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EGYPT TRAVEL BLOG - CADET ENGINEER DAYS
YESTERYEAR 2007

Egypt was nothing like I thought it would be.

The five days I was there in 2007 were a whirlwind of bustle and activity with the serenity of the pyramids of Giza sitting not far from the eyeline of the city nearby.

The first couple of days were spent at an engineering conference nestled in the middle of Cairo, with no indication I had even left the comfort of my home town other then the variance in food.However, that soon finished and left me a few days to explore the beautiful country known for its structure and architecture and rich history.

WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT WHAT'S IN OUR BACKYARD? TRAVEL WITHIN AUSTRALIA

Australia is a bustle of activity in some ways, and complete bliss in other ways. We like our personal space here and it shows with our large cities for our small population.

I have continued to travel sporadically throughout our lovely country and observe the many beautiful wonders of architecture and engineering that are present everywhere.

With beautiful buildings on every corner that showcase the century before when such intricate details were the standard. This city has always renewed my love in engineering and continued my love and desire to be a structural engineer in Adelaide.

HOW TO NETWORK ONLINE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

The digital advancement of business has opened up a world of opportunities for entrepreneurs – whether it be reaching a wider audience to place your products in front of via websites and social media or allowing service providers to work with clients across the globe, a lot of has happened in the 21st century to allow entrepreneurs to grow and succeed like never before. One of the most valuable resources as an entrepreneur since the beginning has been their network, and as the digital age takes the world by storm, networking is still one of the most productive and beneficial activities an entrepreneur can do. Now that there are ways to connect with people worldwide and communicate at the tap of a finger, our networks can be vaster than ever before – but one thing a lot of new entrepreneurs seem to struggle with is finding the right people to network with. Where are your ideal network, and how do you connect with them?

THE TOP 5 BLOGS TO FOLLOW TO JUMP START YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY

If you’ve been following Solution
for Construction for a while, you’ll know that it all started as my
personal entrepreneurial journey. While I’ve pushed to ensure that Solution for
Construction has proven to be a leader in our field – I also have
a clear goal in business: lifestyle enhancement. Extending this goal across all
areas, allow me to enhance the lifestyle of the budding entrepreneur with this
interesting and informative blog!

When it comes to an entrepreneurial journey, no two paths
are the same. However what we can say is that it comes with a lot of lessons,
learning curves and some occasional tough times. I’ve worked to compile a list
of business blogs that have the best tips, resources and motivation for
entrepreneurs no matter what stage of your journey you’re in. Let’s take a
look!

DUBAI - A CONCRETE JUNGLE & CULTURAL HUB

Dubai has quickly become an example of opulence, wealth and extravagance. With its luxury shopping, modern architecture and the hip night club scene.

I was here to stay for a few days and witness the architecture that is used as an example for its progressive design and inspiration – the Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa skyscraper is known as the tallest building in the world with me seeing no end to it as I gazed up in wonder.

It was everything I thought it would be and more. The observation deck showcased the entire view below with the beautiful Dubai fountain in full view.

It was a sight to behold. The choreography and the lights danced in a way that anyone watching would feel as though they had stepped into a world of fascination and awe. I know I did.

SOUTH EAST ASIA - THE SMELL OF SPICE

The smell of spices in the south-east lingers not only on your fingers but within the air itself.

Only in south east Asia have I found that you could go to the shabbiest looking food truck, or market, and leave having tasted such exquisite cuisine you would be forgiven for thinking you were sitting at a Michelin restaurant.

Although I don’t think any Michelin star restaurant would look the backstreets in the middle of Malaysia.

My travels have taken me far and wide across the earth, but none have such a variety in food and spices that south east Asia does. Nor have I seen such beautiful architecture regarding the many temples and beautiful historical buildings that I have come across. Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have always left me in awe of the beauty that I am able to witness each time I visit.

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED ON YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY

A common theme in the entrepreneurial world is losing motivation. When it comes to taking the big leap into being your own boss, it can be a little disheartening (and even a little frightening) when things don’t set into motion straight away, and the urge to jump back into the comfort of an 8 am – 5 pm is understandably strong.

Even when you do start to see a little traction in your path, being in charge of your own time, projects and your own work day can quickly lead to burn out and a loss of motivation!

I’d love to share with you some of my own tips that I’ve taken through my entrepreneurial journey, that have helped me stay motivated and lead me to the path of self-made success!

SEVEN AFFIRMATIONS FOR POSITIVE MINDSET PRACTICE

When it comes to being an entrepreneur, mindset is everything. While it’s important to be focused and goal oriented, a positive mindset is the foundation for success. Along your entrepreneurial journey it is common to hit a lot of road blocks, face setbacks and even be halted by rejection. A positive mindset is the best way to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue along the road to success! While I’ve already covered some great methods for staying motivated on the blog, I’d love to go through the power of affirmations and cover some that I’ve found work well for entrepreneurs just like us.

Daily affirmations are a great way to train your mind to automatically react positively to situations and keep an optimistic attitude about your abilities even when things aren’t quite working out how you had planned. The following affirmations have been developed to build confidence in yourself, your business and your purpose. Here are my top seven affirmations for entrepreneurs to practice regularly for a positive mindset!

NEW ZEALAND - LOT'S TO ADMIRE!

What can I say about the beauty that is ALL of New Zealand?

