Most engineers don’t fail because they lack technical ability. They fail because they walk into their first job with the wrong mindset. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down exactly what to do in your first 90 days after getting hired. Not theory, practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately to build momentum, earn trust, and separate yourself fast.

Key Topics Covered

• Why your degree doesn’t prepare you for real-world engineering
• The critical mistake new hires make by trying to change systems too early
• How to learn company systems and processes fast and actually use them
• The difference between learning your job vs. learning how the company operates
• How to identify expectations of your role and execute against them
• Why asking better questions accelerates your growth more than raw intelligence
• How to reverse-engineer success by studying high performers
• The truth about output: why volume of work matters early in your career
• Why effort and reps beat talent in your first year
• How failing fast early builds long-term leverage and confidence

Actionable Steps

• Spend your first 30 days learning systems, tools, and processes inside and out
• Ask for SOPs, documentation, and workflows. Study them aggressively
• Identify who owns what and how work actually flows through the company
• In days 30–60, define your role clearly and document expectations
• Ask high performers how they succeeded and look for patterns
• Build a “battle plan” for the skills that actually matter in your role
• Prioritize output. Do more work than expected and deliver it on time
• Ask questions constantly until things click. Don’t guess blindly
• Put in extra reps early, inside or outside work, to close the experience gap
• Fail quickly while stakes are low so you don’t fail when it matters

Who This Episode Is For

• New graduates about to start or just started their first engineering job
• Engineers in their first year who feel lost or overwhelmed
• High performers who want to accelerate their growth early
• Engineers tired of guessing and wanting a clear execution plan
• Anyone who wants to become indispensable, not just competent

Why It Matters

Your first 90 days set the tone for your reputation, your trajectory, and your opportunities. This is where trust is built, habits are formed, and momentum is created. If you show up with urgency, ownership, and output, you separate yourself fast. If you don’t, you blend in and fall behind. The gap compounds quickly.

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Most engineers don’t struggle because of technical ability. They struggle because they never learn how to communicate, show presence, and lead conversations. In this episode, we bring back communication expert Salvatore Manzi to break down what it actually takes to be heard, trusted, and followed. Not theory, practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately to how you show up in meetings, conversations, and high-stakes moments.

Key Topics Covered
• Why technical skill alone will never make you influential
• The three pillars of communication: content, delivery, and presence
• What “presence” actually means and how to build it intentionally
• Confidence vs. command vs. trust and how they show up in the room
• Why engineers lose credibility when they guess instead of clarify
• The “Here’s what I know / Here’s what I don’t know” framework
• How to handle pressure, curveballs, and executive questioning
• Why most conflict comes from unspoken preferences and expectations
• The power of assuming positive intent and reframing conversations
• How to earn trust by aligning your actions with your values

Actionable Steps
• Practice “Here’s what I know / Here’s what I don’t know” in daily conversations
• Speak within the first 5 minutes of any meeting to establish presence
• Paraphrase what others say before responding to improve clarity and trust
• Pause intentionally when speaking to control pace and command attention
• Define your top 5 values and use them to guide decisions and behavior
• Enter conversations with a clear goal and a question you need answered
• Address conflict by identifying preferences instead of arguing positions
• Use “Oops, Ouch, Wow” to reset boundaries without escalating tension
• Reframe emotional reactions by assuming positive intent first
• Build repetition through low-stakes practice so it shows up under pressure

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who feel overlooked despite strong technical performance
• Early-career professionals who want to stand out and be taken seriously
• High performers struggling with communication or executive presence
• Engineers dealing with conflict, misalignment, or difficult conversations
• Anyone ready to move from individual contributor to leader

Why It Matters
You don’t get recognized for what you know. You get recognized for what you can communicate, influence, and execute. Presence drives visibility. Visibility drives trust. And trust is what creates real career growth. If you can’t lead the room, someone else will.

