The work
Site survey first. Then a 3D AutoCAD model others could inspect before changing a dwelling. Measurements, existing structure, and proposed modifications had to stay consistent in one drawing set.
Why it still matters for Staff AI work
Staff-level AI systems still start the same way: observe the real system, encode it as a structured model, and refuse generated changes that violate constraints.
CAD was an early lesson in coordinate systems, precision, and inspectable artifacts—the same habits used later for market-data models, payment flows, and agent pipelines that must not invent state.
What I learned
Do not guess the building. Survey first, then model. That discipline still applies to trading, payments, and agent platforms: encode reality before automating it.