2020 is has been quite a year so far and likely to end with continued change and uncertainty. This will be a very different blog than normal – kind of like 2020! As I travel to different sites doing mechanical integrity or TAR assessments, they are very similar in that everyone is extremely busy and very focused on the day to day work or approaching shutdown. This is all excellent and required to meet the goals of the department, the plant, and the company. However, we also must take the time to invest in yourself.
We invest an extreme amount of time and effort into our jobs, but we must also take the time to focus on ourselves. We need to invest in ourselves, our development, and our continuous learning. In today’s internet world the ability to learn new things is right at our figure tips. Having the company send you to a class or seminar is great but we do not need to wait for that opportunity, or it could be another 2020 when none of us are traveling anyway. I spent a good portion of my free time in 2020 taking online training on several topics including- Cyclohexane production, Cathodic Protection refresher, and other industry related topic + a couple of personal items on Stock investing and the Golf swing. My experience with online learning has been a very positive one and only expect this type of learning to continue to improve. There are companies providing online learning of any number of process safety, corrosion, API standards and about any other industry related topic you would like to learn more about.
We need to take a little time out of our busy weeks to invest in our own learning. This is not easy with the demands of the job, but I’m very confident if you discuss your plan to spend a little time on the internet learning a new work skill with your Supervisor, they will likely be very supportive.
For most of us the Corporation is our paycheck, perceived security and in many cases the next promotion or pay increase. However, we must always remember that if things get ugly financially with the corporation, you are on your own! Please realize I am not saying that the corporation/company are a bad thing (I was able to enjoy a wonderful and fulfilling career with a good one), but we cannot ignore our own learning. Have you ever worked with someone that was a know-it-all? Pretty annoying in my opinion… I came across a quote recently that I would recommend for every organization, individual and company. “We need to be a “Learn-it-all”, not a Know-it-all”
Actions to Take:
1) What do I need to learn to improve? At work/At home/My overall knowledge
2) Schedule time for learning – small increments will work wonders, but make it happen!
3) Be Positive and invest in yourself!