Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1524164
8 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2024 Marcy's Musings by Marcy LaRont, I-CONNECT007 The Art, Science, and Reality of Thriving By all accounts, the global electronics indus- try is thriving and has done so in a relatively short historical period marked by momentous technological advancement. Since the inven- tion of the working transistor in 1947—just 77 years ago—our area of electronics alone has seen the first printed circuit board, the advent of plated through-hole technology, microvias and laser drilling, and printed electronics. Par- ticularly considering the technology we sup- port, this technical arc is staggering and should inspire a sense of accomplishment, apprecia- tion, and perhaps even awe. With technology expected to advance at an exponential pace over the next 20 years, our industry must step up to the need for commensurate devel- opment, reinvention, and expansion. If we are to be relevant and prosper dur- ing these next crit- ical decades in elec- tronics, we must do more than survive. As an industry, we can and must thrive. What does it take to remain viable and grow and prosper dur- ing so much change? It takes resil- ience, which includes commitment, vision, positivity, and a willingness to adapt. Resilience is key to thriving over the long term—from an individual to a company, indus- try, and nation. Defined as a psychological response to tri- als and challenges, the primary tenets of indi- vidual resilience are acute self-awareness, self- control, good problem-solving skills, and hav- ing a supportive social network (human con- nection). Interestingly, positive psychology (the study of human flourishing) cites mindful- ness, inner strength, and human connection, along with a strong sense of gratitude, as being primary to achieving increasing levels of hap- piness. ese things are oen present in resilient individu- als and groups. When I think of cul- tural resilience, I think of my grand- parents who were born circa the turn of the last century, and lived through two world wars and the Great Depression. In America, they have been deservedly crowned "the greatest generation" and embody resiliency in a way that their descendants can never fully understand. at generation collec-