From Engineer to Culture Consultant & Founder

LinkedIn: [00:00:00] Linkedin presents.

Jonathan Fields: [00:00:13] And today, we're incredibly excited to be sharing a new feature here on the SPARKED podcast, Career Transformation Stories. So we're inviting guests to share inspiring stories of their career change from reimagining the work that they're currently doing. So it just feels so much more alive to leaving behind unfulfilling jobs. Careers work to find or create new, more inspired, energized, purposeful, meaningful, and joy filled paths. And we're exploring how they're Sparketype has played a role in this journey. It's all about how we transform work into one of the best parts of our lives. Up next, we uncover a profound journey of reclaiming one's creative spark and finding fulfillment through empowering others. It's a tale that takes us from technical realms of aerospace engineering to the social engineering of company culture. Now quick note you'll hear us mention something we call the Sparketypes in conversation. What is that? Turns out we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive. This is your Sparketype when you discover yours. Everything, your entire work life, and even parts of your personal life and relationships, they just begin to make more sense. And until we know ours, we're kind of fumbling in the dark. And just like today's listener did, you can discover your Sparketype for free at sparketype.com. You'll find a link in the show notes. So my guest today is Adam, founder of Enter Solutions, which is a consultancy fusing team building and process improvement and video storytelling. But Adam's path was far from linear. This is not how he started. Despite early career success as an aerospace engineer then working in the energy industry, this innate curiosity to really innovate just kept stirring within him.

Jonathan Fields: [00:01:54] And really sort of put off by lay offs, yet driven to boost morale. Adam began championing initiatives that allow teams to rediscover their passion, and it was this experience that unveiled Adam's true passion and purpose, helping companies maintain an entrepreneurial spirit as they scale, which aligns perfectly with his primary Sparketype as a maker, which is all about making ideas manifest and his shadow as a maven, which is all about learning and anti as an advocate. You'll hear how Adam transitioned from feeling stifled to embracing this calling. He'll share the challenges of self-doubt and the immense responsibility that comes with entrepreneurship, but also the just profound rewards of empowering others to bring their authentic selves to work as he was building his own company along the way. So get ready for an insightful conversation on growth, on creativity, and the courage to forge your own path. I'm Jonathan Fields and this is SPARKED. Just super excited to dive in and learn more about your story. You know, and before we really get to sort of like the more recent incarnation, I'm always curious. I love to take a step back in time. And I'm curious if you think back to when you were a kid, was there a story in your mind about work, about what it was, about what it wasn't about the shoulds, the shoulds, any expectations when you're growing up? Yeah. So. So take me there.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:03:29] Uh, for me, you know, I always go back to. And I tell people, even now that I want to be an astronaut. When I was a kid, like I used to watch Star Trek religiously, and I loved this idea of, like, exploration and adventure and outer space. And, uh, that was, to me the dream. Right? And as I got older, I started to, you know, worry. I was like, oh, man, they haven't invented, like, spaceships yet. You know, I'm running out of time here. Um, but I think that idea of, like, exploration and adventure, uh, from when I was, when I was a young kid, I think I maybe forgot that a little bit. And then I kind of found it later on in my career, I would say, like, I grew up, you know, my dad was an engineer, my mom was a doctor, and I was really good at school. Like academics were not a problem for me. So it just made sense. I was like, oh, I'll go into engineering, right? I'm good at math, good at science. I'll go be an engineer. This is the prescribed path. Uh, especially people here where I live. Uh, you know, you go into university, you get your degree. So that's what I did. And I did it. And I worked for a while and ended up working on some cool stuff, like airplanes and, you know, stuff in the defense industry. And I kind of followed that idea of, you know, being an astronaut I like.

Jonathan Fields: [00:04:51] Right. So you basically when you get out of school, you go into aerospace engineering. So like so you do have that you have that tether back to when you were a kid in some way.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:05:01] Yeah, a little bit. And it was a bit of a rebellion because here in town everything's around the energy industry. And like that's where the fastest path to success is.

