Tag Archives: Entrepreneur

Visualisation: Part 3

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From Engineer To Entrepreneur

This is another one of those pictures that gives you a different impression of which way the door swings depending on whether you use the top of the picture or the bottom of the picture as your reference.

 

The door swings both ways - can you tell

The door swings both ways

On the evening of 31st August I was asked to share with the IEEE Computer Society Victoria Chapter on the topic of making the transition from thinking like an Engineer to thinking like an Entrepreneur. It is not the first time that I have been recognised as knowing something about this topic. My Business Mentor, Dr Marc Dussault The Exponential Growth Strategist, presented me with an award specifically for having made this step From Engineer To Entrepreneur within his Business Mastery program.

IEEE Computer Society

IEEE Computer Society

Engineers Think Like

As an Engineer I have to think in terms of:

  • Technical Requirements
  • Implementation Technology
  • Architecture and Functional Decomposition
  • Risk Elimination or at least Mitigation
  • Test Methodology
  • Delivery to Budget and Schedule
  • Project Deliverables

Entrepreneurs Think Like

As an Entrepreneur I need to think in terms of:

  • Who has a need and how can I meet it?
  • Branding and Positioning
  • Pricing Policy
  • Prospecting and Sales Channels
  • Leverage and Scalability
  • Business performance and metrics
  • Human Resources
  • Profitability

These are perspectives which are nearly orthogonal. Just like the door that seems to swing one way when looked at from the top, and another when looked from the bottom.

The presentation went very well and we had a good hour or Question and Answer time afterward.

Successful Endeavours specialise in Electronics Design and Embedded Software Development. Ray Keefe has developed market leading electronics products in Australia for nearly 30 years. This post is Copyright © 2013 Successful Endeavours Pty Ltd

From Engineer to Entrepreneur

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This week I was the recipient of an Exponential Entrepreneur of the Year award. Last year we were received two awards for technical excellence when we won two of the 15 EDN Innovation awards handed out in Australia in 2009.

 

So I was very pleased to be receiving an award recognising the business side of Successful Endeavours. The award was presented by Dr Marc Dussault of Exponential Programs and recognises entrepreneurs and business people who have demonstrated excellence deploying exponential strategies in their business by profitably creating exceptional value for their clients in a manner that is both measurable and sustainable. The award received was in the category of Engineering Consultant and was one of only 6 handed out in 2010 and the only one in that category.

Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 Ray Keefe

Exponential Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 Ray Keefe receives his award from Dr Marc Dussault.

You can read more about the awards at Exponential Programs Entrepreneur of the Year Awards page.

 

The main reason for this post is to touch on the most significant aspect of this award for me. I once said that as a Business Owner I made a pretty good Engineer. The past 18 months has a seen a transition away from that to the point now where I can say that I am an Entrepreneur who is also an Engineer. Engineering is a Profession and so it isn’t something that suddenly stops being relevant. Our education and mindset is all based on practical problem solving through the use of technology while balancing performance, risk and cost. And we apply this skillset and mindset to most aspects of our lives, even when it isn’t the only way to go about it. So I am very pleased to be making this transition. Not only is our business better for it but our clients are as well.

 

And I also thank our clients for the trust they have placed in us to deliver Electronics Design and Embedded Software Development for their next generation of market leading products, the vast majority of which are still made in Australia at a profit.

 

Here is a picture of the Exponential Entrepreneur of the Year award certificate.

Exponential Entrepreneur of the Year Certificate

Exponential Entrepreneur of the Year Certificate

The initial nomination was published on PRWeb at 2010 Exponential Entrepreneur Award Winners Announced.

 

Ray Keefe has been developing high quality and market leading electronics products in Australia for nearly 30 years. For more information go to his LinkedIn profile. This post is Copyright © 2010 Successful Endeavours Pty Ltd.