Intro:
Engineers pride themselves on “handling it all.” But let’s be real—you’re not multitasking. You’re bleeding time and energy through poor task switching. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down why context switching wrecks your focus, how to stop draining your energy every time your attention shifts, and the systems that top performers use to stay sharp and deliver under pressure.
Not theory—practical, tactical advice you can use today to regain control of your time and output.

Key Topics Covered:
• The truth: No one actually multitasks—they just switch faster (or worse).
• Why poor task switching is killing your productivity and focus.
• The hidden “reset tax” that costs you hours each week.
• How cognitive load compounds across multiple projects.
• Tactical time blocking to reduce switch frequency.
• Setting communication rules to protect your deep work blocks.
• Using environment resets to maintain focus and clarity.
• Why meetings, emails, and “quick questions” destroy flow.
• The difference between urgency and priority in managing tasks.
• How to plan your energy like a project resource—because it is.

Actionable Steps:
• Create a “loose ends” list for each project before switching tasks.
• Close loops—document next steps before moving to the next thing.
• Block 2 uninterrupted hours daily for focused work—protect it.
• Use 3–5 minute buffers between meetings to reset and refocus.
• Schedule check-ins and communications at fixed times daily.
• Keep project packets with current status, notes, and next actions.
• Prioritize heavy cognitive tasks early in your energy curve.
• Limit open projects—fewer tabs, higher output.
• Track how long it takes you to “re-enter flow” after interruptions.
• End each day with a 10-minute project recap and tomorrow’s plan.

Who This Episode Is For:
• Engineers constantly interrupted by meetings and messages.
• High performers stuck in reactive mode instead of strategic execution.
• New engineers struggling to juggle multiple projects.
• Leaders trying to build systems, not chaos.
• Anyone who feels drained by constant context shifts.

Why It Matters:
Mastering task switching is the secret to sustained performance and leadership readiness. You can’t lead if you’re always catching up. Energy, focus, and discipline compound—so when you protect them, your visibility, reliability, and results skyrocket. The engineers who master this don’t just get more done—they move up faster because their work speaks for itself.

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In this episode, manufacturing engineer Brooke MacFee joins Jake and Steve to share hard-earned lessons from her path across biomedical, aerospace, and small-scale manufacturing. From taking jobs out of necessity to leading teams before she felt ready, Brooke’s story hits every early-career engineer who’s still finding their footing. This conversation cuts through theory—it’s practical, tactical advice on how to become the kind of engineer people trust, respect, and remember.

Key Topics Covered

• How to stop underestimating yourself and build real confidence through action
• Why “hands-on” engineers earn more respect than those who just model or analyze
• The real reason you shouldn’t hide behind your resume
• The power of authenticity—how Brooke’s “powerlifting” line landed her a job offer
• What “paper engineers” get wrong about credibility and growth
• The value of saying “I don’t know” in interviews—and what to say next
• Lessons learned from bad management and early-career missteps
• How to navigate bias and authority as a young or female engineer
• Turning early mistakes into long-term career assets
• Why every job—good or bad—teaches you something you’ll need later

Actionable Steps

• Ask questions early and often—especially when you don’t know the answer
• Always get hands-on; build something, fix something, learn from doing
• Add personal details to your resume that show who you really are
• When you’re new, sit with technicians and operators—learn their world
• Don’t overcompensate with authority; lead with curiosity and competence
• Practice humility in interviews—your thinking process matters more than perfection
• Visit every facility before accepting an offer—see the culture with your own eyes
• Apply the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize what actually moves your career
• Eliminate distractions that don’t serve your growth or goals
• Focus on solving more problems than you create—every single day

Who This Episode Is For

• Engineers early in their careers who feel overlooked or unsure where they fit
• Those afraid to interview or explore new roles while still employed
• Technical pros who want to lead without losing credibility
• Engineers ready to stop playing it safe and start owning their path
• Anyone who’s ever been told they’re “too quiet,” “too new,” or “too different”

Why It Matters

Being impactful isn’t about titles or talk—it’s about results. The engineers who grow fastest aren’t the loudest or the smartest. They’re the ones who stay real, stay curious, and keep their hands dirty. Confidence isn’t built by pretending—it’s built by doing.