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To learn the ins and outs of Salvatore's approach to clear and compelling communication, you can pre-order the re-release of his awesome book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/clear-and-compelling-salvatore-manzi/1148510383?ean=9798895740347

Most engineers don’t struggle with anxiety because they have too much to do. They struggle because they don’t take action on the right things. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down how anxiety shows up in your career, what’s actually causing it, and how to eliminate it through execution. Not theory, practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately to regain control of your time, energy, and performance.

Key Topics Covered:
• Why most workplace anxiety is tied to avoidance, not workload
• How to identify the 1–2 real drivers behind your stress
• The concept of “spiraling” and how engineers trap themselves mentally
• Why action is the fastest way to reduce anxiety
• How overplanning and perfectionism create paralysis
• The 3–5 task rule to regain control of your day
• Why reps and repetition eliminate fear in presentations and interviews
• How practicing adjacent skills builds real confidence
• The danger of judging your own execution too early
• How to separate what you can control vs what you can’t

Actionable Steps:
• Identify the exact 1–2 things causing your anxiety, not the noise
• Take immediate action on what you can control, even if imperfect
• Write down your top 3–5 priorities for the day and execute them fully
• Limit your task list to what you can realistically complete
• Use time blocks or focused work sessions to create momentum
• If something can’t be solved today, create a clear plan for tomorrow
• Stop waiting for the “perfect” approach before starting
• Build reps through low-stakes practice before high-stakes moments
• Avoid self-judgment while you’re still in the learning phase
• Eliminate or ignore stressors that are completely outside your control

Who This Episode Is For:
• Engineers who feel constantly overwhelmed but aren’t making progress
• Early-career professionals stuck in overthinking and hesitation
• High performers dealing with creeping burnout or mental fatigue
• Engineers preparing for presentations, interviews, or increased visibility
• Anyone struggling to shut off work and be present outside of it

Why It Matters:
Anxiety isn’t just a feeling. It’s a signal that something is unresolved. If you don’t take control of it, it will drain your energy, reduce your performance, and stall your career growth. Engineers who learn to act decisively, focus on what matters, and build confidence through execution separate themselves fast.

Where to Listen:
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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do

Most engineers believe that if they work hard enough, someone will eventually notice and give them the opportunity they want. That’s not how it works. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down the reality of career growth: every level, every opportunity, every ounce of credibility is earned. Not theory, practical, tactical advice on how to take control, build leverage, and stop waiting to be chosen.

Key Topics Covered

• Why your degree only earns you the right to start, not succeed
• The difference between being given love and earning value in the marketplace
• Why relying on “being noticed” is a losing strategy
• How top performers create their own opportunities instead of waiting
• The danger of giving your career power to your boss or company
• Why outliers (connections, luck) don’t change the rule
• How skill-building compounds and separates engineers over time
• The concept of earning more per unit of effort through leverage
• Why early career is your highest energy, highest growth window
• The mindset shift from expecting to earning everything

Actionable Steps

• Audit your current skill gaps honestly and write them down
• Identify the skills required for your next role, not your current one
• Build those skills outside of work through projects, learning, and repetition
• Stop waiting for permission, start creating visible output
• Expand your network intentionally with people who are already where you want to be
• Invest in coaching, mentorship, or paid learning if needed
• Take ownership of your career path instead of blaming your environment
• Increase your output and consistency, especially early in your career
• Track your progress and adjust where you spend your energy
• Ask yourself weekly: “What did I earn this week?”

Who This Episode Is For

• Engineers early in their career trying to stand out
• High performers who feel overlooked or stuck
• Engineers relying too heavily on their company for growth
• Anyone frustrated that opportunities aren’t coming fast enough
• Engineers who want more control over their career trajectory

Why It Matters

Your career doesn’t move because you deserve it. It moves because you’ve built the skills, reputation, and output that make you impossible to ignore. When you take ownership and focus on earning your next level, you gain control over your trajectory, your energy, and your long-term impact.

