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Welcome to The Wave Engineering Newsletter, your weekly guide to the cutting edge of engineering. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an eager student, or simply curious about innovation, we’re here to inform, inspire, and connect.

More than just a newsletter, we tell the human stories behind the tech—spotlighting the innovators, dreamers, and changemakers shaping our world. Backed by insights from Pipeline Design & Engineering and the Being an Engineer Podcast, we deliver the latest advancements, impactful collaborations, and stories that redefine what’s possible.

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Which emerging technology do you believe will most dramatically transform your engineering discipline in the next 5 years, and how are you preparing for that shift today?

As engineers, we exist at a fascinating crossroads. We're trained to pursue technical excellence and efficiency, yet our solutions must ultimately succeed in a marketplace driven by perception and narrative. This tension isn't new, but what's changing is how we navigate it. The most successful engineers I meet aren't just technical experts; they're capable of leading themselves through this complex territory without losing their technical integrity or market relevance.

This weeks newsletter explores this critical intersection. We'll examine how circular economy principles apply not just to materials and products, but to our thinking processes. We'll look at specific techniques for bridging the engineering-marketing divide without compromising either discipline. And perhaps most importantly, we'll discuss strategies for self-leadership that allow you to maintain your technical north star while still translating your innovations into market-ready solutions.

The engineering challenges of tomorrow won't be solved by technical expertise alone, nor by perfect market positioning. They'll be solved by engineers who can recycle and integrate both perspectives through thoughtful self-leadership. This is where true innovation happens – in the circular pipeline between what's possible and what's needed.

Let's explore how you can position yourself at the center of this flow.

After a decade developing cardiovascular devices, I've witnessed a seismic shift in our industry: single-use medical devices are going circular.

The $3.3 billion reprocessed device market is growing at 16.2% annually, with cardiovascular devices leading at 56% market share. Even complex IVUS catheters with ultrasound transducers are now FDA-cleared for reprocessing, saving hospitals hundreds per procedure.

What's driving this? Medicare reimbursement cuts and environmental concerns have forced a fundamental rethinking of device design. Engineers now build for multiple use cycles from day one-considering disassembly, cleaning access, and material durability as primary design elements.

The impact is substantial: hospitals save approximately $600,000 annually while diverting tons of medical waste from landfills.

This isn't just smart business-it's a revolution in medical device engineering that's reshaping how we design, validate, and conceptualize healthcare technology.

Read the full article for an in-depth analysis of this transformation and what it means for the future of medical device engineering.

Engineers excel at precision, but this perfectionistic approach can become their biggest obstacle when commercializing products. Scott Putnam, founder of Inventors Edge and product development veteran, calls this clash "oil and water."

"One of the biggest things engineers hate to hear is 'good enough,'" Putnam explains. While this mindset produces excellent technical results, it can delay market entry for years as engineers endlessly iterate. Meanwhile, competitors may capture the market.

The solution? Accept that in marketing, unlike engineering, "good enough is good enough." Putnam recommends getting products in front of potential partners earlier using renderings or working prototypes rather than waiting for perfection.

For commercialization, engineers can pursue either licensing (pitching to established companies) or venturing (manufacturing and selling directly). Both paths begin with research and prototyping but diverge in execution and risk/reward profiles.

Effective marketing materials – particularly a one-page sell sheet with "wow factor" and a short video – can reduce the pressure on engineers to become salespeople. Combined with strategic provisional patent applications, this approach bridges the gap between technical excellence and business success.

Read the full article to learn how Putnam's own product journey illustrates these principles and how engineers can successfully navigate the path from concept to commercial success.

In Aaron Moncur’s recent conversation with Jake Kennington, a structural engineer turned coach, we uncovered what might be the most overlooked skill in engineering education: self-leadership. While we master complex technical problems, many of us struggle with the architecture of our own lives.

Kennington introduces a powerful metaphor from structural design-the "strong column, weak beam" principle. In our lives, personal development forms the critical "column" supporting everything else, including our careers (merely one "beam"). When we reverse these priorities, focusing exclusively on professional advancement, we create an unstable structure prone to collapse.

How do you know if your column needs strengthening? Watch for two warning signs: impatience (constantly rushing without appreciating the process) and lack of excitement about work that once energized you. These symptoms emerge when professional achievement outpaces personal development.

Kennington offers three practical strategies to rebuild your foundation: "owning your morning" with routines that nourish body and soul, practicing reflective writing to learn from experiences, and pursuing creative projects beyond work constraints. These investments create the strong column supporting everything else in life.

When feeling stuck, Kennington guides engineers through a "clarity loop"-make a decision about how you want to show up, take action aligned with that decision, and gain clarity, confidence, and new opportunities through the process. As he emphasizes, "The best way to find clarity is to take action... In fact, it's the only way."

Perhaps most importantly, engineers must distinguish between what's urgent (tangible, measurable tasks with deadlines) and what's important (health, relationships, personal growth). As President Eisenhower noted, "The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent."

The message resonates clearly: Before we can effectively engineer solutions for the world, we must first engineer ourselves. Leading yourself well might be the most important engineering project you'll ever undertake-one that supports and enhances everything else you hope to build.

I've experienced this firsthand working with Jake on my own journey to fulfillment. His clarity of purpose is remarkable, and I highly recommend his coaching to anyone seeking greater alignment between their professional expertise and personal satisfaction.

For a deeper exploration of these principles and practical strategies for implementing them, read the full article in this month's newsletter.

Engineering is about solving, innovating, and connecting ideas to make a difference. Progress is a collective effort and your curiosity is what drives it forward. Thank you for exploring the dynamic world of engineering with all of us at Pipeline Design & Engineering and The Wave.

If you found value in this newsletter, share it with a friend or colleague who might enjoy it too. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new perspective, idea, or breakthrough.

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” - Steve Jobs

In collaboration and creativity,
Brad Hirayama
Blueprinting tomorrow, today