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

Episode 106: Guest Aaron Moncur - If You’re Not Building Energy, You’re Dying at Your Desk

Guest: Aaron Moncur, Founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering

In this episode of The Impactful Engineer Podcast, Jake and Steve sit down with Aaron Moncur—founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering and host of The Being an Engineer podcast—to talk about the career factor too many engineers ignore: energy.

Not caffeine. Not motivation. The kind of energy that keeps you clear-headed, confident, and ready to lead. The kind that fuels your career—or quietly kills it.

Aaron shares how getting laid off launched his business, what he learned about designing roles that energize instead of drain, and how engineers can stay sharp without burning out.

This one’s for the builders who feel stuck. For the quiet grinders wondering why it still doesn’t feel right. For the engineers who know they’ve got more in the tank but can’t seem to access it.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why getting laid off was the best thing that ever happened to Aaron’s career
• The task-by-task audit that changed how he worked
• How to identify what’s draining you—and fix it
• When your job is “fine” but feels soul-crushing
• Tactical ways to recharge without checking out
• How journaling and AI can supercharge self-awareness
• A 3-part model for finding your high-energy, high-impact zone
• Why productivity systems matter more than hours worked
• Creating a role inside your company—or creating your own
• Why fun side projects may hold your next move
  
  

Actionable Steps:

• List what gives and drains energy—then track it
• Rate weekly tasks by energy and impact
• Add a short weekly reflection to spot patterns
• Try Aaron’s AI journaling trick to review your mindset
• Start one habit that adds energy to your day
• Propose a project that aligns with your strengths
• Turn repeated tasks into systems that save energy
• Get a mentor or coach to check your blind spots
• Celebrate energizing wins—even the quiet ones
• Shift from “doing the work” to designing how you work

Who This Episode Is For:

• Engineers quietly burning out but still performing
• High performers feeling oddly drained
• New grads trying to find traction
• Anyone who wants to build energy instead of lose it
  
  

Why It Matters:

Energy is your fuel. If you don’t manage it, your performance, motivation, and growth will stall—no matter how smart you are. This episode shows how to track, protect, and multiply it—so you can do work that actually sustains you.

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.

Episode 105: You’re Good at Your Job. Here’s Why That’s Not Enough

In this episode of The Impactful Engineer Podcast, Jake and Steve go deep on the real career tactics that separate average engineers from top performers. No guests. No fluff. Just two seasoned professionals pulling back the curtain on what actually moves the needle—especially early in your career.

From learning to advocate for yourself to mastering meetings and building real career equity, this conversation is packed with brutally honest insights that most people wish someone told them sooner. This isn’t about doing more work—it’s about playing the right game, building the right habits, and becoming someone people trust with real responsibility.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why waiting for recognition is a career killer—and how to show your value proactively
• Knowing when it’s time to leave: how to assess toxic or stagnant work environments
• The hidden cost of saying yes to everything (and how it leads straight to burnout)
• What actually gets you promoted—and why technical skill is only part of the equation
• How to own coordination meetings, gain respect, and avoid endless RFIs
• The mindset shift from “doing the job” to “running the project”
• Why checklists, systems, and templates are the cheat code to flawless execution
• How to build internal equity—not just a resume—with each project you touch
• Using client feedback, visibility, and intentional follow-ups to grow career capital
• The value of knowing how your company actually makes money—and aligning your work accordingly

Actionable Steps:

• Stop working in silence—start explaining your decisions and linking them to client success
• Build and refine personal checklists for recurring tasks or design processes
• Run your meetings with clear agendas, defined outcomes, and next steps
• Identify three high-impact templates or calculators you use often—and formalize them
• Schedule a 30% design review with peers to pressure-test ideas early
• Start asking business questions: how does your company win work? What’s the profit driver?
• Keep a running lessons-learned doc—and revisit it before each new project
• Track wins that matter (cost saved, timeline protected, errors prevented) and make sure people know
• Carve out time to turn your work into reusable systems before moving on

