The Happy Engineer · 2026-05-05 · 54 min
Watch the Engineering Director Promotion Plan (free): You're one question away from a completely different life. But most engineers stay stuck… because they're asking the wrong ones. Zach sits down with Mark to unpack what happens when a big vision collapses - after building an app that reached millions, he had to delete it and start over. They break down how fear, burnout, and mental fog take over in those moments - and how asking better questions, building simple mental fitness practices, and creating space to think clearly can pull you back into momentum and direction as a leader. You'll learn: Why the questions you ask determine your career direction How to clear mental fog so you can think and lead effectively Simple daily practices to build clarity without adding more work How to trust intuition when making high-stakes career decisions 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿? Get the free Director Promotion Roadmap and discover the 5 critical gaps keeping you from getting promoted - and exactly how to close them.
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