Not long ago, we received an email from Stuart Sullivan, who just finished reading More Lightning, Less Thunder: How to Energize Innovation Teams. He took time out of his job as a biomedical research engineer at Zimmer to share learnings from his days of active military duty...which related to his innovation and contributions to 20 patents (at least one of which is likely working to save the lives of your loved ones in your car).
What he shared was too good to edit, so in his words:
In my life I have been a farmer, factory worker, college student, Army Officer (active and reserve), and development engineer. Here's a lesson learned from an Infantry Basic Training company commander and drill instructors.
Most of the injuries in the hand-to-hand combat training were at the very beginning of the session. People have a natural (gator-brain?) aversion to getting dirty, getting hurt, or trying something new. So our drill instructors would take the soldiers (we don't use the term trainees any more) into the sawdust pit and have them count off 1, 2, 1, 2. The soldiers would be paired up in two circles facing each other, one circle #1, one circle #2. Then each #1 was instructed to pick up two big handfuls of sawdust, and scrub it into #2's hair (what little there was), smear it on their utility uniforms, give out a big growl and get them dirty. Then it was the #2's turn to do the same thing.
It built teamwork and camaraderie, because the soldiers were no longer concerned about getting their clean uniforms or their hands dirty. It also reduced hand and wrist injuries, because they were landing in the sawdust properly, not extending their arms to catch themselves. And it motivated the soldiers to do some effective throws on the partner that just dumped sawdust down their shirt.
So, if you get your hands, your lab jacket, your jeans, whatever, dirty up front, you're much less likely to worry about messing something else up along the line.
As Edison famously said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." If you're already dressed for the job, once you’ve gotten your hands and your overalls dirty, there's nothing else to hold you back.
A little about [Stuart, again in his own words]: I am a biomedical research engineer for Zimmer, an orthopedic implant manufacturer.
However, I had 5 years active duty military, and 11 years in the reserves, which overlapped with 25 years with a major automotive electronics supplier.
I also have contributed to 20 patents, primarily relating to the passenger airbag suppression system, which shuts off the passenger airbag if there is not an adult female (or larger) occupant in the front passenger vehicle seat, primarily to protect children sitting there. I also originated an anonymous disclosure for auto entertainment systems to feature a USB port on the panel. It’s nice to see some products of my creativity in my family and friends’ vehicles.
Where have you seen the need to get your hands dirty pay off?
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