Windshield Debrief - Brain Books

As is usually the case, I do some of my best thinking when I'm driving. Windshield time. Some jazz in the background. Getting lost in thoughts.I had a couple of thoughts that intersected: Teaching and working with those who want to learn.As many of you know, I'm an instructor with the Engineering Management Institute. EMI provides project manager training to engineering consultants and municipal agencies.  I get to instruct on topics like scheduling, creating work breakdown structures, project plans and budgets, stakeholder management, and other PM-related topics. The sessions are all very well done. It's a lot of fun.As an instructor, teaching is pretty easy (for me anyway...) when the subject or topic are provided. If I'm teaching, let's say, how to setup a total station, I can navigate the students through the process.The challenge, as an instructor, is when you DON'T have a topic, when you don't know what students know vs. don't know? How do I get the wisdom & knowledge out of my brain when I don't know the question is?That's the tough part in writing & recording: My subjects come from a vacuum. I talk about things that I like or am knowledgeable in, but I don't get the sense of what those on the other side of the computer monitor, or those listening, when there is no feedback loop.So that was Thought #1.Thought #2 was this: I know that I'm putting out effort to help educate & assist others in our industry. It's my passion project. It's important. I feel it is a duty as a responsible professional to strive to Pay It Forward and pass along the wisdom and the knowledge that I have, in the same way that the senior members of teams I worked on in my younger years, showed & taught me.Those are the people I want to work with - The Workers. You are here, reading the liner notes to a podcast. You get it. You are a worker. You are committed to your work and want to improve. These resources are here for you. I'm fulfilling my responsibility of paying it forward. I hope that you are able to repurpose some of what I do. You're here. You get it. You are a Worker.My jump-off: How can I help? Do you have questions that you'd like to dialogue on? Is there something on-site or in the field office that is challenging you? And would a senior man's voice who is not embedded into your team & work area be of help to you. I believe that if you have a question, somebody else does too, you were just the first to ask.Hit me up. Links from the episode:Engineering Management InstituteZach Even-EshConnect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

I'm not sure where I heard the term. Maybe I invented it. But Brain Books have been a part of my personal archival library for as long as I've been working in industry.What's a Brain Book you might ask...?In my world, a Brain Book is a collection of hard-copy information. A collection. Some today might call it a Commonplace Book.-Trade magazine articles-Excerpts from design manuals-Crib sheets-Sample calculations-Plan or specification excerpts.They are 3-ring binders, tabbed & indexed. They may be binder-clipped packets of information that I've kept, say, for a jobsite issue that we had. A problem & solution, archived for future reference & use.Nowadays, of course, virtually everything we read or produce has some sort of digital footprint. PDF's. Spreadsheets. Searchable. Ease of access, of course.But hopefully by now, you know me a little bit. I'm a throw-back. Paper is still king in my world. My Brain Books are valuable, just like my reference books & manuals. But in the same breath, I'm not a prude: I like PDF's. I use them, just like you do....As I mentioned in the episode, I'm in the process of purging my brain books, just pruning information that is no longer relevant. I'm also using a page scanner to electronically warehouse some of my archival material that I don't want to lose.The the question to you is: What kind of active role are you taking with your archived materials? Are they sitting and rotting on your hard drive? Or are you actively using your resources? When is the last time you looked in there?Link to the Center Point Urbana Yearbook Page:Link to CZUR Shine Ultra Smart Portable Document ScannerConnect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

The world of construction engineering has changed during my coming-up-on 40 years in the business. What used to be done strictly using pencils, paper and field books has morphed into all sorts of technological advancements.And because you know me, you probably could anticipate how I feel about all the new-fangled bells & whistles that are available in our line of work.This episode asks more questions than it answers. Here's the rub: I really want to know what you think. I really want your opinion on the questions I pose.What is working for you in your role as a construction engineer?What is not working?What benefits is technology providing for you?And most importantlyTechnology can make you more efficient - But is it making you better?I'm posing the questions to you - I'd love to get your feedback.Leave me a comment here on Spotify. Find me at my website. Let's make this a conversation.Connect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

The term "lifelong learner" can mean different things to different people. Certainly, as a licensed professional engineer, it goes without saying that we HAVE TO BE lifelong learners - Continuing education is a requirement for license maintenance. BUT, to be a true professional, we have a responsibility to stay as sharp and as current as possible in order to be effective in our day-to-day roles.In this episode, I discuss several instructor-related topics:My current tour of duty this summer, working through two formal on-line instruction courses. A proposal to reduce my Construction Layout course from a 16-week 100% in-person format to an 8-week hybrid course and the challenges that change will bringThe value of being on the "other side of the lecture," working as a student taking classes, and getting a chance to see what it's like to be a student againI hope this episodes rekindles your drive to enjoy continual learning & training. We've got to be diligent and fight complacency!!Connect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

What's up Crew? Cool to be back with y'all.In this episode, I answer a question that I received from a college student who is considering changing his educational trajectory into construction management.Connect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

