• Tag Archives journey

  • I Was Blinded By Sound Then Technology Took Hold

    Posted on by Tim

    I was blinded by sound then technology took hold. Not literally blinded, but in the sense because sonar systems on submarines fascinated me and the sound was on full volume, wow! I must admit, the technology bug bit me when I was still in elementary school. How that happened is a post for another time.

    The official phrase is “acoustic analysis” for what I did as a sonar operator in the Navy onboard submarines. I stood sonar watch on the USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678) and the USS WYOMING (SSBN 742). I might have stood the watch onboard the USS OHIO (SSBN 726), my memory is fuzzy on that one.

    USS ARCHERFHISH 1992
    The USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678) in Groton, Connecticut, US

    Anyway . . .

    The technology used at the time was fascinating. In a sense, I was blinded by sound then the technology took hold because the sonar array took analogue noise and converted it into a digital signal. I could look at the noise on a display and “see” if it was harmless or a threat.

    This analogue to digital conversion was all it took to pull me into the information technology career field. I was completely unprepared for how fascinating the world of sonar and ACINT (acoustic intelligence) would be. The tech bug bit me harder and has never let go since then!

    For me, this was and still is, the intersection I can point to that set me on the path to find a solid career. My interests continue to orbit around technology, but with a twist. Now those interests consider the human factors involved in building technology.

    With that in mind, I’ll share more of my military technology experience in future posts. Hold on tight as this is just the beginning! You will be in for quite a ride!


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  • A Journey Results In Transformation And It Requires Endurance

    Posted on by Tim

    I spoke to my Dad over the weekend of October 9th and 10th.  We have insightful conversations, more like friends catching up than Father/Son discussions.

    A point he mentioned took me back, way back.

    High School

    Dad reminded me of high school. My English teacher was concerned about the bullying I was receiving in her class.  So she felt compelled to call my parents at home and talk to them to ask if it was affecting me. Forever my fan, Dad told her, “I would be more concerned about the other students than Tim.”

    Navy Active Duty

    Again, Dad walked me through my early years in the Navy. I was served on board the nuclear, fast attack submarine, the USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678), and would call my parent out of frustration from time to time. As a result, I told them about my struggle to find my place, to fit, in an alien (to me) culture.

    SSN 678 deploying from homeport
    The USS ARCHERFISH (SSN 678) heading to sea departing its homeport of Groton, Connecticut, USA

    The Private Sector

    Dad and I continued to talk about more recent rolling hills and deep valleys I navigated professionally in the private sector. As he walked me through pivot after the pivot, change after change, and low point after low point in the journey.

    My Dad traced a thread for me throughout my life and reminded me of what all those knock-down, drag-out seasons created in me.  As a result, he shared one word, a single concept.

    ENDURANCE

    A Challenge For Insightful Conversations

    Because a race is not started at the starting line, preparation is required. Because change does not happen overnight it is a journey. A commitment to move a business, from one way of working to a new way of working, must happen for the journey to begin.

    All these examples and many more require endurance.  Toyota did not earn its reputation for quality in one or two decades.  It was accomplished over many decades, as a result of a relentless pursuit of quality to create value customers pay for.

    A missing ingredient in most business efforts is endurance.  I challenge business leaders to consider this before they embark on a “business transformation” initiative or “digitalization journey”.


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