ADAM-PAUL

  • When do you know it is time to leave your current job?

    In 2024, I made the decision to leave a company where I had spent eight years of my career. It wasn’t an easy choice—this was the place that taught me everything I know about the renewable energy industry, and I have countless fond memories of my time there. But now, in my new role, I couldn’t be happier.

    Looking back, it’s clear that leaving was the right move for me, but it wasn’t a decision I made lightly. It’s made me reflect on the signs that told me it was time to walk away from a company I had given nearly a decade of my life to. So, how do you know when it’s time to make a change?

    Let my story serve as an example of the key things to watch for—those moments and patterns that might indicate it’s time to dust off your resume and take the next step in your career.

    Respecting Your Boss—and Feeling It in Return

    It’s not always easy to tell if your managers truly respect you. In an ideal world, great managers would pull you aside and let you know they value your contributions and respect the work you do. But, in reality, that kind of direct feedback is less common than we’d like.

    During my time at the company, I worked under multiple directors whom I still respect to this day. But I often found myself wondering if that respect was mutual. They rarely, if ever, expressed it outright. It wasn’t something I dwelled on constantly, but the thought lingered in the back of my mind. And every time I found myself questioning other aspects of my job—whether it was frustrations with company policies, inconsistencies in leadership, or missed opportunities—it would resurface.

    That uncertainty about where I stood with leadership became a recurring theme. Over time, it contributed to a growing sense of dissatisfaction, making me wonder if I was truly in the right place. Respect is one of those intangible factors that can weigh heavily on your decision to stay or move on, even if you don’t always realize it in the moment.

    The Power of Advocacy: Who’s Speaking Up for You?

    Support within a company can make all the difference in your career, and I learned that the hard way. Looking back, I can’t help but realize how much my ability to advance depended on whether people were willing to speak up for me when I wasn’t in the room. Having someone to advocate for you is everything. Without that support, moving up the ladder feels nearly impossible.

    I remember seeing firsthand how powerful it was to have people in my corner—those who understood my value and weren’t afraid to vouch for me behind closed doors. Whether it was for a promotion or an opportunity to shine, it wasn’t just about doing the work; it was about having people speak your name in a positive light when the decisions were being made. And that didn’t just happen on its own.

    But I also saw the flip side, and it stung. There’s nothing more frustrating than watching someone climb the ladder only to pull it up behind them once they’ve made it. It’s the complete opposite of what true leadership should be about. Leaders who genuinely care lift others as they rise, creating opportunities for the people they believe in along the way.

    Looking back, I realize how much I needed those advocates—those who had my back and championed my growth. If you’re in the same position, take a moment to ask yourself: Who’s in your corner? Are there people who see your potential and are willing to speak up for you when it matters? If not, it may be time to look at your surroundings and see if they’re helping you get to where you want to go. In the end, those advocates make all the difference.

    Is Your Pay Really Reflecting What You’re Worth?

    It’s pretty obvious, but in today’s world of LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed, it’s incredibly easy to figure out if you’re being compensated fairly for the work you’re doing. Notice I said “for the work you’re doing,” not “for your title.” Companies love to get creative with how they classify roles and compensate accordingly. They’ll put you into a silo, assign you a title, and tell you, “Here’s your salary—$50,000/year.” But that salary often has very little to do with the actual value you bring to the table. The ambiguity around pay scales is a game that a lot of companies play, and it’s a frustrating one.

    Take this example of a pay scale for three positions:

    Associate Employee: $64k-70k/year
Employee: $68k-80k/year
Senior Employee: $78k-90k/year

    At first glance, these ranges seem fair, right? But what they really do is create overlapping pay scales that allow companies to give you a raise without truly compensating you what you’re worth. It’s all about making you feel good with a promotion, while keeping you underpaid. Here’s how the game typically plays out:

    You start at the company, and they offer you $64k for an Associate role. A year goes by, and you get a raise to $65k—barely a cost-of-living adjustment. Another year passes, and they bump you up to $66k. Now, two years in, you’re ready for a promotion, so you ask for one. They agree, but instead of promoting you to a true senior position, they bump you to $69k and move you into the next pay scale. You’ve been promoted, but you’re still at the bottom of the new pay range.

    Do you see the game here? They give you small raises, just enough to make you feel like you’re progressing, but not nearly enough to match the value of the work you’re doing. They drag you through these incremental increases, all while keeping you stuck within the confines of their carefully designed silos.