Hello construction types! It's great to be back with you - Let's get 2026 rolling!This is somewhat of a scattered-topics episode as I had a few things on my mind to share with the crew:Engineering Management InstituteBook Recommendation - Construction Surveying and LayoutBeing good at the basics Article - The Tailgate - A Discord for Construction Engineers If you're interested in joining "The Tailgate" on Discord, email me, send me a DM on LinkedIn or hit me up at my Contact page and I'll get you on-board.Connect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

With this episode, I'm rolling something out that's a bit different. Maybe you'll like it, maybe not.Like most of you, I do a lot of training, job and daily work activity preparation while holding onto a steering wheel. There is something about the austere environment that the front seat of a truck can provide. I try to use the time as best as I can. Occasionally, it'll be music in the background, but most of the times it's going to be a podcast. Trying to add some mind expansion while commuting.For the past several months, I've been mounting my GoPro with my Hollyland Lark M2 microphone, and when the moment strikes, simply hitting "Record" and riffing. Most of what I'm recording ends up on the proverbial cutting room floor. But, I'm playing around with the combined mediums. I gaining confidence in posting. And I'd like to think that my brain dumps are somewhat interesting, sometimes thought provoking. So many podcast hosts have provided me with knowledge & ideas to incorporate into action items, or to write about, or to just dwell on, trying to tie their experiences & knowledge with mine in my industry. So, I'm going to try to post more of these shorts. We'll see what happens.In this episode, I riff on ideas surrounding "Consistency."How consistent am I being? How purposeful? How disciplined?Am I just talking a good game? Or am I genuinely trying to stay consistent in my daily routines and actions?How am I organize my day? My morning routines? How am I using OneNote? Jocko's "Eminently Qualified Human?" My Franklin Planner?Links from the episode:Franklin PlannerJocko's EQH AppOrder of Man's Battle PlanEngineering Management InstituteThe Cold PodConnect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

Welcome back Team! It's great to be with you again!In this episode, I revisit (somewhat...) some concepts from Episode 20 - Preparing for the Operation. but with several new twists & angles.Question: How prepared are you for the workday. In this episode:--I dissect my performance on a recent EMA callout--I discuss what it means to be Fit for Duty: What condition are we in? How is our performance impacted by:Rest & sleepNutritionExercise, fitness & healthHydration--And I refresh some of the areas of focus we discussion in Episode 20:Preparations before you roll-out to the siteHaving your kit, your truck and your project documentation squared away before heading outHave communication plans in-place, practiced, references ready, etc.I close out with a couple of ideas looking forward to our little construction engineering communityA Discord server geared towards construction-types who are into the jobA Construction Engineering conference this winter in ChicagolandConnect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

When you hear the term"shelter in-place," what do you think about? My first inclination has me needing to remain where I'm at. Indoors. In a safe place. Away from an impending event.But, how appropriate would it be for me to consider that Ishelter in-place, say, when I'm in an uncomfortable position? Maybe I'm asked to push myself a little, to do something new, to go someplace I've never been, or to try a new skill that I'm not 100% sure is a good fit for me.This week, I'm at the2025 American Concrete Pipe Association's Pipe School. As I'm finding out (this is my first time attending...), it's a gather of industry brothers & sisters who work with concrete pipe: Producers, suppliers, engineers, sales & marketing, and probably lots of other sects that exist.Today is Day #1 of the conference, and already, I've take two Rite-in-the-Rain pages of notes. I would be doing a disservice to the Construction Engineering Show community if I didn't pass these along.One of the themes of today's kick-off presentations is appropriate title of this episode. Pushing ourselves beyond our normal day-to-day doings and trying something new, extending a hand and meeting someone, being in the presence of humans (not on a Teams or FaceTime call) is the way we were meant to communicate with each other. We all pushed ourselves a little bit today, and it was a really cool reminder of the need for us to extend ourselves and our influence with each other. Start new conversations. Step into the unknown. Try to make an impact with something you know.There will be more nuggets to pass on, I can guarantee it. I'm happy to publish this episode and push myself to get out there a little bit more & often.Connect with me anytime!!LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link

"The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word that could be a short word...these are the thousand and one adulterants that weaken the strength of a sentence." --"On Writing Well" by William Zinsser As professionals, how we communicate is a reflection on us. It's a reflection on our skill & acumen. It's a reflection on our team, our company, and our concern and respect for our reader. Writing is a craft. It takes practice. Nobody is a great writer. We all write bad first drafts. It's in the revision process where bad writing gets better. It's in the editing process where better writing gets good. It takes practice. It takes reps. And the same goes for verbal communication. How we speak, how we convey messages, how we convey our knowledge clearing & concisely is also a reflection on us as professionals In this episode, I dive in on both subjects. How can we become better communicators. I offer a few ideas for all of us (myself included...) to help us become better conveyors of information. Connect with me anytime!! LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bob Hildebranski, PE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hildebranski.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Contact Page Link