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
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Apple Podcasts
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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.

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
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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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
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Apple Podcasts
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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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
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Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Or wherever you get your podcasts

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Intro
In this episode, we sit down with Josiah Fallaise, professional driver and founder of FDF Race Shop, to break down what actually drives performance, confidence, and long-term career growth. This is not theory—practical, tactical advice grounded in real execution. We unpack why engineers stall, how over-optimization kills momentum, and why real-world reps matter more than credentials, titles, or perceived intelligence.

Key Topics Covered
• Why “raw talent” collapses without real seat time
• The dangerous gap between theory and real-world execution
• How perfectionism quietly kills engineering momentum
• Why communication becomes the real career multiplier
• The difference between consuming knowledge and creating value
• How brand, visibility, and trust are replacing credentials
• Why failure without correction is wasted effort
• How incentives shape performance inside and outside companies
• The hidden cost of avoiding discomfort and pressure

Actionable Steps
• Audit where you’re consuming instead of creating
• Build something real—physically or digitally—this month
• Stop optimizing ideas that haven’t proven value yet
• Seek feedback from people you’d trade places with
• Put reps into communication, not just technical skill
• Shorten the gap between thinking and doing
• Test limits intentionally to find your real thresholds
• Track lessons learned after every failure
• Prioritize hands-on experience over certifications

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers feeling stuck despite being “high performers”
• Early-career engineers unsure how to stand out
• Burned-out engineers questioning their direction
• Individual contributors who feel overlooked
• Engineers considering leadership or entrepreneurship

Why It Matters
Careers don’t stall from lack of intelligence—they stall from lack of execution. Engineers who build, test, fail, and adjust gain clarity, confidence, and visibility. Seat time creates instincts. Instincts create results. Results create opportunity.

Where to Listen
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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Follow Josiah and FDF Race Shop
Want to see real execution, design-for-manufacturing insight, and behind-the-scenes building? Follow FDF Race Shop and Josiah across platforms:
• Instagram (JosiahFallaise / FDFRaceShop)
• YouTube (FDF RaceShop)
• TikTok (JosiahFallaiseRacing / FDFRaceShop)
• Facebook (FDF RaceShop)
• Website: fdfraceshop.com

AI isn’t a future problem—it’s a present career filter. In this episode, we’re joined by Shelly Thomas, P.E., an engineer turned executive AI strategist who works directly with C-suite leaders on real-world AI adoption. This is not theory—practical, tactical advice for engineers who want more impact, more clarity, and real leadership leverage without burning out.

Key Topics Covered
• Why AI won’t replace engineers—but it will expose weak thinking and poor communication
• The real reason high-performing engineers get overlooked for leadership roles
• How executives actually evaluate clarity, judgment, and decision-making
• Using AI to distill complex technical work into executive-ready communication
• Why “letting your work speak for itself” is a career-limiting belief
• Practical AI use cases engineers actually care about (not marketing fluff)
• How systems thinking makes engineers uniquely positioned to win with AI
• The danger of automating before understanding your workflows
• How to avoid over-reliance on AI while still using it as a force multiplier

Actionable Steps
• Use AI to summarize your work in executive-level language before sharing updates
• Prompt AI to act as your toughest critic and stress-test your ideas
• Lead with intent: clearly state your goal, audience, and constraints in every prompt
• Break complex tasks into smaller chunks instead of “AI-ing everything at once”
• Use AI to practice executive communication before high-visibility meetings
• Translate technical wins into business impact (cost, risk, time, people)
• Ask AI to ask you questions to clarify your thinking before execution
• Capture and reuse your learning—build a personal knowledge system with AI
• Practice saying less, not more—clarity beats completeness

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers feeling stuck despite strong technical performance
• Early-career engineers who want leadership trajectories, not burnout
• High-performing ICs struggling with visibility and influence
• Engineers curious about AI but unsure how to apply it meaningfully
• Technical professionals aiming for management, director, or executive roles

Why It Matters
The gap between engineers who advance and those who stall isn’t intelligence—it’s clarity, communication, and leverage. AI accelerates all three. Used well, it amplifies judgment and visibility. Ignored, it quietly shifts power to those who adapt faster.

Where to Listen
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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Most engineers think personal brand is fluff—or something reserved for influencers and executives. That mindset is costing careers. In this episode, Steve Maxey and Jake Maxey break down what “personal brand” actually means for engineers, why you already have one whether you like it or not, and how unintentional behavior is quietly working against you. This isn’t theory—this is practical, tactical advice grounded in real engineering careers and real outcomes.

Episode 137 - Transcript

Key Topics Covered
• What personal brand really is: reputation plus awareness
• Why “doing good work quietly” is no longer enough
• How engineers accidentally build negative brands without realizing it
• The difference between being technically competent and being known
• Why consistency matters more than talent when it comes to reputation
• How visibility attracts opportunities, mentors, and leverage
• The danger of being everything to everyone—and nothing to anyone
• Why complaining online damages your career more than you think
• How engineers who lean into soft skills stand out faster

Actionable Steps
• Audit how coworkers, leaders, and peers would describe you today
• Decide what you want to be known for—then act accordingly
• Be consistent in how you communicate, respond, and show up
• Start engaging intentionally on LinkedIn instead of lurking
• Share insights, not complaints—digital history is permanent
• Focus on one or two strengths instead of random messaging
• Build awareness outside your immediate workplace
• Reach out to people in your industry without an agenda
• Treat reputation as a long-term asset, not a side effect

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers feeling overlooked despite strong technical skills
• Early-career engineers who want faster growth and visibility
• Burned-out high performers stuck in execution mode
• Engineers who avoid self-promotion and pay the price
• Professionals who want more control over their career trajectory

Why It Matters
Your energy, visibility, and reputation compound over time—positively or negatively. The engineers who advance aren’t just capable; they’re clear, consistent, and known. If you don’t take ownership of your personal brand, others will define it for you—and not in your favor.

Where to Listen
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts

You can be a top-performing engineer and still be stuck—underpaid, overlooked, and frustrated. In this episode, Steve Maxey and Jake Maxey break down why technical excellence alone doesn’t move careers forward. This conversation was sparked by a real example: a highly competent engineer, ten years into his career, still earning well below market rate. Not because he isn’t good—but because he isn’t visible. This episode is not theory—practical, tactical advice for engineers who want clarity, leverage, and real career momentum.

Key Topics Covered
• Why results don’t advocate for you on their own
• The difference between being productive and being visible
• How managers and leadership actually decide who advances
• Why loyalty and “head-down work” can quietly cap your pay
• The role of self-advocacy in raises, promotions, and opportunity
• How misalignment with your organization reveals itself
• What happens when leadership doesn’t know who you are
• Why asking directly for compensation clarity matters
• How career stagnation compounds over time

Actionable Steps
• Audit your compensation against market rates
• Define a clear income target instead of vague “growth” goals
• Ask your manager directly what it takes to reach that number
• Document your impact in terms leadership cares about
• Increase visibility through meetings, updates, and ownership
• Schedule recurring check-ins to track progress—not hope
• Study how promoted engineers behave, not just what they produce
• Test whether your organization rewards advocacy or silence
• Decide whether patience or change is the right next move

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who feel underpaid despite strong performance
• High-performing ICs stuck without promotion traction
• Engineers relying on effort instead of leverage
• Loyal team members questioning whether it’s worth it
• Anyone tired of guessing how advancement really works

Why It Matters
Careers don’t stall because of a lack of effort—they stall because of a lack of clarity and visibility. When your work speaks but you don’t, someone else gets the credit. This episode connects energy, action, and advocacy so your performance actually turns into opportunity instead of burnout.

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.