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Most engineers don’t struggle because of technical gaps. They struggle because they rely on what others “should” do instead of taking ownership of the outcome. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down why that mindset stalls your career and how to replace it with a standard that actually drives results. Not theory, practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately to lead better, communicate clearly, and execute at a higher level.

Key Topics Covered

• Why the word “should” is one of the most dangerous habits in engineering
• The hidden cost of relying on others to “just know” what to do
• How ownership separates high performers from average contributors
• Why leadership, communication, and ownership are inseparable
• The difference between expecting outcomes vs ensuring outcomes
• How to audit yourself before blaming teammates, vendors, or clients
• Why most “time constraints” are actually priority decisions
• The trap of staying in your lane instead of driving the full outcome
• How top engineers remove ambiguity instead of complaining about it
• When ownership means changing people, systems, or strategy

Actionable Steps

• Eliminate “they should” from your vocabulary immediately
• Before escalating an issue, ask: have I done everything required to make this succeed?
• Over-communicate expectations until there is zero ambiguity
• Break down complex requirements into simple, actionable steps for others
• Identify what actually drives the outcome, then prioritize it aggressively
• Audit your time daily and cut low-value distractions
• If you lack time, either reprioritize or communicate for more resources
• Ask one simple question: does this increase or decrease the likelihood of success?
• Step outside your role when needed to ensure the team wins
• If outcomes still fail after full ownership, evaluate people, process, or structure

Who This Episode Is For

• Engineers early in their career who feel stuck or overlooked
• High performers frustrated with teammates, vendors, or leadership
• Engineers moving into leadership who need to own outcomes, not tasks
• Anyone blaming external factors instead of driving results
• Professionals who want more control over their career trajectory

Why It Matters

Your career is built on outcomes, not intentions. When you stop relying on what others should do and start ensuring what must be done, everything changes. Your visibility increases. Your results improve. And your reputation shifts from contributor to leader.

Where to Listen

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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

Many engineers feel stuck early in their careers. The pay isn’t what they expected. The work isn’t challenging. Recognition feels slow. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down the uncomfortable truth most people avoid: you’re not where you want to be because you don’t have the skills to get there yet. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice for engineers who want to take ownership of their growth, develop the right skills, and stop giving their power away to excuses, blame cycles, or vague goals.

Key Topics Covered
• Why feeling “stuck” in your career is often a skill problem, not a system problem
• The blame cycle that keeps engineers frustrated and powerless
• Why early-career engineers expect challenging work before earning it
• How technical skills alone rarely create visibility, promotions, or influence
• The overlooked career skills most engineers never intentionally develop
• Why feedback is the fastest way to uncover blind spots holding you back
• How successful professionals identify the exact skills required to level up
• The difference between emotional thinking and objective self-evaluation
• Why most people defend their excuses instead of solving the real problem

Actionable Steps
• Identify the exact outcome you want in your career and define it clearly
• Ask yourself objectively what skills are required to achieve that outcome
• Seek feedback from managers, peers, or mentors to identify blind spots
• Ask people ahead of you in your field what skills actually matter
• Remove vague language like “I can’t” or “they won’t let me” from your thinking
• Focus on becoming excellent at solving harder and more valuable problems
• Build communication and self-advocacy skills alongside technical ability
• Regularly evaluate whether your daily work is building the right skills
• Treat skill development as your primary responsibility early in your career

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers early in their career who feel stuck or overlooked
• High performers who want faster career growth and bigger opportunities
• Engineers frustrated by lack of recognition or advancement
• Professionals who want to take ownership of their career trajectory
• Anyone ready to replace excuses with execution

Why It Matters
Careers accelerate when engineers stop waiting for opportunity and start building the skills that create it. The engineers who rise fastest are the ones who evaluate themselves honestly, identify the skills they lack, and relentlessly close those gaps. Ownership of your growth is what turns potential into impact.

