As the daughter of a noted Bauhaus architect and granddaughter of Dr. Alexander Christie, professor of mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University and author of What does an Engineer Do, I learned, firsthand, that almost any challenge could be resolved if addressed through the mind of an engineer.
Recently, in discussion with a successful engineer and business owner, my affinity for engineering was revitalized and it became evident that the fundamentals of engineering are critically needed to shift the downward spiral we are experiencing today.
Engineering, from the Latin ingenium, means inborn qualities and talent. An engineer looks at a problem, postulates the solution and with this new concept, he can reverse engineer back to the problem with defined actions to efficiently develop and improved results.
Applied to business, one defines the intended results, goal or product and can reverse engineer the precise actions to accomplish this. Applied to one’s health and happiness, one can imagine a life free of disease and reverse engineer the route back to the existing condition with solutions that can improve one’s health. Yes, sometimes this may require giving up old and possibly bad habits, but once eliminated, the goal attainment because clearer, and often easier.
This is truly a system shift.
Today, the approach is often problem/solution, problem/solution. You have a headache, so you take an aspirin. You can’t get along with a business associate or neighbor, you hire a lawyer. You want a new flat screen TV, but have no extra money, you charge it on your credit card. You want to make a lot for sales of your supplements, you add the latest ‘hot’ ingredient to boost rankings, though the ingredient may be superfluous or even possibly harmful- remember ma-huang ? We have been misled for decades that this problem/solution approach is the best, and possibly the only system: Outpoint-Correct is the formula for a accelerated downward spiral.
It is time to shift the system. Reverse engineer your model. Start with the ideal scene and concept and work your way back to your existing situation. Grupo Alimenta has successfully developed this reverse engineering in Peru to democratize protein while enhancing all sectors of its supply chain, and yes, a company lead by another great engineer.
For your branding and communications, we call it Dream to Mainstream. Working together to identify your ideal, we build the research-based Brand Architecture to build toward your ideal sustainably, eliminating costly unevaluated bright ideas and misleading directions.
Look at your business, your life, areas where the challenges seem insurmountable. Shift your approach. Reverse engineer. Take a moment to imagine the ideal and work your way back.
If its too challenging, call us. My engineering heritage is here to reverse these challenges. Dr. Alexander Christie would be proud to know he helped.
Gillian