Advice I Regret Taking (and 5 lessons that I wish that I had learned sooner).

Let's get one thing straight: not all advice should be heeded. Some of it may seem wise; but then it quietly holds you back for years. Here's one thing that I have regretted following: "Just keep your head down and do the work." This was delivered with confidence. Seemed irrevocable even. But what did it really do? It made me invisible. I spent years steadily overdelivering thinking that by just working hard, I would be noticed, promoted, and respected. Spoiler alert: that didn't happen and I have learned the hard way that playing small helps no one - not me, not the people I was meant to lead, and definitely not my career.

5 Lessons that I wish that I had learned sooner:

1. Visibility is not vanity. If your're doing great work but no one knows, you're not building influence - you're building frustration.

   
   

2. Self advocacy is a skill, not arrogance. Speaking up for yourself isn't bragging. It's about honoring your value.

   
   

3. Relationships move faster than CVs. The right conversations with the right people will unlock more than a 5 page portfolio ever could.

   
   

4. Alignment beats hustle. The most powerful leaders I know are not the busiest - they're the most aligned.

   
   

5. Silence is not strategy. Don't wait for somone to invite you to lead. Start leading from where you are, right now.

Final Thoughts:

I don't regret working hard. I regret not realizing sooner that hard work alone isn't enough.

If you've been keeping your head down, consider this your nudge to lift it up - and be seen.

P.S: Please comment - what's the worst advise you ever got?

Jackie Denise