Sharpening the Axe

Everyone is different and everyone will find their own method of recharging. If you don't have a way to recharge, please start looking. A lot of what I've learned about myself as I grew up and am still growing is that if you listen to yourself you can figure out what you need to recharge. The Sharpening of the Axe, a story I heard over the weekend, illustrates how we can all be better, do more things, achieve greater goals and still do great things in the time we have.

I'm not sure if everyone has ever had to sharpen a knife, axe or sword recently so the metaphor may not play out for you. Introverted v Extroverted recovery. Meditation. Yoga. Running. Biking. Binge watching The Daily Show. One of these might resonate and if it does you may know how to recharge. I didn't mention work in that list because if you recharge at work I am unable to relate to that in this post. To work, heads down, no break, no interaction and constantly focused on a single goal is a very hard thing for the body to do. You breath, you blink, you shift in your seat; the body is not meant to be still for a full day at work and neither is your mind.

Each hour of each day, save when sleeping, you should Sharpen Your Axe by pulling back and realizing where you are, stretch a bit, stand up, take a walk, get a glass of water, etc. A few times a day you need to let your mind go somewhere other than work so that subconscious of yours can noodle over the problem you've been working on. Each week you need to get away completely for a bit. Don't look at your phone, answer emails, etc.

When you step away from work you are still working. You are working on you being a better self, partner, co-worker, friend and more. You need a sharper self to be a better self.

R2D2 Print

Printed out R2D2 last night.
Print Profile : n-vent mini medium settings from LulzBot.com with no adjustments.

Notes : Forgot to put down the PVA glue and had to spend some extra effort in getting on of the parts off. Print was pretty clean, some edges had a little curling near the top and I think it may be that the layer print time was to quick and did not allow the material to cool properly first.

Run time: ~4.5hrs

Cura Execution Output :

< Bed x: 0.00 y: 0.00 z: -1.36
< Bed x: 160.00 y: 0.00 z: -0.80
< Bed x: 160.00 y: 160.00 z: -0.80
< Bed x: 0.00 y: 160.00 z: -1.57
< Eqn coefficients: a: 0.00 b: -0.00 d: -1.41
< planeNormal x: -0.00 y: 0.00 z: 1.00
< Probing done!
< echo:endstops hit:  Z:-1.57
< < echo:Marlin1.0.0
< echo: Last Updated: Sep  4 2015 08:36:38 | Author: (Aleph Objects Inc, Mini-2015Q1)
< Compiled: Sep  4 2015
< echo: Free Memory: 4882  PlannerBufferBytes: 1296
< echo:Hardcoded Default Settings Loaded
< echo:Steps per unit:
< echo:  M92 X100.50 Y100.50 Z1600.00 E833.00
< echo:Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
< echo:  M203 X800.00 Y800.00 Z8.00 E40.00
< echo:Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
< echo:  M201 X9000 Y9000 Z100 E1000
< echo:Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
< echo:  M204 S2000.00 T3000.00
< echo:Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s),  Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s),  E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
< echo:  M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X12.00 Z0.40 E10.00
< echo:Home offset (mm):
< echo:  M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
< echo:PID settings:
< echo:   M301 P28.79 I1.91 D108.51

Put the Mattress Down First

I shared this weekend a method I was taught about leadership and having a hard or difficult discussion with a team member, a friend or even yourself. Mattresses are soft and there are times when you need to have a discussion that can and will be difficult. Putting the mattress down first is a technique of addressing someones positive qualities and strengths before you get to the hard stuff. A positive team player and strong communicator can also be the one who comes in late and leaves early a lot.

The Mattress: You are a positive team player and communicate well with others.
The Hard Stuff: We appreciate your energy and we need it here for the full day.

Even if you know someone really well, starting off with the difficult part of the conversation first can put them on the defensive and then less apt to hear anything else you say. The mattress is the soft spot to land when you giving the hard talk.