What I’m doing to take back control, little by little.
There's a phrase I often hear that makes me laugh: "Your work speaks for itself." It doesn’t. Work, by its very nature, is silent. It doesn't send out signals or raise flags to alert others of its impact. If you don’t speak up for it, no one else will.
It’s easy to think that if you’re doing great work, the results will eventually speak for themselves. But the truth is, in a world that’s constantly moving, the value of your efforts can easily be overlooked.
Whether you’re running a business, working on a product sale, prepping for a job interview, or even navigating your performance reviews at a 9-5 job, silence rarely gets rewarded. The absence of visibility can be just as damaging as a lack of performance.
Imagine this: You’re the hardest worker in your company, yet promotions always seem to pass you by. Instead, your colleague, the one who frequently comes to you to fix her mistakes; gets promoted. She’s always on the company group chat, updating leadership about her work progress. Sometimes, she’s even behind schedule, but she keeps the higher-ups informed. Meanwhile, you quietly complete your projects ahead of time, saying nothing.
What does this tell you? You might feel slighted, think it’s favoritism or discrimination. But more often than not, it’s because no one knew what you were doing.
We don’t get taught this in school, but the corporate world rewards visibility as much as productivity. Speaking for your work is not eye service; it’s stakeholder engagement.
Tiny Drops Make a Mighty Ocean
Speaking of showing up, I want to share something personal. Last week, I planned out goals and tasks with all the optimism in the world. But when the weekend came, I couldn’t lift a finger. Exhausted from my day job, I felt immobilized by the sheer amount of chores and plans I had outlined.
This morning, I decided to start small. Writing this newsletter felt like a monumental task, but here I am, writing anyway. It hit me: I’ve been trying to do too much at once.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Tiny drops make a mighty ocean.” It’s true. A single drop might seem insignificant, but over hours, days, or years, those drops accumulate.
If you’re overwhelmed, focus on the next small thing you can do:
Writing a dissertation? Aim for 100 words a day.
Starting a business? Solve one problem at a time.
Any progress, no matter how small, is better than none.
This week, I’m leaving a tiny drop of effort with this newsletter, and I hope over time, this community grows into an ocean.
What’s your drop today? I’d love to hear about it! If you’re working on a project or running a business, tag me or send me a DM. I’ll be reposting submissions today to help share your work with my audience.
Let’s grow together...one drop at a time.
Help me keep creating content by donating to my tip jar. 🫶🏽
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