🎧 Episode Overview (EP 224)

Career paths in engineering are rarely linear—and the decisions that shape our work often ripple into our home lives in ways we don’t always anticipate.

In this episode, Dr. James Bryant sits down with Eli May, an engineer who responded to an open call for podcast conversations shared in the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) forum. Eli brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective shaped by career transitions, adaptability, and seasons where work played very different roles.

Rather than focusing on fast-track career advice, this conversation explores what it looks like to navigate change honestly—starting over when needed, building a strong foundation, and making career decisions that don’t happen in isolation from family life.

If you’re an engineer or technical professional navigating transitions, questioning the “right” path, or rethinking how work fits into your life in this season, this episode will resonate.

🧭 What You’ll Learn

• Why non-linear career paths are more common than we admit


• How adaptability becomes a long-term advantage in engineering careers


• The pressure of fast-track thinking—and why it can be misleading


• How the role of work can shift across different stages of life


• Why career and time decisions shouldn’t be made in a vacuum


• The importance of involving family when priorities and work demands change

🔩 Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome and episode context
01:45 – Eli’s background and early career journey
04:30 – Navigating non-linear career transitions
08:19 – Advice to a younger engineer
09:16 – Career choices and personal motivation
10:09 – Work, family, and shifting priorities
12:45 – Family involvement in decision-making
15:30 – Closing reflections

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: Eli May

🎧 Join the Community

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🔗 engineeryoursuccessnow.com/insiders

Podcast Hub: sleekbio.com/eyspod
LinkedIn: Dr. James Bryant

🌟 Engineer Your Success — Dr. James Bryant

Success isn’t just about results—it’s about building a life shaped by your values.
Dr. James Bryant helps engineering and technical leaders create systems that bring clarity, confidence, and balance so they can win at work and at home.

www.engineeryoursuccessnow.com