Ever told yourself you’d “start your own firm one day?” 🤔 Most civil engineers have, but they kick it down the road because they don’t know what it takes.

If that’s you, this interview with Daniel Bressler is a must. He’s a Structural Engineer who walked the walk you’re planning to walk. 

In this episode, he breaks down the big “Aha! moment” that got him to take the leap, the experience dilemma you’ll face, and the big difference between running a firm and doing the engineering work to prevent yourself from just getting another job once you get started.

If working for yourself is on your radar, go give this one a listen.

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

• Why He Started His Own Engineering Firm...Despite Not Wanting to

• The Experience Dilemma to Start a Firm: Do You Have Enough of It...or Will You Ever?

• The Difference Between Owning Your Job and Owning Your Company (Live By This!)

• The Advantages of a LLC That Make It a Good Move for All Engineers

• How to Get a Business Education to Grow Your Firm as a Civil Engineer

• The Two Biggest Business Challenges Every Newly Founded Firm Face

• The (Realistic) Value of the Brutal SE Exam

• How He Organized Himself to Get His PE After Grad School

• A BIG Mistake He Made After Graduating (That You Should Never Make!)

• 2 Reasons Why Keeping in Touch With Your Classmates Can Help You at Work

• Our Hot Takes on the Value of a Master's Degree: Is It Worth it?

• ASCE Resources He Used to Get Ahead — in School and Beyond

• 2 Pieces of Advice He Gives to Anyone Getting Started in Structural Engineering

  
  

🚨 OUR NEW YEAR SALE IS LIVE 🚨

Discount: 20% OFF any review course

Code at Checkout: NEWYEARSALE

Deadline: February 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM MST.

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

CEA Podcast Ep #312 (SE Exam)

CEA Podcast #229 (Colten Johnson)

ASCE Structural Engineering Institute (SEI)

ASCE Mentor Match

ASCE Collaborate Community

ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition

ASCE Steel Bridge Competition

2023 ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering

Brooklyn College

New York University

💬 CONNECT WITH DANIEL:

LinkedIn

Company Website

🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:

The Civil FE Startup Guide

The Civil PE Startup Guide

FREE CFM® Course Module

🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:

Civil FE Review Course

Civil PE Review Courses

CFM® Review Course

📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:

FE Practice Exams

FE CBT Exam Simulator

PE Bonus Theory Questions

PE Practice Exams

PE CBT Exam Simulator

CFM® Practice Exam

FE Environmental Practice Exam

PE Environmental Practice Exam

📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!

Website

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Free CEA Community

LinkedIn

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[email protected]