For the past year and a half I (Mark) have been part of an Ann Arbor, Michigan based group named GO-Tech. The common thread among the group members is that each of us is interested in making things using technology (combining hardware, software, metal, wood, etc.). I refer to it as “Do It Yourself Tech” (DIYTech). The group meets monthly to present projects and have interesting discussions. I attend when I am able; it is a fun, enriching after hours activity.

At the most recent meeting that took place on January 13th, there was a contest in which everyone was invited to build a device and demonstrate it at the meeting. As Dale (the group organizer and leader) described it:

The Five-Minute Timer Contest goal is to design a timer to time presentations at our meetings. It should semi-accurately time the presenter, and give some audible or visual indication when their time is up. Portability, coolness, and robustness will be helpful. Cool prizes supplied by O’Reilly, publishers of Make.

I created a traffic signal based timer that I named “5 Minute Signal.” The time is actually settable to one minute and up (in one minute increments). To build it, I hacked an inexpensive plastic traffic signal (about one foot tall) that I purchased from Oriental Trading Company. To control the signal and provide accurate time keeping, I used my trusty Bare Bones Board (BBB) Arduino-compatible microcontroller board. The hardware is fairly simple (the BBB, a pushbutton control switch, and 3 relays to control the red, yellow, and green lights) and the software was fun to write. I put the whole thing together the weekend before the GO-Tech meeting.

Basic operation is as you would expect: Push the button to start the timer. When the time interval is set to 5 minutes, the green light will stay on for the first 4 minutes, followed by one minute of yellow, and then red at the end of 5 minutes (the green and yellow intervals are shorter when the interval is 2 minutes or less). More details are available in these documents:

• Presentation: presentation.pdf
• Schematic Diagram: schematic.png
• Arduino Source Code: source-code.txt

The other contest entries included a very clever and well-made artificial sundial timer (by Jim) and another with a large servo-driven dial (by Don) that, if the presenter went too far over the allotted time, popped a balloon to get everyone’s attention. The meeting attendees voted and in the end I tied with the sundial for “Best Timer” and the sundial won the “Coolest Timer” award. I walked away with a copy of the Best of Instructables book (thanks O’Reilly).

There was one more 5 Minute Timer project presented at the meeting (it arrived too late for the contest). Peter put together a traffic signal based timer similar to mine that uses a full size (reclaimed) traffic signal that he purchased on eBay. His impressively polished project includes a wireless remote control (something I considered but did not have time to include), a custom printed circuit board, and a wooden project box. Schematic (PDF).

The meeting also included an interesting talk about EMC and some other presentations. Overall, it was a creative, fun and informative evening. If you are in the southeast Michigan area, I highly recommend that you attend an upcoming GO-Tech meeting

• Think about your “Top of the Mind Awareness.” What do people think of when they see you? What comes to mind when your name is spoken? What do you want them to think of? Think about about your personal brand.
• Keep the Rule of the Sevens in mind. When you meet someone:
  • In the 1st seven seconds you need to create a good first impression
  • In the 2nd seven seconds you need to create interest (for example, tell them what you can do for them).
  • In the 3rd seven seconds you can begin to tell your story.

  If you still have the other person’s attention after those first 21 seconds, you will have a successful interaction.

• Your behavior is never an accident. In other words, you have the ability to control it, and people notice what you do — so pay attention and adjust your behavior on the fly as needed.
• When you attend a networking event where your goal is to meet and greet people, follow these tips:
  • Place your name tag on your right side so people can see it when they shake hands with you. About half of us get this wrong
  • Try to maintain eye contact no less than 40% and no more than 60% of the time. Too little eye contact will label you as shifty and not to be trusted. Too much will make people think you are overly aggressive. If someone starts to back away from you, you are probably being too aggressive and making them uncomfortable.
  • When you make eye contact with someone in a business setting, focus on the triangle of space defined by their two eyes and a point in the center of their forehead. That says “I am engaged, I am authoritative.” Avoid looking at their mouth (that is good for social interactions where you do not wish to have command of the situation). And definitely avoid letting your gaze wander up and down their body — that is an intimate gaze that says “I am checking you out and I am not really engaged with what you are saying.”
  • There are a lot of nuances to a good handshake. Denise recommends a “web to web” handshake (not at the tips of the finger, avoid a bone-crushing experience). Extending your hand first puts you in a position of authority (most of the time you want that). And make sure your hands are free to shake hands with people (put down that drink and save it for later).
  • Honesty is often the best policy. If you feel trapped in a conversation and you need to go meet other people, tell the person you are talking to that you have a limited amount of time and that you need to circulate (and offer to meet them for lunch or another time to talk more).
• A good formula for success in your business interactions is to have Self-Confidence which allows for Rapport building, which leads to Trust (the cornerstone of any good relationship), and mutual Respect.

There were a lot of people at the event. Maybe they came to enjoy the catered lunch from Zingerman’s Deli. But they most likely went back to work having enjoyed a full serving of personal development ideas.