Here’s a story I shared a couple of years ago. And it mainly applies to women. But I believe guys can get some value out of it, too. Because it’s a story about mechanical engineering. And that sounds a lot like a guy thing.
But imagine yourself as an eleven year old girl.
Yes, there IS a connection between this girl and mechanical engineering.
Anyway, you’re a young girl, in the last quarter of the 19th century. And your first job is working for your dad in his machine tool company. Do you think you’d resent it? Or do you think you’d develop a strong interest in mechanical engineering and mechanical arts? Well, a young girl, named Kate Gleason, went the mechanical direction. And she created some concrete solutions (that’s a hint) to get in gear.
Now, check out some of Kate’s amazing accomplishments.
After working with her father, she went to Cornell University and Sibley College of Engraving and Mechanics Institute and took her mechanical skills to a whole ‘nother level. In fact, she developed her abilities so much that she and her dad designed a machine that produced beveled gears faster and better and for less money. But so what, right? Who cares about beveled gears?
Well, as it turned out, the one and only Henry Ford was interested. Yeah, THAT Henry Ford. And he was so impressed with the machine that he said it was “the most remarkable machine work ever done by a woman.”
But Kate (aka: Catherine Gleason) wasn’t through. Not by a long shot.
She also headed up the sales and finance divisions of her dad’s company. And during that time, they expanded into international markets.
But she was only getting warmed up.
Evidently the president of First National Bank of Rochester stepped down from his position to join the military during World War I. And Ms Gleason became the first female president of the bank. At least for a while.
After that (and after the war) she conquered concrete and the construction industry. Well, actually she invented a new method of pouring concrete. And then, she even sold low-cost concrete box (or blocks) houses in East Rochester. So, she pioneered the building process for lots of other future suburban developments.
And I’d bet, by now, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn how Catherine became the first female member at the American Concrete Institute. Oh yeah, AND the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Ms Gleason only lived to be 67. But in those 67 years she built an impressive list of accomplishments. And I’m sure her mechanical skills played a big part in her ability to stay organized and on schedule.
Because you don’t do all that by accident.
And her life is another example of why I talk so much about systems and schedule control and your vision. And in next month’s UNversity lesson, I’m gonna show my students how to set some of that up in your CRM.
The deadline to enroll in the first monthly UNversity class of 2023 is December 31st. Yep, after the ball hits the bottom on New Year’s Eve, it’ll be too late to enroll and be in time for January’s class. You could still enroll, but you’d have to wait for the next class in February.
In January’s class I’m gonna take you inside the CRM (customer/contact relationship management) tool and show you how to save a ton of time and money. Enroll now and don’t be late. You can’t afford to miss this. Plus, when you enroll now, you’ll avoid the price increase coming up in 2023. So, there’s some more incentive for you. $15 a month when you enroll now. More per month if you put it off till later.
Get Ready, Be Ready, and Stay Ready,
Ronda
Enroll in UNversity: https://bit.ly/3sjscAd