Engineering
Scars, Side Hustles, and Second Chances
Lessons from restarting my engineering consultancy and never relying on one income stream again
Thomas Ott
Licensed PE & AI Advisor at WWT. I bridge the gap between AI hype and operational reality. I build the "Active Intelligence" frameworks required for resilient, high-stakes engineering. Free: Strategy. Paid: The proprietary SOPs I use to lead.
AI
Falling Off the Corporate Ladder Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
How I turned a layoff into an opportunity, built new income streams, and discovered an unexpected calling
Riding the Future: What China’s High-Speed Rail and EV Boom Revealed to Me
A civil engineer’s firsthand look at how China builds modern infrastructure—and why the U.S. keeps falling behind
Engineering
Engineering, Creativity, and the Dance of Life: A Father's Journey
From late-night study sessions to guiding my daughter’s path, how engineering shaped my perseverance, creativity, and life philosophy
Career
Rebuilding After Layoffs: A 54-Year-Old’s Journey to Reinvent Income and Purpose
Exploring the crossroads of consulting, product creation, and trading in a shifting career landscape
Report
Year in Review: Building Success and Exploring What's Next
How a single word shaped my 2024 and why 2025 is all about curiosity, growth, and adventure
Startups
Riding the Great Wave: Lessons in Purpose, Perseverance, and Teamwork
How one painting, a career at H2O, and life’s storms taught me to find meaning in the big waves
Career
Wake Up from the 9-to-5 Dream: Redefining Work in an Unstable World
How to thrive amidst broken systems, distrust, and job market volatility
AI
Be Bold, Be Brave, And You'll Be Fine
Navigating Uncharted Waters: Lessons on Resilience, Reinvention, and Bold New Beginnings
Startups
Laid Off: Lessons in Purpose and Reinvention
Choosing purpose, valuing people, and redefining success at any age
Startups
Go Beyond The SWOT Analysis For Strategic Planning
Discover startup strategic planning techniques beyond SWOT analysis and explore alternative frameworks for startup success
Python
Why Civil Engineers Shouldn't Choose Between Python and Excel—Use Both
From Excel Templates to Python Scripts: A Veteran Engineer's Take on Productivity and the Future of Engineering Workflows