Ep. 29: Friendship, Work, and Purpose (ft. Thomas Zink)

In this episode of Silent Service Will Diesel sits down with his good friend and colleague Thomas Zink for a conversation that came together pretty spontaneously but turned into something really meaningful. Thomas shares his journey from growing up in Cleveland to making the move to Florida, and how loyalty, hard work, and a leap of faith opened the door to a career in an industry that feels like the backbone of America.

They talk about friendship, sports, some inside jokes, and what it’s like to navigate the early stages of corporate life. Thomas reflects on lessons from college, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, and what it really means to let naysayers know.

This one’s filled with honesty, laughter, and plenty of Midwest heart. At its core it’s a conversation about more than just work. It’s about faith, values, and the friendships that sharpen us along the way.

0:00 – Intro & welcoming Thomas
3:00 – Switching majors and love for numbers
6:00 – MEPS check-in with Thomas
9:00 – Will’s MEPS and friendship reflections
12:00 – First impressions & “island desk” story
15:00 – Inside joke: “let naysayers know”
18:00 – Midwest habits & Cleveland sports pride
21:00 – White noise, deep work, and Severance analogy
24:00 – Professor Roger Klee’s impact
27:00 – White-collar in a blue-collar industry
30:00 – Funniest client request: the Power Hour riff
33:00 – Helping a family fund college
36:00 – HVAC 101 & battling imposter syndrome
39:00 – Gratitude for peers in similar life stage
42:00 – Lightning round begins (embarrassing moments)
45:00 – Book & podcast recommendations
48:00 – Five-year vision for leadership & ownership
51:00 – Closing laughs, awkward jokes, and gratitude

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