In this authentic and encouraging episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott sits down with his lifelong friend Joe Minner, an automation engineer who proves that career success doesn't require a master plan—just following the next breadcrumb God puts in front of you.

Joe's journey began when their mutual friend Chris mentioned a community college program his dad was "making" him attend. With no clear career direction and dreams of being an airline pilot or forestry worker, Joe decided to check out OTC's Industrial Controls and Automation Technology program. That single decision launched a career path he never knew existed.

Discover how Joe went from serving tables at Red Lobster to programming the industrial computers that run the machines you see on "How It's Made." Learn why he believes community college vo-tech programs offer incredible value and accessibility, especially for students who don't have family connections to guide them through college applications and financial aid.

Joe shares honest insights about the engineering world, including why the best internship candidates are those who admit they don't know everything, how networking means "talking to adults" (not just your peers), and why his company's culture of people "standing around talking" actually produces excellent work.

Get practical advice on building confidence through repetitive work, leveraging homeschool self-learning skills in professional settings, and why the three-legged stool of humble curiosity, work ethic, and integrity is the only resume you really need.

Key Topics:

• Why you don't need to plan 12 steps ahead in your career
• The hidden world of industrial automation and manufacturing
• How community college can launch engineering careers
• Real talk about internships: "You're not supposed to know anything"
• Why networking means stepping outside your age group
• Building confidence through mastering one thing before moving to the next
• The value of practical, hands-on education vs. traditional university paths

Perfect for: High school students unsure about their path, those considering community college, anyone interested in engineering but intimidated by traditional routes, and parents looking for alternatives to four-year university programs.

In this episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott sits down with Grant Booker, a sourcing manager at SpaceX's Starlink division, to explore what it's really like working at one of the world's most ambitious companies. Grant shares his non-linear journey from struggling through college engineering courses to landing his dream job at the company launching 82% of all mass sent to orbit.

Discover how Grant overcame imposter syndrome to thrive in SpaceX's high-performance culture, where every employee is held to an incredibly high standard in service of making humanity multi-planetary. Learn about SpaceX's rigorous 6-step, 3-month interview process, including an hour-long presentation to an 8-person panel of engineers and directors.

Grant reveals the key mindset shift that changed everything: instead of trying to find his identity as "an engineer" or "a salesman," he focused on core values like problem-solving and serving others. This values-based approach opened up possibilities he never imagined and ultimately led him from selling packaging materials to SpaceX to managing procurement for satellite components.

Get an inside look at how Starlink actually works—from the 7,000+ satellites in orbit serving 6 million customers to the laser technology that can hit a pancake-sized target 3,000 miles away on something moving 15,000 mph. Plus, hear about Starship, the 330-foot rocket designed to run on fuel that can be manufactured on Mars.

Key Topics:

• Why values matter more than passion in career planning
• How to overcome imposter syndrome in high-achieving environments
• The importance of becoming as valuable as possible in any role
• SpaceX's mission, culture, and incredible launch statistics
• Practical interview tips for competitive companies
• Building experience and networks while in college
• Why being comfortable with discomfort is essential for career growth

Recommended Resources:

• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
• "Can't Hurt Me" by David Goggins
• "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie
• Cal Newport's books: "How to Win at College," "How to Become a Straight A Student," "So Good They Can't Ignore You"
• Jim Rohn's "The Art of Exceptional Living"

In this inspiring episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott and co-host Gerti sit down with tax attorney Daniel Tirle to explore one of the most remarkable career journeys you'll ever hear. From choosing his college major via village internet in Romania to becoming the tax attorney who saved a client $9 million, Daniel's story is a masterclass in divine guidance, anti-procrastination, and finding your unique professional niche.

Daniel reveals how he discovered the perfect career "bullseye"—the intersection where lawyers who don't understand numbers meet accountants who don't understand law. As both a CPA and attorney, he's become the human translator in high-stakes meetings, speaking the languages of financial advisors, CPAs, estate planners, and legal teams.

Discover the power of starting early (inspired by the movie "Iron Will"), the dangers of social media and procrastination for young professionals, and how one prayer in a parking lot led to a breakthrough solution that stumped the nation's top tax experts. Daniel's journey from translator at a conference to building tax departments demonstrates how relationships, faithfulness in small things, and trusting God's guidance can create extraordinary career opportunities.

Key Topics:

• Why anti-procrastination is a career superpower
• How to find your professional Venn diagram
• The immigrant advantage in networking and relationships
• Why starting without a phone/social media accelerated success
• Building expertise through YouTube and self-directed learning
• The role of divine guidance in career decisions
• How to become indispensable by bridging professional languages

Recommended Resources:

• The movie "Iron Will"
• The Bible for guidance and wisdom
• Industry experts and publications in your field

In this episode of VoQuest, host C.W. Elliott sits down with Christopher Jones, CEO of Liberty Technical Solutions, to explore what really separates top performers from the rest. Christopher shares his journey from homeschooled student to tech company CEO, revealing that success isn't about having the perfect skills—it's about developing the right "DNA."
Discover why Christopher passed up candidates with master's degrees for those who simply showed up on time and engaged well. Learn how a frisbee thrown over a neighbor's fence led to a half-million-egg farming operation, and why the "little things" like taking notes and following through are actually the biggest differentiators in today's workforce.
Christopher breaks down his philosophy of pursuing the top 1% in everything, from redefining business-class IT support to building systems that create delightful customer experiences. Whether you're starting your career or looking to level up, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on networking, skill development, and the pursuit of excellence.

