Merryl Tengesdal

For the past couple of weeks, I've been putting in a lot of physical work for my welding class, which has left me with little time for social media. But stepping away gave me that much-needed clarity on some things in life.

​When you’re putting in the actual ground work—like fighting gravity on a 5G pipe—your frequency narrows. You realize you literally don't have the time to process the anger of people who are producing absolutely nothing.

​Let them stay stagnant. I’m always open to a collegial dialogue, but until then, let their anger wear them out.

​Keep your hood down, focus on the fire in front of you, and keep it moving.

Whether you're leading a team, or stepping into the welding booth to weld pipe, the rule is always the same. The success you reach is heavily dictated by the preparation no one else sees.

​A perfect weld doesn't happen by accident, and neither does success. It is built in the prep work. It is the hours of repetitive, unglamorous friction. It is the grinding, the beveling, and the willingness to put in the reps when no one is watching.

​If you want the perfect moment, you have to embrace the hustle required to build it. Stop waiting for the spotlight and get back to the grind.

The professional landscape is changing fast. If you want to survive, you need an un-fakeable hard skill, and you have to be ready to pivot.

Whether that means stepping into a trade like welding or building a new discipline outside your current lane, you need to make yourself indispensable.

​As my drill instructor used to say: Proper Prior Planning Prevents P**s Poor Performance.

​How are you planning for the future?

The last three weeks have been a complete whirlwind of travel, keynotes, and conferences. We are wrapping it all up today at Sacramento Comic Con.

​The best part of this final stop is having my son at the table with me. It is one thing to talk about building a business, but it is another to bring him out here and teach him real entrepreneurial skills firsthand.

​Enjoy your Sunday.

Yesterday, I stood beside three women who did not just make history—they paved the way for everyone who followed.

​Sharon "Betty" Preszler was the first woman to fly the F-16. was the first woman to fly for the Thunderbirds. was the first Black female pilot in the United States Air Force.

​We came together to highlight the undeniable contributions of powerful women in the military. With the noise in the current environment, we felt it was critical to have a direct conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it actually takes to break barriers.

​This is what representation looks like, and I am proud to stand with them.

​Thank you to for bringing us together and making this conversation happen.

Today at the exhibit hall, my friend is making WAI history. She is the first person to ever receive the Service Award.

​Liz is the definition of putting others first. She has consistently gone out of her way to promote my book and support me as a person. I never asked her to do it. She just did. Her entire focus is on uplifting the people around her and helping other women get their stories out into the world.
​That is what actual leadership looks like. It is not about taking the spotlight. It is about shining it on others.

​It is a privilege to be here to support her and celebrate the work she is doing for so many of us. This is the standard we should all be setting.