Jonathan Fields: [00:05:09] And yeah, and we should say, by the way, you're in Calgary. Um, yeah. In Canada, which is like really known as sort of like, you know, like the energy industry is really sort of like the driving force in that city.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:05:21] Totally. Absolutely. Um, but, you know, like airplanes and that kind of stuff is kind of like this anomaly there's a little bit around. So I kind of rebelled a little bit, and I quit my job after about seven months, and I went down to the States and I got a master's degree in aerospace engineering because I was like, you know, outer space spaceships. Like, I am committed. So, yeah, I ended up getting a job in the defense industry for a few years thinking that, you know, the ultimate goal in life was to work on really cool stuff, or at least how I defined it. Right? Uh, and I think what I realized getting a few years into my career was that doesn't matter. I'll speak from an engineering point of view, but, like, it doesn't matter if you're building a golf club or a chair or a spaceship. Like, the process is the same. And ultimately, it's the people you work with, not what you're doing, uh, that matters. And I think that was, you know, kind of a maturity realization that came along, you know, five or so years into my career. So I ended up doing, you know, hop in industries. I ended up in the energy industry regardless.

Jonathan Fields: [00:06:25] Yeah. I mean, it's really interesting, right? Because I think a lot of times we really focus in on almost like the subject matter, you know, like we have we want to work on this one particular type of problem or we want to build this one particular type of thing. Um, and, you know, maybe that makes us really happy. Maybe we do have this genuine, joyful connection to that one, sort of like very narrow object or thing or field or focus or interest. Um, And and I feel like sometimes that that stops us from realizing that there's often a bigger process or experience that wraps around it. That is the thing that's actually, like, more engaging for us or equally engaging for us. And we think it's only like building rockets or working on a golf club, like you were saying, like, that's our passion. But in fact, it's the bigger process wrapped around it that really lights us up. And the people in the culture often.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:07:18] Yeah. You know, and I think looking back, the irony of all this, like I ended up starting a business that essentially helps us integrate culture in businesses. So it's like people engineering. But when I look back at this process, uh, of I think the clues in your life as to like maybe what your, your purpose is or where you're going to find the most happiness. You look back as your kid, like, what did you do as a kid when you had all the options in the world of what to do? What did you did you choose to do? And I look back and I'm like, well, if I wasn't, like, watching, like Star Trek or Ghostbusters or some kind of, like, fun thing like that, I was like drawing or I was writing stories or I was like, coming up with these, like, elaborate games that we'd act out with my friends and all this kind of stuff. It was very highly creative as as kids do. So when I ended up switching from corporate to entrepreneurship, all of a sudden I felt this like, I mean, it was stressful, of course, but I felt this like relief, almost like I was unbounded again. And I was like, oh, I can play. I can create. I was like, when did I figure that this is not what I was meant to do? I'm so good at. I'm so happy here.

Jonathan Fields: [00:08:34] Um, I love that. So walk me through this moment of transition then, because so you're, you know, you've got your your degree. You're you're in an industry, you're building a career, you know, um, and what happens that makes you Makes you say, okay, this is not it. And, um, was it a slow, gradual awakening? Was there a moment or a, you know, a happening that kind of woke you up and said, I actually need to make a bigger change here?

Adam Kolozetti: [00:09:03] Kind of a bit of both, I would say. Like I was a bit of a disrupter. I would say in the corporate world, coming from the defense industry to the energy industry, and then later on in construction, I was highly trained in process, uh, because an airplane can't fly out of the sky, right? So I'd see people doing things and projects being run a certain way, and I'd be like, man, we're making the same mistake, like five different projects the exact same way. Like, why don't we build a process here? So I started like fixing stuff, and I kind of became known as, like, the guy who kind of knows everybody, even though I'd only been there a year or two. And technically I was not at that same level as the guys have been doing it for a whole career. But I just built this reputation of someone who just kind of, if you need something done, ask Adam Hill. He knows a guy, right? And that really came about because I was just curious. I have this, I like to call it sense of wonder. Right? Like a what if. What if we did that? What if we connected with the other building over there that, you know, we never talked to? Like, what do they do over there? Let's call them up and find out. Right. Why don't I go have lunch with somebody from that building? Like, why don't we make some connections? Why don't we do this? Why don't we do that? And then we had I went through a period of pretty massive layoffs where for about almost a year, every Tuesday, 2 to 3 of your friends were no longer there. And you never knew who it was? Never announced. And all it happened was like week after week, the walk to your cubicle was, like, more and more barren. So at one point, I remember counting 21 empty spaces to get to where I was sitting. It's like brutal, right? Like it's awful.

