From the Marine Corp to Improving Service Management with John Dowling
July 4, 2024
In this episode of Machinery Masters, Ciaran Gillen sits down with John Dowling, a former Marine Corp engineer who specialized in heavy machinery. When John left his Marine Corp dream job he moved into civilian work and after adapting to the new challenges with the help of some choice mentors he has gone on to thrive, even writing a book, detailing a way for people to take their service management to the next level.
In this episode of Machinery Masters, Ciaran Gillen speaks with former Marine Corp engineer John Dowling about overcoming the challenges of civilian life to achieve his ambitions.
John cites the importance of mentors at John Deere and elsewhere for helping him first learn his craft by the book, before being pushed to really develop the individual problem-solving skills that you need to go to the next level.
Where John has really thrived beyond his technical expertise is in how he has grown to understand the consumer on a deep level. He talks to Ciaren about the customer’s inherent desire to not only be served, but to be respected and empowered.
As a former military man, John is someone who sets his own standards of excellence, but as he explains, he does not want to waste time on tasks that are unnecessary. He is all about efficiency and this is why he’s so excited by the potential of AI and other technology to transform the industry.
He goes on to discuss the possible introduction of drones and even robotic assistants to aid mechanics in a work landscape that will increasingly lean towards field-based service and away from shop-focused mechanics.
If you’re interested in learning more about the dealing of machinery, this episode is definitely for you, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Episode Chapters
Episode Chapters
- 00:00 - Intro
- 00:16 - John’s Toy Truck and Early Lessons
- 01:37 - John’s Evolving Career Ambitions and Joining the Marine Corp
- 04:40 - A Job at John Deere and Mentors
- 08:31 - Adapting to Civilian Life
- 10:08 - Evolving Tools and the Utility of Laptops
- 12:47 - John’s Book: Service by the Boxes
- 14:27 - Customer Service
- 16:34 - Busting myths of starting an online business
- 19:05 - Efficiency, Emerging Technology and AI
- 20:52 - Overcoming Dyslexia and a Stutter
- 22:32 - Successes Beyond Making Money
- 26:10 - Potential for Drones and More Advanced Robotics
- 29:04 - Outro
John Dowling LinkedIn
Ciaran Gillen LinkedIn
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