# S6E16 Jake Kennington | Engineer Yourself First, Personal Reflection, & Accepting Change

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-04-18
- Length: 56m
- Episode: 16
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan

## Summary

Jake Kennington, a structural engineer and founder of Human Engineer Coach, discusses his transition from a decade-long engineering career to personal development coaching. He explains the 'Engineer Yourself First' philosophy, using the structural concept of 'strong column, weak beam' to argue that personal health and relationships must be prioritized over career ambitions to prevent burnout. Kennington shares practical strategies for building this foundation, including morning routines, journaling, and pursuing creative outlets like his self-published children's book, while offering advice to engineers feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [1:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=68) Jake's Engineering Journey and Career Transition
- [7:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=475) Identifying the Creative Void in Engineering
- [12:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=779) The 'Strong Column, Weak Beam' Life Philosophy
- [22:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=1340) Signs of Losing Yourself: Impatience and Lack of Excitement
- [29:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=1777) Writing a Children's Book as a Creative Outlet
- [35:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=2122) Embracing Change and Stoic Philosophy
- [42:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=2576) Practical Strategies: Morning Routines and Journaling
- [48:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=2917) Coaching Case Studies: Career Clarity and Delegation
- [55:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-18-s6e16-jake-kennington-engineer-yourself-first-personal-reflection-accepting-chan#t=3357) Conclusion and Engineering Challenge Promotion

## Topics

- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Human Engineer Coach (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Reveley Engineers (company)
- Simitech Group (company)
- ANSYS (tool)
- The Wave (other)
- Meditations (other)
- The Obstacle Is the Way (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [220 - Managing Oneself, Reflections and a New Series on ICH](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-12-31-220-managing-oneself-reflections-and-a-new-series-on-ich) (Let's Combinate)
- [310 - Win at home first! w/ author Cory Carlson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-05-06-310-win-at-home-first-w-author-cory-carlson) (People of Packaging)
- [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)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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