Glory Days
College Football taught me a couple of invaluable lessons that I have carried with me as a foundation in my career. One, which is a product of the complexity and sheer number of specialized positions in football, is that the team is truly only as strong as its weakest link, surrounding myself with a strong team is paramount to success. The second, which seemingly contrasts with the first lesson but is essential to the teams success, is operating with horse blinders when needed to ensure I'm as strong/fast as I need to be and making sure I perform my assignments to perfection. i.e. Do my job!
I was fortunate at CMU to have both a strong team and recognize the importance of perfecting my craft early on which, combined with luck, led to the couple of awards below.
Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Honored with recognition as a CoSIDA Academic All-American
Awarded the CMU Scholar-Athlete of the Year within the Presidents Athletic Conference
Book Shelf
The past few years have brought with them a newfound passion for literature and non-fiction reading. The following are the most influential books I've come across in a few of the areas I enjoy most.
Environment
The best comprehensive view of the energy enesmble and how to turn it towards renewables/sustainable forms that I've read so far.
The reason I sold my car and bought a bike this year
Heat pumps, solar panels, and EV's! Also this was the book that pushed me go meatless a few more days in the week.
A bit over my head but a good reference for how to make renewables make sense financially
World View
Totally shook my world view for the better
The world is a much more positive trajectory, when looking at the actual data in key areas, than is often portrayed.
One of the more "out there" types of books I've read, basically calling humans artifacts of the designs we've come up with, both the useful and "useless" designs, due to the way they adjust our perspectives or make us behave in a certain way.
Some of Robert Zubrin's arguments are a bit too one sided to be accepted fully, but this book presents an interesting case against popular ideas or leaders that push for inherently anti-human or anti progression/growth agendas.
Politics aside, Andrew Yang does a really good job of bringing to center stage an issue that is absolutely imminent in my mind as well, which is what do we do when millions of truck drivers, retail workers, fast food employees and the like are thrust into unemployment due to robotics and other advances in a very short amount of time. He presents his thoughts on solutions but more so implores decision makers to have serious discussions about these issues now so the appropriate safety nets/systems can be put in place
My first Vaclav Smil book, and it's thoroughness, historical arc, and ability to provide data to back up each significant point he makes is remarkable.
Industry
A well timed book for me as I was designing a battery that had to be installed every mission by minimally trained operators. This is a bible of sorts for human interactive design and I'm glad I got to start scratching the surface on a really cool area of study and mastery.
I can't help but draw a handful of significant parallels between the transition to electric and driverless automobiles and the current efforts in the relatively nascent urban air mobility space.
Personal Growth
I can thank this book for helping me evaluate, then go on to delete, the majority of my social media platforms. I've had a lot more clarity of mind and time back from dropping the distractions that came with instagram, twitter, facebook, and the like.
The well structured diary of one of the most powerful men in history. To hear his perspectives on modesty, honesty, and the rest of his take on stoic values is a gift
Taught me that the best way to feel the emotions that are passing through me is to be able to identify them
Mindset and our response to situations is the greatest freedom we have
Story Telling
Best book I've read in my life
Still struggling through Children of Dune, but Dune Messiah was still very enjoyable
The Godfather has become a personality for my best friends and I.
