The Balance | Working in Tech & Engineering, Defining what an 'asshole' is at work in STEM

Today In Space

This episode, we dive into the balance of being a human-being in a demanding and engaging career in STEM, specifically Technology & Engineering. Even more so at a place like SpaceX, Blue Origin, or NASA (to name a few).

While the job can very technical and detail oriented, there’s also the fact that you’re still a human-being and it’s a difficult challenge. You have to juggle your desire to do cool science stuff with not getting completely overwhelmed by the work to the point you have a breakdown. It is at the end of the day…a balance.

And to make it even more challenging, sometimes you deal with assholes! But we wanted to define what a true “asshole” is in STEM. Do they attack ideas or people? That’s our gauge. Which one’s the asshole?

Let’s find out - and I want to know from you what you consider an asshole at work to be? If someone is critical but sticks to the data and doesn’t attack you as a person…are they still an asshole? Is it on you? Is Elon Musk an asshole? Does this all relate to the internal SpaceX employee letter and subsequent firings? You betcha! And like most things nowadays….it’s actually complicated but frequently oversimplified. Let’s dive into the core of the problem, which is also the solution - humanity!

https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/16/23170228/spacex-elon-musk-internal-open-letter-behavior

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/technology/spacex-employees-fired-musk-letter.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/17/spacex-fires-employees-after-internal-letter-criticizes-ceo-elon-musk.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/16/elon-musk-is-addressing-twitter-employees-live-updates-from-the-meeting.html

https://twitter.com/elonmusk?s=21&t=lY5Qcecy77WO_37c9zHyjQ

00:30 Introduction 03:55 AG3D Printing - our lab is here to bring your ideas into reality...with 3D printing! 08:56 SpaceX Letter 10:56 SpaceX is a Technology company, working in Tech is difficult 11:56 Is Elon Musk an asshole? Defining the types of asshole 12:56 Ashlee Vance's book on Elon Musk is a great introduction to working in Technology 14:30 What makes an Asshole an Asshole? Do they attack ideas or people? 16:36 Tony Fadell's interview on Lex Freidman's podcast was a great example of defining assholes in technology workplaces 17:56 Examples of the different types of Assholes: Attacking ideas vs people 22:05 Make a "good deal" with yourself and a challenging STEM career 19:30+03:56 Working in engineering and technology is demanding 23:36 My time working as an Apple Genius Bar Technician prepared me for a career in technology and 3D printing 24:56 How to Make a "good deal" with yourself and a challenging STEM career 26:45 For the 1st time, I'm concerned about the culture of SpaceX and the scientific progress at risk if it's true. 28:56 The 'slow/safe progress' culture hit NASA in the 2010's because of the Space Shuttle's disasters 29:56 Science problems are best solved when the human problem is kept in check 31:36 Closing Thoughts on working in Tech & Engineering, and the human challenge of making space travel possible 32:56 We are speaking to Jim Cantrell in July!