Jonathan Fields: [00:10:42] Yeah. So rough. And also very common. Like, this is an experience a lot of people have had on either on the on the side of like having left the empty chair or like doing that walk.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:10:51] Totally right. And myself and my business partner now were like, man, morale is so low. People are scared. Like, why is nobody paying attention to this? Like, so we're like, let's, let's start a lunch and learn program where people can like, share learnings and start to connect again. So we did that and they're like, we should create an escape room that you can do in the boardroom with just paper. So we invented one and we ran it, you know, like we should. How can we take people's minds off their worries and make them feel for a moment like everything's going to be okay, right? And through that process, I remember we had an all hands meeting, you know, it was hundreds of people, big company, and they had a slide in there, and they had a list of like 12 things that were going on. It was kind of like their positivity slide.

Jonathan Fields: [00:11:39] Yeah, yeah.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:11:40] And they're like, this is what we're doing.

Jonathan Fields: [00:11:41] The one positivity slide.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:11:43] Yeah yeah. They're like, we've got this program and that program and going into next year next year, there's gonna be more of it. And I looked at it in 11 out of the 12 I was directly responsible for. Hmm. And I was like, huh? Look at the value that this is bringing. And no one else wants to do it. Like I was flabbergasted. I was waiting for leadership to, like, step. I figured they would just do this type of thing. And they were under their own stresses and their own kind of nightmarish world. Right. So that is when I realized that, uh, you know, this creative sandbox that we were just naturally playing in was unique. It was valuable. And I was like, I think I could do this all the time. It would be so happy if I could just help people achieve this. And that was ultimately the the inception of of starting a company around it.

Jonathan Fields: [00:12:34] Yeah. I love that you said a couple of things I'd love to dive into a little bit more. One is getting really comfortable with this notion of what if just constantly asking, what if, what if, what if? Which is which is something that I've heard. It's very much a makers refrain. Um, you know, because you exist in this space of wonder and like, so like your I know your primary Sparketype is the maker, which is this impulse to make ideas manifest, but the precursor to the like, the sort of like creation process is asking that question, like, what if you know, because that's what seeds that sense of wonder and possibility that leads to, oh, okay. So like it could happen this way or we could create this, or we could create this, or we could create this, or we could solve this and like and it's interesting that like, it seems like that's just sort of like a natural part of your wiring.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:13:23] Yeah. To be honest, I, I had this kind of like three year. If I look back at my corporate career, I was like three years, three years, three years. I had this natural, like half life. And I realized it's because around that three year mark was where I have built enough influence and reputation that I was starting to like, hey, we should do this, we should do should do that. And I'd bump up against some authority that would, like, say no. And then I'd be like, well, I'm out of here. You know. But the interesting thing about the maker, you know, when I did the spark, uh, archetype thing and all that kind of stuff is it paired me with the Maven as well. Yeah, it's like the knowledge and all that. And, like, I love reading. Like, I consume knowledge. Like I love it. The harder the better, right? So like learning curves when they're steep. Like, I am just so happy stressed maybe. But like, you know, the more knowledge consuming the better. So like, my superpower is really turning that knowledge into this sense of wonder into action. Mhm. Um, and I always say I like to think that you kind of need two things to, to achieve whatever you want to do. One is a sense of wonder to ask what if to kind of be curious. And two is the courage to do something new, something unique, to do what it takes to do that. Right? So I just thought that was really interesting that this maker and maker and maven paired up. Yeah, that's totally it.

Jonathan Fields: [00:14:46] It's such a powerful pairing, you know, because it's sort of like you. You just devour knowledge, um, which gives you so much raw material and insight to then turn around and understand, like what actually needs making or even what to wonder about, you know, and then bring into the world. And then that maker impulse says, okay, so now let's do the thing. And one of the things that goes along with that maker impulse also we see is, you know, there's nothing that you can create that's genuinely interesting and new and different, that doesn't require you to step into the space of the unknown. It's just it's part of what you're saying yes to, you know, so this is part of the maker experience is like getting comfortable repeatedly, sort of like stepping into and existing in the space of, look, this doesn't exist yet. Um, but I and I know I'm going to have to step kind of into the abyss, um, and figure it out along the way, but it's almost like I can't not do that.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:15:42] Yeah, right. It's irresistible. You know, I can. I could justify in my own mind or rationalize like, oh, I should keep my corporate job. It's less risk. I need them, like family, all this kind of stuff. But I, at the end of the day, like, put an opportunity or an idea in front of me and I will be unable to to say no. Especially like you said, if I've read a book on that subject or I'm like, hmm, I will go read a book on that subject and I'll be I'll be informed on that. And I can now speak intelligently about that and come up with some way that I think is interesting or that will benefit other people or something.

Jonathan Fields: [00:16:18] Yeah. And the Maven isn't limited to books. Also like the Maven is generally like you're just scanning your environment all day, every day, just like digesting every like everything is input to you. You know, it's like it's all data that goes into the system. So when you decide to actually go out on your own and launch your own business. Take me into what it is like. What have you created.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:16:40] So into solutions like it was founded on this idea that you could scale a business and keep this level of engagement like super high, right? You know, I'm sure when you started this idea of spark, it was like, you're going to change the world. I'm so excited. There's all these problems, but I'm going to solve them all because this is the right thing. And I, you know, so as your business scales, um, what happens? You start to look like everybody else. And there's no entrepreneur in the world that started a business that said, I want to look like everybody else. Right, right. But somewhere along the way, you do. And we said, well, if what if we were strategic about it? What if we put energy into this idea of keeping people's level of excitement, like really high? An example is let's say you're going to write a procedure about something because you have multiple people doing the same thing. Why do you have become the most boring person in the world as soon as you start writing it? Why does it have to look like a legal document? Put a picture in it. Make a video to go with it. More work, more thought, more effort. But the results are going to be faster implementation. People are going to be excited about it. Like creativity, all this kind of stuff. So that's kind of that's where we ended up. This idea of people process equals profit, right? The emotional piece, this team building, the technical piece, which is like your processes and how you're in your business. And then the video storytelling. So if you can tell that story over and over and over and over again, you can amplify and accelerate all the things you're trying to achieve, uh, in terms of human behavior and people.

Jonathan Fields: [00:18:08] That's got it. So so you basically created, um, a consulting business that works with it sounds like emerging companies, emerging businesses and teams to help them keep the energy that they started with because everybody starts sort of like on fire or like, yes, we're ready to go. We're all in on this. We're like, let's just do everything we can to make it happen. But at some point, you know, it has to it has to roll into scale and process and systems because you can't grow without that. Like you're always going to catch that, this itty bitty little thing. But like you said so often when that happens, so much of the energy just sort of like it gets stifled. It the culture changes in a way where a lot of the initial exuberance gets lost. And it sounds like what you're trying to do is say, hey, listen, you can keep that. You're like, let's like, we have to go about this differently. Um, but there's a way to actually keep that alive and still be able to do all the things you need to do to have the impact that you want to have and not lose that fire. Does that sound right?

Adam Kolozetti: [00:19:09] Yeah. You like it? I love the way you said that. You know, it's like, you know what? If it doesn't matter how big your company is, right? There's change happening all the time, and people react to change in different ways. Like, what if everyone in your company was able to sit in their strengths, in their spark archetypes and do what they love and do whatever? What would that mean to your company if every single person, their potential was like, this idea of Idea of potential was changed into some sort of kinetic energy, into some sort of creative discussion or problem solving, like what would happen to your productivity and what would happen to your turnover. Imagine, right? Like, what if that's essentially the idea, right?

Jonathan Fields: [00:19:51] Yeah, I love that. You know, and it's like it lets you effectively create your own business and continually recreate it, because that's what you do when you have your own company. There's no stasis there. I've learned that many times, and sometimes not the easy way. And then and then part of your business is helping your clients do the exact same thing. So it's like you're getting these nested loops of creation, basically, and you just have your fingers in all of it.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:20:15] Yeah. You know, it's amazing. I was just actually I was chatting with someone on my podcast yesterday about, uh, the, the journey of the individual. So let's take the entrepreneur. Right. That internal journey, as you grow, as your business grows, there are various points in your business where you are the problem, right? Your way of thinking, your limitations, your your limiting beliefs and all that kind of stuff. So when you're able to level up and burst through those, so too does your business. And it is amazing how groups of people actually behave very similar to like a single person that the the language, the process. It's not that different. So I find that fascinating.

