Comments on: How Much is Your Time Worth? – Unexpected engineering lessons from “The 4-Hour Workweek.” http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/ Masha V. Petrova, PhD Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:17:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Ajesh Kumar http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Ajesh Kumar Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:07:50 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-346 Masha, as a beginner I may not be able to share any experience but I do feel that these words will be of guidance to me when I find no way out in an engineering problem. I had the feeling that asking was not right and it is equivalent to copying and has no dignity in it. But, then I need to put aside this ego and accept that Time is more important. Thank you so much. Sharing is noble. Keep sharing. ajeshsairam@gmail.com Masha, as a beginner I may not be able to share any experience but I do feel that these words will be of guidance to me when I find no way out in an engineering problem. I had the feeling that asking was not right and it is equivalent to copying and has no dignity in it. But, then I need to put aside this ego and accept that Time is more important.

Thank you so much. Sharing is noble. Keep sharing.

ajeshsairam@gmail.com

]]> By: Jeff Waters http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Jeff Waters Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:08:14 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-214 Linus A: Now I understand. I haven't outsourced full ppt creation (actually, because I enjoy the artistic part of it... which falls in the category of "if you love it, do it rather than outsource it.") I have needed some photoshop and vector art created for my ppt presentations, however, and have had great success outsourcing that to my virtual assistant with some simple instructions. If you search Odesk, you'll probably be able to filter on terms like Powerpoint, presentation, and/or image editing to find a good resource. You can also filter on price and find any price point from $2/hour to $20/hour depending on skills, experience, English proficiency, and location. I recommend trying a few people and if you find one that suites your communication style and speed, stick with him/her! It doesn't cost much to try a few. Linus A: Now I understand. I haven’t outsourced full ppt creation (actually, because I enjoy the artistic part of it… which falls in the category of “if you love it, do it rather than outsource it.”)

I have needed some photoshop and vector art created for my ppt presentations, however, and have had great success outsourcing that to my virtual assistant with some simple instructions.

If you search Odesk, you’ll probably be able to filter on terms like Powerpoint, presentation, and/or image editing to find a good resource. You can also filter on price and find any price point from $2/hour to $20/hour depending on skills, experience, English proficiency, and location. I recommend trying a few people and if you find one that suites your communication style and speed, stick with him/her! It doesn’t cost much to try a few.

]]> By: Khan Amir Younus Kamal http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Khan Amir Younus Kamal Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:13:32 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-208 Great post, Masha!. The important thing is that we always learn the lesson the hardway, that is when as engineers in particular starting to let the job go or delegate when we thought it is not manageble with all other jobs which we are trying to do ourselve. Once we start delegating, we came to know how our life got relaxed and we find more time for more important issues. I haven't read TIM FERRISS, but now I would go for it. Thanks for the post Great post, Masha!. The important thing is that we always learn the lesson the hardway, that is when as engineers in particular starting to let the job go or delegate when we thought it is not manageble with all other jobs which we are trying to do ourselve. Once we start delegating, we came to know how our life got relaxed and we find more time for more important issues. I haven’t read TIM FERRISS, but now I would go for it. Thanks for the post

]]> By: Leo http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Leo Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:11:03 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-207 Linus A*, I have experience in creating powerpoints, templates and graphics. I may be able to help you with your needs. Email me @ leo.jax@gmail.com Linus A*, I have experience in creating powerpoints, templates and graphics. I may be able to help you with your needs. Email me @ leo.jax@gmail.com

]]> By: Linus A* http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Linus A* Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:09:49 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-205 Jeff, I meant, I would like to outsource my technical powerpoints from time to time. Was looking to see if you have had good luck with it and could recommend. I wanted mostly help with certain templates and some graphics and want it dirt cheap (j/k). Jeff,
I meant, I would like to outsource my technical powerpoints from time to time.
Was looking to see if you have had good luck with it and could recommend. I wanted mostly help with certain templates and some graphics and want it dirt cheap (j/k).

]]> By: Jeff Waters http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-203 Jeff Waters Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:33:29 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-203 To Linus A: I'm not sure what you were looking for in terms of powerpoint... but my biggest piece of advice to anyone giving presentations: Read "Presentation Zen" by Garr Reynold's. Oh how I wish that was required reading for all presenters! I cringe in 90% of the professional presentations I'm forced to sit through. To Linus A: I’m not sure what you were looking for in terms of powerpoint… but my biggest piece of advice to anyone giving presentations: Read “Presentation Zen” by Garr Reynold’s. Oh how I wish that was required reading for all presenters! I cringe in 90% of the professional presentations I’m forced to sit through.

