Deadlines are interesting. At the time they seem to be the most important single item in one's life, at least for me. But maybe that's because I am a little obsessive. At work, we had a deadline to meet that appeared so important, that senior execs came from all over the country along with about 60 added worker bees. When the deadline was announced, we all scoffed. Then within 48 hours our staff more than quadrupled. Changes in management happened overnight. Those higher on the food chain pushed lesser managers out of their offices, and it seemed as if all hell broke loose.

We were given about 5 weeks to produce about three and a half months of work. Amazingly our team made the deadline, with a couple of days to spare. That was only due to 12 and 14 hour days, no time off for a month (or more) and twice daily status meetings. The flurry of activity was amazing. What was more amazing was watching the transformation of the office. All of the stops were pulled. The frenetic atmosphere was contagious. We were even fed lunch and dinner every day. Anything and everything to keep us in the office working.

Now that it has passed, the extra energy is still there, being put into a new direction of being proactive and taking on the next stage of development before being given a new deadline. Absolutely amazing to me. More so because this is merely the instituting of standard corporate procedure and sticking to it. Also, having enough people to do the job helps. For example, I relinquished my supervisory duties to two or three senior managers, who did nothing else but the task I was working on. My other tasks I still kept, but even that I was given help for. Two draftpersons, a junior engineer and help from a few interns doing research for me on several items. That's what it ook to meet the deadline, and it needed to become a crises before anyone of real authority stepped up and did something.

Sadly, the motivating factor was not so much disappointing the client as it was missing a payment milestone. That had a direct effect n the exec's paycheck because they did not meet their projected sales numbers. So they didn't get their bonuses. That's when it became a crisis.

Well, the deadline passed, people are going back to their remote places, and pretty soon the free meals will stop too. But it was good while it lasted.

Mitch

People often define who they are by a single or short list of items. Usually the first on the list is their name followed by their profession. There's much more that defines a person, including family, hobbies, personality, likes and dislikes, and life achievements and goals.
I have been asked in several comments what exactly I do. While it isn't who I am, I assume this means what I do for a living. I "do" lots more, but I earn most of my money in my regular job.
I am an engineer. Specifically an electrical engineer specializing in low voltage control circuits as applied to security systems. My formal title is "systems engineer" or "security engineer" but most people don't really know that that is.
My work revolves around the design of new security systems meant to stop or discourage attacks by terrorists on critical infrastructure. That includes rail, mass transit, bridges, tunnels, power plants, and the like. For the past 6 months I have been working on a new system for NYC. That's as far as I can go. It does warm my heart to know that my work may one day help save thousands of lives. It makes all of the aggravation of my job worthwhile, as long as I focus on the big picture.
Lately my hours are going through the roof due to deadlines. From about 60 hours a week to 70 and 80 hours a week, sometimes more. After 10/16, things should calm down for me. That's my deadline. I hope I am done before, but we will see.
My next blog will be more substantial, and I hope more interesting. With this one, I was hoping to answer some questions and provide a little more insight into my life. Stay safe.

It has been a while since I posted anything here. I guess I have been caught up in life. My new (not so new anymore) job is keeping me really busy. Working about 60 hours a week and getting paid for every minute. If I had my choice, I wouldn't work more than 40 hours, but there is so much work to do that it requires that much overtime.
I don't love my job. I don't like working for a large corporation, where everyone is judged by output and metrics. Pride and really good quality work has no place in this corporate structure. That means pride in one's work also has no place. The corporate mentality to move forward is only to maintain the status quo. Nothing innovative or out of the box. Just a slow steady plod towards the finish line. I am an inventive sort of person, and I feel boxed in here. I am capable of so much more.
But, I will put in my time. A year, maybe two, and then I am out of here. With my resume boasting a global firm, and my work being classified, I can go to many different types of firms. Maybe I won't make the same money, but I will be in a position to direct how things are done.
I don't see how these people make any money. Government waste is carried over to the contractors. If the project is a flop, it doesn't matter. Why, because they get another contract to fix it!
Absurd to say the least. I may as well be in the military.
I still like what I do for a living, even though I don't like doing it here. I just have to make my own little niche and find a bit of happiness there.
One thing I have learned, is that nothing is all good or all bad. It really is up to me to find the good and therefore my own happiness in this job. Like with everything else in life, if I can adjust to the new surroundings and new style, I can succeed.

