How To Become A Great Engineer like John A. Roebling – Part 1 OF 2

The following is a summary of Episode 37 of my podcast, The Engineering Career Coach (TECC) Podcast. I will summarize the main points in this post; however, you can also listen to the show through the player below or by subscribing on iTunes. I offer a career-changing tip at the end of each podcast session.

In this session of the TECC Podcast, I visit the Roebling Museum and interview a historian, Clifford Zink, who has written a book about John A. Roebling, one of the greatest engineers of all time. This is part 1 of the interview.

Listen to this podcast and learn about the life of John A. Roebling, what made him one of the greatest engineers of all times. Here are 8 characteristics that John Roebling exhibited that might be helpful to you as you progress as an engineer:

1. World-class education. Having a great education is very important since your technical knowledge plays a major role in your engineering career. John Roebling went to some prestigious schools and learned from some of the greatest teachers in the world in Mathematics, Engineering, Philosophy and Art.
2. Make the most out of your education. It’s not enough to graduate with a degree or be in a good school, you have to make the most out of your education. Try to think about how are you going to use that education or engineering degree and how are you going to utilize everything that goes along with that education including your relationships with your professors.
3. Gain field experience. Get field experience as early as possible. John Roebling landed an internship through which he was able to work on a couple of suspension bridges. You need to get field experience regardless of your field or age because otherwise you won’t understand everything that goes into a project.  If you think you’re too old, interview people who have extensive field experience and learn from them.
4. Be innovative. Try different things in your career. Identify the field of engineering that you are excited about. John Roebling was innovative, when he heard about new technologies associated with suspension bridges; he went right through it and immediately implemented it.
5. Follow your passion. John Roebling had a passion for suspension bridges, so he went to the US to find suspension bridge work.
6. Be a problem solver. Identify problems and solve them. Don’t just see the bad in it but understand where there is opportunity and solve it.
7. Take risks. Take a risk in your career, that is what will make you great. When John Roebling developed the wire rope and it didn’t work, he took a risk by installing the second version of it on bridges and asked to be paid for a year after as a guarantee.
8. Have persistence. John Roebling’s wire rope failed, but he didn't give up, he tried it again. You’re going to face many challenges in your career, but if you have clear goals and a passion, follow it and be persistent. 

Part 2 with 10 more characteristics is coming next week!

Anthony Fasano, PE, author of Engineer Your Own Success, found success as an engineer at a very early age and now writes and podcasts to help other engineers do the same. Visit Anthony’s website at EngineeringCareerCoach.com to access all of the free engineering career resources he has created to help engineers succeed.