IAIN AND SETH

“Do It Until It Isn’t”

Iain wants to work with his hands. Seth has spent more than fifteen years doing exactly that, a heavy-duty mechanic who maintains everything from tractors and shunt trucks to refrigerated units. When MentorAbility, Gateway’s mentorship program, matched them, Iain got a few hours of the kind of advice you can’t get from a manual.

Seth’s own start came early, thanks to a family legacy of truck ownership. He told Iain funny, insightful stories about removing and replacing parts as a teenager, and about how curiosity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to ask questions became central to his growth.

“I’ve never had someone in the trade turn me down when I asked a question,” he told Iain. “That’s how you learn.”

The conversation ran from technical skills to mindset. Seth described the role as a blend of mechanics, electrical work, welding, and problem-solving. “If it didn’t break down, we wouldn’t have a job,” he said. Knowing Iain has a hearing impairment, he talked through real-world accommodations and visual troubleshooting techniques, like using air bubbles in water to detect leaks, and how mechanical work today blends high-tech diagnostics with old-school, hands-on ingenuity.

And then he gave Iain the part worth keeping. “You need to be comfortable with struggle—it’s how you learn,” he said, encouraging Iain to keep challenging himself with the parts of the job he finds hardest. “Whatever is your least favorite thing, do it until it isn’t.”

MentorAbility connects people living with disabilities with experienced professionals, for free. Whether you want to learn from a mentor or become one, you can learn about MentorAbility and get started.