I can't believe we are nearing the end of October already, as I hand the blog over to Jason Wharton.   Jason is our latest recruit to the exec team and currently lives in Australia.   Below he tells us more:


I entered the engineering world as a 16 year old, straight out of school and into an apprenticeship in electrical and instrumentation engineering. Back then, when the world was still in black and white, a dual skilled apprenticeship was uncommon and these sorts of schemes heralded the demarcation of skills that overlapped within the industrial context. Automation was really changing the way businesses did things and a new thinking was required. My friends went to college and university and I got the chance too, albeit on a part time basis, but the difference was I got paid and I saw first-hand how theories were put in to practice. Embarking upon an apprenticeship, particularly in electrical engineering was the best decision I never made. My Physics teacher encouraged me to go along to an apprentice school as I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at the time; he must have seen some kind of aptitude in me. 


It was my Engineering Manager who then introduced me to the IET (back then it was the IEE), and the path one takes to become professionally recognised. I admired what my Manager had achieved, he being a Chartered Engineer at the time and I knew then I wanted the same. And so my direction was set. 26 years later I am a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET. But I am no longer an Electrical Engineer, at least not a practicing one. I discovered the wonderful world of projects whilst rotating through the various departments as part of my apprenticeship and I’ve been hooked ever since.


The beauty about being an engineer is that you are equipped with the skills to tackle most things, and so the majority of project professionals tend to have an engineering background. You also get to play with all the engineering disciplines and be a part of, or lead some significant legacy adventures that have the ability to change people’s lives for the better. You get the chance to actually make a difference.


The professionalisation of project management has taken some time, but it has been great to see how it has evolved from something that was undertaken solely by NASA and the US military in the 1960’s to a profession that now has institutes similar in status to the IET (which I am also a recognised member) and where you can study a Master’s Degree at Oxford University (which I am currently studying). The recognition of this phenomena is why the IET has created this committee and why I chose to be a part of it. This profession has taken me to many exciting places, I am currently living in Australia working on a project valued in excess of $20Bn that will bring clean energy to many people in Asia. I couldn’t have achieved this without the IET.


So to the question I was asked “What is the best piece of advice you have been given?”


I have been given snippets of wisdom throughout my life, most of which I have forgotten. I tend to learn from my own mistakes rather than others, I have remembered a couple that are worth sharing;


“History is Prologue” The intent of the message was “Before you try to do something new, spend the time to see if somebody else has”. Lessons learned are an excellent source of knowledge and have really saved me heartache, particularly in the world of Project Management.


“Whatever you get offered, if it is something you haven’t done before, say yes” I think this was stolen from others, but for me it’s quite meaningful. Today more than ever, opportunities need to be grasped and most of the time, you do not know that an opportunity is being presented, so just say yes and give it your all.


“Attitude and aptitude gives you altitude” Be nice first, then work on your other capabilities. Seriously, attitude has far more value than aptitude.


Which leads me to my final snippet;


“Carry on Reward-less” Do not look for praise and recognition in everything that you do, as you will live a life full of disappointment. Find your passion and let that be the inner driver for your ambition, look to yourself first and you will have the foundation to grow.