Meet Cornelio Martinez

We recently connected with Cornelio Martinez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cornelio, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

For a long time I have been dedicated to understanding electrification , Home Efficiency, Heat Pumps, and many other aspects of electrification. I know That studying electrification has set Maize apart (even ahead) of other contractors. Recently, I have found myself surrounded by educators, policy makers, and efficiency experts. I am often the only “blue collar” guy at industry meetings.

I have felt out of place.

So many people wanting to understand how I found success the way I did. To me, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, just learning efficient product implementation, and doing quality work. These items were straightforward enough. But we have stood out because of this. I truly begin to wonder if I belonged in these “circles”. The imposter syndrome was indeed real. I did realize though , that perhaps the reason why I felt so out of place was because I was one of the only contractors at many of these meetings, this insight helped me to understand my mission. I am committed to help others like myself get a seat at the table – so to speak. To find similar success.

The best way to overcome imposter syndrome is to create a place for others that share your experiences.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have found moderate success (some may even say incredible) as an HVAC business owner and I am now focused on creating and sharing an electrification business playbook. I am Co-Chair of the electrification workforce network with similar mission of growing the work force. We need more electrification workforce entrants and I am hoping my story can help inspire new career opportunities.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Integrity – always do the right thing
Transparency – don’t overthink things. Keep it simple and transparent.
Curiosity – stay curios. Keep learning new things.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

Overcoming bias towards companies who have different philosophies. I understand to grow the workforce in meaningful ways it will take many perspectives and organizations who collaborate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maizemechanical.com