Engineers love being right. But if no one understands your ideas, your impact stalls. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down the real skill behind influence: reframing. Not theory—practical, tactical advice anyone can apply immediately to make their work land with the people who matter.

This is the communication advantage most engineers ignore. And it’s the reason technically strong people get overlooked while effective communicators move ahead.

Key Topics Covered

• Why being “technically right” isn’t enough in engineering
• How reframing turns confusion into alignment and buy-in
• The biggest mistake engineers make when explaining ideas
• How to translate technical details into business impact
• Simple ways to uncover what your audience actually cares about
• How reframing fixes stalled projects, miscommunications, and lost visibility
• Real examples of turning flat explanations into compelling ones
• How reframing deepens relationships—not just persuasion
• Why leadership listens when you speak in risks, delays, and tradeoffs
• How reframing transforms your resume, meetings, and influence overnight

Actionable Steps

• Ask: “What does this person care about most?” before speaking
• Replace technical jargon with the consequence they care about
• Tie every problem to time, risk, money, or customer impact
• Use comparisons or relatable examples to make concepts stick
• When pitching a fix, lead with the cost of not fixing it
• Translate features into pain points solved (comfort, speed, reliability)
• When writing your resume, reframe tasks into outcomes
• Always connect design details to user experience or business value
• Break vague statements into measurable, repeatable improvements
• Practice reframing daily—emails, updates, and 1:1s are reps

Who This Episode Is For

• Engineers who feel ignored or misunderstood
• ICs who want more influence without a title
• Technical experts who need non-technical people to “get it”
• Early-career engineers trying to build credibility fast
• Anyone tired of doing good work that goes unseen

Why It Matters

Your work doesn’t speak for itself—you do. Reframing is the difference between being the smartest engineer in the room and the most impactful. When people finally understand the value of your ideas, your visibility rises, your influence grows, and your career accelerates. If people don’t get it today, they will after this episode—because you’ll explain it in a way they care about.

Where to Listen

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Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
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.

In this episode, Steve and Jake rip apart the mindset that’s holding most early-career engineers back — obsessing over salary before mastering their craft. Too many engineers chase numbers instead of value. The truth? Your first few years aren’t about the paycheck — they’re about stacking skills, earning leverage, and becoming undeniable. This isn’t theory. It’s practical, tactical advice from two engineers who’ve lived it — the grind, the plateaus, and the breakthroughs that turn potential into power.

Key Topics Covered
• Why focusing on salary too early kills long-term growth
• The “input vs. output” trap most engineers never escape
• How to build real leverage through deep, specialized skills
• The brutal truth about corporate pay equity and outlier performance
• Why “living like a college student” longer is the smartest investment
• How to identify companies that actually reward high performers
• Why high performers get boxed in — and how to break out
• The real difference between top 5% engineers and everyone else
• What companies owe you (and what they don’t)
• How to reframe your career from compensation-driven to mastery-driven

Actionable Steps
• Stop comparing your salary to others — focus on improving your skills 10% every month.
• Use your early career years to learn, experiment, and fail cheaply.
• Seek mentors and reverse-engineer the habits of people earning what you want.
• Track your inputs — hours, projects, learning — not just outcomes.
• Live below your means to buy freedom and time to grow.
• Take ownership of your career story and communicate your impact in business terms.
• Identify and move toward companies that reward merit, not tenure.
• Build a side project or specialization that sharpens your technical edge.
• Say yes to opportunities that expand your range, even if they don’t pay more right away.
• Reframe every career goal around who you must become to achieve it.

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers frustrated with “pay stagnation” early in their careers
• New grads trying to negotiate their first offer
• Mid-level engineers who feel overlooked despite strong results
• High achievers tired of corporate ceilings and comparison traps
• Anyone ready to trade entitlement for ownership

Why It Matters
You don’t get paid for time — you get paid for value. And value comes from skill, reputation, and impact built over time. The engineers who focus on learning faster, thinking deeper, and executing harder will always outrun the ones chasing titles and raises. The money is a by-product. The growth is the goal.

Where to Listen
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
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.

Every engineer hits a wall. You pitch an idea, chase a promotion, or submit a proposal; then you get a “no.” Most people stop there. But high-impact engineers don’t see rejection as the end. They see it as data. In this episode, Steve and Jake break down how to turn a “no” into fuel for growth, how to ask the right follow-up questions, and how to use resistance as the ultimate feedback loop.

Not theory; practical, tactical advice from two engineers who’ve heard “no” more times than they can count and used it to build careers, teams, and businesses.

Key Topics Covered
• The mindset shift from rejection to information gathering
• Why “no” is rarely permanent—and how to find the real reason behind it
• How to request feedback without sounding defensive or desperate
• The trap of filling in the blanks with your own assumptions
• Turning client losses, failed proposals, or denied promotions into strategy
• How to reframe rejection as part of your input process, not your identity
• Building resilience and emotional recovery speed after setbacks
• The “ask, learn, adjust” cycle every successful engineer uses
• What great managers actually mean when they say “not right now”
• Why mastering this one skill separates future leaders from stalled contributors

Actionable Steps
• When you hear “no,” pause; then ask for a short debrief call or conversation.
• Frame your question around learning, not winning: “Can you help me understand what drove the decision?”
• Separate emotion from information. Collect data, not drama.
• Identify if the rejection was based on timing, scope, or performance.
• Document what you learn to build a playbook for your next attempt.
• Follow up professionally and show them you’re coachable and persistent.
• For career growth, ask: “What would make me the obvious choice next time?”
• Treat every rejection as a calibration point, not a verdict.
• Practice recovery speed and get back to baseline faster after a hit.
• Use “nos” as reps in your leadership gym; they’re how you get stronger.

Who This Episode Is For
• Engineers who’ve been passed over for promotions or raises
• High performers tired of vague feedback or unclear expectations
• Early-career engineers learning how to advocate for themselves
• Technical contributors struggling with communication and influence
• Anyone who wants to build real career momentum instead of waiting for permission

Why It Matters
How you handle rejection defines your growth curve. Engineers who take “no” at face value plateau early. Engineers who seek context, ask sharper questions, and extract insight build unstoppable momentum. This episode will challenge how you think, react, and lead the next time someone shuts a door in your face; and show you how to open a better one yourself.

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.