Where to Listen
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Five generations are working side by side right now. Different values. Different expectations. Different definitions of loyalty, purpose, and leadership. If you cannot navigate that reality, your career will stall. In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Preece, leadership facilitator and executive coach with a background in the Marine Corps, law enforcement, logistics leadership, and defensive tactics instruction. This is not theory. This is practical, tactical advice on how engineers win influence across generational lines.

Key Topics Covered:
• Why technical skill is only a checkbox and influence is the real differentiator
• The entitlement trap that quietly derails young engineers
• Loyalty versus purpose and how generational values are shifting
• The difference between hard skills and soft skills in hiring and promotion
• Emotional intelligence broken down into self awareness, self management, and relationship management
• Why you are not paid to be right but to solve the problem
• The 1-3-1 framework for bringing solutions instead of complaints
• How to build influence without manipulation
• Why hiring managers prioritize coachability over credentials
• The mistake of chasing being liked instead of being respected

Actionable Steps:
• Define the real problem before reacting. Ask why five times
• Bring three solutions before escalating anything upward
• Pick one solution and execute instead of waiting for permission
• Track relationships intentionally. Know what matters to the people around you
• Read Never Split the Difference and apply tactical empathy immediately
• Ask in interviews, If I could solve one problem for this team, what would it be
• Follow up interviews with three ways you would solve that problem
• Stop leading with your resume. Lead with value
• Count to three and initiate the hard conversation
• Invest in yourself first. You cannot be impactful to others if you are not disciplined personally

Who This Episode Is For:
• Early career engineers struggling to gain traction
• High performers frustrated by cross functional friction
• Engineers who want to move into leadership without losing technical edge
• Overlooked ICs who know they can do more
• Anyone navigating generational tension at work

Why It Matters:
Technical expertise might get you hired. It will not guarantee influence. In a five generation workforce, the engineer who can listen, adapt, communicate, and coach will outperform the one who simply wants to be right. Influence drives visibility. Visibility drives opportunity. Opportunity drives career growth.

Where to Listen:
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Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts

If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

What do you do when you’re the only engineer in the company? No senior mentor. No technical lead. No one reviewing your designs. Most engineers see that as a disadvantage. We see it as leverage. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down how being the only engineer can fast-track your growth if you approach it correctly. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice you can use immediately.

Key Topics Covered:
• Why being the only engineer is a strategic advantage, not a career setback
• How ownership is handed to you by default when no one else can take it
• The power of relentless curiosity in accelerating technical growth
• Using AI, forums, and online resources as your modern mentorship layer
• Why technical knowledge is becoming commoditized and what actually differentiates you
• How to leverage machinists, electricians, fabricators, and technicians as real-world teachers
• Turning mistakes into fast feedback loops instead of confidence killers
• Becoming the translator between the shop floor and leadership
• How small companies create disproportionate learning velocity

Actionable Steps:
• Invest in yourself through paid groups, communities, or industry forums
• Build a personal knowledge stack using podcasts, books, and technical resources
• Use AI tools to pressure-test designs and create rapid test plans
• Ask better questions daily. Write them down and pursue answers relentlessly
• Spend time on the floor with the people building and installing your work
• Document experiments and lessons learned to create your own internal playbook
• Volunteer for cross-functional exposure outside pure engineering
• Treat every mistake as data, not identity
• Track measurable impact so you can quantify your ownership on your resume

Who This Episode Is For:
• Early-career engineers who feel unsupported or isolated
• Engineers at startups or small companies with no senior technical guidance
• High performers who want faster growth instead of comfort
• Individual contributors who want to build real leadership leverage
• Anyone stuck waiting for someone else to “teach” them

Why It Matters:
Isolation either slows you down or sharpens you. If you wait for direction, you stall. If you lean into ownership, curiosity, and execution, you accelerate. The engineers who learn to operate without constant supervision build resilience, visibility, and leverage that compounds for years.

Where to Listen:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts

If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.