# S1E01 A Thirst for Learning. Became an engineer 20 years after graduating | Michael Hadley

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-04-20
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 1
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael

## Summary

Michael Hadley, Engineering Manager at Pipeline Design & Engineering, shares his unconventional career path, which includes a 20-year hiatus for work in the human development movement and as Tony Robbins' business manager. He discusses his return to mechanical engineering, highlighting a successful medical device project involving a biocompatible bite block and airway, and a failed solar dish project that taught him the importance of market timing and product-market fit. Hadley advises engineers to cultivate broad, interdisciplinary knowledge rather than narrow specialization to remain valuable in smaller companies.

## Chapters

- [0:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=15) Introduction and Michael Hadley's Background
- [1:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=78) Human Development and Tony Robbins
- [9:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=561) Return to Engineering and Education
- [17:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=1051) Nature vs. Nurture and Unique Ability
- [25:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=1557) Success: Medical Device Injection Molding
- [34:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=2063) Failure: Solar Dish and Market Fit
- [37:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-04-20-s1e01-a-thirst-for-learning-became-an-engineer-20-years-after-graduating-michael#t=2266) Advice on Broad Engineering Knowledge

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Tony Robbins (other)
- Vanderbilt (other)
- PTFE (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [21: The Tent Is Flat and Everyone Is Wet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet) (Embedded.fm)
- [305: Humans Have a Terrible Spec Sheet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-03-305-humans-have-a-terrible-spec-sheet) (Embedded.fm)
- [How Being Strategic During A Career Transition Can Yield The Best Opportunities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2020-06-11-how-being-strategic-during-a-career-transition-can-yield-the-best-opportunities) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [001 - “Learning Never Exhausts the Mind” with Rick Doe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-10-06-001-learning-never-exhausts-the-mind-with-rick-doe) (Let's Combinate)
- [T-24-004 : Tom George - Hardware Startup Engineer to Google Product Lead](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-11-13-t-24-004-tom-george-hardware-startup-engineer-to-google-product-lead) (TRADEOFFS)

## Citing this page

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