    This is exactly what I ran into at my job, and it all came to a head in one of the most ridiculous wage review meetings I’ve ever experienced. I went into the meeting expecting a promotion, but instead, I was told—and I quote—“We looked at your salary and title. We were able to give you a promotion or more money. We assumed you wanted more money.”

    They were trying to sell me the idea that, had I been promoted, I would have ended up with a lower salary than the raise they were offering me. Essentially, they wanted me to believe that all the extra work I had been doing, all the value I had been adding, was worth effectively nothing. I wasn’t being rewarded for the added responsibility or the progress I’d made—no, they were trying to convince me that the money I was getting now was better than a promotion.

    It was one of those moments where it became painfully clear that they were playing a game to keep me in a position where they could extract as much work as possible without actually compensating me fairly for it. In their eyes, I wasn’t worth more because I had stepped up—I was only worth more because they had decided it was time to give me a small bump in salary. That meeting was a huge turning point for me, and it was hard to walk away without feeling like I’d been taken advantage of.

    The Promise of Progress: When Feedback Falls Short

    Piggybacking off the previous section, before the meeting ended, they gave me what felt like a half-hearted promise: if I kept doing what I was doing and took the constructive feedback they offered, they guaranteed I’d be promoted a year from that day.

    At first, I was furious. I had put in the time, the effort, and the work—why wasn’t that enough? I stayed upset for a few days, stewing over my perceived unfairness. But then reality set in, and I realized this situation was out of my hands. The only thing I could control was how I responded.

    So, I went back to work. I focused on the feedback they had given me because I knew that if I didn’t follow through, I’d just be stuck in that same cycle of frustration. The feedback was specific—things I could tangibly work on to improve. But the longer I stayed with the company, the clearer it became that feedback was only part of the equation.

    If you’re going to act on feedback, you can’t just nod and agree—you have to follow through and expect results. The truth is, feedback without action doesn’t lead to meaningful change. So, I dedicated myself to doing what was asked of me, but I also started asking myself: what’s the end goal here? I wasn’t just going to keep going through the motions; I wanted real growth, both in terms of my skills and my position.

    Looking back, I realize that this period was a tipping point. While I did follow through with the feedback, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was doing everything I could, but the company wasn’t fully invested in my growth. That realization planted the seed for me to start looking at the bigger picture—what was I truly getting out of this company, and was it enough to justify staying long term?

    The Turning Point: Discovering You’re Underpaid

    Up until that point, I had never considered leaving my company. I had always ignored recruiter messages, thinking I was where I needed to be. But after the ongoing frustrations, I finally took the first call. It wasn’t about jumping ship; it was more about figuring out where I stood in the market.

    The conversation was eye-opening. It took one conversation and I realized I was being underpaid, dramatically ,for the work I was doing. I had spent years dedicated to advancing within the company, yet here was an outside recruiter telling me I was worth more elsewhere. It was a hard realization—one that made me question everything.

    That call shifted my perspective. For the first time, I felt like I was being held back and my loyalty to the company wasn’t being reciprocated. It made me realize that I wasn’t just frustrated with the company’s promises; I was undervalued. And from that point on I knew I was leaving it was just going to take the right company that I would feel like a good fit.

    Looking back, it wasn’t one single moment that made me leave; it was the accumulation of missed opportunities, broken promises, and undervaluation. The signs were always there, but it took time—and a lot of reflection—to fully see them.

    If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of frustration, questioning your worth, or realizing that your growth is being stifled, take a step back. Your career is yours to shape, and if the environment isn’t supporting that, it might be time to consider other options. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions, seek honest feedback, and, most importantly, recognize when it’s time to move on for your own growth and happiness.

  • The Art of Avoidance: Prioritizing Survival in iRacing Incidents

    Racing, whether virtual or real, is as much about strategy as it is about speed. In iRacing, incidents are inevitable. But when you’re behind the wheel—digital or otherwise—how you respond to an unfolding situation can be the difference between crossing the finish line or watching the rest of the race from the pits or just exiting the race before the end entirely.

    It’s easy to point fingers after a crash. The replay shows who was out of line, who turned in too early, or who misjudged their braking point. Yet, beyond the black-and-white analysis of fault lies a grey area: the split-second decisions made by everyone involved.

