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Unread 05-01-2007, 17:14
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Bill Enslen Bill Enslen is offline
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FRC #0365 (Miracle Workerz)
Team Role: Leadership
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 84
Bill Enslen is on a distinguished road
Re: My Pre-Kickoff 3 cents - 2007 version

Rich's excellent words of wisdom got me thinking -- how have I contributed to my team's efforts? Those who know me and what I do on the team are probably in shock at what I just said, because I do contribute a great deal to the team. But there's one big difference between how I contribute to the team and how most of the rest of the mentors contribute.

I don't help the students build the robot. I don't help the students with the web site. I don't help the students with animations or any other area where a team competes within FIRST Robotics. But without mentors like me performing the functions that we perform on the team, vendors wouldn't get paid, sponsors wouldn't be contributing money to fund the team's activities, the robot would not be crated and shipped to the drayage facility, and the team would not have transportation, food and lodging at distant competitions.

So, to all of the students on all of the FIRST Robotics teams, I'd like to add one additional item to Rich's words of wisdom:

10. Remember to thank each and every one of your mentors for what they give to you and your team. It takes an incredible amount of time and effort behind the scenes to make a FIRST Robotics team successful. One heartfelt "Thank You!" and a hug from a student makes it all worthwhile.

Switching Gears Now ---

In many respects, The FIRST Robotics Competition is a lot like the real world, but harder. In the real world if you miss a deadline on your project, the deadline gets pushed back (after the project leader is raked over the coals). In FIRST, you cannot miss the deadline (to ship the robot, etc.). If you do, you don't compete in the competition, period.

So, I'd like to add a bit of hard-earned advice -- what we in the world of Project Management call the 5 P's of Project Management: PROPER PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE. The teams that do well are the ones that have invested the time up front to plan out everything that must be done, where and when must it be done, and who must do it. If you don't have someone who does that for the team, find that person and get them on your side. Your team will be so much better off.

GO TEAMS!!!
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