Who This Episode Is For:

• Early- and mid-career engineers trying to break into leadership roles
• Individual contributors who feel overlooked or undervalued
• Project engineers, PMs, or tech leads trying to manage teams and outcomes better
• Anyone who wants to stop spinning their wheels and start building real momentum

Why It Matters:
You can do great work and still get passed over. In today’s fast-paced engineering world, visibility, prioritization, and proactive leadership are just as important as technical skill. This episode shows you how to shift from just doing your job to becoming the engineer people rely on to move things forward—fast, accurately, and with impact.

Where to Listen:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Or wherever you get your podcasts

If something in this episode struck a chord, share it. With your team, your boss, your mentee—whoever needs to hear it. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth, just like the best careers do.

Episode 104: Your Habits Are the Ceiling on Your Career

In this episode of The Impactful Engineer Podcast, Jake and Steve revisit one of the most important drivers of long-term success: your habits. Whether you’re trying to move up in your role, communicate more confidently, or just feel better every day—this conversation digs into how your lifestyle directly impacts your career as an engineer.

From fitness and nutrition to cluttered workspaces, sleep, reading, and building relationships—this episode gets real about what it actually takes to perform at a high level. It’s not about adding more to your plate—it’s about refining how you show up, what you repeat, and who you become in the process.

Key Topics Covered:

• How physical appearance, hygiene, and presence affect your influence as an engineer
• The silent energy drain of a messy work or home environment
• Why “look good, feel good, perform better” is backed by more than just good vibes
• Realistic ways to improve sleep, clean eating, and basic movement—even with a packed schedule
• How reading, podcasts, and learning routines build confidence and keep your edge sharp
• Why social reps matter—and how to intentionally connect with peers and future collaborators
• How your network creates opportunities faster than skills alone
• Using daily conversations to build trust, grow visibility, and avoid becoming invisible at work
• How high-level engineers and VPs succeed: it’s not just skill—it’s who they know and how they connect

Actionable Steps:

• Clean your workspace and sleeping space—your brain will thank you
• Replace late-night scrolling with a book or a short audio learning session
• Create a standing weekly lunch or walk with someone in or outside your team
• Make a short list of people to reconnect with professionally—start small
• Add a 10-minute daily walk or basic workout to reset your energy
• Buy and cook whole foods—cut out processed snacks for one week and feel the difference

Who This Episode Is For:

• Engineers looking to level up professionally through better life structure
• Professionals stuck in “grind mode” and feeling depleted
• Team leads or technical managers looking to set a higher standard for themselves and others
• Anyone who’s ready to take control of how they show up in their work and in life

Why It Matters:

Your technical skills are only part of the story. What you do every day—the way you eat, rest, learn, and communicate—sets your ceiling. This episode is about lifting that ceiling by tightening your habits and being intentional about how you live and connect.

Where to Listen:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Or wherever you get your podcasts

If something in this episode hit home, tell someone. Share it directly with a friend or colleague. The best way to grow this show is through word of mouth—and the best way to grow your career is to take what you hear here and put it into practice.

Episode 103: Your Habits Are the Ceiling on Your Career

In this episode of The Impactful Engineer Podcast, Jake and Steve dive deep into the daily habits that separate high-performing engineers from the rest. Technical skill might get your foot in the door, but it’s your personal systems—your sleep, your diet, your routines, your communication style—that determine whether you level up or burn out.

This conversation explores how simple, repeatable actions drive clarity, energy, and trust across engineering teams. Whether you’re running projects, leading teams, or building your reputation from the ground up, the way you show up every day matters more than you think.

