Off Topic - Me

When I started this blog I didn't want to talk about my personal life, unless it was to toot my own horn or to pat myself on the back!! I have tried to stay away from that. Today, for at least one post I feel compelled to write about the events in my life from last week. Oh what a week I had!!

It started on Sunday afternoon. Tropical Storm Fay was headed our way. It was a complete unknown at the time so we felt we should start to prepare. Our house has three levels to it and we wanted to get the storm shutters up on the third floor windows. I, my son, and my wife went outside to the garage to get started. Well, everyone made it down the outside stairs except my wife. She missed the very bottom step, rolled her ankle left and fell to the right breaking her left leg in three places. The next day (Monday) she had surgery, inserting two plates and 13 screws to help mend her broken leg bones.

While she was in the hospital, the doctors noticed she had an accelerated heart rate. She has been feeling bad since January when her father passed away from pancreatic cancer (yea, its been a bad year). By the way, her grandmother passed away about two weeks before her father. we thought she was sick from the stress.

Thursday she came home from the Hospital and had scheduled a doctors appointment on Friday to check out her heart rate, etc. Before I left work on Thursday to go take her home, my boss laid me off, as well as seven other employees, leaving only the engineers in the office. The really bad news is that at Heidt & Associates, Inc., your termination day is the last day you covered by health insurance! OUCH!! Perfect timing. My former boss felt bad though, so that helps.

On Friday (our last day of insurance-they gave me an extra day of insurance), my wife saw the doctor and he diagnosed her with Grave's Disease. Now she has a broken leg (that won't heal for at least 12 weeks), can't walk (she broke one leg and twisted the other) or do anything alone, she has Grave's Disease (means she has a hyperactive thyroid and her heart could fail because of it), I have no job and we have no insurance.

That's the bad news. The good news is that all of these issues can and will be resolved. My wife's thyroid can be treated, her leg will heal and i will find a job, eventually. These past events are but a minor bump in the road of life.

Resume

BRIAN C. BENTON
Email: bbenton@cad-a-blog.com


OBJECTIVE: To utilize my drafting skills, extensive CAD knowledge, inspection experience, and writing abilities in the field of engineering, design drafting and technical writing.

SUMMARY: I am intelligent, creative, and a hardworking husband and father of two. I am able to work well with a group, or alone on a project or task. Resourceful, able to visualize clearly using knowledge, personal experience and imagination. Also able to meet deadlines and take on a heavy load. Nearly fifteen years of experience of drafting work using cad systems like I/draft by Intergraph, Microstation and AutoCAD versions ten through 2008. I am also a Beta Tester for Autodesk, CAD Tip Patroller for Cadalyst Magazine, writer for AUGI World Magazine, writer for AUGI Hotnews, AUGI ATP Instructor, and Autodesk University Instructor.

EDUCATION
2006-2008 Edison College, (Drafting & Design Program)
1993 Purdue University Calumet, Engineering
1992 Calumet High School
Graduated National Honor Society, Top ten percent of class of 1992
Chosen for “Who’s Who” among American H.S. Students during Senior Year

EXPERIENCE: CAD TECHNICIAN/DRAFTER/DESIGNER/DETAILER/INSPECTOR

8/03-8/08 HEIDT & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Senior Engineering Cad Technician: Supervised Engineering CAD Department, Civil and survey drafting & design, details and layout work. Wastewater, water main and road design. Site and road grading. Site planning and development. Record drawing coordination and management. Survey checking, drafting and field work. IT support, developed CAD standards manual for office and assisted in developing Company Wide Standards.

3/01-8/03 ENSPECT, INC.
Structural inspector- primarily for the industrial services (cranes, steel structures), Structural drafting, detailing and layout design.

3/00-1/01 B & H TECHNICAL SERVICES
Application Engineer: Demonstrated/installed plotter/printer software and hardware to customers and troubleshooted problems for clients.

6/95-3/00 STAMPER ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mechanical Layouts/Details, Structural/Civil Layouts using AutoCAD. Contract work for Union Tank Car Company, Hoogovens Technical Services Inc., and Steel Equipment Specialists, Inc.

11/93-6/95 MECA ENG. & ESPO ENGINEERING
Contracted to Union Tank Car Company through the companies listed. Mechanical drafting using I/draft CAD system by Intergraph, and Microstation.

References available upon request

Some of my Favorite Quotations

I love quotes. I have collected some over the past few years. Here are some of them:

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said,
'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of
your arm.'"
- Sam Levenson
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The above quote from Sam Levenson is one of my favorite. I try to live by this. I hate depending on others for my well being. If I fail, that's ok, but If I fail because of the actions (or inaction) of others, then that is not ok with me. If you want something or need something in life, it is up to you to see that it is done. You are no bodies responsibility. You are your own responsibility. Depending on others for your well being will leave you wanting.


