When I was a college senior, I devoted much of my free time to searching for a job. Up until that point, I had believed that one goes to school, earns a degree, and then simply gets a job. I was naive. What I discovered over time was that work in the real world is far more complex—and far more rewarding—than a paycheck.

I graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and soon began work as a Product Assurance Engineer. To be honest, I didn’t know what that meant at the time. Eventually, I learned that it was synonymous with the more common industry term Quality Engineer. Since quality engineering was never part of my undergraduate studies, I knew nothing about it, so I started from scratch. Fortunately, my employer and co-workers invested the time, training, and guidance I needed to succeed.

After six years in the field of quality, I decided to challenge myself and take the Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) exam. No one asked me or coached me to do this—it was simply a personal goal. To prepare, I enrolled in a local ASQ Section’s prep course. Though my employer graciously paid for the course, the class was held during my free time, Saturday morning. Ugh. For ten weeks, I drove an hour each way to attend a 4-hour class from 8 am to 12 noon. It was a sacrifice that my wife, two kids, and I were willing to make because we knew the investment would intrinsically benefit me and eventually pay off.

The CQE prep course was an eye-opener. Despite having an engineering degree and six years of work experience, I quickly realized how much more there was to learn within the CQE Body of Knowledge. The many nights and Sundays that were dedicated to studying paid off as I passed the exam on my first attempt! I proudly received my CQE certificate and a recertification journal in the mail—only to learn that the certification was valid for only three years. Maintaining it required earning 18 recertification units (RUs) or retaking the exam. My first reaction was disbelief—I thought it was a scam! Because I had invested so much effort in learning the material, I was compelled to pursue all the requisite RUs. And so, my journey with ASQ began.

At first, I attended ASQ dinner meetings and local training sessions to earn RUs. This allowed my knowledge to deepen, and my skill set to expand, hence I was promoted from engineer to senior engineer and eventually to quality manager. At the time I did not realize it but “quality” was transforming from a job to a career.

ASQ meeting and course attendance led to additional ASQ certifications and then to getting involved as an ASQ volunteer. As a member leader (aka volunteer), I was not only giving back to the quality profession and furthering my skillset, but most importantly I was earning those much-needed RUs. My volunteer roles expanded over the years; the more I gave, the more I wanted to give. I have fondly coined ASQ’s ability to draw people into ever expanding volunteer roles the “volunteer vortex” because ASQ slowly sucks you in, bit by bit, and over time you somehow are compelled to step up and take on more roles and responsibilities.

As the years went by, my job titles changed— Quality Coach, Black Belt, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and more. My skills grew, my list of certifications expanded, and I earned recognition as an ASQ Fellow. But this evolution wasn’t just the product of a career. It came from something deeper: a passion for quality. Somewhere along the way, that passion took root and grew, fueling both personal satisfaction and professional success. The result was both financially rewarding and self-satisfying.

While “quality” is my thing, I share it with thousands of like-minded professionals. These peers, many who have become dear friends, have blessed me with their companionship, lessons learned, and selfless service as we’ve journeyed together through the world of quality and ASQ.

If you’ve already found your passion, nurture it. If not, don’t worry—because sometimes, like me, passion finds you.