Ever feel like you’re doing everything right at work — hitting deadlines, going above and beyond — but somehow, it’s the louder, more visible people who get the promotions? You’re not imagining it.
Promotions aren’t about pure merit, they’re about visibility, strategy, and knowing how to manage the unspoken rules. In this episode of Work in Progress, CJ and Larone break down the real mechanics of career growth: from how bias shapes opportunity, to how self-advocacy, visibility, and quiet influence actually move the needle.
💬 If you’ve ever said:
✔ “I hate self-promotion. Why can’t my work speak for itself?”
✔ “I feel stuck, but I don’t know what to do differently.”
✔ “How do I get noticed without feeling fake?”…this episode is your playbook.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
- Why hard work isn’t enough — and what actually is
- How bias and politics shape who gets promoted
- Tactical ways to build influence and get noticed (without cringing)
- How to network and self-advocate without selling out
- Why personal branding matters, even if you’re planning to leave
⏱ Chapters:
00:00 – The Myth of Meritocracy
02:48 – Identity, Bias & Career Advancement
07:56 – Advocating for Yourself Without Feeling Cringe
11:10 – Visibility, Power & Influence16:48 – Networking for People Who Hate It
23:05 – Staying Professional When You’re Over It
31:17 – Why Branding Matters (Even If You’re Leaving)
Follow CJ on Instagram Here or LinkedIn Here
Follow Larone on Instagram Here
🔑 Keywords: career growth, how to get promoted, workplace bias, meritocracy at work, self-promotion, visibility at work, personal branding, networking strategies, career advancement
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com