Engineer Your Success

Engineer Your Success

By Dr. James BryantBusinessEducationSelf-ImprovementCareersManagement
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Engineer Your Success episodes

  • What's the Problem with Wanting More? Career Advice for Ambitious Engineers | EP 197

    What if the guilt you feel about wanting more in your career isn't a character flaw, it's actually a sign you're ready for your next level of growth?

    In this episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant talks with Jake Kennington, a practicing structural engineer and coach, about the struggle ambitious professionals face when they have "everything" but still want more. From working 4 days a week to pursue entrepreneurship to using engineering principles for life design, Jake shares why "constructive discontent" is actually healthy and how to build a strong foundation for both career and personal fulfillment.

    You'll discover Jake's "strong beam, stronger column" philosophy, learn his three essential habits for personal development, and understand why wanting more isn't selfish, it's strategic. Whether you're feeling stuck in a good job or guilty about your ambitions, this episode will help you embrace growth without compromising gratitude.

    ⏱️ Key Moments in the Episode

    00:00 – Constructive Discontent: Jake's honest struggle with wanting more despite having "so much"

    01:45 – From Math to Structures: Jake's journey through different engineering disciplines
    03:25 – Small Firm vs. Large Firm: Why new engineers should start small, then scale up
    05:44 – The "More" Dilemma: How to articulate what you really want in your career
    09:03 – Going Back: Jake's strategic return to a smaller firm for work-life design
    12:21 – Strong Beam, Stronger Column: Engineering principles applied to life balance
    17:22 – Three Life-Changing Habits: Morning routines, reflective writing, and creative projects
    20:42 – Role Reversal: Jake interviews James about faith integration and business evolution

    👤 Guest Information

    Jake Kennington – Structural Engineer & Human Engineer Coach

    Licensed structural engineer with 10+ years experience | Works 4 days/week practicing, 1 day coaching
    🌐 humanengineercoach.com | Specializes in one-on-one coaching for engineers and engineering leaders

    💡 Key Insights & Takeaways

    • "Constructive discontent" allows you to be grateful while still pursuing growth
    • Career paths don't have to be linear—you're allowed to change your mind
    • Personal life is your foundation ("stronger column") that supports your career ("strong beam")
    • Small firms offer broad exposure; large firms provide deep, specialized experience
    • Most people are motivated by either gaining something or avoiding pain, know which drives you

      • 🧠 Notable Quotes

      "There's this idea of a constructive discontent, you can be grateful for what you have and still want more." — Jake Kennington

      "I prefer strong beam, stronger column. Our personal life—who we are and how we spend our time outside of our career—is actually more important than what we do in our careers." — Jake Kennington

      🔧 Jake's Three Essential Habits

      1. Own Your Morning: Read, write, run—focus on mental and physical health before work demands
      2. Daily Reflective Writing: Journal to extract wisdom from experiences and decisions
      3. Creative Projects: Lead something outside your day job to exercise different muscles

        4. 🎙️ About Engineer Your Success

        Engineer Your Success equips technical professionals and business owners to become confident, purpose-driven leaders who thrive at work and at home.

        Through executive coaching, business consulting, and strategic content solutions, we help you:

        • Lead with clarity and communicate with impact
        • Build aligned systems that support your values
        • Avoid burnout while achieving professional success
        • Transform from technical expert to influential leader

          • 🔗 Connect With Us

          Learn more at engineeryoursuccessnow.com

          Follow Dr. James Bryant | https://sleek.bio/jbryant

           

          24 min
        • Leadership and Communication Strategies for Engineers Straight from the Baseball Field | EP 193 With Brain Wagner
          Episode Overview
          In this episode of Engineer Your Success, Dr. James Bryant interviews Brian Wagner, a professional engineer with over 20 years of experience who draws fascinating parallels between baseball and engineering leadership. Brian discusses his new book "Rounding The Bases: Winning Communication and Leadership for Engineers" and shares insights on effective communication across different audiences.
          Timestamps
          00:00 - 01:00: Introduction and pre-roll clip about baseball and engineering
          01:00 - 02:00: Brian introduces himself and his engineering background
          02:00 - 05:00: The story behind Brian's baseball jersey and the book concept
          05:00 - 08:00: Curtis Parch's story and lessons on adapting to your audience
          08:00 - 10:00: How definitions of success evolve throughout your career
          10:00 - 15:00: Brian's career journey from high school drafting to professional engineer
          15:00 - 18:00: Discussion on engineering education vs. practical communication skills
          18:00 - 21:00: Breaking down different types of people engineers interact with
          21:00 - 22:00: Book information and how to connect with Brian
          Guest Information
          Brian Wagner
          Professional Engineer with 20+ years of experience in land development engineering
          Background in public safety and emergency management
          Author of "Rounding The Bases: Winning Communication and Leadership for Engineers"
          Website: brianwagner.co
          Connect with Brian on LinkedIn
          Key Points Discussed
          How baseball terminology and engineering jargon create similar communication challenges
          The importance of adapting your communication style to different audiences
          Brian's unconventional career path from hand drafting to professional engineering
          The value of practical experience in developing effective communication skills
          How your definition of success evolves throughout your career
          Three types of people engineers typically interact with and how to communicate with each
          Notable Quotes
          "You don't have to be the smartest person in the room, but if you have the ability to communicate and connect the dots, you become the most useful person in the room." - Brian Wagner
          "Technical expertise will get you in the door. It'll get you to that table. It'll bring you to the opportunity. But having strong communication and leadership skills is what sets you apart." - Brian Wagner
          "Engineers are great communicators when they're talking to other engineers... But when you are forced to talk to someone that has a different perspective, that's where the communication challenges come in." - Dr. James Bryant
          Key Takeaways
          Be willing to change and make adjustments to your communication style
          Recognize that different stakeholders speak different "languages"
          Avoid using technical jargon and acronyms when communicating with clients
          View communication challenges as opportunities for growth
          Success is defined differently at different stages of your career
          Resources Mentioned
          "Rounding The Bases: Winning Communication and Leadership for Engineers" by Brian Wagner
          Available on Amazon
          Connect With Us
          Visit www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com for more resources on leadership and communication
          Follow Engineer Your Success on social media
          Subscribe to our podcast for more episodes on engineering leadership
          James Bryant | SleekBio
          About Engineer Your Success
          Engineer Your Success helps technical professionals develop the leadership and communication skills needed to excel in their careers. We believe you don't have to choose between success and sanity - you can thrive in both your professional and personal life.
          23 min

        About Engineer Your Success

        From the publisher's feed

        Expert interviews and leadership insights for engineering leaders and technical professionals who want to Win at Work AND Win at Home. Hosted by Dr. James Bryant, P.E., this podcast equips you with…