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After the last of 16 mounting screws has been removed from an access cover, it will
be discovered that the wrong access cover has been removed.
- De La Lastra's Law
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"Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box."
- Italian Proverb
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This is another one of my favorites. We are all equal in rights and acountability to our creator. During life, we are not equal in power, abilities, or resources. None of us are equal. I can do things that others can't, there are many things others do that I can not. Therefore we are not all equall in abilities. I do believe that we all should have equal opportunity to use our abilities to the fullest, being limited by nothing that ourselves.

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Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.
- Bertolt Brecht
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Needing someone is like needing a parachute. If they aren't there the first time,
chances are you won't be needing them again.
-Unknown
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Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
-Will Rogers
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I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
- Pablo Picasso
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How else are you going to make progress in your life?

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Engineering is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of watching a figment of
the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves
to realization in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings homes to men or women.
Then it elevates the standard of living and adds to the comforts of life. This is the
engineer's high privilege.
Herbert Hoover
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It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.
Sir Winston Churchill
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Laid Off

Ok, today I was Laid Off due to the company's lack of work. If anyone is hiring please let me know. Here is my resume (it still needs to be updated, so I will post an better resume later on.)

Also, I am the Tip Patroller For Cadalyst Magazine, I help with their implementation of the CAD Tips WIKI, I am a writer for AUGI World Magazine and AUGI Hotnews online magazine. I am going to be an instructor at Autodesk University this year.

I have over 15 years experience as a drafter, detailer, designer, inspector, manager, and more. I can use AutoCAD, CIvil3D, Office, GIS, and more.

BRIAN C. BENTON

Email:Benton.brian@gmail.com

OBJECTIVE: To utilize my drafting skills and inspection experience in the field of engineering.

SUMMARY: Intelligent, creative, young and hardworking husband and father of two. Able to work well with a group, or alone on a project or task. Resourceful, able to visualize clearly using knowledge, personal experience and imagination. Also able to meet deadlines and take on a heavy load. Over thirteen years of experience of drafting work using cad systems like I/draft by Intergraph, Microstation and AutoCAD versions ten and higher.

EDUCATION

2006-Present Edison College, Fort Myers, FL (Currently enrolled in the Drafting & Design

Program)

1993 Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN

Currently have two semesters completed, Engineering

1992 Calumet High School, Calumet Township, IN

Graduated National Honor Society, Top ten percent of class of 1992

Chosen for “Who’s Who” among American H.S. Students during Senior Year

EXPERIENCE: CAD TECHNICIAN / DRAFTSMAN / DETAILER / INSPECTOR

8/03-Present HEIDT & ASSOCIATES, INC. Fort Myers, FL

Cad Technician: Civil and survey drafting, details and layout work. Sewer, water main and road design. Site and road grading. Site planning and development. Record drawing coordination and management. Survey checking. IT support, developed CAD standards manual for office and assisted for Company Wide Standards.

3/01-8/03 ENSPECT, INC. Merrillville, IN

Structural inspector primarily for the industrial services (cranes, steel structures) and Structural drafting, detailing and layout.

3/00-1/01 B & H TECHNICAL SERVICES Merrillville, IN

Application Engineer: Demonstrated/installed plotter/printer software and hardware to customers and troubleshooted minor problems for clients.

6/95-3/00 STAMPER ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, INC. Merrillville, IN

Mechanical Layouts/Details, Structural/Civil Layouts using AutoCAD. Contract work for Union Tank Car Company, Hoogovens Technical Services Inc., and Steel Equipment Specialists, Inc.

11/93-6/95 MECA ENG. & ESPO ENGINEERING East Chicago, IN

Contracted to Union Tank Car Company through the companies listed. Mechanical drafting using I/draft CAD system by Intergraph, and with Microstation.

References available upon request

the 16 rules I try to live by

The following "rules for survival" is included with the permission of Bob Parsons (http://www.bobparsons.com) and is Copyright © 2004-2006 by Bob Parsons. All rights reserved.

Bob Parsons is the founder of Parsons Technology and Go Daddy. These are his 16 rules to live by and to do business by.


Here are the 16 rules I try to live by:

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. I hear people say, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."

2. Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.

3. When you're ready to quit, you're closer than you think. There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."

5. Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide. Remember what General George S. Patton said: "A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

9. Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don't know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven't examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you're doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you're doing as anyone else, provided that what you're doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair. Life isn't fair. You make your own breaks. You'll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14. Solve your own problems. You'll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you'll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: "You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others." There's also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."

15. Don't take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There's always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you're really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: "We're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time."