Key Topics Covered:

• The connection between professional perception and personal hygiene
• Why a clean workspace boosts focus and mental performance
• How diet, exercise, and sleep impact your work output as an engineer
• Building your personal brand through responsiveness and follow-through
• The career cost of ghosting coworkers, PMs, or clients
• Daily learning habits that keep your thinking sharp and adaptive
• How to stop isolating yourself and start creating career leverage through relationships

Tactical Action Steps:

• Deep-clean your work environment to improve energy and reset your mindset
• Set a consistent bedtime and use it to anchor your day
• Build a short, repeatable daily movement routine
• Start reading again—10 minutes a night can sharpen your edge
• Schedule a lunch, coffee, or 15-minute call with someone outside your core team
• Reconnect with a former colleague or client and ask what they’re working on

Why This Episode Matters:

Many engineers unknowingly cap their career potential by neglecting the habits that build trust, increase visibility, and improve decision-making under pressure. If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck despite working hard, this episode gives you the playbook to shift from reactive to intentional—and build momentum that lasts.

This episode is for:

• Engineers at any level who want to grow in their career
• Project managers and team leads focused on building trust and performance
• Professionals trying to balance execution with long-term growth
• Anyone in technical fields ready to tighten up their routines and get back control

Listen now on:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Or wherever you listen to podcasts

If this episode helped you rethink your approach, share it with your team or forward it to a peer. Strong engineering culture starts with individual consistency—and that starts with you.

*****************************************************************************************
Let's dive in!

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well. 

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life. 

The Impactful Engineer Podcast is one small step towards the ultimate vision.

What you will learn/gain from the Podcast:

• Engineers' perspectives around career success from people who are in it and have done it. 
• Tools, tips, and other strategic thinking around the world of engineering work. 
• Mindsets around success as an engineer, both high level and day-to-day.
• Fun conversations with guests that have a lot to offer. 
• Encouragement to pursue you highest potential and why it matters. 

The Project hopes to achieve/provide:

• Full ride engineering undergraduate scholarships in all states. 
• Awareness and encouragement for all aspiring engineers.
• Paid internships for students looking to get hands on experience working for industry professionals. 
• A "leg up" on the competition by giving people the tools and mindset to achieve their ultimate goals.

*****************************************************************************************

Please submit any feedback you have to the email below. Extending awareness and reach is critical, so as many people benefit from what this community will become as possible. That only happens with your help. We can't do it alone!

Visit our page @ www.impactfulengineer.com

Submit your questions, feedback, criticisms, favorite gifs... to:

[email protected]

Find us on LinkedIn @The Impactful Engineer

We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the show.

You do not want to miss this episode with our guest Salvatore Manzi. Expert coach, expert communicator. Hugely valuable insight into the world of communicating your expertise to others in a way that sets you apart and helps you in your career more than any other skill. 

I guarantee you will walk away with something useful to apply to your every day communications as an engineer. 

He also has a book launch in June (ish), of his first book Clear & Compelling - Communication Strategies for Big Thinkers With Bold Ideas. 

I highly encourage you to join the emailing list to keep up with this launch.

https://www.salvatoremanzi.com/ccpb/

linkedin.com/in/salvatorejmanzi

*****************************************************************************************
Let's dive in!

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well. 

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life. 

The Impactful Engineer Podcast is one small step towards the ultimate vision.

What you will learn/gain from the Podcast:

• Engineers' perspectives around career success from people who are in it and have done it. 
• Tools, tips, and other strategic thinking around the world of engineering work. 
• Mindsets around success as an engineer, both high level and day-to-day.
• Fun conversations with guests that have a lot to offer. 
• Encouragement to pursue you highest potential and why it matters. 

The Project hopes to achieve/provide:

• Full ride engineering undergraduate scholarships in all states. 
• Awareness and encouragement for all aspiring engineers.
• Paid internships for students looking to get hands on experience working for industry professionals. 
• A "leg up" on the competition by giving people the tools and mindset to achieve their ultimate goals.

*****************************************************************************************

Please submit any feedback you have to the email below. Extending awareness and reach is critical, so as many people benefit from what this community will become as possible. That only happens with your help. We can't do it alone!

Visit our page @ www.impactfulengineer.com

Submit your questions, feedback, criticisms, favorite gifs... to:

[email protected]

Find us on LinkedIn @The Impactful Engineer

We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the show.

...Let me ask you this. Going through university, did you ever think, "I shouldn't have picked this"? Since it wasn't your natural state to be building Legos, taking things apart, and figuring out how they work, did that thought ever cross your mind?

Absolutely. I had my eye on the prize: get the degree and start working in the field. College is an experience, to put it lightly. About halfway through, I looked up from my textbooks and thought, "Where am I? What am I doing?"

But I was already so far in. I’m someone who completes things. Back then, I didn’t know the difference between letting something go and quitting. To me, if you committed to something, you finished it. No matter what.

There were other things I would have loved to pursue — getting back into music, opening a chain of restaurants, being able to determine my own destiny and income. But I was committed. I had made the decision to finish...

*****************************************************************************************
Let's dive in!

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well. 

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life. 

The Impactful Engineer Podcast is one small step towards the ultimate vision.

What you will learn/gain from the Podcast:

• Engineers' perspectives around career success from people who are in it and have done it. 
• Tools, tips, and other strategic thinking around the world of engineering work. 
• Mindsets around success as an engineer, both high level and day-to-day.
• Fun conversations with guests that have a lot to offer. 
• Encouragement to pursue you highest potential and why it matters. 

The Project hopes to achieve/provide:

• Full ride engineering undergraduate scholarships in all states. 
• Awareness and encouragement for all aspiring engineers.
• Paid internships for students looking to get hands on experience working for industry professionals. 
• A "leg up" on the competition by giving people the tools and mindset to achieve their ultimate goals.

*****************************************************************************************

Please submit any feedback you have to the email below. Extending awareness and reach is critical, so as many people benefit from what this community will become as possible. That only happens with your help. We can't do it alone!

Visit our page @ www.impactfulengineer.com

Submit your questions, feedback, criticisms, favorite gifs... to:

[email protected]

Find us on LinkedIn @The Impactful Engineer

We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the show.

...Three weeks? Perfect. I had three and a half. I actually had about two months, because we still had to order the material and wait for delivery.

I easily could have said, because I’m a high achiever and didn’t want to upset anyone on the call, "No problem, we’ll get it done next week." But that’s exactly the trap. Avoiding the hard conversation — or even these mini conversations — is a huge mistake. I want to bring awareness to it because so many people fall into it. And it’s usually because of fear or discomfort.

I avoided the "ASAP" trap. I could have made everyone feel great in the moment by saying, "No problem, next week." But the way you really make people feel great is by getting it right the first time — delivering on schedule, with no issues, no surprises. That’s what builds confidence and trust, not empty promises.

Why set yourself up for failure by committing to ASAP, especially when you know your engineer is already buried in another project because someone else made an unrealistic promise? At the very least, you can be the person who doesn’t add more stress and chaos to the situation.

That’s one of the most common mistakes I see...

*****************************************************************************************
Let's dive in!

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well. 

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life. 

The Impactful Engineer Podcast is one small step towards the ultimate vision.

What you will learn/gain from the Podcast:

• Engineers' perspectives around career success from people who are in it and have done it. 
• Tools, tips, and other strategic thinking around the world of engineering work. 
• Mindsets around success as an engineer, both high level and day-to-day.
• Fun conversations with guests that have a lot to offer. 
• Encouragement to pursue you highest potential and why it matters. 

The Project hopes to achieve/provide:

• Full ride engineering undergraduate scholarships in all states. 
• Awareness and encouragement for all aspiring engineers.
• Paid internships for students looking to get hands on experience working for industry professionals. 
• A "leg up" on the competition by giving people the tools and mindset to achieve their ultimate goals.

