Alex Toth thoughts

@joshspector I only ever had dumb ideas.

Even my smart ideas were starting out of those

@alextoth I subscribed ..

@alextoth.bsky.social Not maybe I could do it …

My honest take is to pick something and spend six to eight weeks building a small project.

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁.

@alextoth.bsky.social 𝗜𝗳 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁! 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴

Online roadmaps are fine but they are written for general audiences. A minimal real project forces you to fill the gaps in your knowledge and skills that matter most to your specific path

@alextoth.bsky.social The peers who look confident are mostly just further down one specific path.

That’s it. That’s all!

@alextoth.bsky.social You may already know I’m a strong believer that practical learning is the best possible learning! What’s my view?

I won’t faff about this more:

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁! 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵.

@alextoth.bsky.social Don’t be afraid to be the student. Even when you are the boss.
Kick the Impostor Syndrome in the butt!

I’m even learning while coaching others.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵?

Start here: bit.ly/3PIiyaX

@alextoth.bsky.social 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿.

Real engineering competence isn’t about having a static library of facts in your head. It is about the ability to adapt and acquire new knowledge rapidly when the job demands it.

@alextoth.bsky.social I have “Principal Engineer” in my job title. Professional certifications. I’m on my way to CEng. I lead projects delivered by consortiums of companies.

I still buy books with titles like 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤.

@alextoth.bsky.social When I moved into Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) I had to learn entirely new validation techniques. I had to understand digital twins and scenario-based validation.

My background in electronics, systems and testing gave me a foundation but the specifics were new.

@alextoth.bsky.social I didn’t pretend to know it all. I bought the books. I attended the webinars. I joined the working groups. I learned hands-on while working with my colleagues.

I also see many engineers freeze when they encounter a domain they don’t understand. I mentor some.

@alextoth I moved from Superlist to LegendApp (through Amplenote) for very specific reasons!

@joshspector I’m normally writing about experience, thoughts, etc, etc …

@marko.tech that’s sad … are you interviewing with sadics??

@marko.tech 🤣😂😂

@alextoth.bsky.social Some people ask me if it’s worth fighting it? What can you change? But you can and you should. Start learning how here: www.everyexpert.com/alex

@alextoth.bsky.social • One showed the crash.
• Two showed a reduced scope that still delivered value.

I presented the data. I didn’t use opinions or worries. I showed the math.

@alextoth.bsky.social The reaction changed immediately. We agreed on a re-scoped plan. The project finished on budget and the client was happy.

@alextoth.bsky.social If you are a young engineer, remember that data is your best shield. If you see a risk quantify it! Managers cannot argue with arithmetic. It is not complaining if 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.