Listen to the Problem

Too often we as engineers jump in and start building a solution before understanding the problem. Whether it’s hardware or software, the first step of prototyping a new design is listening to the problem. Don’t instantly reach for your hammer to hit the nail. Look at it. Is it a screw? Maybe a rivet? Heck, maybe it’s something else entirely. Understanding the problems is the first step in knowing how to solve it. Nothing revolutionary here, just a reminder to engineers that engineering starts in your mind not your toolbox.