1. Dare To Change Presented by Gary Whitcher GIS/CAD Developer BSD Consulting, Inc.

2. Introduction Gary Whitcher Vocational Drafting in high school w/some college courses 35 years in the oil and gas industry. 15 Different Companies 17 years using AutoCAD daily. Developing since 1992.

3. Early Work History Board Drafting (1980) Lettering First evaluation Reaction AutoCAD (1983)

4. Why am I telling you this? We’ll get back to that in a moment.

5. LEADERSHIP Is either a role/position or action. Lead or drag others. Just like Aretha Franklin sang, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” Starts at the bottom. Starts with YOU! Having the word “Lead” in your title does not make you a leader.

6. Industry Changes What is the one constant in this industry? CHANGE! Price of oil Price of natural gas Regulatory changes Latest business school mindset Technology

7. tech·nol·o·gy tekˈnäləjē/ Noun The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. "advances in computer technology“ Machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge. The branch of knowledge dealing with engineering or applied sciences. tech·NO·logy The application of whatever the latest business school mindset is.

8. Technology (cont’d) Not as much of an issue today but there are still some holdouts. Technology will run over you if you do not embrace it.

9. Tech-NO-logy 1.Management wants what management wants. Rules OF Tech-NO-logy 2.It is the stupidest thing to come down the pike, See Rule 1. 3.Creates more work, less productivity, and adds cost to projects. See Rule 1. 4.Good News! It will only last until the next stupidest thing comes along. (remember the constant change thingy!)

10. How does this involve me? In 2012 the avg. life expectancy was 78.74 yrs. Started working Age:24 Retirement Age:67 Working Life:43 years Hours Worked: (2080 hrs./yr. x 43 yrs.) 89440 hrs. That is a lot of hours!

11. Ok, Now What? It is your responsibility to be better at your job tomorrow than you are today. No one can take your experience and industry knowledge from you. They also cannot grow your knowledge for you. You can be a leader! Your knowledge or experience is not confined to your immediate space. Leading sometimes IS done from the rear. You might be surprised at how much you don’t know..

12. Don’t be afraid of change. Don’t Be afraid to share knowledge/information. Don’ts Don’t dismiss “soft skills”. Do’s and Don’t’s Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be the office curmudgeon. Don’t be afraid to ask if help is needed. “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison

13. Do’s and Don’t’s Self Study. Be the “go to” guy. Look for a mentor that can raise your knowledge. Do’s Be the last one to turn off the lights. Volunteer for the projects no one else wants. Be willing to take the “short straw”. It shows above all else, you are a team player Become a mentor to “green” employees. Lead your peers/team, don’t drag them. Maintain a positive attitude. Be confident in you abilities. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance

14. Attitude A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995 It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to. ~Annie Gottlier Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching? ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

15. Passion Never work a day in your life. Start the day eager for work. Will make you a better employee. Will help with problem solving. Will make you happier. Guess what? Your passion may not be doing what you are today. (It may not even be in this industry.)

16. Summary You can dare to change. The beginning of your career does not have to match the end of your career. Be proactive. Always seek to improve. The same people you see on your way up is the same people you will see on your way down.

17. Conclusion What do I do with this information? Or you could do absolutely nothing and watch the world go by. Don’t go back and say “Gary said to leave my job to pursue happiness and live in a commune!”. Look at work situations for opportunities to grow. Create scenarios where new technology can be implemented in a small amounts if timid. Constantly evolve and know that change is coming. If your interest lie in another department of your company, speak to those in that department. Look into what requirements are needed to fulfill the position you would like to pursue. Don’t’ underestimate your knowledge or your capacity to gain more of it. - Just for the record…I didn’t..

18. Thank You Gary Whitcher GIS/CAD Developer BSD Consulting, Inc. Gwhitcher@Blueskydev.com Contact Information: