Podcast Archives

195: How to Lead Meetings that Don’t Suck

by Max Ahumada | Nov 18, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I delve into a topic that resonates deeply with every engineering manager out there: meetings.

Often seen as a necessary evil, meetings can either be a productivity powerhouse or a profound time sink. Drawing from insights gathered from our blueprint program, I discuss how critical effective meetings are to an engineering manager’s career.

We explore how even a 5% improvement in meeting effectiveness can significantly amplify your impact over time.

So press play and let’s chat about mastering your meetings and magnifying your impact!

194: Communication Skills Masterclass LIVE with Brenden Kumarasamy | Founder of MasterTalk

by Max Ahumada | Nov 11, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, meet the best communication coach I’ve ever worked with, my good friend Brenden Kumarasamy.

Brenden is the Founder of MasterTalk, and a top communication coach to ambitious executives and entrepreneurs.

He has a huge vision, and to accomplish it built an incredible set of free tools and resources which is shared with his following of 30+ thousand aspiring communicators on YouTube. Brenden’s vision is providing free access to communication tools for everyone in the world.

We build on the basics from episode 093, where Brenden shares simple exercises you can begin practicing today to become a Top 1% Communicator in your industry.

This is the next level, a true Masterclass on communication skills and the powerful story of a leader who started without those skills.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to take the catalyst of your growth, communication skills, to the next level!

193: Here’s a Quick Way to Jumpstart a Stagnant Engineering Career

by Max Ahumada | Nov 4, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I recount a pivotal moment in my career journey as a lead engineer at Whirlpool Corporation, where I sought to elevate my performance rating.

Through a simple yet profound question to my boss, I unearthed the key to exceptional results: cross-functional impact.

By collaborating with colleagues and leveraging technology, I devised a solution that streamlined communication between departments, ultimately earning me a top performance rating and a significant bonus—all within eight hours of work.

This narrative underscores the power of asking the right questions and embracing innovative approaches to stand out in one’s career.

Join me as I delve into the transformative impact of asking obvious yet potent questions and how it can propel you towards unparalleled success.

So press play and let’s chat about unlocking extraordinary results through the art of questioning.

192: The Secrets of Boosting Sustainable Productivity with Mark Struczewski | Mister Productivity

by Max Ahumada | Nov 1, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, meet Mister Productivity himself, Mark Struczewski.

If you want to finish the year strong and maximize your chances of promotion and top performance reviews, pay attention.

Mark is a Houston-based coach and host of The Mister Productivity™ Podcast. He brings over 1,300 episodes and 13 years of experience in productivity training to help leaders conquer overwhelm.

Drawing from simple examples like his daily running routine, he offers practical strategies to overcome distractions and achieve clarity in your life.

I also share one of my breakthroughs when it comes to productivity, the Productivity Impact Principle, only available here on the audio podcast in my solo debrief.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to move faster toward what you want to achieve with your life!

191: The Time Mindset – Beyond the Reach of Money

by Max Ahumada | Oct 21, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, I dive into a powerful shift in mindset around time, sparked by an incredible lesson I learned from a high-level mastermind event.

We often say time is more valuable than money, but do we truly live by that? I reflect on how we, especially as engineering leaders, prioritize money and overlook time, and how that mindset might be costing us in the long run.

I also share three essential principles about time, compounding growth, and why time freedom always precedes financial freedom.

This episode is all about taking action now to build the life and career you dream of—before it’s too late.

So press play and let’s chat… about how time is your most valuable asset and how to make it work for you!

190: Receive the Best Performance Review of Your Engineering Career with Curtis Mitchell

by Max Ahumada | Oct 14, 2024 | Podcast

In this episode, get the one key that unlocked the best performance review of Curtis Mitchell’s career.

It’s not what you think it is, either.

Curtis Mitchell is a graduate of The Lifestyle Engineering Blueprint™️ coaching program for engineering managers. He has over 15 years of experience in data science and software engineering roles.

He was told his performance was below average, and unacceptable, by his leaders at various Silicon Valley startups.

When he finally landed a role at NASA’s Ames Research Center, a dream job for the 12-year old inside, he knew he had to turn that around.

That’s when he hired a coach, changed his mindset, took new actions… and received the best performance review of his career.

Curtis is currently working on AI and privacy engineering programs with the United States Census Bureau as an emerging technology fellow, and now lives in San Francisco, California.

So press play and let’s chat… it’s time to unlock your future growth with one simple strategy!

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