One of the most heartbreaking things I see is when people don’t know their own value.
They have the education, skills, and raw talent—but they’ve been conditioned to feel “less than” by toxic leaders or colleagues who nitpick their work and frame their accomplishments as unimpressive.
It’s especially devastating to see this happen to young professionals who haven’t yet learned a crucial truth: anyone can be torn down and picked apart. Everyone has flaws and blind spots. The depressing reality is, there are people who weaponize this to suppress and manipulate others.
Please believe me—the worst mistake you can make is trying to please one of these critics. They are bullies—not unlike those you saw in high school. In fact, they’re very much the same. If you do manage to “fix” one thing, they’ll find something else to target.
If you’re giving 110% at work, you’re hitting your targets, and your talents are celebrated by everyone except one or two people—the problem isn’t you.
Don’t let anyone destroy your self-belief for their political gain. Know your value—and get out (if possible) to preserve your mental health.
If you need help figuring out your value, book a meeting with me and I’ll see if I can help. I’d love to hear from you.
Transcript
What makes you think you’re any less deserving than anyone else to have a personal brand?
What, is it because you don’t dominate meetings at work? Or even worse, do people talk over you in meetings at work? That doesn’t mean that they’re smarter, more talented, or more skilled.
The only skill that shows is that they’re willing to push other people aside, and they’re willing to be bullies so that you won’t be heard. In fact, if you’re being talked over, they really don’t want you to be heard.
So don’t take that as any sort of indication that you don’t have something meaningful to contribute.
You absolutely have something to say.