    Imagine you’re in the middle of a race, running 5th, when you notice an incident in the making ahead. A dive bomb, a squeeze to the apex—you’re in the correct spot. But as the tension builds, so does the potential for contact. Do you hold your line, knowing you’re right, and risk being taken out by the chaos? Or do you back off, sacrificing a position to save your car?

    Here’s the dilemma I am posing: Is it better to get caught in the incident, finish 20th and file a protest with the satisfaction of being “right”? Or is it better to drop a spot, finish the race, and still hold your ground with a protest if necessary?

    In my view, the answer is clear: protect your car.

    In real-world motorsports, survival is key. Cars are expensive, repairs time-consuming, and races are often won by those who make it to the end. iRacing doesn’t impose the same financial or physical penalties, but adopting that real-world mindset can transform how you approach each race. Protecting your car means staying in the fight. A position can be regained, a race can be salvaged, but only if your car is intact.

    Let’s be honest: the drivers diving into corners recklessly are often out of the race sooner rather than later. It happens all the time. Experienced racers generally avoid these aggressive moves, which is why, in oval racing, most first-lap crashes come from drivers qualifying mid-pack. They push too hard to break into the top 10 immediately, taking turn 1 three- or four-wide, only to lose control and cause a massive wreck.

    But here’s the key: the experienced drivers in the middle of the pack know this is likely to happen. They either stay low to avoid the chaos or drop back a few spots, knowing they’ll regain those positions as others take themselves out. It’s a calculated decision that prioritizes survival over pride, and it’s one we could all learn from.

    Too often, pride leads to disaster. It’s tempting to stand your ground, to prove a point—but at what cost? Racing smart doesn’t mean yielding unnecessarily; it means understanding the bigger picture. Position yourself to avoid trouble, even if it means giving up a spot. In the long run, survival keeps you in contention.

    So the next time you’re in the thick of it, remember: protect your car first, position second, and pride last. You’ll finish more races, gain more experience, and learn that the art of avoidance is just as important as the art of speed.

  • Part 107 Study Guide

    Earning your Part 107 drone license can feel overwhelming, but with the right resources, it’s completely manageable. When I prepared for the exam, I realized that success wasn’t just about studying harder—it was about studying smarter. I’ve compiled a study guide filled with essential resources and tips that helped me pass, not only with confidence but with a deeper understanding of aviation regulations, weather, and airspace.

    This guide may seem extensive, but trust me—it’s designed to build a strong foundation. From official FAA materials to lesser-known YouTube channels, each resource serves a purpose. Whether it’s mastering sectional charts, decoding METAR reports, or understanding density altitude, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

    So, if you’re ready to dive into the world of drones and ace the Part 107 exam, let’s get you started.

    It looks like a lot, but it is a lot of links for videos mostly.  

