J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

• Lead engineering efforts for Final Mile and Managed Logistics
• Lead the E&T Development Program rotational program, fostering rapid growth for 100+ new engineering graduates

Sr. Director of Engineering & Technology

Director of Engineering

Director of Intermodal Carrier Relations

Engineering Manager

Maxwell Leadership

Certified Coach/Speaker/Trainer

John Brown University

Adjunct Professor

ABF Freight System

Sr. Economic Analyst

Sr. Industrial Engineer

Senior Engineering Leader for Final Mile Services and E&T Development Program

Maxwell Leadership certified coach, speaker, and trainer empowering individuals and teams to reach their full potential. Senior director of engineering and technology in supply chain, delivering measurable improvements across people, processes, and technologies. Leader of an engineering rotation program that has developed over 100 engineers, creating pathways for technical growth and leadership advancement. Passionate about building high-performing teams through mentorship and strategic talent development.

My boss told me it could take 10 years to make Director.

That was the moment I decided I wasn’t waiting around for someone else to validate my potential.

The very next day, I made it my job to find a role that challenged me, stretched my skills, and actually leveraged my talents.

Here’s the truth: we only get one life. Why waste years hoping the system will reward your loyalty?

Companies exist to serve investors. That’s not wrong, but it means you have to serve yourself too.

The great news? I landed a great role at a company that still employs me today. 

I’ve expanded my expertise, deepened my leadership, and had the privilege of supporting others’ growth.

There are no bonus points for staying where you’ve stopped growing.

You have permission to move on.

---
For a weekly message on Leadership & Growth, check out my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gdBcRdqC

Tarek Taha

Senior Engineering Director & Certified Coach | Helping Leaders Align Career Success with Purpose

Unpopular opinion:

Being in a rush to become a people leader is the fastest way to fail as one.

I've hired and coached many engineers over the past two decades.

The pattern is crystal clear:
❌ Chris: Sharp engineer, immediately asked about leadership opportunities. Never learned the actual skills. 
✅ Jane: Built a foundation as an IC. Added tangible value. Got promoted naturally. Now leads a high-performing team.

The difference? Jane understood that effective leadership starts with leading yourself first.

Stop rushing. Start building.

How do you build a foundation for leadership?
—-
Click here for leadership and growth insights every Sunday: https://lnkd.in/gN2M9VTk

5 years ago, I used to worry about:

-      Getting promoted as fast as possible
-      Accumulating as much money as I could
-      Stacking enough achievements to finally feel like I had “made it”

Today, I am focused on:

-      Being fully present with my family
-      Adding meaningful value to my team
-      Learning from mentors whose success I want to model

The real win is building a life you won’t regret later.

Quiet quitting is over. Quiet cracking has just begun.

1 in 5 workers are showing up, but only in body, not in mind.

I’ve seen it firsthand: top talent doesn’t just burn out, it checks out when trust is gone.

No recognition. No path forward. No reason to believe.

Leaders: don’t wait for a two-week notice to realize someone has cracked.

Spot the signs early. Check in on people, not just results.

Value effort. Rebuild trust before it’s too late.

Comfort never made anyone’s career.

20 years ago, I walked away from a comfortable job in a great company — without a backup plan.

I had a stable role.
Great friends.
A strong community.
A predictable routine.

On paper, it didn’t make sense to leave.

But deep down, I knew I was stagnant.
I couldn’t see a path forward for my career.

The work felt the same each year, and I wanted more than “steady.”

The fear was tangible:
Would I even like the new company?
Could our family rebuild our community?
Was I giving up more than I was gaining?

I took the leap anyway.

And everything changed.

I joined a company in hyper-growth mode.
I became a people leader for the first time.
Opportunities started showing up faster than I could have imagined.

Comfort is nice. Growth is better.

Receptionist: "How do you say your name?"
 
Me: "Taw-reck."

Receptionist: "No, your last name."

Me: "Taha. Just like it looks."

Receptionist: Laughs and says, “I’ve been saying Ta-HA ever since I saw you on the list for today!”

For a moment, I flashed back to being in Jr. High. 

The teasing. The nicknames. The urge to hide from who I was.

But instead, I smiled at her and said, "Now you know. Glad I could make you laugh today!”

Here’s the truth:
The odds of you being here, with your DNA, your history, your experiences?
1 in 400 trillion.

