Looking at John Hendershot’s journey, I wanted to understand how he grew from an associate sales representative into a senior MedTech leader while raising a family, learning different areas of the business, and maintaining his passion for the work.

John’s career has taken several unexpected turns. He has made lateral moves, accepted unfamiliar roles, transitioned from sales into marketing, and developed the skills needed to lead large teams.

His story highlights one clear lesson: there is no single path to success.

Your Career Is a Jungle Gym, Not a Ladder

John does not believe careers move in one straight direction.

Over the course of his career, he took lateral moves and even accepted a step down at one point. Those decisions gave him experience across different areas of the business and helped him understand the organization from several perspectives.

A career is more like a jungle gym. You may move sideways, down, or across before moving higher.

That does not mean you are failing. It may mean you are building the experience needed for a future opportunity.

John’s advice is to stop comparing your path with someone else’s. Focus on becoming the best version of yourself and finding the route that fits your goals.

There Is No Perfect Work-Life Balance

John has four children and has been married throughout his career. He also spent many years traveling regularly.

He does not believe work-life balance is always a perfect split. Instead, life happens in seasons.

Some seasons require you to push harder at work, accept a difficult assignment, or prepare for the next opportunity. Other seasons require you to slow down and spend more time with your family.

While completing his MBA at night, John took time off from school after the births of two of his children. It took longer to finish, but it allowed him to manage what was happening at home.

The goal is not to do everything at once. The goal is to understand what matters most during each season.

Build a Life That Fits You

John encouraged people to decide what success means for them instead of chasing someone else’s version.

He still lives in the same house he bought earlier in his career. He could have purchased a larger home, but he did not want the added mortgage and stress.

Every financial decision affects how much freedom you have later.

A larger house, expensive car, or higher monthly payments may look successful from the outside, but they can also force you to stay in a role you no longer enjoy.

John believes you should make choices that match the amount of stress you are willing to carry and the flexibility you want in your life.

Love the Work You Do

John still loves surgery and being part of an industry that develops technologies to help clinicians care for patients.

He believes that if you cannot wake up with energy and passion for your work, you may be in the wrong job.

The first few years in medical device sales can be difficult. You are learning anatomy, hospital systems, operating room protocols, sales skills, and how to respond quickly under pressure.

John experienced rejection, failure, and difficult moments in the operating room. What kept him moving was the sense that he was part of something bigger than himself.

He was supporting clinicians who were helping people during some of the most frightening moments of their lives.

Learn Through Other People

John believes it is extremely difficult to become great in medical device sales by trying to figure everything out alone.

Throughout his career, he relied on people who could give him honest feedback and help him avoid mistakes.

His trusted group included people he worked with, former colleagues, and family members. Each person gave him a different perspective based on what they had seen.

John warned against allowing one quick comment from an executive or someone who barely knows you to change your entire career.

Good feedback comes from people who have watched you over time, seen you in different situations, and understand your goals.

Listen carefully, but use discernment.

Results Come First

Confidence matters, but results give you credibility.

John believes performance is your ticket into the conversation. Once you are producing results, you can begin thinking about your next role, asking for feedback, and exploring other parts of the business.

His move from sales into marketing came with a pay cut, but it allowed him to learn where products came from, how they were developed, and how different departments worked together.

When he later returned to sales leadership, he had a wider view of the company and could better explain the challenges facing marketing, operations, finance, and research and development.

That broader perspective helped him become a stronger leader.

Leadership Means Letting Go

One of the hardest transitions John faced was moving from being the expert to leading other people.

As a sales representative, your results depend heavily on your own preparation and effort. As a leader, your success depends on the performance of the team.

You cannot continue stepping into every sales call or solving every problem yourself.

John learned that leadership means helping other people succeed, building strong leaders, communicating across departments, and creating an environment where people can reach their potential.

The higher you move, the more you must let go of the idea that your value comes from being the person with all the answers.

Preparation Still Matters After 20 Years

John continues to prepare carefully, even after more than 20 years in the industry.

He spends time each Sunday thinking about what he wants to accomplish for the business, the people he works with, and his own development.

He still prints presentations and writes notes before meetings, even when he knows the subject well.

His goal is to keep learning and avoid becoming so comfortable that his habits and performance begin to decline.

Experience should not become an excuse to stop preparing.

Final Thoughts

My conversation with John showed me that a meaningful MedTech career is built through curiosity, preparation, relationships, and a willingness to take unexpected paths. You do not need to follow a perfect ladder or complete every goal as quickly as possible. Focus on producing results, learning from people you trust, making choices that fit the life you want, and staying passionate about the work. Your career may move sideways or even backward at times, but every experience can help you become a stronger professional and leader.

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All the best,

Jacob McLaughlin

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