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- An Unforgettable Science Fair Project
“We cannot solve problems with the kind of thinking we employed when we came up with them.”
An Unforgettable Science Fair Project
In the spring of 1990 I signed up for the school science fair. In middle school I enjoyed math and science. Little did I know, the journey I was about to take was more important than the science fair project itself.
Like any other middle school kid, I had to think about an interesting project to work on. At that age, I worked on cars with dad, re-engineered remote controlled cars and did carpentry. I also played musical instruments and was a karate champion.
After some thought, I decided to build a working burglar alarm system. Burglar alarm? I was fascinated by electronics and automation.
I shared my idea with Dad. Like most dads (well my dad), his gears went turning. You’re going to need, micro switches, wiring, battery and a indicator light. Dad was good at most things and electronics/mechanics were his specialty.
I decided to build the model home with one door and two windows. Once the alarm was set, either component would trigger the alarm — But that was the easy part.
During breaks, I would work on my presentation. After all it was a science fair project too. I had to explain the technology and the problem I was solving.
Finally, we finished the project but realized we needed a display board for my presentation. We couldn't paste sheets of paper on a poster board and call it good. Not our M.O. — everything had to be “professional”.
Dad had an idea!
The plan was to build a display case to mount the model and hinge open to display the written presentation. We gathered the lumber and hardware to prepare. We cut the boards and assembled a sturdy case.
By the time we finished, it was dark outside. There was a problem.
The display case was bigger and heavier than I imagined.
Back then I rode my Schwinn mountain bike to school. I was an independent kid and it was the 1990’s. The land was flat and it took me about 7 mins to ride to school. No big deal. Wrong!
The display case weighed at least 35 lbs. and it was 24 inches wide by 50 inches tall. I asked dad, how am I going to get this to school tomorrow? He said, “ride your bike”. Huh? “Yes, you have a newspaper rack on the back”.
His favorite phrase was, “all you gotta do is…”.
We grabbed my bike, put the large wooden case up on the back. We hooked up bungee cords to strap it down. I took a few practiced runs, and it worked!
The next morning, I loaded up my project on the bike an proceeded to school. I took one pedal, one after another. It seemed the more I pedaled the easier it got. Before you know it, I had forgotten the case was behind me — until I noticed other kids staring at me. I didn’t care and was on a mission!
It took me 15 minutes versus my usual 7 minutes. I had to stop a few times to re-adjust the bungee cords. Finally, I made it to school with everything in tact. Boy was I relieved.
I received an honorable mention during the science fair judging. But the most memorable moment was the journey of building and transporting the display case.
Here are a few takeaways that I continue to “carry” with me:
Design for the person maintaining, using and transporting your product
Simplify problem solving with confidence - “All you gotta do is”
Success in a journey not a destination
Cherish your loved ones
Don’t give up!
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I don’t know exactly where you are on your journey, but I share words of encouragement, lessons learned, and ideas to help you grow your business.
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❤ Rudy
💻 In Today’s Edition
TP’s Marketing Lesson
TP’s AI Artwork
TP’s Tech Trends
TP’s AI Tool of the Week
💡 TP’s Marketing Lesson
The Blueprint for Marketing 2023
Gary Vee gives you his high level marketing blueprint for 2023. This framework outlines a process for social brand building and business building.
It involves: creating 40-50 consumer segments, understanding the platforms, creating a framework and appointing a strategist.
The team then looks at proxies to prove that the media is driving incremental growth. When a creative goes viral, it becomes the content for more future efforts.
As the team confirms what isn't working, they remove and adjust market segments.
🎨 TP’s Architectural Inspired AI Art
PROMPT:
beautiful yacht, at marina in miami, beautiful futuristic, sunset, 8k
“Beautiful Yacht” - Leonardo Ai
🤖 TP’s AI Tool of Week - “Wisdolia”
Wisdolia
Who remembers using flashcards as a kid to learn?
Automatically generate flashcards from any article, PDF, or YouTube video to improve retention, using AI. 
Help you retain information and teach as well.
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Chrome Extension 👉 Wisdolia
Thank you for taking the time to read today's TechPreneur Newsletter. I hope the information was helpful and inspiring. As always, I'm here to support you in your business journey, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter at @rudybanx Keep striving for success!
Until next time!
~Rudy
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