The Impactful Engineer Project - Mentorship, Career Growth, and Personal & Professional Excellence for Aspiring Engineers

Steve & Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers
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Spreading awareness, success, and accessibility to the world of engineering to aspiring and early career engineers.

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 147 - You’re Not Stuck. You’re Just Missing the Skill

    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  Spotify  Apple Podcasts  Google Podcasts  Or wherever you get your podcasts Share If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth; just like the best careers do.

    28 min

  2. MAR 16

    Episode 146 - Five Generations. One Skill That Wins. With Special Guest Geoff Preece

    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: 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.

    59 min

  3. MAR 9

    Episode 145 - Turn Isolation Into Acceleration

    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.

    17 min

  4. MAR 2

    Episode 144 - Stop Comparing. Start Competing.

    Most engineers say they want to grow. Fewer are willing to confront the mindset holding them back. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down the difference between comparative energy and competitive energy, and why one will quietly stall your career while the other accelerates it. This is not theory. This is practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately to your work, your habits, and your long term trajectory. Key Topics Covered:  • Comparative energy vs competitive energy and how each shapes your career trajectory  • Why “must be nice” thinking is a defense mechanism  • How social media success distorts your perception of reality  • The danger of trying to “balance everything” at once  • Seasons of focus vs the myth of work life balance  • Why clarity eliminates internal mental arguments  • Inputs vs outcomes and how to align them  • When to double down on a goal and when to consciously let it go  • How competitive energy sharpens execution instead of creating jealousy Actionable Steps:  • Identify one person you compare yourself to and reframe it into competition  • Ask what daily inputs created their results and reverse engineer them  • Audit where you are saying “must be nice” and replace it with “what can I learn?”  • Choose one primary focus for this season of life  • Eliminate one habit that creates internal friction or guilt  • Write down the outcome you want and list the non negotiable actions required  • Stop pursuing goals you are unwilling to execute on  • Communicate your season of focus to those closest to you  • Protect your values so you do not renegotiate them daily Who This Episode Is For:  • Engineers early in their career who feel behind  • High performers stuck in comparison cycles  • Individual contributors who want leadership influence  • Engineers feeling burned out from trying to do everything  • Anyone tired of arguing with themselves about their goals Why It Matters: Comparison drains energy. Competition directs it. When you stop explaining why someone else has an advantage and start studying what they actually did, you take control. Focused energy compounds. Clear decisions eliminate noise. That is how performance, visibility, and leadership opportunities stack up over time. 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.

    16 min

  5. FEB 23

    Episode 143 - Stop Working More. Start Building Leverage.

    Most engineers default to one solution when the pressure increases: work more hours. That might save you this week. It will not build a career. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down the Output Equation and why leverage, not volume, is the real multiplier of long term success. We talk about AI, delegation, skill stacking, systems, and the mental discipline required to stop grinding and start compounding. Not theory. Practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately. Key Topics Covered  • The Output Equation: Output equals Volume times Leverage  • Why adding hours feels productive but rarely scales  • The real definition of leverage in an engineering career  • How AI is eliminating technical knowledge as a differentiator  • Why human skills are becoming the new competitive edge  • Delegation as a force multiplier, not a weakness  • Skill stacking and mentorship as acceleration tools  • The proposal example that proves small system upgrades compound  • Why burnout is often a leverage failure, not a workload problem Actionable Steps  • Audit your week and identify where you are trading hours for output  • List three repeatable tasks you can systematize or template  • Start improving one recurring deliverable every time you touch it  • Use AI tools intentionally to compress research and drafting time  • Build a checklist for one core workflow you perform often  • Invest in one skill that increases speed or decision quality  • Delegate one task this week and document the process  • Add a “leverage improvement” step before closing major work  • Think five years ahead and ask what compounds versus what burns you out Who This Episode Is For  • Engineers stuck working longer but not advancing  • Early career professionals trying to stand out  • High performers on the edge of burnout  • Individual contributors who want leadership without losing sanity  • Ambitious engineers who want more output without sacrificing life Why It Matters Your time is fixed. Your leverage is not. Engineers who only increase volume eventually stall or burn out. Engineers who build leverage increase visibility, expand influence, and create disproportionate results. The difference between average and exceptional is rarely effort. It is multiplication. 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.