    1. Read Part 107 from the official government website of the Cod Of Federal Regulations This is a very easy to read list of the do’s and don’t under Part 107. Any study guide that does not tell you to read this is a bad study guide.
    2. Read Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide – This is an official study guide put out by the FAA. Either save it to your computer/phone or print it off and mark it up as you read. But read this cover to cover and comprehend it. It is 88 pages, but this alone could pretty much get you to pass the Part 107 exam. There isn’t a single YouTube video out there that covers all of this.
    3. Read the official FAA ruling on “Operations Over People General Overview“. This details new requirements for flying over other people. There are 4 categories and this can get a little bit confusing. There is a great dedicated Youtube Video from a small channel run by a gentleman named Tim McKay who explains it all crystal clear.
    4. Read the official FAA requirements for Night Operations.  This has changed in the last year. 
    5. By this point you pretty much know everything you need to. But we want to have a thorough understanding of everything not just basic knowledge so we can “just pass” the test. Fog is a topic that will come up on your test. Make sure you understand the characteristics and causes of each of the 6 major types of fog. A great resource for this is Fly8MA.Com Flight Trainings video.
    6. Sectional Charts. You’ve already read about them in the study guide, but practice these. Try to memorize which lines mean what. But if you forget always remember there is a legend in the front of your supplement book that you will have on test day. Some great tools I used for this were:
      1. Altitude Universities FAA Part 107 Study Guide [How To Read A Sectional Chart]. They teach you almost all of what you need to know, but he also teaches you a great “game” you can use to practice.
      2. Fly8MA.Com Flight Trainings – Video on Advanced Sectional Chart Knowledge. You see a lot of lazy videos out there on “5 Tricky questions about sectional charts on the part 107 test”. Well this video will make it so there are no tricky questions!
    7. Understand abbreviations for METAR and TAF reports. Weather.GOV has a chart of this. You certainly do not need to memorize every single one of them. But the major ones regarding precipitation, cloud, winds, max, min, began/begin, end, etc. A great way I learned to read these was to install the Avia Weather app on my Android phone and use that for my weather app for a few weeks. It presents weather in METAR format. It forced me to learn to read them. I would see new abbreviations pretty regularly and then look them up and know them. You can also spend some time using the Aviation Weather Center website. It provides METAR reports and you can decode them to verify your answers.
    8. Understand air masses, fronts & clouds. This too comes directly from the FAA. It is comically old looking, but the information was incredibly helpful. It is 30 pages with tons of pictures. It helped supplement the knowledge from the official study guide on the 3 phases of every storm cloud. I probably have 4-5 questions on this during my test. If you understand weather you almost don’t even need to study much on the effects it has on and aircraft because it all becomes incredibly easy to process.
    9. Density Altitude & Pressure Altitude. This is one I see almost never talked about. Sure enough I had a question for this on my part 107 test.
    10. Know how to talk on a radio. You will basically never have to do this, but I had two questions on radio procedure come up. One was how to contact ATC for authorization via radio (you never ever do this) the other was how something would be properly announced using phonetic alphabet. This video from Fly With the Guys does a great job of digging deeper into this.
    11. Spend the time to understand Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) The video series I watched was 4 parts. Here is part 1. When I initially read through the study guide this didn’t quite click with me, but the videos helped a ton.
    12. Understand Weight & Balance basics for aircraft. A guy named Jeffery Bannish has a pretty great video on this. Understand loads during banked flight. I had multiple questions on this on my test as well.
    13. Lastly. This one is completely optional. It cost me $15. John Peltier of Peltier Photo Courses has a bank of $300 questions he put together into a test that you can take as many times as you like. It picks 60 random questions so you are not taking the same test over and over. When you buy it you can access the test for 2 months. I probably took his test 10 times over the course of the month I was studying. What I would do is take the test once each day. Then review any questions I got wrong and I would spend time to learn the correct answer. As I would learn the correct answer I would absorb additional information. The next day I would take the test again. Get some new questions and repeat the process. After about 4 days I started routinely getting 94-98% on the practice tests.

    Passing the Part 107 exam isn’t just about checking off a requirement—it’s about becoming a more informed, responsible, and skilled drone operator. By using the resources I’ve shared and committing to thorough preparation, you’ll not only pass the test but also gain the confidence to operate safely and professionally in the national airspace. Remember, the effort you put into understanding these concepts will pay off every time you take to the skies. Good luck, and happy flying!

    P.S. If you end up using my study guide and you take the test be sure to comment down below and let me know what your score was!

  • Making your first $1,000 with your new drone.

    You bought your new drone and want to start making money. How do you gain customers?

    Drones have revolutionized the way we see the world—literally. From capturing breathtaking aerial shots to mapping landscapes with pinpoint accuracy, these machines are more than just high-tech toys. For those with a passion for flying and creating, drones offer incredible opportunities to turn a hobby into real income. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just starting out, earning your first $1,000 with a drone is an exciting milestone—and it’s more attainable than you think.

    In this post, I’ll share practical ways to transform your drone into a money-making tool, drawing from my experience as a commercial drone operator and content creator. So, if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, let’s dive in. The sky isn’t just the limit—it’s where the opportunity begins.

    Getting Started.

    If you’re brand new to the drone world and short on connections, the hardest part isn’t making money—it’s landing that first client. But here’s a strategy that might surprise you: work for free. Yes, you read that right. The simplest way to earn your first $1,000 with your drone is by starting with no price tag at all.

    Here’s why it works: if your portfolio is filled with recreational shots, it’ll only take you so far. The moment you ask someone to pay for your services, they’ll want proof—something that looks professional. If you don’t have that yet, honesty is your best tool. Let potential clients know you’re new. Show them the work you’ve done, and offer to do a project for free. In exchange, ask for a testimonial, a shout-out, or permission to feature their logo on your website. It removes the pressure from both sides and gives you the chance to build trust—and a portfolio worth paying for.

    Before I ever had a paying client, I worked for free for about six months. Each month, I took on one or two jobs, pouring more time into editing and refining photos than I ever spent flying. Honestly, I wasn’t an expert at drone settings, and my photography knowledge was limited. Drone photography is simpler than traditional photography, but it comes with its own challenges. You have to learn to work within those limitations and still produce images and videos people are willing to pay for.

