“Why You Need to Market Yourself—Because Modesty is So 2005”

Remember those motivational posters from school that said “Work hard in silence, let success make the noise”?

Yeah.. I hate to break it to you, but in 2025, if you're working hard in silence, the only thing you're going to get is more work.. And probably someone else taking credit for it — loudly, publicly, and with a LinkedIn post that includes 12 hashtags and a candid shot of them “humbly receiving the award..”

Welcome to the age of self-marketing — where how you present yourself often screams louder than what you actually do..

And if that sounds unfair.. it is.. But when has life ever been fair?

The Curse of Being “Low-Key”

There’s a whole breed of us who were raised to believe that being humble and letting your work speak for itself is the right thing to do.. The problem is, your work doesn’t have a mic.. And you? You're backstage, quietly being excellent while the mediocre ones are out there doing TED Talks on “The Art of Multi-tasking..”

Let’s be real: we all know someone who’s a walking PowerPoint presentation.. Their LinkedIn is updated more frequently than the weather.. They “circle back,” “touch base,” and “pivot” like they're in a corporate dance recital.. And you know what? It works.. They're being seen.. And that’s the game..

   Marketing Yourself Doesn’t Mean Becoming a Cringe Monster

Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to start a YouTube channel called “Rise & Shine with Ramesh..” But if your instinct is to shy away from even mentioning your achievements — you might be doing yourself a disservice..

Think of it like this:

• You don’t cook a great meal and hide it in the fridge..

• You plate it, garnish it, take a pic with good lighting and then let everyone know what a culinary goddess you are..

Same logic. Except now, you're the meal.. And also the chef. And also the restaurant marketing team..

      Simple Ways to Start (Without Losing Your Dignity)

1. Share your wins – No one’s saying you have to write an Oscar acceptance speech, but if you aced a project, solved a crisis, or managed to survive a team meeting without crying, give yourself some credit..

2. Update your profiles – Treat your LinkedIn like Tinder. No one’s swiping right on “just figuring things out” or “too humble to write a bio..”

3. Talk about what you actually do – Your job isn’t just a title. It’s stories, problem-solving, people skills, and the occasional passive-aggressive email.. Share it..

4. Own your narrative – If you don't tell people who you are, they'll just assume based on what little they see. Spoiler alert: they’re usually wrong..

   You Don’t Have to Shout — Just Speak Up

   Marketing yourself isn’t about turning into a loud, self-obsessed brand zombie. It’s about not being invisible in a world that rewards visibility..

   It’s about being known before you need to be noticed..So the next time you do something awesome and your inner voice says, “Keep it low-key”, just remember:

   Low-key doesn’t pay the bills. High-key visibility does..

   Final Thoughts: Your Talent Deserves a Spotlight (Not a Secret Diary)

   We’ve all worked with people who were brilliant but never spoke up — and we’ve seen them get overlooked, underpaid, or passed up.. Meanwhile, someone with half the skills but twice the self-promotion ends up on the fast track to CEO. Why? Because they understood the game..

   You don’t need to fake anything. Just package it better..
   You're not selling out — you're just selling smart..

   So here’s your permission slip to brag a little. Or at least speak up once in a while..

   
   You’ve earned it.

   And if anyone calls you “too much,” just remember — that’s usually code for “I’m threatened because they’re doing what I wish I had the guts to do..”

   As for me, I'm continuing to work in silence hoping someone would notice my hard work because I truly believe what school taught me and that's "Work in silence and let your success make the noise".. ;-)