    15 min

  6. FEB 16

    Episode 142 - If You Always Need Permission, You’re Not Ready for Leadership

    Intro Too many engineers stall their careers waiting for certainty, consensus, or approval. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down how professional judgment is actually built long before you earn a senior title. This is a direct conversation about agency, decision-making, and why deferring responsibility feels safe but quietly kills momentum. Not theory, practical, tactical advice you can apply immediately to stand out, gain trust, and move faster without burning out. Key Topics Covered • Why waiting for certainty is one of the most common career-limiting habits in engineering • How constant deferral disguises itself as collaboration and delegation • The difference between sharing information and driving a decision • How to present recommendations without overstepping authority • Using partial information to move work forward responsibly • Why leaders expect engineers to guide decisions, not just supply data • How fear of being wrong suppresses growth and confidence • Borrowing judgment from others without becoming dependent • Using AI and senior engineers as thinking partners, not crutches Actionable Steps • Replace asking for answers with proposing 2 to 3 viable solutions • State your recommendation clearly and explain why you believe it is best • Use “What could break this?” to pressure-test your own ideas • Treat the urge to ask permission as a trigger to form a recommendation first • Ask who the decision is for and what outcome they actually need • Accept being wrong as part of building judgment, not a failure • Stay engaged even after pushback instead of retreating • Track how often your recommendations influence final decisions • Use tools and mentors to challenge your thinking, not replace it Who This Episode Is For • Early-career engineers who feel stuck or overlooked • High-performing ICs who want leadership without burnout • Engineers afraid of making the wrong call • Professionals who defer too often in meetings • Anyone who wants more ownership, trust, and visibility Why It Matters Careers don’t stall because of a lack of intelligence. They stall because of a lack of agency. Engineers who build judgment early earn trust faster, reduce friction for leaders, and create momentum without waiting to be told what to do. Visibility, energy, and impact all grow when you stop waiting for permission and start owning decisions. Where to Listen Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts Share If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

    22 min

  7. FEB 9

    Episode 141 – Selfless Leadership Doesn’t Mean Unlimited Tolerance

    Ambitious engineers are wired to help. To mentor. To carry extra weight when someone else is struggling. But there’s a line most engineers never learn to draw, and crossing it is how burnout starts.  In this episode, Steve Maxey and Jake Maxey, senior engineers and co-hosts of The Impactful Engineer, break down the real tension between propelling others and protecting your own energy, performance, and team. Not theory; practical, tactical advice on when helping accelerates careers… and when it quietly destroys them. Key Topics Covered • Why “being helpful” can quietly tank your performance and visibility • The difference between developing someone and carrying them • How underperformers drain teams, even with good intentions • When leadership responsibility outweighs personal loyalty • Why unlimited tolerance punishes high performers • The real cost of keeping someone afloat who won’t take ownership • When cutting bait is the most ethical decision • How standards protect culture and momentum • Why effort without progress is a warning sign Actionable Steps • Audit where your time and energy actually go each week • Identify who grows because of your help, and who depends on it • Stop compensating for repeated lack of ownership • Set clear expectations and timelines early • Escalate issues instead of silently absorbing them • Separate short-term support from long-term dependency • Protect your output and visibility • Pull back intentionally without guilt • Invest deeply where effort creates momentum Who This Episode Is For • Engineers carrying underperforming teammates • Managers drained by constant “helping” • High performers feeling overlooked or stuck • Engineers flirting with burnout • Leaders facing tough people decisions Why It Matters Leadership isn’t infinite patience, it’s disciplined energy. When engineers spend their best effort propping up the wrong people, visibility drops, performance stalls, and burnout creeps in. Knowing when to support, and when to step back, is the difference between sustained impact and silent career decay. Where to Listen Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts Share If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

    18 min

  8. FEB 2

    Episode 140 – Stop Waiting for Motivation and Do the Work Anyway

    Intro In this episode, Steve Maxey and Jake Maxey break down a hard truth most engineers avoid: the work that actually moves your career forward is often boring, repetitive, and unglamorous. This conversation isn’t about hype or inspiration; it’s about discipline, consistency, and learning to execute when motivation disappears. Not theory; practical, tactical advice from real careers and real business-building experience.   Key Topics Covered • Why boredom is a signal you’re doing the right work, not the wrong work • The danger of waiting for motivation before taking action • How distraction quietly kills momentum and career progress • Reframing mundane work as the price of the next level • Why high performers win by executing when others check out • The “do the work today” mindset vs. outcome obsession • How discipline compounds faster than talent • Parallels between fitness, career growth, and business execution • Using vision, not feelings, to stay consistent   Actionable Steps • Stop asking if you “feel like it” and ask what the work requires today • Define the next level of your career so the boring work has context • Measure success by daily execution, not short-term results • Remove easy distractions during deep work windows • Build pride in consistency, not bursts of motivation • Treat mundane tasks as a competitive advantage • Focus on finishing required work before chasing optimization • Remind yourself: no one regrets doing the work once it’s done • Use discipline as a skill you practice daily   Who This Episode Is For • Engineers feeling stuck, bored, or restless at work • Early-career engineers expecting motivation to show up first • High performers flirting with burnout or distraction • Individual contributors who want leadership-level impact • Anyone building something long-term and losing patience   Why It Matters Careers don’t stall because of lack of talent; they stall because people stop executing when the work gets dull. Energy, visibility, and trust are built by showing up consistently. If you can do the work when motivation fades, you separate yourself fast, and create opportunities others never earn.   Where to Listen Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts   Share If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth; just like the best careers do.

    18 min
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Spreading awareness, success, and accessibility to the world of engineering to aspiring and early career engineers.

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