Childhood Inspiration: Old Lawnmowers and Electric Motors

How many of us can recall how we started our journey as engineers?

Mine began when I was about five years old. That is when my mom and dad decided to buy a farm in mid-Michigan. A child’s wonderland,  the property was about 100 acres with barns and outbuildings to explore and discover. The fields, lanes, and woods were great places to spend countless hours, and the barns provided entertainment too. But as I got a little older, I was drawn to the tool shed with its long wooden bench and wall where my dad stored the hand tools and small equipment.

The tool shed is the place where my engineering journey started. The farm came with all kinds of old and interesting things, but my attraction was toward the old lawnmowers and electric motors. I knew enough not to mess with anything of use, so I focused on the ones that didn’t work anymore. But there was the challenge – to see if I could get them working again. In the back of my mind, I probably didn’t care if I ever got them working as much as I wanted to see what was inside. There was not much to those gas engines, but disassembling and cleaning the parts was fascinating to a young boy. The electric motors, with their bearings, windings, and brushes, were a different story. They were a little harder to take apart, but the wire provided a great source for other projects around the farm.

My natural curiosity drove me to dive deeper into how stuff worked. I was fascinated with those surroundings, awakening a desire to study, discover, and learn. As I reflect on those days, they were special.

Fast forward to today, and after a 25+ year career as a Mechanical Engineer and now recruiting said Engineers for other companies, my curiosity has not waned. I love to “talk shop” with the candidates I encounter and discover what makes them tick (just like the mowers and motors).

Each of us started somewhere, and each of us has a story. Reflect on yours and maybe rediscover that fascination, that enjoyment you had when you just wanted to know “what makes it tick.”