ZYCI

When I was 31, I thought my career in project management might be over before it really began.

I didn’t go to college. I started my career as a CNC machinist — hands-on, solving problems, and constantly learning. Over time, I earned more responsibility and eventually found myself working for Northwest Airlines. One day, seemingly out of nowhere, I was handed a massive assignment: manage the acquisition, overhaul, and recommissioning of five DC-9 aircraft.



It was my first time leading a project anywhere near that scale. I was excited, terrified, and deeply aware that senior management had more confidence in me than I had in myself. So I did what I’ve always done when I’m out of my depth — I worked obsessively. I studied every detail. I made sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

The Project

We contracted with a third-party MRO provider in Dallas, Texas to do the overhauls. Before bidding, they reviewed all aircraft maintenance records and physically inspected every plane. They won the contract, and the project began.

Toward the end of the engagement, they began submitting claims for additional charges. Some seemed reasonable, and I approved a few to keep things moving. But then more kept coming — and the pattern started to feel less like scope creep and more like opportunism.

I pushed back. I sent them a formal letter that said:

“As per our agreement to review your claims for additional payment with regard to aircraft 9880, 9881, 9882, 9883, 9884, I would like to have you detail the claims with substantiation. Once I receive this data, I will be in contact with you to work out the final resolution.”

Eventually, we reached a final agreement. I signed the last invoice, writing the words “full and final payment” directly on the document — and I had their representative sign it as well. I didn’t think much of it at the time. It just seemed like the right way to button things up and protect everyone involved.

The Lawsuit

Months later, I got the news: the contractor was suing Northwest Airlines for $70 million.

My heart sank. I thought I had just destroyed my career.

I was young. I didn’t have a college degree. And now I was the project manager at the center of a $70 million legal dispute. I lost sleep thinking about how badly this could go. But then our legal team started combing through the documentation — and that’s when they found the final invoice with the magic words:

“Full and final payment.”
  Signed by both parties.

That single document became the core of our legal defense. The court granted a motion for summary judgment, and the case was dismissed.

You can read the full legal case here:
👉 Astraea Aviation Services, Inc. v. Northwest Airlines

What Happened Next

I braced for fallout, but instead of ending my career, the experience launched it. Senior leadership recognized how I had handled a high-pressure situation. I was given even bigger projects, more responsibility, and new opportunities.

Still, even as my role grew, I never stopped feeling like I was playing over my head. And in hindsight, I think that feeling was a gift. It kept me sharp. It kept me humble. And it made me double down on doing the little things right — the kind of small decisions that, when added up, make all the difference.

Key Takeaways

This experience taught me a few things that have stuck with me ever since:

• Details matter. That small note on the invoice changed the entire outcome of the case.
• Always protect the agreement. Get it in writing. Have it signed. Don’t assume everyone has the same understanding.
• Imposter syndrome isn’t always bad. It can keep you focused, alert, and committed to excellence.
• Crisis can be a turning point. The moments that feel like they might break you are often the ones that end up defining you.
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If you’re ever feeling like you're out of your depth, don’t run from it. Lean in. Do the work. Sweat the details. You never know — that might be the moment when everything changes.