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“Measure twice, cut once” is the guiding mantra to prevent irreversible mistakes during any manufacturing process. However, no matter how many eyes check a document or process, some defect or error eventually sneaks through. Luckily, not all errors are equally disruptive, and focused efforts on the primary modes of failure or performance issues can prevent complete malfunction. Establishing and communicating clear design intent also helps prevent ambiguity from sneaking into production, reducing the possibility of issues arising.

Before starting any project, it’s necessary to determine which materials will compose the final product. Whether cooking, painting, or building electronics, it’s crucial to pick suitable materials that express th necessary characteristics of the finished piece.

One of the best lessons I’ve learned in my career in PCB design is realizing when I’ve gone too far. It’s easy to miss the forest for the trees when you’re in the weeds of placement, layout, routing, and other core tasks, but sometimes it’s necessary to take a moment to reflect on your work. Sometimes I’ll find I’ve overlooked some crucial element in the design documents or strayed from the engineer’s intent. In this case, saving the work I think is worthwhile, and undoing the rest with a backup file can seem like an easy fix.

I’m extremely prone to moments of forgetfulness. Whether I’m working at the house or out on backcountry trails, it’s very easy for my head to get lost in the literal or figurative clouds. Regardless if I’ve set my phone (or my keys, or my wallet) somewhere I can’t remember or I’ve wandered past a junction onto trails unknown, I’ve learned to accept and adapt: I’ve mastered the art of retracing my steps.

Several summers ago, I took up jogging to break up the monotony of my current cardio exercises. I love cycling, but jogging offered something more personal: an ability to explore the outdoors leisurely, without any tool or gear beyond clothing. I quickly discovered a favorite route and began to relish the feeling of the sun on my skin and breeze through my hair. Unfortunately, as I continued my daily routine, I failed to account for the intensifying weather of the season and was left with a nasty sunburn.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, I attempted to make pizza several times. It was fascinating how much thought went into the baking process itself. As I consider myself more of an intuitive cook than a baker, the science of yeasted dough was difficult.