Jonathan Fields: [00:20:56] Yeah. You're very kind in phrasing it as there are various times in your business where you are the problem. I think more accurately, it's like you're pretty much always the problem. It's like you don't want to be the problem. You don't intend to be the problem. At the end of the day, you know, if you look at all the individuals, like, that's where it all happens, especially as a have lived this so many times and I'm going to live it again as a founder, as somebody who's constantly trying to drive things forward. You know, there are so many times where I'm just sitting there and I realize there's sand in the machine of what we're creating, and I'm like, oh, like, if I'm going to point my finger anywhere right now, it's straight back at me. You know, whether it's a technical lapse or like a lack of skill or ability, or just my own personal development. Like I actually need to develop my own self-knowledge, my own like humanity to the next level, because that's actually a limiting factor in the company's growth. And that's counter-intuitive for a lot of people. Have you found that in some of your client work?

Adam Kolozetti: [00:21:51] Oh, yeah. Like we all get on that treadmill, right? Like perfect example. My own company, the skills of creativity and innovation and like speed of implementation that allow me to create a business and then get past that, you know, five year million dollar mark or, you know, the big kind of milestones are now the skill sets that are causing us problems because we can't scale, because I keep creating stuff all over the place. Right. Mhm. So I'm the problem. So until I level up my way of thinking and understand how to innovate and win and innovate and win to like steady the course and where, which parts of my business are successful and which are not successful. Until I do that, well, I'll just keep running and we'll kill ourselves doing it. And if we win, it'll be by accident.

Jonathan Fields: [00:22:36] So as you've been building this, it's been my experience that at some point, if you're doing your own thing long enough, even if it's successful, outwardly successful, you hit a moment or a window or season sometimes where it kind of becomes the dark night of the soul. Have you moved through that in your own business or experienced it in any meaningful way?

Adam Kolozetti: [00:22:58] Yeah, definitely. I think I'm moving through that process right now. Um, actually, you know, it becomes you start to question everything. Like, I mean, when I quit my job and started a business, I actually got shingles. I was so stressed out, but now I'm kind of.

Jonathan Fields: [00:23:15] I had that last year for the first time. It's brutal.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:23:18] Yeah. Yeah. I remember going to the doctor and he's like, oh, well, here's some painkillers. Good luck. I was like, right.

Jonathan Fields: [00:23:25] Yeah, that's basically it.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:23:26] But now I find myself, you know, we're like eight years in, you know, approaching that ten year mark. And we've had some success and we've grown our grown our team and all that stuff. And then, you know, I find myself questioning all those things, right? Did I make the right choice? Have I made the right decision? And the stakes are higher because other people's jobs and livelihoods depend on me. So kind of going through this cycle of self-doubt, right. And you know where to go next and what to do and all these kind of things, because the decisions I make have a huge impact. So I think on the one hand, I think it's good because if you're feeling pain, it means you're growing and you're right. So I know I'm kind of in the middle of growing, so I'm like, okay, good. But, you know, it's still not a nice feeling, which is why coaches can be so valuable. Or understanding your spark archetype or your personality or whatever. Right. It helps you create a framework in which to kind of analyze yourself and kind of figure that out. Uh, right.

