Might as well call me DJ Khaled because I’m hosting ANOTHER ONE! Another FREE Networking webinar that caters to helping introverts but we’ve had some people extrovert leaning people sneak in there as well. It’s on Wednesday, August 26, Click button below and Learn more!
How to be strategically busy without losing your mind
Two of my favorite worlds just collided, and honestly? It turned into one of the most rewarding weeks of my year.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know I’ve spent the last 10 years navigating corporate America as an engineer. Between my day job as an R&D Process Engineer, leading engagement for my R&D team of almost 300 associates, prepping for a company-wide speaking gig for development week, on top my normal day-to-day, my plate wasn't just full—it was overflowing!
So when I was asked to help co-lead an Associate Resource Group (ARG) conference for early-career professionals across North America, my initial reaction was a hard no. I didn't even know the group existed a year ago, and I definitely didn't think I had the bandwidth.
But as a few projects wrapped up, I reconsidered. I didn't want to just be "busy", I wanted to be strategically busy. I saw an opportunity to network with other business hubs which would be advantageous for future opportunities, so I took the leap!
Here is how it played out:
The Scale: My hub in Nashville hosted 2 of the 6 main sessions for nearly 200 associates across Chicago, Newark, Toronto, the DMV, and Nashville.
The Flex: I pitched turning one session into a live podcast/fireside chat. Bridging my engineering role with my podcasting passion live in front of a new audience was a huge highlight.
The Unfiltered Advice: I interviewed our new Global VP of Brand PR & Media, expecting standard corporate scripts. Instead, she dropped this gem on career growth and burnout: “You have to choose the company as much as the company is choosing you. If that’s out of alignment, then it may be time to make a change.”
The Perk: Beyond the killer content, the company-branded Owala water bottles caused absolute pandemonium. ( Still getting Teams messages with people trying to get one… better luck next year!)
The Takeaway
Saying "yes" to every task thrown your way is a fast track to burnout. But saying a strategic yes to high-visibility opportunities, the ones that let you stretch your skills, build real connections, and flex what makes you unique, is how you actually level up and truly Be Incredible!
Here’s a pic my team and I took with our new Global VP!
P.S. Now only 3 weeks until my new show, the Be Incredible Podcast, launches on Monday, September 7th! Check out the brand-new cover art below 👇
2026 Rebrand Cover of Podcast Coming in September!
⏱️TL;DR
Balancing my day job as an R&D engineer, I recently co-hosted a ~200 person multi-hub conference for early-career associates across North America. The major highlight was turning one session into a live podcast where I interviewed a Global VP of PR & Media, who dropped surprisingly unfiltered advice on tackling burnout and recognizing when a company is no longer a fit. Between the deep-dive career chat and the absolute chaos of people begging for extra company-branded Owala water bottles in my DMs, it was a huge success. The biggest takeaway? Stop taking on extra work just to stay busy, and start saying a strategic yes to high-visibility side quests that let you flex your unique skills and build real connections.
PAST PODCAST HIGHLIGHT - Tech Jobbers Podcast
Most Gen Z engineers hit a career ceiling within 3-5 years, and it has nothing to do with their code quality.In this episode, @IncrediPaul (Host of the IncrediPaul Leadership Podcast) reveals the "hidden curriculum" of engineering career growth that universities don’t teach. We break down the specific soft skills for engineers that separate forever-Juniors from future Executives, and why real software leadership is about influence, not just job titles.
🚀 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The "Career Stall" Trap: Why technical skills get you hired, but communication skills get you promoted.
The Gen Z Advantage: How to leverage your unique perspective to bridge the gap with older generations.
Networking for Introverts: Practical strategies to build influence without feeling fake.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Dealing with the fear that you don't belong in the room (from Junior to Exec level).
Maxwell Leadership Principles: Applying proven leadership tactics specifically to tech careers.
LEADERSHIP QUOTE
"A lot of people think innovation is thinking outside of the box, when in reality innovation comes from thinking about a problem from a totally different box.”
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CHECK OUT LAST EPISODES OF INCREDIPAUL LEADERSHIP
Reminder new episodes come out every Monday at 6am Central Time. Check it out by going to incredipaul.org/podcast or stream on the following platforms: YouTube, Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon and More.
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