Looking for people working in industry that can provide their unique insider perspective as to what's broken in their field and needs a solution that the next generation of Engineers can tackle.
In a nut shell looking to hear people's gripes inside their areas of expertise.
Specifically any of the following fields would match up with our skills:
Industrial manufacturing/engineering, construction materials, support services and aerospace/defense oriented systems/products
General Business services- management, consulting, education, healthcare field management services etc
Consumer goods manufacturing
Alternative energy renewables
Real Estate Services and insurance
Thanks!!
Answers
Create a 99 cent ic chip to convert light to RF and RF to light . Comcast and AT&T will camp on your lawn waiting to give you a purchase order.
The frontier for high-paying jobs and/or lucrative government or non-government contracts is in Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence.
https://www.roberthalf.com/workplace-research/salary-guides
A good Cyber Security engineer this year can pull down $200+ thousand per year. In 2017, this will grow to more than $220k.
Artificial Intelligence will undergo a Renaissance in terms of shaping the ethical development of decision making algorithms. People who specialize in this skill area will be able to write their own ticket anywhere in the world they want to go for pretty much any amount of compensation.
Hi Chuck,
I have an Engineering idea for you! Build an acoustic system with the help of which people sitting in a restaurant or party do not hear much sound from tables other than their own- so they can talk to each other on the same table without disturbance and without raising their voice. Last party I went to with my wife, we were hardly able to communicate with others on the same table due to people talking loudly on other tables!
I wondered how one can build an acoustic system to reduce that disturbance. I am a Physician- doctor of Medicine so I cannot but since you have an Engineering background, may be you can!
Good luck!
Rakesh Bhalla
Dear Captain,
My wife and I owned an ice cream parlor for seven years. For me, this was a part-time job in the evenings and on week-ends. It was a rewarding experience, but a lot of work. My first comment about self-employment is that five hours of self-employment is easier that working two hours for someone else. After the first year, I looked at the paper trail left by my tax accountant: the payroll ledger, the quarterly tax reports, and the corporate, annual tax report: And I decided that I could do all of it by self. So, my advice to you is that you can go into business if you’re willing to be “a jack-of-all-trades!”
Regards,
Charles Anzalone
ChasAnz26@att.net
Charles,
As a fellow Vet let me says "Thanks" for your service. But let me ask you a question, why did you volunteer to serve our great country? Was it family legacy, something that called you to serve or was it 9/11? Regardless of the reason my point is I'll bet you were passionate about what you were doing and that passion probably drove your success along the way.
Finding a project to solve the worlds problems is great but I gotta tell ya, if you don't have passion or don't fully believe in some thing you will fail. You and your team need to feel emotionally connected to what ever you are working on or towards.
And another question I have it what motivates you to build a product or service. Is it money or solving peoples problems? If you want to solve problems, what kind of problems, saving lives, bringing down the cost of education or making live easier for the underprivalidged.
I love your question but it is very open and unfocused. I think you need to find something you really love and feel very passionate about then jump in the deep end. Since you're very young and healthy I would suggest you work in a field that interests you to gleam as much knowledge as possible before make the leap. One year observing how a large corporation/organization does things will save you tons of time and money. You want to avoid mistakes or take time creating a process or procedure that already exists.
In closing let me say, the world needs people like you regardless of what you make. But take the time to make good jobs for people in your community. Since you are so young remember that you have plenty of time to build your fortune, don't even try to to get rich overnight. Take care of your people, empower them, don't interrupt progress and pay them a good wage. They will love you and as they say, "a rising tide lifts all boats".
I suggest you go to netflix and watch "Slingshot". Its about Dean Kamen, an engineer.
P.S. I really liked Neil's suggestion too. Tough project but possible!
Many Regards,
MjM
Thank you for your service Captain Waters. I observed that you have a lot of answers and material to go through. However, please feel free to reach out to me if you need any specific questions/issues answered. I will also be glad to offer any mentorship that I can. I have been an entrepreneur for multiple decades now and have experience in quite a few sectors.
Thanks again.
Hi Chuck,
If you're not already committed elsewhere, you should consider attending Field Service USA. It is in Palm Springs in April. This is the largest field service conference all year and there will be hundreds, if not thousands of companies there addressing challenges faced by those in charge of large field operations with geographically scattered personnel. This includes, healthcare / medical devices, oil & gas, telecom, etc...pretty much any industry where installation, maintenance, and repair is done on-site by remote, field based personnel. This is a great pleace to see what current tools are being developed and what areas are underserved. It's also a great place to network with those who you intend to target as a potential client / customer in the future.
http://fieldserviceusa.wbresearch.com/
Good luck!