Connect with Brooke

💼 LinkedIn – Brooke MacFee

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Most engineers chase outcomes—titles, numbers, recognition. But outcomes are a lagging indicator of your inputs. In this episode, Jake and Steve break down how to flip your focus from results to repetition, from motivation to momentum, and from willpower to discipline. This isn’t theory—it’s practical, tactical advice for engineers who want to build consistency, find purpose in the process, and eliminate burnout by taking control of their environment.

Key Topics Covered:
• Why chasing outcomes keeps you stuck in frustration loops. • The mindset shift from “goals” to “inputs” that changes everything. • How pursuit—not purpose—is the sustainable path forward. • Why environment design beats willpower every time. • The compounding effect of daily discipline on career and life. • Why focusing on what you control eliminates anxiety and burnout. • How to audit your environment to make success automatic. • The hidden trap of tying identity to short-term results. • How to use friction and focus as engineering tools for behavior change. • The difference between being intentional and being obsessive.

Actionable Steps:
• Identify one pursuit and commit to it daily without outcome pressure. • Write five “non-negotiable” inputs that define your productive day. • Design your environment for when you’re weak—not when you’re strong. • Replace “motivation rituals” with discipline habits that scale. • Audit your workspace, friend group, and habits for friction points. • Track consistency, not results—inputs are your scorecard. • When willpower fades, rely on systems that make execution default. • Build momentum through compounding small wins, not big goals. • Redefine purpose as a pursuit that evolves with your season of life. • Surround yourself with people who reinforce your direction, not your comfort.

Who This Episode Is For:
• Engineers tired of setting goals and never feeling fulfilled. • Overachievers battling burnout from chasing the next milestone. • ICs who want control, clarity, and consistency in their careers. • Engineers who want to build habits that last when motivation dies. • Anyone trying to find balance between ambition and peace.

Why It Matters:
Because purpose isn’t found—it’s built. And it’s built through pursuit, discipline, and ownership of your environment. When you stop chasing results and start mastering your inputs, you remove friction, regain control, and create a system that compounds energy, confidence, and visibility. This is how high-performing engineers lead without burnout—by engineering their behavior the same way they engineer products: with intention.

Where to Listen:
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Or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Most engineers hold themselves back by waiting too long to act. In this episode, Steve and Jake Maxey break down how speed of decision-making drives value in your career and projects. Not theory—practical, tactical advice you can use right now.

Key Topics Covered
• Why projects bleed money from slow decisions, not big mistakes
• How to spot critical path items and move them forward early
• Why fear of being wrong keeps engineers stuck
• The hidden cost of long email chains vs. quick calls
• How urgency creates leverage with clients and leadership
• Detaching your ego from being “right” to accelerate progress
• Using bad ideas as stepping stones to great ones
• Why volume of decisions creates more data, faster learning, better outcomes
• The power of short communication loops to speed up clarity
• How to handle pushback when others resist fast action

Actionable Steps
• Map project tasks and mark which ones have long lead times
• Pick one critical path item this week and move it forward without waiting for perfect data
• Replace one long email with a direct phone call or desk visit
• Use emails only as records of decisions already made
• Throw out ideas quickly, even if rough, to spark faster collaboration
• Ask experienced colleagues about timelines and milestones to front-load preparation
• Plan contingencies in advance to reduce hesitation later
• When you get pushback, analyze whether it’s about the process or about their comfort level
• Walk while thinking—use movement to clarify conversations before they happen
• Track how much faster results come when you cut waiting loops

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers stuck in analysis paralysis, afraid to be wrong
• Burned-out contributors buried under endless emails and “busy” tasks
• Early-career engineers trying to prove their value quickly
• ICs overlooked for leadership because they hesitate instead of act
• Anyone tired of watching projects stall from indecision

Why It Matters
Leadership isn’t about having every answer. It’s about moving the work forward, faster, and learning as you go. The more decisions you make, the more opportunities you create—for yourself, your team, and your career. Speed creates visibility, impact, and trust.

