Greetings,

Have you ever noticed the spreads in magazines that show two famous people in the same outfit with a debate around who wore it best?

Well, I just had an experience about who wrote it best. I recently read a post by Marshall Goldsmith that said credibility must be earned twice, first when you do the work and second when you let others know about the work you've done, using the same level of care with which you did the work.

I've spent countless coaching sessions, training workshops, LinkedIn posts, and newsletter intros trying to convey that message over the last 15 years. But Marshall Goldsmith said it best. It's a message that resonates at any time, but particularly around this time of year, when we are looking towards year-end goals, compensation, and promotion expectations, hoping that the powers that be know about our contributions.

I encourage you to translate that hope into a concrete plan to document your accomplishments and share your value proposition with others. In a funny way, overachievers have been ill prepared for this specific task. Many of us were great students and, because teachers kept gradebooks, we were rewarded based on just doing the work and having someone else track the results. That paradigm shifted when we entered our professional lives, but the need to keep up with your grades never ended.

Are there some amazing results you've attained this year that haven't gotten the airing they deserve? What can you do now to ensure your impact makes it into the gradebook before key decisions are made at year-end?

I’d love to know about your achievements. Reply to this email, and let’s chat.