Dear Captain Waters, first of all thank you for serving. My son-in-law is currently in a similar situation as you. He went into OCS after graduating from College. He spent 7 years in the Navy as an officer, went into the Reserves, went back to school to do his pre-reqs and is planning on going back into the Navy and going to Medical School. He loves the Navy.
In your situation, yes it is a little different. But I think you may want to look at ideas (Like you are currently doing). We had a neighbor who graduated from the Naval Academy. He grew up with my children. After his time in the Navy, he started a limousine business. I don't think it worked out for him but he was an entrepreneur so he got together with some buddies from HS and Navy and all were vets. They started a waste management business. It has been working out very well for him. Every one needs to get rid of their waste and recyclables. They got into the business (not sure if they started it or bought a Waste Management Company. This company has been very successful and they are still going strong. There are about 5 owners all Vets and all get along. This is something you all need to brainstorm and work out. You have to find your niche'. What do YOU and YOUR buddies want to do? What would make you happy?
My son is an entrepreneur. He graduated with an Exercise Science degree ( I couldn't believe that the curriculum would be that difficult. It was like Pre-med, you have to take all the Chemistries, Biologies, Anatomy and PysIology, Kinesiology etc. plus all the different exercise courses. At 24 he bought his own house. At 26 he started his own training business. (This was his 4th business). 3 are still running. He borrowed $90K for equipment, he now has 5 Trainers working for him and he pays them more than the local gyms do. His business started in October and he's looking to either expand or staring another one about 10 to 15 miles away from where his center is now. The secret is passion as I've seen other responses to your question. WHatever you decide to do, you have to be passionate and happy or the business will fail. I have 42 years with IBM. I've had passion about what I was doing so lots of business experience. Also, model yourselves around someone who has been successful. Get mentors to help you out. Seek out successful people who will help you with accounting, planning, marketing etc.
I'm sure whatever you decide you will be successful. God bless you all for your service!
Sincerely,
Pat
Hello, CAPT Peters
First of all, thank you for your service. I can not think of a more professional, highly trained and experienced group of men than the Corp of Army Engineers.
I might have a unique and groundbreaking project you and your colleagues might enjoy jumping into and it has to do with renewable energy storage. As you know, there are no reliable storage solutions for renewable energy, i.e., solar, wind and hydroelectric. So this is among the hottest topics in the renewable energy field.
I am working with an environmental engineer in Portland, Oregon who is working on this problem. I cannot be more specific about this project--under NDA and in the patent process-but it will be groundbreaking when it is built and comes to market. We are in the process of seeking grant monies from ARPA-E, the Energy Downstream Venture Fund (Bill Gates!), and the National Science Foundation.
Once grant or investment monies come in, then we will need to staff up with engineers capable of building prototypes, reviewing manufacturability, sourcing materials, developing manufacturing plans and testing the systems in the available power grids.
Possibly we can stay in contact regarding this project over the coming year. You can contact me at my business address at: deastman@gamma-therapeutics.com My own expertise is in life science, semiconductors and telecommunications and from the US Navy, avionics and anti-submarine warfare systems.
Anyway, just reaching out and setting up a potential opportunity for you.
Regards,
David F. Eastman, CEO
Gamma Therapeutics, Inc.
Portland, Oregon
Vietnam-era veteran, US Navy, P-3 Orions, ASW
OH YES!
I'm writing a book, coming out in the next few weeks, called How to Protect Yourself from Your Computer. In it, I describe all the scandals and scams in the IT industry. I talk about how the IoT (Internet of Things) is nothing more than a fad and a security risk, how products nowadays are spying on consumers, nagging them with destructive Update Attacks, and how all these new centrally-controlled products will die the day the factory goes out of business. I also have a talk show called The Computer Exorcist Show (since 2012) that outlines all this short-sighted product design as well.
Feel free to give me a shout and pick my brain!
Thank you for your service,
Marc
My first question to you is... What do you define as a problem... Second what is your purpose in creating this business. Third
what resources do you have in place to support you.
Diana, CPC
I'm a former Captain myself and have a dad who ran a business for over 25 years, so his entrepreneurial spirit always ran through me. I'm, unfortunately, still looking for that business to wrap my efforts around. I'd start with Bunker Labs if I were you, a veteran business accelerator. Don't know if they have a chapter in your neck of the woods, but it may be worth exploring their wealth of resources and connections that drive veterans to business ownership.