Jonathan Fields: [00:24:28] Yeah. It's so great. I find that when I, when I'm in those In those windows, and I've been through a lot of them over, like a lot of years and a bunch of different companies that really taking the time to go back to who I really am and what matters to me. You know, whether it's a Sparketype, whether it's your values, whether it's any number of just things that really help you remind you, like, who am I really at my core? What, like, what do I care about, you know, not just my skills. Skills matter, but like, deep down, what really matters to me. Um, and am I am I still able to center that in both the work that I'm doing day to day and the vision that I'm currently holding for where this might go. And sometimes we need to pivot. You know, sometimes we either need to pivot the business or we need to pivot our place in the business. But I found that if if you never hit that in your business, there's always almost a level of complacency that that's underneath that. And my experience is, you know, especially in the world of entrepreneurship, there is no sideways like you're either growing or you're shrinking. There's no just cruise control. Um, so I always want to be experiencing, even if it's uncomfortable, you know, the, the anxiety of growth. And oftentimes that means you really got to check back in with yourself to figure out where to go from there.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:25:47] Oh, yeah. Like I've, you know, just listen to podcasts or YouTube or whatever. You kind of watch interviews with some of these big let's take software companies, for example. They made it huge. You know, the owners like maybe 40 multi-millionaire like by all accounts have like achieved the dream. Right. And they're miserable. They're like, I don't know what to do with myself. I like right. And I think if you don't think that entrepreneurship specifically as an example is a spiritual journey, then you're kidding yourself.

Jonathan Fields: [00:26:22] Oh it is.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:26:23] Yeah. Like you are going to go through. And if you don't figure out who you are and why you're doing it, um, it's going to be to be a problem at some point, like for me, for example. I think part of this, like later in life, rebellion and all this was in some ways trying to prove, uh, to my parents I could do it or could not do it or whatever. Right. It was like a little bit of extrinsic motivation. And until I recognized it and acknowledged it and then said, yeah, okay, cool. There might be a piece of that. But like, I actually love it and I want it and it's who I am, and I'll be miserable without it until I could go on that journey. Now I have the energy to solve the problems, whereas before they might have been draining me.

Jonathan Fields: [00:27:02] Yeah, no. So agree. Like once you tie into that more intrinsic driver rather than the, you know, expectation driven driver, it's just it's a game changer. But so often we don't do that work ever. And if we do, we do it because we're on our knees and we're trying to figure out, okay, so how do I how do I move forward from here? Um, well, I'm super excited to hear. It sounds like you're in this moment of examining and visioning right now and sort of like thinking about, like, what is what's the future of my like space in the business and building? And what's the future of the business in general? As we wrap up our conversation, any words of wisdom, any sort of like thoughts you'd love to leave folks with?

Adam Kolozetti: [00:27:41] I think the, the recent powerful, uh, exercise that I was recently exposed to was this idea of, you know, as an entrepreneur, you know, as someone who places high expectations on yourself. There's this constant voice. It's like you didn't work hard enough, you didn't get this done. You obligation. You should have done that. You didn't show up. You did it. You didn't. Right? It's like this pressure. But if you imagine yourself even look at a picture of yourself as a as a child, like, would you say that to yourself as a kid? So like, think about that. And I think if you acknowledge that somewhere in there is still that same kid that played outside in the playground or whatever, if you can find a connection to Action to that, then you will find a reason to keep going or a reason to change whatever it is for you. I think playing in that area that is going to, um, really help you figure out your purpose, maybe your why, that type of thing. And when when you're under so much pressure as entrepreneurs are, there's so many negative things constantly happening to you. You kind of need that. So that would be my last nugget of wisdom I would pass along.

Jonathan Fields: [00:28:56] Love it. Thank you so much. Really appreciate the conversation.

Adam Kolozetti: [00:28:59] Thanks, Jonathan.

Jonathan Fields: [00:29:02] And if you'd like to share your career transformation story on the SPARKED podcast, to inspire others to maybe feel less stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and check out the form in the show notes, because we believe that everyone deserves to find fulfillment and purpose in their work. And remember, if you are at a moment of exploration, looking to Looking to find and do or even create work that makes you come more fully alive, that brings more meaning and purpose and joy into your life. Take the time to discover your own personal Sparketype for free at sparketype.com. It will open your eyes to a deeper understanding of yourself and open the door to possibility like never before. And hey, if you're finding value in these conversations, please just take an extra second right now to follow and rate SPARKED in your favorite podcast app. This is so helpful in helping others find the show and growing our community so that we can all come alive and work in life together. This episode of SPARKED was produced by executive producers Lindsey Fox and Me, Jonathan Fields. Production and editing by Sarah Harney. Special thanks to Shelley Adelle for her research on this episode. Until next time. I'm Jonathan Fields and this is SPARKED.