Where to Listen
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

Your communication (or lack of it) defines your reputation. Miss updates, ghost clients, or wait for someone else to ask, and you’ve already lost trust. In this episode, Jake and Steve break down why communication is the real differentiator in engineering—and how you can lead without authority by setting standards others can’t ignore. Not theory—practical, tactical advice.

Key Topics Covered
• Why silence creates anxiety and destroys trust even when the work is 95% done
• How “over-communication” beats under-communication every time
• The hidden cost of vague updates and missed cadences
• How engineers unknowingly drive clients and teammates crazy
• What 75+ architects revealed about their biggest pain points with engineers
• Turning communication into a competitive advantage in your career
• The difference between being dependable vs. being reactive
• How to set clear standards for updates and hold others accountable
• Using communication as leverage to show leadership without the title
• The mindset shift: updates aren’t optional—they’re part of the job

Actionable Steps
• Set explicit expectations for how and when you’ll update clients and teammates
• Err on the side of over-communicating—let them tell you to dial it back
• Use short, factual updates instead of silence when things slip
• Track commitments visibly so progress is never a guessing game
• Chase answers fast instead of sitting in uncertainty
• Reset the standard every time it’s missed—don’t let it slide
• Treat missed updates as process breakdowns, not personal attacks
• Run real-time lessons learned instead of waiting weeks for meetings
• Remove emotion—act quickly, calmly, factually when communication breaks
• Reinforce value by solving problems and reducing client anxiety

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers frustrated with clients or teammates going dark
• High performers who want to stand out without a formal title
• Burned-out engineers tired of confusion, rework, and last-minute fire drills
• Early-career ICs who want to prove they can lead by action, not rank
• Anyone who’s ever thought, “I’m doing the work—why don’t they see it?”

Why It Matters
Technical skill gets you in the door. Communication keeps you in the room. The fastest way to show leadership, reduce stress, and gain visibility is by setting the standard others follow. When you eliminate uncertainty, you create clarity, trust, and opportunity.

Where to Listen
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

Most engineers think their job is just to deliver the technical work. Drawings done, analysis complete, box checked. Wrong. The engineers who win long term are the ones who manage stakeholder expectations. That means clear updates, fast pivots, and taking ownership of communication—even when it feels uncomfortable or “not your job.” In this episode, Steve and Jake Maxey break down how to stop hiding behind deliverables and start leading by managing expectations. Not theory—practical, tactical advice you can apply today.

Key Topics Covered
• Why engineers disappear between milestones—and how it kills trust
• Stakeholder management: what it actually means and why it matters
• Defining who your stakeholders really are (hint: it’s more than your PM)
• The silent career killer: assumptions about expectations
• The four rules of communication that put you in the top 1% of engineers
• How to set the cadence when stakeholders don’t know their own needs
• Escalating communication—from email to phone to face-to-face
• Why weekly updates make you sharper, not just more visible
• Turning updates into career leverage long after the project ends
• How to stand out in industries where poor communication is the norm

Actionable Steps
• Identify your primary stakeholders at the start of every project
• Ask directly: “What are your expectations and how do you want updates?”
• Commit to unprompted weekly updates—concise and outcome-focused
• Respond to requests within 24 hours; follow up if no reply in 48 hours
• Escalate channels: email → call → in person if needed
• Document how stakeholders want deliverables packaged and presented
• Share problems immediately—don’t wait for the next meeting
• Use updates to force clarity on progress and gaps
• Track commitments from stakeholders too, not just your team
• End every update with clear action items and next steps

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who think communication is “extra” work
• ICs who feel overlooked despite strong technical skills
• Early-career engineers learning how to stand out fast
• Burned-out engineers stuck firefighting instead of leading
• Anyone tired of being blindsided by shifting expectations

Why It Matters
Your technical work may get you in the door, but it won’t set you apart. What sets apart the most impactful engineers is how they manage visibility, expectations, and trust. If you can make stakeholders feel confident that you’re always on it, your reputation skyrockets. Projects succeed. Careers accelerate. That’s the real multiplier.

