Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
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: Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- mccumic1	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: jboggs ® 11/14/2007, 09:24:11 Author Profile eMail author Edit

I too had the dream of having my own firm from the day I graduated. But having grown up in a home supported by a one man engineering firm, I knew first hand the dangers of the proposition. Eventually I did achieve my dream. . . but the story continued beyond that. Do you want to sell physical hardware or engineering talent? Here's what I've learned: engineering creativity is not enough! Very few people are blessed with the skills and talents required to "invent stuff", "sell stuff", and run a business. However distasteful the whole "sales" thing might be to some engineers, it is an unavoidable and absolute requirement for any kind of financial success. It cannot just be delegated to someone else, it is not innate, and it must be learned . I also learned that at any given moment you are either selling or making money, but never both. I knew I was not blessed with a great business acumen, so I avoided employees. But because over a period of years I had been through some very good training in people skills and sales efforts, I was able to punch out a pretty good living. Bottom line - if you want to run an engineering business, you will have to absorb the mindset that you are a businessman first, and engineering is simply the cash-generating vehicle you are using.

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: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- jboggs	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: mccumic1 ® 11/14/2007, 13:33:44 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Thanks for all of your responses, To answer your question "Do you want to sell physical hardware or engineering talent?" - My goal is to eventually do both, however, my thought right now is to start with engineering talent. Because my interests are so broad, I have trouble with the thought of specialization - which is a big reason why I haven't gone to graduate school. As far as business experience, most of what I did in the military had to do with writing and negotiating contracts, various personnel issues (both military and civilian), budgets, developing 5-year maintenance plans, quality, and some environmental protection programs. However, I have no sales experience (we spent money and tried to save money, but it was unlawful for us to try to make money). Also, I still need to pass the EIT and PE exams. What are your thoughts on graduate programs for people like myself that want to own a technically oriented business?

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: : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- mccumic1	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: jboggs ® 11/15/2007, 08:44:01 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Having no direct experience with graduate programs, I cannot speak to their value, other than to offer an opinion - all any degree really does is open some doors. Its up to you to perform after that. No offense to anyone reading this, but Bill Gates and many other successful folks had no graduate education. My advice would be to get as much real world hands-on direct business experience as possible. Smaller businesses would be preferred because everybody does more "stuff". Everybody has a better feel for everyone else's job requirements, and are often required to "fill in". Engineers go on sales calls. Production folks are involved in design decisions. Expose yourself to as many diverse fields as possible. I would think that the need for MBA type skills would become more important only after the business has survived the initial start-up trials and tribulations, and you can hire it then.

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: : : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- jboggs	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: randykimball ® 11/15/2007, 09:32:49 Author Profile eMail author Edit

..an engineering management class may be a good tool. ...may consider accepting some management responsibilities at your employment... this would do two things: 1. Get experience 2. Make a better decision of if you really want to do and are suited to do this dream The worst suggestion of your lifetime may be the catalyst to the grandest idea of the century, never let suggestions go unsaid nor fail to listen to them.

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: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- jboggs	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: srtools1980y ® 11/14/2007, 12:39:27 Author Profile eMail author Edit

exactly

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: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- jboggs	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: Kelly Bramble ® 11/14/2007, 11:25:12 Author Profile eMail author Edit

Great post jboggs! Exactly what I trying to figure out how say between sales calls. Engineers Edge is similar to an engineering firm. One would be surprised how much time I spend trying to sell the obvious at a price that is fair to all parties. I suspect the business part is where most of us engineers fail. Engineering, design, and manufacturing is about knowledge, creativity, analysis and more! The biggest challenge I have is taking off my engineer's hat and putting on my business hat. I would rather do the technical part any day. Invoices, RFQ's, taxes, personnel issues, paying bills, dealing with all the scammers, marketing, purchasing office supplies, keeping overhead costs in line, and about a hundred other boring necessary evils fills much of my days. The facts are that we technical types simply think different than the business types. Modified by Kelly Bramble at Wed, Nov 14, 2007, 11:26:23

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: : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- Kelly Bramble	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: srtools1980y ® 11/14/2007, 12:42:10 Author Profile eMail author Edit

practical reality

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: Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- mccumic1	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: randykimball ® 11/13/2007, 17:30:17 Author Profile eMail author Edit

One thing you will need is a PE certification. The worst suggestion of your lifetime may be the catalyst to the grandest idea of the century, never let suggestions go unsaid nor fail to listen to them.

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: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- randykimball	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: srtools1980y ® 11/14/2007, 00:35:22 Author Profile eMail author Edit

dear,u cannot "find" skills. it's inside u.my opinion is u find somebody who is already experienced & sucessfull,stick with him and observe his exp.& activities till u are confident on your own.then start.please dont approach his clients.best of luck.

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: : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed?
: : : Starting an Engineering firm - where to find the skills needed? -- srtools1980y	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: Kelly Bramble ® 11/16/2007, 10:50:55 Author Profile eMail author Edit

So, the skills I think one needs to go it as an engineering firm are: Sales and Marketing - You will need to market and sell whatever you do. Understanding how to bid and price a project or job will make or break you. Understanding the risk, and actual costs to survive (complete) to project or job where you at least break even is important. Remember, just because you don't walk away with a pile of extra cash in the companies pocket does not mean you failed. Sometimes just paying everyone's salary (you too) is enough to be successful. If you got paid - you profited. Legal and contracts - You will need to understand your industry and typical contract requirements. Any regulations or other standards required to do the job or project should be specified and make sure you do want is required Technical - You need enough technical knowledge or surround yourself with the right people on the project. Remember, you cannot do it all yourself nor do you want to try. Project management - If you get the opportunity to manage a job, do it before it is your own nickel. Schedules, budget, organization and all the stuff managers do can make or break a job as well. There are all sorts of PM's; some do help many just slow down the technical folks. Know the difference between managing and not leveraging your team's skills and expertise. - Personal issue. Administrative management - Yup got get this right as well. Everybody needs to be paid and invoices got to go out as well. Stuff need to get ordered. Taxes, this bites lots of folks, think of your business taxes as like a payment to the Mafia. First thing you do with any profit, is pay your taxes. During your first year in business, don't run out and spend your apparent profit - at the end of the year the mafia err... um... government wants their money. In general, you will pay about 45% taxes on net profit. This includes wages paid in a proprietorship. Ok, I hope I did not scare anybody away from a dream. Running a business is just a lot of work, diversity and satisfaction.. Modified by Kelly Bramble at Fri, Nov 16, 2007, 10:59:06

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