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SolidWorks World 2009: An Engineer’s Story of How He Got There

by Josh on October 22, 2008 · View Comments

solidworks world 2009 jeff ray ceo

Imagine for a moment, that you’re an engineer, that needs to ask his Boss to go to SolidWorks World 2009. This… is how it could go.

You: Hey Mr. Boss, can I have your ear for sec?

Boss: I’m cutting my fingernails.

You: I’ve improved our modeling to be more efficient and I’m also developing some cost saving measures. One of which includes a technical conference next year.

Boss: I had onions for dinner last night.

You: From my calculation, the conference alone, if attended by one person will have a cost saving of $3,000/month. This will increase 62% for each person we send.

Boss: Is there a choice of licorice or persimmon?

You: In all actuality, it will increase the department’s overall efficiency by 45% in design, 32% in documentation, and up to 38% in manufacturing costs.

Boss: Can you put this hat on and say, ‘where’s my juice?’

You: …There’s also new hardware technology and software I’ll evaluate there that could increase those percentages exponentially over the next 3 projects.

Boss: Can you take my son? He gets out of rehab next month?

You: …uhm …. We’ll be able to get a $100 discount if we register quickly. Shall I proceed.

Boss: Sounds neat. Take Nick in composites with you.

You: Splendid, I’ll give you all the details.

Boss: Details about what? I hate mustard! away with you!

The rest of the story written by…
YOU. Look, you want to go to SolidWorks World 2009 but you think the company won’t let you go, or you’re making excuses about not going… or you actually can’t go because you’re finally making some progress getting that pen cap out from under the edge of your cubicle. I understand.

However, there’s quite a few benefits to going…. technical sessions, other users, free stuff. Have a question about it? Ask in the comments. Need to SolidWorks to send someone to beat some sense into someone (I’ve been told they won’t actually do this) but won’t hurt to ask.

Prove it
You can look at the justifications letters or even better you can find out how to make the cost attractive at Jason Raak’s Blog. If you get just a 1% increase in productivity gain, you could be saving the company money.

If all else fails…
…get super excited and talk about it CONSTANTLY. Be that annoying, exciting person that is passionate about something other than filing cabinets and football. Just sayin’… now it’s up to you to be ‘Just doin’.

SolidWorks World 2009 is right around the corner February 8 – 11, 2009. What’s keeping you from going this year?

  • 3dSally
    Ha! - I tried. I registered on the day my company said I could go and two days later they say I couldn't. I've been wanting to go for a very long time and I thought this year would be it. NOoo...
    Guess I will be following all the blogs again this time around. Man I really wanted to meet some of you weirdos too!
  • Jeff Sweeney
    >Can you put this hat on and say, ‘where’s my juice?’

    I gotta ask...where did THIS come from?
  • uhhhm... I'll have to say, it came from the third sip of coffee I had immediately after remembering a conversation a friend and I had about oranges and taking care of the elderly. yes, that is true. he made fun of me... for taking car of an old man. I don't recall if the oranges were mentioned before or after that.
  • Don't forget you can follow SolidWorks World 2009 action on Twitter by searching for #SWW09 at search.twitter.com!

    And no, we won't harass people in person. Maybe by email if anyone REALLY thinks that would help convince his/her boss. Maybe.
  • tyler524
    I have a good reason for not asking the boss, I don't make the age requirement of 21. It's such a disappointment but I guess it saves me from trying to come up with another excuse for not asking.
  • BRS
    I feel your pain. I am not old enough to attend. I honestly think they should remove the age barrier. alas.. if I had been born just a month later I would have a slim chance of attending.. It would be a great learning exp.! next year I can plan world dominat..err.. I mean find a way to convince the powers that be to let me attend this event next year..
  • Hey Tyler, don't worry. there will undoubtedly be a lot of +21 coverage from the blogs. :)
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