Omer Blodgett teaches, and says he also learns in seminars.

This month, I would like to depart from my usual technical format to offer some principles that are philosophical in nature. At the age of 88, pretty much all the advice I can offer is to younger people! However, I hope these ideas will be of particular help to welding professionals with perhaps ten years of experience or less as they begin their careers.

There are no dumb ideas in brainstorming
When a group of us get together to try to solve a problem, I often remind the group of this principle. At the brainstorming stage, it is essential that everyone feel free to offer his or her ideas up to a non-judgmental audience. Without such a climate, the best idea may never be expressed. Remember the words of Charles Brower, who said, "A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn. It can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person's brow."

There is no such thing as a stupid question
Everyone has heard this one of course, but I can think back on hundreds of ideas I've learned because I asked a question. It is amazing how much one can learn by simply asking "Why do you do that?" Granted, sometimes this question provokes a blind stare, but more often than not, I learn that a less-than-obvious reason is behind the practice.

Always be honest
This principle shouldn't have to be emphasized, but I'm afraid it does. If you are honest, you will always give your boss, your customers, your suppliers, and everyone else you contact, the best answer you can. I have told customers of situations where a bolted connection would be better than a welded connection. Sometimes, being honest may mean telling your boss he or she is wrong. There is no such thing as a "white lie"-it is just a lie.

Be loyal
Loyalty is rare today. Some employees are not loyal to their company, and some companies are not loyal to their employees. I've been fortunate to work for the same company for over 60 years; I've been loyal to my employer, and the company has been loyal to me. Like many of the principles I'm discussing here, loyalty extends to all of our relationships, with spouse, children, community and church.

When things go wrong, don't panic
Rudyard Kipling started one of his poems by saying "If you can keep your head when all about you are loosing theirs..." While this applies to many aspects of life, it is particularly important in technical fields such as welding. When the unexpected occurs, emotions typically run high and some folks tend to panic. In such situations, slow down. Think. Use your training to analyze the situation systematically.

Determine "what you don't want the worst"
Engineering is a process that involves compromise and tradeoffs. There is always tension between, say, features and cost. Or strength versus weight. The list could be endless. This dilemma is often frustrating to young designers, and so I challenge them to consider "what don't you want the worst?" The grammar of that sentence bothers my wife every time she hears it, but it gets people's attention. Identifying and rejecting the worst possible option can lead us to focus more quickly on more desirable, albeit sometimes less than ideal alternatives.

Don't jump to conclusions
H.L Mencken said "For every complex problem there is a simple solution, and it is always wrong." This may not always be the case, but often, the obvious solution proves to be wrong. When something breaks, our first instinct is to redesign it using stronger or thicker material. Past editions of "Blodgett's Basics" are filled with examples of quick reactions that proved to be incorrect because the underlying technical principles were not understood. Don't jump to conclusions, but methodically seek the root cause of the problem.

Be a lifelong learner
Particularly in the technical fields, change is constant. To stay current, we must all be lifelong learners. Join technical societies, and participate in their activities. (I have been a member of the American Welding Society since joining as a student in 1938.) Attend seminars and conventions. Read technical journals.

Be alert to opportunity
Opportunities are all around us, but the reality is that few people recognize them. Sir William Crookes invented the cathode-ray tube and discovered that it would cause photographic film to become foggy when exposed to the output of the tube. Crookes then concluded that film should not be stored near the cathoderay tube. A few years later, Wilhelm Roentgen ruined some film that was stored near a cathode-ray tube. This experience led him to invent the X-Ray machine. Both men made the same observations, but Roentgen capitalized on his newfound knowledge.

Contribute to your industry
We all benefit from the contributions of those who have gone before us. Just as others left behind a legacy for us to build upon, so we should leave a foundation for the next generation. Write technical papers and participate in industry committee activities. Be a mentor. Encourage young people to join our profession.