10 ways to become the greatest engineer

If you look at our list of the Top 10 most remarkable engineers, you will notice some similarities.  Outside, the obvious drive and ambition, these remarkable engineers also possessed an unwavering desire and a passion for engineering.  It is what explains Edison’s  attitude after  1,000 failures, or Ford’s belief in his idea while everyone around him was content with horse-driven carriages. What makes a great engineer is not just having a deeper understanding of a particular subject matter but also vision, drive and a create-the-best-the-world-has-ever-seen type of an attitude.  Unfortunately, these attributes are not learned in school and can only be effectively harnessed by years of dedication and perseverance. Mastering these attributes and applying them to an idea or a project is what makes one a great engineer.

So, how would you know that you have become a great engineer. Simply use this as your guide and approach to everything that you do.

1. Settle for nothing less than outstanding work. Every time.
2. Learn from the best and strive to be better than them.  Making mistakes is allowed, however, learning from others’ errors is much better.
3. Determine what you are passionate about and then do exactly that.
4. Stay viable and current in your field.
5. Take risks and always think outside the box.
6. Project your ideas and ambitions 5,10,20 years out and then plan how to get there.
7. Align yourself with people who will support your vision and ambition.
8. Find your flaws—and fix them.
9. Give back to your community.
10. Show up every time.