Achievement isn’t enough
Quiet accomplishments are not enough to create the life we want.
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Show your work; don’t just claim your worth.
Austin Kleon
Just because we accomplish something worthwhile doesn’t mean we’re owed anything.
The best employee doesn’t always get the promotion. The best player isn’t always the captain. The best artists don’t always get discovered.
As much as we want to believe the world is a pure meritocracy, the reality is success alone is not enough. We can climb to the top of every mountain life puts in front of us and never be recognized for it.
If we want to be rewarded for our success, achievement alone is not enough.
A good story beats quiet talent
There is nothing noble about quietly being the most valuable employee at the company and not being properly compensated for it.
We’ll be surpassed by those who are less talented but more vocal if we don’t advocate for ourselves and advertise our accomplishments. In today’s world, our brand is just as important as our achievements. If we’re quietly achieving one groundbreaking thing after another, but we never share them with others, we’ll never be rewarded for all the hard work we’re doing.
When talent is equal, the louder voice, better story, or more inspiring brand will win.
We need to be able to articulate why we, out of the hundreds, thousands, or likely millions of other people who have accomplished something meaningful, are better than everyone else.
A compelling story without talent is enough to create new opportunities, but talent without a story won’t get us anywhere. If we have both then we’ll have no trouble creating meaningful progress towards worthwhile pursuits.
To continue moving forward we also have to develop the ability to confidently communicate our capabilities to others. Without external validation of our skills and accomplishments we’re wasting our talent and missing opportunities.
While external validation is required in most areas of life to meaningfully move ourselves forward, we can’t let it become our only objective.
Staying grounded
Chasing external validation will create opportunities, but if it’s all we’re focused on we’ll be left feeling empty. We need to root our efforts to become better in pursuits that are truly worthwhile and we need make meaningful progress in those pursuits to live a life that we’re personally proud of.
If we’re not able to make meaningful progress, then advertising our accomplishments will be nothing but lying and exaggerating. We can get away with talking the talk if we can’t walk the walk, but it won’t lead to the meaningful and fulfilling life that we’re all trying to create.
To progress ourselves forward and feel good about it, we need to make meaningful progress in worthwhile pursuits that are important to us and sell a compelling story about the skills that we worked so hard to develop.
Prompts
What is your most valuable skill that no one knows about?
Do you have more accomplishments that no one knows about or a stories that you can’t back up?
What is one worthwhile pursuit you’ve made meaningful progress on that you need to tell others about?
Deep Dive
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
A practical guide to self-promotion without ego.
Thanks for reading! I’ll see you next Sunday.
Kevin