]]> By: Masha Petrova http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Masha Petrova Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:57:38 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-202 Dear Kari, Thank you for your comment. I can tell that you probably have not yet read the 4HWW :). I highly recommend it to you. When you start reading it, you'll see that your time IS the most scarce commodity! If you have nothing else to do aside from doing boring stuff that you can outsource, then the problem is NOT that you have too much time. The problem is that you aren't using it to do things that you like. So I would tell you to still outsource the boring stufff, and during all the free time, start actively looking for things that you really enjoy. Join clubs, find hobbies, start taking classes, get more involved with professional activities... you might have to try out a few things before you find out what you truly enjoy. Of course that's just my personal take on things. Dear Kari,

Thank you for your comment. I can tell that you probably have not yet read the 4HWW :). I highly recommend it to you. When you start reading it, you’ll see that your time IS the most scarce commodity!

If you have nothing else to do aside from doing boring stuff that you can outsource, then the problem is NOT that you have too much time. The problem is that you aren’t using it to do things that you like.

So I would tell you to still outsource the boring stufff, and during all the free time, start actively looking for things that you really enjoy. Join clubs, find hobbies, start taking classes, get more involved with professional activities… you might have to try out a few things before you find out what you truly enjoy. Of course that’s just my personal take on things.

]]> By: Masha Petrova http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Masha Petrova Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:50:14 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-201 John - great China story! Thank you for sharing, it made me laugh out loud! Slawomir - thanks for the compliment on the blog. It's readers like you who keep it gong! As far as your comment - if you like doing the work, then by all means keep doing it! I completely understand. For example, I find programming addictive. It is not essential to my business or life in general, but i LOVE writing and debugging code. I know its a bit sad, but debugging code to me is a bit like a drug. I can stay up all night trying to get some subroutine to work, and i truly enjoy it. Can a real programmer write a piece of code waaaay faster and more efficiently then me? Absolutely! But, if I need a subroutine written I might choose to do it myself, because I enjoy it, NOT because i feel like I have to do everything myself. The main difference being choosing your activities and "having" to do them. John - great China story! Thank you for sharing, it made me laugh out loud!

Slawomir - thanks for the compliment on the blog. It’s readers like you who keep it gong!

As far as your comment - if you like doing the work, then by all means keep doing it! I completely understand. For example, I find programming addictive. It is not essential to my business or life in general, but i LOVE writing and debugging code. I know its a bit sad, but debugging code to me is a bit like a drug. I can stay up all night trying to get some subroutine to work, and i truly enjoy it.

Can a real programmer write a piece of code waaaay faster and more efficiently then me? Absolutely! But, if I need a subroutine written I might choose to do it myself, because I enjoy it, NOT because i feel like I have to do everything myself.

The main difference being choosing your activities and “having” to do them.

]]> By: Masha Petrova http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Masha Petrova Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:40:16 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-200 Geoff, Great comment! Come to think of it, you're right! I do not waste time in "group and committee meetings, coffee breaks, safety meetings, or shooting the bull with the person who delivers the mail" when working with a client, as you cleverly pointed out. Good point to bring up with potential clients. Masha Geoff,

Great comment!

Come to think of it, you’re right! I do not waste time in “group and committee meetings, coffee breaks, safety meetings, or shooting the bull with the person who delivers the mail” when working with a client, as you cleverly pointed out. Good point to bring up with potential clients.

Masha

]]> By: Masha Petrova http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/2009/10/how-much-is-your-time-worth-%e2%80%93-unexpected-engineering-lessons-from-the-4-hour-workweek/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Masha Petrova Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:37:05 +0000 http://mvpmodelingsolutions.com/mvpblog/?p=192#comment-199 Dear Jeff, Jahari and Babette Thank you for your comments! Glad to hear that you all have found value in outsourcing and in cheap labor of collage interns (I payed my dues as an intern, so I am allowed to say that). Babette, you are absolutely right about engineers being afraid of brining in consultants, because they think that they will be seen as unable to do their job, if a consultant is called in. But the truth is, if you are a good, smart qualified engineer and a researcher, you should never be afraid that someone might snatch your job from underneath you, because you should be creative enough to constantly learn and re-invent yourself and your work, so that you are always providing value to the company, even if a consultant is able to do a part of your job more efficiently. When engineers understand how to work with, and learn from, outside consultants instead of being threatened by them, the in-house engineer's value and job security increases tremendously. Dear Jeff, Jahari and Babette

Thank you for your comments! Glad to hear that you all have found value in outsourcing and in cheap labor of collage interns (I payed my dues as an intern, so I am allowed to say that).

Babette, you are absolutely right about engineers being afraid of brining in consultants, because they think that they will be seen as unable to do their job, if a consultant is called in. But the truth is, if you are a good, smart qualified engineer and a researcher, you should never be afraid that someone might snatch your job from underneath you, because you should be creative enough to constantly learn and re-invent yourself and your work, so that you are always providing value to the company, even if a consultant is able to do a part of your job more efficiently.

When engineers understand how to work with, and learn from, outside consultants instead of being threatened by them, the in-house engineer’s value and job security increases tremendously.

]]>