Meet Noel Zamot

We recently connected with Noel Zamot and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Noel, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I think for most of us, work ethic is something you learn through exposure to family and colleagues. I grew up in the shadow of a post-war generation that didn’t have it easy. Work ethic, to them, was like breathing. As a kid, I often wondered if I’d ever discover a passion that would consume me.

Over time, I learned—sometimes the hard way—to devote myself to the things I loved. For a long time, ‘work ethic’ and ‘workaholic’ seemed almost interchangeable, and I spent a lot of energy trying to live my life, rather than becoming a captive to drudgery. It took me a while to realize I’d been unable to separate busy work from meaningful work.

For too long, this dulled my energy. I was stricken by a simmering ennui, a kind of FOMO before I even knew the term. I spent the better part of a decade wanting to do whatever it was I wasn’t doing. Is that the opposite of mindfulness?

As I matured, I caught glimpses of what would truly consume me. Writing classes in college (as an engineering major, no less) were the first time I felt that burning need to create something. That focus sharpened in the military, where every second counts, every task matters, and your team depends on you. It’s not just about getting things done—it’s about doing them well, no matter the size of the task.

Curiosity played a big role too. I found it easy to get lost in work when that work involved learning something new. Whether it’s improving myself, unlocking the world’s secrets, or rediscovering something hidden in plain sight, the passion to discover has always been a powerful fuel for productivity.

At the end of the day, my work ethic stems from a need to satiate intellectual passions; to create both form and legacy; to be remembered as someone who helped others shine, and to uncover the mysteries around us.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My work is a blend of aviation consulting, writing, and exploring the ethical use of AI—so it’s never boring! I’ve spent years advising in aviation cybersecurity and flight test, and now I’m really excited to expand that consulting to include online classes for a very specific, targeted group of aerospace professionals. Honestly, I was surprised when a colleague and friend reached out and shared just how much the industry is changing, and how much our experience can help. There’s incredible potential in helping professionals understand the intersection of AI and aviation—how to make sense of it, how to approach it ethically and safely—and I’m glad to be part of this evolution.

Another area I’m branching into is corporate speaking. I’ve spoken in a variety of forums over the years, and I’m excited to share that hard-earned experience to help companies navigate leadership challenges, technological change, and ethical decision-making. I believe there’s real value in bringing those ideas to boardrooms and executive teams in an engaging, practical way. Storytelling is not only the oldest art form—it’s the best way to share wisdom. How cool is it to engage with others by telling stories with a message?

On the creative side, I’m currently finishing two novels in progress: a stand-alone that mixes magical realism, science, and philosophy, and the third volume of what was initially planned as a trilogy. These new works explore big ideas—our concept of the afterlife, the paradox of gifts, and the tip of the iceberg of science just out of reach. I’m thrilled to weave these ideas into stories. Two of my favorite characters ever will rise from these two works, and I can’t wait to share them with readers.

Finally, AI is becoming an increasingly important part of my ‘day job,’ and I’m fascinated by the ethical challenges it presents. I’m committed to exploring how to use AI responsibly, both in science and creativity. We’re in a paradoxical space where, although we’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible, we also see significant ethical and technological limitations. It feels like the ‘pre-iPhone’ smartphone era in AI—we knew things would change, but we didn’t know by how much. I want to ensure we navigate this in a way that respects both innovation and humanity.

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?

Looking back, three qualities that have had the biggest impact on my journey are curiosity, benevolent impatience, and clarity.

Curiosity has been essential. I’ve always wanted to learn more, to uncover new ideas, and to figure out how things work. It’s what drove me into engineering, what keeps me engaged, and what pushes me to dive deeper—whether it’s in aviation, AI, or writing.

What like to call benevolent impatience has also played a huge role. It’s not about sitting back and waiting for things to happen, but about pushing forward to drive change while recognizing that good results take time. It’s a balance between urgency and restraint, always striving to make things better while understanding that progress requires time.

Clarity, for me, is seeking to understand the core of my behavior and that of others. It’s about having the discipline to filter out noise and focus on what really matters. It’s been a guiding principle in both personal and professional growth, allowing me to stay grounded in my goals and relationships. It is the analog of the “Five Why’s”: arriving at the root cause of what we and others do, in order to understand.

For those starting out, I’d suggest focusing on three other qualities:

First, communication. Learning how to connect with others is key. Whether you’re pitching an idea, building a team, or simply navigating life’s challenges, clear and effective communication will take you far. One of my favorite quotes encapsulates this well: “the greatest barrier to effective communication is the illusion that it has happened.” We seem to be blind mice scurrying around, ignorant to much around us, and act surprised when we discover we are not where we thought we might be.

Second, temperance. As the saying goes, ‘It is never as good or as bad as it seems.’ Maintaining a balanced perspective helps you navigate setbacks and celebrate victories with grace. Rudyard Kipling captures this well: “If you can meet success and failure and treat them both as impostors, then you are a balanced man, my son.” We live in a world where we’re accustomed to ever higher highs, and are surprised when they arrive with the corresponding lows. Steadfastness in the face of chaos is a virtue.

Finally, stewardship. Taking care of others is a great way to grow. When you focus on helping others succeed, you not only develop leadership skills, but you also foster relationships that will support you in the long run. It is an object of recurring glee when I realize that the best times in my life are not when I DO something, but when I SHARE something. The wisest among us figured this out long ago. Some of us re-discover it every day. Whether a smile, a helping hand, a lesson, whatever: gifts are meant to be shared.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Two books have played an important role in my development: *Range* by David Epstein and *Four Thousand Weeks* by Oliver Burkeman.

*Range* taught me that continuing to explore through discovery is a virtue, not a personality flaw. For years, I thought my varied interests and pursuits made me unfocused. I’d start a project or role, and realize that after about 20 months I was ready for something different. Initially I thought it matched the timeline of my military career, something hard-wired that would haunt me for the rest of my professional life. But Epstein’s book reframed that for me—helping me realize that a wide range of experiences allows for greater creativity, problem-solving, and insight. It encouraged me to embrace my broad interests in everything from writing to AI, and to see that exploration is often the key to true mastery.

On the other hand, *Four Thousand Weeks* was a wake-up call about the limited nature of time. Burkeman’s brutal yet liberating message helped me come to terms with the fact that we simply can’t pursue all our passions in one lifetime. It was a tough pill to swallow, but also a freeing one—understanding that our time is finite allows us to prioritize what truly matters. It’s changed the way I approach everything from my work to my relationships, focusing more on depth rather than breadth, and realizing that it’s okay to leave some paths unexplored.

Together, these books provided wisdom on two seemingly opposite ideas—continuing to discover and accepting limits. But in reality, they’re both about living intentionally and making the most of the time we have, by choosing wisely where we invest our curiosity and energy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.noelzamot.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noel_zamot
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoelZamotAuthor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelzamot