May 15, 2025

A story about how consistent grit and small, strategic moves
can turn being overlooked into lasting influence.

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Tired of being the hardest worker in the room—and still not being seen?

I’ve been there.

You do the work. You keep your head down. You trust that someone will eventually notice.
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But nothing changes.

So what does it really take to be seen, heard, and valued—especially when credentials alone aren’t enough?

Early in my career, I joined a technology group where two key leaders made it clear they didn’t think I added value.

I was left out of conversations. My input was dismissed. I could’ve internalized it—but I didn’t.

Instead, I made myself a quiet promise:
​I’m going to get so good they can’t ignore me.

This was during a massive technology transformation involving several legacy systems.
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We would spend full days—sometimes entire weeks—in workshops hashing out business and technical requirements. Each system needed detailed functional and technical specs. But I wasn’t given a chance.
The oxygen in the room was taken up by louder voices—people already seen as the go-to experts.

So I quietly decided to pick one system.
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I printed out the drafts, read through them, and highlighted every detail.
Line by line, I studied—not to prove anything, but to truly understand it.

Then I began pointing out small gaps and raising thoughtful questions. Quietly. Consistently.​
​

Slowly, my input began to be received—and eventually, recognized.

They asked me to take on the next system.
Then, they asked me to own the entire rollout of that system.
Months later, I was leading it—because I had earned it. One page, one gap, one step at a time.

This wasn’t about proving anyone wrong.

It was about becoming the kind of contributor I knew I could be.

But grit alone wasn’t enough.
What changed everything was shifting my strategy—how I communicated, how I built relationships, and how I stopped waiting to be seen and started making my value impossible to ignore.

Here’s what helped me go from overlooked to relied upon:

1. Make your work visible—not loud, but clear.
2. Invest in relationships and find champions who will advocate for you.
3. Stop venting and start reflecting: If you're not there yet, that’s not failure—it’s feedback. Ask why, and use it as an opportunity to close the gap.
4. Keep showing up—even when it feels uncomfortable.
5. Advocate for yourself with clarity, not apology.

Eventually, the same people who once overlooked me turned to me for leadership.

Not because I demanded it.
But because I kept showing up—with consistency, clarity, and grit.
​What made the difference wasn’t one big moment—it was small, steady steps over time.​
​That’s how you go from invisible to invaluable.

✅ Want to do this for yourself? Here’s a simple roadmap you can follow:

🧭 The Visibility Roadmap: From Overlooked to Invaluable

If this resonated and you’re wondering how to create your own roadmap to go from overlooked to invaluable — I’d love to hear from you. Let’s brainstorm. Message me.

Send me a note — janet@janet.kim.

​Are You Truly Heard, Seen, and Valued at Work?​
​Feeling like your contributions aren’t fully recognized? This quick self-audit will help you assess where you stand, uncover hidden gaps, and identify the key steps to increase your influence, get noticed, and advance your career.. Answer these 10 questions honestly, and use your insights to take actionable steps toward greater visibility, influence, and recognition.

Take the 10 Question Self-Audit for Leaders

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