes pride in being one of the world’s most progressive thinking nations is the rest of the world entirely off base by providing, at the least minimum health care at some for all of its citizens?? 

Accountability vs. Responsibility by Tony Green

Note: this posting was intended to part of a blog based on my experiences as an employee in a Japanese company which was never launched.

Japanese businessman

Working for a Japanese company as a Sales Manager with American customers presents certain challenges on a daily basis. On my first day of work my boss told me I would be responsible for sales and marketing in Canada, Mexico and the United States. No problem.

The management in Japan clearly stated the expectation of meeting the goal of penetrating our company’s products in the North America where currently we had no market share.  No Problem.

The problem was the folks in charge did not tell me the entire decision making and authority process would be based in Japan. The insight into the market place which I was hired to provide is appreciated, however, the team leader makes the call from the home office. Perhaps, I should have recognized a “gaijin employee” like me would never be allowed to possess any true authority. In my own defense, this was my first experience working for Japanese company.

In many companies you are compelled to take instruction/direction from management. My concern is what happens when all does not go according to plan? The foreigner gets singled out that he was not doing his job and takes the “bullet” so the team does not lose face.

I think ultimately the issue comes down to accountability versus responsibility. The expectation is you will manage our clients to where the business is profitable while maintaining a satisfied customer. As the customer representative your job is to make these activities happen. Responsible and accountable. Keep in mind you have no decision making authority in managing the specific accounts which you are responsible for. At least I am still accountable. Seems quite fair to me.