Thank you and your team for your service. By asking a general question (such as looking for problems to solve), you will get general answers and I am not sure this is the best way to find your calling.
The challenge you have is that you are potential solutions searching for potential problems (one equation with two unknowns). There are many problems to solve in all of the sectors you mentioned but I suggest the first step in your decision process is to find the subsector you are most interested in (which no one else is exactly working on) and really think about what your specific experiences/perspectives can bring to the problem. Such introspection is not easy but will definitely pay off as you try to build your clientbase.
Once you can narrow down your targets, I'd be happy to continue the conversation as I run an angel investor network and can share thoughts about what I am seeing in the sector.
Rgds
JW
I would recommend you all read Michael Gerbers latest book on the E Myth. You will find many sound business principles and methodologies to follow that you will be able to apply to your start up. Another good book is Traction. I am releasing an E Book via Amazon on Strategic Business Planning. It will give you a foundational process that will become the backbone of your business. If you want a free copy just send me an email. Good luck in getting your business off the ground. By the way I have a blog at www.smallbusinessstrategies.co that I constantly post info that could be of value.
Warmly, Bob email ramco1@verizon.net
Hi Chuck. Great question, and Great suggestions! Are you and your compatriots still looking for a project? Check out our company, HeroHomes.com. We're looking to successfully trial for the national roll-out a motivated team taking over a vet rich territory like the Tacoma area. Email me at reed@herohomes.com for further info. Semper Fidelis! Reed M. Benet
I'd like to network with you and show you what we have going on at the VIBE (Veterans Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship) at the University of Washington Tacoma. We're also running a business plan competition with a $25k award. We're having an open house Friday afternoon.
Would love to hear from you jamesssf@uw.edu
Chuck,
I would invite you to come to BunkerLabs next week. They are a non profit that focuses on Veterans building their own business. There are also several other networking opportunities in this area. I have been in the Startup world for the past few years and I should be able to answer your questions. Send me an email at jasoncavness@cavnesshr.com
The Smart Grid is what comes to mind. This is the power grid in the United States. They require some smart and savvy engineers to continue building it, keep it running, and protect the network from security breaches that would bring the whole thing down. I'd say this is a good project. I'm a lady computer engineer and I've been a member of IEEE for over 30 years. They often talk about this problem in those circles. Try also checking out IEEE USA and see what you can find out on other problems requiring technical and scientific resolution.
Hi Chuck:
I have owned a business for 28 years; here are a few comments.
1) Never chase the money. I have had numerous people ask me for my thoughts on the best money-making businesses. If the business itself isn't your passion, you will fail. The old saying "Do what you love and the money will follow" is true.
2) When deciding what you want to do, answer this: There is a party was going on somewhere, and you aren't there. Your name has come up in conversation. What would you want said about you behind your back? The answer to that question will tell you what to do with your life. The fact that you all want to be your best selves is the best start.
3) Let people try to talk you out of running your own business. If they can, you shouldn't be a business owner in the first place.
4) This may sound like odd advice, but pay close attention to writing style and grammar. The clients I have served over the years tell me that all it takes is one misused word or incorrect tense (they're - there - their) and the job goes to someone else. The flow of your post is a bit choppy, and could be an obstacle in proposals, professional e-mails, and media releases (believe it or not, you will need to use the media to succeed). Executives I have worked with are appalled at the decline in communication skills these days, so having sharp speaking and writing skills can set you apart.
5) There is only one benefit to owning your own business; doing things your way. You don't get the financial security that comes from being an employee, you can't leave the job behind while on vacation, and you never feel completely secure. So being able to make your own decisions, revel in your own successes, and own your own mistakes is where the joy comes from. "The worst day of working for yourself is still better than the best day of working for anyone else."
Here is to your success!
Mitchell,
Thanks! I totally agree with everything you said, and you did you a great job of bringing out the important stuff, thank you.
To be honest, for myself (and most the team) we came out of the Iraq/Afgn experience realizing there is a better way to live and apply the life we have on this planet towards better 'actions'.
Working in bureaucracies is tough, and warfare is pretty hard on the soul regardless of what side you're on.
Maybe this is our shot at repentance
In the philosophical sense, I think we are all trying to become our best 'selves' and by doing so, able to lead teams on good endeavors with the real goal of enriching all.
I like the Ford approach, who recognized that it wasn't really the automobile or profits that made them successful, but the theory of business they used.
That's what we are after, but we need to find a good opportunity that a reasonable solution will provide the growth necessary to build.
This is great stuff thank you!
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