Everywhere I looked I was in awe of the sights that lay ahead of me. On Rangitoto island, the sunset was more beautiful than from anywhere else I had experienced. I saw it glistening against the clear blue water that lapped against the ferry as I made my way across. The only sight more beautiful was the beaches on Waiheke Island.

Waiheke Island was a collection of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and sandy white beaches. Everywhere in New Zealand could be a bustling tourist destination as I can safely say there was not a single place that was not full of bustle and activity, and awe-inspiring beauty. Even Auckland was a sight to behold with the contemporary planning of the city and the buildings I came across. Everywhere I looked I could see the architecture’s vision behind their work and their exquisite work.

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK – DIRT STRETCHED ON FOR MILES!

The dirt stretched on for miles, further then the eye could see. And yet, I felt peaceful as I drove about the Australian outback. Unsure of what I would encounter, and when the next petrol station would bless my drive. Each time I drove past one I would wonder if I should’ve filled up in case I got stuck along the way.

My trip would take me through to Alice Springs with many stops along the way. One such stop being the old timer mines in Coober Pedy. The air was damp as I stepped into the underground home on display for tourists there. You would never think such a masterpiece of architecture would be in the middle of the outback and yet here it was. The ceilings hung low as I ran my hand along the carved-out walls as I walked around. I was out here on this trip solo, looking for inspiration… and I found it in the most unexpected of places.

THE PRIDE OF AN ENGINEER!

Just like anyone in any position, us engineers take a lot of pride in our hard work. Aside from all of the hard work, determination and knowledge that goes into an engineering project, we get to see something very special when it comes to project outcomes: the difference it makes to the lives of people. Just in the way that a waiter or a chef provides a valuable experience for a family who are dining out for a special occasion, an engineer can provide convenience and make a huge difference in the way of everyday life.

One particular project that I’ve held close since completion for this very reason is the South Road Superway project. This was $1 billion project that I was a part of for three years and has had a positive impact on not only the community, but all of those who visit South Australia in the form of transportation. An easier, more reliable commute has been created for not only workers but industry as well. As the only continuous transport link between the northern and southern suburbs, South Road is a crucial freight route for business and industry. South Road also forms the spine of connections to the major intermodal transport hubs of Adelaide, which are highly reliant on an efficient north–south road corridor. The introduction of the South Road Superway has ensured that efficiency and opened up a booming opportunity for South Australia.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF AN ENGINEER ENTREPRENEUR!

You may have been following me for a while, and you might even admire what I do. If you’ve been wondering if you’ve got what it takes to follow in my footsteps and become an engineer entrepreneur, I’ve compiled a list of essential skills that I’ve needed to help me get here. When you think of an engineer, creative is probably not the first word that comes to mind. With engineering being such an analytical and logical job, you may not think that an engineer would have to regularly utilise their creativity.

The truth is, to be an engineer means to be creative in many aspects of the job. I must harness my creativity in order to solve problems and think outside of the box in many of my client jobs. If there was a straightforward solution for many of the tasks at hand, they would not require a professional.

An engineer and an entrepreneur both solve problems. As an engineer entrepreneur, there are many problems I must solve on a daily basis. You see entrepreneurs often solve problems for their target market. This could be with a product or service that helps fill a need. It is the ability to solve the problem that makes the product or service successful.

 

HOW COVID-19 CHANGED THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WORLD

Some of us are sick of hearing about coronavirus, while some of us are working around the clock to stay informed and ensure we are up to date with the latest practices and laws.

It doesn’t matter which category you sit in, there is one fact we can’t deny. Coronavirus is here, it’s happening, and it’s changed the way entrepreneurs and business owners operate – maybe forever.

You may remember a post I published a little while ago covering the essential skills of an engineer entrepreneur. I mentioned creativity and problem solving. As some stores are being forced to shut their doors and stricter guidelines are coming into place, getting creative and solving problems has never been more important.

Some new skills that need to be added to that list in the face of COVID-19, or any pandemic, are resilience and the ability to adapt. We are now required to do business in different ways, and continue to make money as for some entrepreneurs, their business is their only income stream.

COVID 1

SELF-ISOLATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING COVID 19: HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT?

The coronavirus. Never will there be a time in our future where we won’t remember how this virus bought the entire world to a standstill. Restaurants and clubs closed down, people stuck in their homes, only essential services being open and an overflow in the hospitals. It will be written into the history books. And, everyone will remember where we were during this pandemic, and what we were doing. The only thing that differs between us all, is how everyone is using their time and trying to make the best of it.

Now being an engineer, I am considered to be an essential service provider. Which means that although not much has changed in the way of my business continuing to function, a lot has changed in the manner in which we conduct ourselves in the field. And around the office with staff and customers. Several safety precautions are now taken to ensure not only the safety of my staff, but also any customers that we may come into contact with. And although that takes care of the professional side of things, that doesn’t show the adverse effects it has had on my personal life.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

As my entrepreneurial journey gained ground, I began to think about the importance of giving back and helping others to reach their dreams as I have done with mine.

2020 has been a turbulent year, to say the least. It’s given many of us who are fortunate enough a chance to help others. Thankfully, it’s connected those who need help to communities, people, and organisations that care.

It might feel like we reached our success on our own. For some of us, we didn’t have a great support system and had to achieve things all by ourselves. While this is something to be proud of, can you think about how much easier the journey would have been if we had a hand to hold?

Whether you achieved your success with the help of the community or purely through your own determination; there comes a time in your career when you feel the pull to help others do the same.