Antonette's Lessons Learned

When I was growing up, I was brainwashed by my father into believing two major things contrary to the American Educational System. Forget the grade point average system and all the dire threats of not getting into the college of your choice; instead take additional classes that you weren't familiar with and dare to fail because you might actually find out several worthwhile things that were an important aspect of education. And the second, ask questions if you don't know. In hindsight, I learned to reach beyond my comfort zone. I also recognized I was learning what I didn't like as much as being exposed to a topic or subject that I did like, but didn't have an aptitude for. I actually found that the subjects I struggled with and found the most difficult were the ones I honestly found fascinating. Rather than avoid the arduous, I persevered. When I graduated, I was fortunate to be trained by a gentleman named Nelson Franco, at CF Braun, who was not only technically sharp but had a tremendous aptitude to teach from past failures. He would relate calculations and methods of design with stories and pictures of the dire consequences of not following through or not understanding the ramification of the decision. My education continued and the foundation of never performing a calculation or making a design decision, without understanding why and its ramifications was formed. With Nelson, oil refineries came to life as he brought in pictures of Exxon tanks imploded like a boy's easy joy of crushing a coke can, because the nitrogen blanket was inadequate; horrific news clippings of people dying trying to escape the hydrocarbon clouds because pumps with inevitable leaking seals were positioned under induction fans; and the rationale of why Cat Craker sample valves were spring loaded to prevent the repeat mishap of hydrocarbon vapor escaping instead of the liquid, rendering the man unconscious and left to drown in the dike from the opened valve. Later, I consciously looked for a place or a boss who would foster this attitude, to look at the failures and the complex with relish. I took positions where my bosses thrived on imparting knowledge and independence. The atmosphere of my fellow engineers was to highlight problems at our lunch table, following the more difficult situations with pure fascination and genuine commiseration and offering assistance. We delighted and laughed at the difficulties disguised as another's misfortune. And we learned. And my boss continued to take phone calls from our clients trying to put them at ease when I would boldly state I had no clue. They lacked confidence "that not having a clue" was only a temporary situation. Time and results were my salvation. The ranks finally accepted my style, bare truth, perseverance and passion for Engineering & Construction.

And so I continue my career with a zeal for looking beyond the obvious and welcoming the complex. It is my credo that there are no final failures, just a solution waiting to be exposed if we dare to study the situation. Stay tuned as I offer some of my favorite lessons learned for your enjoyment and education.