What If I Don’t Try? Elliot’s Leap from IT to Impactful Project Supervision

After nearly two decades in traditional IT roles and high-level project management, Elliot found himself at a familiar crossroads, one marked by success, but lacking fulfilment. The systems were running. The projects were delivered. But the spark? That deeper sense of purpose? It was flickering.

The IT Burnout and a Shift in Perspective

Elliot’s career began during the tech boom of the late '90s. From IT support to rolling out global infrastructure projects, he had climbed steadily through the ranks. He had worked across continents, led global rollouts, and contributed to billion-dollar tech transformations. But with each passing year, a realization grew: in the world of IT, outcomes often felt intangible, and success was too often judged by whether a single call dropped.

“I had some really good and successful IT projects,” Elliot shared, “but so much of it was in the eye of the beholder. It lacked that tangible sense of impact.”

This craving for real-world outcomes led him to something entirely different: the manufacturing floor. Instead of virtual systems, he found himself surrounded by bottling machines, supply chains, and physical results that couldn’t be debated—they just worked or they didn’t.

Redefining the Role: From Project Manager to Superintendent

It wasn’t just a career shift. It was a philosophical one.

“I’m evolving the project superintendent role,” Elliot explains. “It’s still project management—but focused on outcomes, people, and purpose over just processes and methodologies.”

Having seen too many projects fail because people were forgotten in favor of tech, Elliot became passionate about putting the human connection back at the center of delivery. “Tell them why,” he says. “When people understand the ‘why,’ they’ll figure out the ‘how’ far better than any manager could prescribe.”

The Leap into Entrepreneurship

Despite his skills and insight, the jump from employee to business owner wasn’t easy. Like many, Elliot faced fear: fear of failure, fear of uncertainty, and fear of giving up a stable career.

“What held me back wasn’t my ability. It was fear,” he said. “But then I asked myself: what if I don’t try?”

He didn’t rush the process. He saved. He planned. He acknowledged that failure is part of the journey. “For every success,” Elliot reminds us, “there might be nine failures. But if that one success is meaningful, it’s worth it.”

The Lessons Learned

Elliot’s story is filled with lessons for anyone standing at the edge of a career pivot:

• Don’t set unrealistic goals. Build in space to fail and recover.

• Prepare financially. A buffer gives you confidence to take the leap.

• Build your network. Referrals and relationships will get you further than any job board.

• Be authentic. People buy trust, not titles.

• Always ask why. That’s where the value lives.

What’s Next for Elliot?

Elliot continues to evolve his methodology, aiming to scale his impact beyond himself. With experience across IT, FMCG, construction, and manufacturing, his goal is to make the “project superintendent” role a standard for results-focused, people-powered delivery in any industry.

“I’m not just running projects anymore. I’m driving business value.”

Inspired by Elliot’s journey? Wondering what your leap could look like?

Book a free call with the BYOB team and let’s talk about building your own business on your terms.