*****************************************************************************************

Please submit any feedback you have to the email below. Extending awareness and reach is critical, so as many people benefit from what this community will become as possible. That only happens with your help. We can't do it alone!

Visit our page @ www.impactfulengineer.com

Submit your questions, feedback, criticisms, favorite gifs... to:

[email protected]

Find us on LinkedIn @The Impactful Engineer

We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the show.

...There's this quote that I have been kind of living with this week because I really liked it. And of course it's from Marcus Aurelius, the stoic—you know, that it just is what it is. I love the way they think. But it says:

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

And what that means, of course, is that the thing in front of you that you think is an obstacle or perceive as an obstacle that you want to go around so badly is actually the thing you need to run straight into. What stands in the way becomes the way. I love that quote. And I think it applies here...

*****************************************************************************************
Let's dive in!

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well. 

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life. 

The Impactful Engineer Podcast is one small step towards the ultimate vision.

What you will learn/gain from the Podcast:

• Engineers' perspectives around career success from people who are in it and have done it. 
• Tools, tips, and other strategic thinking around the world of engineering work. 
• Mindsets around success as an engineer, both high level and day-to-day.
• Fun conversations with guests that have a lot to offer. 
• Encouragement to pursue you highest potential and why it matters. 

The Project hopes to achieve/provide:

• Full ride engineering undergraduate scholarships in all states. 
• Awareness and encouragement for all aspiring engineers.
• Paid internships for students looking to get hands on experience working for industry professionals. 
• A "leg up" on the competition by giving people the tools and mindset to achieve their ultimate goals.

*****************************************************************************************

Please submit any feedback you have to the email below. Extending awareness and reach is critical, so as many people benefit from what this community will become as possible. That only happens with your help. We can't do it alone!

Visit our page @ www.impactfulengineer.com

Submit your questions, feedback, criticisms, favorite gifs... to:

[email protected]

Find us on LinkedIn @The Impactful Engineer

We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the show.

Even as high performers, we do get critical feedback. Sometimes this feedback can really dig into our egos. And if we aren't careful, it can push us to an emotional response that is going to hurt more than help our situation. Today, I want to quickly cover the do's and don'ts of getting critical feedback.

First, let's talk about the don'ts.

• Don’t react defensively. Avoid responding with immediate justification or counterarguments. Being defensive shuts down meaningful dialogue.
• Don’t take it personally. Keep the focus on your work or behavior rather than your character....

*****************************************************************************************
Let's dive in!

The Impactful Engineering Project's purpose is to bring awareness, access, success, and mentorship to all new and aspiring engineers. But it doesn't stop there. What we talk about on this podcast applies to seasoned engineers as well. 

The community that will be built from this project has the potential to change the lives of everyone who is a part of it. We sincerely hope to reach and help as many people as possible. Your participation will bring the project to life. 

The Impactful Engineer Podcast is one small step towards the ultimate vision.

What you will learn/gain from the Podcast:

• Engineers' perspectives around career success from people who are in it and have done it. 
• Tools, tips, and other strategic thinking around the world of engineering work. 
• Mindsets around success as an engineer, both high level and day-to-day.
• Fun conversations with guests that have a lot to offer. 
• Encouragement to pursue you highest potential and why it matters. 

The Project hopes to achieve/provide:

• Full ride engineering undergraduate scholarships in all states. 
• Awareness and encouragement for all aspiring engineers.
• Paid internships for students looking to get hands on experience working for industry professionals. 
• A "leg up" on the competition by giving people the tools and mindset to achieve their ultimate goals.

*****************************************************************************************

Please submit any feedback you have to the email below. Extending awareness and reach is critical, so as many people benefit from what this community will become as possible. That only happens with your help. We can't do it alone!

Visit our page @ www.impactfulengineer.com

Submit your questions, feedback, criticisms, favorite gifs... to:

[email protected]

Find us on LinkedIn @The Impactful Engineer

We would love to hear from you. Enjoy the show.