May Question of the Month Join the conversation and receive a badge

Who has had the biggest impact on your career and why?

Can't limit this to just one person or role.

1. There are excellent mentors I've had along the way in person - those who are leading by example and will give me honest feedback - and that includes colleagues, interns, and people who I have managed - not just direct supervisors (but there were several of those also).
2. There are a few people in my career path who were so abrasive that they motivated me to change roles/teams/departments/companies and re-evaluate what I want in the workplace.
3. A few authors who challenged my thinking about what is the purpose or goal of my career include Tim Ferriss (The 4-hour Work Week) and Jen Sincero (You Are A Bad*ss at Making Money).
4. Watching my parents in their careers and learning what I did (and did not) want for myself in a career.

I've had great managers, mentors, and friends who have guided and aided me throughout my career. I wouldn't be where I am today without some of them and their wisdom. However the person who made the biggest impact on my career is my wife. She believes in me, supports and encourages me, and is there for me no matter what. Her support is endless and unwavering. I don't even want to imagine where I'd be without her.

A shovel.

It was hot that day and I was covered in mud, dirty water and sweat. I was digging a spot for a welder to lay down so he could finish the last tie in weld on the project. It was a 18 mile long natural gas gathering pipeline nestled in the rolling hills of Northern Pennsylvania.

Having studied at Penn State for Civil Engineering and graduated in high school at the top of my class, I considered myself a scholar. I was not scared of hard work but that shale rock in Pennsylvania is dense at times, especially in full Fire Retardant clothing.

The welder looked down at me and grumbled “What’s the matter boy, can’t run a shovel?” I didn’t like the shovel anymore than it liked me but my son was just born and a Dad has to feed his family of course.

I didn’t respond, I finished the job, climbed out of the trench and walked up the hill. Two weeks later I left that project for a chance to be a Natural Gas inspector. I never looked back, that chance prospered into a career in project management that I love where I found my passion, helping people build bridges between their software, workflows and clients. This year, I took another chance and started Skyway Consulting Co.; a workflow consulting firm that has been built on the same principles that caused me to walk away from that project.

That shovel taught me another way, the Skyway.

My former Director of Human Resources for sure. She introduced me to Smartsheet, and I built my job around it. She has since retired on her boat in the Bahamas.

As a creative thinker and big ideas person, I benefit greatly from all my interactions and a notepad is never far from reach! However, my greatest mentor has been a management coach from We Will, Inc. who led a 6-month intensive management program that I was fortunate to participate in several years ago. You don't have to be a manager to benefit from lessons in "Managing Up". It was about learning to read the room, "The 5 Whys" (you literally, on average, need to ask "why" 5 times before you solve the real issue), getting leadership buy-in, and practicing self-care. I am grateful to have the opportunity to still work alongside this coach.

I would have to say that my manager also has had the biggest impact on my career. She has given me the confidence, support, and trust to not just show up and do my job every day, but to take it above and beyond. She is one of those managers you WANT to do your best for and I couldn't be happier to work with her every day.