08/18/2026
A former employee recently called me looking for career advice. She felt stuck in her current role.
I asked her a simple question: “Are you happy?”
Not just, “Do you like what you do?” But when you wake up in the morning, are you energized to go to work—or does it feel like a heavy weight?
She said she enjoyed the work itself, but felt like she wasn’t getting ahead. She had good performance reviews and believed she was doing her job well.
My response: “Good isn’t always enough.”
I asked, “How indispensable have you made yourself to the company?”
That may sound blunt, but it is an important distinction. A company pays you for the value you create—just as you are free to leave when a better opportunity comes along. If you want more opportunity, responsibility, influence, or compensation, focus on becoming someone whose absence would be genuinely felt.
Her next question was: “How do I do that?”
My answer was simple:
Show up.
Show up with ideas.
Show up ready to solve problems.
Show up for the projects nobody else wants.
Show up prepared, dependable, and willing to learn beyond the narrow boundaries of your job description.
The extra effort may not always feel visible in the moment. But leaders notice the people who consistently make things better, reduce friction, help move projects forward, and look for ways to push the ship ahead without being asked.
The small things add up.
Today, people often move jobs every one or two years. There is nothing wrong with pursuing new opportunities—but wherever you are, learn everything you can, be fully present, and look for the gaps where you can create real value.
Don’t just do the job you were hired to do.
Become the person they would hate to lose.
