Episode 112: The Doors Will Come—Will You Have the Key or Just Regret?

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

You don’t know which doors you’ll need to open—until they’re locked in your face. And when that moment comes, it’s too damn late to wish you had started building your network.

This episode isn’t about “networking.” It’s about regret-proofing your career.

Jake and Steve break down the truth engineers don’t hear enough: the relationships you build today are the skeleton key for tomorrow’s opportunity.

Not theory—practical, tactical advice for ambitious engineers who want to stop playing small and start becoming known.

Key Topics Covered:
• Why being great at your job isn’t enough if no one knows you
• How obscurity quietly caps your career ceiling
• Breaking the lie that reaching out is selfish or awkward
• The compound returns of being “known and helpful” in your industry
• Internal vs. external networks—and why both matter
• How to reduce luck by increasing surface area
• Simple first steps for engineers who feel like nobodies
• The right way to send cold DMs or emails without cringing
• Stories that prove one connection can change your life
• How to be remembered, not forgotten

Actionable Steps:
• Send 5 personal connection messages a day for 6 months
• Follow up every 3–4 months with genuine check-ins—no agenda
• Build relationships with vendors, suppliers, and partners now
• Start with warm connections to build confidence and reps
• Say this: “We’ve crossed paths, and I’d love to connect—I admire the work you do”
• Ask others what they enjoy, what they struggle with, and where they’re headed
• Join at least 1 industry event per quarter—show up, talk, repeat
• Use LinkedIn the right way: personalize every request
• Stop judging yourself—no one remembers a fumbled intro
• Offer help more than you ask for it

Who This Episode Is For:
• Engineers in years 0–10 who feel stuck or unseen
• High-performers who’ve built skills but not visibility
• Burned-out doers wondering why promotions pass them by
• Founders or freelancers starting cold with no warm leads
• Anyone who fears rejection more than stagnation

Why It Matters:
You can’t brute-force your way through a locked door. Not in this industry. When opportunity knocks—or worse, when it doesn’t—you’ll wish you’d built the relationships that could’ve opened it. You don’t need to network. You need to be known. That’s how careers rise.

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.