From homeschool football fields to leading U.S. Sales Ops at video-conferencing innovator Neat, Andrew Davis has taken anything but a straight path. In this candid sit-down with C.W. Elliott, Andrew unpacks:

• What Sales Ops really is—and why it sits at the intersection of strategy, data and people
• Moving from Fortune 500 giant to 350-person rocket-ship (and how he knew it was time)
• The “acres of diamonds” hiding in purposeful networking—and how to start while you’re still in school
• Growth-mindset vs. fixed-mindset, extreme ownership, and other guiding principles that shape top performers
• Why the best salespeople are relationship architects—and why everyone (yes, everyone) should learn to sell
• Leveraging AI to crank out a business case in 30 minutes instead of a week
• The boredom litmus test: signs you’re ready for the next challenge (and how to position yourself for it)

Whether you’re a student plotting your first move, an early-career pro hunting your next promotion, or a founder seeking to build an all-star sales org, this episode is packed with actionable insight on mindset, soft skills and intentional career design.

In this deep-dive follow-up, co-host Gerti flips the mic and presses C.W. Elliott for the granular play-by-play listeners asked to hear:

• How a chance encounter waiting tables became an internship, a full-time role, and a seat at the ownership table
• Why CW’s first attempt to cold-sell a complex SaaS product flopped—and the discovery-driven sales process that finally worked
• The pivot from one-off web projects to buying entire web agencies (14 acquisitions, ~750 clients) and the genius deal structure that paid for itself in 30 days
• CW’s “three pillars” for career momentum—Integrity, Work Ethic, Humble Curiosity—and how anyone can apply them today
• Practical tips on ethical selling: value-based discovery questions, avoiding price-race traps, and turning frustrated prospects into lifelong referrals
• Why hitting walls (and asking experts) beats waiting for the mythical “perfect plan”

Whether you’re hunting for your first internship or steering a growing book of business, this episode blends real-world sales lessons, acquisition strategy, and character-driven career advice that scales to any industry.

Brandt Raymond may have started by running frozen-custard machines at age 17, but today he’s the behind-the-scenes force that edits every VoqQuest episode and consults businesses on branding, web design, and digital growth. In this candid return visit, Brandt and C.W. trace the winding (and often messy) road that took him from …

• training teenage coworkers at Andy’s Frozen Custard
• hauling sheetrock and leading a five-man construction crew at 19
• mowing lawns, freelancing websites, and even making paracord bracelets
• to landing (and keeping) clients by offering strategy first and deliverables second.

Along the way they unpack:

• Why “just do something hard” became Brandt’s personal launch button
• The power of humble curiosity—and how it landed him mentors and paying projects
• Soft-skills that beat software: trustworthiness, clear decision-making, and relentless follow-through
• Lessons learned from failed mentorship attempts and missed meetings
• How Brandt balances freedom, integrity, and real revenue as a one-man creative consultancy

Whether you’re a student, a side-hustler, or a professional retooling your skill-stack, Brandt’s story proves you don’t need a flawless plan—just the courage to start, learn, and iterate. Tune in for practical takeaways, honest missteps, and a reminder that meaningful careers are built brick-by-brick, client-by-client, and relationship-by-relationship.

In this special role-reversal episode, VoQuest founder C.W. Elliott steps out from behind the mic to share his own journey of building the very platform you're listening to. Interviewed by Gerti, he unpacks how growing up in a hardworking homeschool family, grinding through lawn jobs and late-night startups, and taking wild leaps of faith eventually led to a mission-driven vision: helping young people discover their true vocation. C.W. shares lessons on grit, business ownership, mentorship, personal development, and why “figuring it out” is rarely a straight line. This raw, honest conversation is a must-listen for anyone feeling called to do more — but unsure where to start.

In this inspiring episode of the VocQuest Podcast, C.W. Elliott sits down with Nathan, a once-introverted homeschooler turned music producer, business coach, and thriving entrepreneur. Nathan shares his unconventional path—from playing college basketball to building a successful consulting business helping producers charge premium prices for their craft. Together, they dive into powerful topics like overcoming failure, the value of mentors, the difference between persuasion and manipulation, and how wisdom in business often starts with learning how to learn. If you're a young adult figuring out your future, this episode will challenge your assumptions and equip you with real, actionable insights. Tune in for mindset shifts, hard-won lessons, and a faith-driven perspective on success, money, and service.

In this episode of the VocQuest Podcast, C.W. Elliott sits down with Justin Kurth, founder of Go Challenge Life and a developmental psychology expert. Justin shares powerful insights on how our thoughts, experiences, and mental shortcuts (heuristics) shape our lives — often without us even realizing it. They dive deep into how to break free from negative mental loops, overcome fear and self-doubt, and reframe failure as a catalyst for success. With real-world examples, like the story of the elephant held back by a tiny rope, Justin explains how to build resilience, develop new neural pathways, and create a mindset rooted in growth and possibility. If you've ever struggled with self-limiting beliefs, fear of failure, or discouraging feedback, this episode is packed with the mindset tools and strategies you need to reclaim your potential. Tune in for an inspiring and practical conversation on how to truly go challenge life!