My old boss in Austin told me something I still think about

We were cleaning out the supply closet after a big project and he just stopped and said, 'You know, the only real job security is being the person who knows where the tape is.' It wasn't about the tape, it was about making yourself useful in small, real ways. What's a simple piece of advice that's stuck with you like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_craig111mo ago

Used to think being the loudest voice in the room was how you got ahead. My first foreman shut that down quick. He pulled me aside after a meeting and said, "The quiet guy who hands you the right wrench before you ask is running the show." Made me see real value is in paying attention, not just talking.

walker.alex1mo ago

My uncle ran a crew for twenty years and the quiet guys got passed over every single time. The foreman might notice you handing him a wrench, but management only hears the person speaking up with ideas. I've seen too many skilled workers stuck in the same spot because they thought hard work alone would get them noticed. Being loud isn't about being obnoxious, it's about making sure the people who decide on promotions know your name. If you're silent, you're just background noise.