Where to Listen
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

Most engineers don’t fail because they lack technical skills. They fail because they blow up in the moment—or because they move too slow. In this episode, Steve and Jake Maxey break down how to control your emotions when feedback hits hard, why perception trumps reality, and how speed separates leaders from the rest. Not theory—practical, tactical advice you can use immediately.

Key Topics Covered
• How emotional outbursts silently kill careers
• The difference between defending yourself vs. listening when feedback stings
• Why perception matters more than your intent
• Blind spots every engineer has—and how to find them before others do
• The right timing to give feedback without making things worse
• Why speed is the ultimate differentiator in engineering careers
• The hidden cost of “waiting for all the answers” before starting
• Risk vs. fear—what really slows teams down
• Systems and processes that allow speed without mistakes
• Why “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” applies to engineering

Actionable Steps
• Pause before reacting to hard feedback—don’t fight in the moment
• When blindsided, buy time: acknowledge, process, then return to the conversation
• Set expectations when giving feedback—never blindside your team
• Ask directly for feedback to uncover blind spots early
• Align perception of you with the reality you want others to see
• Build simple systems and templates to move faster without sacrificing quality
• Reverse engineer past projects to create reusable strategies
• Anticipate risks and prep countermeasures before issues hit
• Start tasks early, even if inputs aren’t final—most paths share common ground
• Slow down to organize your work so future speed doesn’t collapse under chaos

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who react defensively when feedback gets personal
• Early-career engineers struggling to prove they can lead
• High performers frustrated by slow-moving peers and teams
• ICs who want more visibility and growth but keep getting overlooked

Why It Matters
Your technical skills won’t save you if you can’t manage your emotions or if you move slower than the pace of business. Leaders notice who keeps a cool head, who absorbs feedback, and who gets things done fast without chaos. If you can master feedback and speed, you’ll separate yourself from 90% of engineers stuck defending themselves or waiting for perfect answers.

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

Negativity spreads faster than bad code reviews—and it can tank your career. Too many engineers air frustrations in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and end up damaging trust instead of fixing problems. In this episode, Jake and Steve Maxey break down the real playbook for raising issues without becoming “that person.” Not theory—practical, tactical advice for ambitious engineers who want to protect their reputation, elevate their team, and lead with intent.

Key Topics Covered
• Why venting in public spaces destroys credibility
• The rule of “complain upward”—and why managers must never complain down
• How negativity infects new hires and poisons culture fast
• Why high output won’t save you if you’re toxic
• The hidden career cost of over-explaining and scenario-spinning
• How managers should respond when employees bring grievances
• Peer-to-peer tactics for shutting down negativity without drama
• How to frame issues so you don’t sound like a complainer
• Bringing solutions instead of problems—why it earns instant respect
• What unresolved issues reveal about company culture

Actionable Steps
• Save grievances for one-on-one conversations with your manager
• Never complain in open spaces or peer-only settings
• As a manager, protect culture—never push negativity down the chain
• Write frustrations down and revisit them later with clarity
• Frame issues around solving for the team, not venting for yourself
• Bring two or three solution options when raising a problem
• Redirect peers with: “Have you brought that to your manager?”
• Cut conversations that waste time—focus on solving, not storytelling
• Track patterns of unresolved issues and decide if you can live with them
• Diffuse negativity quickly and redirect energy back to the work

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers frustrated at work but unsure how to raise issues
• Managers trying to prevent negativity from dragging teams down
• High performers who output well but risk being toxic
• Early-career engineers learning how to build credibility fast
• Leaders committed to protecting culture while solving real problems

Why It Matters
Engineering careers aren’t built on output alone—they’re built on trust and culture. Venting in the wrong place can destroy both instantly. By learning where, when, and how to raise issues—and by responding well when others bring theirs—you set yourself apart as an engineer who solves problems instead of spreading them. That’s the difference between being seen as overhead and being seen as a leader.

Where to Listen
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Or wherever you get your podcasts

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If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.