That’s not an accident. 

Your uniqueness is your superpower.

Be proud of who you are.

Feeling Stuck in Your Career? Try This.

——

For a weekly message on Leadership & Growth, check out my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gdBcRdqC

How to get unstuck in your career

Serena Williams doesn’t step on the court without a coach.
Satya Nadella doesn’t lead Microsoft without advisors.

So why do so many of us try to build our careers listening only to the bully in our head?

Hiring a coach taught me something powerful: I didn’t just need external guidance… I needed to build an inner coach to replace the bully.

The best don’t go it alone.
 Why should we?

👉 I share more on how I’m working through this in today’s newsletter — link is in the first comment.

Success before my brain surgery:
 • Titles, promotions, and praise
 • Validation from other people
 • Being impressive at all costs

Success after my brain surgery:
 • Impact that outlives me
 • Helping others reach their potential
 • Validation that comes from within

Don’t wait for life to slow you down.
Define success on your terms.

Everyone says “Gen Z is hard to manage.”
I think they’re the easiest to learn from.

I find them a joy to work with.

Why? Because I don’t just lead them, I let them lead me.

They mentor me in technology, culture, and creativity.
And in return, I mentor them in experience, wisdom, and growth.

That’s how leadership works.
That’s how the future works.
That’s how real growth happens.

To my fellow Gen X leaders:
-Don’t underestimate this generation.
-They are not a problem to solve.
-They are an investment worth making.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from working with Gen Z?

"Why can't I get promoted?"

I've heard this question from many over the years.

-They do good work.
-They meet deadlines.
-They follow instructions perfectly.

But they wonder why advancement opportunities pass them by.

Here's why: You're playing not to lose instead of playing to win.

The people who get promoted don't just solve assigned problems.

They proactively identify and solve problems that haven't been assigned yet.

Average managers say, “Did you finish your tasks?”

Great managers say, “How can I help you grow?”

Average managers say, “Give me a status update.”

Great managers say, “Tell me what you’re learning.”

Average managers check off tasks.

Great managers grow people.

Who is the best manager you have ever worked for?

The best hires aren’t the loudest in the room.

They’re humble enough to keep learning.

And people smart enough to work well with anyone.

♻️ Rob Dance

The rules changed when you entered the corporate environment.

College rules: Individual performance = recognition

Corporate rules: Individual performance + influence = advancement

Your GPA doesn't matter here.

What got here won't get you there.

What matters is your ability to create value for others.

The engineers who figure this out early accelerate their careers.

The ones who don't stay stuck wondering why their performance isn't enough.

Have you learned the new rules?

Sr. E&T Director @ J.B. Hunt | Maxwell Leadership Coach | Developing Leaders. Elevating Teams. Driving Results.

There is no prize for just doing what is asked.

Harsh truth.

Following instructions makes you reliable.

But reliability alone won't make you a leader.

Those are just "table stakes."

Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.

Want to grow your influence exponentially?

Get curious about what keeps your manager up at night.

Come up with potential solutions without being asked.

This one thing will change how you approach work:

No matter what job you have, choose to add value to others. On purpose.

Tomorrow's newsletter: Launch your career by defining success on your terms.

Sr. E&T Director @ J.B. Hunt | Maxwell Leadership Coach | I help professionals & teams accelerate promotions, influence, and results without sacrificing work-life balance

Forget about building the perfect career.

Build daily habits that feel right from the inside, even if they look ordinary from the outside.

More in the comments.

They want the title before they've built the skills.

They want the recognition before they've earned the respect.

I've watched too many talented people try to skip steps.

It never works.

Here's the foundation you need to build first:
✓ Master your craft
✓ Anticipate needs
✓ Serve without being asked
✓ Become the go-to person

The leadership opportunities you want will naturally follow.

But not before.

Are you building your foundation or trying to skip it?

Excellence as an individual contributor opens doors.

Mediocrity keeps them closed.

I see engineers wondering why advancement opportunities pass them by.

The answer is usually simple:

They haven't mastered their current level.

You can't lead others to a place you haven't been yourself.

Master your craft first.

Become the person others come to for answers.

Build unshakeable credibility.

Then—and only then—will leadership opportunities naturally follow.

Are you excellent at your current level?

Taplio

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