    During those months, I built a small network of 5-10 clients who were happy to recommend my work. Most of them let me display their logos on my website and use the photos and videos I’d created to promote my services. Suddenly, I wasn’t just showing random shots of horizons—I had real, client-driven content to showcase. And when it came time to land my first paying client, they could see the quality of my work and felt confident hiring me.

    What should I charge?

    I’m not here to tell you what the “right” rate is because it varies—different regions, markets, and even industries have their own standards. But if you’re new to drone content creation, it’s smart to charge a bit less at first. Your rate should reflect your skill level, and here’s a hard truth: most people think they’re better than they really are when starting out.

    If pros in your area charge $150/hour, take a good, honest look at their work. Are they producing professional-grade content for local businesses? If you’re just getting started, you might not be at their level yet—even if you feel your shots are better. Consider setting an introductory rate, maybe $100-$125/hour, until you’ve built up a portfolio of professional jobs.

    What you charge also depends on the type of work you’re doing. For example, my first paid gig was filming hole-by-hole flyovers for a local golf course. I knew I’d need multiple takes to get it right, and charging by the hour felt like I’d be billing them for my inexperience. Instead, I offered a flat rate per hole, which felt fair for the scale of the project.

    Here’s the bottom line—the TL;DR if you will: what you charge is a balance between your current skill level and what your time is worth to you.

    Reach Out to Potential Customers!

    The reality to earning that first $1,000 is that clients are highly unlikely to come looking for you. You are going to have to reach out. In my case I still ping golf courses here and there to offer my services. I always keep my drone in my truck when I travel anywhere because I never want to miss an opportunity to use my drone as a service. Here is a short list of what I have used my drone for at this point:

    • Filmed a firework show for a baseball team.
    • Helped a farmer locate lost livestock after major storms.
    • Helped someone check on their cabin after floods near a river.
    • Created a recruitment video for a D-III college baseball team.
    • Created 18 flyover videos for a local golf course. (Multiple times)
    • Helped a trailer company film a reveal video for a new trailer.
    • Took aerial photos for a major farm for promotional materials.
    • Inspected the roof of a barn that was leaking.
    • Inspected the roof of some homes after major hailstorms.
    • Helped hunter identify game trails on their property during the summer.

    Those are the ones that come to mind. Not all were paid gigs. I included all of them mostly to demonstrate how versatile a drone can be and how there are endless applications which you can use them to make an income.

    There is no denying that the market is saturated and drone operators are everywhere, but what is important to remember is the quality will always rise to the top. If you curate your work carefully. Build great clients who love your work. Then continue to seek out additional clients the money will come sooner than you think. Even if you are working for free in the beginning.

  • Welcome!

    Welcome to my little corner of the internet.

    Hello, and thank you for visiting! My name is Adam Paul, and I’m excited to share my journey, insights, and passions with you. I created this blog as a place where I could contribute valuable content to the renewable energy industry, while also exploring other interests that bring me joy. After spending years sharing my thoughts in forums and comment sections, I realized it was time to build a space where my input wouldn’t simply get lost in the shuffle.

    A Little About Me

    I’ve been fortunate to have a dynamic career that began in 2008 in the recycling industry, designing grinding equipment. In 2016, I transitioned to renewable energy, where I worked on solar farm design before moving into estimating and procurement in 2018. With extensive experience in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) side of renewable energy, I’m passionate about helping others navigate the complexities of the industry by sharing the knowledge I’ve built over the years.

    Outside of work, I wear a few other hats. I’m a proud husband and father of two, and when I’m not focused on renewable energy, you’ll often find me flying drones. I hold a commercial drone operator’s license and love creating photo and video content to share with others. I’m also an avid gamer, a lover of music, and someone who enjoys spending time outdoors.

    What to Expect

    This blog will be a blend of professional insights and personal reflections. I’ll be sharing articles on topics like renewable energy trends, project estimating, and the evolving role of technology in the industry. You’ll also find a few posts here and there about my passion for drones and maybe the occasional reflection on life as a dad.

    My goal is to provide thoughtful, well-crafted content that informs, inspires, and sparks conversation. Whether you’re an industry professional, a drone enthusiast, or just curious about renewable energy, I hope you’ll find something valuable here.

    Thank you for stopping by, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you! Feel free to reach out, comment, or share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you.