I had a client email me the other day and ask me a really interesting question. They’d been going over my LinkedIn profile and they realized that I had this engineering degree and background and they asked if I missed being an engineer.
And that really got me thinking for about all of five seconds because I know that I use those engineering skills every day.
So, when I was in engineering, I worked in the civil engineering and land surveying fields as a technician and so I had the privilege of helping to design developments and helping to layout roads. And the way that happens is first the land is surveyed to figure out what is there and what is on the ground then you figure out what you want to put there.
Once you have a goal, you figure out how to make that goal fit with what is there, and you determine what will need to be modified. Then you start laying things out, moving things around, and achieving that goal.
And here’s the beautiful thing I learned while I was working out in the field– no matter how great the engineers are, when you go out to implement the plan things change. Things need adjusting. That’s exactly what I do in my coaching.
So, because I work specifically with different thinkers and because I too am a different thinker and an engineer, I always want to know and understand what I’m working with.
- Who are you? Strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, motivation, challenges. I want to know the background of how you got here.
Once I know what we are working with, then I ask about the future. This is one of my favorite parts because no two people ever have the same goals. Success and happiness look different to every person.
Side note, this is why we have got to stop comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we are not good enough. It’s an apples-to-oranges comparison.
- What are your desires and goals?
After we have established where we are and where we want to go, I start to reverse engineer and build questions into the plan and support you as you guide yourself towards your success. This is the point where I need to understand all the features of the terrain and where the breakdowns stem from.
- “What things are getting in the way of you reaching your success right now?”
Often, you can’t answer this yourself. That’s why you hire a coach to help you tease out these deeply rooted things. A coach can help you see what is hiding in your blind spots.
Sometimes when people come to me, they are down a dark hole and feeling really alone. To get the answers I need to join them in the hole and help to shine some light on the way out.
When I have all the details I can acquire, I start to build the custom plan. Always building on your strengths, communication style, time frame, and energy. The plan always includes learning to take care of the brain with food, water, sleep, exercise, supplements, inner peace, and fun.
While productivity is important, when you don’t take care of yourself, your productivity goes down quickly. Learning what your body needs to best support you is vital.
- What are you willing to do to have the success and happiness you desire?
The plan turns into action quickly and it’s important to know– how hard are you willing to work on this to get what you want?
I love when a client comes in at 100%, they are done tolerating the life they have created and they want to move the whole thing in a new direction.
This is where the engineering and the implementation dance. All plans have to adjust to meet the real-world needs.
- Out of those weaknesses you’re avoiding, which ones can we stop judging as the worst thing ever? Which ones need a little focus to strengthen and become supportive of your goals?
It’s time to outgrow those weaknesses you have been using impostor syndrome to cover up. It’s time to put down the costume, come out from behind the curtain, and get comfortable in your own skin.
Being neurodiverse does make you different. Understanding what being different means to you and working through that is necessary to embrace the whole.
We can only hide our weaknesses for so long. At some point, people will start to see us as we really are, maybe even better than we see ourselves.
When we hide from ourselves, we do damage to our self-confidence and self-worth.
- What tools, people, and support should you be adding to reach your success?
I encourage people to seek out and engage in additional support from therapists, doctors, nutritionists, trainers, spiritual healers, religion, and so much more.
I have studied a lot and I continue to study dyslexia, ADHD, and autism. I use all the resources available to help people lift themselves up to the next level toward their success.
As you can see, I still see myself as an engineer. I am still using all the core principles of engineering.
“Iteration, Efficiency, Simplicity, Quality, Velocity, Predictability, Testability, Maintainability, Integrity, External integration, Ethics, and Management.” Per AI
I just apply them to people who are different thinkers and help them to find and live life as the best version of themselves.
Remember, this is your life. You are in charge of it. You may get highjacked from time to time, but in the end, you are in charge.
If you are feeling a little lost as to how to get where you want to go in life, maybe it’s time to talk to me and engineer a new plan for your life and success.
Thanks for reading this and I hope to hear from you soon.
JoyGenea