Problem: Article: Once you realize that comparing yourself to others doesn’t work in your favor, you’ll look for additional measures of your success.  If you start to feel and express gratitude for the gifts that you do have, you will shift your focus from others to yourself. Spend more of your time focusing on the positive and good in your life. You may find that you start noticing more of it when you're not busy comparing yourself to others. A gratitude journal is a way to remind yourself of what you have. This will help you look at things that you may have taken for granted. Then, you can give appreciation to them. Think about several of your best memories. They can be things you did, places you went, friends, you spent time with, whatever makes you most happy. Focus on being grateful for those things.  By keeping a gratitude journal you can increase your chances of success.  However, just going through the motions without motivation will work against you. You need to force yourself to look at things you may have taken for granted and give appreciation to them.  Make the decision to acknowledge the depth of your gratitude and enhance your life. Write in depth. Instead of just making a laundry list of things, give a thorough explanation of a few things that make you feel grateful. Write about surprises or unexpected events. This will give you a chance to savor the good feelings that you experienced. You don’t need to write every day. In fact, writing a couple of times a week might be more beneficial than writing every day. By being kinder and less harsh with yourself, you will encourage yourself to go the extra mile and to try harder. It is tough to resist comparing yourself to others. But you are ultimately in control of your life. You make choices to lead your life in a particular way. You make decisions that are best for you, not for anybody else. It doesn’t matter what other people do or have. You are the one that matters in the course of your life.
Summary: Focus on what you have. Keep a gratitude journal. Be kind to yourself. Understand that you are in control of your life.

Problem: Article: If your vehicle was built prior to 1996, you will need an OBD I scanner.  Vehicles made after 1996 will need an OBD II scanner.  Connect the code scanner to the port beneath the dashboard and turn it on.  Once connected, use the scanner to bring up the error codes making the check engine light come on.  In some code scanners, it will provide the English description of the error code on the read out. If your code scanner does not, you will need to look up the code the scanner shows you to find out what it is. Insert the key into the ignition and start the engine.  Wait a minute for the engine idle to level off, then use a pen and paper to write down the RPMs that your engine settles and idles at.  You may need to let the engine run for a few minutes in order for it to come down to its normal idle speed. Keep the paper you write the RPMs on handy so you can compare it to the engine’s idle as you continue the test. With the idle RPMs noted, shut the vehicle back off and remove the key from the ignition.  Open the hood and locate the Idle Control Motor.  Once you locate it, disconnect it.  The way to disconnect your Idle Control Motor will vary from application to application; refer to your vehicle’s service manual for more specific instruction as to how to disconnect it. You can usually disconnect the idle control motor by unplugging the wiring clip going into it. With the Idle Control Motor disconnected, get back into the vehicle and start the engine again.  The engine should still start and run without any issue despite the idle control motor being disconnected. Be sure to tuck the wiring you disconnected up in the engine bay so it doesn’t get caught in any moving parts. Allow the engine to run for a minute so it settles to a consistent idle, then take note of any difference in the idle RPMs versus the idle you observed earlier.  If the idle has not changed at all, it’s likely because your idle control motor has not been functioning.  If the idle control motor was working, disconnecting it should have created a difference in the engine’s idle. This test confirms there’s an issue with the idle control motor, but not what the issue may be. If you identified a difference in engine idle RPMs with the Idle control motor connected and disconnected, confirm your hypothesis by reconnecting it and starting the engine again.  The idle should go back to what it was when the idle control motor was last connected. Refer to the note you took about idle RPMs to compare it to your first reading.
Summary: Use a code scanner to check error codes. Start the engine and take note of the idle RPMs. Shut the car off and disconnect the Idle Control Motor. Restart the engine. Look for a difference in idle speed. Shut off the engine and reconnect the Idle Control Motor.

Problem: Article: Research speakers and see when to use different types. Find out which cords plug into mics and which ones go between soundboards and amps. You need to know how to set up all kinds of sound equipment. You can learn these things online through tutorial videos and also in person when you can work with sound people. Some sound equipment is the same as it was years ago, but many other technologies are continuing to evolve. Staying current on your knowledge is vital. You need to know how mix and edit in music software like Pro Tools and Cubase. If you can, purchase one of these programs and begin exploring what they can do and practice editing songs. Pick a song you like and import it into the software. Practice splitting the song into parts and changing pitches and volumes.  Not all sound engineers mix new music tracks, but being able to do it will make you more versatile. It will take time to learn all of the things you can do, but it’s important to start building a foundation. Because sound engineers work with so many types of electrical equipment, you will need to learn some basic electrical safety. Learn about basic electricity, such as the difference between voltage and current. You will need to know how many pieces of equipment can be plugged into a specific power strip so you don’t blow a fuse or ruin the equipment. Taking classes in physics, for example, is a good place to start. If classes are not an option, consider an electrical safety training seminar. If you are still in school, you have access to some opportunities that others don’t. Try to get involved with the theater program, which most likely uses a sound system during plays. Productions are often mostly run by students anyway, so this is an easy way to get hands on experience in a low key setting. In college, you also have some opportunities to get involved in running sound, even if you aren’t studying it. Check in with your campus theater and see what they require for their sound people. Find out if you could start working with someone who already does it and learn from them. While you can learn on the job and get lots of experience, earning a degree shows your commitment to learning. It shows that you can work hard on something until it is complete. A degree also shows that you have been properly trained in the field. While it may not be mandatory for some jobs, it’s going to make you look better to those looking to hire quality engineers.  A typical degree might be an Associate’s or Bachelor’s of Science in Audio Engineering. The degree might also be called Sound Engineering. These degrees will tend to be a mix of music, business, and technical classes which serve to give you a well-rounded education in the field.
Summary:
Learn about sound equipment. Master music software. Research safety protocols. Get experience in high school. Earn a degree.