People - even professionals make a mistake by thinking that the most is the best. Or, that the most stringent codes should always apply. Imagine an office security system that is built using military standards that were designed for rough weather and harsh environments. Where the thinnest wire that can be used is over rated by a factor of ten for current and voltage.

This is an every day occurrence in many industrial systems. It is due to the "designer" having limited knowledge of the application of codes and the proper enforcement of each one for its own particular use. A military or government contractor will overbuild a system because he is used to the most stringent codes available. To me, this is a waste of money as well as a difficult system to modify and service. Imagine what happens to those fine connections with heavy wire, when some are removed and moved around a bit. Aside from the lack of room, they will rarely be put back correctly. When sacrifices are made as far as twisted wires and shields because this heavy wire isn't available in that type, we now have a system that is actually degraded. True the manufacturer of the system has good transient protection, but we are that much closer to a false alarm and much lower signal to noise ratios.

This is what happens when a government contractor tries to design a system for the commercial market. Way over priced on the backs of taxpayers, and a lesser or less stable system than otherwise.

In a harsh environment and outdoors, heavier wire is called for as is a better method of termination. But within a controlled environment and in a stable area, it is more important to filter out rfi and electrical noise.

At about 30 percent of the cost, to gain a more stable system, I don't see any justification not to abide by UL standards rather than military or equivalent codes.

The interesting thing about this entire subject is that it has nothing to do with the resistance of the system to being defeated or bypassed. It has nothing to do with the level of protection. What it does do is take the focus off the real design and place it on the size of the wire. A high security system would benefit from smaller wires, as they are more difficult to bridge or strip without breaking the conductor. A properly twisted pair of conductors fed into a balanced circuit can actually identify attempts to defeat or tamper with the circuit by the slight change in capacitance or resistance to ground with a cable being manipulated.

The same person will argue to install a motion detector at an exit door to unlock the door. Even though it can be defeated by sliding a piece of paper under the door from the outside. I have seen world class security consulting firms make this mistake time and again.

The answer is to find the right standard or code and follow it. The answer also lies in the "expert" taking off the blinders and looking at the true purpose of his or her work.

I received my first pay check at my new job. If I stated only my title and the frm I work for, you would think I am really a rocket scientist. It is very impressive. However, I am not a rocket scientist in any way. I do enjoy my work though, and it makes me good at what I do.

My old job paid very well. But this first check equalled my check at my last job. What's interesting is that at my last job they didn't deduct taxes and I got paid every two weeks. This check was for one week with taxes deducted. I think that means I am making more than double what I was making.

Sometimes change brings about unanticipated bonuses. Not money so much, though you usually know in advance what that will be. The unexpected items are more emotional. Like feeling good because you get up earlier and have more structure in your days. Or because you work with professionals who aren't so driven by profit or status. More of a team spirit.

I tried to encourage a team spirit in my last job. The management was so dysfunctional that they actually sabotaged the attempts. That frustration helped push me to a new job. I know this is the "honeymoon" period, where everything seems great. But even when it wears off, I think that this will prove to be a big step forward for my career. Some people my age are looking towards retirement. I have been so busy living hand to mouth sometimes, that I can only shiver when I think of my old age.

Funny how I am in a security business, when I don't have any real personal security. My home has an alarm, but I am thinking of financial security. To me, that is at least as important. At least at this stage of my life.

I am already being selected for a leaddership position in the project work. It didn't take long here. I may actually get to do what the job descriptionsaid I would do. At this firm, you need to prove yourself before any authority is handed out. No matter what you are supposed to be doing.

My last several blogs were self serving, including this one. Sometimes you need to just get it out and put it on paper (or hyperspace). More on security and protection in my next blog. Unless I need to talk about myself again. Life is full of short skits we play out. We really live one day at a time, sometimes acting through many skits in the same day. Almost like several soap operas running together. Cool